True empowerment of the electricity consumer

The article examines the various provisions of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 and analyses whether or not these Rules will empower the consumers. Empowering electricity consumers The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 was promulgated in December to deal with the problems faced by the consumers. The enactment of consumer-centric rules does spark… Continue reading

What is Section 32A of IBC?

The Supreme Court has held that the bidders for a corporate debtor under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) would be immune from any investigations being conducted either by any investigating agencies. Q.Examine the impact of various amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and suggest further improvements in the IBC. Backgrounder: IBC IBC… Continue reading

Ratle Hydroelectric Project

The Centre has decided to go ahead with the long-pending 850-megawatt Ratle hydroelectric power project on the river Chenab in J&K Kishtwar district, despite objections raised by the Pakistan government over the same. Tap to read more about Indus River System Ratle Hydel Plant It is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station currently under construction on… Continue reading

Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR)

State Bank of India (SBI) has executed two inter-bank short term money market deals with pricing linked to SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate). Try this PYQ: Q.The money multiplier in an economy increases with which one of the following? (a) Increase in the cash reserve ratio (b) Increase in the banking habit of the population… Continue reading

Impact of RERA on real estate sector

The article highlights the various provision of RERA and its overall impact on the sector. How it changed the real estate sector Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) was enacted in 2016 and it had been in the works for more than a decade. RERA has infused governance in a hitherto unregulated sector. Along… Continue reading

Issues over Parliament Canteen Subsidy

Food served in Parliament canteen is set to cost more as it will no longer be subsidised, Lok Sabha Speaker has informed. I say there is no darkness, but ignorance. -William Shakespeare Why in news? The low rate of food in the Parliament canteen has often attracted controversy, with critics objecting to lawmakers enjoying a… Continue reading

Celebration of Parakram Diwas

The Union Culture Ministry has announced that January 23, birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose, would be celebrated as “Parakram Diwas” — the day of courage — every year. Try this PYQ Q.Highlight the difference in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom. (150 W) Subhash Chandra Bose… Continue reading

1776 Commission report of the White House

The White House has released the 1776 Commission report, just days before president-elect Joe Biden would take his oath in office. Read about anti-apartheid movement from your World History sources. What is the news? Earlier, Trump has signed an executive order to set up a “national commission to promote patriotic education” in the country. The… Continue reading

Issues with treating mineral sale proceeds as revenue or income

The rate at which we are extracting mineral and spending the proceeds from it without consideration for the future generation needs a rethink. The article deals with this issue. The principle of Intergenerational Equity We cannot compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs, and this is reflected in the aim for the… Continue reading

Task force on Age of Marriage for Women submits its report

The task force set up to take a re-look at the age of marriage for women has submitted its report to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Try this question for mains: Q.The different minimum age of marriage for women and men is a discriminatory provision. Analyse. What is… Continue reading

[pib] Second edition of India Innovation Index 2020

NITI Aayog is set to release the second edition of the India Innovation Index 2020 tomorrow. *Statewise rankings will be updated tomorrow. Updated on 21st Jan, Thursday. India Innovation Index (III) The release of the second edition of the index—the first was launched in October 2019—demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment towards transforming the country into… Continue reading

New ideas needed for online privacy policies

The article discusses challenges posed by online privacy policies and suggests some ideas to make them more user friendly. Issues with online privacy policies Such policies are not designed for easy reading. These policies are full of legal jargon and most are difficult to read. Most policies are exclusively in English, which is clearly inadequate… Continue reading

UK invites India to attend G7 Summit

The United Kingdom has invited PM Modi to attend the G7 summit that is scheduled to be held in June. Note the members of G7 and G20. UPSC may puzzle you asking which G20 nation isn’t a member of G7. G7 Countries The G-7 or ‘Group of Seven’ includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the… Continue reading

UN Adaptation Gap Report, 2020

The United Nations Adaptation Gap Report, 2020 was recently released by the UNEP. Must read edition: Five years of Paris Agreement UN Adaptation Gap Report UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has managed the production of UN Environment’s Adaptation Gap Report series since its first edition in 2014. The aim of the reports is to inform national… Continue reading

Problem of control and governance of knowledge in a globalised world

The article highlights the issues with the criteria applied by the UGC to evaluate the faculty research. Impact of UGC standardisation on social sciences and humanities research UGC has been the regulatory body responsible for maintaining standards in higher education, while addressing challenges of globalisation. Processes of UGC mandated standardisation have in particular impacted social sciences… Continue reading

India’s trade with China falls at five-year low

India’s trade with China last year fell to the lowest since 2017, with the trade imbalance declining to a five-year low on the back of a slump in India’s imports from China. Try this PYQ: Q.Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years? (CSP… Continue reading

[pib] PMKVY 3.0

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has launched Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 3.0. Note the differences between all three versions of PMKVY. PMKVY 3.0 PMKVY 3.0 envisages training of eight lakh candidates over the scheme period of 2020-2021. This phase three will focus on new-age and COVID-related skills. The 729 PM… Continue reading

Adultery Law and the Armed Forces

The Supreme Court has admitted a petition filed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) seeking to exempt armed forces personnel from the ambit of a Constitution Bench judgment of 2018 that decriminalized adultery. Q. Personnels of the Indian Armed Forces constitute a ‘Distinct Class’. Discuss this statement in context to the extension of IPC section… Continue reading

NASA’s Curiosity Rover celebrates 3000 days on Mars

The Mars rover ‘Curiosity’ has completed 3,000 Martian days. Try this PYQ: Q.Which region of Mars has a densely packed river deposit indicating this planet had water 3.5 billion years ago? (a) Aeolis Dorsa (b) Tharsis (c) Olympus Mons (d) Hellas Curiosity Rover Curiosity is an SUV-sized Mars rover designed to explore the Gale crater… Continue reading

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