Russia’s Nauka Module for ISS

Pirs, a Russian module on the International Space Station (ISS) used as a docking port for spacecraft and as a door for cosmonauts to go out on spacewalks. In its place, Russia’s space agency Roscosmos will be attaching a significantly larger module called Nauka. What does Russia’s new Nauka module do? Nauka, which is 42… Continue reading

Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary proposed as Ramsar Site

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region is likely to get its first Ramsar site at the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary. Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary The Maharashtra Government has declared the area along the western bank of Thane Creek as the “Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary” since 2015. It is Maharashtra’s second marine sanctuary after the Malvan sanctuary. It… Continue reading

[pib] Gold Reserves in India

The Minister of Mines and Coal has provided useful information regarding gold reserves in India. Gold Reserves in India As per National Mineral Inventory data, the total reserves/resources of gold ore (primary) in the country have been estimated at 501.83 million tonnes as of 2015. Out of these, 17.22 million tonnes were placed under the… Continue reading

[pib] Exercise Cutlass Express 2021

Indian Naval Ship Talwar is participating in Exercise Cutlass Express 2021, being conducted along the East Coast of Africa. Exercise Cutlass Express The exercise is an annual maritime exercise conducted to promote national and regional maritime security in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. Indian Navy is participating in the exercise in a ‘trainer… Continue reading

Getting India’s military jointness formula right

Context The Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat’s recent description of the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a supporting arm and the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria’s rebuttal highlights turbulent journey marking the reorganisation process of the armed forces. Issues before IAF The IAF is warning against splitting it into packets. Reports… Continue reading

Implications of EU’s new GHG emissions law for Indian industry

Context On July 14, the European Union introduced new legislation, Fit for 55, to cut its GHG emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 and to net-zero by 2050. Implications of Fit for 55 Legal backing: It turns the EU’s announcement into law, protecting it from the winds of political change. Opportunity for India: It… Continue reading

The Caste Census Debate

The Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that it was decided as a matter of policy not to enumerate caste-wise population other than SCs and STs in Census. What kind of caste data is published in the Census? Every Census in independent India from 1951 to 2011 has published data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled… Continue reading

Telangana’s Rudreswara Temple inscribed as a World Heritage Site

India’s nomination of Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, Mulugu district, near Warangal in the state of Telangana has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. This would be the 39th site in India. Also read: [pib] Declaration of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO Rudreswara Temple The Rudreswara temple was constructed… Continue reading

Gatekeeper Model to prevent suicides in prisons

In a bid to prevent suicides triggered by mental health issues in prisons across the country, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, has recommended the “Gatekeeper Model”. What is the ‘Gatekeeper Model’? It is a model where selected inmates, trained to identify prisoners at risk of suicide, would refer them… Continue reading

India’s FAANG moment has arrived

Context In the US, the Big Tech FAANG five are Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google (now Alphabet). Today, in India, Zomato’s stock market debut is a big occasion for India that could pave the path for other online successes. Significance for economy It is the first among a host of domestic unicorns to have… Continue reading

Challenging China

Context The Chinese are about to extend their geographical advantage by building a new high-speed rail from Chengdu, running close by and parallel to the Arunachal border, up to Lhasa. Manpower and Defence Budget: Comparison with China The Indian army, according to diverse sources, numbers between 12,50,000 and 14,00,000 officers and men. Chinese PLA actually… Continue reading

Right to be Forgotten in India

A TV celebrity has approached the Delhi High Court with a plea saying that his videos, photographs, and articles, etc. be removed from the internet citing his “Right to be Forgotten”. What is the plea about? The plea mentions that the posts and videos on the internet related to him have caused the petitioner psychological… Continue reading

What is National Security Council (NSC)?

The budgetary allocation for the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) increased 10 times from ₹33.17 crores in 2016-17 to ₹333.58 crores in 2017-18. National Security Council (NSC) The NSC is an executive government agency tasked with advising the Prime Minister’s Office on matters of national security and strategic interest. It was established by the former… Continue reading

[pib] Periodic Labour Force Survey (2019 –2020)

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report for July, 2019 to June 2020 was recently released by the National Statistical Office (NSO). Periodic Labour Force Survey Considering the importance of the availability of labor force data at more frequent time intervals, National Statistical Office (NSO) launched PLFS in April 2017. The objective of PLFS… Continue reading

Challenges in withdrawing stimulus measures

Context Economic-policy discussions increasingly revolve around the question of when and how quickly central banks should pull back the uber-stimulus measures implemented last year in response to the pandemic. Why withdrawal is challenging? Uncertainties: Both parts of the question (when and how) call for finely balanced judgment to account for uncertainties that are in play.… Continue reading

Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Project

The US, which had previously imposed sanctions to prevent the completion of a major new gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, has now signaled its approval for the project. 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… Continue reading

[pib] India improves score in Ease of Cross-Border Trade

As per the latest UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation, India’s rank moved up from 78.49% in 2019 to 90.32% in 2021. About the Survey The Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation is conducted every two years by UNESCAP. The 2021 Survey includes an assessment of 58 trade facilitation measures… Continue reading

[pib] SMILE Scheme for persons engaged in the act of begging

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme “SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”. SMILE Scheme This scheme is sub-scheme under the ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’. It covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for persons who are… Continue reading

Festival in news: Harela Festival

Villagers across Uttarakhand celebrated Harela, a festival of greenery, peace, prosperity and environmental conservation. Harela Festival Harela means ‘day of green’ and is celebrated in the month of Shravan (the fifth month of the Hindu lunar calendar) to worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. People across Uttarakhand, especially the Kumaun region, associate greenery with prosperity.… Continue reading

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