Farmer Distress Index

Recently, Scientists at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), an Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) organ, have developed an early warning system called ‘Farmers Distress Index’. Rationale for the Index Farmers’ distress is a recurrent problem in dry land areas of India, especially in drought-prone areas of Telangana, Andhra

GI Tag for Agricultural Produce

Cumbum Grapes Cumbum Panneer Thratchai or Cumbum grapes from Tamil Nadu have recently been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The Cumbum valley in Tamil Nadu is popularly known as the ‘Grapes City of South India’ and is known for cultivating the Panneer Thratchai or Muscat Hamburg variety, which constitutes around

SATHI Portal

On 19th April, 2023, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched the SATHI Portal. About SATHI Portal The Seed Traceability, Authentication and Holistic Inventory (SATHI) portal is a Centralized Online System designed to deal with the challenges of seed production, quality seed identification and seed certification. It has been developed by the National

Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority

On 11th April, 2023, Kerala Agricultural University was notified as a Centre of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The objective of the notification is to protect rights of Kerala farming communities over the traditional plant varieties. The move is expected

Mission 50K-EV4ECO

On 13th April, 2023, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) launched the 'Mission 50K-EV4ECO'. The objective is to strengthen the nation's electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. The pilot scheme is a precursor to the EVOLVE scheme by SIDBI-World Bank. Need As per a report, the homegrown EV financing market is projected to soar to

Dabba Trading

Recently, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) issued a string of notices naming entities involved in dabba trading. About Dabba Trading It refers to informal trading that takes place outside the purview of the stock exchanges. In this form of trading, brokers execute trades for clients without placing them on stock exchanges. Instead, the brokers

India's First REITs and InvITs Index

On 11th April, 2023, National Stock Exchange Indices launched India's first-ever Real Estate Investment Trusts (Reits) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) Index. About the Index Aim: The index aims to track the performance of Reits and InvITs that are publicly listed and traded on the NSE. Weights of Securities: The weights of securities

ASBA Facility for Secondary Market Trading

Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved a framework for Application Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA) like facility being made available to investors for secondary market trading. •At present, ASBA is available for the primary market, wherein the initial public offering (IPO) funds only are blocked on application,

RBI Framework for Green Deposits

On 11th April, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on April 1 announced the framework for acceptance of Green Deposits of regulated entities (RE). The idea is to foster and develop a green finance ecosystem in the country. The framework shall come into effect from June 1, 2023. Need Climate change has been

Cost Inflation Index

Recently, the Income Tax Department has notified the Cost Inflation Index (CII) for the current fiscal beginning April 2023. About CII CII number is used to adjust the purchase price of assets on the basis of inflation. The CII number helps an individual to ascertain the inflation-adjusted current price of an asset. This helps

UDAN 5.0

On 21st April, 2023, the Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the 5th round of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN). It aims to further enhance the connectivity to remote and regional areas of the country and achieve last mile connectivity. Key Features of UDAN 5.0 This round

Draft Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy

On 10th April, 2023, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways issued the Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the maritime sector in India. Need India comprises a significant size maritime sector with 7,500 km long coastline and a vast network of 14,500 km of potentially navigable

Revamped CGTMSE Scheme

On 27th April, 2023, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) launched the revamped Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) Scheme. While launching the revamp of CGTMSE, it was announced that CGTMSE will collaborate with National Institute for MSME, Hyderabad for setting up a Centre of

The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems

On 13th April, 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) released a report titled “The Status Of Women In Agrifood Systems”. It is the first of its kind since 2010 (State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) 2010–11: Women in Agriculture – Closing the gender gap for development). Major Findings Gender-Based Barriers Women make up

Core Investment Companies (CICs)

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) simplified the application process for the registration of core investment companies (CICs). CICs are non-banking financial companies with asset size of Rs.100 crore and above which carry on the business of acquisition of shares and securities, subject to certain conditions. CICs, which are

Front Running

Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India barred five entities from the securities market and impounded illegal gains of Rs 2.44 crore made by them in a case pertaining to front-running. Front Running is an illegal practice in the stock market where an entity trades based on advanced

Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP)

Recently, the Secretary of, the Ministry of Coal chaired a meeting on the integration of the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) with the digital systems of the Ministry of Coal. ULIP was launched in 2022 as a part of the ‘National Logistics Policy (NLP)’. It is designed for enhancing efficiency

Parvatmala Pariyojana

The government is planning to develop more than 250 projects with a ropeway length of over 1,200 km in five years under Parvatmala Pariyojana. The idea is to improve connectivity and convenience for commuters, besides promoting tourism. This may also cover congested urban areas, where conventional mass transit system

Cellular Agriculture

Cellular agriculture involves the production of animal-based products by cell culture instead of animals. Cell culture and precise fermentation are two different methods used for the production of milk, meat and eggs. In cell culture meat is produced directly from the cells whereas in precise fermentation microorganisms are used to

FIR Provisions under Indian Penal Code

On 25th April, 2023, the Supreme Court issued notice to Delhi Police on a petition filed by seven wrestlers seeking a First Information Report (FIR) against the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on allegations of sexual harassment. Sections pertaining to sexual harassment and sexual assault of the Indian

State Bills and Power of Governor

On 24th April, 2023, a Supreme Court (SC) bench, led by Chief Justice of India said that the Governors should return Bills they do not agree to “as soon as possible” and not sit over them, making State Legislative Assemblies wait indefinitely. The observation is part of a judicial order of

Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999

On 29th April, 2023, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches and seizure action at three premises linked to an EdTech firm in Bengaluru under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). About FEMA It replaced the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973. It came into force on the 1st day

Golden Jubilee of Kesavananda Bharati Judgment

24th April, 2023, marks the 50th anniversary of the Kesavananda Bharati judgment which expounded the basic structure doctrine. Kesavananda Bharati was the head to the Edneer Mutt, a Hindu monastery in Kasargod, Kerala. Background of the Case In 1963, the Kerala government passed the Kerala Land Reforms Act, which placed a limit

Discretionary Powers of Supreme Court under Article 142

On 1st May, 2023, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that it can invoke Article 142 of the Constitution to grant a divorce to a couple on the ground of “irretrievable breakdown of marriage”. What SC Said? It said that granting a divorce would include both situations —where the couple want to

National Medical Devices Policy 2023

On 26th April, 2023, the Union Cabinet approved the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023. Aim To place the medical devices sector on an accelerated path of growth with a patient-centric approach to meet the evolving healthcare needs of patients. Vision Accelerated growth path with a patient-centric approach and to emerge as the global leader

Dima Hasao Peace Pact

On 27th April, 2923, the Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) signed a Peace Agreement with the Assam government and the Union Government. The DNLA was established in April, 2019 seeking a sovereign territory for the Dimasa tribals and launched an armed insurgency to achieve its goal. About the Pact The pact proposes to

National Manufacturing Innovation Survey

On 27th April, 2023, the Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) released the “National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22: Summary for Policymakers". The first Survey was held in 2011. About the Survey It aims to evaluate the innovation performance of manufacturing firms in India. It

Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN)

Recently, the chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister said that Bhu-Aadhaar or ULPIN will digitise land records for efficient land usage but incrementally. ULPIN is a 14-digit Alpha–Numeric Unique ID for each land parcel. This is the next step in the Digital India Land Records Modernisation

Bharat Tap Initiative

Recently, the Union government has planned to launch a rating system that will be governed under Bharat Tap initiative at Plumbex India 2023. The rating system will have 3-, 4- and 5-star water fixtures based on water efficiency. BHARAT TAP Initiative is a concept to use low flow tap and

National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC)

Recently, a Union Minister inaugurated National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC) at Discovery Campus of IIT, Madras. NTCPWC is being set up under the Shipping Ministry’s flagship Sagarmala Programme. It works as the technology arm of the Ministry of Shipping and provides the needful technological support

National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS)

The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) (Ministry of Rural Development) has reported that as many as 28 States/UTs in India have adopted the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) for land records. NGDRS was developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to address the diversity and variations that prevails across

Unified Portal of Central Bureau of Narcotics

Recently, the Central Bureau of Narcotics has launched a unified portal to facilitate licensing and ExIM (Export and IMport) authorizations for the pharmaceutical and chemical industrie. It aims to instill efficiency, transparency, and accountability within the department while ensuring the availability of essential narcotic drugs to patients and their families.Features:

Safe City Project

Delhi is all set to implement the Safe City Project, which aims to provide better security for citizens, particularly women. The Safe City Project is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development under the Nirbhaya Fund, aimed at creating

Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)

Recently, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) flagged 48 commonly used medicines as they failed the latest drug safety alert issued by the drug regulator. CDSCO is the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) of India for the medical devices industry under the provisions of the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules. It

Food Safety and Compliance System (FOSCOS)

Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have undertaken to translate Food Safety and Compliance System (FOSCOS) into Hindi, followed by all the regional languages. FOSCOS is an enhanced version of the Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) which was launched in 2012 for the issuance of

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Defence Ministers' Meeting

On April 28, 2023, India hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting in New Delhi. Key Highlights Terrorism: India urged member states to collectively root out terrorism and hold its supporters accountable. India emphasized that any support for terrorist acts is a major crime against humanity that cannot coexist with

4th India-CARICOM Ministerial Meeting

On 21st April, 2023, India’s External Affairs Minister co-chaired the 4th India-CARICOM Ministerial Meeting with his Jamaican counterpart in Georgetown, Guyana's capital. Key Highlights Issues Discussed Trade, climate change, and counterterrorism were among the range of issues discussed during the meeting. Discussions also focused on advancing development partnerships and cooperation in various domains

India-Japan Defence Policy Dialogue

On April 5, 2023, the 7th India-Japan Defence Policy Dialogue was co-chaired by the Indian Defence Secretary and Japan Vice Minister of Defense for International Affairs in New Delhi. Key Highlights Issues Discussed: During the meeting, a wide range of issues were discussed, including regional security, defence equipment and technology, and service-level

Visit of Bhutan’s King to India

Recently, Bhutan’s King visited India. During the visit, Indian Prime Minister and the Bhutanese King discussed a wide range of bilateral issues. Key Points of the Discussion Issues Discussed: The leaders discussed financial support for reforms, institutional capacity building, infrastructure and connectivity projects, energy cooperation, and space cooperation. Financial Support for Reforms: Bhutan

13th Meeting of India-Thailand Joint Trade Committee

On April 20, 2023, the 13th Meeting of the India-Thailand Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was held in New Delhi. It was the first physical meeting since it was revived in 2020 after a 17-year gap. Key Points Review of Bilateral Trade: During the meeting, the chairs reviewed the current status of bilateral

Meeting of India-Hungary Joint Working Group on Water Management

On 25th April 2023, the first meeting of the India-Hungary Joint Working Group on Water Management was held in New Delhi. Background A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Interior of Hungary and the then Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (presently Ministry of

India Elected to UN Statistical Commission

Recently, India was elected to the highest statistical body of the United Nations, the UN Statistical Commission, for a four-year term. India was a member of the Statistical Commission last in 2004 and the country is returning to the UN agency after a gap of two decades. India's election to the Commission

World Development Report 2023

On April 25, 2023, the World Bank released its World Development Report 2023. The report presents a comprehensive analysis of international migration and provides a framework for policymakers to manage migration in a way that maximizes gains for all parties involved. Theme “Migrants, Refugees, and Societies.” Aim To analyze international migration

Finland joins NATO

Recently, Finland joined North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) as its 31st member. NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance between more than thirty North American and European countries. The organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949. NATO’s purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security

EU’s Digital Services Act

Recently, the European Union (EU) proposed stricter norms under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The aim of the DSA is to better protect children, increase transparency around digital services, ban the sale of unsafe goods online, and provide greater choice to users when online in the EU. The DSA

ISRO Tests Reusable Launch Vehicle

On April 2, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, Karnataka. About the Test The test was the second of five tests and part of ISRO's efforts to develop space planes or shuttles that

