The Government is planning to bring a Bill to Parliament to clarify “some provisions in the 102nd Constitutional amendment Bill” to restore the power of the states to identify backward classes. In India, separate OBC lists are drawn up by the Centre and each state concerned. Articles 15(4), 15(5) and 16(4) expressly conferred power on a state to identify and declare …

Recently, the Union Government gave the information on Major Administrative Reforms which were introduced in recent years and emphasised the importance of these reforms in making governance more accessible. These reforms aim to encourage greater efficiency, transparent and corruption free governance, accountability and reduce scope for discretion. The Government follows the maxim …

Recently, the Standing Committee on Finance has criticised the decision of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) for giving barely a week’s time to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) for funding ongoing Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) projects, owing to which 50% funds lapsed. Important points: The resultant funding crunch would …

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the school education programme Samagra Shiksha Scheme 2.0 till the 2025-26 financial year. It has been upgraded to align it with the Sustainable Development Goal for Education and the new National Education Policy launched in 2020. Important points: It is an integrated scheme for school education covering the entire gamut from pre-school to class XII. It aims to …

The Forum for Human Rights in J&K (FHRJK) released its report a day ahead of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) completing two years as Union Territory. The report raised concerns about the militancy that continues to remain a major challenge in J&K. FHRJK is an independent body co-chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B. Lokur and …

Recently, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed and completed black topping the world’s highest motorable road at Umling La pass in Eastern Ladakh, located at an altitude of 19,300 ft. Important points: By constructing this road, BRO has created a record in high-altitude road construction. It bettered the previous record of a road in Bolivia connecting to …

In recent years, a lot of efforts have been put by the conservationists to save the world’s most endangered turtle, Swinhoe’s softshell turtle from the brink of extinction. The animal is also known as the Hoan Kiem turtle or Yangtze giant softshell turtle. In Vietnam, these animals have great cultural significance as people in Hanoi revere this …

Recently, the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) 1 named INS Vikrant, started sea trials (one of the last phases of trials). It is likely to be commissioned in 2022. At present, India has only one aircraft carrier, the Russian-origin INS Vikramaditya. Earlier, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved issuance of Request for Proposal (RFP) for six advanced submarines for the Indian Navy under Project-75I. …

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a framework for payment and settlement related activities by payment system operators. This framework is issued under provisions of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. The Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 provides for the regulation and supervision of payment systems in India and designates the RBI as the …

The Ministry of Finance has amended the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules, 1957 to exempt listed public sector companies from the minimum public shareholding norm. Important points: The government can now exempt any listed public sector enterprise from the Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) norm, which mandates at least 25% public float for all listed …

Recently, some experts advised that the government should speed up implementation of alternatives to stubble burning. The centre, facing criticism from farmers protesting against the farm laws, had committed to removing a clause in the Air Commission Bill, 2021 that would penalise farmers for burning stubble, an important contributor to noxious air quality. Important points: Stubble (parali) burning …

According to a recent report by the United Nation, the goal of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 i.e. ‘Zero Hunger’ has been hit in the wake of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. The zero hunger goal works in tandem with many others: Poverty elimination (SDG1), good health and well-being (SDG3), and the need for clean …

Recently, the Union Government approved the continuation of more than 1000 Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for two years (April 2021-March 2023). It includes 389 exclusive POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Courts. The Central share will be provided from the Nirbhaya Fund. Important points: Fast track courts (FTCs) were …

Recently, the launch of Boeing’s uncrewed Starliner Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) has been postponed once again. The spacecraft, which is called the Crew Space Transportation-100 (CST-100), is part of an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Important points The spacecraft has been designed to …

Florida has been battling outbreaks of red tide, caused by the algae Karenia brevis, for several years. This year’s bloom may have been aggravated due to the release of contaminated water into Tampa Bay earlier. Tampa Bay, arm of the Gulf of Mexico, indenting the west coast of Florida, US. Important …

Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour has released a report on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on rising unemployment and job loss. The panel called on the government to improve social security measures and take measures like Direct transfer of money and urban employment guarantee scheme for informal sector workers Social Security According to the International …

Recently, the Delhi High Court has allowed the medical termination of pregnancy of a woman who had completed 22 weeks of gestation as the foetus was suffering from multiple abnormalities. Gestation is the foetal development period from the time of conception until birth. In India, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act stipulates a ceiling of 20 weeks, for …

Recently, the Union Minister of Education has informed in the Lok Sabha about the various steps taken by the government to promote the Languages in Eighth Schedule Important points It lists the official languages of the republic of India. Part XVII of the Indian constitution deals with the official languages in Articles 343 to 351. The Constitutional provisions related to the Eighth …

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that a preventive detention order can only be passed if the detenu is likely to adversely affect the maintenance of public order. The SC also gave direction to governments and to other courts, for dealing with detention under preventive detention. Important points The court held that it cannot seriously be disputed that …

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) held that the Governor’s power to pardon overrides Section 433A of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Earlier in January 2021, in a case of mercy petition, the SC noted that the Governor cannot reject the state’s recommendation but there is no time prescribed to take a decision. Important points SC held that the Governor of a …