Civil Services Chronicle February 2021
Agriculture
+ Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
On 25th December, the government released the 7th instalment of financial benefit under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) through video conference.
About PM-Kisan
Launched in February 2019, it is a Central Sector scheme which aims to augment the income of the farmers by providing support to all landholding farmers’ families across the .... Read More
+ Lakshadweep Declared 100% Organic
On 8th December, 2020, Lakshadweep became the first Union Territory to become 100% organic area under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) of India.
Earlier in 2016, Sikkim became India’s first hundred percent organic State.
Key Points
The entire 32 square kilometre geographical land area of the UT was declared as organic after receiving .... Read More
Banking And Finance
+ Government Issues Zero-Coupon Bonds
The Centre, in a first move of its kind, issued Rs 5,500 crore in zero-coupon bonds for recapitalising Punjab and Sind Bank (P&SB) and allowed it to park the paper in its held-to-maturity (HTM) category at face value rather than the discounted market rate.
The move is seen as raising concern .... Read More
+ Equalisation Levy: Taxing the Digital Economy
Recently, Google India paid more than six hundred crore equalization levy in FY20.
About Equalization Levy
Also Known as Google Tax or Digital Tax, it was introduced in India in 2016, with the intention of taxing the digital transactions i.e. the income accruing to foreign e-commerce companies from India.
It was charged at .... Read More
+ International Financial Services Centres Authority
On 2nd December, 2020, Gujarat International Finance Tech (GIFT) City regulator International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) obtained the membership of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS).
Benefits
With this membership IFSCA would have access to IAIS’s global network and would be able to exchange ideas and information with other global .... Read More
+ Better Than Cash Alliance
On 9th December, 2020, the Union Ministry of Finance and UN-Based Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA) organized a joint Peer learning exchange on fintech solutions for responsible digital payments at the last mile.
About BTCA
Created in 2012, the BTCA is a global partnership of 75 governments, companies, and international organizations that .... Read More
+ RBI Cautions against Unauthorised Digital Lending Platforms/Mobile Apps
Taking note of reports about individuals and small businesses falling prey to a growing number of unauthorised digital lending platforms/mobile apps, the central bank on 24th December, 2020 issued advisory cautioning against unauthorised Digital Lending Platforms.
Need
The advisory comes in the backdrop of at least three borrowers in Telangana committing suicide .... Read More
Government Policy
+ Cabinet Approves Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana
On 9th December, 2020, the Union Cabinet gave its approval for Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) to boost employment in formal sector and incentivize creation of new employment opportunities during the COVID-19 recovery phase under Atmanirbhar Bharat Package 3.0.
Eligibility
An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was .... Read More
+ Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure
All the States except Tamil Nadu have availed benefits of the newly announced scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure.
So far capital expenditure proposals of Rs. 9,879.61 crore of 27 States have been approved by the Ministry of Finance.
About Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure
The .... Read More
In Focus
+ Global Wage Report 2020-21
On 2nd December, 2020, the International Labour Organization(ILO) published the Global Wage Report 2020-21, which revealed the shocking facts of wage impact due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The Global Wage Report – the seventh in the series – looks at recent trends in wages, the global economic and labour market context, and .... Read More
Industry
+ Export Promotion Council for Technical Textile
On 1st December, 2020, the government invited proposals from industry to set up a dedicated export promotion council (EPC) for technical textiles to promote international trade of these products.
Constitution of such an EPC is part of one of the components of the National Technical Textiles Mission.
The Council shall abide by .... Read More
+ 100% FDI allowed in DTH Service
On 24th December, 2020, the government approved changes to the guidelines for providing Direct to Home (DTH) services to bring it in line with the existing policy that allows 100 percent FDI in the DTH broadcasting services sector.
Key Changes
Licences will now be issued for 20 years with a renewal provision .... Read More
+ QCI Launches Scheme for Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies
On 15th December, 2020, the Quality Council of India (QCI) launched a Scheme for approval of Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies to increase the number of recognised Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies for scaling up the Food Hygiene Rating across the country.
Key Points
QCI initiated this scheme after the FSSAI launched a certification .... Read More
+ National Consumer Rights Day
National Consumer Rights Day was observed on 24 December, 2020, under the theme -New features of Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The day aims to highlight the importance of the consumer movement as well as the need to make them aware and informed of their rights and responsibilities.
On this day in the .... Read More
Infrastructure
+ Green National Highways Corridor Project
On 22nd December, 2020, the Government signed a $500 million loan agreement with the World Bank to build safe and green national highway corridors in the states of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
The $500 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a .... Read More
+ Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor
On 29th December, 2020, the Centre inaugurated the 351-km ‘New Bhaupur- New Khurja section’ in Uttar Pradesh of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) via video conferencing. A state-of-the-art Operation Control Centre (OCC) at Prayagraj will act as the command centre for the entire route length of the EDFC.
Benefits
The section .... Read More
+ National Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project
On 16th December, 2020, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Revised Cost Estimate (RCE) of North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP).
