What is Tele-Law Scheme?

The Law Ministry recently commemorated an event to mark the coverage of more than nine lakh beneficiaries of the government’s tele-law scheme, using common service centres (CSCs) to provide justice across the country. Tele-Law Scheme The concept of Tele-Law is to facilitate the delivery of legal advice through a panel of lawyers stationed at the… Continue reading

Centre must step up cash flow to states

Context The states are borrowing less than expected in the first quarter of FY 2021-22 despite the negative impact of state-level restrictions, amidst the second Covid wave, on economic activity. An overview of borrowing by States In 2020-21, the gross amount raised through state development loans (SDLs) or bonds had jumped to Rs 8 trillion,… Continue reading

Guidelines by the Supreme Court in the migrant labourers case

Context The Supreme Court on June 29 pronounced its judgment in the migrant labourers case. The case was initiated last year after the national lockdown was announced on March 24. Guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court Two of the most important components to protect the migrants during this time were the food and travel… Continue reading

Discrete Auroras on Mars

The UAE’s Hope spacecraft, which is orbiting Mars since February this year, has captured images of glowing atmospheric lights in the Red Planet’s night sky, known as discrete auroras. What causes an Aurora on Earth? Auroras are caused when charged particles ejected from the Sun’s surface — called the solar wind — enter the Earth’s… Continue reading

New online platform maps Pegasus spread

An online database about the use of the spyware Pegasus was recently launched by the Forensic Architecture, Amnesty International and the Citizen Lab to document attacks against human rights defenders. What is Pegasus? Last year, one of the biggest stories that broke into cyberspace was WhatsApp’s reports that 1,400 of its users were hacked by… Continue reading

[pib] Export of GI certified Bhalia Wheat

In a major boost to wheat exports, the first shipment of Geographical Indication (GI) certified Bhalia variety of wheat was exported today to Kenya and Sri Lanka from Gujarat. Bhalia Wheat The GI certified wheat has high protein content and is sweet in taste. The crop is grown mostly across Bhal region of Gujarat which… Continue reading

[RSTV Archive] Open Network for Digital Commerce

Moving ahead with its plans to make e-commerce processes open source and curbing digital monopolies, the government on has appointed an advisory council to design and accelerate the adoption of open network for digital commerce. The move by the government is the latest in a series of changes announced or being planned to be rolled… Continue reading

Vacancies send a wrong signal

Context For months on end, top slots in important government agencies like NHRC, CBI, Election Commission, NCERT etc remain vacant affecting the governance. Vacancies in various agencies The post of the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission was kept vacant until June this year. The post of the Director of the Central Bureau of… Continue reading

Mental health care in India

Context Recently, a High Court suggested that homeless persons with health conditions be branded with a permanent tattoo, when vaccinated against COVID-19. Issue In many countries, persons with severe mental health conditions live in shackles in their homes, in overcrowded hospitals, and even in prison. On the other hand, many persons with mental health issues… Continue reading

Person in news: Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair

A noted filmmaker has recently announced his decision to produce the biopic of Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair, an acclaimed lawyer and judge in the Madras High Court and one of the early builders of the Indian National Congress. Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair Nair was born in the year 1857 in Mankara village of Malabar’s Palakkad… Continue reading

Arctic’s ‘Last Ice Area’

A part of the Arctic’s ice called the “Last Ice Area”, located north of Greenland, has melted before expected. Scientists had believed this area was strong enough to withstand global warming. What is the Last Ice Area? In an article published in 2015, National Geographic noted that climate projections forecast the total disappearance of summer… Continue reading

Indian Army Memorial in Italy

During his four-day visit to the UK and Italy, the Indian Army Chief will inaugurate the Indian Army Memorial at Cassino in Italy, about 140 km away from Rome. What is the memorial about? The memorial commemorates over 3,100 Commonwealth servicemen who took part in the effort to liberate Italy in World War II. Apart… Continue reading

[pib] NIPUN Bharat Programme

Union Minister for Education has launched a National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat). NIPUN Bharat This scheme aims for ensuring that every child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy. It has been launched under the aegis of the centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha. It would cover the… Continue reading

The problem now with the military synergy plan

The recent controversy over the alleged marginalization of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the proposed ‘theaterisation’ of the national security landscape has led to some debates. IAF concerned over ITC The Indian military continues to work in silos, like all governmental agencies in India, and a need was rightly felt and directions issued by… Continue reading

US puts Pakistan, Turkey on Child Soldier Recruiter List

The US has added Pakistan and 14 other countries to a Child Soldier Recruiter List that identifies foreign governments having government-supported armed groups that recruit or use child soldiers. Who is a child soldier? The recruitment or use of children below the age of 15 as soldiers is prohibited by the UN Convention on the… Continue reading

Four years of GST Regime

The Prime Minister has lauded Goods and Services Taxes (GST) on its completion of 4 years and said it has been a milestone in the economic landscape of India. What is GST? GST is an indirect tax that has replaced many indirect taxes in India such as excise duty, VAT, services tax, etc. The Goods… Continue reading

Middle income trap

The article suggests focusing on improving productivity and thereby the manufacturing sector to avoid the middle-income trap. What is the middle-income trap and why it matters for India This trap was first conceived by World Bank economists. They found that of the 101 developing economies that could be classified as ‘middle income’ in 1960, only… Continue reading

How the GNCTD (Amendment) Act affects functioning of Delhi Assembly

The article highlights the implications of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD)(Amendment) Act, 2021 on functioning of Assembly and its committees. Context The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD)(Amendment) Act, 2021 has been criticised as a retrograde law. However, what deserves equal attention is the Act’s assault on the functioning… Continue reading

OECD-G20 Inclusive Framework Tax Deal

India has joining the OECD-G20 framework for a global minimum tax. Must read What is Global Minimum Corporate Tax? What is this tax deal? The proposed solution consists of two components: Pillar One is about the reallocation of an additional share of profit to the market jurisdictions and Pillar Two consists of minimum tax and… Continue reading

What is the ‘Heat Dome’ causing record temperatures in USA?

A US city has recorded the highest temperatures as high as 46-degree Celsius part due to the historic heatwave that lasted as a result of a phenomenon referred to as a “heat dome”. What is a Heat Dome? To understand what causes a heat dome, one should liken the Pacific Ocean to a large swimming… Continue reading

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