CAROTAR Rules2020

The Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements) Rules, 2020 (CAROTAR, 2020) came into force on 21st September, 2020. These aim to protect the domestic industry from misuse of Free Trade Agreements. About CAROTAR Rules These rules apply to import of goods into India where the importer makes a claim of

World Bamboo Day

World Bamboo Day is observed on September 18 every year to increase the awareness of bamboo globally. It was officially established by the World Bamboo organization at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009. Theme of 2020: Bamboo Now Government’s Initiatives to Promote Bamboo Bamboo Cluster On 8th September, 2020, the Union

Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-ANIC Initiative

On 9th September, 2020, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) along with NITI Aayog launched the Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-Atal New India Challenges to spur applied research and innovation in Indian MSMEs and startups. Key Points The programme will be driven by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), four ministries—Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Food Processing

Bullet Train Project

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project may face a delay due to issues such as disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic to low participation by Japanese companies and tenders cancelled because of steep rates quoted by bidders. The project was scheduled to be completed by December 2023. About the Bullet Train

SAROD-Ports: Dispute Resolution Mechanism for Maritime Sector

On 10th September, 2020, the Union Ministry of Shipping launched dispute redressal mechanism-SAROD (Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes)-Ports, to facilitate affordable and timely resolution of disputes for the maritime sector. In January, 2018, the government approved amendments in the Model Concession Agreement (MCA).The amendments in the MCA, envisaged constitution of

Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems 2019

On 11th September, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry released the second edition of Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems-2019, conducted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). A total of 22 states and 3 Union Territories participated in the exercise, including four states from

Ease of Doing Business Rankings

On 5th September, 2020, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry released the 4th edition of Ease of Doing Business Rankings based on the State Business Reform Action Plan (State BRAP). Key Points Andhra Pradesh for the third time in a row has topped

Global Innovation Index 2020

On 2nd September, 2020, the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) released the Global Innovation Index (GII)-2020. The GII measures 131 economies around the world, using 80 indicators, which include the quality of universities, availability of microfinance and venture capital, to gauge innovation capabilities and measurable results. The GII 2020 is the

Government Proposes to Make FASTag Mandatory

In order to promote digital and IT-based payment of toll fees, the Centre has proposed to make FASTag mandatory for vehicles sold before December 1, 2017. The amended provision in Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 is proposed to be put in force w.e.f 1st Jan 2021. It is also proposed to make

Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor Project

On 15th September, 2020, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor Project. About the project The project will be implemented by Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (HRIDC), a Joint Venture company set up by Ministry of Railways with Government of Haryana. The Rail Line under the project

e-Gopala App

e-Gopala App is a comprehensive breed improvement marketplace and information portal for direct use of farmers. Need of the App At present, no digital platform is available in the country for farmers managing livestock including buying and selling of disease-free germplasm in all forms. (semen, embryos, etc.) There is no mechanism to send

Force Majeure Clause

At the 41st meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, the finance ministry revealed that the Centre would not be able to make good the shortfall. Now, the businesses are looking towards a legal provision - the Force Majeure (FMC) or “Act of God” clause to cut losses. Back in

K V Kamath Committee Report on Resolution Framework for Covid-19 Related Stress

On 7th September, 2020,the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a report by the K V Kamath Committee which was formed to make recommendations on the required financial parameters to be factored in the resolution plans under the ‘Resolution Framework for Covid-related Stress’,along with sector specific benchmark ranges for such

Vodafone gets International Relief in Retrospective Taxation Case

On 25th September, 2020, the Permanent Court of Arbitration(PCA) at The Hague (Netherland) ruled in favour of the Vodafone Group in its long pending case against the Indian income tax department’s tax liability demand for Rs 22,100 crore that dates back to a transaction in 2007. Timeline of the Case In May

PIB Corner

FDI in Defence Sector The Union Cabinet approved a new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy in the defence sector which allows the FDI through automatic approval to be increased from 49% to 74%. Till now, 100 per cent foreign investments were permitted in the defence industry - 49 per cent under the

Parliament Passes two Bills to Revamp Indian Medicine System

Recently Parliament approved two Bills namely the National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill and the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill to revamp homeopathy and Indian Medicine System. National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2019 This Bill seeks to repeal the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 and to set up a