The main objective of the project is Government commitment for the total economic development of North Eastern Region and to strengthen the Intra-State Transmission & Distribution .... Read More
+ Lucknow Municipal Bonds
On 2nd December, 2020, the municipal bonds issued by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation got listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
With this, Lucknow became the 9th city in the country and first city from Uttar Pradesh to have raised municipal bonds, which have been incentivized by the Ministry of Housing .... Read More
News Bytes
+ New Infrastructure Projects Approved by CCEA
On 30th December, 2020, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved three infrastructure proposals worth Rs 7,725 crore for setting up greenfield industrial cities with connectivity to major transportation corridors such as the eastern and western dedicated freight corridors, expressways and National Highways.
The three projects, proposed by the Department .... Read More
+ DaKPay
On 15th December, 2020, the Department of Posts and the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) unveiled a new digital payment application “DakPay” as part of its ongoing efforts to provide digital financial inclusion at the last mile across the country.
Through the application the customers can send money by implementing domestic .... Read More
+ Draft National Rail Plan
In an endeavour to address the inadequacies of capacity constraints and improve its modal share in total freight ecosystem of the country, Indian Railways has come up with Draft National Rail Plan.
Objectives
To create capacity ahead of demand by 2030, which in turn would cater to growth in demand right .... Read More
+ Draft Indian Ports Bill 2020
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways came out with draft of Indian Ports Bill 2020 for public consultation which will repeal and replace the Indian Ports Act, 1908.
Salient Features
It seeks to enable the structured growth and sustainable development of ports to attract investments in the Port sector for optimum utilisation .... Read More
+ Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020
On 21st December 2020, the Union Ministry of Power has for the first-time promulgated rules laying down the rights of power consumers in the country.
Need
According to the government, Distribution Companies across the country are monopolies – whether government or private – and the consumer has no alternative – therefore .... Read More
+ Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) celebrated its 63rd founding day on 4th December, 2020. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, is the apex agency of the Indian Customs in the field .... Read More
+ India’s first 100 Octane Petrol Launched
On 1st December, 2020, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas launched India’s first 100 Octane petrol under the brand XP100.
XP100 is being produced at Indian Oil's Mathura refinery using indigenous Octamax technology developed by Indian Oil's R&D division.
Presently, three octane grades are available at most of the retail stations .... Read More
+ Jagananna Jeeva Kranthi Scheme
On 10th December, Andhra Pradesh government launched the Jagananna Jeeva Kranthi scheme. The main objective of the scheme is to provide partnership and also provide more business opportunities to the people who want to be self-dependent. In this scheme, units of sheep and goat will be provided to the women .... Read More
PIB CORNER
+ PIB Corner
First ‘International Day of Banks’
The United Nations (UN) celebrated the first ever International Day of Banks across the globe on 4th December 2020.
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution on 19th December 2019.
The day is observed to recognise the important potential of multilateral development banks and other international .... Read More
Art And Culture
+ Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan
Abdur Rahim Khan I Khanan’s tomb, located in Nizammuddin, Delhi was recently thrown open for public after receiving a new lease of life by conservation work, by a multi-disciplinary team of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), in partnership with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and support of .... Read More
+ Gwalior, Orchha in UNESCO world heritage cities list
The historical fort cities of Gwalior and Orchha in Madhya Pradesh have been included in the list of UNESCOs world heritage cities under its urban landscape city programme.
Gwalior
Gwalior was established in 9th century and ruled by Gurjar Pratihara Rajvansh, Tomar, Baghel Kachvaho and Scindias.
It is known for its palaces and .... Read More
+ Indus Valley Civilisation
The diet of the people of Indus Valley civilisation had a dominance of meat, including extensive eating of beef, finds a new study titled “Lipid residues in pottery from the Indus Civilisation in northwest India”.
Key Findings
It finds dominance of animal products such as meat of pigs, cattle, buffalo, sheep and .... Read More
+ Four Indigenous Games in Khelo India Youth Games
The Sports Ministry has approved the inclusion of four indigenous sports, namely Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta and Mallakhamba in the Khelo India Youth Games 2021, scheduled to take place in Haryana. Kalaripayattu is an Indian martial art that originated in Kerala. Mallakhamba, is an ancient traditional Indian sport. 'Malla' means gymnast, .... Read More
+ Monpa Handmade Paper Revived
The 1000-year old heritage art – the Monpa Handmade Paper of Arunachal Pradesh – which was driven to the extinction, has come to life once again, with the committed efforts of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) which has commissioned a Monpa handmade paper making unit in Tawang.
Monpa Handmade Paper
The .... Read More
+ Kashmir’s Papier-mache Art
The credit goes to the Shia community of Kashmir for keeping alive papier mache art — colourful, exquisite, highly decorative and delicate — in the Valley since the 14th century.
However, this year’s pandemic has given a heavy blow to this art form which is now pinning hope on the World .... Read More
Executive
+ ECI Plans to Extend Postal Ballots to NRIs
On November 27, the Election Commission of India (ECI) wrote to the Law Ministry, proposing to extend the facility of postal ballots to eligible overseas, non-resident Indians (NRIs) for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in 2021.
The ECI had received representations from the Indian .... Read More
+ Ayushman Bharat PMJAY SEHAT Scheme for Residents of J&K
On 26th December, Prime Minister launched the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) SEHAT- "Social Endeavour for Health and Telemedicine " Health Insurance scheme to extend health insurance coverage to all residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
There is provision for operational extension of the 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' .... Read More
In Focus
+ Human Development Report 2020
India dropped two ranks in the United Nations’ Human Development Index for 2019, standing at 131 out of 189 countries according to the Human Development Report (HDR) 2020 released by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
HDI measures average achievement on three basic aspects of human development, life expectancy, education, and .... Read More
+ National Family Health Survey-5
The first set of findings from the NFHS-5 conducted in 2019-20 were released recently. The survey covered 17 states and five Union territories (UT).
