Civil Services Chronicle July 2022

India Watch

In Focus

Draft National Data Governance Framework Policy

On 27th May, 2022, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released the revised draft National Data Governance Framework Policy. The development comes after a strong criticism of the previous ‘Draft India Data Accessibility and Use Policy, 2022’, which was opened for public consultation in February, 2022. Need In the post-COVID-19

Plan/Policy/Initiatives

Jal Jeevan Mission

Recently, India achieved the milestone of 50 per cent of rural households having access to tap water connections under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Jal Jeevan Mission Launched in August, 2019, the Mission is envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in

Indian Polity & Governance

Delimitation Commission Notifies New J&K Assembly Constituencies

Recently, the Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir submitted its final report for the delimitation of Assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. The Delimitation Commission was constituted by the Centre on March 6, 2020 in exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 of the Delimitation Act, 2002 (33 of 2002), for the purpose of delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary

Indian Polity & Governance

Grievance Appellate Committee

On 2nd June, 2022, the Centre proposed to set up a grievance appellate committee to look into appeals filed by individuals against the decisions of grievance officers of social media platforms. The idea to constitute appellate committees has been proposed as an amendment to the controversial IT Rules, 2021. Rationale behind the Proposal The proposal comes on the back of multiple stand-offs between

Indian Polity & Governance

Place of Worship Act 1991

The ongoing row over the survey of Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi has bought the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 to the fore once again. About Place of Worship Act, 1991 The Places of Worship Act, 1991 has been in force since July 11, 1991. According to the Act, no person can convert any place of worship of any religious denomination

Indian Polity & Governance

Guidelines for Safety Assessment of Genome Edited Plants 2022

On 21st May, 2022, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) issued guidelines easing norms for research into genetically modified (GM) crops and circumventing challenges of using foreign genes to change crops profile. About Guidelines It exempts researchers who use gene-editing technology to modify the genome of the plant from seeking approvals from the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). The environment ministry in March 2022

Indian Polity & Governance

Article 142 of the Constitution

On 18th May, 2022, the Supreme Court exercised the power conferred on it under Article 142 of the Constitution to order the release of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict A.G. Perarivalan. In the case of Perarivalan, the Supreme Court invoked Article 142(1) under which it was empowered to pass any order necessary to do complete justice in any

Judiciary

Tribunals Subordinate to High Courts: Supreme Court

On 1st June, 2022, the Supreme Court (SC) set aside a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order prohibiting construction work at Rushikonda hills in Visakhapatnam. What SC Said? The Bench noted that the NGT was subordinate to the High Court in so far as territorial jurisdiction was concerned. The conflicting orders passed by the NGT and the high court will lead to an anomalous

Judiciary

Transit Anticipatory Bail

Recently, the Bombay High Court referred to a larger bench - the issue of whether a high court or other court can grant transit anticipatory bail to a person booked for an offence in another state. About Transit Anticipatory Bail No legislation or law defines ‘transit or anticipatory bail’ in definitive or specific terms, however, the roots to the concept of transit

Plan/Policy/Initiatives

Jal Jeevan Mission

Society Watch

In Focus

The Global Report on Food Crises 2022

On 5th May, 2022, Global Report on Food Crises 2022 was released by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC). The report is the flagship publication of the GNAFC and is facilitated by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN). The report focuses on those countries and territories where the magnitude and severity

Social Issues

Surrogacy

On 27th May, 2022, a petition was filed before Delhi High Court, challenging the exclusion of a single man and a woman having a child from surrogacy and demanded the decriminalization of commercial surrogacy. The petitioners have challenged their exclusion from availing surrogacy under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021

Social Justice

Community Forest Resource Rights

Recently, the Chhattisgarh government has become only the second state in the country to recognise Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights of a village inside Kanger Ghati National Park.in Bastar district. Kanger Ghati National Park is the second national park, after Simlipal in Odisha, wher e CFR rights have been recognised. About

Social Justice

Residential Education For Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas

On 3rd June, 2022, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched the Scheme for Residential Education For Students in High schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA). Need The students from the Scheduled Caste communities, for long been subjects to inequality, were kept out of quality education and a situation that perpetuates the disadvantages

Social Justice

Eklavya Model Residential School

Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has laid the foundation stone for the construction of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in Nashik, Maharashtra. About EMRS EMRS is a scheme for making model residential schools for Indian tribals (ST- Scheduled Tribes) across India. It started in the year 1997-98. These Schools are being developed

Indian Society

Multi Hazard Vulnerabilities in Jaipur: UN Habitat

Recently, the UN-Habitat has identified issues associated with Jaipur city like multi hazard vulnerabilities, weak mobility and Green-Blue economy. UN-Habitat has based its findings on sustainable cities integrated approach pilot project and a “sustainable urban planning and management” component was implemented in partnership with the Jaipur Development Authority and Jaipur Greater