Aircraft (Amendment) Act 2020

The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill 2020 that gives three aviation regulators statutory powers and enhances the fine for violations from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore in a bid to improve aircraft safety, was passed by Parliament recently. It amended the Aircraft Act, 1934 which regulates manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import

Epidemic Diseases Amendment Act 2020

Recently parliament passed the Epidemic Diseases Amendment Bill 2020 which aims at protecting healthcare workers fighting the Covid-19 disease outbreak in the country by criminalising attacks on medical workers, resulting into imprisonment for up to five years. The bill replaces the ordinance issued by the government in April 2020 for the

Action Plan 2020-21 for Schemes of Department of Social Justice & Empowerment

Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment recently released a book containing 33 Action Plans 2020-21 of all the schemes of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment on 7th September, 2020. Revised Plans for Schemes of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment Free Coaching for Scheduled Castes and Other Backward

Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020

Defence Minister recently unveiled the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 with a focus on significantly boosting indigenous production and turning India into a global manufacturing hub of weapons and military platforms. DAP 2020 will be applicable with effect from October 1, 2020. DAP 2020 is the renamed iteration of Defence Procurement Procedure.

Supreme Court Puts Stay on Maratha Reservation

Recently, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court put interim stay on Maharashtra State reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act (SEBC Act),2018,which provides reservation for Maratha community in government jobs and educational institutions for undergraduate courses in Maharashtra. Key Points The SEBC Act originally provided 16 percent reservation for Maratha

Committee on Content Regulation in Government Advertisements

A Supreme Court-mandated Committee on Content Regulation in Government Advertising (CCRGA)recently noted in its meeting that some states are yet to constitute their respective committees and this delay might be construed as a contempt of the apex court's orders. Further, the CCRGA explained that in the event of any non-compliance of

UN Guidelines on Access to Social Justice for People with Disabilities

Recently the United Nations released its first-ever guidelines on access to social justice for people with disabilities to make it easier for them to access justice systems around the world. The guidelines outline a set of 10 principles and detail the steps for implementation. Ten Principles on Access to Social Justice

Village Poverty Reduction Plan

Self Help Groups across the country are being geared up to prepare the Village Poverty Reduction Plan for integration with the Gram Panchayat Development Plans. Article 243G of the Constitution intends to empower the Gram Panchayats (GPs) by enabling the State Governments to devolve powers and authority in respect of all

UN’s Levels &Trends in Child Mortality Report 2020

Recently, the Levels and Trends in Child Mortality 2020 reportwas released by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the World Bank Group. Key Findings of the Report Global Statistics As per the report the number of global under-five

NCRB Report: ‘Crime in India’ 2019

The National Crime Record Bureau's ‘Crime in India’ 2019 report was released on 29th September 2020.The NCRB also released the annual report on Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) for the year 2019. Key Findings of the Reports Crimes against Women: Crimes against women increased 7.3 per cent from 2018

Rare Inscription of Renati Cholas Unearthed in Andhra Pradesh

A rare inscription dating back to the Renati Chola era has been unearthed in a remote village of Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh recently. Key Findings The inscription is found engraved on a dolomite slab and shale, which are part of a fragmentary pillar excavated from the site in a farmer’s field. The

Dekho Apna Desh Webinar on Hampi

On 29th August 20202, the Ministry of Tourism organised a webinar titled ‘Hampi- Inspired by the past; Going into the future’ under Dekho Apna DeshWebinar series. Dekho Apna Desh Webinar Series is an effort to showcase India’s rich diversity under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme. It is presented in technical partnership

ASI Declares Site &Remains at Baghpat to be of National Importance

The archaeological site and remains at SadikpurSinauli in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district where evidence of the existence of a warrior class around 2,000 BCE was discovered in 2018 have been declared to be of “national importance” by the Archaeological Survey of India. Highlights The ASI’s notification under provisions of the Ancient Monuments

Sree Narayana Guru

Recently Prime Minister of India paid homage to Sree Narayan Guru on the occasion of his 164th birth anniversary on September 2. Additionally, Kerala Government decided to name Kerala’s first open university after Sree Narayan Guru, a saint who fought against the caste system prevalent in the society. About Sree Narayana