Key Findings
Access to improved drinking water sources increased across all states and UTs except Sikkim, which registered a five per cent fall in the population living in .... Read More
Judiciary
+ SC Directs Centre to Install CCTV Cameras in Offices Investigating Agencies
The Supreme Court directed the Centre recently to install CCTV cameras and recording equipment at the offices of investigating agencies which conduct interrogations and have the power of arrest.
The apex court had in 2018 ordered installation of CCTV cameras in police stations to check human rights abuses.
Background
While dealing with a .... Read More
+ Government Against Forcing Couples into Family Planning
Recently, the Central government told the Supreme Court that it was against coercing couples into having a “certain number of children” in a bid to curb population explosion.
The government was responding to the court’s direction to a petition filed by an advocate to introduce a population control law.
Government’s Stance
Choice based .... Read More
Legislative
+ Freedom of Religion Bill, 2020
On 29th December, in a special cabinet session, the Madhya Pradesh government approved the Madhya Pradesh Dharma Svatantra Adhiniyam, 2020, also known as the Freedom of Religion Bill, 2020 as an ordinance . The stated aim of the Bill, is to stop forced religious conversions on the pretext of marriage, .... Read More
+ New Parliament Building of Central Vista Project
On December 10, Prime Minister kicked off the first part of the Central Vista project by laying the foundation stone for the new Parliament building.
The Supreme Court on December 7 allowed the government to go ahead with the foundation stone ceremony, but only after the Centre gave an affidavit, saying .... Read More
News Bytes
+ NITI Aayog’s ‘Vision 2035: Public Health Surveillance in India’
NITI Aayog recently released a white paper: ‘Vision 2035: Public Health Surveillance in India’ with the vision:
To make India’s public health surveillance system more responsive and predictive to enhance preparedness for action at all levels.
Citizen-friendly public health surveillance system will ensure individual privacy and confidentiality, enabled with a client feedback .... Read More
+ State of the Education Report for India 2020: Vocational Education First
The ‘State of the Education Report for India 2020: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), was launched by UNESCO New Delhi.
The second edition of the State of Education Report focuses on technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
It states that India has made considerable progress towards its goal .... Read More
+ Scheduled Castes Post-Matric Scholarship Plan Amended
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on December 23 approved changes to the post-matric scholarship scheme for students from the Scheduled Castes, including a new funding pattern of 60-40 for the Centre and States.
Key Changes
A campaign will be launched to enrol the students, from the poorest households passing the 10th .... Read More
+ Revealing Names of Electoral Bond Donors against Public Interest-CIC
The Central Information Commission (CIC), the lead body for implementing the Right to Information Act, has recently ruled that the disclosure of identity of electoral bond scheme donors will not serve any larger public interest and will violate provisions of the Act itself.
This overturns its previous order issued in January .... Read More
+ E-Sampada Mobile App
Recently, the Ministry of Urban Affairs launched a new Web Portal and Mobile App, e-Sampada which provides a single window for services like allotment for over one lakh government residential accommodations, office space allotment to government organisations in 28 cities and venues for social functions.This is an endeavour to provide .... Read More
PIB CORNER
+ PIB Corner
ONGC Begins Production in Bengal Basin
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited has begun crude oil production from the Asokenagar-1 well, Bengal Basin in 24 Paragana district making Bengal basin India’s eighth producing basin.
Other producing basins of India are Krishna-Godavari (KG), Mumbai Offshore, Assam Shelf, Rajasthan, Cauvery, Assam-Arakan Fold Belt .... Read More
Social Issues
+ Priority Beneficiaries for COVID-19 Vaccine to be Identified by Electoral Rolls
According to the COVID-operational guidelines released by the Health Ministry recently, the COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (Co-WIN) system, a digitised platform, will be used to track the enlisted beneficiaries and the COVID-19 vaccines on a real-time basis.
Highlights of the Guidelines
The latest electoral roll for Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections .... Read More
+ World Malaria Report 2020
India made impressive gains in the global fight against malaria, recording the largest reduction in cases in South-East Asia from 20 million in 2000 to about 5.6 million last year, according to the World Malaria Report 2020 published by World Health Organisation.
Key Findings
In 2019, malaria cases globally numbered about 229 .... Read More
+ 1.7 million Indians Died due to Air Pollution in 2019: Lancet Report
As many as 1.7 million deaths in India — 18 per cent of the total deaths in the country — were attributable to air pollution in 2019, according to a report by Lancet Planetary Health.
The report ‘The India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative’ estimates health and economic impacts of air pollution, .... Read More
+ Anthropological Survey of India Policy Document on Sentinelese Tribe
Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) policy document titled ‘Draft of the Policies for Great Andamanese and Sentinelese’ published recently, warns of threat to endangered group from commercial activity in the North Sentinel Island of the Andamans.
