Agroforestry in Silk Sector

On 7th March, 2021, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Silk Board under the Ministry of Textiles on a convergence model for the implementation of Agroforestry in the silk sector under the ongoing Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme. Key Points It aims to

PM-KUSUM Scheme

On 2nd March, 2021, the Government introduced modifications to an existing component of the PM-KUSUM scheme so as to channelize its focus on solarizing agricultural feeders instead of pumps. Under this new sub-scheme, the Centre will bear 30 per cent of the cost of building of a small solar plant to

Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati

Recently, NITI Aayog held a national-level consultation on the Principles and Practices of Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati(BPKP) -Natural Farming. About Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati It was introduced as a sub scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) since 2020-21 for the promotion of traditional indigenous practices including natural farming. The scheme mainly emphasises

Amendments to the Insurance Act 1938

On 22nd March, 2021, the Lok Sabha passed the Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which seeks to amend the Insurance Act, 1938. Objective To increase the maximum foreign investment allowed in an Indian insurance company. Background Foreign investment in the insurance sector was first permitted in the year 2000 up to 26%. Subsequently, vide an

Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project

Rajasthan Government has been strongly demanding national project status for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP). About Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project Envisaged on the lines of the Indira Gandhi Canal in western Rajasthan, the project aims to harvest surplus water available during the rainy season in rivers in southern Rajasthan such

Framework for Non-Ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling 2020

On 13th Match, 2021, the Centre has issued a framework for scrap recycling of non-ferrous metals, including aluminium and copper, in a bid to cut down the scrap imports. Need Increased Import Dependency: One of the key challenges faced by the non-ferrous metals industry is its heavy dependence on import of

Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry

On 31st March, 2021, the Union Cabinet approved the Central Sector Scheme - Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) to support food manufacturing entities with stipulated minimum Sales and willing to make minimum stipulated investment for expansion of processing capacity and Branding abroad to incentivise emergence of

Serious Fraud Investigation Office

On 22nd March, 2021, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) ordered for investigation and assigned to Serious Fraud Investigation office (SFIO) and Regional Directors (RDs) in the cases where there are allegations of misuse of corporate structure/ fraud. About Serious Fraud investigation (SFIO) It was constituted in July 2003 following the recommendations

CSIR Floriculture Mission

On 4th march, 2021, the government approved the CSIR Floriculture Mission for implementation in 21 States and Union Territories of India. Need Farmers have little knowledge about floriculture which can give 5 times more return than the traditional crops. Floriculture has the potential to provide employment to a large number of people

RBI Announces Committee to Evaluate Applications for Universal and Small Finance Banks

On 22nd March, 2021, the Reserve Bank of India announced the names of the members of the Standing External Advisory Committee (SEAC) for evaluating applications for Universal Banks as well as Small Finance Banks. Shyamala Gopinath, former Deputy Governor, RBI, has been appointed as the chairperson of the SEAC. The constitution of

Implementation of Kotak Committee Recommendations

Capital market regulator SEBI has approved sweeping changes to the corporate governance framework for listed companies. The new measures are based on recommendations made by a 25 members committee headed by Uday Kotak, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank. The committee was formed in June, 2017 with

Sovereign Credit Ratings

The Economic Survey 2021 stated that India’s sovereign credit rating doesn’t reflect its fundamentals. The survey called for an overhaul of sovereign rating methodology, saying that the fifth-largest economy can’t be BBB- rated. Currently, India is rated investment grade by three major CRAs – S&P, Moody’s and Fitch. About Sovereign Credit

First Anniversary of Formation of 1000 Farmer Producer Organisations

On 1st march, 2021, Union Ministry for Agriculture celebrated the first anniversary of the Central Sector Scheme on "Formation & Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)". Formation & Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations It was in February, 2020, at Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh) with a budgetary provision of Rs 6865 crore. More

Model State for Van Dhan Vikas Yojana

Manipur has been declared as a winner state where the government’s Van Dhan Vikas Yojana has appeared as a major source of employment for the local tribals residing in the state. Since the time that the programme was launched in the State in October 2019, 100 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras have