NASA’s TEMPO Instrument

On April 7, 2023, NASA launched the Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument as a payload on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Key Points About TEMPO: NASA's TEMPO instrument will be the first space-based instrument to measure air quality over North America hourly

ESA’s Juice Mission

On April 14, 2023, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) was successfully launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The launch vehicle for Juice is the Ariane 5 launcher, and it will take over six years to reach the Jupiter system. The mission is expected to last for

Detailed Map of Dark Matter

Recently, researchers from the US, Canada, and the UK used the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) to create a detailed map of dark matter using light from the early universe. About the Study Researchers created the detailed map to observe how dark matter interacts with the gravity of massive objects like galaxy clusters

LIGO-India: An Advanced Gravitational-Wave Detector

On 6th April, 2023, the Union Cabinet approved the ‘Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory –India’ (LIGO-India) project. Under the project, an advanced gravitational-wave detector will be built in Hingoli district in Maharashtra. What is LIGO? Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) refers to a highly sensitive scientific instrument that is designed to detect the

Laser Carbon: A Carbon-based Catalyst

Recently, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, developed a carbon-based catalyst called ‘laser carbon’ that can make water electrolysis more efficient, affordable and stable. Context Water electrolysis is a process of splitting water into its constituent atoms using electricity, which requires a catalyst to reduce energy consumption. Key Points Production Process: Laser

Scientists Fabricate Protein to Aid Study of Multiple Sclerosis

Recently, a team of scientists from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, announced the development of a protein that can be helpful in the study of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other related diseases. Key Points The Study: The research group studied the structural arrangement of Myelin Basic Protein

India Ransomware Report 2022

On April 13, 2023, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) released its annual report on ransomware attacks in the country, titled 'India Ransomware Report 2022'. About Ransomware Ransomware is a category of malware that gains access to systems and makes them unusable to its legitimate users, either by encrypting different files

PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 Mission

Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 mission, sending two Singapore-made satellites into the space. This is a dedicated commercial mission through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) with TeLEOS-2 as primary satellite and Lumelite-4 as a co-passenger satellite. TeLEOS-2 carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload.

India’s 1st 3D Printed Post Office

Recently, L&T Construction said it was constructing India’s first post office building using 3D printing technology in Bengaluru. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a method of creating a three dimensional object layer-by-layer using a computer created design. 3D printing is an additive process whereby layers of material

New Uranium Isotope

Recently, while studying the atoms of heavy elements, physicists in Japan discovered a previously unknown isotope of uranium, with atomic number 92 and mass number 241, i.e. uranium-241. There is particular interest in ‘magic number’ nuclei containing number of protons or neutrons such that the resulting nucleus is highly stable.

Imbalance in the Earth's Energy Budget

According to a recent study, human-induced climate change has caused an imbalance in the Earth's energy budget, with oceans bearing the majority of the heat accumulation. Key Findings Earth's Energy Imbalance: The research indicates that Earth's energy is out of balance, and the planet will continue to warm up if the energy

Adverse Impact of Sea Level Rise on Salt Marshes

Recently, a study conducted by scientists from the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), University of Chicago, highlighted the adverse impact of sea level rise on the world’s salt marshes. The study was based on the analysis of Great Sippewissett Marsh in Falmouth, Massachusetts, where vegetative cover has been tracked for the past

Preservation of Ice Records

Recently, a team of Italian, French, and Norwegian researchers have set up camp in Norway's Svalbard archipelago to preserve crucial ice records for analyzing past environmental conditions. The project follows a series of earlier ice core extractions by the Ice Memory Foundation, including operations in the Alps and the Andes. Key Points Ice

International Big Cat Alliance

On 9th April, 2023, a mega international event was held in Mysuru, Karnataka, to commemorate 50 years of Project Tiger. During the event, the Indian Prime Minister launched the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). Key Points Conserving the Planet's Seven Big Cats: IBCA aims to conserve the planet's seven big cats, namely:

5th International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

On 4th April, 2023, the 5th International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) was held. It is the annual international conference of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). The conference aims to strengthen the global discourse on disaster and climate-resilient infrastructure. CDRI was launched in 2019 to increase the

India’s First Water Bodies Census

Recently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti released the report of India’s first water bodies census, a comprehensive data base of ponds, tanks, lakes, and reservoirs in the country. The census was conducted in 2018-19, and enumerated 24, 24,540 water bodies across the country. Key Findings Number of Water Bodies: Out of the

WMO State of the Global Climate Report 2022

On 21st April 2023, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its annual report on climate change, titled ‘State of the Global Climate 2022’. The report shows the planetary scale changes on land, in the ocean and in the atmosphere caused by record levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. Key Findings Global Mean Temperature:

State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22

On April 10, 2023, Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy released the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22 report. The index has been developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in association with Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE). About SEEI The SEEI assesses the annual progress of

5th Cycle of India’s Tiger Census

Recently, Indian Prime Minister released the figures of the 5th cycle of India’s Tiger Census. Since 2006, India has been conducting scientific estimations of the tiger population once every four years. The Tiger population in the country has increased by 200 or 6.7 per cent in the past four years.

Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change

Recently, the leaders meeting of Major Economies Forum (MEF) on Energy and Climate Change was convened virtually by the United States of America. The Forum was launched in 2009 by the then US President Barack Obama. It is aimed at facilitating dialogue among major emitting countries, both developed and

The Coalition of Coastal Cities

Recently, Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has launched a coalition of coastal cities to fight marine litter pollution across India. The estimated amount of marine litter in India is approximately 0.98 metric tonnes of trash per kilometer of coastline, with a concentration of 0.012 kilograms per square

Piezometers

The Ministry of Jal Shakti is planning to establish a network of groundwater sensors to monitor the levels of contamination and quality. Continuous measurement of groundwater quality and centralizing the data through a network like the National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) would make groundwater visibility comparable to air quality and

Shivangi Singh

The Indian Air Force’s first woman pilot to fly the Rafale fighter aircraft, Shivangi Singh, took part in the multinational Exercise Orion in

Deepika Misra

Wing Commander Deepika Misra became the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force to be presented a gallantry award. A helicopter pilot who hails from Rajasthan, was conferred a Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for an act of “exceptional courage” displayed during a flood relief operation in Madhya Pradesh

Ajay Banga

Indian origin Ajay Banga has been confirmed as the next President of World

Ajit Kumar Mohanty

The director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has been selected as the new chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy. He will take over from K N

Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan

Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan succeeded Lt Gen Ajai Singh as 17th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command

A Madhavarao

He has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of

Hari Hara Mishra

He has taken charge as the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Asset Reconstruction Companies. The Association, which is the voice of all Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs), has been active for more than eight years. Currently, there are 28 ARCs registered with Reserve Bank of

Anant Maheshwari

IT Industry body Nasscom has appointed Anant Maheshwari, president of Microsoft India, as its chairperson for

Shantanu Roy

He has been recommended as the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of BEML Limited, a Miniratna PSU under the Ministry of Defence.

Arun Sinha

He has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO).The National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) is a technical intelligence agency in India that was established in 2004. It functions under the National Security Advisor and reports to the Prime Minister's Office

Ranajit Guha

He was an Indian historian, who was one of the early pioneers of the Subaltern Studies group, a methodology of South Asian Studies focused on post-colonial and post-imperial societies, studying them from the perspective of the

Kaur Singh

He was an Indian heavyweight champion boxer from Punjab. He won three gold medals for senior national boxing championship, Asian Boxing Championship and Asian

Himangshu Mohan Choudhury

He was an Indian civil servant who was credited with efforts in providing relief to refugees and army deserters during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. He was honoured by the Government of India in 1972 with Padma Shri and the Government of Bangladesh presented him with the Outstanding Friend

Kalamandalam Devaki

She was an exponent of the Ottan Thullal dance and song tradition of Kerala.Ottanthullal is a solo performance combining dance and recitation. Thullal was introduced in the 18th century by the famous Malayalam poet Kunchan Nambiar. She was the first woman artist in this male-dominated

Arun Gandhi

He was the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. He is the author of several books, including “Legacy of Love: My Education in the Path of Nonviolence” and “The Gift of Anger: And Other Lessons from My Grandfather Mahatma Gandhi.”

Parkash Singh Badal

He was former Chief Minister of Punjab and leader of the Akali Dal, who served for five

Ajai Singh

He was a general officer of the Indian Army’s Armoured Corps and an administrator, serving as the Governor of Assam from 2003 to 2008, and as the chairman of the North Eastern Council

AIME

The inaugural ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023) was held from May 2 to May 8 in Singapore. The harbor phase of the exercise was conducted from May 2 to May 4 at the Changi Naval Base. The Sea Phase was conducted in the South China Sea from May 7

INIOCHOS

The Indian Air Force participated in Exercise Iniochos – 2023, a multinational air-combat drill hosted by the Hellenic Air Force (Greek air force). The exercise took place at the Andravida Air Base in western Greece from April 24 to May 4,

Locked Shields

From 18 to 21 April, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE) hosted Locked Shields 2023 - the world’s largest live-fire cyber defense

Cope India

The sixth edition of Cope India, an Air Exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and United States Air Force (USAF), conducted at Air Force Stations Kalaikunda, Panagarh and Agra.

Ajeya Warrior

The 7th edition of biennial joint military exercise “Ajeya Warrior” between India and the United Kingdom was conducted at Salisbury Plains, United Kingdom from 27 April to 11 May 2023. It is conducted alternatively in the United Kingdom and India, the last edition was held at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand in

Ex KAVACH

Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) conducted a large-scale Joint Military Exercise ‘Ex KAVACH’ involving the assets of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. The exercise, which began on February 23, 2023, concluded on April 07,

Exercise Orion

An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent participated in Exercise Orion at Mont-de-Marsan, an Air Force base of the French Air and Space Force (FASF).The exercise was conducted from 17 April to 05 May 2023.This was the first overseas exercise for the IAF's Rafale

Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited

Central Public Sector Enterprise Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has been granted the status of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) on 10 April

Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)

The Ministry of Finance elevated Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to the status of a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).The Navratna companies are CPSE units that have been granted financial autonomy to invest up to Rs. 1,000 crore without seeking approval from the central government. A Navratna company is

UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2023

Three imprisoned Iranian women journalists - Niloofar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi, and Narges Mohammadi have been named as the laureates of the 2023 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. Their reporting helped spark the nationwide protests surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini in police

International Prize in Statistics 2023

The Indian-American statistician Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao has been awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics, which is statistics’ equivalent of the Nobel Prize.It was established in 2016 and is awarded once every two years to an individual or team “for major achievements using statistics to advance science, technology and human

Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award

Asha Bhosle, the renowned singer, was honored with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award, which was established by the Mangeshkar family and trust in memory of Lata Mangeshkar.

Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023

Utsa Patnaik, a well-known economist of both national and international acclaim, has been chosen for the prestigious Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023.The award is presented annually by the Malcolm & Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust, with outstanding social scientists being recognized by a national-level jury from the nominations received. In 2022, the

Santokbaa Humanitarian Award

Sonam Wangchuk, a distinguished engineer, innovator, educationist, and sustainable development reformist, has been honored with the prestigious Santokbaa Humanitarian Award. The award has been initiated by Shree Ramkrishna Exports (SRK), a leading company in diamond crafting and exports, and its philanthropic arm Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Foundation

'Business Leader of the Decade' Award

Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, was presented with the 'Business Leader of the Decade Award' at All India Management Association's (AIMA) 13th Managing India

Femina Miss India World 2023

Nandini Gupta from Rajasthan won Femina Miss India World 2023

Badminton Asia Championships

Indian pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy won the men’s doubles title, defeating eighth-seeded Malaysian pair Teo Ee Yi and Ong Yew Sin in the final.They became the first Indian badminton players to win in a final at the continental badminton championships since Dinesh Khanna won the men's singles

Asian Wrestling Championships

36th edition of Asian Wrestling Championships was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 9 April to 14 April 2023.India won 14 medals (one gold, three silvers and 10 bronze) and ranked 7th in overall medal tally.Kazakhstan topped the medal tally followed by Japan and Iran.Indian women wrestlers bagged seven medals -

World Chess Champion

Ding Liren became China’s first world chess champion after a rapid-play tie-break victory over Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi in Kazakhstan.Ding, took over as winner of the World Chess Championship from Norway’s Magnus Carlsen, who chose not to defend his title after a 10-year

ISSF Shotgun World Cup

India ended their Shotgun World Cup campaign at joint third with one gold medal that was won by the skeet mixed team pairing of Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Ganemat Sekhon.Italy topped the tournament with one-gold, three-silver, and one bronze

Uttaramerur Inscription

On 14th April, 2023, the Prime Minister, while discussing India’s democratic history, referred to the Uttaramerur inscription. While Uttaramerur has multiple inscriptions spanning centuries, the most famous one – being referred to by the PM – is from the reign of Parantaka Chola I (907-953 AD). About Uttaramerur Village Uttaramerur (also known

Pushkaralu Festival

The 12-day Pushkaralu festival of Telugu-speaking people took place in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh during 22nd April to 3rd May 2023. This year’s festival involved worshipping ancestors and the River Ganga and organised in Kashi after a gap of 12 years. About Pushkaralu Festival Pushkaram is an Indian festival dedicated to worshiping of 12

GI Tag to Basohli Painting

Recently, famous 'Basohli' painting from J&K's Kathua district obtained the Geographical Indication (GI) tag following approval by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Basohli painting of Kathua is the first independent GI tagged product from Jammu region. About the Painting Basohli is a town in Kathua district in Jammu &

Gond Painting Gets GI Tag

On 11th April, 2023, the Gond painting of Madhya Pradesh received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag. About Gond Painting Evolution The present-day Gond paintings have evolved from Digna and Bhittichitra. The Gonds paint Digna, a traditional geometric pattern on the walls and floors of the houses. Bhittichitra is painted on the walls of houses,

Yangli Festival

Recently, the Tiwa community of Assam celebrated the Yangli festival. About the Festival The Yangli festival, also known as the Lakshmi Puja of the Tiwa people was organised with the traditional rituals in the Guva region of the state. The Tiwa community mainly depends on agriculture as their main livelihood and this

Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar Survey

Recently, the Union Government has identified and documented the unique cultural heritage of more than one lakh villages across the country. The entire exercise has been carried out under the ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ (My Village My Heritage) programme of the National Mission for Cultural Mapping (NMCM). About Mera Gaon Meri

Language Friendship Bridge Project

Recently, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has envisaged ‘The Language Friendship Bridge’ project to expand India’s cultural footprint in nations with whom it has historical ties. About the Project Pool of Experts: India will create a pool of experts in languages spoken in countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and

First Global Buddhist Summit

On 21st April, 2023, the Prime Minister inaugurated the First Global Buddhist Summit hosted by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation in New Delhi. The Summit witnessed the participation of eminent scholars, Sangha leaders and Dharma practitioners from all over the world. PM also offered monk robes

Jingrwai Lawbei

Kongthong is located in the East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya and is popular as the ‘whistling village’ due to its unique tradition of ‘Jingrwai Lawbei’ (which means Mother’s Love song) under which mothers create a tune for their newborns. These tunes are often used as names. Kongthong people belong

Manamadurai Pottery

Recently, the Manamadurai pottery from the state of Tamil Nadu earned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The Vaigai River enriches the clay used for the Manamadurai pottery. The main raw materials for making these pots are soil and water. The sand, collected from different places in the district, is used

Bihu Festival

Recently, Bihu, Assam's biggest cultural festival, made it to the coveted Guinness Book of World Records. It is one of the biggest festivals of Assam and marks the first day of Hindu unipolar calendar, and the beginning of Assamese New Year. Bihu is celebrated thrice in a year. Bohag Bihu

Ladakh's Wood Carving

Recently the wood carvings of Ladakh have been granted Geographical Indications tag. The wood carvings are made from locally available softwood, such as willow and poplar, and are used for decorative, functional, and religious purposes. The designs of Ladakhi wood carvings are inspired by nature, mythology, and local folklore. The

Puthandu: Tamil New Year

On 14th April, 2023, Puthandu was celebrated in the state of Tamil Nadu. Puthandu, also known as Puthuvarudam, marks the Tamil New Year. It is the first day of the Tamil calendar or the first day of the Chithirai month. A special dish called 'Mangai Pachadi' is prepared on Puthandu.

Zemithang

On 17th April, 2023, Zemithang, the first stop of the 14th Dalai Lama during his flight from China-occupied Tibet in 1959, hosted a major Buddhist conference. The conference, which was organised by the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT). The conference was held at Gorsam Stupa, a place

Thawe Festival

The Department of Tourism and the Department of Art and Culture jointly organized the Thawe Festival on April 15th and 16th in Gopalganj, Bihar. The festival has been organized annually since 2012. The festival venue is located at the Home Guard Ground, close to the Thawe Durga Temple. The festival’s

‘Triple Tests’ for Altruistic Surrogacy

On 21st April, 2023, the High Court (HC) of Karnataka evolved “triple tests” for considering the plea of a couple to have a child through altruistic surrogacy. About the Case The High Court was hearing a petition filed by a couple aged 57 and 45 years, who had lost their son to

Menstrual Hygiene in School

On 11th April, 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Union Government to devise a uniform policy to ensure menstrual hygiene for school children. The top court also asked the Centre to prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and formulate a national model to be adopted by all the states and Union

Centre Revises Nutritional Criteria for Children’s Food Safety Scheme

On 1st May, 2023, the Centre revised the nutritional standards of meals at schools and anganwadis, augmenting the proportion of calories and protein, while also mandating the inclusion of micronutrients in them. Rationale behind the Revision The amendment has been done on the recommendations of an inter-ministerial committee which had recommended “urgent

Svamitva Scheme

On the occasion of the National Panchayati Raj Day (24th April 2023), the Uttar Pradesh state government completed the distribution of 55,14,921 ‘gharaunis’ (rural house records) under the Svamitva scheme. About Svamitva Scheme SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme was launched on National Panchayati Raj

National Credit Framework

On 10th April, 2023, the University Grants Commission (UGC) released the final draft of the National Credit Framework (NCrF) for school education and higher education. About NCrF It has been jointly developed by UGC, AICTE, NCVET, NIOS, CBSE, NCERT, Ministry of Education, DGT, and Ministry of Skill Development to achieve this vision

PM-SHRI Scheme

Recently, the government has selected 6,448 schools from 28 states and Union territories for upgradation under the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme. About India PM-SHRI Scheme It is a Centrally Sponsored scheme announced in September 2022. Objective Development of more than 14500 schools across the country by strengthening selected existing schools

National Health Accounts Estimates for India

On 25th April, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released the National Health Accounts Estimates for India (2019-20). About NHA Estimates It is the seventh consecutive NHA estimates report prepared by National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), designated as National Health Accounts Technical Secretariat (NHATS) by the Union Health

PRET Initiative

On 26th April, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative at the Global Meeting for Future Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics held in Geneva, Switzerland. Aim It is aimed at providing “guidance on integrated planning for responding to any respiratory pathogen such as influenza or

Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently hiked consultation charges and room rents under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). CGHS gives healthcare facilities to registered employees and pensioners of the Central Government of India. The enrolled members are provided reimbursement and cashless facilities under this scheme.

100 Food Streets in 100 Districts

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has requested states/UTs to develop 100 food streets in 100 districts across the country. 100 Food Streets in 100 districts project aims to encourage safe and healthy food practices among food businesses

E-Shram Portal

The Union Minister for Labour and Employment launched new features in e-Shram Portal. The portal now includes a tool for collecting migrant worker family information. This feature can aid in the provision of child education and women-centric programmes to migrant workers who have migrated with their families. A new feature

Hakki Pikki Tribe

Recently, Tribals from Karnataka's 'Hakki-Pikki', a semi-nomadic tribal community got stuck in violence-hit Sudan. 'Hakki' means 'bird' in Kannada, and 'Pikki' means 'to catch'. As a result, the group is known as the 'bird catcher,' referring to their traditional work. It is a Scheduled Tribe of Karnataka. The community migrated

Hikikomori

Hikikomori is a phenomenon of social withdrawal that has become increasingly prevalent in Japan. The term refers to individuals, usually young adults, who withdraw from social interaction and isolate themselves in their homes for prolonged periods, sometimes for years. Hikikomori is associated with feelings of anxiety, depression, and social

United Nations Population Fund

It is a UN agency aimed at improving reproductive and maternal health worldwide. Its work includes developing national healthcare strategies and protocols, increasing access to birth control, and leading campaigns against child marriage, gender-based violence, obstetric fistula, and female genital mutilation. The agency began operations in 1969 as the

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

Recently, the 22nd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was held in New York. UNPFII is a high-level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council established on 28 July 2000. Mandate: To deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the

Sangathan Se Samriddhi

Recently, the Ministry of Rural Development’s Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) launched “Sangathan Se Samriddhi– Leaving no Rural Woman Behind”, a national campaign under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Samaveshi Vikaas. It aims at mobilizing 10 crore women from eligible rural households. The campaign’s primary objective is to mobilize

Country’s First Water Budget

In a first, Kerala has adopted ‘Water Budget’ to tackle problem of summer water shortage. The water budget would be prepared by a committee of officials from the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management and the State Water Resources Department as well as various experts. It would help

One Panchayat, One Playground

It is aimed at reinvigorating the sports culture in the state by establishing high-quality playgrounds in every panchayat. The playgrounds will be constructed within three years, with a list of 113 panchayats identified for the initial phase of the project. The playgrounds will serve as a central point

Kerala tops GI tag list in FY 2022-23

According to data shared by the GI Registry, Kerala has secured the highest number of Geographical Indication (GI) tags for products among all states in India in FY23. Several products from Kerala, including Attappady Aattukombu Avara (beans), Attappady Thuvara (red gram), Onattukara Ellu (sesame), Kanthaloor Vattavada Veluthuli (garlic), and

‘TN REACH’ Initiative

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco) has developed a mechanism called Tamil Nadu Regional Aerial Connectivity through Helicopters (TN REACH). It aims to utilize over 80 unused helipads across the state to provide intercity and town connectivity. This would be possible by leveraging the National Civil Aviation Policy and

Bill Banning Online Gambling

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has given his assent to a bill that bans online gambling games and regulates them. The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill have several specifications, including the prohibition of advertisements promoting online gambling or playing online games with money

First Indian State to Develop a DNA Database for Unidentified Bodies

Himachal Pradesh has made history by becoming the first Indian state to establish a DNA database specifically for unidentified bodies. This groundbreaking initiative commenced in April 2022, and the database currently contains 150 DNA samples of unknown individuals. In 2022, the Directorate of Forensics Services in Junga obtained DNA profile

Sanjeevani Project

The state government of Himachal Pradesh has initiated a project named ‘Sanjeevani’ to uplift the livelihood of small dairy farmers and livestock owners. The Animal Husbandry Department of Himachal Pradesh has collaborated with Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd. (BFIL), a subsidiary of IndusInd Bank, for the National Animal Disease Control Programme-Mobile

World’s First Asian King Vulture Conservation and Breeding Center

The world’s first conservation and breeding center for the critically endangered Asian king vulture is set to open in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj district. The center, named Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre (JCBC), is spread over 1.5 hectares and is designed to maintain a sustainable population of the species by

Plan to be the First Indian State with 100% EVs in Government Departments

The government of Uttar Pradesh has launched an ambitious plan to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the state. As part of this initiative, the government has set a target to convert all vehicles used by government departments into EVs by 2030, in a phased manner. The government

20 Years of SWAGAT

The Chief Minister of Gujarat has declared the last week of April as “Swagat Saptah” in commemoration of the completion of 20 years of the “State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology” (SWAGAT) initiative. It was launched by Narendra Modi during his tenure as the Chief Minister of