Sentinelese
The Sentinelese, a negrito tribe, is a most secluded, particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) residing .... Read More
In Focus
+ China's New Export Control Law Comes into Effect
On 1st December, 2020, China’s Export Control Law (ECL) officially took effect. On October 17, 2020, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee passed the ECL to unify the pre-existing legal framework composed of several regulations, which aims to consolidate existing mechanisms for safeguarding the national interest in response to foreign .... Read More
India And Its Bilateral Relations
+ Oman-India Friendship Association
On 2nd December, 2020, Oman announced to establish Friendship association with India during a bilateral discussion held virtually between the foreign ministers of the country. This will be the first of such initiative in West Asia.
The association aims to provide a platform to promote matters of mutual interest, understanding between .... Read More
+ Fifth BRICS Media Forum
The fifth presidium meeting of the BRICS Media Forum was held virtually, with members pledging joint efforts to improve the forum mechanism and step up post-COVID-19 exchanges and cooperation among BRICS media.
Looming Concerns
A common thread among members is a growing problem of disinformation or ‘fake news’.
The news media around the .... Read More
+ India-Bangladesh Virtual Summit
On 17th December, 2020, India and Bangladesh held a virtual summit covering comprehensive discussions on all aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues.
Key Highlights of the Summit
Cooperation in Health Sector: Reiterating the highest priority India attaches to Bangladesh under India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, India assured .... Read More
International Organisations
+ UNESCO Launches Bangabandhu Award on Creative Economy
The UN agency’s executive board unanimously adopted the proposal on UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy in its 210th session on Dec 11, 2020.
Bangladesh proposed the award in August 2019.
UNESCO has declared 2021 as ‘International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development’.
About the Award
Named after .... Read More
+ UN Commission Reclassifies Cannabis
On 9th December, 2020, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) voted to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
The 53-member CND has chosen to affirm a World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation from 2019 to remove cannabis from its ‘most .... Read More
News Bytes
+ India to Open 3 Indian Missions
On 30th December, 2020, the Indian government approved the opening of 3 Indian Missions in Estonia, Paraguay and Dominican Republic in 2021.
The purpose of these missions is to build a conducive environment for India’s growth and development through partnerships with friendly countries.
Advantages
Opening of Indian Missions in these countries will help .... Read More
+ International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
On 27th December, 2020, the United Nations and the World Health Organisation (WHO) celebrated the first International day of Epidemic Preparedness. It was called for by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for and partnership against epidemics. This International Day falls .... Read More
+ SAARC Charter Day
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Charter Day is observed annually on 8th December. This day marks the signing of the SAARC Charter in 1985 by the Leaders of SAARC Countries at the First SAARC Summit held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This year marks the 36th Charter Day anniversary.
About SAARC
It .... Read More
+ Passage Exercise
On the occasion of Navy Day (4th December, 2020), the Indian Navy began a two-day Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving understanding and imbibing best practices between both the friendly navies, and would involve .... Read More
PIB CORNER
+ PIB Corner
10th Anniversary of ADMM-Plus
Defence Minister virtually attended the 10th anniversary of the founding of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus).
The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States (collectively referred to .... Read More
World Issues
+ Post-Brexit Deal
On 24th December, 2020, Britain and the European Union struck a provisional free-trade agreement as part of the Brexit deal to define the terms of their future relationship ahead of UK’s post-Brexit transition period that officially ended on 31st December, 2020.
Once ratified by both sides, the agreement will ensure Britain .... Read More
+ Countries of Particular Concern
On 8th December, 2020, the US designated Pakistan and China among eight other countries of particular concern (CPC) for violation of religious freedom. However, the US did not accept the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommendation that India, Russia, Syria and Vietnam be also designated as CPCs.
About Countries .... Read More
+ France’s Draft Law Against Islamism
On 16th December, 2020, the French cabinet presented a draft law that targets “radical Islamism” - although the word “Islamist” is not part of the text. The Bill is called as a law “to reinforce Republican principles”. It aims to reinforce the legal tools available to the government to curtail .... Read More
+ 20th IORA Council of Ministers Meeting Held in UAE
On 17th December, 2020, the 20th edition of the IORA Council of Ministers (COM) meeting was held via video conferencing under the Chairmanship of United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The theme of the meeting was “Promoting a Shared Destiny and Path to Prosperity in the Indian Ocean”.
Key Points
All 22 Member States and .... Read More
+ Tibetan Policy and Support Act 2020
On 27th December, 2020, the US President signed the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020, making it a law.
Need
Tibetans are concerned over the possibility of the Chinese Government making an attempt to install someone loyal to it as the 15th Dalai Lama after the death of the incumbent.
China .... Read More
+ U.S. Imposes CAATSA Sanctions on Turkey
On 14th December, 2020, the United States imposed long-anticipated sanctions on NATO ally Turkey over Ankara's procurement and testing of a Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defence system.
Sanctions were imposed on Turkey’s main defence procurement agency the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction with Rosoboron .... Read More
+ Morocco Normalises Relations with Israel
Recently, Morocco has become the fourth Arab League country to agree to normalise relations with Israel in a deal brokered with US help.
The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain (under Abraham Accords) and Sudan are the other Arab countries to set aside hostilities with Israel in recent time.
Drivers behind the Deal
Iran Factor: .... Read More
Astronomy
+ Jupiter-Saturn Great Conjunction: Christmas Star
NASA has discovered that after nearly 400 years, Saturn and Jupiter – the two largest planets in our solar system – have become closest in the night sky by an astronomical event called the “great conjunction” and popularly referred to as the “Christmas Star”.
