The Minister of Jal Shakti has urged all MPs to support the ongoing “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch The Rain” campaign in their respective constituencies and states. Such interventions would ensure water source sustainability in rural areas and would strengthen the ongoing Jal Jeevan Mission being implemented by the Ministry. Important …

Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) notified that all centrally protected monuments, sites, and museums across the country including the Humayun’s Tomb will reopen for visitors from 16th June 2021. Humayun’s tomb in Delhi is a fine specimen of the great Mughal architecture. ASI, under the Ministry of Culture, …

After arriving at the Kerala Coast two days behind the schedule, the Southwest Monsoon has hit early across some areas of south peninsular and central India. Important points: Cyclone Yaas, formed in the Bay of Bengal in May, helped in bringing the crucial southwest monsoon winds over the Andaman Sea.. …

Recently, the Delhi High Court granted bail to student activists in a Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967 case. While delivering the judgement, the court redefined the boundaries of the otherwise “vague” Section 15 of the UAPA. Important points: Terrorist activity cannot be broadly defined to include ordinary penal offences. …

The Union Defence Minister has approved a policy on archiving, declassification, compilation and publication of war and operations histories by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Important points: Timely publication of war histories would give people an accurate account of the events, provide authentic material for academic research and counter the …

According to a recent report published in the SIPRI Yearbook 2021, the number of nuclear warheads which are ready and deployed have increased globally. The SIPRI Yearbook is released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) which researches international armament and conflict. The SIPRI “Yearbook 2021” assesses the current …

Recently, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare addressed the 42nd session of Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Conference. The Conference takes place every two years and is FAO’s supreme governing body. It determines the policies of the Organization, approves the budget, and makes recommendations to Members on food …

An indigenously designed oxygen concentrator, which ensures high-purity oxygen supply, is now out in the market. An Indian startup has designed developed this affordable portable oxygen concentrator and is now manufacturing it for supply to various hospitals in the country. Oxygen saturation levels of patients have been a major challenge …

Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited and Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (BSHPC) for Implementation of Dagmara Hydro-Electric Project, Supaul, Bihar. NHPC is a Category-A Miniratna Company under the Ministry of Power, in the field of Hydropower. It is …

Recently, on the occasion of World Ocean Day (8th June), the National Geographic magazine has recognised the ‘Southern Ocean’ as the world’s fifth ocean. The International Hydrographic Organization too had recognised ‘Southern Ocean’ as a distinct body of water surrounding Antarctica in 1937 but had repealed the same in 1953. …

Recently, the central government has decided to increase the subsidy by 50% on electric two-wheelers under the FAME-II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) scheme in view of the adoption of eco-friendly vehicles. Important points: The Centre has made a partial modification of the FAME-II, including increasing the demand …

The Tulu speakers, mainly in Karnataka and Kerala, have been requesting the governments to give it official language status and include it in the eighth schedule to the Constitution. In 2020, there was a demand to include Tulu in the new National Education Policy (NEP). Official Language or Languages of …

Recently, a resolution was adopted by the European Parliament, urging the European Union (EU) Commission to consider the temporary withdrawal of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status given to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka regained the GSP +, or the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences in 2017. The EU …

Recently, the Prime Minister delivered a keynote address at the United Nations (UN) “High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought” via video conference. He spoke as the President of the 14th Session of the Conference of Parties (CoP) of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The Dialogue will …

Indian Scientists have found a promising technique for early detection of development or strengthening of tropical cyclones in the atmospheric column prior to satellite detection over ocean surface in North Indian Ocean region. Early detection of Tropical cyclones has wide socio-economic implications. So far, remote sensing techniques have detected them the earliest. …

Recently, a company called Blue Origin concluded the online auction for the first seat on New Shephard, a rocket system meant to take tourists to space. It takes its first human flight on 20th July, 2021, which marks the 52nd anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s moon landing. Important …

Recently, the Defence Minister has approved the budgetary support of Rs. 498.8 crore to Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) challenge under the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) for the next five years. Earlier, the Defence Minister released an E-booklet titled ‘20 Reforms in 2020’ highlighting the major reforms undertaken by the …

Recently, the Indian Coast Guard has pressed into service an aircraft for ‘Operation Oliva’ to protect Olive Ridley turtles It is an Armed Force, Search and Rescue and Maritime Law Enforcement agency under the Ministry of Defence. It was established in 1978. It has a wide range of task capabilities …

The Wide Area Linear Optical Polarimeter (WALOP), a vital instrument for the PASIPHAE Project, is being developed at Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), India. Polar-Areas Stellar-Imaging in Polarisation High-Accuracy Experiment (PASIPHAE) is an international collaborative sky surveying project. Astronomical Polarimetry Polarimetry, a technique to measure the polarisation of …

China’s dominance in the rare earth metals, key to the future of manufacturing, is posing a major concern for the West. Important points: China has over time acquired global domination of rare earths, even at one point, it produced 90% of the rare earths the world needs. Today, however, it …