Country’s First State to have 100% Electrified Railway Network

In March 2023, the railway network in the state of Haryana in India was completely electrified by Indian Railways, making it the first state in the country to achieve 100% electrification of its railway network. The existing Broad Gauge network of Haryana is 1,701 Route kilometre, which is now 100%

4 % Reservation for Divyang Employees

The Maharashtra Government has introduced a 4% quota for employees with disabilities in promotions. This reservation will apply to cadres where the recruitment through direct service is less than 75%. The state cabinet has also decided to pay all outstanding dues for non-teaching staff serving in non-agricultural universities as

District’s First Solar Agriculture-feeder Plant in Ahmednagar

This initiative aims to ensure a reliable and sustainable supply of power for agricultural pumps. The 5.45-hectare land purchased by the government will be used to build a 5MW solar power facility that will generate electricity to be fed into the MSEDCL grid, providing reliable daytime electrical supply for agricultural

Mahila Nidhi

Recently, Rajasthan Chief Minister has approved a proposal for giving 8% interest subsidy on loans obtained by the members of women’s self-help groups (SHGs) from Mahila Nidhi. Mahila Nidhi was established in Jaipur in 2022. It is operated entirely by women and acts as a complementary body with the formal

North-East’s Largest Multipurpose Indoor Stadium

Meghalaya Chief Minister announced that a multipurpose indoor stadium is currently under construction in Shillong, which is set to become the largest of its kind in the NE region. The stadium will offer state-of-the-art facilities for various disciplines, including basketball, squash, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, and many more. The renovated

First Medical College in North East

National Medical Commission has granted approval for the establishment of the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, which will become the first medical college in the northeastern state. The medical college will start operating from the current academic session, and initially, shall offer a total of 100 MBBS seats

Repeal of Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001

Recently, the Nagaland government repealed the Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001. This led to the cancellation of the State Election Commission’s notification for holding elections to Nagaland’s 39 urban local bodies (ULBs) with 33% of the seats reserved for women. The apex court has however, stayed the notification cancelling the

Mulapeta Port

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has initiated the construction of the Mulapeta Greenfield port in Srikakulam district. The port is estimated to cost Rs. 4,362 crore and is expected to be completed within two years. The district has the advantage of a 193-kilometre long coastline, which constitutes a

Cool Roof Policy

Recently, Telangana government announced “Cool Roof Policy”. It aims to make buildings thermally comfortable and heat resilient and reducing the energy consumption. It is made mandatory for all government, non-residential and commercial buildings irrespective of the size of the area they are built in. It is voluntary or optional for

125 Feet-tall Ambedkar Statue Unveiled in Hyderabad

The Chief Minister unveiled a 125-foot bronze statue of BR Ambedkar in Hyderabad to commemorate the 132nd birth anniversary of the renowned Indian Constitution architect. This statue in Hyderabad is now the tallest statue of Ambedkar in India. Located adjacent to the State Secretariat on the scenic banks of the

Mangrove Pitta bird

In a first-ever census of its kind in the country, forest officials in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika have sighted 179 mangrove pitta birds. The first census in India was conducted to analyze the population of these birds. The highest number of these birds was sighted in the Mahipura river mouth area of

International Yoga Mahotsav in Dibrugarh

The International Yoga Mahotsav was inaugurated at the Dibrugarh University Playground to mark the upcoming International Day of Yoga 2023. The event aims to promote yoga practices globally, which has gained immense popularity under the initiatives of the Prime Minister. International Day of Yoga is annually observed on June 21st.

Best Performer in Northeast in E-Procurement

Tripura's recent award as the best-performing state in the North Eastern region for e-Procurement is a significant achievement for the state. Tripura’s recent award as the best-performing state in the North Eastern region for e-Procurement is a significant achievement for the state. The award was presented at a National

Leading States in the Implementation of the Surrogacy Act

According to the Public Health and Family Welfare Ministry, Madhya Pradesh is among the leading states in the country in the implementation of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act-2021. Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to notify the State Board, District Appropriate Authority and District Appellate Officer in the

High-Powered Committee on Ladakh

On 2nd January 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) constituted a 17-member high-powered committee on Ladakh. About the Committee The Committee has been formed under the Chairmanship of Nityanand Rai (Minister of State for Home). Terms of Reference Discuss measures to protect the region’s unique culture and language taking into consideration its geographical

Corrupt Practices under Representation of People Act, 1951

On 20th February, 2023, the Supreme Court (SC) observed that no one in India votes for a candidate based on their educational qualifications. Therefore, providing false information about an electoral candidate’s qualifications cannot be considered a corrupt practice under Sections 123 (2) and Section 123 (4) of the Representation of

Section 69(A) of Information Technology Act, 2000

On 10th February, 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued orders to block 138 online betting platforms and 94 money lending apps on an “urgent” and “emergency” basis. It was done under Section 69(A) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.Section 69(A) empowers the government to restrict access

Article 105 of Constitution: The Limits to Free Speech in Parliament

On 10th February, 2023, Rajya Sabha Chairman received a letter from the Congress President on Article 105 of the Constitution that deals with the privileges and powers of parliamentarians. About Article 105 It deals with powers, privileges, etc. of the Houses of Parliament and of the members and committees. Article 194 deals with

Special Category Status

On 18th February, 2023, Union Finance Minister clarified that the Centre will not consider demands for “special category status” for any state as the 14th Finance Commission has clearly said no special status can be given. This comes as a blow to states like Odisha, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh which have

Government sets up Panel on Digital Competition Law

On 7th February, 2023, the government constituted a 16-member inter-ministerial committee to examine the need for a separate law on competition in digital markets. The panel will be headed by Manoj Govil, Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Terms of Reference It will study if existing provisions in Competition Act, 2002

Guillotine in Parliament

On 23rd March, 2023, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha applied the guillotine — a procedure that puts to vote — on the entire set of Demands for Grants of various ministries and departments in Budget 2023-24 without any discussion. About Guillotine In legislative parlance, to “guillotine” means to put together and

Rule 357 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha

On 21st March, 2023, a Congress leader cited Rule 357 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha while requesting permission to speak from the Speaker. About Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha The Constituent Assembly (Legislative) Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business

Delegated Legislation

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) observed that a delegated legislation which is ultra vires the parent Act cannot be given any effect. The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal filed by the Kerala State Electricity Board against a State High Court decision which upheld Regulation 153(15) of the Kerala Electricity Supply

Rule 267 of Rajya Sabha Rule Book

Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook has become a bone of contention in the Upper House as not a single notice under the rule moved by the Opposition has been accepted in the Winter Session. About the Rule 267: The Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook gives special power

Centre Bans Export of Sensitive Maps and Geospatial Data

On 23th September, 2022, the government released a list of economic- and national security-related strategic and sensitive locations that cannot be mapped and exported. The move comes after India opened up geospatial data mapping last year for wider public use and to empower the industry. The prohibition of export of

Social Audit of Mid-day Meal Scheme

Recently, the Centre has directed the states and Union Territories to carry out the social audit of the mid-day meal scheme [now Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN)] in every district. According to a report titled ‘Social audit calendar vs audits completed’ released on 13th September 2022 by the Rural

Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968

On 27th September, 2022, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court allowed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to go ahead and decide on Maharashtra incumbent Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's claim that his faction represents the "real" Shiv Sena party. About Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order of 1968 It empowers the

Silver Jubilee of Quality Council of India

Recently, the Quality Council of India has celebrated its Silver Jubilee. About Quality Council of India (QCI) It was established as a National body for Accreditation in 1996. QCI was set up in 1997 jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry represented by the three premier industry associations- Associated Chambers of

Doctrine of Pleasure

Recently, the Governor of Kerala has sought dismissal of a minister from the Cabinet, declaring that he has withdrawn the pleasure of having him in the Council of Ministers. About Doctrine of Pleasure The doctrine of pleasure is a concept derived from English common law. It says is that a civil servant of

First Amendment to the Indian Constitution

Recently, the Supreme Court has agreed to examine a PIL challenging changes made to the right to freedom of speech and expression by the first amendment to the Constitution in 1951. Objectionable Insertions Section 3(1) of the amending Act substituted original Clause (2) of Article 19 with a new Clause (2), which

22nd Law Commission of India

On 7th November 2022, the Union Government constituted the 22nd Law Commission of India. Composition Chairman: Justice (retd.) Rituraj Awasthi, former Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court. Members (5): Justice K.T. Sankaran, Prof. Anand Paliwal, Prof. D.P. Verma, Prof. (Dr) Raka Arya and Shri M. Karunanithi About Law Commission of India It is an executive

Committee to Prepare National Drug Database

Recently, the government has set up a seven-member high-level committee to prepare the first-of-its-kind 'National Drugs Database' in the country. The panel for the database has been constituted by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry’s Directorate General of Health Services. Tasks Assigned The committee

Ninth Schedule of the Constitution

Recently, the Jharkhand Assembly passed a Bill to raise the total reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) in State government posts to up to 77%. However, it would come into force only after the Centre carries out amendments to include these in the Ninth

Radhakrishnan Committee for Higher Educational Institutions

Recently, the Ministry of Education has set up a high-level panel to strengthen the assessment and accreditation of higher educational institutions. The panel is headed by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIT Kanpur. He is also the chairperson of the Standing Committee of IIT Council. Mandates Strengthening the assessment and accreditation

National Financial Reporting Authority

Recently, the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) got more powers to act against auditors and company executives. The Company Law Review Committee recommended expanding NFRA’s oversight to certain wrongful deeds of senior company executives and lapses of auditors other than their professional misconduct. About NFRA It was constituted on 01st October, 2018, by

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. About Delimitation It is the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province having a legislative body for electoral

Grievance Appellate Committee

On 2nd June, 2022, the Centre proposed setting 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. About the Information Technology

Places of Worship Act, 1991

Recently, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a clutch of petitions challenging the Places 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 or any section

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. Guidelines It exempts researchers who use gene-editing technology to modify the genome of the plant from seeking approvals from the Genetic

New Census Rule Notified

On 11th March, 2022, Centre announced Census (Amendment) Rules, 2022 by amending Census Rules, 1990. Highlights of Census (Amendment) Rules, 2022 Amendments will allow online self-enumeration in the upcoming Census and National Population Register. Amendment has been inserted in clause C of Rule-2 to include “electronic form” and “self-enumeration” in questions to be

Malabar Rebellion

Recently, the Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR) deferred its decision on a recommendation to remove the 1921 Malabar Rebellion martyrs including Variamkunnaathu Kunhahamad Haji and Ali Musliyar from the list of India’s freedom fighters. According to the ICHR, the rebellion that took place at Malabar was a one-sided attack on

Battle of Pollilur

Recently, a painting that showcases the erstwhile sultan of Mysore Haider Ali and his son, Tipu, riding into Battle against the British troops of the East India Company has fetched about Rs. 6.28 crore. The nearly 32-foot long monumental painting represents the victory of the Mysore army led by Haidar Ali,

Bicentenary Year of Mirat-ul-Akhbar

On 12th April, 2022, India’s pioneering Persian newspaper - Mirat-ul-Akhbar- that embodied resistance completed its 200 years. About Mirat-ul-Akhbar The newspaper Mirat-ul-Akhbar – the title of which translates to ‘Mirror of News’ – was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in the year 1822 in Calcutta. It used to be published on Fridays

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

Sannati: Ancient Buddhist Site

The Archaeological Survey of India has now taken up conservation work at Kanaganahalli site near Sannati. Kanaganahalli (forming part of Sannati site) is an ancient Buddhist site on the bank of Bhima River in Kalaburagi district of Karnataka. Excavations & Findings Ashokan Edict: In 1986, when the roof of the Kali temple in

Ambedkar Circuit

Recently, the government announced a special tourist train to cover the Ambedkar Circuit. About Ambedkar Circuit The government had first proposed the Ambedkar Circuit, or Panchteerth, in 2016. The five cities in the tourist circuit as announced are Mhow, London, Nagpur, Delhi and Mumbai. About the Sites Janma Bhoomi: Ambedkar’s birthplace in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow. Shiksha