On 21st December 2020, almost all the .... Read More
Basic Sciences
+ Lab Grown Meat or Cultured Meat
Recently, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has approved the sale of a lab-grown meat product. This is the first-time cultured meat has been cleared for sale anywhere in the world.
The product approved by the SFA is cultured chicken, produced by US-based Eat Just. The company has announced the product will .... Read More
Defence
+ MR-SAM Tested Successfully
India has conducted successful maiden test of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MR-SAM) for the Indian Army. It is jointly developed by the DRDO and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI).
The launch was conducted from the Integrated Test Range, Chandpur, off the Coast of Odisha and the missile completely destroyed .... Read More
In Focus
+ Unregulated Use of Facial Recognition Systems
Recently experts have pointed out that rapid deployment of facial recognition system by the government without any law in place poses a huge threat to privacy rights and freedom of speech and expression.
There are currently 16 different facial recognition tracking (FRT) systems in active utilisation by various Central and State .... Read More
New Initiatives
+ Digital Ocean Platform
Recently, Union Minister for Science and Technology launched Digital Ocean platform of Indian National Centre for Oceanic Information Services (INCOIS).
Digital Ocean platform is a first of its kind platform for ocean data management. It includes a set of applications developed to organize and present heterogeneous oceanographic data by adopting rapid .... Read More
News Bytes
+ Ransomware 2.0
Global cybersecurity company Kaspersky recently revealed in a virtual conference that 2020's cybersecurity "disease" is targeted ransomware. It is also dubbed as " Ransomware 2.0." This type of attack goes beyond kidnapping a company's or an organization's data. These groups are now utilizing the increasingly valued digital reputation to force .... Read More
+ Himgiri: 1st Ship of Project 17A by GSRE Kolkata
Himgiri, which is the first of the three Project 17A ships being built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata has been launched at Hoogly River. Project 17A: The Project 17A is being built simultaneously at two locations, at GRSE in Kolkata and Mazagaon Docks Limited in .... Read More
+ Tokamak Reactor: China's "Artificial Sun"
China successfully powered up its HL-2M Tokamak nuclear fusion reactor, marking a great advance in the country's nuclear power research capabilities. The HL-2M Tokamak reactor is China's largest and most advanced nuclear fusion experimental research device, and scientists hope that the device can potentially unlock a powerful clean energy source. .... Read More
+ India to Export Akash Missile System
The Union Cabinet has approved the export of Akash Missile System and a Committee for faster Approvals has been created. The Akash missile system (surface-to-air missile with a range of 25 kilometres) is an important defence asset for the country with over 96 per cent indigenization. Developed by DRDO, it .... Read More
+ Post COVID-19 Security Challenges
While virtually addressing participants at the ‘National Defence Course Bangladesh on post COVID-19 security challenges, Vice Chief of the Army Staff has said that “future wars may gravitate towards zero cost wars, wherein a very virulent pathogen may immobilise high-technology arsenal.”
He also said that “weaker militaries will continue to seek .... Read More
PIB CORNER
+ PIB Corner
Zebrafish & Heart Regeneration
Scientists at Pune-based Agharkar Research Institute have used Zebrafish model and identified genes that can promote heart regeneration.
Scientists have identified the cellular communication network factor 2a (ccn2a), a gene that can promote heart regeneration by enhancing cardiomyocyte proliferation.
Ccn2a promotes the innate regenerative response of the adult .... Read More
Security
+ Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems
In order to counter China's influence and increasing presence in the Indian Ocean Region, India is setting up coastal surveillance radar systems in the neighbourhood as part of its policy to enhance military diplomacy that will also lead to increased security measures in these friendly countries.
The Coastal Surveillance Radar system .... Read More
+ IND-INDO CORPAT
The 35th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy was conducted from 17 to 18 December 2020. It aims to reinforce maritime links, and contribute towards the Indian Navy’s efforts to consolidate inter-operability and forge strong bonds of friendship across the Indo .... Read More
+ SolarWinds Hack
The ‘SolarWinds hack’ is a cyberattack recently discovered in the United States. It has emerged as one of the biggest ever targeted cyberattacks against the US government, its agencies and several other private companies and largely considered as a global cyberattack.
It was first discovered by US cybersecurity company FireEye, and .... Read More
Space Organisations
+ CMS-01 Communication Satellite
Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched the country’s 42nd communication satellite named CMS-01. This is the second satellite launched by the space organisation amid the prevailing coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.
It was launched using PSLV-C50- India’s workhorse launch vehicle. PSLV-C50 was the 22nd flight of PSLV in the 'XL' .... Read More
Technology
+ DRDO Lab Develops QRNG
The DRDO Young Scientist Laboratory for Quantum Technologies (DYSL-QT), a DRDO facility based in Mumbai, has developed a Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) which has the ability to detect random quantum events and convert those into a stream of binary digits.
The facility has developed a fiber-optic branch path based QRNG. .... Read More
+ TiHAN Navigation Systems
The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has sanctioned Rs. 135 crores to IIT Hyderabad under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) to set up a Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation and Data Acquisition Systems.
The Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation Systems for Unmanned .... Read More
+ NB-IoT: Narrow Band-Internet of Things
Recently BSNL has announced the launch of a satellite-based internet of things (IoT) device service that can be used across India where mobile towers are not present, including the seas within the country's jurisdiction.
It is the world's first satellite-based narrowband-IoT network. The service has been launched in partnership with US-based .... Read More
Climate Change
+ World’s Largest Hybrid Renewable Energy Park Coming Up in Gujarat
Recently, Prime Minister laid the foundation for the world’s largest hybrid renewable energy park to generate 30,000 MW power through solar panels and windmills along the India-Pakistan border in Gujarat’s Kutch district. He also laid the foundation for a desalination plant at Mandvi in Kutch district.
Hybrid Renewable Energy Park
The park .... Read More
+ Climate Warming Countdown: Research Predicts Breach of 1.5°C Climate threshold by 2027-2042
According to a study by Climate Change researchers from McGill University, the world will cross the dangerous warming levels at 2027-2042 – 25 years earlier than previous modelling anticipated. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had estimated that breach to occur between now and 2052.
Key Observations
As per .... Read More
+ Climate Change Performance Index 2021
India retained a spot in the top 10 in the latest global Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI 2021) released recently.
Key Findings
The CCPI 2021, covering the year 2020, shows that though India slid one position down from ninth in 2019 to 10th this year, the country’s journey towards climate protection has .... Read More
+ Emissions Gap Report 2020
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its annual Emissions Gap Report 2020 recently. The report is direct in its observation that there is no decrease in human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the year 2020 would be one of the warmest years on record.
Emissions Gap report is the annual .... Read More
+ State of the Global Climate 2020 Provisional Report
According to the latest State of the Global Climate provisional report by World Meteorological Organization released on December 1, 2020, the year 2020 is set to be among the three warmest on record. Also, the decade 2011-2020 would be the warmest ever.
Key Observations
The global mean surface temperature for January-October 2020 .... Read More
+ Over 75% Districts Hotspots of Extreme Weather Events in India: CEEW Study
According to a first-of-its-kind independent study released today by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW),more than 75 per cent of the Indian districts are hotspots of extreme climate events.
Key Findings
Over 75 per cent districts in India, home to more than 63.8 crore people, are hotspots of extreme .... Read More
Flora And Fauna
+ Himalayan trillium Declared Endangered by ICUN
The Himalayan trillium (Trillium govanianum), a common herb of the Himalayas was declared ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently.
Himalayan trillium (Nagchatri)
Found in temperate and sub-alpine zones of the Himalayas, at an altitude from 2,400-4,000 metres above sea level, the existence of the plant has been .... Read More
+ Status of Leopard in India 2018 Report
The population of leopard in India has increased by 60 per cent, according to ‘Status of Leopard in India 2018’ report released by the government on 21st December. Leopards are among the most adaptable carnivores, and are known to exist very close to human habitations.
A study earlier this year had .... Read More
+ Firefly Bird Diverters to Protect Great Indian Bustard
The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) along with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India has come up with a unique initiative — a “firefly bird diverter” for overhead power lines in areas where Great Indian Bustard (GIB) populations are found in the wild.
The power lines, especially high-voltage .... Read More
+ IUCN Updated Red List: All Freshwater Dolphins Threatened
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the global authority on the status of biological diversity of species, has released an updated Red List of Threatened Species recently.
The IUCN categorises species according to population numbers with ‘Extinct’ describing a complete disappearance and the category ‘Least Concern’ on the opposite .... Read More
+ New, Rare & Rediscovered Species Found in the Pristine Andes of Bolivia
A scientific expedition high in the Bolivian Andes revealed 20 species new to science, including “lilliputian frog” along with four rediscovered species including the “devil-eyed frog” previously thought to be extinct recently.
The expedition was led by the Conservation International and the government of capital city La Paz in the Chawi .... Read More
In Focus
+ Carbon Capture Technology Behind Track to Reduce CO2 Emissions
According to a report by International Energy Agency (IEA), global progress on the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology from 2010-2020 was not on track to effectively control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and achieve net zero emissions to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050. CCS .... Read More
+ Honey Gate: 10 Out of 13 Honey Brands Fail Purity Test
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a public interest research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi, has claimed that honey marketed by prominent brands failed a key test of purity called ‘Nuclear Magnetic Resonance’, in an investigation it conducted on various brands of Indian honey.
However, most companies have .... Read More
News Bytes
+ Aerosols in Indo-Gangetic Plain Enhanced High Rainfall Near the Himalayan Foothills
A team of researchers from NIT Rourkela, Leipzig Institute for Meteorology, Germany, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur supported by the Department of Science & Technology (India) under DST Climate Change program have highlighted the crucial role of the aerosols like black carbon and dust, in increasing the incidents of high rainfall .... Read More
+ Malayan Giant Squirrel Could Vanish from NE After 2050
A first-of-its-kind study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has projected that numbers of the Malayan Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor), a “forest health indicator species”, could decline by 90 per cent in India by 2050, and if urgent steps are not taken, the species could be extinct in the .... Read More
+ Ladakh's Tso Kar Wetland Complex Declared 42nd Ramsar Site in India
India has added Tso Kar Wetland Complex in Ladakh as its 42nd Ramsar site, the second one in the Union Territory of Ladakh (first is Tso Moriri or Lake Moriri).
