Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) declared a Maharashtra law which provides reservation benefits to the Maratha community, taking the quota limit in the State in excess of 50%, as unconstitutional. Important points: 2017: A 11-member commission headed by Retired Justice N G Gaikwad recommended Marathas should be given reservation under Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) 2018: Maharashtra Assembly passed a Bill …

Maharashtra Police had confiscated  material weighing about 7 kg from two suspected persons. Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has informed vide letter dated 13th May, 2021 regarding the confiscated material – Natural Uranium 1) Natural Uranium seized in this case is currently in the safe custody of the DAE 2) …

MyGov, the citizen engagement platform of the Government of India, in partnership with Department of Higher Education has launched an Innovation Challenge for creating an Indian Language Learning App. This Innovation Challenge has been launched to take forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of celebrating India’s cultural diversity through greater …

The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was at 55.5 in April 2021, little changed from March’s reading of 55.4. Important points: It is a survey-based measure that asks the respondents about changes in their perception about key business variables as compared with the previous month. The purpose of the PMI is …

More than 28.68 crore loans for an amount of Rs. 14.96 lakh crore have been sanctioned by banks, NBFCs and MFIs since the launch of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).  Important points: It was launched by the government in 2015 for providing loans up to Rs. 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro-enterprises. MUDRA, which stands …

The World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) is an annual celebration of press freedom, observed on 3rd May every year. The main celebration is organized by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The theme for WPFD 2021 is “Information as a Public Good”. Important points: The day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s …

Recently, eight Asiatic lions at Hyderabad’s Nehru Zoological Park have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus. It is the first known case of the human infecting the felines and making them sick in India. Earlier in 2020, Tiger being infected with Covid-19 was reported in New York (Bronx Zoo). Important points: The Asiatic Lion (also known as the Persian …

Many scientists are blaming the government-backed model, called SUTRA (Susceptible, Undetected, Tested (positive), and Removed Approach), for having a larger role in creating the perception that a second wave of Covid was unlikely in India. The second wave of Covid-19 has claimed thousands of lives since April 2021. Important points: Scientists from the IITs of Kanpur …

According to the most recent estimates by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), the Covid-19 pandemic has emerged the biggest cause of death in India. IHME is an independent global health research centre at the University of Washington, US. Important points: India has recorded more than 19 million cases of coronavirus-second only …

Recently, India received Covid-19 assistance from Taiwan including oxygen concentrators and cylinders. The aid reflects the growing engagement between India and Taiwan, especially against the backdrop of the standoff with China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and China’s aggressive actions across the region, including repeated violations of Taiwan’s airspace. India, meanwhile, has not yet accepted …