Recently, the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP), an international think tank released the Ecological Threat Report (ETR) 2021: Understanding ecological threats, resilience and peace. This is the second edition of the ETR, which covers 178 independent states and territories. The ETR includes the most recent and respected scientific research on population growth, water stress, food insecurity, droughts, floods cyclones, and rising temperature Important …

Recently, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has announced that a global deal to ensure big companies pay a Global Minimum Tax (GMT) rate of 15% has been agreed by 136 countries (including India). The countries behind the accord together accounted for over 90% of the global economy. Important points: GMT is …

Recently, the government has asked the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) to begin developing 6G and other futuristic technologies to catch up with the global market in time. The next generation telecom technology (6G) is said to be 50 times faster than 5G and is expected to be commercially launched between 2028-2030. Important points: …

Recently, the Meghalaya Government has claimed that a detoxing pilot project has brought the Lukha river back from the dead. Important points: The Lukha River was considered toxic beyond redemption a decade ago owing to contamination due to acid mine drainage and run-off from the coal mines Phytoremediation method was used to detoxify the river, where Algae was used …

The first stretch of rail link between Nepal and India is ready to resume on the neighbouring country’s first-ever broad gauge passenger service (Jainagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas railway project). Important points: The rail link between Nepal and India has been popular since the early 20th century. In 1937, the British had built a narrow gauge line to ferry cargo, mainly …

Recently, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) unanimously voted for recognising a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a Universal Human Right. If recognised by all, the right will be the first of its kind in more than 70 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the UN General Assembly …

Recently, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2021 was released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI). The Index considers data from 109 countries and 5.9 billion people. Highlights of the report: 3 billion people are multidimensionally poor. About half (644 million) are children under age 18. Nearly 85% live in Sub-Saharan …

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is set to launch ‘Lucy’, its first mission to explore the Jupiter Trojan Asteroids. Important points: The solar-powered mission is estimated to be over 12 years long, during which the spacecraft will visit eight asteroids covering a distance of about 6.3 billion km to deepen the understanding of the “young solar system”. The …

Recently, the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace. In 2020, the award was given to the World Food Programme (WFP), a United Nations (UN) agency. Other 2021 Nobel Prizes for Literature, Chemistry, Physics …

According to the World Bank, India’s economy, South Asia’s largest, is expected to grow by 8.3% in the fiscal year 2021-22. The South Asia economic focus report projects the region to grow by 7.1% in 2021 and 2022. It is a biannual economic update presenting recent economic developments and a near-term economic outlook for South Asia. Other Major reports of …

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the Monetary Policy Report (MPR) for the month of October 2021. It kept the policy rate unchanged for the Eighth time in a row maintaining an accommodative stance till the recovery is durable. Important points: Repo Rate – 4%. Reverse Repo Rate – 3.35%. Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) – 4.25%. Bank Rate- …

The Union Government is considering increasing the unit cost of deep-sea fishing vessels from Rs 80 L to Rs 1.3 Cr under the Palk Bay scheme to make it more attractive to fisherfolk. Earlier, the Marine Fisheries Bill 2021 was tabled in the Parliament during the Monsoon session. Important points: The Scheme, “Diversification Of Trawl Fishing …

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has questioned the methodology adopted by the government in fixing Rs. 8 lakh as the annual income limit to identify the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) for providing 10% quota in public jobs and educational institutions. Important points: The 10% EWS quota was introduced under the 103rd Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2019 by amending Articles 15 and …

The 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah “for his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents”. Last year, the award was given to Louise Glück “for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence …

Recently, the 6th Edition of India – UK Joint Company Level Military Training Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR has commenced in Uttarakhand. Earlier, India and the UK participated in a two-day bilateral Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in the Bay of Bengal. Important points: The exercise is conducted alternatively in the United Kingdom and India. The exercise is part of an initiative to …

Recently, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) delivered the heaviest semi-cryogenic propellant tank (SC120- LOX) to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). In 2020, HAL delivered the biggest ever cryogenic Liquid Hydrogen tank (C32-LH2) to ISRO. Important points: The semi cryo-liquid oxygen (LOX) tank – the first developmental welded hardware – is a part of the SC120 stage intended for payload enhancement by …

Recently, the Department of Food and Public Distribution has developed an application ecosystem for integration of procurement portals of all state governments. Important points: The Application Ecosystem will allow the integration of procurement portals of all state governments having Minimum Threshold Parameters (MTPs) for monitoring and strategic decision making. The introduction of MTPs in procurement …

Recently, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the State of Climate Services report 2021. It focuses on Terrestrial Water Storage. Earlier, on water day(22nd March), in a report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), one in five children worldwide reside in areas of high or extremely high water vulnerability. Important points: TWS is the sum of all water on the land surface …

Recently, the government released cybersecurity guidelines for the power sector. This is the first time that a comprehensive guideline has been formulated on cyber security in the power sector. The guidelines are a precursor to cybersecurity regulations that the Central Electricity Authority (CEA, Ministry of Power) is working on. Important points: CEA has framed the guidelines under the Central …

India has been ranked 90th in the most powerful passport report ‘Henley Passport Index 2021’. Important points: The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Originally created by Dr. Christian H. Kaelin (chairman of Henley & Partners), the ranking is …