The aim of the Ramsar list is to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the .... Read More
PIB CORNER
+ PIB Corner
Conservation Outlook of Western Ghats Grim: IUCN Report
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Heritage Outlook 3 published recently, builds on previous reports from 2014 and 2017 to track whether the conservation of the World’s 252 natural world heritage sites is sufficient to protect them in the long .... Read More
Sustainable Development
+ Indo Gangetic Plain a Global Hotspot of Atmospheric Ammonia
According to the study titled "Record high levels of atmospheric ammonia over India: Spatial and temporal analyses" by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is the global hot-spot of atmospheric ammonia (NH3) due to intense agricultural activities and fertilizer production in the region.
Key .... Read More
+ Production Gap Report 2020
The Production Gap Report 2020 released on 2nd December, revealed that while the pandemic and resulting lockdowns led to short-term drops in fossil fuel production, pre-COVID plans and post-COVID stimulus measures point to a perpetuation of the growing global fossil fuel production gap, risking severe climate disruption.
Key Findings
To follow a .... Read More
Parliament Q & A
+ Participation of Women in Workforce
Question by: Shrimati Keshari Devi Patel
The disappointing aspects which are being faced regarding participation of women in working population;
The details of steps being taken by the Government in this regard;
Whether the participation of women in working sections is merely one third despite their number being half in the population;
Whether the .... Read More
+ Pre-School Education
Question by: Vishnu Dayal Ram
The details of the proposed schemes/ programmes/ measures to improve early childhood care and education; and
Whether the Ministry of Education has collaborated with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for holistic delivery of early childhood care and education and if so, the details thereof?
Answer by: Minister of .... Read More
+ Empowerment of Tribal Women
Question by: Asaduddin Owaisi, Imtiaz Jaleel Syed
Whether the Government is working on the empowerment of Tribal women who are engaged in traditional work;
If so, the details thereof;
Whether the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in coordination with the Ministry of Empowerment of Women is working on the self-sustained life of tribal women;
If .... Read More
+ Unorganised Workers
Question by: Dilip Saikia, Ramesh Chander Kaushik
The steps taken by the Government to benefit the workers of unorganized sector in order to tackle the situation arising due to the pandemic at present;
Whether the Government proposes to provide relief package to the workers of unorganized sector in north-eastern states including Assam;
Whether .... Read More
+ Trial by Media
Question by: Manish Tewari
Whether the Government has taken note of increasing spectre of trials by the Media in matters that are still in the process of being investigated under the relevant provisions of the IPC & CRPC and if so, the details thereof;
Whether his Ministry has received any complaints/representations from .... Read More
+ Arth-Ganga Project
Question by: Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Bhola Singh, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Sukanta Majumdar
Whether the Government has proposed Arth-Ganga Project to channelize economic activity along the banks of Ganga river if so, the details thereof;
Whether the Government is considering to corporatise at least one major .... Read More
Map Study
+ Spain
Recently, India and Spain signed a Memorandum of Understanding for scientific and technical collaborations in the field of astronomy. Also, Spain has supported United Kingdom for its step to exit from EU and cracked new trade deal with the Britain. Therefore, the geography of Spain is important to study.
Physical Location .... Read More
Newsmakers
Dr. Harsh Vardhan
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has been nominated as a member on the GAVI Board by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation. He will represent India for two years starting from 2021 to 2023.
The GAVI Board oversees the operations of the Vaccine Alliance .... Read More
On the Hot Seat
Lloyd Austin
Lloyd Austin has been chosen by President-elect Joe Biden to be the first African-American secretary of defense and head of Pentagon.
Suneet Sharma
Suneet Sharma has taken over the charge of new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Railway Board (Ministry of Railways).
Prior to this, he worked as General Manager, .... Read More
Faces Only in Memory
Jack Steinberger
Jack Steinberger was a German-born American physicist noted for his work with neutrinos, the subatomic particles considered to be elementary constituents of matter.
He was a recipient of the 1988 Nobel Prize in Physics, along with Leon M. Lederman and Melvin Schwartz, for the discovery of the muon neutrino. .... Read More
States in News
‘Matru Sahyogini Samiti’: MP Initiative to Check Malnutrition
The Madhya Pradesh government has issued an order for the appointment of committees called ‘Matru Sahyogini Samiti’ or Mothers’ Cooperation Committees, led by mothers to ensure better monitoring of services delivered at anganwadi or day care centres across the State.
These Committees will .... Read More
Places in News
Vanuatu
Vanuatu, a Pacific island nation has recently graduated from the official list of Least Developed Countries (LDC), becoming the sixth country to achieve the milestone since the development categorization was created in 1971.
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University celebrated its centenary recently.
It was originally established by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan .... Read More
Tribes/Ethnic Groups in News
Zomi Ethnic Group
Manipur's Zomi ethnic group has renewed its demand for the creation of Zoland Territorial Council (ZTC) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, a self-administered zone on the lines of the Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam.
Zomi identify themselves as descendants of the Zo, the Tibeto-Burman people that speaks .... Read More
Art/Culture/Heritage
Four Indian Sites won UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation
India won UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation towards its four sites.