National Medical Commission

The National Medical Commission (NMC) replaced the Medical Council of India on 25th September in pursuance of the National Medical Commission Act 2019. Former head of Delhi All India Institute of Medical Sciences ENT department, Dr Suresh Chandra Sharma has been appointed as the Chairperson of NMC for a period

Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill 2020

The Rajya Sabha recently passed the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020. This paves the way for the establishment of a state-of-the-art Ayurvedic institution called the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) at Jamnagar, Gujarat, and conferment of the status of Institution of National Importance

Global Smart City Index 2020

Recently, the Institute for Management Development (IMD), in collaboration with Singapore University for Technology and Design (SUTD), released the 2020 Smart City Index. In SCI's context, 'smart city' describes an urban setting that apply technology to enhance the benefits and diminish the shortcomings of urbanization. The second edition of the SCI ranked

Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act

President of India recently gave his assent to the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020, that provides for inclusion of Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi in the list of official languages in Jammu and Kashmir, in addition to Urdu and English. According to the 2011 census, only 0.16 per cent

Mission Karmayogi: Ushering in the Civil Services Reforms

Recently the Union Cabinet gave its approval for Mission Karmayogi, a new national capacity building and performance evaluation programme for civil servants. It is a comprehensive post-recruitment reform of the Centre’s human resource development aimed at building a future-ready civil service with the right attitude, skills and knowledge, aligned to the

PIB Corner

Draft Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture The government of India’s policy think-tank NITI Aayog has released a draft for Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA) for public consultation in order to seek opinion on the implementation of the framework, which is set to be launched by 2020-end. It is aimed at empowering

Sri Lanka Proposes Ban on Cow Slaughter

The parliamentary group in Sri Lanka on September 08, 2020 approved proposal to completely ban slaughtering of cows in Sri Lanka to stop animal cruelty for curbing the desperate move to kill cow and cattle rampantly in the holy land of Sri Lanka. However, The Animal Act of Sri Lanka which

United Kingdom’s Internal Market Bill Passed

A controversial government Brexit bill that breaches international law has safely passed its final House of Commons hurdle, despite continued serious doubts on September 29, 2020. United Kingdom Internal Market Bill On September 9, 2020, UK Government published a UK Internal Market Bill.The bill is designed to “protect jobs and trade” within

India-Japan Defence Agreement

On September 9, 2020 India and Japan signed an “Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA)”.Japan becomes the sixth country with which India has such an arrangement, after the United States, France, Singapore, South Korea, and Australia. About the Agreement According to the agreement, supplies and services can be exchanged during joint exercises and

First India-France-Australia Trilateral Dialogue

The first India-France-Australia Trilateral Dialogue was held virtually on September 9, 2020 with a focus on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region. It was decided in the meeting that such dialogues will be held annually now onward. Discussion Points Various Economic and Geo-strategic Challenges in the Indo-pacific, particularly in context of Covid-19. The

India-Angola Joint Commission Meet

India and Angola held the first Joint Commission Meetingon September 8, 2020 in which two sides agreed to diversify their trade relationship and discussed cooperation in health, pharmaceuticals, defence, agriculture, food processing, digitization and telecom.The 2nd session of the Angola-India Joint Commission would be held in New Delhi in 2022. Agreements

India-Finland Cooperation in Geology and Mineral Resources

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, on September 02, 2020, has approved Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) for cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources between India and Finland. Bilateral Cooperation The MoU between the two countries aims to provide a framework and a platform to promote and foster cooperation

10th East Asia Summit

The 10th East Asia Summit (EAS), Foreign Ministers meeting was held on the 9th September, 2020 virtually.The meet was based on formulating various ways, in which the ties between the member countries can be strengthened and make it responsive and proactive in dealing with the major changes happening around the

India to Host Summit of SCO Council

India will host a summit of the council of heads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)on November 30, 2020 with a focus on contributing to the trade and economic agenda of the influential grouping. India in SCO India, which was an observer at the SCO since 2005 and became its

India Elected Member of UN Commission on Status of Women

India, on September 15, 2020 got elected as a member of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women(CSW), securing the most votes ahead of China. Afghanistan was the other country elected as member. The election marksthe year of 25thanniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women, which started

India Becomes an Observer in Djibouti Code of Conduct

India on September 16, 2020 acquired the Observer status in the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCOC), the anti-piracy group of nations that provides a common platform to manage maritime security for governments on the east coast of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.The Djibouti Code of Conduct is also called the

