India’s internal migration

This newscard presents data on India’s internal migration considering the mass exodus which was visible during the lockdowns. The displacement of people during the imposition of lockdown has been described as the second-largest since the Partition of the country. Also read: [Burning Issue] Migrant workers amid COVID-19 outbreak India’s internal migration (1) Number of… Continue reading

What is NetWire Malware?

This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in The Hindu. Try this question from CSP 2018: Q.The terms ‘WannaCry, Petya, Eternal Blue’ sometimes mentioned news recently are related to (a) Exoplanets (b) Crypto currency (c) Cyber attacks (d) Mini satellites What is NetWire? NetWire, which first surfaced in 2012, is a well-known… Continue reading

Species in news: Mandarin Duck

A rare Mandarin duck was observed floating in the Maguri-Motapung beel (or wetland) in Assam’s Tinsukia district for over a week is spectacular. Mandarin duck IUCN status: Least Concerned Considered the most beautiful duck in the world, the Mandarin duck, or the (Aix galericulata) was first identified by Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist Carl Linnaeus… Continue reading

Sharpening educational divide

The article highlights the issue of the decrease in allocation for education and two ways in which the government seeks to plug this gap. Decrease in allocation to education: Two paradoxical axes The government allocated Rs 6,000 crore less on education in Budget 2021 as compared to last year. It’s strange that this year’s budget… Continue reading

[pib] National Creche Scheme

The Union Minister of Women and Child Development have given information about the National Creche Scheme to the Lok Sabha. Try this PYQ: Q.Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017? Pregnant women are entitled to three months pre-delivery and three months post-delivery paid leave. Enterprises with creches must… Continue reading

[pib] Swami Dayanand Saraswati

Information and Broadcasting Minister paid his tributes to Swami Dayanand Saraswati on his birth anniversary. Dayanand Saraswati (1824-1883) Swami Dayanand Saraswati was a philosopher, social leader and founder of the Arya Samaj, a reform movement of the Vedic dharma. He was the first to give the call for Swaraj as “India for Indians” in 1876,… Continue reading

OTT players adopt ‘toolkit’ for self-regulation

Online streaming providers have announced the adoption of an ‘implementation toolkit’, under the aegis of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). What is the news? Various OTT platforms say that this is in furtherance to the Universal Self-Regulation Code the body had introduced in September. The government had rejected this USRC code. Q.What… Continue reading

[pib] SAKSHAM Portal

The Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) has launched SAKSHAM, a dynamic job portal for mapping the skills of Shramiks. The name SAKSHAM closely leans towards HRD, Employment and Entrepreneurship developments. Make a note of it. It can create confusion while revision. SAKSHAM SAKSHAM is an acronym for Shramik Shakti Manch. The portal with… Continue reading

MTP amendment Bill

The article discusses the provision of the medical board in the MTP (Amendment) Act and issues with it. Proposal of medical board The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill (‘MTP Bill’) passed in the Lok Sabha is scheduled to be tabled for consideration in Rajya Sabha. The Act prescribes the setting up of medical boards… Continue reading

What is Division Voting?

Parliament saw the first instance of division voting in times of the pandemic, with Major Ports Authorities Bill 2020 passed in Rajya Sabha as members voted through slips in view of social distancing norms in place. What is the news? The Bill provides for the regulation of major ports and will replace the Major Port… Continue reading

What is Breach of Privilege?

An MP has issued a breach of privilege notice against an MP from Bengal in the Lok Sabha. Try this PYQ: Q.With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws etc. conferred by the constitution of… Continue reading

Centre’s new labour codes to allow 4-day work per week

The Centre under its new labour codes would soon provide an option for organisations to allow their employees to work for four days in a week. What is the news? The proposed new labour codes could provide companies with the flexibility of four working days in a week. What does this mean? The working hour’s… Continue reading

Places in news: Shahtoot Dam

India and Afghanistan have signed an agreement to build the Shahtoot Dam in Kabul to provide drinking water facility in the Afghan capital. Try this question from prelims 2020: Consider the following pairs Sr. River Flows into 1. Mekong — Andaman Sea 2. Thames — Irish Sea 3. Volga — Caspian Sea 4. Zambezi —… Continue reading

Need for rigorous scrutiny of constitutionality of the bills

Farmers’ protests against the farm laws and staying of implementation of these laws by the judiciary have once again brought into focus the process followed in the passage of laws by the parliament. This article highlights the importance of parliamentary committees. Need for introspection on the role of parliament The Supreme Court’s order on the… Continue reading

What is Immunity Passport?

In a bid to ease travel restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic, countries like Denmark, Estonia, Israel, Chile, UK have announced a new ‘immunity passport.’ Try this question form mains: Q.Discuss various ethical issues evolved during the outbreaks of pandemics (of the scale of COVID-19). Immunity Passport They are the recovery or release certificate or a… Continue reading

Dickinsonia fossil discovered in Bhimbetka

Researchers have found the first-ever fossil in India of a Dickinsonia —the Earth’s ‘oldest animal’, dating back 570 million years — on the roof of what’s called the ‘Auditorium Cave’ at Bhimbetka. Dickinsonia Dickinsonia is an extinct genus of basal animal that lived during the late Ediacaran period in what is now Australia, Russia and… Continue reading

US moves to rejoin UN Human Rights Council

The Biden administration is set to reengage with the much-maligned UN Human Rights Council that former Donald Trump withdrew from almost three years ago. Try this PYQ: Q.Consider the following: Right to education. Right to equal access to public service. Right to food. Which of the above is/are Human Right/Human Rights under “Universal Declaration of… Continue reading

Einsteinium: the mysterious element named after Albert Einstein

The University of California has reported some of the properties of element 99 in the periodic table called “Einsteinium”, named after Albert Einstein. Try this PYQ: Q.The known forces of nature can be divided into four classes, viz, gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force and strong nuclear force. With reference to them, which one of the… Continue reading

[pib] Scheme for Management of Crop Residues

The Scheme on ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi’ has been extended for the year 2021-22. We can cite the example of this scheme for crop residue management as an effective solution against stubble burning. Management of Crop Residues… Continue reading

[pib] Malabar Naval Exercises

The 24th edition of Malabar maritime exercise, hosted by Indian Navy in 2020, witnessed the participation by Indian Navy, United States Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force and Royal Australian Navy. Such news is nothing but the repetitive chunk that occurs every year with few or no new developments. Still, they are significant for the… Continue reading

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