[pib] ABHYAS Air Vehicle

Successful flight test of ABHYAS – High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) was today conducted by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Interim Test Range, Balasore in Odisha. Try this PYQ: What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news? (a) An Israeli radar system (b) India’s indigenous anti-missile programme… Continue reading

[pib] Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) Scheme

The Ministry of Minority Affairs has provided information about the progress of MANF Scheme in the Parliament. Note: As the name suggests, the scheme particularly aims to target the Minority community. Here, six major groups are considered a minority. Statement based questions often create bluffs on such conditions. MANF Scheme The Ministry of Minority Affairs… Continue reading

[pib] YuWaah Platform

Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) are set to establish YuWaah, Generation Unlimited (GenU), a global multi-stakeholder platform in India. YuWaah Platform As per the Statement of Intent, the objectives of this project are: Support young people by providing entrepreneurship classes (online and offline) with successful entrepreneurs and experts,… Continue reading

Explained: Birth of United Nations

The United Nations completed 75 years this year. In order to commemorate the historic moment, world leaders have come together, at a one-day high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly. Try this: Q.Discuss the various success and failures of the United Nations. (150W) Birth of United Nations The United Nations was born out of the… Continue reading

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020

The Centre is set to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and has proposed to make Aadhaar a mandatory identification document for all the office-bearers, directors and other key functionaries of an NGO or an association eligible to receive foreign donations. What are the news Amendments? (1) Prohibition to accept foreign contribution: Under the Act,… Continue reading

What are Basel III compliant Bonds?

The country’s largest lender State Bank of India has raised Rs 7,000 crore by issuing Basel III compliant bonds. Try this PYQ: Q.‘Basel III Accord’ or simply ‘Basel III’, often seen in the news, seeks to: (a) Develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity (b) Improve the banking sector’s ability… Continue reading

[pib] E-Gram Swaraj Portal

A unified tool e-Gram SWARAJ portal has been developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for effective monitoring and evaluation of works taken up in the Gram Panchayats. e-Gram SWARAJ It unifies the planning, accounting and monitoring functions of Gram Panchayats. Its combination with the Area Profiler application, Local Government Directory (LGD) and the Public… Continue reading

Labour law Reforms

This session of Lok Sabha has passed 3 Historic and path-breaking Labour Codes. UPSC may ask the major laws subsumed under these Labour Codes. What are the 3 bills? The 3 bills which were passed are Industrial Relations Code, 2020 Code on Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020 & Social Security Code, 2020… Continue reading

Hate speech in India

Context Sudarshan TV case will have several implication for the regulation of free speech. In principle, Indian law allows prior restraint on broadcasting. This prior restraint should be used sparingly and must meet a high constitutional bar. Indian law also allows regulation for hate speech. Maintaining the equilibrium The government feared that if it did… Continue reading

Explained: Solar Cycle 25

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced the commencement of solar cycle 25. Try this PYQ: Q. Which one of the following reflects back more sunlight as compared to the other three? (a) Sand desert (b) Paddy cropland (c) Land covered with fresh snow (d) Prairie land What is the Solar… Continue reading

What is Queen’s Counsel?

India has suggested Pakistan appointing a Queen’s Counsel for the Kulbhushan Jadhav case to ensure a free and fair trial. Queen’s Counsel In the UK and in some Commonwealth countries, a Queen’s Counsel during the reign of a queen is a lawyer who is appointed by the monarch of the country to be one of… Continue reading

Global Smart City Index, 2020

Four Indian cities -New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru – witnessed a significant drop in their rankings in the global listing of smart cities that was topped by Singapore. Try this PYQ: Q.Which one of the following is not a sub-index of the World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business Index’? (a) Maintenance of law and… Continue reading

India joins Djibouti Code of Conduct

India has joined the Djibouti Code of Conduct/ Jeddah Amendment (DCOC/JA) as Observer, following the high-level virtual meeting. Try this MCQ: Q.The Djibouti Code of Conduct is related to: (a) International trade in precious stones (b) Maritime Security (c) Data sharing on Terrorism related activities (d) Data Localization Djibouti Code of Conduct DCOC/JA is a… Continue reading

What are Supplementary Grants?

Finance Minister has tabled the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for this financial year in the Lok Sabha. Supplementary Demand for Grants Article 115 of the constitution provides for Supplementary, additional or excess grants. (Note: Article 116 provides for Votes on account, votes of credit and exceptional grants.) They are additional grants which… Continue reading

National Hispanic Heritage Month

The National Hispanic Heritage Month has begun in the US. Try this MCQ: Q.The event National Hispanic Heritage Month recently seen in news is primarily celebrated in which of the following countries? (a) US (b) Spain (c) Mexico (d) Cuba National Hispanic Heritage Month The annual event honours the history, culture and contributions of American… Continue reading

Departmental Standing committees

The article analyses the issue of tenure of the members of the Department related committees and suggest the changes to the rules about the tenure. Context There was speculation in the media that the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, M. Venkaiah Naidu, is keen on amending the rules to give them a fixed tenure of… Continue reading

What are Interest Rate Derivatives (IRDs)?

The RBI has proposed allowing foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to undertake exchange-traded rupee interest rate derivatives transactions subject to an overall ceiling of ₹5,000 crores. Every year, there is a question on a capital market instruments. Make note of all such separately. Also, try this PYQ: Q. Which of the following is issued by registered… Continue reading

Urban unemployment in India

The article discusses the issue of vulnerability of informal jobs in India and suggests the steps to address the problem. The urban unemployment in India crept up to 9.83% in August as against 9.15% in July, according to monthly unemployment data released Tuesday by the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). In other words, roughly… Continue reading

Crisis in education in rural India and NEP

The article analyses the missing focus on the rural youth in the National Education Policy 2020 and its implications. Education in rural India and NEP Poor quality education marks and mars the lives of rural citizens. The NEP fails to address the growing school differentiation in which government schools are now primarily attended by children… Continue reading

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