Germany launches Indo-Pacific Strategy with India

Germany, current EU president and Europe's biggest economy, has launched its Indo-Pacific strategy with India that is expected to play a key role in Germany’s outreach in the region where China’s aggressive foreign policy has rattled countries. The new Indo-Pacific strategy, which reflects the realities of the modern world, is focused

Indo-China Five Point Plan on LAC

Amidst the tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the Ladakh border, the Foreign Ministers of India and China agreed on five points plan to disengage troops and reduce tensions along LAC, during their talks in Moscow on the sidelines of the SCO Summit on September 10, 2020. As

IBSA Foreign Minister’s Meet

External Affairs Minister of India chaired a meeting of foreign ministers of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) grouping via video conference on September 16, 2020. Emphasis on Reform of the UN Security Council The foreign ministers of the three-nation group- India, Brazil and South Africa adopted a joint statement on the Reform of

PIB Corner

Kra Canal Project Thailand has scrapped the Kra Canal Project that was aimed at connecting the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea across the Kra Isthmus in southern Thailand and was to provide an alternative transit route to the Strait of Malacca. FinCEN Files FinCEN Files is a cross-border investigation based on

Himalayan Chandra Telescope

Recently, the Himalayan Chandra Telescope, housed within the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) at Ladakh, completed its 20 years in operation. HCT is a 2-m diameter optical-infrared telescope which is also called as the crown jewel of Indian astronomy. It has been used for scanning the space to search a variety of

Solar Cycle 25

Solar Cycle Prediction Panel of NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have jointly announced the end of solar cycle 24 and commencement of solar cycle 25. Solar cycle 25 is the current solar cycle pattern of sunspot activity. It began in December 2019 with the observation of a

Discovery of Phosphine Gas: Life on Venus?

A team of scientists have reported traces of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of Venus. The discovery has triggered global excitement about the possibility of the presence of lifeforms on the neighbouring planet. They have reported traces of phosphine in concentration of approximately 20 parts per billion, which is thousands to

NASA’s Sonification Project

It is a new project of NASA which uses sonification that transforms data from astronomical images into audio sound. The images used are taken from NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory and other telescopes. This allows users to listen to the centre of the Milky Way as observed in X-ray, optical, and

UCPMP Not Mandatory for Pharma Companies

Recently, government has informed that it has no intention of making the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) mandatory on pharmaceutical companies. UCPMP It is a voluntary code issued by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Union Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers relating to marketing practices for pharmaceutical companies as well

FSSAI Bans Mixing of Edible Oil in Mustard Oil

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned the adulteration and blending of any other edible oil with mustard oil. Rice bran oil, palm oil or any other cheap edible oil is used for adulteration with mustard oil. By mixing cheap edible oil with mustard oil, businessmen make more

3D Printed Nasal Swab

Amidst a potential shortage of nasal swabs to collect samples for coronavirus testing, researchers have come up with an alternative: 3D-printed nasal swabs. It is a cheaper alternative for commercial swabs. A clinical trial has provided evidence that 3D-printed alternative nasal swabs work as well, and safely, as the standard commercial

FELUDA Test Kits for COVID-19

Feluda is an acronym for FNCAS9 Editor Linked Uniform Detection Assay. It is an accurate and low-cost paper-based test strip to detect Covid-19 in less than 30 minutes. It has been developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Tata Groupand got approval of the Drugs Controller

ABHYAS: High-speed Expendable Aerial Target

Abhyas is a High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) being developed by DRDO. It is similar to a drone and is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot. It has RCS (Radar Cross Section), Visual and IR (Infrared) augmentation systems required for weapon practice. The fuselage for the

HSTDV: Indigenous Hypersonic Technology

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flight tested the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) – an unmanned scramjet vehicle with a capability to travel at six times the speed of sound. The test has showed that the scramjet-powered HSTDV sustained a speed of Mach 6 during the course

Graphene Mask

In a recent research scientist have produced graphene mask with an anti-bacterial efficiency of 80 percent.They said that it can be raised to almost 100 per cent with exposure to sunlight. The initial tests have shown promising results in the deactivation of two coronavirus species. Graphene is an allotrope of