Bombay Plan

The Indian government not only proposes to de-nationalise public assets, but it also seeks a larger role for private wealth creators by giving them "as much opportunity" to turn India into AatmaNirbhar Bharat. This completes a circle that began with the Bombay Plan of 1944 which had sought the exact opposite

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2021

On 22nd March, 2021, the Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021, bringing in many reforms to India’s untapped mining industry. The Bill amends the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Need Untapped Mining Potential: Mining in India contributes to only 1.75 per cent of

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Red Rice Iron rich ‘red rice’ is grown in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, without the use of any chemical fertilizer. The rice variety is referred to as ‘Bao-dhaan’, which is an integral part of Assamese food. Much like brown rice and white rice, red

PIB Corner

Udan 4.1 Launched To further enhance regional air connectivity, the Centre has launched the 4.1 round of the RCS-Udan scheme. Some operational flexibilities are extended to Airlines under the Udan 4.1 to ensure suitable operation models to connect smaller cities or airstrips. New routes are proposed under 'Sagaramala Seaplane Services'. Operations under Non Scheduled

Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020

On 16th March, the Rajya Sabha passed the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 that increases the time period within which an abortion may be carried out by certain ‘special categories ’ of women. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha in March 2020. It amends the Medical Termination

Jharkhand State Employment of Local Candidates Bill, 2021.

On 15th March, the Jharkhand government announced 75% reservation in private sector jobs with a salary of up to Rs 30,000 for locals in its Jharkhand State Employment of Local Candidates Bill, 2021. Key Provisions of the Bill Definition of Private Sector: The bill will treat shops, establishments, mines, enterprises, industries, companies,

NITI Aayog Suggests Revision of National Food Security Act 2013

The NITI Aayog recently circulated a discussion paper on a proposed revision in the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. National Food Security Act 2013 The NFSA provides a legal right to persons belonging to eligible households to receive foodgrains at subsidised central issue prices (CIPs)– rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at

Voicing Dissent Against Govt. Does Not Amount to Sedition: Supreme Court

Recently, while rejecting a plea to terminate the Lok Sabha membership of Dr. Farooq Abdullah and book him for seditionover his remarks after the abrogation of Article 370, the Supreme Court said that voicing dissent against the government does not amount to sedition. Sedition Section 124 A of IPC (Indian Penal Code)

Reservation for OBCs in Local Bodies Only Statutory, Can’t Breach 50% Ceiling: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court recently said that reservation in favour of Other Backward Classes in concerned local bodies cannot exceed an aggregate of 50 per cent of the total seats reserved for Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and OBCs taken together. The judgment came on petitions challenging Section 12(2)(c) of the Maharashtra

Supreme Court Refuses to Stay Sale of Electoral Bonds

On 26th March, the Supreme Court refused to stay the sale of electoral bonds before Assembly elections in crucial States like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu etc. A plea to stay the sale of a new set of electoral bonds between April 1-10, before Assembly elections in crucial States, was filed by

Permanent Commission for Women Army Officers

In its 25th March verdict, the Supreme Court allowed the pleas of several women short service commission (SSC) officers seeking grant of Permanent Commission in the Army and held that the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) evaluation process was flawed and discriminatory in nature as it did not address the gender

Ease of Living Index and Municipal Performance Index 2020

On 4th March , Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs released the final rankings of Ease of Living Index (EoLI) 2020 and the Municipal Performance Index (MPI) 2020. The rankings under Ease of Living Index 2020 were announced for cities with a population of more than a million, and cities with

COVID 19: A Threat to Progress Against Child Marriage

The outsized impact Covid-19 has had on women in some countries could result in an additional 10 million child marriages in this decade, according to a UNICEF study titled "Covid-19: A threat to progress against child marriage" released on International Women's Day (8th March). An estimated 1.5 million underage girls in

Upliftment of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups

A parliamentary standing committee has asked the Tribal Affairs Ministry to issue directions to all states and union territories for starting a special drive to provide caste certificates to all Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups PVTGs constitute the most vulnerable section among tribals and inhabit isolated, remote

Three Umbrella Schemes of Ministry of Women & Child Development

For effective implementation of various schemes and programmes of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, all major schemes of the Ministry have been classified under 3 umbrella schemes viz. Mission Poshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti. The prime objective of the Ministry is to address gaps in State action

