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Mura-Drava-Danube (MDD) Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO has designated Mura-Drava-Danube (MDD) as the world’s first ‘five-country biosphere reserve’. About Mura-Drava-Danube BR The biosphere reserve covers 700 kilometres of the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers and stretches across Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. The total area of the reserve — a million hectares — in the so-called ‘Amazon of Europe’, makes… Continue reading Mura-Drava-Danube (MDD) Biosphere Reserve

Gupta Era Temple uncovered in UP

Last week, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered remains of an ancient temple dating back to the Gupta period (5th century) in a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district. Findings of the excavation The Bilsarh site was declared ‘protected’ in 1928. Every year, the ASI undertakes scrubbing work at the protected sites. This year,… Continue reading Gupta Era Temple uncovered in UP

[pib] PLI Scheme for White Goods

A total of  52 companies have filed their application with a committed investment of Rs 5,866 crore under the PLI scheme to incentivize the domestic manufacturing of components of White Goods. What are White Goods? White goods refer to heavy consumer durables or large home appliances, which were traditionally available only in white. They include… Continue reading [pib] PLI Scheme for White Goods

How not to deal with recession

Context The Centre is facing a serious financial crisis because of the exigencies created by the pandemic and its own policies. However, monetising assets and cutting down funds to states could aggravate the crisis. 3 Policies aggravating the crisis 1) NMP and disinvestment Union Finance Minister, while announcing the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), said that… Continue reading How not to deal with recession

NEET

The Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a bill exempting the State from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to undergraduate (UG) medical courses. About NEET The NEET has replaced the formerly All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT). It is an all-India pre-medical entrance test for students who wish to pursue undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS)… Continue reading NEET

Four-year moratorium for AGR dues

In big bang reforms, the Union Cabinet approved a relief package for the telecom sector that includes a four-year moratorium on payment of statutory dues by telecom companies as well as allowing 100% foreign investment through the automatic route. What is AGR? Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) is the usage and licensing fee that telecom operators… Continue reading Four-year moratorium for AGR dues

Tarballs on Mumbai Coast

A beach in South Mumbai, saw black oil-emanating balls lying on the shore. What are Tarballs? Tarballs are dark-coloured, sticky balls of oil that form when crude oil floats on the ocean surface. Tarballs are formed by weathering of crude oil in marine environments. They are transported from the open sea to the shores by… Continue reading Tarballs on Mumbai Coast

What is Input Tax Credit?

The Supreme Court has confirmed a Madras High Court judgment which upheld a fiscal formula included in the Central Goods and Service Tax Rules to execute refund of unutilized Input Tax Credit (ITC) accumulated on account of input services. What is Input Tax Credit? Input credit means at the time of paying tax on output,… Continue reading What is Input Tax Credit?

Financial inclusion

Context There are 63.4 million MSMEs in India and 99 per cent of which are micro-enterprises with less than Rs 10 lakh in investment. Financial inclusion and integration is key to bring these businesses into the formal economy. Financial integration What is Financial inclusion? On the front of “financial inclusion”, which refers to the accessibility of… Continue reading Financial inclusion

In Manipur, a case for asymmetric federalism

As a normative idea and an institutional arrangement that supports the recognition and provision of an expansive ‘self-rule’ for territorially concentrated minority groups, asymmetric federalism has recently received bad press in India. India’s Federalism: A backgrounder Nations are described as ‘federal’ or ‘unitary’, depending on the way in which governance is organised. In a unitary… Continue reading In Manipur, a case for asymmetric federalism

Thawing Permafrost

The latest IPCC report has warned that increasing global warming will result in reductions in Arctic permafrost and the thawing of the ground is expected to release greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide. What is Permafrost? ‘Permafrost’ or permanently frozen ground is land that has been frozen at or below 0 degrees Celsius for… Continue reading Thawing Permafrost

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