Reports & Indices

Progress from NFHS-4 (2015-16) to NFHS-5 (2019-21)

On 5th May 2022, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya released the National Report of the fifth round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) at Gujarat's Vadodara. The NFHS-5 National Report lists progress from NFHS-4 (2015-16) to NFHS-5 (2019-21). The main objective of successive rounds of the NFHS has been to provide reliable

Reports & Indices

The State of Inequality in India Report

On 18th May, 2022, the State of Inequality in India Report was released by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). The report has been written by the Institute for Competitiveness and presents a holistic analysis of the depth and nature of inequality in India. It compiles information on

Heritage Art & Culture

Art & Culture

Cultural Significance of India’s Gifts to Quad Partners

At the recent Quad Summit held at Tokyo, Indian Prime Minister carried with him gifts for leaders of the US, Australia and Japan showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage and art forms. Rogan Painting Rogan painting is an art of cloth printing practised in the Kutch District of Gujarat. In this craft, paint made from boiled oil and vegetable dyes is laid down

Art & Culture

Kanheri Caves

On 16th May, 2022, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, the Union Government upgraded several facilities and amenities in the historic Kanheri Caves. About Kanheri Caves These are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments located on the western outskirts of Mumbai. The caves are located within Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The name Kanheri is derived from ‘Kanhagiri’ in Prakrit and occurs in

Art & Culture

Vadnagar’s Link with Buddhism

On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, Indian Prime Minister in Lumbini said that his birthplace Vadnagar in Gujarat’s Mehsana district had been a great centre for Buddhist learning centuries ago. Vadnagar and Buddhism Vadnagar, located in the Mehsana district in Gujarat is also called Chamatkarpur, Anandpur, Snehpur and Vimalpur; the city of Vadnagar was mentioned in the Puranas as well. Vadnagar was a

Art & Culture

Amitabha Buddha Sculptures

Recently, two Buddha sculptures have surfaced at the Navabraheswara temple complex in Alampur, a temple town in Jogulamba-Gadwal district, Telangana. Alampur is considered as the western gateway to Srisailam and is also seat to one of the Sakthi Peethas. About Buddha Sculptures The sculpture at Suryanarayan temple has Buddha seated under the Bodhi tree in Dhyanamudra (contemplating meditation) with an attendant’s sculpture on

Art & Culture

International Museum Day

International Museum Day (IMD) is celebrated every year on 18 May. The objective of International Museum Day is to raise awareness on the fact that, “museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples. International Museum Day 2022 Theme- 'The Power of Museums'. As per International Council of Museums

Art & Culture

Bhojshala Dispute

Recently, a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by a Hindu organisation challenging the ASI order of April 7, 2003, imposing restriction on Hindus to worship at Bhojshala daily. Hindus claim it as a temple of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim community treats it as Kamal Maula Mosque. Current Status The disputes about the site were prompted by the inscriptions and the

History

New Archaeological Findings at Rakhigarhi

On 8th May, 2022, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Rakhigarhi village (Hisar, Haryana) uncovered significant evidence pointing towards the possibility of a meticulous and well-planned Harappan Civilisation settlement. In 2020 Budget, Finance Minister named Rakhigarhi as one of five ancient sites that the Indian government will develop as iconic archaeological attractions. Other four sites are- Hastinapur (UP), Dholavira (Gujarat),

History

Iron Excavation in Tamil Nadu

Recently, iron implements unearthed from excavations in Mayiladumparai in Tamil Nadu have revealed that the Iron Age in Tamil Nadu dates back 4,200 years. Mayiladumparai is an important site with cultural material dating back between the Microlithic (30,000 BCE) and Early Historic (600 BCE) ages. Before Mayiladumparai, the earliest evidence of the use of iron in Tamil Nadu was found at Mangadu

Personality

Sree Narayana Guru

Recently, the Karnataka government is caught in a controversy over the exclusion of text on reformer Narayana Guru in the new social science textbook of class 10. About Narayan Guru Born in 1856 in Chempazhanthy, a village near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, he belonged to the Ezhava caste. Sree Narayana Guru was a catalyst and leader who reformed the oppressive caste system that prevailed in

World Watch

In Focus

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity

On 23rd May, 2022, the United States launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). This economic initiative came a day before the summit of the Quad leaders in Tokyo. About IPEF It is a US-led initiative that aims to aims to strengthen economic partnership among participating countries to enhance resilience, sustainability,

