COVID & Economic Inequality

Pandemic hit hard the lives, livelihood and the economy. It has also worsened income inequality. The article deals with the issues of impacts of pandemic and suggests ways to revive growth the deal with income inequality. Need to address growth and inequality issue The second wave of the pandemic is spreading to rural areas also.… Continue reading

Israel-Palestine conflict explained

Context The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is one of the world’s most enduring hostilities, with the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip reaching 53 years. Various attempts have been made to resolve the conflict as part of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. British Palestine & Jew Migration The British, after the First World War, established… Continue reading

challenges the second Covid wave poses to India’s path to fiscal consolidation.

The article highlights the challenges the second Covid wave poses to India’s path to fiscal consolidation. Recalibration to growth projection due to second Covid wave The growth projections of different national and international agencies and the fiscal projections of Centre’s 2021-22 Budget require recalibration. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had forecast real GDP growth for… Continue reading

China’s 17+1 Cooperation Forum

Lithuania has decided to quit China’s 17+1 cooperation forum with central and eastern European states that include other EU members, calling it “divisive”. About 17+ 1 Forum The forum is an abbreviation for Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries. It is an initiative by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote… Continue reading

Eruption of Mount Nyiragongo

Thousands have fled a volcanic eruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo from Mount Nyiragongo on the outskirts of Goma City. These were some volcanoes in news this year: Mount Vesuvius, Taal Volcano, La Soufriere Mount Nyiragongo Mount Nyiragongo is an active stratovolcano with an elevation of 3,470 m (11,385 ft) in the Virunga Mountains… Continue reading

What is Vaccine Tourism?

A couple of days ago, reports emerged of a Dubai-based tour operator offering a 24-day package tour from Delhi to Moscow that has included two shots of the Russian Sputnik-V vaccine. What is vaccine tourism? In India, the term “vaccine tourism” became popular late last year when reports emerged of several tour operators offering packages… Continue reading

Person in news: Sunderlal Bahuguna

Veteran environmentalist and architect of the Chipko Movement Sundarlal Bahuguna, 94 has succumbed to COVID. Answer this PYQ in the comment box: Q.In India, the problem of soil erosion is associated with which of the following? Terrace cultivation Deforestation Tropical climate Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only… Continue reading

Appointments to the Kalakshetra Foundation

The Central government has appointed 12 eminent artists and musicians to the board of the prestigious institution. Kalakshetra Foundation It is an arts and cultural academy dedicated to the preservation of traditional values in Indian art and crafts, especially in the field of Bharatanatyam dance and Gandharvaveda music. Based in Chennai, India, the academy was… Continue reading

How AIDS fight offers a COVID vaccine patent pathway

The possibilities of new strain of Covid-19 emerging from any region of the world could derail the global recovery. To prevent that from happening vaccines need to be made available and affordable to all. This article discusses the ways to ensure that. Ensuring affordability and availability of Covid vaccines To achieve global herd immunity and… Continue reading

E-way bill integrated with FASTag, RFID

GST officers have been armed with real-time data of commercial vehicle movement on highways with the integration of the e-way bill (EWB) system with FasTag and RFID. Why such a move? The integration of e-way bill, RFID, and FASTag will enable tax officers to undertake live vigilance in respect of EWB compliances by businesses and… Continue reading

World’s largest iceberg breaks off from Antarctica

A huge ice block has broken off from western Antarctica into the Weddell Sea, becoming the largest iceberg in the world and earning the name A-76. Answer this PYQ in the comment box: Q.On the planet earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and glaciers. Out of the remaining freshwater, the largest proportion:… Continue reading

The outdated nature of bureaucracy

The second wave of Covid has exposed the inherent weakness of the bureaucracy in India. The article highlights the necessity for reforms in the way bureaucracy functions in India. Features of traditional bureaucracy Preference to generalist: Weberian bureaucracy still prefers a generalist over a specialist. Preference to leadership of position: The leadership of position is… Continue reading

The fault line of poor health infrastructure

The poor public health infrastructure in India hits the poor hard. The article examines the factors responsible for poor public health infrastructure and suggests the measures to deal with it. Poor state of health infrastructure World Bank data reveal the poor state of India’s health infrastructure. It reveals that India had 85.7 physicians per 1,00,000… Continue reading

FinMin grants ‘infrastructure’ status for convention centres

The Finance Ministry has granted ‘Infrastructure’ status for exhibition and convention centres, a move that is expected to ease bank financing for such projects. Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre ‘Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre is included in the Harmonized Master List of Infrastructure sub-sectors by insertion of a new item in the category of Social and Commercial Infrastructure. The benefits available… Continue reading

Russia’s Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

The US government has decided to waive sanctions on the company behind Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Europe. Nord Stream 2 Pipeline It is a system of offshore natural gas pipelines running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. It includes two active pipelines running from Vyborg to Lubmin near Greifswald forming the… Continue reading

[pib] GI certified Gholvad Sapota

In a major boost to exports of Geographical Indication (GI) certified products, a consignment of Dahanu Gholvad Sapota from the Palghar district of Maharashtra was shipped to the United Kingdom. Gholvad Sapota GI certification of Ghovad Sapota is held by Maharashtra Rajya Chikoo Utpadak Sangh and the fruit is known for its sweet and… Continue reading

Issues in Social Security Code 2020

Provisions in Social Security Code 2020 India’s Parliament in September 2020 passed a Social Security Code (SS Code 2020). The SS Code 2020 merges existing social security laws and attempts to include informal workers within the ambit of social security administration. The SS Code 2020 amalgamates and rationalises the provisions of eight existing central labour… Continue reading

Cryptocurrency

Context Vitalik Buterin, co-creator of the crypto network Ethereum, has made a 1 billion dollar cryptocurrency donation for India’s relief funds as the country battles the latest deadly COVID-19 wave. Definition The 2019 Bill defined cryptocurrency as any information, code, number or token, generated through cryptographic means or otherwise, which has a digital representation of… Continue reading

Creating a new District

Punjab CM has recently declared Malerkotla the 23rd district of the State. How are new districts carved? The power to create new districts or alter or abolish existing districts rests with the State governments. This can either be done through an executive order or by passing a law in the State Assembly. Many States prefer… Continue reading

Brain drain of India’s health worker

The article highlights the issue of shortage of healthcare workers in India even as it exports its healthcare workers to other countries. India as an exporter of healthcare workers For several decades, India has been a major exporter of healthcare workers to developed nations particularly to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Europe and other English-speaking… Continue reading

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