Real Mango

Real Mango is an illegal software which was used for cornering confirmed train reservation during the coronavirus pandemic. The Railway Protection Force has disrupted the network and it has made 50 arrests in an investigation spanning across the states of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Gujarat. The first red flag was

COVID-19 Mutation D614G

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is constantly mutating, but one mutation in particular has been found more transmissible than most others and it has been named D614G. It was first noticed in China and Germany, but gained attention when it cropped up in several cases across Europe, and eventually in the US, Canada,

COVID-19: Serial Interval

A recent research has shown that China is able to contain Covid-19 due to its ability to manage the serial interval and now it has gone over a month without any locally transmitted Covid-19 cases. The serial interval is the duration between symptom onset of a primary case and symptom onset

National Sero Survey 2.0

The Indian Council of Medical Research has completed its second national sero-survey to gauge the prevalence of COVID-19 in country. Generally, a series of sero-surveys in the same areas is required to make any statements about how the infection is progressing. The survey was carried out from 17 August to 22

PIB Corner

Dhawan-1: India's First Privately Developed Cryogenic Rocket Engine Space rocket startupSkyroot Aerospace has unveiled its cryogenic engine Dhawan-1 on the occasion of 100th birth anniversary of Indian rocket scientist Satish Dhawan. It runs on liquid natural gas (LNG) as fuel. The cryogenic engine 'Dhawan-1' is 100 per cent 3D printed and fuelled

Living Planet Report 2020

Recently, World-Wide Fund for Nature has released its biennial report the Living Planet Report 2020 (LPR). The Report is a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet. By providing an overview of the state of the natural world, human impacts and potential solutions, it

Indo-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership

Recently, India and Denmark have elevated their relations to a “green strategic partnership”. It will focus on expanding economic ties, green growth and cooperation on global challenges such as climate change. Green Strategic Partnership The green strategic partnership will build on an existing Joint Commission for Cooperation, created in 2009, for cooperation

Blue Flag Eco-label and BEAMS

India has sent a formal request for consideration of its eight beaches by international jury for the coveted International eco-label called as the Blue Flag certification under Blue Flag Programme. The Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world. Blue Flag Programme The Blue Flag Programme is operated by

Land Degradation and Coral Reef Programme

The Environment Ministerial Meeting (EMM) of the G20 countries has launched a global initiative to reduce Land Degradation and coral reef programme. Salient Features of the Programme The Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation aims to strengthen the implementation of existing frameworks to prevent, halt, and reverse land degradation within G20

Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework 2.0

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework 2.0 (CSCAF 2.0), along with the ‘Streets for People Challenge’ to give a push to the Smart Cities Mission. It intends to inculcate Climate-Sensitive Approach to Urban Planning and Development. Key Features of CSAF 2.0 The objective of

Kerala: First State to Institutionalize Snake Handling

Kerala has become the first state to institutionalise snake handling in the country. It has framed guidelines for rescuing snakes from human dominated places and releasing them in uninhabited areas. Key Features of the Guidelines The guidelines make it mandatory for snake handlers to seek certification. Each district will prepare a

Biodiversity Mapping of Mumbai

In a first-of-its-kind, a biodiversity map of the city of Mumbai has been prepared to showcase the wildlife hotspots, mangrove forests, urban green spaces and over 90 species that can be spotted in the city. It is an attempt to visually empower Mumbai’s citizens with the resources they share with the

Indian Army to Use Double-Humped Camels along LAC

Amidst the ongoing India-China standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the double-humped camels will now be used for transportation and patrolling by the Indian Army in eastern Ladakh's treacherous terrain where armies of both countries have mobilized in great numbers. It was planned three years ago and will come

Aarey Reserve Forest

Maharashtra has announced that a 600-acre land parcel in the Aarey Milk Colony near Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) would be reserved as a forest. The area of the reserved forest excludes the land on which the controversial car shed for the 33.5-km-long underground Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro Line 1 corridor will be

Typhoon Haishen

Typhoon Haishen made landfall over southern Japan on 6th September. It has been categorised as a Category 4 storm which means well-built framed houses can suffer severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and exterior walls. The damage associated with strong typhoons include wind damage, water damage,

Kalinga Cricket Frog

Indian scientists have reported a first-of-its-kind discovery of morphological phenotypic plasticity (MPP) in the Kalinga cricket frog. MPP is the ability of an organism to show drastic morphological (physical features) variations in response to natural environmental variations or stimuli. The recent study has indicated that the frog species being endemic to