International Relations

India-US Investment Incentive Agreement

Recently, India and the United States signed an Investment Incentive Agreement (IIA) at Tokyo, Japan. It supersedes the Investment Incentive Agreement signed between the Government of India and the Government of the United States of America in the year 1997. Need Significant developments have taken place since the signing of the earlier

International Relations

Quad Leaders’ Summit

On 24th May, 2022, India’s Prime Minister participated in the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Tokyo, Japan along with Prime Minister of Japan, President of the United States of America and Prime Minister of Australia. India, the US, Japan and Australia are the members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). This was

International Relations

India and Japan to Boost Bilateral Cooperation

On 24th May, 2022, India’s Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan. Both leaders had productive exchange of views on enhancing bilateral relations in various spheres as well as on some regional and global issues. Key Highlights Bilateral Security and Defence Cooperation: The two countries agreed to

International Relations

India and Senegal Sign Three MoUs

Recently, during the visit of the Indian Vice President to Senegal, three MoUs (Memorandums of Understanding) for cultural exchange, visa free regime and cooperation in youth matters were signed. It will further deepen the bilateral partnership in various areas. Key Points Visa-Free Regime: The first MoU pertains to visa-free regime for Diplomatic

International Relations

Second Global COVID-19 Summit

On May 12, 2022, the United States as first COVID Summit Chair; Belize, as CARICOM Chair; Germany, holding the G7 Presidency; Indonesia, holding the G20 Presidency; and Senegal as African Union Chair, co-hosted the second Global COVID-19 Summit. The summit, held virtually, called on the world leaders to make new commitments

International Relations

SCO RATS Meeting

Recently, a meeting of the member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) under the framework of the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) was held in New Delhi. The meeting was hosted by India. Key Points The major focus of the discussion was the situation in Afghanistan, especially in dealing with the

Reports

Worldwide Governance Indicators

Recently, the World Bank released the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI). WGI play a key role in deciding sovereign credit rating of countries. About WGI It assesses 215 countries and territories based on the following dimensions of governance: Voice and Accountability; Political Stability and Absence of Violence; Government Effectiveness; Regulatory Quality; Rule of Law; and Control of Corruption. Sources: These

Economy Watch

In Focus

Direct Seeding of Rice

Recently, the Punjab government announced Rs 1,500 incentive per acre for farmers opting for Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR). About DSR It refers to the process of establishing a rice crop from seeds sown in the field rather than by transplanting seedlings from the nursery. There are three principal methods of direct seeding

Agriculture

System of Rice Intensification

According to the experts, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method is beneficial for the soil, environment and farmers. About SRI It is a method of cultivating rice with as much organic manure as possible, starting with young seedlings planted singly at wider spacing in a square pattern. It involves intermittent irrigation that keeps the soil moist but not inundated, and frequent inter

Agriculture

Breed-Wise Report of Livestock and Poultry

On 12th May 2022, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying released the Breed-Wise Report of Livestock and Poultry based on 20th Livestock Census. The breed-wise data collection was done along with 20th Livestock Census during the year 2019. The livestock as well as poultry birds were counted according to their breeds as recognized by National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources

Plans/Policies

Cabinet Approves Amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels 2018

On 18th May, 2022, government approved amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018. The proposed amendments are in line with vision of India becoming energy independent by 2047. Need The amendments have been brought about due to- advancements in the field of Biofuels, Various decisions taken in the National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) meetings to increase biofuel production and recommendation of the standing

Plans/Policies

Wheat Crisis: India’s Ban on Wheat Export

On 13th May, 2022, the government banned all private wheat exports with immediate effect. Rationale behind the Ban Heat Wave: The decision came amid widespread loss of yield due to abnormal heat waves in the major wheat-growing states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Large parts of the crop had shrivelled due to the heat and, in certain cases, had become

Banking And Finance

RBI Releases Annual Report 2021-22

On 27th May, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the RBI Annual Report 2021-22. The report covers the working and functions of the central bank for the period from April 2021 to March 2022. It warns global recovery this year could suffer a significant loss of momentum, with negative external effects affecting the financial and commodity markets, surging food and/fuel

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Development in North East India

On 30th May, 2022, Union Finance Minister mentioned the Union Government is implementing various railway, road & air connectivity projects worth Rs 1,34,200 crore in the northeast area. Road: 4,000 km of roads, 20 railway projects for 2,011 km and 15 air connectivity projects are being developed. Waterways Connectivity: National waterways on the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Barak rivers (National Waterways (NW)-1 on

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Investment Trusts

Recently, state-owned PowerGrid Corp of India Ltd launched the public offer of the first Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) ever by a PSU. About InvITs An InvIT is a collective investment scheme, just like a mutual fund, and is set up in the form of a trust. Typically, such a vehicle is designed to pool money (small sums) from several investors to be invested

