Data is an essential weapon against Covid

The article highlights how data played an important role in decision-making in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. Importance of data in decision making The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted globally how important data is to governments in decision-making. Epidemiological data is of paramount significance for targeting and implementing control measures for public health in a timely manner Such… Continue reading

Mid Day Meal Scheme

The Centre has decided to give about ₹100 each to children studying in Class 1 to Class 8 in government schools, who are beneficiaries of the Mid Day Meal scheme. Mid Day Meal Scheme The Midday Meal Scheme is a school meal programme in India designed to better the nutritional standing of school-age children nationwide.… Continue reading

Why are edible oils getting costlier?

Edible oil prices have risen sharply in recent months. How much have edible oil prices rising? The prices of six edible oils — groundnut oil, mustard oil, vanaspati, soya oil, sunflower oil, and palm oil — have risen between 20% and 56% at all-India levels in the last year. The prices of soya oil and… Continue reading

What are Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD)?

The ongoing World Health Assembly has declared January 30 as ‘World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day’. Neglected Tropical Diseases NTDs are a group of infections that are most common among marginalized communities in the developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They are caused by a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa,… Continue reading

New regulations for Lakshadweep

A series of regulations proposed by the Lakshadweep administrator has caused widespread resentment and fear among its residents. What are the new regulations? [1] Cow slaughter & beef An order from the Administration seeks to ban the slaughter of cow, calf, bull, and buffalo without a certificate from a competent authority. It prohibits the sale,… Continue reading

[pib] National AI Portal INDIAai

The ‘National AI Portal (https://indiaai.gov.in)’, celebrated its first anniversary on May 28, 2021. National AI Portal INDIAai is the National AI Portal of India – a central hub for everything AI in India and beyond. A joint initiative of MeitY, NeGD and NASSCOM, the website aims to be the trusted content powerhouse in the backdrop… Continue reading

Currency swap between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

Bangladesh’s central bank has approved a $200 million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka. Practice question for mains: Q. What are Currency Swaps? Discuss the efficacy of Currency Swap Agreements for liberalizing bilateral trade. What is a Currency Swap? In this context, a currency swap is effectively a loan that Bangladesh will give to Sri… Continue reading

IBF to cover Streaming Platforms

The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), the apex body of broadcasters, is expanding its purview to cover digital streaming platforms and will be renamed the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF). Why such a move? The move would bring broadcasters and OTT (over-the-top) platforms, which have seen a substantial jump in their viewership base after the… Continue reading

Thomas Hickey’s 19th century painting on smallpox vaccination

A 19th-century portrait of three women from Mysore has been going viral as “one of the most important scientific pictures in the history of medicine in India”. What did the portrait depict? Believed to be painted in 1805 by Irish-born artist Thomas Hickey, the oil on canvas was initially thought to be portraits of “dancing… Continue reading

Reclining Buddha and his various other depictions in art

On this Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, or Vesak — India’s largest statue of the Reclining Buddha was to have been installed at Bodh Gaya. The ceremony has been put off due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Reclining Buddha A reclining Buddha statue or image represents The Buddha during his last illness, about to enter Parinirvana, the… Continue reading

Fundamental problems facing GST regime

The article highlights the fundamental challenges the GST faces in the form of trust erosion and politicisation of decision making in GST Council. Initial issues with GST The multiple rates structure, high tax slabs and the complexity of tax filings as the problems underpinning India’s GST. These were indeed the initial problems in the way… Continue reading

NGT upholds rights of pastoralists in Banni Grasslands

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered all encroachments to be removed from Gujarat’s Banni grasslands. Banni Grasslands Banni Grasslands form a belt of arid grassland ecosystem on the outer southern edge of the desert of the marshy salt flats of Rann of Kutch. They are known for rich wildlife and biodiversity and are spread across… Continue reading

WHO BioHub: Global Facility for Pathogen Storage

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Switzerland have signed an MoU to launch a BioHub facility that will allow rapid sharing of pathogens between laboratories and partners to facilitate better analysis and preparedness against them. WHO BioHub The BioHub will enable member states to share biological materials with and via the BioHub under pre-agreed conditions,… Continue reading

Why community efforts are essential for real change

The article highlights the important role played by civil society and suggest the need for the new framework for the participation of community in the solution of problems. Important role played by civil society in second wave of Covid We also have to realise that the state or the market cannot be the only provider… Continue reading

Semiconductor chips shortage, and how carmakers are coping

A shortage of inputs, especially semiconductor chips, has made India-based car manufactures and premium bike makers curtail production across categories. Do you know? Electronic parts and components today account for 40% of the cost of a new internal combustion engine car, up from less than 20% two decades ago. Chip famine The trigger point was… Continue reading

CBI

The high-powered selection committee headed by the Prime Minister has finalized some names for the post of CBI director. Try answering this: Q.Why the CBI is called “a caged parrot speaking in its master’s voice”? Critically comment. Central Bureau of Investigation The CBI is the premier investigating agency of India operating under the jurisdiction of… Continue reading

[pib] Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery

Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery is set to begin from 15th June 2021. What is Hallmark Gold? The process of certifying the purity and fineness of gold is called hallmarking. Bureau of Indian Standards, the National Standards Body of India, is responsible for hallmarking gold as well as silver jewellery under the BIS Act. If you… Continue reading

[pib] Competition Commission of India

Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs recently commemorated the 12th Annual Day of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Competition Commission of India CCI is the competition regulator in India. It is a statutory body responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 and promoting competition throughout India and preventing activities that have an appreciable… Continue reading

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