Baliyatra: Symbolising the Glorious Past of Odisha-Bali Connection

During the G20 Summit, PM Modi mentioned Baliyatra, literally ‘voyage to Bali’, celebrated on the banks of the Mahanadi in Cuttack, which celebrates the ancient trade relations between India and Indonesia. About Baliyatra Baliyatra, literally ‘voyage to Bali’, is one of the country’s largest open-air fairs. It is organised every year to commemorate

Nyingma Sect of Buddhism

Recently, the Nyingma sect of the Tibetan Buddhist circles has identified a boy from Spiti in Himachal Pradesh as the reincarnation of the late Taklung Setrung Rinpoche. About Nyingma Sect It is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also often referred to as Ngangyur. It is practiced under

Ol Chiki Script

Recently, a professor in the Santali language at the Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University in Purulia, West Bengal, translated the Constitution of India for the first time in Santali in the Ol Chiki script. About Ol Chiki Script This script is also known as Ol Cemet’, Ol script, Ol ciki Script and also Ol. In Santali,

Santhali Sohrai Mural

Sohrai Mural is an indigenous art form is practised by the women of Santhal Community. The women clean their houses and decorate their walls with murals of Sohrai arts. This art form has continued since 10,000-4,000 BC. It was prevalent mostly in caves, but shifted to houses with mud walls. Characteristics Sohrai art

Dol Jatra

Dol Jatra, the festival of colour, is predominantly celebrated in the states of West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam with much pomp and gusto. Traditions of Dol Jatra Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima is celebrated on a full moon day, and the festival is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It often coincides with the day

Phool Dei: Uttarakhand's Festival of Flowers

The festival of Phool Dei is celebrated in the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand every year in the flowering season (March-April) for about a month to teach children to cherish & nurture nature. The term 'Dei' refers to a ceremonial pudding which is the key food in this festival

Indian National Calendar

Recently, National Conference and Exhibition on 'The National Calendar of India' was held at different places of the country as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. It aims to make the youth aware about the Indian National Calendar. About National Calendar The National Calendar is based on the Saka Era with

International Day for Monuments and Sites 2022

Every year, 18th April is celebrated as International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as ‘World Heritage Day’. In 1982, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) established 18 April as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day, followed by UNESCO’s adoption during

Gangaur Festival

The Gangaur festival is celebrated in Rajasthan and some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It is one of Rajasthan’s most important festivals and is observed with great fervour across the state. The women worship Gauri, the wife of Lord Shiva during the period of this festival which is from March to

Cultural Significance of India’s Gifts to Quad Partners

At the recent Quad Summit held at Tokyo, Indian Prime Minister gifted leaders of the US, Australia and Japan showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage and art forms. These gifts included –Rogan Painting: Rogan painting is an art of cloth printing practised in the Kutch District of Gujarat.Sanjhi Art Panel: Sanjhi

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. Bhojshala Bhojshala is an

Dharohar: National Museum of Customs and GST

On 11th June, 2022, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav ‘Iconic Week’ of the Ministry of Finance, dedicated to the nation, Dharohar - the National Museum of Customs and GST in Goa. About the Museum First Museum of its kind in India: It is the first museum of its kind

Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

Recently, India has been elected as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2022-2026 cycles. The elections for the Intergovernmental Committee took place during the 9th General Assembly of the 2003 Convention held at UNESCO headquarters, Paris, from

Hoysala Temples

Recently, the Union Culture Ministry announced that the Hoysala Temples of Belur, Halebid and Somnathapura in Karnataka are India’s official nominations for the UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2022-2023. The ‘Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala’ have been on UNESCO’s Tentative List since April 15, 2014, and they are testimony

Keshava Temple

Recently, a UNESCO team visited to Hoysala temples in Karnataka for World Heritage Site tag evaluation. The Chennakeshava temple at Belur, Hoysaleshwara temple at Halebid and Keshava temple at Somanathapur are India’s nominations for the World Heritage Site tag. Of these, the temples at Belur and Halebid have been in UNESCO’s

Godna Paintings

Recently, a group of locals from Bastar in Chhattisgarh has taken up the task of reviving the region’s age-old ‘Godna’ tattoo art form. About Godna Paintings Godna paintings are done mostly by Devar Godna of Rajanandgaon district of Chhattisgarh, Godi godna of Surguja district of Chhattisgarh, badi Godna of Dindori district of

India’s Diverse Culture showcased at ‘Kartavya Path’

On 9th September, 2022, the Prime Minister inaugurated the revamped Central Vista Avenue. The historic Rajpath was also renamed as ‘Kartavya Path’ ahead of the inauguration. The inauguration was marked by a mix of tribal dances, classical music, and celebratory art forms across the country. Cultural Events during Inauguration Panch Vadayam: Kerala’s Panch Vadayam

Three Indian Cities in UNESCO Network of Learning Cities

Recently, three new cultural sites in India – Sun Temple at Modhera, historic Vadnagar town in Gujarat and rock-cut relief sculptures of Unakoti in Tripura, have been added to the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites. With this, India now has 52 sites on UNESCO Tentative List Sun Temple of

International Day of Sign Languages

International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is celebrated annually across the world on 23 September. Objective: To protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users. Sign Languages: Sign languages are fully fledged natural languages – structurally distinct from the spoken languages – that use

Bathukamma Floral Festival

Bathukamma is a colourful and vibrant festival of Telangana and celebrated by women, with flowers that grow exclusively in this region. Celebration Time As per the Sathavahana calendar, every year, Bathukamma is celebrated for nine days from Bhadrapada Pournami till Durgashtami. With this festival, Sharath Ruthu starts, and Varsha Ruthu ends. This festival

Dharamshala Declaration

The three-day National Conference of State Tourism Minister from 18th to 20th September 2022 adopted “Dharamshala Declaration”. About Dharamshala Declaration It aims to recognise India’s role in contributing towards global tourism as well as focusing on recovery by also promoting domestic tourism. In the declaration, the Tourism Ministry has come up with a

Bhoota Kola Ritual

It is an annual folk ritual of Tulu-speaking people in Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi in Karnataka. As per Tulu Adivasi tradition, Bhoota Kola or Daiva Kola is a “non-vedic” ritual where Bhootas or Daivas (guardians and ancestors) are worshipped. It has influenced Yakshagana folk theatre. It is closely related to Theyyam

Kati Bihu

It is one of the three types of Bihu which are celebrated annually in the Indian North-eastern state of Assam. The other two being the Rongali Bihu in April and Bhogali Bihu in January. Kongali Bihu is also known as Kati Bihu as it falls on the Assamese month of

Navayana Buddhism

Recently, a minister in Delhi government had to resign after he attended a function to commemorate Buddhist Conversion Day, held on Ashok Vijay Dashami. Background On the occasion of Ashok Vijayadashami, on 14 October 1956, B. R. Ambedkar along with more than half a million followers embraced Buddhism in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The day

Geoglyphs: Ratnagiri’s Prehistoric Rock Art

Experts and conservationists have raised concerns over the proposed location for a mega oil refinery in Barsu village of Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district. They claim that the refinery might damage prehistoric geoglyphs found in the area. About Geoglyphs Geoglyphs are a form of prehistoric rock art, created on the surface of laterite plateaus

Dhokra Craft

Bengal village Lalbazar is becoming a hub for an ancient metalcraft, dhokra. About Dhokra Art It is a metalcraft popular in Bengal. In its original form, no painting or polishing is done. Most Dhokra artefacts are human or animal figurines. The term “Dhokra” has been named after the Dhokra Damar tribes, the traditional metalsmiths from

Dhanu Yatra

The vibrant Dhanu Yatra was recently held from 27th December 2022 to 6th January 2023 in Bargarh, Odisha. About the Festival ‘Dhanu Yatra’ festival is considered to be the world’s largest open-air theatre. It marks the victory of good over evil and came into existence in Bargarh in 1947-48 as part of the

Palm-Leaf Manuscript Museum

On 22nd December, 2022, the Kerala government inaugurated a palm-leaf manuscript museum with modern audio-visual technology at the Central Archives, Fort, in Thiruvananthapuram. About Palm Leaf Manuscript Museum This first-of-its-kind museum can be titled as the largest collection of palm leaves and manuscripts in the country. It presents around 175 transliterated and translated

Projects Development under PRASHAD Scheme

On 28th December, 2022, President Smt. Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone for two projects at the Sri Seetha Ramachandraswami Temple in Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district and at Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple’ at Palampet village in Mulugu district in Telangana. The projects had been sanctioned and executed under PRASHAD scheme viz. National

Gaan Ngai Festival

Gaan-Ngai is the biggest annual post-harvest festival of the Zeliangrong people who inhabit in the State of Manipur, Assam and Nagaland. It is also known as Chakaan Gaan Ngai and is the biggest festival of Zeliangrong community. Full form of the festival is Chakaan Gaan Ngai. Chakaan means winter; Gaan means moonlit

Maghi Mela

Maghi Mela is held in the holy city of Sri Muktsar Sahib every year in January, or on the month of Magh according to the Nanakshahi calendar. The festival marks the martyrdom of 40 Sikh soldiers in the Battle of Khidrana against the Mughals. About Battle of Khidrana In 1704, during the siege

Theyyam Ritual Art Form

Recently, in an outreach initiative, the Kerala Tourism department hosted a cultural event in Chandigarh in which the performers on stage showcased the state’s unique traditional Theyyam ritual art. About Theyyam Ritual Art Theyyam is a ritualistic dance performed in northern Kerala and parts of Karnataka, often by people who are momentarily

Toto Language

Dhaniram Toto has received Padma Shri award for developing script of critically endangered Toto language. He is also the first author to write a novel in Toto language. About Toto Language It is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken on the border of India and Bhutan, by the tribal Toto people in Totopara, West

Shyamji Krishna Varma

On 30th March, 2022, the Prime Minister paid tributes to Shyamji Krishna Varma on his Punya Tithi. About Shyamji Krishna Varma Shyamji Krishna Varma was 4th October, 1857 in Mandvi, a province in Kutch, Gujarat. He came in contact with Swami Dayananda Saraswati, who was a nationalist, a radical reformer and an exponent

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

Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray

Recently, the Ministry of Culture along with Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) organised a curtain raiser fortwo days International Conference on the “Contributions of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray as a Chemist and Freedom Fighter”. About Prafulla Chandra Ray He was known as “Father of Indian Chemistry”. In 1920,

Bijay Chand Mahtab

In West Bengal, the 119-year-old Curzon Gate in Bardhaman was recently in news. Maharaja Bijay Chand Mahatab built the gate when Lord Curzon, who partitioned Bengal in 1905 and served as Viceroy of India, visited Bardhaman in 1903. About Bijay Chand Mahtab He was the ruler of Burdwan Estate, Bengal in British

Pandurang Khankhoje

Recently, Lok Sabha Speaker unveiled statue of Maharashtra-born freedom fighter and agriculturalist Pandurang Khankhoje in Mexico. About Pandurang Khankhoje He was born in Wardha, Maharashtra. He was an ardent admirer of the French Revolution and of the American War of Independence. He was one of the founding members of the Ghadar Party. He was appointed

Pingali Venkayya

Recently, the Ministry of Culture organized “Tiranga Utsav” to celebrate the contributions of Pingali Venkayya to the nation on the occasion of his 146th Birth Anniversary. A commemorative Postal Stamp, in the honor of Pingali Venkayya, was also released during the event. About Pingali Venkayya He was born on August 2, 1876

Freedom Fighter Ondiveeran

On 20th August, 2022, India Post issued a commemorative Postage stamp on Ondiveeran, the commander-in-chief of Poolithevan’s army, the first to rebel against the British rule. About Ondiveeran Ondiveeran was a trusted lieutenant in the Pulithevan Army that had taken on the imperialist forces. Ondiveeran was a native of Nerkattum Seval near Sankarankoil