Industry

Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana

On 31st March, 2022, Prime Minister virtually interacted with a beneficiary of the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana hailing from Mehsana in Gujarat and appreciated him for choosing to be a “job creator” instead of becoming a “job seeker”. About PM MUDRA Yojana In April 2015, the government introduced the Pradhan Mantri Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) Yojana to provide loans

Industry

Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program

On 30th May, 2022, the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program (PMEGP) was approved for continuation over the 15th Finance Commission Cycle for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs.13554.42 Crore. About PMEGP The scheme is implemented by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) functioning as the nodal agency at the national level. It aims to facilitate generation of

Industry

Metal Industry: Current Outlook and Future Trends

On 20th May, 2022, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) organized a conference named Indian Metal Industry: Current Outlook and Future Trends. The per capita consumption of Steel in India grew by ten percent to 77 kg during financial year 2021-22. India has exported a record 13.5 million tonnes of finished steel in the year 2021-22 with a record

Industry

National Startup Advisory Council

On 17th May, 2022, the Minister of Commerce and Industry chaired the 4th meeting of National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC) in New Delhi. About National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC) It was constituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to advise the government on measures needed to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the

Reports & Indices

Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2022

On 11th May, 2022, the World Economic Forum released a report titled – ‘Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2022’. It says energy transition must address the challenges to environmental sustainability, energy security and energy justice and affordability. Key Findings Transition not in Pace with Climate Urgency The energy transition is not keeping pace with the growing climate urgency. High energy prices, risks of energy

Science & Technology

Space Science

EHT Reveals First Image of Sagittarius A*

Recently, scientists from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) facility revealed the first image of the black hole named Sagittarius A* (SgrA*) at the centre of our galaxy, i.e., the Milky Way. About Sagittarius A* It is a supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy, located near the border of

Space Science

InSight Mars Lander Detects Largest Marsquake

Recently, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reported that its InSight Mars lander detected the largest quake ever observed on another planet. The rover first landed on Mars in November 2018, and has since heard 1,313 quakes. Cause of Marsquakes On Earth, quakes are caused by shifts in tectonic plates. Mars, however, does

Space Science

ISRO Successfully Tests HS200 Solid Rocket Booster

Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out the static test of the HS200 solid rocket booster. This takes the space agency one more step closer to the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. About HS200 Solid Rocket Booster Human-rated Version: The HS200 is the human-rated version of the S200 rocket booster

Space Science

New Insight into Evolution of Galaxies

A recent study by an international team of astronomers, including those from the Pune-based Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), has offered new insights into the role of supermassive black holes in the evolution of their host galaxies. Context Supermassive black holes at the centres of galaxies are known to give

New Technology & Innovations

Indigenous Potential mRNA Vaccine against COVID

Recently, the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB) announced the success of ‘proof of principle’ of the first indigenous mRNA vaccine technology. The technology is ready to be tranferred to any interested firm to take it to the next level of conducting human trials and

New Technology & Innovations

New Biomaterial Helps Heal Wounds

Recently, scientists from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, IIT Delhi and National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, have developed a new biomaterial from pullulan that can be used to disinfect wounds and hastens the process of healing. Biomaterials are materials that have been designed to interface with

Basic Sciences

W Boson Measurement Challenges the Standard Model

A recent measurement of a fundamental particle called the W boson appears to defy the Standard Model of particle physics, our current understanding of how the basic building blocks of the universe interact. The scientists at the Fermilab Collider Detector (CDF) in Illinois, USA have found that elusive W boson has

Defence

Project WARDEC

On 13th May, 2022, the Army Training Command signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) to develop a ‘Wargame Research and Development Centre’ in New Delhi. Given a prototype name ‘WARDEC’, the project will be a first-of-its-kind simulation-based training centre in India that will use artificial

Ecology & Environment

In Focus

Lancet Report on Pollution and Health

On 17th May, 2022, a report titled ‘Pollution and health: a progress update’ was published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal. The report, which is an update to The Lancet’s 2015 study, takes into account data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019. According to the

Climate Change

WMO’s Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update

Recently, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update. The report is produced by the United Kingdom’s Met Office, the WMO lead centre for such predictions. The annual update harnesses the expertise of internationally acclaimed climate scientists and the best prediction systems from leading climate centres around the world to produce actionable information for decision-makers. Key Findings Temperature

Biodiversity

The State of the World’s Birds

Recently, 'The State of the World’s Birds', an annual review of environmental resources was published. The study reviewed changes in avian biodiversity using data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List to reveal the changes in fortunes of all the global bird species. Since birds are highly visible and are sensitive indicators of environmental health, collating and analysing bird