Denial of Justice to Victims of Child Sexual Abuse Rampant: A Study

Everyday four child victims of sexual offences are denied justice due to closure of their cases by police because of insufficient evidence, according to a new study titled 'Police case disposal pattern: An enquiry into the cases filed under POCSO Act, 2012' by Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation (KSCF). Key Findings Implementation of

World Happiness Report 2021

The World Happiness Report 2021 has been released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network on March 20th, the International Day of Happiness.It focuses on the effects of Covid-19 and how people all over the world have fared. Key Rankings Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world for

Sattras of Assam

In poll-bound Assam, in campaigns of political parties one place figures prominently-the Bartadrava Than/Sattra (monastery) in Nagaon, which is the birthplace of renowned Vaishnavite saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva. Sattras Sattras are monastic institutions created as part of the 16th century Neo-Vaishnavite reformist movement started by Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449-1568). As the saint travelled across

St. George’s Orthodox Church to be a Monument of National Importance

Centuries-old St. George’s Orthodox Church at Cheppad, Kerala is now set to be declared a Centrally protected monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). St. George’s Orthodox Church It is believed that the church was built in AD 950, but some experts put the year of construction at

Food Habits of Harappan People Deciphered

According to a new scientific study of material found at a Harappan site, 4MSR Binjore, in Rajasthan, the Harappan people used to consume high-protein multigrain laddoos around 4,000 years ago. The study was jointly conducted by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), New

Rights of OCI Cardholders

The government has notified a consolidated list of rights that Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) enjoy along with a list of activities which would require prior permission. Key Provisions The notification granted OCIs the right of multiple entry lifelong visa to India for any purpose; exemption from registration with the Foreigners’ Regional

Sugamya Bharat App

Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment recently launched the 'Sugamya Bharat' App which has been developed by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. It is a crowd-sourcing mobile application which will act as a means for sensitising and enhancing accessibility in the three pillars of the Accessible India

Ayushman Bharat Schemes Reaches Milestone Before Time

On 21st March, Ministry of Health and Family welfare (MoHFW) informed that the government has achieved its planned target of operationalising 70,000 Ayushman Bharat- health and wellness centres (AB-HWCs) ahead of time. The government had earlier set March 31 as the deadline for realising the target. Ayushman Bharat Scheme It is a

Dandi March

On the 91st anniversary of the historic salt march led by Mahatma Gandhi along with 78 men, from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi in Gujarat, Prime Minister flagged off a symbolic 386-kilometre ‘Dandi march’, following the same route. The PM also launched Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate 75 years of

Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which amended the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 was passed by the parliament recently. The Constitution empowers the President to specify the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in various states and union territories. Further, it permits Parliament to modify this list of notified SCs. The

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Anti-defection Law The Tenth Schedule, popularly known as the anti-defection law, was added to the Constitution in 1985 to bring stability to governments by deterring MPs and MLAs from changing their political parties on whose ticket they were elected. The penalty for shifting political loyalties

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021

On March 28, President of India gave his assent to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Bill amends the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991. The 1991 Act provides a framework for the functioning of the Legislative Assembly and the government of

PIB Corner

Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi On 10th March 2021, the Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi (PMSSN) as a single non-lapsable reserve fund for share of Health from the proceeds of Health and Education Cess levied under Section 136-b of Finance Act, 2007. The major benefit will be

The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process

On 30th March, 2021, India attended the ninth Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) on Afghanistan in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Key Points India spelt out her commitment to the development and rebuilding of Afghanistan. The development partnership of USD 3 billion for Afghanistan, includes more than 550 Community Development

First Quad Meeting

The first ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’, also known as the Quad leaders' virtual summit took place on 12th March, 2021. A joint statement, titled ‘The Spirit of the Quad’ was presented after the summit. Key Highlights Quad Vaccine Partnership The leaders finalised a landmark initiative under which huge investments will be made in India to

Iran–China 25-Year Cooperation Program

On 27th March, 2021, Iran and China on Saturday signed a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement addressing economic issues amid crippling US sanctions on Iran. The deal marked the first time Iran has signed such a lengthy agreement with a major world power. In 2001, Iran and Russia singed a 10-year cooperation

