Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) suffered the loss of an important earth observation satellite (EOS-03) during launch when the GSLV rocket carrying it malfunctioned about five minutes from the lift-off. Earth Observation Satellites Earth observation satellites are the satellites equipped with remote sensing technology. Earth observation is the gathering of information about Earth’s physical, chemical and biological …

Recently, the Government of India introduced The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha which seeks to withdraw tax demands made using a 2012 retrospective legislation to tax the indirect transfer of Indian assets. The government has stressed the need to establish its sovereign right to taxation. Important points: Sovereignty, in political theory, means …

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs has informed in the Lok Sabha that according to some reports some Rohingya migrants are indulging in illegal activities. The response came on the queries about the current situation of Rohingya living illegally in various parts of the country. Rohingya The Rohingya people are a stateless, Indo-Aryan ethnic group who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar. They are described by the …

Recently, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted the first-ever presidential statement on maritime security. India, as the UNSC president for August 2021, noted the threats to maritime safety and security and called upon the members to consider implementing the 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. All the permanent members of UNSC (US, China, Russia, …

Recently, a dispute has erupted in Rajasthan over the hoisting of a flag on the statue of Rana Punja Bhil, a historical figure considered as a hero by the tribal Bhil community. After the Amagarh fort dispute, this is the second issue in Rajasthan within a month. Important points: He was a contemporary of 16th century ruler of Mewar, Maharana Pratap. …

Kaziranga has become the first in the country to use satellite phones, which are generally used by the law-enforcing agencies. The satellite phones will give an edge to the forest personnel over the poachers and also during emergencies like floods. The public is barred from using satellite phones in India. Satellite phones can connect from …

World Biofuel Day is observed on 10th August every year. It is observed to raise awareness of the importance of non-fossil fuels as a substitute for conventional fossil fuels. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in association with UNIDO (United Nations Development Industrial Organisation) and GEF (Global Environment Facility – a financial mechanism) launched two schemes on this occasion which are: Interest …

Recently, the Ministry of Food Processing industries (MoFPI) has shared some information regarding Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY). Earlier, MoFPI had launched the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PM FME) Scheme, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. The key sub-segments of the Food Processing industry in India are Dairy, Fruits & Vegetables, Poultry …

Recently, the 60th Public Enterprises (PE) Survey 2019-20 was released by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), Ministry of Finance. It is the single largest source of information on Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and acts as a basis for informed policy making. The government has reallocated the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) to the finance ministry from the ministry of …

Recently, Mauritius has denied a report that it has allowed India to build a military base on the remote island of Agalega. Earlier it was reported by a news broadcaster that an airstrip and two jetties to house an Indian military base on Agalega island is under construction. Important points: In 2015, …

Recently, the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) released the Quality of Life for Elderly Index. The share of elders, as a percentage of the total population in the country, is expected to increase from around 7.5% in 2001 to almost 12.5% by 2026, and surpass 19.5% by 2050. EAC-PM is a non-constitutional, non-statutory, independent …

Recently, the President addressed the commemoration of the 100th year of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, formerly known as the Madras Legislative Council (MLC) in Chennai. Important points: The Madras Legislative Council was set up in 1921 under the Government of India Act 1919. The term of the Council was for a period of three years. It consisted …

Recently, West Africa’s first case of the extremely contagious and deadly Marburg virus was confirmed in Guinea. Its first case was first identified just two months after the country was declared free of Ebola Both the Marburg case and this year’s Ebola cases were detected in Guinea’s Gueckedou district. The first cases of the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic, the …

Recently, the Prime Minister has announced a new national initiative on palm oil production to help increase farm incomes. The scheme, called National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), for self-reliance in edible oil involves investment of over Rs. 11,000 crore (over a five year period). Important points: To harness domestic edible oil prices that are …

Recently, the Prime Minister launched the second phase of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) or Ujjwala 2.0 Scheme. He mentioned plans to promote “gobar dhan” – tapping cow dung for energy on the occasion of World Bio Fuel Day (10th August). Ujjwala is part of the ambitious agenda for behavioural change that will help India transit to …

For the first time, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) inducted women officers in the combat role. Two women officers joined it as Assistant Commandants (AC). Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force ITBP is a Central Armed Police Force functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The ITBP was raised on 24th October, 1962 during the India-China War and is a border guarding …

Recently, the fourth round of Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-4) was released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Important points: GYTS-4 was conducted in 2019 by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) under the MoHFW. IIPS, Mumbai, formerly known as the Demographic Training and Research Centre (DTRC) till 1970, was established in July 1956 under …

Recently, the National Commission for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (NCPCR) conducted a Nationwide Assessment of Minority Schools. The report was titled “Impact of Exemption under Article 15 (5) with regards to Article 21A of the Constitution of India on Education of Minority Communities”. The aim was to assess how the 93rd Amendment to Indian Constitution, …

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the Monetary Policy Report (MPR) for the month of August 2021. It kept the policy rate unchanged for the seventh time in a row. And appealed to the centre and states to reduce taxes on fuels to curb inflationary pressures. Monetary Policy Report The MPR is published by …

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) system has resulted in a 10% savings in public procurement costs in five years, but has still tapped only 5% of India’s total government purchases of about Rs 20 lakh crore a year. 56% of the order value processed through the GeM portal has been delivered by Micro, Small and Medium …