Four new Wetlands added to Ramsar list

Four more wetlands from India get recognition from the Ramsar Secretariat as Ramsar sites. What are Wetlands? A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally, where oxygen-free processes prevail. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other landforms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants,… Continue reading

Places in news: Ningbo Port

China has partially shut down the world’s third-busiest container port, the Ningbo Port, after a worker there tested positive for Covid-19. Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan This port is the busiest in the world in terms of cargo tonnage. It handled 888.96 million tons of cargo in 2015. The port is located in Ningbo and Zhoushan, on… Continue reading

How e-RUPI can transform government’s welfare schemes

Context Recently e-RUPI was launched by the Prime Minister. About e-RUPI It is a digital prepaid, purpose, and person-specific payment utility. Built on the UPI platform, e-RUPI is easy to scale by the issuer. At the point of presence, the verification code received by the beneficiary is shared with the service provider to authenticate and… Continue reading

Who is a Whip?

The party in the opposition has appointed two members as the party’s whips in the Upper House. Who is a Whip? A whip is an official of a political party whose task is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. This means ensuring that members of the party vote according to the party platform, rather… Continue reading

What is the Sovereign Right to Taxation?

Scrapping the retrospective levy is believed to provide clarity to investors by removing a major source of ambiguity on taxation laws, the government has stressed the need to establish its “sovereign right to taxation”. Defining a Tax A document on the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation website quotes the definition of tax as a… Continue reading

Exercise Al–Mohed Al–Hindi

The maiden bilateral naval exercise between India and Saudi Arabia named ‘AL–Mohed AL–Hindi’ has got underway. Must read: [Prelims Spotlight] Various Defence Exercises in News Ex Al-Mohed AI-Hindi 2021 This is the first edition of a bilateral naval exercise between India and Saudi Arabia. It comprises several shore and sea-based drills between the two navies.… Continue reading

Bringing Minority Schools under RTE

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has recommended that Minority Schools be brought under Right to Education and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. What is the report? The report is titled “Impact of Exemption under Article 15 (5) with regards to Article 21A of the Constitution of India on Education of Children in Minority… Continue reading

Quality of Life for Elderly Index

Quality of Life for Elderly Index was released by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). Quality of Life for Elderly Index The Index has been created by the Institute for Competitiveness at the request of EAC-PM and it sheds light on an issue often not mentioned- problems faced by the elderly. The… Continue reading

[pib] Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA)

The Election Commission of India has handed over the Chair of FEMBoSA to the Election Commission of Bhutan for 2021-22. What is FEMBoSA? Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) was established at the 3rd Conference of Heads of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of SAARC Countries in 2012. The forum aims to… Continue reading

Issues related to Judicial appointment in India

Context Recommendations of some judges for appointment by the collegium raises the issue of changes in the collegium system. Background of the collegium system During the 1970s, the political leaning of a candidate had become a major consideration in the matter of appointment of judges. Therefore, it was felt that the role of the state… Continue reading

Unpacking the resiliency of global trade

Context Past experiences suggest there is hope for global trade recovery in the post-COVID-19 world. Impact of pandemic on the global and Indian economy In the last year, the devastating impact of COVID-19 pandemic has shrunk the world economy by 4.4% and global trade by 5.3%. Job losses in the world have been estimated to… Continue reading

What is India Plastics Pact?

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has long been at the forefront of having an India Plastic Pact. What are Plastics Pacts? The Plastics Pacts are business-led initiatives and transform the plastics packaging value chain for all formats and products. The Pacts bring together everyone from across the plastics value chain to implement practical solutions.… Continue reading

Ujjwala 2.0 Scheme

Prime Minister has launched the second phase of the Ujjwala gas connection scheme for the poor and said it would provide the biggest relief to lakhs of migrant worker families in the country. Ujjwala 2.0 Under Ujjwala 2.0 migrant workers would no longer have to struggle to get address proof documents to get the gas… Continue reading

Issues related to people with disabilities

Context Twenty years ago on August 6 in Erwadi in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram, a fire broke out in a thatched shelter, engulfing 43 chained people who had psychosocial disabilities. Legal provision for the persons with disabilities India ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2007. The Rights of Persons with… Continue reading

A circular economy for plastic

Context The India Plastics Pact, the first in Asia, will be launched in September at the CII Annual Sustainability Summit. Issue of plastic waste A 2019 report by the Center for International Environmental Law suggests that by 2050, greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach over 56 gigatonnes, 10-13% of the remaining carbon budget. Connection… Continue reading

Five-point Framework for Maritime Security

A week into India’s United Nations Security Council (UNSC) presidency, PM Modi has outlined a five-point framework for maritime security debate at UNSC. Maritime Security Maritime security is one of the latest buzzwords of international relations. Major actors in maritime policy, ocean governance and international security have in the past decade started to include… Continue reading

Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)

According to the IPCC’s Report (AR6), the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), is losing its stability. What is AMOC? The AMOC is a large system of ocean currents. It is the Atlantic branch of the ocean conveyor belt or Thermohaline circulation (THC), and distributes heat and nutrients throughout the world’s ocean basins. AMOC carries warm… Continue reading

Government e-Marketplace (GeM) System

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) system has resulted in a 10% savings in public procurement costs in five years. Government e-Marketplace GeM is an online platform for public procurement in India by various Government Departments / Organizations / PSUs. The initiative was launched on August 9, 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with the… Continue reading

[pib] PM-DAKSH Scheme

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the ‘PM-DAKSH’ Portal and ‘PM-DAKSH’ Mobile App. About PM-DAKSH Scheme The PM-DAKSH stands for Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment from the year 2020-21. Under this scheme, eligible target group are… Continue reading

[pib] Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

The Ministry of Rural Development has taken several measures for the successful implementation of the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) Gram Panchayats. Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) SAGY is a village development project launched in October 2014, under which each Member of Parliament will take the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in three… Continue reading

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