Biodiversity

XV World Forestry Congress

Recently, the XV World Forestry Congress was co-organised by the Republic of Korea and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). 141 participants at the Congress endorsed the Seoul Forest Declaration to convey the urgent need for action to achieve a green, healthy and resilient future with forests. This was the second congress held in Asia; Indonesia hosted the

Biodiversity

Sela Macaque: A New Species of Primate

Recently, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and University of Calcutta discovered a new species of primate in Arunachal Pradesh. The species has been named Sela macaque. About Sela Macaque The species has been named after the Sela pass situated between Dirang and Tawang towns in western Arunachal Pradesh. Sela macaque (Macaca selai) is a new macaque species genetically

Sustainable Development

Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2022

Recently, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released a report titled Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2022. The report provides a perspective on the current energy transition challenges and recommendations on how to navigate the transition through a turbulent macroeconomic and geopolitical environment. Key Highlights The energy transition is not keeping pace with the growing climate urgency, and recent compounded disruptions have made the

Sustainable Development

India Joins First Movers Coalition

Recently, at the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Annual Meeting 2022 held in Davos, India joined the First Movers Coalition, a global initiative aimed at decarbonising the heavy industry and long-distance transport sectors that are responsible for 30 per cent of global emissions. About First Movers Coalition The First Movers Coalition is a global initiative harnessing the purchasing power of companies to decarbonize

Reports

The State of the Global Climate 2021

Recently, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a report, titled ‘The State of the Global Climate 2021’. According to the report, four key climate change indicators – greenhouse gas concentrations, sea level rise, ocean heat and ocean acidification – set new records in 2021. It highlights that human activities are causing planetary scale changes on land, in the ocean, and in

State Watch

Haryana

e-Adhigam Scheme

The Haryana State Government has launched the ‘e-Adhigam’ scheme, under which nearly 3 lakh students will receive tablet computers that will help in their online education. The government launched the Advance Digital Haryana Initiative of Government with Adaptive Modules (Adigham) scheme at Maharishi Dayanand University in Rohtak, Haryana.

Haryana

Chaara-Bijaee Yojana

Haryana government has launched the Chaara – Bijaee Yojana, a scheme to provide financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per acre (upto 10 acres) to farmers cultivating and supplying fodder to Gaushalas (Cowsheds). The rationale behind the scheme is to address the State’s fodder shortage and rising stray cattle.

Haryana

Vehicle Movement Tracking System Mobile App

A Vehicle Movement Tracking System (VMTS) mobile app has been launched to track the vehicles carrying sand and other mining material. The app will be used at different checkpoints in all the districts of Haryana. All vehicle details including vehicle type, vehicle number, moving from, moving to, and driver details

Telangana

India’s First-Ever Kind of Flow Chemistry Technology Hub

Hyderabad hosts India's first-ever unique kind of Flow Chemistry Technology Hub_40.1, at Dr. Reddy’s Institute of Life Sciences (DRILS). This is the first of its kind in our country and an enabler for the pharma business in India. This hub would usher in a paradigm shift in the pharmaceutical sector,

Telangana

Nethanna Bima Scheme

Telangana Government has announced the extension of insurance coverage to handloom and power loom weavers under the ‘Nethanna Bima’ (Weaver’s Insurance) Scheme. The Government has issued orders to extend insurance coverage of 5 lakh rupees for weavers under the Insurance Scheme on par with farmers’ insurance schemes. The insurance coverage

Gujarat

SRESTHA-G Project

World Bank has approved USD 350 million as financial aid for the Systems Reform Endeavors for Transformed Health Achievement in Gujarat (SRESTHA-G) project. The SRESTHA-G project will be worth USD 500 million, with the World Bank contributing USD 350 million. The project will include transforming key health delivery systems

Uttar Pradesh

Sambhav Portal

Minister for energy and urban development has launched the SAMBHAV (Systemic Administration Mechanism for Bringing Happiness and Value) portal for disposal of public grievances and monitoring programmes and schemes of the two departments in Uttar Pradesh. The portal, www.sambhav.up.gov.in, will work as a platform for flagging grievances received from the

Maharashtra

Jivhala Scheme

A loan scheme named Jivhala has been launched by the Maharashtra government for the inmates who are serving sentences in various jails across Maharashtra. The scheme, implemented by the Department of Prisons and Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, has been started in Pune’s Yerawada Central Jail. Bank and prison officials believe

Odisha

India’s First Olympic Values Education launched in Odisha

The Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was launched in Odisha, in collaboration with the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT). OVEP is a series of free and accessible teaching resources created by the IOC, to complement academic curricula using the context of Olympic sports

