Reimagining food systems with lessons from India

Context The first and historic United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) 2021 was held in September this year. Significance of food system transformation Global food systems are the networks that are needed to produce and transform food, and ensure it reaches consumers, or the paths that food travels from production to plate. Global food systems… Continue reading

Panel set up to implement Assam Accord

The Assam government on Saturday set up an eight-member sub-committee to examine and prepare a framework for the implementation of all clauses of the Assam Accord of 1985. What is Assam Accord? The Assam Accord was a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Movement. It the… Continue reading

What are the concerns of digital health mission?

The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), was recently launched by the PM. About Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission The pilot project of the National Digital Health Mission was announced by PM Modi during his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort on August 15, 2020. The mission will enable access and exchange of longitudinal health records… Continue reading

Election Symbols after Party Split

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has frozen an election symbol of a political party in Bihar to which a cabinet minister belonged. What are the Election Commission’s powers in a dispute over the election symbol when a party splits? The question of a split in a political party outside the legislature is dealt by… Continue reading

IAO Hanle: A promising astronomical observatory

A new study shows that the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) located in Hanle is one of the emerging sites for infrared and optical astronomy studies. About IAO Hanle The IAO, located in Hanle at Mount Saraswati near Leh in Ladakh, has one of the world’s highest located sites for optical, infrared and gamma-ray telescopes. It… Continue reading

Langa-Manganiyar Folk Music

Considered the repository of the Thar region’s rich history and traditional knowledge, the ballads, folklore and songs of the Langa-Manganiyar artistes are being preserved through an initiative for documentation and digitisation. Who are the Langa-Manganiyar? The Langas and Manganiyars are hereditary communities of Muslim musicians residing mostly in western Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer and Barmer districts and… Continue reading

Chola inscriptions on qualifications for civic officials

In the Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu, some Chola-era inscriptions on Kanthaleeswarar Temple bear testimony to the qualifications required for members of the village administrative council. Inscription details: Kudavolai System The Kudavolai system was very vital and unique feature of administration of villages of Cholas. In the system one representative is elected from each ward… Continue reading

Khadi industry in India

Context The Prime Minister has repeatedly stressed his support for khadi, cottage industries, crafts and handlooms. About Khadi Genuine khadi or khaddar is woven from short-stapled organically grown cotton. The beauty is in its uneven texture and colours, as cotton bolls are not all pure white in every region. Fabrics being made today in the… Continue reading

Do we need to count caste in census?

A continuous and unabated push towards including caste in the forthcoming census enumeration has finally ended with the Union government position into the Supreme Court. The Centre had decided as a matter of policy not to enumerate caste-wise population other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Must read: Complex count: On caste census Existing issue:… Continue reading

2nd phase of SBM-U and AMRUT Mission

The PM has launched the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation. What are the missions? [A] Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 The Mission will focus on ensuring complete access to sanitation facilities to serve additional populations migrating from rural to urban areas in search of employment and… Continue reading

GST collections hit 5-month high

India’s gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues crossed ₹1.17 lakh crore in September, hitting a five-month high. Take a look towards the share of GST in government earnings for the previous fiscal: UPSC can ask about the majority component of the Revenue Receipts of the govt. See how Corporate tax is nearing the GST… Continue reading

What is Computer Tomography?

The first computed tomography image – a CT scan – of the human brain was made 50 years ago, on Oct. 1, 1971. A few months back, almost all of us have heard about the High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan being conducted on our relatives for diagnosing the damage of lungs caused due to the… Continue reading

Various terms related to Indian Monsoon

The monsoon is likely to begin withdrawing from the mainland from October 6, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Let us learn all terminologies related to Monsoon. What is Monsoon? Indian monsoon, the most prominent of the world’s monsoon systems, which primarily affects India and its surrounding water bodies. It blows from the northeast during… Continue reading

India, Australia to conclude free trade pact by end 2022

India and Australia have agreed to conclude a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of 2022. What is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)? A FTA is a pact between two or more nations to reduce barriers to imports and exports among them. Under a free trade policy, goods and services can be bought and… Continue reading

India’s Current Account Balance sees a spike

India’s current account balance saw a far lower surplus of $6.5 billion (0.9% of GDP) in the first quarter compared with a surplus of $19.1 billion (3.7% of GDP) a year earlier. What is External Sector? The external sector is the portion of a country’s economy that interacts with the economies of other countries. In… Continue reading

[pib] DigiSaksham Initiative

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has launched DigiSaksham Initiative. DigiSaksham It is joint initiative with Microsoft India is an extension of the Government’s ongoing programs to support the youth from rural and semi-urban areas. Through DigiSaksham initiative, free of cost training in digital skills including basic skills as well as advance computing, will be… Continue reading

Places in news: Weddell Sea

India has extended support for protecting the Antarctic environment and for co-sponsoring the proposal of the European Union for designating East Antarctica and the Weddell Sea as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). About Weddell Sea The Weddell Sea is part of the Southern Ocean and contains the Weddell Gyre. Its land boundaries are defined by the… Continue reading

PM-CARES

We all know that the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund doesn’t come under the ambit of Right to Information (RTI). This oped seeks to discuss certain aspects of this issue. Present context In a recent affidavit, the Delhi High Court was informed that the PM CARES Fund is… Continue reading

PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme

The existing Mid-Day Meal scheme, which provides hot meals to students, has been renamed as the National Scheme for PM Poshan Shakti Nirman. Key propositions in the PM POSHAN Scheme Supplementary nutrition: The new scheme has a provision for supplementary nutrition for children in aspirational districts and those with high prevalence of anaemia. States to… Continue reading

Probe shows use of toxic material in firecrackers: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has said a preliminary enquiry by the CBI into the firecracker industry, including in Tamil Nadu, revealed rampant violation of its ban on use of toxic ingredients like Barium and its salts. Air Pollution created by firecrackers Firing crackers increase the concentration of dust and pollutants in the air. After firing, the… Continue reading

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