Recently, the government has extended the Rs. 3-lakh-crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)until 30th June 2021, and also widened its scope to new sectors, including hospitality, travel and tourism. ECLGS was rolled out in May 2020 as part of the Centre’s Atmanirbhar packagein response to the Covid-19 crisis. The objective was to support small businesses struggling to …

Recently, the first farm-based solar power plant under the Prime Minister’s KisanUrja Suraksha EvamUtthanMahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) schemehas come up in Jaipur (Rajasthan) district’s Kotputli tehsil with a provision for production of 17 lakh units of electricity every year. Important points: The PM-KUSUM scheme was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy …

Preliminary data released by the government showed that India’s trade deficit in goods widened to USD 14.11 billion in March 2021 from USD 9.98 billion during March 2020. Important points: Merchandise Exports: India’s merchandise exports in March 2021 were USD 34.0 billion as compared to USD 21.49 billion in March 2020, an increase of 58.23%. …

Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India participated in the 17th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)Ministerial Meeting. The meeting, chaired by Sri Lanka, was held in virtual mode. India’s Commitment: To further build the momentum of regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC framework and make the organization stronger, vibrant, more effective and result-oriented. …

Government of India launched the All-India Survey of Migrant Workers and All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey. Labour and Employment Ministry said, the objective of the All-India Survey of Migrant Workers is to study the kind of employment-related migration undertaken by workers. The survey will provide the details of working and …

Central Government has constituted three expert committees to review the existing rules and regulations on safety, health and working conditions standards, pertaining to factories, docks and construction work. Important points: One committee will look into the safety parameters of industries, docks and ports while the other two committees have been …

Government has made mandatory that a GST taxpayer having turnover of more than 5 crore rupees in the preceding financial year will have to furnish 6 digits Harmonised System of Nomenclature HSN Code, or Service Accounting Code, SAC from April 1, 2021 on the invoices issued for supplies of taxable …

The government has pushed back deadlines for coal-fired power plants to adopt new emission norms by up to three years, and allowed utilities that miss the new target to continue operating after paying a penalty, according to a notice. Important points: India had initially set a 2017 deadline for thermal …

The U.S. and Iran said that they would begin negotiations through intermediaries next week to try to get both countries back into an accord limiting Iran’s nuclear programme, nearly three years after President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal. Important points: The announcement marked the first major …

The failure of the health system to cope with COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increase in maternal deaths and stillbirths, according to a study published in The Lancet Global Health journal. Important points: Overall, there was a 28% increase in the odds of stillbirth, and the risk of mothers dying …