2020 Millennium Technology Prize

The 2020 Millennium Technology Prize has been awarded to Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman, for their development of revolutionary Next-generation DNA sequencing techniques. About Millennium Technology Prize The Millennium Technology Prize is one of the world’s largest technology prizes. It is awarded once every two years by Technology Academy Finland, an independent fund established by… Continue reading

Places in news: Kesaria Buddhist Stupa

The world-famous Kesaria Buddha stupa in east Champaran district of Bihar is waterlogged following floods in some parts of the district after heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of river Gandak in neighbouring Nepal. Kesaria Stupa The Kesaria stupa, located about 110 km from the State capital Patna, has a circumference of almost 400 feet… Continue reading

Sikkim is home to 27% of India’s flowering plants

Sikkim, the smallest State with less than 1% of India’s landmass, is home to 27% of all flowering plants found in the country, reveals a recent publication by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). Flora of Sikkim Flora of Sikkim – A Pictorial Guide lists 4,912 naturally occurring flowering plants in the tiny Himalayan State.… Continue reading

Places in news: Lemru Elephant Reserve

The proposed Lemru Elephant Reserve in Chhattisgarh, in the pipeline for 20 years, has become the subject of yet another controversy over the reduction of its size. Lemru Elephant Reserve The proposal for the reserve, in Korba district, was passed unanimously by the Assembly in 2005 and got central approval in 2007. Lemru is one… Continue reading

Issues with school enrolment in India

Context Proportion of children attending the government schools has been on the decline. This has several implications. Issues with school education in India A quality, free and regular school education represents our most potent infrastructure of opportunity, a fundamental duty of the state. Meritocracy represents the idea that people should advance based on their talents… Continue reading

Explained: Uniform Civil Code

Favouring the introduction of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the Delhi High Court has said the Indian youth need not be forced to struggle with issues arising due to conflicts in various personal laws in relation to marriage and divorce. Why did the HC promote this idea? The modern Indian society was gradually becoming homogenous,… Continue reading

Delimitation of Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir Delimitation Commission has completed its consultation with various and stated that it would base its final report on the 2011 Census to add at least seven more seats to the 83-member Assembly of the erstwhile state. Agenda for delimitation Delimitation will be conducted on the basis of the 2011 census report.… Continue reading

[pib] India Industrial Land Bank (IILB)

The GIS Enabled Land Bank is gaining immense popularity. Try to answer this question in short: Q.Discuss the benefits of digitizing land records in India. India Industrial Land Bank (IILB) The IILB is a GIS-based portal with all industrial infrastructure-related information such as connectivity, infra, natural resources and terrain, plot-level information on vacant plots, line… Continue reading

Civil society need to play role in strengthening of institutions

Context In the wake of the second wave of Covid, our failure as a country to hold our government accountable is evident. Civil society perhaps also needs to re-examine its role. What constitutes civil society India’s civil society has many actors: Grassroots organisations that connect to the last mile and provide essential services. Think tanks… Continue reading

Need for coordinated database for tracking fugitives

Context India lacks a domestic tracking system for fugitives. That makes it easier for them to evade the criminal justice system. Challenges at investigation and prosecution level Central agencies have developed reasonable expertise in investigation and prosecution because they are focussed only on investigation and prosecution work. On the other hand, State police forces (except… Continue reading

What is Tele-Law Scheme?

The Law Ministry recently commemorated an event to mark the coverage of more than nine lakh beneficiaries of the government’s tele-law scheme, using common service centres (CSCs) to provide justice across the country. Tele-Law Scheme The concept of Tele-Law is to facilitate the delivery of legal advice through a panel of lawyers stationed at the… Continue reading

Centre must step up cash flow to states

Context The states are borrowing less than expected in the first quarter of FY 2021-22 despite the negative impact of state-level restrictions, amidst the second Covid wave, on economic activity. An overview of borrowing by States In 2020-21, the gross amount raised through state development loans (SDLs) or bonds had jumped to Rs 8 trillion,… Continue reading

Guidelines by the Supreme Court in the migrant labourers case

Context The Supreme Court on June 29 pronounced its judgment in the migrant labourers case. The case was initiated last year after the national lockdown was announced on March 24. Guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court Two of the most important components to protect the migrants during this time were the food and travel… Continue reading

Discrete Auroras on Mars

The UAE’s Hope spacecraft, which is orbiting Mars since February this year, has captured images of glowing atmospheric lights in the Red Planet’s night sky, known as discrete auroras. What causes an Aurora on Earth? Auroras are caused when charged particles ejected from the Sun’s surface — called the solar wind — enter the Earth’s… Continue reading

New online platform maps Pegasus spread

An online database about the use of the spyware Pegasus was recently launched by the Forensic Architecture, Amnesty International and the Citizen Lab to document attacks against human rights defenders. What is Pegasus? Last year, one of the biggest stories that broke into cyberspace was WhatsApp’s reports that 1,400 of its users were hacked by… Continue reading

[pib] Export of GI certified Bhalia Wheat

In a major boost to wheat exports, the first shipment of Geographical Indication (GI) certified Bhalia variety of wheat was exported today to Kenya and Sri Lanka from Gujarat. Bhalia Wheat The GI certified wheat has high protein content and is sweet in taste. The crop is grown mostly across Bhal region of Gujarat which… Continue reading

[RSTV Archive] Open Network for Digital Commerce

Moving ahead with its plans to make e-commerce processes open source and curbing digital monopolies, the government on has appointed an advisory council to design and accelerate the adoption of open network for digital commerce. The move by the government is the latest in a series of changes announced or being planned to be rolled… Continue reading

Vacancies send a wrong signal

Context For months on end, top slots in important government agencies like NHRC, CBI, Election Commission, NCERT etc remain vacant affecting the governance. Vacancies in various agencies The post of the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission was kept vacant until June this year. The post of the Director of the Central Bureau of… Continue reading

Mental health care in India

Context Recently, a High Court suggested that homeless persons with health conditions be branded with a permanent tattoo, when vaccinated against COVID-19. Issue In many countries, persons with severe mental health conditions live in shackles in their homes, in overcrowded hospitals, and even in prison. On the other hand, many persons with mental health issues… Continue reading

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