[pib] ‘Anamaya’ Initiative

Anamaya, the Tribal Health Collaborative was recently launched. Simply keep in mind, the name and purpose. ‘Anamaya’ Initiative The Collaborative is a multi-stakeholder initiative of the Tribal Affairs Ministry supported by Piramal Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). It aims to build a sustainable, high-performing health eco-system to address the key health challenges… Continue reading

A holistic review of internal security challenge and response to them is needed

The article highlights the issues facing India’s internal security architecture and suggests the restructuring of roles and capacity building to address the challenge. Recent setback to internal security (IS) capability The COMBING OPERATION by local and central police forces in the Tekulguda region of Bastar went terribly wrong and resulted in the death of 22… Continue reading

A post-Covid fiscal framework for India

The article highlights the failure of FRBM Act to contain India’s rising debt and suggests an alternative framework. Issues with the FRBM Act Economic disruption caused by the COVID has prompted calls for a relook atthe Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM). The introduction of the FRBM in 2003 reflected the belief that setting… Continue reading

E9 Initiative for Digital Learning

Nine countries including India, China and Brazil will explore the possibility of co-creating and scaling up digital learning to achieve the UN sustainable goal on quality education under the E9 initiative. The E9 is the first of its kind global collaboration for digital learning. Note the participating countries. E9 Initiative It is the first of… Continue reading

Mahendragiri Hills

The Odisha government has proposed a second biosphere reserve in the southern part of the state at Mahendragiri, a hill ecosystem having a rich biodiversity. The 5,569-square kilometre Similipal Biosphere Reserve is Odisha’s first such reserve and was notified May 20, 1996. Mahendragiri Hills Mahendragiri is a mountain in the Rayagada subdivision of the district… Continue reading

Understanding the issues with bond market in India

What explains the Indian government borrowing at a higher interest rate than the interest rates for a home loan? The answer lies in the structural shortage in demand for government bonds. How the government’s cost of borrowing matter Interest on government debt is a transfer from taxpayers to savers who own government bonds. As the… Continue reading

What is the Pre-pack under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code?

The central government has promulgated an ordinance allowing the use of pre-packs as an insolvency resolution mechanism for MSMEs with defaults up to Rs 1 crore, under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Read till the end to know about the ‘Swiss Challenge’. What are Pre-packs? A pre-pack is the resolution of the debt of a… Continue reading

[pib] Sadabahar: A mango variety that bears fruits round the year

A farmer from Kota, Rajasthan, has developed a round-the-year dwarf variety of mango called Sadabahar, which is resistant to most major diseases and common mango disorders. Try this PYQ: Q.With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements: GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that… Continue reading

Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP)

The Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare has launched the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP). About IHIP The new version of IHIP will house the data entry and management for India’s disease surveillance program. In addition to tracking 33 diseases now as compared to the earlier 18 diseases, it shall ensure near-real-time data in… Continue reading

Global Gender Gap Report, 2021

India has slipped 28 places to rank 140th among 156 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, becoming the third-worst performer in South Asia. For the 12th time, Iceland is the most gender-equal country in the world. The top 10 most gender-equal countries include Finland, Norway, New Zealand, Rwanda, Sweden, Ireland… Continue reading

E-commerce policy is needed for speedy, inclusive growth

The article highlights the untapped potential of the e-commerce sector in the transformation of the Indian economy and suggests factors to take into account in the new e-commerce policy. How pandemic contributed to the growth of e-commerce A celebrated McKinsey study has revealed that we have covered a ‘decade in days’ in the adoption of… Continue reading

Should Petroleum be brought within the ambit of GST?

The article deals with the issues of demand for the inclusion of fuel oils in the GST regime and its implications for the revenue of the states and the Centre. How much tax we pay on petrol and diesel The Union and state levies put together account for roughly 55 per cent and 52 per… Continue reading

Maintaining the inflation target at 4%

On the last day of the financial year 2020-21, the Finance Ministry announced that the inflation target for the five years between April 2021 and March 2026 will remain unchanged at 4% (+/-2 %). Inflation targeting in India India had switched to an inflation target-based monetary policy framework in 2015, with the 4% target kicking… Continue reading

Places in news: Chenab Arch Bridge

A half-a-kilometre long arch, the defining feature of the world’s highest railway bridge over river Chenab, is set to be completed today. Chenab Arch Bridge The bridge is part of an ambitious 272-km rail link project and is being constructed by the Northern Railway at an estimated cost of ₹28,000 crores. The bridge will be… Continue reading

The conundrum of financial distress and higher household savings amid covid

The article explains the paradoxical increase in savings of Indian households during the pandemic. Increase in savings during lockdown Counterintuitively, the financial savings of people went up in April-June 2020. Data compiled by the RBI reveal that in April-June 2020, household financial savings was ₹8.16 trillion. For a perspective on how big this is, in April-June 2019,… Continue reading

Prakash Singh Judgment on Police Reforms, 2006

Political interference in police postings continues despite the landmark Prakash Singh judgment nearly a decade-and-a-half ago that addressed the issue and was pegged to be a watershed moment in police reforms. Politics is a perplexing, but fascinating game. It takes ages to unravel the intricate secrets that shroud the kernel of closed room politics. But… Continue reading

Harmonized System of Nomenclature Code

It has been made mandatory for a GST taxpayer having a turnover of more than Rs 5 crore in the preceding financial year, to furnish 6 digits HSN Code (Harmonized System of Nomenclature Code). This comes into effect from April 1. HSN code The Harmonized System, or simply ‘HS’, is a six-digit identification code developed… Continue reading

Exercise ‘Shantir Ogroshena’

Indian Army team comprising officers, junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and soldiers from the Dogra regiment will participate in the multilateral exercise ‘Shantir Ogroshena’ (front runner of peace). The name very much suggests that the exercise is hosted by Bangladesh. But one must note, it’s a multilateral exercise. Shantir Ogroshena Indian Army will participate in Multinational… Continue reading

What are Small Savings Instruments?

The government has sharply slashed the rates on all small savings instruments for the first quarter of 2021-22 (Update: The order has been slashed now) What is the news? The government has sharply slashed the rates of return on the Public Provident Fund down from 7.1% to 6.4% and effecting cuts ranging from 40 basis… Continue reading

[pib] Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 3.0

The Government has extended the scope of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) through introduction of ECLGS 3.0 to cover business enterprises in Hospitality, Travel & Tourism, Leisure & Sporting sectors. ECGL Scheme Under the Scheme, 100% guarantee coverage to be provided by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) for additional funding of up… Continue reading

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