Award of Excellence/ Special Recognition for Sustainable Development: Sunder Nursery, set amid historical structures at Nizamuddin, has become Delhi’s first heritage complex to receive two UNESCO Asia-Pacific awards .... Read More
New Initiative
Light House Projects under GHTC-India
On 1-1-2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Light House Projects (LHPs) under Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC)-India at six sites across six States- Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Agartala (Tripura) and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).
The LHPs showcase .... Read More
Science & Technology
EZIE & EUVST: Two Heliophysics Missions
The US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has approved two heliophysics missions. Heliophysics is the science of understanding the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather.
Of the two missions, NASA will lead the Electrojet Zeeman .... Read More
Defence
DRDO, Indian Navy Conduct Successful Trial of SAHAYAK-NG
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of SAHAYAK-NG - India’s first indigenously designed and developed Air Dropped Container from IL 38SD aircraft of Indian Navy off the coast of Goa.
The trial was conducted .... Read More
Ecology & Environment
India's Highest Meteorological Centre Inaugurated at Leh
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has set up India's highest (Located at 3,500 metres above sea level) Meteorological Centre (MC) at Leh.
After Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, the Leh centre is the second MC located in the Himalayas.
It will provide specialised weather forecasts for traffic .... Read More
Miscellaneous
Four Film Media Units Merged With NFDC
The Union Cabinet has approved the merger of four film media units - Films Division, Directorate of Film Festivals, National Film Archives of India, and Children's Film Society, India with NFDC (National Film Development Corporation).
Book/Author
‘Oh Mizoram’: P S Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Mizoram
“Covid-19: Sabhyata .... Read More
World of Awards
‘Champions of the Earth’ award 2020 in the ‘Policy Leadership’
The Prime Minister of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama has been awarded the UN's highest environmental honour ‘Champions of the Earth’ award 2020 in the ‘Policy Leadership’ category for his global climate action work and his commitment to climate-responsive national development.
Global Teacher Prize
Ranjitsinh .... Read More
Significance of BRICS for India in the Global Order
BRICS is an acronym for 5 emerging economies of the world namely – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The term BRIC was coined by Jim O’ Neil, an economist and the then chairman of Goldman Sachs in 2001.The first BRIC summit took place in the year 2009 in .... Read More
Blue Dot Network, ‘Quad Plus’ Arrangement and India’s Options
Recently, a group of the US Senators, in a letter, has asked India to join the Blue Dot Network (BDN). They also backed India’s decision to invite Australia to the annual Malabar naval exercise, which India did.
Given the rising anti-China narrative across the globe, the scope for promoting the BDN .... Read More
Geoengineering – A Controversial Solution: Concept and Issues
Climate change, or more aptly, climate chaos, is arguably one of the major challenges of the 21st century, and is often considered an existential threat to humanity. However, recent research suggests that no matter how ambitious our efforts are, current emission trends indicate that it is unlikely we will be .... Read More
Ethical Challenges of Allocating Vaccines in a Pandemic
The year 2021 brings a sense of hope to Indians with India's drugs regulator, Drugs Controller General of India, approving emergency use authorization of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, locally manufactured by Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech's indigenously manufactured Covaxin. However, a streak of uncertainty is also looming large .... Read More
Indo-US Ties under New US Government: Continuity and Contrast
Indo-US relations over the past two decades have been well ordered with the only wrinkle being in trade and immigration issues. Trade related market access has traditionally been an irritant in the bilateral relationship, immigration issues flared up mainly during the Trump administration. With the change in guard in Washington, .... Read More
Case Study
+ Case Study
Recently, violent clashes between workers of Wistron factory in Bangalore, triggered a debate on labour rights vs response of the labours to alleged labour violations. In recent times in many of the disputes—contractual labour being paid less than permanent employees for the same work, delayed wage payment, excessive working hours etc—are recurring problems and manufacturers of all shades have found it tough to get a handle on the situation. In this light, delineate the ethical response of the stakeholders in the industrial dispute and the guidelines which should be followed to mitigate labour unrest.
Framework of the Answer
The Wistron incident represents .... Read More
History Of India With Art & Culture (Ancient History)
Day 1
1) Pre-History
Pre-History generally refers to a period where there’s no writing or development. In the absence of records, these periods are judged on the basis of artefacts (mostly tools).
Pre-history period in India is divided into three different phases based on the tools used by the people. They are – .... Read More
History Of India With Art & Culture (Medieval History)
Day- 7
Tripartite Struggle
The tripartite struggle was between Gurjara-Pratihara, Rashtrakuta and Pala dynasties for control over Kannauj and the fertile Gangetic valley.
The infighting lasted for 200 years and weakened all of the above empires involved.
The Palas of Bengal
Gopala was the founder of the Pala dynasty and ruled over .... Read More
History Of India With Art & Culture (Modern History)
Day- 14Consolidation of European Rule - Administrative Measures, Policies etc.
Consolidation of British Rule in India
Conquest of Bengal (Battle of Plassey and Battle of Plassey)
a) Bengal was one of the fertile and wealthy regions of India. The English ascendancy in Bengal proved to be the basis for the expansion of English rule .... Read More
History Of India With Art & Culture (Art & Culture)
Harappan Art and Culture
Salient features of Harappan Culture–
Town Planning
a) Grid System: The Harappan culture was distinguished by its system of town planning on the lines of the grid system – that is streets and lanes cutting across one another almost at right angles thus dividing the city into several rectangular blocks.
b) Use .... Read More
