What is AgriStack?

The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has entered into an MoU with Microsoft Corporation to start a pilot project in 100 villages to create a ‘Unified Farmer Service Interface’ through its cloud computing services. AgriStack The AgriStack is a collection of technologies and digital databases proposed by the Central Government focusing on India’s… Continue reading

What is a Full Ship Shock Trial (FSST)?

The US Navy Friday carried out a ‘full ship shock trial’ on its newest and most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to ensure its hardness was capable of withstanding battle conditions. What is a Full Ship Shock Trial (FSST)? During World War II, American warships suffered severe damage from enemy mines and torpedoes that had actually… Continue reading

Bhutan’s Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) Programme

Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) programme has been recently launched. TIWB Program TIWB is a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). India was chosen as the Partner Jurisdiction and has provided the Tax Expert for this programme. It aims to aid Bhutan in… Continue reading

[pib] Guidelines for Other Service Providers (OSP)

The Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology has further liberalized the guidelines for Other Service Providers (OSPs). Do you remember quaternary and quinary sectors of Economy from NCERTs? What are OSPs? These entities are business process outsourcing (BPO) organizations giving Voice based services, in India and abroad. The term Business Process Outsourcing or BPO… Continue reading

Population decline: Bane and Boon for the economy

Deflation. A recent (2014) study found substantial deflationary pressures from Japan’s ageing populationThe article argues that a decline in population is not always as worrisome as it is made to be. Declining fertility rate China’s fertility rate of 1.3 children per woman in 2020 is well below replacement level, but so, too, are fertility rates… Continue reading

Why counting of poor matters?

Counting the number of the poor If the state of the Indian economy is to be repaired, we need to meticulously count the number of the poor and to prioritise them. The World Bank $2-a-day poverty line might be inadequate but it would be a start and higher than the last line proposed by the C.… Continue reading

What is Chicago Convention of 1944?

A private commercial flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Minsk by a MiG-29 fighter jet of Belarus. The incident received considerable global attention. How justified was Belarus in taking such a decision? The answer lies at the junction of Belarus’s domestic laws as a sovereign country and international laws governing the action… Continue reading

First-ever genetically modified rubber planted in Assam

A Rubber Board research farm on the outskirts of Guwahati now sports the world’s first genetically modified (GM) rubber plant tailored for the climatic conditions in the Northeast. GM rubber The GM rubber has additional copies of the gene MnSOD, or manganese-containing superoxide dismutase, inserted in the plant. The plant was developed at the Kerala-based… Continue reading

What govt proposes to change in film certification

The Centre has recently released the draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 to the general public for comments. Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 The new draft proposes to amend the Cinematograph Act of 1952 with some provisions. It seeks to give the Centre “revisionary powers” and enable it to “re-examine” films already cleared by the Central Board… Continue reading

[pib] Amendments to the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020

For the purposes of preventing unfair trade practices in e-commerce, the Central Government had notified the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 with effect from 23 July 2020. Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 The proposed amendments aim to bring transparency in the e-commerce platforms and further strengthen the regulatory regime to curb the prevalent unfair trade… Continue reading

Centre must make way for states in Covid fight

The States are better equipped to deal with the health emergencies and the Centre needs to augment them in their efforts. The article deals with this issue. Role of the States in health crisis Covid-19 pandemic is a national crisis calling for concerted efforts by both, the Government of India (GoI) and state governments. Health… Continue reading

What is Summer Solstice?

The summer solstice will happen today around 9:02 am on Monday (Indian Standard Time). What is Summer Solstice? Solstice means “sun stands still” in Latin. The longest day of 2021 for those living north of the Equator is June 21. This day is characterized by a greater amount of energy received from the sun. In… Continue reading

Species in news: Rare Black Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia nigricans)

A major temple in Assam has signed a MoU with NGOs, the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden and the Kamrup district administration for the long-term conservation of the rare freshwater black softshell turtle or the Nilssonia nigricans. Two years back, one species from our newscard: Species in news: Hump-backed Mahseer made it into the CSP 2019. … Continue reading

[pib] Flag Satyagraha

The Minister of State (IC) for Culture and Tourism has organized to observe the Flag Satyagraha in Jabalpur to commemorate the Jhanda Satyagraha of the year 1923. Flag Satyagraha Flag satyagrahas were one of the most common acts of defiance during the nationalist rebellions led by Gandhi and the Indian National Congress throughout the struggle.… Continue reading

Green Hydrogen

India is all set to host a two-day summit on Green Hydrogen initiatives involving the BRICS nations. What is Green Hydrogen? Hydrogen, when produced by electrolysis using renewable energy is known as Green Hydrogen which has no carbon footprint. This gives hydrogen the edge over other fuels to unlock various avenues of green usage. However,… Continue reading

How poll results are challenged, and when courts have set them aside

West Bengal CM has filed an election petition in the Calcutta High Court challenging the Assembly election result of Nandigram constituency, where she had contested and lost. What is an election petition? The Election Commission’s role ends with the declaration of results, that is once the Returning Officer has signed the final result sheet (Form… Continue reading

World Competitiveness Ranking 2021

India’s position has remained unchanged at 43 for the third year in a row in the World Competitiveness Ranking by Switzerland-based Institute for Management Development (IMD). World Competitiveness Ranking The IMD World Competitiveness Ranking ranks 64 economies and assesses the extent to which a country promotes the prosperity of its people by measuring economic well-being… Continue reading

[pib] Exercise EUNAVFOR

Indian Navy is participating in the maiden IN – EUNAVFOR Joint Naval Exercise in the Gulf of Aden. Exercise EUNAVFOR EUNAVFOR is a multilateral naval exercise comprising of Italian Navy, Spanish Navy, and French Navy. Ships of the four navies will endeavor to enhance and hone their war-fighting skills and their ability as an integrated… Continue reading

Time to rethink the Big Tech’s immunity

The article discusses the need for regulation of social media and counters against placing social media on a higher pedestal for the application of reasonable restrictions. Social media and its regulation Social media is a commercial product that connects people all over the globe. It allows people to converse with each other through profiles both… Continue reading

National Maritime Heritage Complex

In order to showcase the maritime heritage and history of India, a National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) will be developed in the Lothal region of Gujarat. National Maritime Heritage Complex It is to note that the National Maritime Heritage Complex will be made within the ASI site of Lothal that is located 80 km away… Continue reading

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