CONTEXT: The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government is working to connect Tharu villages in the districts of Balrampur, Bahraich, Lakhimpur and Pilibhit bordering Nepal, with the home stay scheme of the UP Forest Department. MAIN POINTS: The idea is to offer tourists an experience of living in the natural Tharu habitat, …

CONTEXT: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has declared ‘Invest India’ as winner of the United Nations Investment Promotion Award 2020. MAIN POINTS: United Nations Investment Promotion Award: It recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the world’s Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs). Since 2002, UNCTAD has organised …

CONTEXT: Recently, authorities in Bangladesh sent the first group of more than 1,500 Rohingya refugees to an isolated Bhasan Char island in the Bay of Bengal. BACKGROUND: The Rohingya people are stateless, Indo-Aryan ethnic group who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar. There were an estimated 1 million Rohingya living in …

CONTEXT: Directed the Odisha government to prepare an action plan within three months on 14 identified elephant corridors for providing stress-free migration to jumbos from one habitation to another in the State. BACKGROUND: NGT had directed authorities to expedite demarcation of the corridors and the process for formal notification within …

CONTEXT: China successfully powered up its “artificial sun” nuclear fusion reactor for the first time recently, marking a great advance in the country’s nuclear power research capabilities. The nuclear reactor is expected to provide clean energy. MAIN POINTS: The HL-2M Tokamak reactor is China’s largest and most advanced nuclear fusion …

CONTEXT: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has taken steps to protect the stone chariot inside Vittala Temple complex at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi. ASI, under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological research and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation. …

CONTEXT: Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has informed the Ministry of Law and Justice that it is “technically and administratively ready” to extend the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) to Non Resident Indian (NRI) voters for elections next year in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and …

CONTEXT: Recently, the Vice President of India has launched the first ever SCO Online Exhibition on Shared Buddhist Heritage. IMPORTANT POINTS: National Museum, New Delhi, in active collaboration with SCO member countries. Participants: Museums from India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The launch happened during the …

CONTEXT: The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) obtained membership of International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS). IMPORTANT POINTS: With this membership IFSCA would have access to IAIS’s global network and would be able to exchange ideas and information with other global regulators. This would help in developing a vibrant …

CONTEXT: Indian peacock softshell turtle, a turtle of a vulnerable species was rescued from a fish market in Assam’s Silchar. IMPORTANT POINTS: The Indian peacock softshell turtle [Nilssonia hurum] is a species of turtle found in South Asia. IUCN Red list status: Vulnerable species. Schedule I species in the Indian …

CONTEXT: Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has held that lottery, gambling and betting are taxable under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, 2017. BACKGROUND: The SC passed the order in a batch of pleas filed by various lottery dealers who argued that the Central government had wrongfully classified lottery …

CONTEXT: Ranjitsinh Disale, a primary teacher from Maharashtra’s Solapur, has won the Global Teacher Prize 2020. GLOBAL TEACHER PRIZE: It is a 1 million dollar award presented annually to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to their profession. Varkey Foundation, which is a global charitable foundation focused …

CONTEXT: The major demand of the protesting farmers has been that the government guarantee in writing the MSP system, which assures them of a fixed price for their crops, 1.5 times of the cost of production. What is MSP? The MSP (minimum support price) assures the farmers of a fixed …

CONTEXT: Recently, the Union Education Minister has set up a task force for preparing a roadmap on imparting technical education in the mother tongue of students. AIM: To achieve the Prime Minister’s vision that students may pursue the professional courses such as medicine, engineering, law, etc in their mother tongue. …

CONTEXT: Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has released the World Malaria Report (WMR) 2020. The report provides a comprehensive update on global and regional malaria data and trends including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, elimination and surveillance. It indicates that India has made considerable progress in reducing its malaria burden. MAIN …

CONTEXT: Recently, the government has announced two major initiatives for ending the hazardous practice of manual cleaning of septic tanks and sewer lines and making the mechanised cleaning must. BACKGROUND: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will amend the law for making machine cleaning mandatory, whereas the Ministry of …

CONTEXT: Curtain raiser of the 26th DST – CII Technology Summit takes place. DST – CII Technology Summit: The yearly summit has been instrumental in providing significant opportunities to forge and foster global technology partnerships. The heads of the partnering countries have addressed the technology summits in the past – …

CONTEXT: Cyclonic Storm ‘Burevi’ over southwest Bay of Bengal. MAIN POINTS: According to the Cyclone Warning Division of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west northwestwards with a speed of 9 kmph, intensified into a cyclone storm and lay centred over southwest …

CONTEXT: 56 ‘Raising Day’ event of the Border Security Force (BSF) was held on 1 December 2020 in New Delhi. MAIN POINTS: The BSF was raised in 1965 after the India-Pakistan war. It is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of Union of India under the administrative control …

CONTEXT: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the virtual edition of Aadi Mahotsav – Madhya Pradesh.The next focus state would be Gujarat, followed by West Bengal. BACKGROUND: It is a national tribal festival and a joint initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development …