Odisha

Odisha to Host India’s First Tribal Health Observatory

Odisha is planning to create India's "only" observatory, which will house data on the state's indigenous population's health. The Tribal Health Observatory (TriHOb) will be the “first in the nation,” according to the Information Department, and is aimed to be an effective, evidence-based, and policy-oriented centre. It will monitor illness

Rajasthan

Rajasthan Turns Out as the First 10 GW Solar State

According to Mercom's India Solar Project Tracker, Rajasthan became the first state in India to reach 10 GW of cumulative large-scale solar installations. The state has a total installed power capacity of 32.5 GW, with renewables accounting for 55 percent, thermal energy for 43 percent, and nuclear energy accounting for

Rajasthan

Revised Criteria for IG Shehri Rozgar Guarantee Yojana

New rules for the implementation of the Indira Gandhi Shahari Rozgar Yojana have been accepted by Rajasthan government. The scheme, modelled after the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Jobs Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was introduced in the 2022-23 budget to create employment in metropolitan areas. Families living in urban areas will receive

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand to Roll out Drone in Healthcare 2022

Drones being used commercially to deliver great healthcare to Indians in the rural locations seems to be a possibility now, through a commercial drone corridor. In the United States’ Redcliffe Labs, a division of Redcliffe Lifetech, has completed its first commercial drone flight in the healthcare sector. Between Uttarkashi and

Chhattisgarh

Mukhyamantri Mitaan Yojana

Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh has launched ‘Mukhyamantri Mitaan Yojana’ (Mitaan stands for a friend), which will be implemented on a pilot basis in 14 municipal corporations including the cities like Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur and Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh. Under the Scheme, the residents of Chhattisgarh can avail around 100 public

Punjab

Lok Milni Scheme

Punjab Chief Minister launched his government’s flagship ‘lok milni’ (public interaction) program for on-the-spot redressal of the people’s grievances. It is aimed at providing a single-window platform to the people for redressal of their

News Notes

Persons In News

Captain Abhilasha Barak

On May 25, 2022, Captain Abhilasha Barak became the first woman combat aviator in the Indian Army.The Officer from Haryana has joined the Army Aviation Corps as a helicopter pilot after concluding a year-long course at the Combat Army Aviation Training School in Nashik, Maharashtra.

Appointments

Rajiv Kumar

On 12 May 2022, Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner.He assumed charge on May 15 after incumbent Sushil Chandra demitted office on May 14.At present, Anup Chandra Pandey is the other Election Commissioner in the three member

Appointments

S L Thaosen

IPS officer S L Thaosen has been appointed as the Director-General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The post of SSB chief has been lying vacant after incumbent DG Kumar Rajesh Chandra retired on December 31 last year. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) DG Sanjay Arora has been holding the additional charge of the Sashastra Seema Bal DG since then. Prior to this appointment,

Appointments

Yoon Suk-yeol

He recently replaced Moon Jae-in to become the 13th President of South

Appointments

Katalin Novak

On 10th May 2022, she took office as the first-ever female president of

Appointments

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

He won presidential election of the Philippines and will succeed Rodrigo

Appointments

Elisabeth Borne

She was appointed as France’s new prime minister, becoming the second woman after Édith Cresson, who served from 1991 to

Appointments

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

He has been appointed as the President of the UAE after the demise of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al

Appointments

Jose Ramos-Horta

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta was sworn in as president of East Timor - Asia’s youngest

Appointments

Dr. Manik Saha

He replaced Biplab Kumar Deb and became the 11th Chief Minister of

Appointments

Justice Pradip Mohanty

He has been appointed as the Acting Chairperson, Lokpal by President Ram Nath Kovind after Justice Pinaki Chandra Bose’s term

Appointments

Suresh Bhai Kotak

He has been appointed as the Chairman of the Cotton Council of India –that was formed recently by the Union

Appointments

Rajesh Gera

He has been appointed as the Director-General of National Informatics Centre

Appointments

Anwar Hussain Shaik

An Indian Government Officer has been made the chair of the World Trade Organisation’s Committee on Technical Barriers on

Appointments

Devendra Kumar Sharma

The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman, who is a dam expert, has been elected as Chairman of the Asia Pacific Group of the International Commission on Large Dams

Appointments

Naveen Srivastava

He has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to

Appointments

A. R. Dave

He will head the Supreme Court appointed 3-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to manage affairs of All India Football Federation

Appointments

Natarajan Sundar

He has been appointed as MD and CEO of the bad bank — National Asset Reconstruction Company

Appointments

Ranjana Desai

Retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai will head the five-member committee formed by the Uttarakhand government for preparing a draft on implementation of uniform civil code in the