South China Sea

On 25th March, 2021, Philippine’s military ordered the deployment of more navy ships to the South China Sea amid a growing diplomatic row over a fleet of Chinese boats parked near a disputed Whitsun Reef. South China Sea Dispute It is a dispute over territory and sovereignty over ocean areas, and the

US President Lifted Ban on H1-B Visa

On 1st April, 2021, the US President let a June 2020 executive order banning the issuance of new non-immigrant worker visas expire. Background In June 2020, the former US President Trump signed an executive order extending the ban on immigrant and non-immigrant worker visas. The executive order was first extended for 60 days

India-South Korea Friendship Park

On 26th March, 2021, an Indo-Korean friendship park was jointly inaugurated by Defence Minister of India and Minister of National Defence of South Korea at Delhi cantonment. About the Park The park has been built to commemorate the contribution of Indian peacekeeping force during the Korean war of 1950-53. It as an imposing

Permanent Indus Commission

The 116th Annual Meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) comprising of Indus Commissioners of India and Pakistan was held on March 23-24, 2021 in New Delhi. The last meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission was held in Lahore on August 29, 2018 Key Highlights The two sides discussed on the designs

Maritime India Summit 2021

On 2nd March, 2021, Prime Minister inaugurated the second edition Maritime India Summit -2021 organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on a virtual platform The 1st edition of Maritime India Summit was held in 2016 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Key Highlights Denmark was the partner country for the three-day summit. At

Indian PM’s Bangladesh Visit

Indian Prime Minister paid a State Visit to Bangladesh from 26 to 27 March 2021 to join the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh, the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between

Subsidy Boxes of WTO

The World Trade Organization (WTO) compares the “boxes” it uses for classifying trade subsidies to traffic lights when it comes to agricultural trade and commodity subsidies. Different Box Subsidies Green Box Subsidies Green Box Subsidies don’t distort free trade or distort the free trade at a very minimal or negligible level. Example of these

17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting

The Seventeenth Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Ministerial Meeting was held virtually in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 01 April 2021 to finalize preparations for the Fifth BIMSTEC Summit to be held in Sri Lanka in 2021. The meeting endorsed the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport

International Criminal Court

On 2nd April, 2021, the US President lifted sanctions that Donald Trump imposed on top officials of the International Criminal Court. The U.S. sanctions had targeted ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and the court’s head of jurisdiction, Phakiso Mochochoko, for pressing ahead with investigations into the U.S. and its allies, notably

World Development Report, 2021

On 24th March, 2021, the World bank released the World Development Report 2021: Data for Better Lives. It focuses on how data can improve the lives of poor people and advance development objectives The report explores the tremendous potential of the changing data landscape to improve the lives of poor people, while

Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021

On 30th March, 2021, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) released a report titled ‘Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021: Towards post-COVID-19 resilient economies. About the Report Published annually since 1947, the Survey provides analyses to guide policy discussion on the

IBSA Women Forum Meeting

The Sixth India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Women’s Forum meeting was held virtually on 16th March, 2021. Led by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, the event witnessed participation of Ministers and officials responsible for Women Affairs of IBSA Countries. The participating countries also lauded the efforts of Government

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Codex Alimentarius Commission The Codex Alimentarius, or "Food Code" is a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Codex Alimentarius Commission(CAC)is an international food standards body established jointly by the Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) and the

Blockage of Suez Canal

On 23rd March, 2021, the Suez Canal, a critical shipping artery that connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas through Egypt, was blocked after a large cargo ship ran aground while passing through it, bringing traffic on the busy trade route to a halt. The vessel blocking Suez was the Ever Given

PIB Corner

IAF Participated in EX Desert FLAG The Indian Air Force participated for the first time in Exercise Desert Flag-VI along with air forces of United Arab Emirates, United States of America, France, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Bahrain. Ex Desert Flag is an annual multi-national large force employment warfare exercise hosted