Govind Guru

Recently, Prime Minister attended a programme ‘Mangarh Dham ki Gaurav Gatha’ and paid homage to Govind Guru. About Govind Guru Govind Guru was born in a nomadic community in the Dungarpur-Banswara region of Rajasthan. He was influenced by the teachings of Swami Dayanand Saraswati to work for the socio-religious upliftment of people from

One Health Pilot

Recently, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, launched ‘One Health’ pilot project in Uttarakhand to implement the One Health Framework by One Health Support Unit. The key objective of the Unit is to develop a national One Health roadmap based on the learnings

Project 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

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 livestock as well as poultry birds were counted according to their breeds as recognized by National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR). Coverage The report has covered

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

Recently, the state of Andhra Pradesh has decided to rejoin the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) from the ongoing Kharif season. Keeping in view the suggestions of Andhra Pradesh and other states, the Central Government revamped the scheme in February 2020 with new features such as- voluntary enrolment for all farmers wider

PM PRANAM Scheme

The Union government plans to introduce a new scheme - PM Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana (PM PRANAM). Objectives To reduce chemical fertiliser use To reduce the subsidy burden on chemical fertiliser Salient Features The scheme will be financed by the “savings of existing fertiliser subsidy” under the schemes run by the

Asian Palm Oil Alliance

The apex edible oil industry associations from five major palm oil importing countries in Asia have come together for the first time to form an alliance -- Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA). APOA was launched during the Globoil Summit at Agra on 21 September 2022. Countries under the Alliance: The alliance

Agricultural Accelerator Fund

On 1st February, 2023, Finance Minister announced an Agriculture Accelerator Fund for Agri-tech startups in the budget 2023-24. About the Fund The fund aims to implement cost-effective solutions by introducing contemporary technologies and boosting output. It focuses on supporting young entrepreneurs from rural areas by providing them with modern tools and

Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies

In the Union Budget 2023-2024, Union Government has announced Rs 2,516 crore for computerisation of 63,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) over the next five years. It aims to bring greater transparency and accountability in their operations and enabling them to diversify their business and undertaking more activities. About PACS PACS is a

National Mission on Natural Farming

On 4th November 2022, Union Agriculture Minister chaired first steering committee meeting of National Natural Farming Mission (NMNF) at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. About the Mission It aims at creating institutional capacities for documentation and dissemination of best practices and make practicing farmers as partners in promotion strategy. NMNF at National Level is

India’s First Cloned Gir Calf ‘Ganga’

On 16th March, 2023, scientists of the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) achieved new milestone by producing country's first indigenous Gir calf clone. The project was started in 2021 by the NDRI in collaboration with Uttarakhand Livestock Development Board (ULDB), Dehradun, for the cloning of indigenous cows such as Gir, Sahiwal,

MSME Innovative Scheme

On 10th March, 2022, the government launched the MSME Innovative Scheme (Incubation, Design and IPR) along with the MSME IDEA HACKATHON 2022. MSME Innovative is a new concept for MSMEs with a combination of innovation in incubation, design intervention and by protecting IPR in a single mode approach. Aim: To enhance MSME

Mission Integrated Bio-refineries

Recently, the government launched a major futuristic “Clean Energy” initiative in PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode with the full launch of “Mission Integrated Bio-refineries” to accelerate Clean Energy solutions through Public-Private Alliances. Objective To develop and demonstrate innovative solutions to accelerate the commercialization of integrated biorefineries, with a target of replacing 10%

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. Key Amendments Revised Target: The main amendment is for advancing the target of blending 20% ethanol in petrol (E20) (20% ethanol, 80% petrol), by

One Nation One Fertiliser

On 24th August, 2022, the Centre decided to implement One Nation One Fertiliser by introducing a “Single Brand for Fertilisers and Logo” under the fertiliser subsidy scheme named “Pradhanmantri Bhartiya Janurvarak Pariyojna” (PMBJP). Major Points Under the ‘One Nation, One Fertilizer’ scheme, companies selling urea, DAP (di-ammonium phosphate), NPK (nitrogen phosphorus potassium)

National Logistics Policy

On 17th September, 2022, the government released the National Logistics Policy. It seeks to address challenges faced by the transport sector and expedite the last-mile delivery while saving time and money for businesses. Aim To bring cost to single-digit; To bring in an integrated and tech-enabled approach to logistics operations; and To bridge efficiency

India’s First Sovereign Green Bonds Framework

On 9th November, 2022, the government approved the final sovereign green bonds framework for India to boost India’s efforts towards energy transition. India’s first Sovereign Green Bonds framework was formulated and as per the provisions of the framework, Green Finance Working Committee (GFWC) was constituted to validate key decisions on issuance

ODOP merged with ‘District as Export Hub’ Initiative

Recently, One District One Product (ODOP) initiative operationally merged with ‘Districts as Export Hub (DEH)’ initiative of DGFT, Department of Commerce, with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as a major stakeholder. About One District One Product (ODOP) It is an initiative which is seen as a transformational

MAARG Platform

Recently, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) held the MAARG Mentor Masterclass at Bombay Stock Exchange in Mumbai. About MAARG MAARG refers to Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience and Growth. It is a one-stop platform that enables mentorship for startups across a variety of industries, roles, stages, locations, and backgrounds. It was

National Land Monetisation Corporation

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the creation of the National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC), the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) as announced in the Union Budget 2021-22. Aim To carry out monetisation of government and surplus land holdings of public sector undertakings (PSU). About NLMC It will be fully owned by the government, to carry

Pilot Coal Gasification Projects

Recently, Government has initiated steps to execute the four pilot coal gasification projects announced in Budget 2022-23. Coal Gasification It is a process in which coal is partially oxidised with air, oxygen, steam or carbon dioxide to form a fuel gas. It produces Syngas which is a mixture consisting primarily of methane (CH4),

Infrastructure Investment Trusts

Recently, state-owned Power Grid Corporation 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

North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme

Recently, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) has sanctioned 145 projects worth Rs.3,392.99 crore for the North Eastern States under North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS). About NESIDS The Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) scheme of the Ministry of DoNER was discontinued in December, 2017 and replaced

India’s First 100% Landlord Major Port

Recently, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNP) has become the first major port of the country to become a 100% Landlord port having all berths being operated on PPP model. Landlord Port Model Landlord port model is characterized by its mixed public-private orientation. Under this, the port authority acts as regulatory body and as landlord,

Multi Modal Logistics Park

On 24th August, 2022, a tripartite MoU was signed by National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for swift development of modern Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) under Bharatmala Pariyojna. The goal is to consolidate freight centrally and lower logistics

e-FAST - India’s First National Electric Freight Platform

On 8th September 2022, NITI Aayog, in collaboration with World Resources Institute (WRI), India, launched the country’s first national electric freight platform – e-FAST India (Electric Freight Accelerator for Sustainable Transport – India). Supported by the World Economic Forum, CALSTART and RMI India, the platform brings different stakeholders together, from across

India Infrastructure Project Development Fund Scheme

On 3rd November 2022, the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, notified Scheme for Financial Support for Project Development Expenses of PPP Projects – India Infrastructure Project Development Fund Scheme (IIPDF Scheme). About IIPDF Scheme It was launched for providing necessary support to the Project Sponsoring Authorities,

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund

On 17th November, 2022, Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs chaired the 5th meeting of the Governing Council (GC) of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), in New Delhi. About NIIF NIIF is India’s first sovereign wealth fund set up by the government of India in 2015.It is a fund manager

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

On 27th December, 2022, Ministry of Railways has formulated a new policy for modernization of stations named – Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. About the Scheme It envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long term vision. It is based on Master Planning for long term and implementation of the elements

Coastal Economic Zone

Recently, fourteen Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) were envisaged including three in the state of Tamil Nadu, under the National Perspective Plan of the Sagarmala Programme. It was proposed to create an institutional framework and develop one CEZ project on a pilot basis for enabling Port Led Industrialization and incentivize employment generation. About

MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme

On 28th April, 2022, the Central government launched the MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme. The Scheme is the revamped version of earlier Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) scheme for Udyam-registered MSMEs. About the Scheme Certification: MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification can be attained in three levels after registering and

Design Linked Incentive Scheme

Recently, the government has decided to review the norms of the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme. It envisages to support 100 companies involved in product design in the semiconductor space as part of a Rs 76,000 crore scheme for developing the electronic chip ecosystem in the country, About DLI Scheme The Design Linked

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

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

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 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

KALYANI FeRRESTA: India’s First Green Steel Brand

Recently, India’s first Green Steel Brand “KALYANI FeRRESTA” was launched by the government. This first-of-its-kind steel has been manufactured by a Pune-based Steel company, Kalyani group by using renewable energy resources, leaving zero carbon footprints in the environment. Kalyani Ferresta has a very low GHG emission intensity of < 0.19 tCO2e per

Second Edition of Export Preparedness Index 2021

On 25th March, 2022, NITI Aayog, in partnership with the Institute of Competitiveness, released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2021. About the Report The Export Preparedness Index is a data-driven endeavour to identify the fundamental areas critical for subnational export promotion. Primary Goals To instil competition among all Indian states (‘Coastal’, ‘Landlocked’, ‘Himalayan’, and

RBI's Report on Currency and Finance 2021-2022

On 29th April, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India released the Report on Currency and Finance (RCF) for the year 2021-22. The theme of the Report was “Revive and Reconstruct” in the context of nurturing a durable recovery post-COVID and raising trend growth in the medium-term. Highlights Impact of Pandemic on Economic Growth The

RBI Payment Vision 2025

On 17th June, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released “Payments Vision 2025” with an objective to provide users with safe, secure, fast, convenient, accessible and affordable e-payment options. Core Theme: E-Payments for Everyone, Everywhere, Everytime (4 Es) Vision: Provide every user with Safe, Secure, Fast, Convenient, Accessible, and Affordable e-payment

NITI Aayog’s Report on Digital Banks

On 20th July, 2022, NITI Aayog released a Report titled - 'Digital Banks: A Proposal for Licensing & Regulatory Regime for India'. It suggested setting up Digital Banks and a licensing and regulatory framework for such Banks. Major Findings In recent years, India has made rapid strides in furthering financial inclusion, catalysed by

Central Bank Digital Currency

On 7th October, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the ‘Concept Note on Central Bank Digital Currency’. Aim To promote awareness about the central bank digital currency (“CBDC” or “Digital Rupee”) and to describe the possible uses and features of the Digital Rupee. Highlights Definition CBDC is defined by the RBI as legal

Dutch Disease

Recently a research paper titled “40 years of Dutch Disease literature: lessons for developing countries”, was published by Edouard Mien and Michael Goujon. About Dutch Disease Dutch Disease in economics refers to a phenomenon wherein a country witnesses uneven growth across sectors due to the discovery of natural resources, especially large oil

RBI removes Central Bank of India from PCA Framework

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) removed the Central Bank of India from its Prompt Corrective Action Framework (PCAF). The RBI had imposed the PCA norms on the Central Bank of India in June 2017 due to its high net NPA and negative return of assets (RoA). Reason of Removal The Bank

Kirit Parikh Committee for Reviewing of Gas Price Formula

Recently, the Centre set up a committee under noted energy expert Kirit Parikh to review the current gas pricing formula for domestically-produced gas to ensure “a fair price to the end consumer”. The panel has been asked to recommend a fair price to end-consumers and also suggest a market-oriented, transparent

Digital Banking Units

On 16th October, 20222, the Prime Minister dedicated 75 Digital Banking Units (DBUs) across 75 districts to the nation. As of now, each of the 29 States and eight Union Territories has got at least one DBU. Karnataka, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have got four each, the maximum

Vostro Accounts

On 16th November, 2022, India approved nine banks to open “Vostro” accounts to help facilitate trade in rupees with Russia. The move to open the special vostro account clears the way for the settlement of payments in rupee for trade between India and Russia, thus enabling cross-border trade in the Indian