Obituary

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma

Legendary musician and santoor player Pandit Shivkumar Sharma passed away on 10th May 2022.He was the recipient of national and international awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986, the Padma Shri in 1991, and the Padma Vibhushan in

Obituary

Pandit Bhajan Sopori

Legendary Santoor maestro and Padma Shree awardee Pandit Bhajan Sopori passed away on 2nd June, 2022.Born as Pandit Bhajan Lal in 1948 in Srinagar, Sopori is regarded as the cultural bridge of Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of the country and is hailed as the “Saint of the Santoor” and the “King of Strings”.Sopori was awarded the Sangeet Natak

Obituary

Anjalai Ponnusamy Ammal

Anjalai was a Malaysian national and a veteran of Indian National Army (INA) - an armed force formed by Indian freedom fighters and Imperial Japan on 1 September 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II.Anjalai had joined the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the women’s unit of the INA, during the Second World War and fought for India’s freedom from

Obituary

Bhagirath Prasad Tripathi

Known as Vagish Shastri, he was an Indian Sanskrit grammarian who passed away on 11th May 2022.In 2018, Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri for his work in the field of literature and

Awards

International Booker Prize 2022

Indian writer Geetanjali Shree and American translator Daisy Rockwell won the International Booker Prize 2022 for the book “Tomb of Sand”.Originally written in Hindi – (‘Ret Samadhi’), it’s the first book in any Indian language to win the International Booker Prize.Shree was the first Indian to get nominated to the International Booker Prize.Shree is also the first Hindi novelist to

Awards

Other Awards

Award Awardee & their Contribution UN Sasakawa Award 2022 SEEDS (Sustainable Ecological & Environmental Development Society) was awarded the United Nations Sasakawa Award 2022 for Disaster Risk Reduction at the 7th Session of Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2022 held in Bali, Indonesia. Dr. V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award Sanjit Narwekar was conferred Dr. V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award at the 7th edition

Defence

Indigenous Warships ‘Surat’ & ‘Udaygiri’ Launched

On 17 May 2022, two indigenous frontline warships of Indian Navy were launched concurrently at Mazgaon Docks Limited, Mumbai.

Defence

INS Surat: A Project 15B Destroyer

‘INS Surat’ is the fourth ship of Project 15B Destroyers. The first warship of Project 15B, INS Visakhapatnam had joined the Indian Navy last year i.e. 2021 while the remaining two, INS Marmugao and INS Imphal, are undergoing

Defence

INS Udaygiri: A Project 17A Frigate

‘Udaygiri’ is the reincarnation of erstwhile ‘Udaygiri’, the Leander Class ASW Frigate.‘Udaygiri’is named after a mountain range in the state of Andhra Pradesh.It is the third ship of Project 17A Frigates. Under Project17A, a total of 07 frigates were to be built in the country. Of these, four were to be constructed at MDL, Mumbai and the remaining three at

Defence

EX Bongosagar

The third edition of Indian Navy (IN) – Bangladesh Navy (BN) Bilateral Exercise ‘Bongosagar’ was carried out at Port Mongla, Bangladesh.Exercise Bongosagar is aimed at developing a high degree of interoperability and joint operational skills through the conduct of a wide spectrum of maritime exercises and operations between the two navies.

Important Days

Date Day Theme 1 May International Labour Day - 3 May World Press Freedom Day “Journalism under digital siege” 12 May International Day of Plant Health (1st observance) -

Sports In News

Badminton

Tomas Cup & Uber Cup 2022

India’s men’s badminton team beat 14-time champion Indonesia 3-0 in the final to win its maiden Thomas Cup title in its 32nd edition.The biennial international badminton championship was held at Bangkok, Thailand.Indian men had previously reached the Thomas Cup semis in 1952, 1955, and 1979. India is only the sixth

Badminton

The Champions

Lakshya Sen beat Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the first singles.K. Srikanth beat Jonatan Christie in the second singles.Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty beat Mohammad Ahsan & Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo in the doubles

Badminton

Uber Cup 2022

The 2022 Uber Cup was the 29th edition, the biennial international badminton championship contested by the women's national teams of the member associations of Badminton World Federation (BWF).The tournament was held alongside the Thomas Cup at Bangkok, Thailand. The final was played between defending champion China and South Korea in

Hockey

Asia Cup Hockey 2022

The 2022 Men's Hockey Asia Cup was held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 23 May to 1 June 2022.South Korea won their fifth title after beating Malaysia in the final.India beat Japan to win a Bronze medal.India’s Uttam Singh was accorded ‘Rising Star of the Tournament’

Tennis

French Open 2022

The 2022 French Open, season’s second Grand Slam tennis tournament after Australian Open was played on outdoor clay courts at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, from 22 May to 5 June