Baikal-GVD Underwater Neutrino Telescope Launched

Recently Russian scientists launched one of the world’s biggest underwater neutrino telescopes called the Baikal-GVD (Gigaton Volume Detector) in the waters of Lake Baikail, the world’s deepest lake situated in Siberia. The Baikal-GVD is one of the three largest neutrino detectors in the world along with the IceCube at the South

Martian ‘blueberries’ Find a Parallel on Earth

An Indian team of Scientists has been studying haematite concretions in Kutch and their study has revealed recently that the ‘blueberries’ in India and Mars share similar characteristics. Martian blueberries In 2004, NASA’s Mars exploration rover ‘Opportunity’ found several small spheres on the planet, informally named Martian blueberries. Opportunity’s mini spectrometers studied

The Most Distant Known Quasar With A Bright Radio Emission Discovered

An international team of astronomers have discovered the most distant ‘radio-loud’ quasar named P172+18 with the help of European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT). It took 13 billion years for the quasar’s light to reach earth. Radio-loud quasars are quasars with powerful jets that are strong sources of radio-wavelength emission.

ISRO Develops Radar for Joint Earth Observation Satellite Mission with NASA

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed development of a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capable of producing extremely high-resolution images for a joint earth observation satellite mission with the U.S. space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NISAR NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) is a joint collaboration for a dual-frequency L and S-band

ISRO Makes Breakthrough Demonstration of Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution Over 300 Metres

Recently ISRO successfully demonstrated free-space Quantum Communication over a distance of 300 metres, for the first time in the country. Highlights According to ISRO, a number of key technologies were developed indigenously to accomplish this major feat, which included the use of indigenously developed NAVIC receiver for time synchronization between the

First-ever 'Space Hurricane' Detected over the North Pole

For the first time, astronomers have detected a powerful, 600 mile wide(1,000 kilometres) hurricane of plasma in Earth's upper atmosphere, a phenomenon they're calling a "space hurricane." Space Hurricane The space hurricane, a mysterious fuzzy patch of aurora lights, raged for nearly 8 hours on Aug. 20, 2014, swirling hundreds of miles

New Result From Large Hadron Collider Challenges Leading Theory in Physics

Recently the LHCb Collaboration at CERN has found particles not behaving in the way they should according to the guiding theory of particle physics – the Standard Model. The LHCb experiment is one of the four huge particle detectors at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The other three are ATLAS, CMS

Bharat Biotech, CSIR look at Bringing mRNA Vaccine Technology to India

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Bharat Biotech International are looking at bringing the messenger RNA platform to India after seeing its successful use in quick development of covid-19 vaccines by US-based Pfizer and Moderna. CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) will be looking at supplying lipid nanoparticles, which

India Carrying out Uranium Exploration in Arunachal Pradesh

The Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) for Exploration and Research has taken up Uranium exploration in Arunachal Pradesh along India- China border. The exploration was taken up in Aalo of West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, about 619 metres from ground level. Uranium Uranium (U) is a radioactive chemical element of the actinoid

Helium Crisis in India

India imports helium for its needs, and with the U.S. appearing set to cut off exports of helium since 2021, Indian industry stands to lose out heavily. The U.S. is the most important exporter of helium across the world. Qatar is a possible exporter but acute political and diplomatic wrangles have

Kochi Firm Modifies Traits of Tomato without Modifying Genes Using CRISPR CAS9 Technology

A group of scientists at AgriGenome Labs in Kerala’s Kochi city has used the popular genome editing technology - CRISPR Cas9 - to change the colour of tomato to yellow and improve its traits. Such mutations could occur naturally, but it may take several years. The research led by AgriGenome Labs,

Gelatin Sticks

Twenty gelatin sticks were recovered from a vehicle parked outside Antilla, the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani on February 25. About Gelatin Sticks Gelatin sticks are cheap explosive materials used by industries for the purpose of mining and construction related work, like building structures, roads, rails and tunnels etc. By itself an

India’s Highest Cyber Security Office Finalizes Trusted Gear Vendor List

The National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC) has finalized the criteria for identifying trusted sources and products, and conveyed to the Telecom Companies (telcos) and other stakeholders the process to provide information. Under the process, vendors will have to provide information to telcos, who will inform the designated authority (NCSC) about the