Municipal Bonds

Recently, Vadodara became the second Indian city to issue a municipal bond with assistance from the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Technical Assistance, following Pune's bond issuance in 2017. The Rs. 100 crores fund raised by the bond will be used for infrastructure development in Vadodara. About Muni Bonds Municipal bonds are also

Domestic Systemically Important Banks

On 2nd January, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released 2022 list of Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs). State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank has again been named as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) by RBI in 2022 list. About D-SIBs These are also referred to as “Too Big

Bharat Bill Payment System

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to expand the scope of the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). About BBPS It is an integrated bill payment system or a platform which acts as a connect between various billers and users. The Bharat Bill Payment System offers customers the convenience of payment by

India’s First Municipal Bond Index

On 24th February, 2023, National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE’s) index services subsidiary, NSE Indices Limited launched India’s first-ever Municipal Bond Index, Nifty India Municipal Bond Index. About Nifty India Municipal Bond Index The index includes municipal bonds issued as per the Securities Exchange Board of India Issue and Listing of

IREDA gets ‘Infrastructure Finance Company’ Status

On 13th March, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted an ‘Infrastructure Finance Company (IFC)’ status to Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA). It was earlier classified as ‘Investment and Credit Company (ICC)’. About Infrastructure Finance Company (IFC) IFC is a non-deposit accepting loan company which complies with the following: A minimum of

Surety Bond Insurance

On 19th December, 2022, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways launched one of India’s first-ever Surety Bond Insurance product from Bajaj Allianz. About Surety Bond Surety bonds are a contract or a three-way agreement that are guarantees of payment, which insurers issue. The surety (insurance companies/banks) provides the financial guarantee to the

Amazon Rainforest Nearing Tipping Point

According to a recent study, more than 75% of the Amazon rainforest has been heading towards a tipping point since the early 2000s. Reasons Deforestation: According to reports, deforestation totalled 430 square kilometres in January 2022, five times higher than the same month last year. This loss will affect the amount of

Mass Coral Bleaching of Great Barrier Reef

On 25th March, 2022, the management authority of the world’s largest coral reef system, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, confirmed that the reef is experiencing a mass coral bleaching event. Highlights Recurring Events: This is the sixth time that the coral reef system is being hit by a widespread and damaging bleaching event

Indian Antarctic Act, 2022

In August 2022, the Indian Antarctic Act, 2022 was notified. The Act aims at having India’s own national measures for protecting the Antarctic environment and also the dependent and associated ecosystem. Key Provisions Indian Antarctic Authority (IAA): The Act has provisions to set-up Indian Antarctic Authority (IAA) under the Ministry of Earth

Climate Tipping Points

According to a recent study, the climate crisis has driven the world to the brink of multiple disastrous tipping points. Continued greenhouse gas emissions risk triggering climate tipping points. Climate Tipping Points (CTPs) are markers of a larger climate system which when triggered beyond a threshold, perpetuate warming on their

Mangrove Alliance for Climate

Recently, at the 27th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP27) held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) was launched with India as a partner. Key Points Members: An initiative led by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia, the Mangrove Alliance for Climate also includes India, Sri

Upcoming Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution

Recently, at its fifth session held in Nairobi, Kenya, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) adopted a resolution to formulate an international legally-binding instrument by 2024 to end plastic pollution. The resolution identifies the threat that plastic pollution poses to human health and all environments, and focuses on the need

National Air Quality Resource Framework of India

On 22nd June, 2022, the Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India inaugurated a Brainstorming Workshop to kick start an ambitious National Mission on National Air Quality Resource Framework of India (NARFI). Highlights Development of the Framework: It has been developed by the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, with

Green Tug Transition Programme

Recently, India's Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways launched the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) and inaugurated India's first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) in Gurugram, Haryana. About the Programme The program will start with ‘Green Hybrid Tugs’, which will be powered by Green Hybrid Propulsion

Disaster Management Plan of Ministry of Panchayati Raj

On 17th March, 2022, the Disaster Management Plan of Ministry of Panchayati Raj (DMP-MoPR) was released. Aim It aims to develop disaster resilience at the grassroots level among the Panchayats and establish a framework to align the disaster management measures in rural areas to that of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Highlights It

Landslide Atlas of India

On 11th March, 2023, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released the Landslide Atlas of India, providing a detailed guide identifying landslide hotspots in the country. The Atlas is based on an all-India database created by the Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Centre that includes three types of landslide inventory i.e., seasonal, event-based,

New Study on Forest Fires

Recently, the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) released a study, titled ‘Managing Forest Fires in a Changing Climate’. The study presents a micro-level assessment of forest fires by identifying the states most vulnerable to high-intensity forest fires and their district hotspots while taking into consideration the warming and varying

India’s Arctic Policy

On 17th March, 2022, India unveiled its Arctic Policy, titled 'India and the Arctic: Building a Partnership for Sustainable Development’. Aim The policy aims to enhance India’s cooperation with the resource-rich and rapidly transforming region. Six Pillars of the Policy Strengthening India’s scientific research and cooperation; Climate and environmental protection; Economic and human development; Transportation and connectivity; Governance

Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022

On 24th August, 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, published the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022. The rules aim to ensure environmentally sound management of waste batteries. The new rules will replace Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001. Key Points Coverage: The rules cover all types of

Arth Ganga Model: Focusing on Sustainable Development

Recently, at the Stockholm World Water Week 2022, the Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga spoke about the Arth Ganga Model during his virtual keynote address. It is being developed into an economic model for sustainable river rejuvenation. Key Points In 2019, the Prime Minister first introduced the concept

National Centre of Excellence for Green Port & Shipping

Recently, the establishment of India's first National Centre of Excellence for Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) was announced. Highlights NCoEGPS is a major initiative of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW). It will work under the framework of the Sagarmala programme of the MoPSW. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is the

IQAir’s World Air Quality Report 2022

On 14th March, 2023, Swiss air quality technology firm IQAir released the 5th Annual World Air Quality Report 2022. The report measures air quality levels based on the concentration of lung-damaging airborne particles known as Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5). The report is based on PM2.5 data from 7,323 cities and 131 countries. Key

World Water Development Report 2022

On the World Water Day (22nd March), UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water released the United Nations World Water Development Report 2022 titled “Groundwater: Making the invisible visible”. Key Findings Importance of Groundwater: Groundwater accounts for 99% of liquid freshwater on Earth and is the source of one-quarter of all the water used

State Energy and Climate Index

Recently, NITI Aayog launched the State Energy and Climate Index (SECI). It is the first index that aims to track the efforts made by States and UTs in the climate and energy sector. Ranking the States based on their efforts towards improving energy access, energy consumption, energy efficiency, and safeguarding the environment; Key

Global Wind Report 2022

Recently, the Global Wind Energy Council released the Global Wind Report 2022. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the world’s wind energy scenario. Highlights The global wind industry had its second-best year in 2021 with almost 94 GW (gigawatt) of capacity added globally, trailing behind the 2020s record growth by only

The State of the Global Climate 2021

Recently, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a report, titled ‘The State of the Global Climate 2021’. Key Findings Global Mean Temperature: The global mean temperature in 2021 was around 1.11 ± 0.13°C above the 1850–1900 pre-industrial average. Greenhouse Gas Concentrations: It has reached a new global high in 2020. The concentration

Environmental Performance Index 2022

Recently, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022 was released. It provides a data-driven summary of the state of sustainability around the world. About the Index A biennial index, EPI was started in 2002 as Environmental Sustainability Index by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in collaboration with the Yale Center for Environmental Law

Sustainable Development Report 2022

Recently, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) released the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2022. The report assesses the progress of all 193 UN Member States on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Highlights No Progress on SDGs: For the second year in a row, the world is no longer making progress on the

Renewables 2022 Global Status Report

Recently, the Renewables 2022 Global Status Report (GSR 2022) was released by the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21). The report documents the progress made in the renewable energy sector across the globe. Highlights Capacity Addition: Renewable power capacity additions grew 17 per cent in 2021 to reach a new

Living Planet Report 2022

Recently, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) released the Living Planet Report 2022. Released every two years, it is a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and health of the planet. It tracks changes in the relative abundance of wild species populations across the globe. Highlights Declining Wildlife Populations: Monitored wildlife

Climate Change Performance Index 2023

Recently, the Climate Change Performance Index 2023 (CCPI) was released. India jumped 2 spots higher and is now ranked 8th as per the Index. About the Index It is being published annually since 2005 by Germanwatch, the New Climate Institute and the Climate Action Network. The climate protection performance of these 59 countries,

20th Meeting of National Tiger Conservation Authority

Recently, the 20th meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was held in Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. For the first time, the NTCA meeting happened outside the national capital. CA|TS Accreditation CA|TS is a set of criteria which allows tiger sites to check if their management will lead to

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. Key Findings Almost half of the 10,994

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). This was the second congress held in Asia; Indonesia hosted the first Congress in Asia in 1978. About the World Forestry Congress Since the first World Forestry Congress was held

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. Highlights The energy transition is not keeping pace with the growing climate

India Joins First Movers Coalition

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 the Coalition The First Movers Coalition is a global initiative

‘Ocean Promise’: UNDP’s Blue Economy Vision

At the recently held UN Ocean Conference at Lisbon, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced ‘Ocean Promise’- its vision for Blue Economy. About the Promise UNDP’s Ocean Promise underscores that every penny invested in achieving the Paris Agreement is a penny invested in ocean health— the foundation of the sustainable blue

75 Ramsar Sites in 75th Year of Independence

During 2022, India added 28 sites to the list of Ramsar sites, taking the total number of Ramsar sites to 75 in the 75th year of Independence. Tamil Nadu has maximum no. of Ramsar sites (14 nos), followed by UP which has 10 nos. of Ramsar sites. India’s Wetland Conservation Initiatives The Environment

Mission LiFE

Recently, India's Prime Minister along with the Secretary General of the United Nations launched Mission LiFE at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. It is a new initiative for sustainable and healthy lifestyle. Listing climate change and global warming as the main challenges before the world and mankind, the Prime Minister

Global Offshore Wind Alliance

Recently, at the COP27, nine countries joined the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA). The countries are the UK, the US, Belgium, Colombia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, and Norway. About the Alliance Global Offshore Wind Alliance was recently formed by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Denmark and the Global Wind Energy

Two Indian Beaches Get Blue Flag Certification

Recently, the Blue Flag certification has been accorded to two Indian beaches - Minicoy Thundi Beach and Kadmat Beach. Both the beaches are in Lakshadweep. This takes the number of beaches certified under the Blue Flag certification to 12. Minicoy Thundi Beach It is one of the most pristine and picturesque beaches

Minamata Convention

Recently, the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-4.2) was held in Bali, Indonesia. The meeting aimed to enhance international cooperation and coordination for combatting illegal trade in mercury, a major pollutant globally. Highlights: Bali Declaration The Government of Indonesia and the United Nations have

Bucharest Nine (B9)

Recently, the B9 countries rejected the Russian claim about the eastward expansion of NATO, and underlined that NATO is not an organisation that expanded to the east, rather, it was they, the independent European states, who decided on their own to go west. About B9 The “Bucharest Nine”, often abbreviated as the

India-EU Trade and Technology Council

On 25th April, 2022, during the visit of the President of the European Commission, India and the European Union signed a deal to launch a joint Trade and Technology Council, a strategic mechanism to address the challenges of ensuring trusted technology and security in the wake of rapid geopolitical changes. For

Raisina Dialogue 2023

From 2nd to 4th March, 2023, the 8th Edition of the Raisina Dialogue was held in New Delhi. The 1st Edition of the dialogue was held in 2016. About the Dialogue It is India’s premier foreign policy conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global

European Union Digital Services Act

On 30th April, 2022, the European Parliament and European Union (EU) Member States announced that they have reached a political agreement on the Digital Services Act (DSA). About the DSA The Act is a set of common rules on intermediaries’ obligations and accountability across the single market and ensures higher protection to

