Recently, the former Chief Secretary of West Bengal was served a show cause notice by the Home Ministry under Section 51 of the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005. Important points: The notice was issued for failing to comply with the Centre’s directions to attend the review meeting on Cyclone Yaas chaired by the Prime Minister in Bengal’s Kalaikunda. The Act …

Recently, the Central Government has amended its pension rules putting new restrictions on officials of intelligence and security organisations after retirement. The government has amended Rule-8(3)(a) of the CCS (Central Civil Services) Pension Rules-1972. The Centre has notified Central Civil Services (Pension) Amendment Rules, 2020. Important points: The said rules were first drafted in 1972 and …

Recently, China relaxed its two child policy and announced it will now allow three children per married couple. It also announced that it would increase the retirement age by a few months every year. For the past four decades, the retirement age in China has been 60 for men and 55 for women. Important points: China …

The Union Cabinet has approved the Model Tenancy Act to be sent to the States and Union Territories to enact legislation or amend laws on rental properties. The draft Act had been published by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2019. Important points: Mandatory for there to be a written agreement between the property owner and the …

The Union Cabinet has approved the Model Tenancy Act to be sent to the States and Union Territories to enact legislation or amend laws on rental properties. The draft Act had been published by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2019. Important points: Mandatory for there to be a written agreement between the property owner and the …

According to the National Weather Forecasting Centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD): WEATHER FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST INDIA: Rain/Thundershowers occurred at many places over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan,Muzaffarabad,ata few places over east Uttar Pradesh and at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, west Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Weather …

Recently, the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Sajag got commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). It is third out of five OPV indigenously designed and built by the Goa Shipyard Limited. It is built under the Make in India policy. Other four OPVs are Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Saksham, ICGS Sachet, ICGS Sujeet, and ICGS Sarthak. It is fitted with advanced technology …

On the Statehood Day of Goa (30th May), the Prime Minister greeted the people of the state. Important points: Goa is located on the southwestern coast of India within the region known as the Konkan, and geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. Konkani which is one of the 22 languages from the Eight Schedule. It …

NASA will send baby squids and tardigrades (also called water bears) to the International Space Station for conducting various scientific studies. Important points: These animals are part of two separate scientific studies. Behavior of Tardigrades (water bears) in a spaceflight environment. Tardigrades can adapt to extreme conditions on Earth, including high pressure, temperature and radiation. Impact of microgravity conditions on the …

Recently, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) on his visit to the US met American lawmakers, National Security Advisor, Defense Secretary, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and representatives from the private sector. Earlier, the Prime Minister of India and US President had a conversation on issues related to supply chains for vaccines for Covid-19. India also participated in the Leaders’ Summit on …

The Central Government may initiate disciplinary action against the West Bengal Chief Secretary after he failed to report to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in New Delhi as ordered earlier. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the “placement of services” of Chief Secretary, as per provisions Rule 6(1) of the Indian Administrative Service …

Recently, the Central Government issued a notification granting powers related to citizenship applications under existing rules to authorities of five states. The order has been issued under the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship Rules, 2009 and not under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 since its rules have not yet been framed. Important points: In accordance with section 16 of …

Recently, the Research Design & Standards Organization (RDSO) of Indian Railways has become the first Institution to be declared a Standard Developing Organization (SDO) under One Nation One Standard mission of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). RDSO took the initiative to seek recognition as a Standard Developing Organization (SDO) under the BIS SDO Recognition Scheme. Research Designs & Standards Organization …

The government has announced a special “PM-CARES for Children” scheme for all those orphaned due to Covid-19. Also, the Supreme Court has ordered the district authorities to upload the details of children in need of care and protection on NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights) portal Bal Swaraj. Important points: Children who have lost both parents or their lone surviving …

Recently, India and Australia reviewed cooperation in the sectors of agriculture and defence. Important points: The India-Australia Grains Partnership aims to use Australia’s expertise in post harvest management to strengthen rural grain storage and supply chains so as to reduce losses and wastage. National Institute of Agricultural Marketing will be the nodal organisation from India. …

Every year, the first day of June is observed as World Milk Day. On the occasion, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying announced the launch of the Gopal Ratna Awards and integration of e-Gopala App with UMANG platform. UMANG Platform Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) Mobile App is a unified, secure, multi-channel, multi-platform, multi-lingual, …

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has notified the second negative import list, now renamed as the ‘positive indigenisation list’ of 108 items. The ‘First Negative Indigenisation’ List comprising 101 items was notified in August 2020. Important points: Procurement: All the 108 items will now be procured from indigenous sources as per provisions given in Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 …

The UN report, titled State of Finance for Nature, analyzes the investment flow in nature-based solutions (NbS) and identifies the future investment needed to meet the climate change, biodiversity and land degradation targets (set in three Rio Conventions). The report was jointly produced by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Economic Forum and the Economics of Land Degradation. Important …

According to the National Weather Forecasting Centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD): Southwest monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the country as a whole is most likely to be normal (96 to 104 % of Long Period Average (LPA)). Quantitatively, the monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the …

Recently, the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) introduced the world’s first Nano Urea Liquid for farmers across the world. Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited It is one of India’s biggest cooperative societies which is wholly owned by Indian Cooperatives Founded in 1967 with just 57 cooperatives, today it is an amalgamation of over 36,000 Indian Cooperatives with diversified business …