INS Karanj Inducted into Service

On 10th March, the Indian Navy inducted its third Scorpene-class conventional diesel electric submarine, INS Karanj, into service. The first submarine of the class, INS Kalvari, was commissioned in December 2017 and the second, INS Khanderi, in September 2019. A fourth submarine, Vela, was launched into the water in May 2019

India’s Arms Imports Drop 33%: SIPRI Report

India’s arms imports fell 33% between 2011-15 and 2016-20 according to a report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) recently. Key Observations The report on international arms transfers attributed the drop in India’s arms imports mainly to an attempt to reduce its dependence on Russian arms and complex procurement

New Bacteria Found on ISS Named After Indian Scientist Ajmal Khan

According to a recent study, four strains of bacteria have been discovered at the International Space Station out of which three strains were previously unknown to science. Key Findings Scientists of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have identified four strains of bacteria in the samples collected from ISS, all belonging to Methanobacteriaceae family

ISRO Launched Sounding Rocket RH-560

ISRO recently launched a sounding rocket to study attitudinal variations in the neutral winds and plasma dynamics from Sriharikota spaceport. Sounding Rockets ISRO has developed a series of sounding rockets called Rohini series, important among them being RH-200, RH-300 and RH-560, number in the name indicating the diameter of the rocket in

Health Minister Named Chairman Of ‘Stop TB Partnership Board’

Indian Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan has been appointed Chairman of the ‘Stop TB Partnership’ Board for a three-year term commencing from July 2021. Stop TB Partnership The Stop TB Partnership is a unique international body with the power to align actors all over the world in the fight against

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Echo and Bifrost Cables Facebook and Google are planning to build new cables under the sea called 'Echo' and 'Bifrost' to connect the US to Singapore and Indonesia. While Google is only investing in Echo, Facebook is investing in both cables.These cables will increase overall transpacific capacity by 70 per cent

Genome Mapping in Indian Ocean

A 30-member team of scientists and researchers from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Panaji (Goa) and another 30 crew members onboard its research vessel Sindhu Sadhana will spend the next three months traversing the course of over 10,000 nautical miles in the Indian Ocean on a research project

PIB Corner

Flight Test of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet DRDO successfully carried out a flight demonstration based on Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from Integrated Test Range Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on March 05, 2021. This technology has provided DRDO with a technological advantage which will enable it to develop

Similipal Forest Fire

A fire which started in the Similipal biosphere reserve area in February was brought under control in March. The Similipal forest reserve area frequently witnesses forest fires during dry weather conditions. Forest fire is the uncontrolled fire that destroys the biodiversity and the ecology of large parts of the forest. It

Catch the Rain Campaign Launched on World Water Day

On the occasion of World Water Day (March 22) , Prime Minister launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign. Catch the Rain Catch the Rain is a Jan Andolan campaign which aims to take water conservation at the grass-roots level through people’s participation and intends to accelerate water conservation across

Draft Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2021

On March 11, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued the draft Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021 for handling India’s plastic waste. Key Provisions It has extended the applicability of the rules to brand-owner, plastic waste processor, including the recycler, co-processor, etc. It will also include new

MP and UP Government Sign MoA for Ken-Betwa Link Project

On the occasion of World Water Day on March 22, a memorandum of agreement was signed between Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to implement the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP). Ken-Betwa Link Project It is the first project under the National Perspective Plan

Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) under Fire in Goa

The draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) has stoked a controversy in Goa after the draft met with criticism from locals, environmentalists and political parties. Some of the issues with the draft are- 30 day duration to respond to the draft contrary to the 60-day limit provided by the Environment Protection

Italy Joins International Solar Alliance under the Amended ISA Framework Agreement

Italy has signed the International Solar Alliance under the amended ISA Framework Agreement. The amendments to the Framework Agreement of the ISA entered into force, opening its Membership to all Member States of the UN. International Solar Alliance The International Solar Alliance was launched jointly by the Indian Prime Minister and the

Government Prepares to Receive African Cheetah

Nearly 70 years after the cheetah was declared locally extinct or extirpated, India will receive its first batch of the large cats from Africa by the end of this year. This is the first time in the world that a large carnivore will be relocated from one continent to another. Time Line