World Press Freedom Index

On 3rd May, 2022, the 20th edition of the World Press Freedom Index was published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). 3rd May is celebrated every year as World Press Freedom Day. India ranked 150th among the 180 countries, eight places below its last ranking of 142. The index is being

West Seti Hydroelectric Project

India will take over the West Seti Hydroelectric Project nearly four years after China withdrew from it, ending a six-year engagement between 2012 and 2018. India’s National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) has already begun preliminary engagement of the site in far-western Nepal following Indian Prime Minister’s recent visit to Lumbini. About the

I2U2 Summit

A virtual summit of the I2U2 grouping was held in July, 2022. The US President hosted the meeting. About I2U2 I2U2 initiative is a new grouping of India, Israel, USA and UAE. In the grouping’s name, ‘I’ stands for India and Israel, whereas ‘U’ stands for USA and the UAE. The grouping, which met

International North–South Transport Corridor

Recently, Iran started the first transfer of Russian goods to India via a new trade corridor which transits the West Asian nation. It was described as a ‘pilot transfer’ to check the corridor. The cargo will travel through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). About INSTC INSTC is a 7,200 km-long multimodal transportation

WHO Report on Accelerating Access to Genomics for Global Health

Recently, the WHO Science Council released a report, titled “Accelerating Access to Genomics for Global Health”, advocating for passing on genomic technologies to developing countries. Key Findings Access to genomic technologies needs to be expanded, especially for Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). It is not ethically or scientifically justifiable for countries with fewer

India-Iran Pact on Seafarers

On 22nd August, 2022, India and Iran signed a MoU to mutually recognise certificates of competency for unlimited voyages by seafarers from both countries. Key Points It aims to facilitate the movement of seafarers from the two countries. The MoU has been signed as per the provisions of International Convention on Standards of

Universal Postal Union

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the ratification of amendments to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) as contained in the Eleventh Additional Protocol to the Constitution signed during the 27th Congress of the Universal Postal Union held at Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) from 9-27 August, 2021. Universal Postal Union (UPU) Established

Abolishing CPEC Authority

Recently, China gave nod to Pakistan’s decision to scrap the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority over the slow pace of the USD 60 billion project. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority was established in 2019 through an ordinance. About CPEC It is a 3,000-km long route of infrastructure projects connecting China’s northwest Xinjiang Uygur

Porcupine Strategy

Recently, Taiwan has invoked the ‘porcupine strategy’ to protect itself if China attacks. The ultimate objective of this doctrine is that of surviving and assimilating an aerial offensive well enough to organise a wall of fire that will prevent the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from successfully invading. About the Strategy It was

22nd SCO Summit

On 15th and 16th September, 2022, the 22nd Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. After the summit, Uzbekistan handed over the rotating presidency of the SCO to India. Highlights Samarkand Declaration: It advocated commitment to peaceful settlement of differences and disputes

IOR+ Defence Ministers’ Conclave

On 19th October, 2022, India hosted the IOR+ Defence Ministers’ Conclave on the sidelines of 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The conclave was attended by 40 countries. It was organised by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The broad theme was ‘Challenges, Opportunities and Collaborations in the

Special Meeting of UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee

On 28th October, 2022, India hosted a Special Meeting of the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC). It was the first such meeting of the UNSC-CTC in India since its establishment in 2001. The Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations serves as the Chair of the CTC

India’s Chairmanship of Wassenaar Arrangement

India officially assumed the chairmanship of Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) on January 1, 2023. About Wassenaar Arrangement The Wassenaar Arrangement is an elite club of countries which subscribe to arms export controls, similar to the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime. The body came into being in 1996 to succeed the

Currency Swap Agreement with MMA

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) signed a Currency Swap Agreement with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework. This is to provide swap support as a backstop line of funding for short term foreign exchange liquidity requirements. This agreement will enable the MMA to make drawals

Chandrayaan-2 Observes Global Distribution of Argon-40 in Lunar Exosphere

Recently, the Chandra's Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2 (CHACE-2) onboard Chandrayaan-2 mission made the first-of-its-kind observations of the global distribution of Argon-40 in the tenuous lunar exosphere. Key Highlights Distribution: CHACE-2 payload has shown that the distribution of Argon-40 (Ar-40) gas in the lunar exosphere exists beyond the areas that were known. Ar-40 originates from

Space Bricks

Recently, researchers from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) developed a way to make bricks from Martian soil with the help of bacteria and urea. These ‘space bricks’ can be used to construct building-like structures on Mars that could facilitate human settlement on the

iDEX-Prime and DISC 6 Launched during DefConnect 2.0

On 22nd April, 2022, during the one-day DefConnect 2.0 organised by the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence, the Innovations for Defence Excellence-Prime (iDEX-Prime) and sixth Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC 6) were launched. About DefConnect 2.0 Purpose: To bring together start-ups, big companies and armed forces personnel to boost

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 The HS200 is the human-rated version of the S200 rocket booster of the

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

Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN)

Recently Open RAN was in news due to 5G development and deployment in India. It is a key part of a mobile network system that uses cellular radio connections to link individual devices to other parts of a network. It comprises antennae, which transmits and receives signals to and from

International Liquid-Mirror Telescope

Recently, the International Liquid-Mirror Telescope (ILMT) was commissioned at the Devasthal Observatory campus owned by Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital in Uttarakhand. It is the first liquid-mirror telescope in the country and the largest in Asia. ILMT: Key Points Design & Development: Astronomers from India, Belgium and Canada designed

Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile

On 24th June, 2022, the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) was successfully flight-tested by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy from an Indian Naval Ship at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. About VL-SRSAM Development: VL-SRSAM is an indigenous ship-borne

Psyche Mission

Psyche is the name of an asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter and the name of a NASA space mission to visit that asteroid. NASA has cancelled its planned 2022 launch attempt of the Psyche asteroid mission. Key objectives of the mission are to understand how planets and

Sodium-ion Battery Technology

Recently, a team of scientists from the University of Houston has developed a homogeneous glassy electrolyte that makes it more viable to produce sodium ion-based batteries commercially. The study significantly boosts the scope of development of sodium-based battery technology as a viable alternative to lithium-based ones. About Sodium-ion Battery A sodium-ion (Na+) battery

Antimicrobial Coating from Agricultural Waste

Recently, a team of scientists from the Department of Biotechnology-Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (DBT-CIAB), Mohali, developed a nanocomposite using lignin and nanoparticles of cadmium sulphide called L@CdS QDs (quantum dots). About Lignin Lignin is a complex, woody biopolymer that gives mechanical support to plants and helps transport water and nutrients. Post-harvest,

VFTS 243

VFTS 243 is the name given to a binary system of a recently discovered black hole and an extremely luminous and hot blue star with a mass about 25 times that of the sun. The star and the black hole orbit together. The black hole is not only classified as

INS Vikrant: First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier

On 2nd September, 2022, Prime Minister commissioned the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). About INS Vikrant INS Vikrant is designed by Indian Navy's in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of

Cervavac: First indigenously developed Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

On 1st September, 2022, the government announced the scientific completion of Cervavac, India’s first indigenously developed quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer. About Cervavac Cervavac is developed by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India in coordination with the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT). HPV vaccines are

Cyber Security Exercise “Synergy”

On 31st August, 2022, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) under Ministry of Electronics & IT, Government of India, in collaboration with Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), successfully designed & conducted the Cyber Security Exercise “Synergy” for 13 Countries. The exercise was part of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative-

DART Spacecraft Successfully Crashes into Asteroid Dimorphos

Recently, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft successfully crashed into a distant asteroid Dimorphos at hypersonic speed in a test of the world's first planetary defence system. This was the first attempt to alter the motion of an asteroid or any celestial body.The mission was devised to determine whether

KSTAR Achieves Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough

Recently, the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) attained temperatures over 100 million degrees Celsius in a reaction that lasted for about 30 seconds. KSTAR - also known as the Korean artificial sun - is a nuclear fusion reactor developed by researchers at the Seoul National University in South Korea. Key Points Earlier

Einstein Ring

The James Webb Space Telescope recently captured an image of an almost perfect Einstein ring. It was formed from the light of a distant galaxy SPT-S J041839-4751.8, which is around 12 billion light-years away from our planet.An Einstein ring is a ring of light created when light from a galaxy,

Mission Prarambh

On 18th November, 2022, India’s first privately developed rocket, Vikram-S, was successfully launched from Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) launch-pad in Sriharikota. The rocket has been launched under the mission named ‘Prarambh’, which literally translates as ‘beginning’. Highlights Developed by Hyderabad-based startup Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited, the 6-metre tall vehicle hit a peak

Indian Biological Data Centre

Recently, the ‘Indian Biological Data Centre’ (IBDC) was dedicated to the nation. It has been established at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad. Key Points IBDC is the first national repository for life science data in India. The data bank is supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Mandate: As per the

Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence

On 21st November, 2022, India assumed the Chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) at a meeting of the GPAI held in Tokyo. India took over from France, the outgoing Council Chair. GPAI Meeting: Key Highlights Themes: The meeting discussed the following themes: Responsible AI; Data governance; Future of work;

HAKUTO-R Mission

Recently, Japanese space startup i-space Inc launched its own private lander M1 to the Moon under its HAKUTO-R mission. The launch was carried out by SpaceX in Cape Canaveral in the US state of Florida. Key Points HAKUTO-R is Japan’s first-ever lunar mission and the first of its kind by a private

‘Pralay’ Ballistic Missile

On 25th December, 2022, the Ministry of Defence cleared a proposal to procure around 120 Pralay ballistic missiles, which will be deployed along the borders with China and Pakistan. The missile will be first inducted into the Indian Air Force, followed by the Indian Army. About the Missile Type: Pralay is a quasi-ballistic

iNCOVACC

Bharat Biotech’s intranasal vaccine, BBV154 or Incovacc is the world’s first intranasal vaccine to be approved as a booster dose for COVID-19. The nasal vaccine is a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion stabilized spike protein. As the vaccine is given nasally, it triggers an immune response in

INS Vagir Commissioned into Indian Navy

On 23rd January, 2023, the fifth Scorpene class conventional submarine, INS Vagir, was commissioned into the Indian Navy. About INS Vagir INS Vagir, a Kalvari-class submarine, gets its name from the erstwhile Vagir, a submarine which served the Navy between 1973 and 2001. It will form part of the Western Naval Command’s

BharOS

Recently developed at IIT Madras, BharOS is an AOSP (Android Open Source Project) based operating system. It is developed by JandK Operations Private Limited (JandKops), which is a non-profit organisation incubated at IIT Madras. BharOS comes with No Default Apps (NDA). This means that users will get most of storage

SSLV-D2/EOS-07 Mission

On 10th February, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its second developmental flight of a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle, SSLV-D2. It placed three satellites in its precise orbit. SSLV-D2 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre-SHAR, Sriharikota. Key Points Mission Objectives: To demonstrate in-flight performance of SSLV vehicle systems

NISAR Mission

Recently, NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), an Earth-observation satellite, got a traditional send-off ceremony at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, US. The satellite will be shipped to India and is expected to be launched in 2024 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. About NISAR NISAR has been jointly developed

First Flue Gas Desulphurization Plant in South India

The Singareni Thermal Power Plant (STPP) in Mancherial district in Telangana is set to become the first public sector coal-based power generating station in south India and the first among the State PSUs in the country to have flue gas desulphurization (FGD) plant to meet the green norms by cutting

LVM3-M3/OneWeb India-2 Mission

On 26th March, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched 36 OneWeb satellites on its second commercial launch of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) rocket. This marked the second launch that ISRO performed for OneWeb, a UK-based company. The launch earned ISRO over Rs. 1,000 crore and increased its

Bharat 6G Project

Recently, the Prime Minister unveiled India’s vision document for 6G communication services, with plans to roll out the technology by 2030. The document mentions that the Bharat 6G project has been set up for the aforesaid purpose. Key Points 6G Communication: It is expected to offer ultra-high-speed internet with speeds up to

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