Brucellosis Outbreak in China

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the health commission of Lanzhou City in China announced that a leak in a biopharmaceutical company last year caused an outbreak of brucellosis disease. Without any reported fatalities, more than 3,000 people had been infected with the disease. It said that in the process of producing a

Low Ozone Over Brahmaputra Valley

Scientists at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital have evaluated the near surface ozone in the Brahmaputra River Valley (BRV) and found relatively low concentration of Ozone over Guwahati compared to the other urban locations in India. Key Findings During the daylight hours, the site is in or

Kochi Biodiversity Index Map

Kochi has become the first city in in Kerala and the second in the country after Hyderabad, to have a biodiversity index map. The index has considered 18 biodiversity indicators that measure the city’s native biodiversity, the ecosystem services provided and biodiversity governance. It has a score of 45 out of

A New Push for Namami Gange Programme

With the term of completion approaching for the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) or Namami Gange, government has initiated a slew of interventions under it. It ranges from organic farming to creation of river fronts, Ghats and sewerage treatment plants (STPs). Four-Dimensional Push Under NMCG Under Namami Gange, projects worth 30

PIB Corner

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is observed on 16 September. This day commemorates the drafting of ‘The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer’. On 16th September 2009, the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol became the first

Case Study

You are a young, aspiring and sincere employee in a Government office working as an assistant to the director of your department. Since you have joined recently, you need to learn and progress. Luckily your superior is very kind and ready to train you for your job. He is a

1. Discuss about the Peasant’s, handicrafts and tribal uprisings in India during nineteenth century.

Approach of the Answer Introduction: The answer can be started by writing the economic conditions which forced the peasants and other groups to rise against the oppression caused by the British. Body: The imperial policies of the British to suppress the gain of peasants and their impact on different strata

Prison Reforms in India

Prisons in India A well organised system of prisons is known to have existed in India from the earliest time. It was a common practice to keep the prisoners in solitary confinement so as to afford them an opportunity of self-introspection. The British colonial rule in India marked the beginning of

Judicial Reforms in India

The Indian Constitution establishes a single integrated judicial system for the whole of India. The Supreme Court of India is the highest court of the country and below it, are the High Courts at the state level. Under the High Court there is a hierarchy of subordinate courts functioning at

Social Media and the Need for its Regulation

Social media refers to websites and applications that are designed to allow people to share content quickly, efficiently, and in real-time. Any digital tool that allows users to quickly create and share content with the public is considered as social media. It encompasses a wide range of websites and apps.

Labour Reforms in India

Labour reforms essentially mean taking steps in increasing production, productivity, and employment opportunities in the economy in such a manner that the interests of the workers are not compromised. Essen­tially, it means skill development, retraining, redeployment, updating knowledge base of workers-teachers, promotion of leadership qualities, etc. Labour reforms also

Blue Revolution

In the 1960 s, India made headlines with its Green Revolution, using high-yielding varieties and improved technology to more than double its output of wheat between 1965 and 1972. Today, India is pushing ahead with a Blue Revolution, the rapid increase of fish production in small ponds and water bodies, a

Financial Inclusion Framework of India

India has recently witnessed profound changes in its financial inclusion ecosystem. While financial inclusion is a point of entry to lift people out of poverty, the higher use of the full range of financial services can alone serve as a path to prosperity. Financial institutions are now indulged in a strong

Banking Sector Reforms

In 2019, India completed the 50th anniversary of the bank nationalization programme undertaken in 1969.Since 1969, India has grown significantly to become the 5th largest economy in the world. Yet, India’s banking sector is disproportionately under-developed given the size of its economy.As public sector banks (PSBs) account for 70 percent

Child Labour in India

More than 200 million children worldwide, are still working as child labourers and a staggering 115 million at least and are subject to its worst forms. As per the National Census 2011, there are close to 10.1 million child labourers in India, in the age group of 5 to 14

Liberalisation of Indian Agriculture

Introduction Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for about 58 percent of India’s population, contributing 15% of India’s GDP. Growth in GVA in agriculture and allied sectors stood at 4 per cent in FY2019-20. However, its contribution to national income has gradually declined from 18.2 percent in 2014-15 to 16.5 in 2019-20,