African Elephants Living in Forests Are Now ‘Critically Endangered

The new assessments by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has put African elephants living in forests in the critically endangered category and the African savanna elephant as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Previously, African elephants were treated as a single species, listed as Vulnerable;

India’s First Inter-State Tiger Relocation Project Floundered

Sundari, a tigress shifted as part of India’s first inter-state translocation project in 2018 from Bandhavgarh (Madhya Pradesh) to Satkosia Tiger Reserve (Odisha) has returned home. Tiger Relocation Project The tiger relocation project was initiated in 2018 wherein two big cats, a male (Mahavir) from Kanha Tiger Reserve and a female (Sundari)

Promotion of Herbal Cultivation in the Country

National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) has established seven Regional Cum Facilitation Centres (RCFCs) in different regions of the country. Government Initiatives for Promoting Herbal Cultivation Ministry of Finance has announced Rs. 4000 crore package under Atma Nirbhar Bharat for Promotion of Herbal Cultivation. The Ministry of AYUSH has prepared a draft scheme namely

3rd Edition of Annual Conference of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

The Prime Minister recently addressed the third edition of the annual conference of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Highlights of the Conference The Prime Minister elaborated on following key priority areas: First, CDRI must embody the central promise of the Sustainable Development Goals, that is, "leave no one behind". This

International Day of Forests

The United Nations celebrates March 21 as the International Day of Forests , commemorating the green cover around the world and reiterating its importance. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 21 as the International Day of Forests (IDF) in 2012. The Day is celebrated by the United Nations Forum on Forests

Food Waste Index Report 2021

On 4th March, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the Food Waste Index Report 2021. The report looks at food waste that occurs in retail outlets, restaurants and homes – counting both food and inedible parts and presents the most comprehensive food waste data collection, analysis and modelling. The index was

CPCB Report on Contaminated Sites in India

According to the latest report of the Central Pollution Control Board, there are 112 sites in India contaminated by toxic and hazardous substances. Besides, there are 168 Probably Contaminated sites that may be contaminated but require investigation and confirmation Odisha tops the list with 23 contaminated sites, followed by Uttar Pradesh (21)

Beijing Faces ‘Biggest Sandstorm of the Decade’

Beijing was shrouded in thick brown dust in mid-March. Pollution levels were sent soaring as heavy winds blew in from the Gobi desert and parts of north-western China. The meteorological department called it the biggest sandstorm in a decade. Highlights Heavy winds brought in sand from Inner Mongolia to the provinces of

Flamingos, Pelicans Yet to Leave Chilika, Despite Early Onset of Summer

Flamingos, pelicans and some other species are yet to leave the Chilika lake in Odisha despite the early onset of summer in the state, even as most waterfowl have left the area. Highlights The flamingos and pelicans generally come to Chilika during late winter. While pelicans start their journey with the onset

National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently informed the parliament that over Rs 1,000 crore has been released for the conservation of 157 wetlands in the country under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA). Threats to Water Bodies Rapid urbanisation Development activities Anthropogenic pressures NPCA The NPCA is

MoU Signed to Implement Action Plan Under National Clean Air Programme

On 26th March, representatives of state pollution control boards, urban local bodies and Institutes of Repute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 132 identified cities to implement city-specific action plans under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The NCAP is a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle air pollution

News Snippets

Nag River Pollution Abatement Project Recently government approved the Nag River Pollution Abatement Project in order to treat the sewage and industrial waste flowing into the river in Nagpur, the city named after the river. The project has been approved under the National River Conservation

Water Quality Monitoring Framework Rolled Out by Jal Shakti Ministry

Recently central government’s flagship scheme Jal Jeevan Mission rolled out a framework and guidelines for testing, monitoring and surveillance of drinking water quality as well as a Water Quality Information Management System (WQMIS), an online portal that provides detailed information on laboratories for this purpose. The guidelines have been prepared in

PIB Corner

World Energy Transitions Outlook The World Energy Transitions Outlook report has been brought out by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report proposes energy transition solutions for the narrow pathway available to contain the rise of temperature to 1.5°C and halt global warming. The window of opportunity to achieve the 1.5°C Paris