Tennis

Major Titles

Men’s Singles Spain's Rafael Nadal beat Norway's Casper Ruud in the men's singles final. It was his 14th championship at Roland Garros and 22nd Grand Slam title overall. Nadal’s victory came two days after his 36th birthday and made him the oldest title winner in the history of the clay-court tournament. The Spaniard’s first

Mains Specials

Mains

Mains Exclusive Topics with Questions & Answers - Indian History and Culture

Non-cooperation Movement (100 Years to Chauri Chaura Incident)Rationale/Causes Resentment at the British after the War: Indians felt that in compensation for their substantial contribution of people and resources to Britain during World War-I, they would be granted autonomy at the end of the war. The Government of Indian Act of 1919,

Mains

Mains Exclusive Topics with Questions & Answers - Geography

Deep Ocean MissionNeed India's Exclusive Economic Zone covers 2.2 million square kilometres. And its deep-sea, which contains polymetallic nodules or rare-earth metals, is still "unexplored and unutilized." It is projected that recovering 10% of ocean resources will be enough to supply India's energy needs for the next 100 years. The International Seabed Authority

Mains

Mains Exclusive Topics with Questions & Answers - Society

Elderly Care in IndiaNeed India, a demographically young country, is steadily ageing. By 2050, one in every five Indians will be over the age of 60. India is home to 1/8th of the world's elderly population. According to the First Secretary of India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, the percentage of elderly

Mains

Mains Exclusive Topics with Questions & Answers - Indian Constitution and Polity

Parliamentary CommitteesNeed Tool to Implement People’s Will: The people's will is embodied in Parliament. Committees are a tool used by Parliament to ensure that it operates efficiently. Committees are places where a proposed law can be discussed in depth. Time-consuming and Expert-based Analysis: Members of Parliament may have a high level of

Mains

Mains Exclusive Topics with Questions & Answers - International Relations

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)Significance Market Access: FTA partners gain easier market access into each other's markets by eliminating tariffs and some non-tariff barriers. Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), customs processes, and other non-tariff barriers are examples. Preferential treatment for FTA members over non-FTA members: For example, ASEAN

Mains

Mains Exclusive Topics with Questions & Answers - Social Issues and Justice

Quality of Education in Indian Schools Significance Critical for an Individual's Development: According to global studies, 90 per cent of brain growth happens by the age of five, implying that the quality of early childhood education has a significant impact on a child's development. Low Dropout Rates: While a positive primary school experience

Mains

Mains Exclusive Topics with Questions & Answers - Economy

Sagarmala ProgrammeNeed Poor Ports and Capacity Constraints: India is situated along vital international commerce routes in the Indian Ocean, with a 7,500-kilometer coastline. Capacity limits and a lack of modern facilities at Indian ports, on the other hand, significantly lengthen the time it takes to carry goods in and out of

Mains

Mains Exclusive Topics with Questions & Answers - Science and Technology

Net Neutrality Need Unlocking Possibilities: Internet access that is open and non-discriminatory has resulted in a rapid increase in people-to-people, business-to-people, and government-to-people communications, resulting in new forms of social interactions, businesses, and governance. An Important Feature of the Open Internet: Policies such as data equality and open web standards allow people

Mains

Mains Exclusive Topics with Questions & Answers - Environment

Draft National Water Policy Need Competitive Groundwater Extraction: India is the world's greatest groundwater extractor. Nearly 600 million Indians are under moderate to severe water stress, which is expected to intensify as the average annual per capita water availability falls by 37% by 2050, potentially making India water scarce. Groundwater's crucial ecosystem

Mains

Mains Exclusive Topics with Questions & Answers - Disaster Management

Disaster Management Plan of Ministry of Panchayati RajFeatures & Significance Coverage: In 2020, India's rural population was estimated to be 65.07 per cent of the total population. Because of India's unique climate and socioeconomic conditions, the country is prone to a variety of natural and man-made disasters. As a result, local

Mains

Mains Exclusive Topics with Questions & Answers - Security

Military Logistics Agreements (MLAs)India signed Military Logistics Agreements (MLAs) with Australia, Japan, US – the Quad countries – as well as with France, Singapore, and South Korea. Also, India is in the process of finalizing such an agreement with U.K. and in talks with other partners like Vietnam. Significance Saves both Time

Mains

Mains Exclusive Topics with Questions & Answers - Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude

Ethical IssuesQ. What do you understand by inner conscience? Can inner conscience be efficient tool to solve ethical dilemmas?250 words (20 Marks) Ans: Inner conscience is the voice of the inner-self which differentiate between what is right or wrong at a situation of moral question. Thus, it is an internal monitor.