GS-2 INDIA ENERGY OUTLOOK 2021: IEA Recently, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has released the India Energy Outlook 2021 Report which explores the opportunities and challenges ahead for India as it seeks to ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable energy for a growing population. The India Energy Outlook 2021 is a new special report from the …

GS-3 DRAFT BLUE ECONOMY POLICY Recently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has rolled out the draft Blue Economy policy, inviting suggestions and inputs from various stakeholders. It is in line with the Government of India’s Vision of New India by 2030. The policy document highlighted the blue economy as one of the ten core dimensions …

GS-2 CSIR-CENTRAL DRUG RESEARCH INSTITUTE 70th annual day celebrations of CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute. About CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute: Located in Lucknow, CSIR – Central Drug Research Institute is one of the premier research institutes of India. Established in 1951, CDRI is a constituent institute of the Council of Scientific and …

GS-3 PLI SCHEME FOR TELECOM AND NETWORKING PRODUCTS The Union Cabinet has approved the PLI Scheme for Telecom and Networking Products. Important points: This scheme is part of the umbrella scheme approved by the cabinet in November 2020 for implementation of Production Linked-Incentives (PLI) under various ministries/departments. This is in …

GS-2 INDIA – MAURITIUS Cabinet approves Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) between India and Mauritius. The Agreement is a limited agreement, which will cover Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin, Trade in Services, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, Dispute Settlement, Movement of Natural …

GS-3 NASSCOM TECHNOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP FORUM (NTLF) Organised by NASSCOM, the forum is a platform where the technology industry is celebrated for serving as a as a backbone to boost businesses during the current crisis, draw a roadmap for the way ahead towards building a better future and bringing out …

Publicly available data on the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, indicates that the number of infections in India peaked sometime in September 2020, and has been consistently declining ever since. From a maximum of 97,655 daily new cases on September 11, 2020, the daily new …

GS-2 JANANI SURAKSHA YOJANA Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Rural Health Mission (NHM). It is being implemented with the objective of reducing maternal and infant mortality by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women. The scheme is under implementation in all states and Union …

GS-2 PRADHAN MANTRI JEEVAN JYOTI BIMA YOJANA Eligibility Available to people in the age group of 18 to 50 and having a bank account. People who join the scheme before completing 50 years can, however, continue to have the risk of life cover up to the age of 55 years …

GS-3 DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT Recently, the Ministry of Communications has decided to set up a Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) as a nodal agency to deal with complaints of unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) and cases of financial fraud, especially in the digital payments space. Apart from the DIU a Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer …

GS-3 BHUVAN PORTAL Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)and MapmyIndia have partnered to come up with an indigenious geospatial portal known as ‘Bhuvan’. This is in line with the above discussed new guidelines for the Geo-Spatial Sector in India. Geospatial Portal (Bhuvan): It is a type of web portal used to find and access geographic information (geospatial information) and associated geographic …

GS-2 CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX 2020 India’s rank has slipped six places to 86th among 180 countries in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International. India was ranked 80th out of 180 countries in 2019. Transparency International Transparency International is an international non -governmental organisation founded in 1993 based in Berlin, Germany its Non profit purpose is to take action …

Context: Dignitaries from a range of domains discussed the implications and the road to implementation of the recently released Guidelines for acquiring and producing Geo-Spatial Data and Geo-Spatial Data Services including Maps at stakeholders meet on the issue. “As the next generation of mapping technologies develop, these guidelines will enable …

GS-2 NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA: FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD WTO The Nigerian economist NgoziOkonjoIweala has been appointed as the head the World Trade Organization. She has become the first woman to take this position. She has also become the first African to hold this charge amid rising protectionism. Highlights Okonjo-Iweala was …

GS-3 LEATHERBACK NESTING SITES COULD BE OVERRUN BY ANDAMANS PROJECT Proposed intensive growth in islands contradicts National Marine Turtle Action Plan released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate ChangeProposals for tourism and port development in the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands have conservationists worried over the fate of …

GS-3 INDIA LIBERALISED THE REGULATION ON GEOSPATIAL DATA India has liberalised its regulations on geospatial data starting from February 15, 2021. It has now allowed the private companies to conduct surveying and mapping without getting government approvals in advance. About New Policy The new policy has allowed to share the …

GS-2 NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020 Important points: Recognising Importance of Formative years: In adopting a 5+3+3+4 model for school education starting at age 3, the policy recognises the primacy of the formative years from ages 3 to 8 in shaping the child’s future. This can lay the foundation for a multi-disciplinary approach …

Context: Government notifies Information Technology (IntermediaryGuidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 Amidst growing concerns around lack of transparency, accountability and rights of users related to digital media and after elaborate consultation with the public and stakeholders, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 …

Maps and accurate geospatial data are crucial for national infrastructure projects such as linkages of rivers, creation of industrial corridors and deploying smart power systems.Emerging vibrant technologies like Digital India, Smart Cities, eCommerce, autonomous drones, delivery, logistics and urban transport require a leap forward in mapping with greater depth, resolution …

Indian Astronomers have reported one of the strongest flares from a feeding supermassive black hole or blazar called BL Lacertae. Analysis of the flare from this blazar, one of the oldest astronomical objects, can help trace the mass of the black hole and the source of this emission. Such analysis …