On the eve of Good Governance Day (25th December), the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the ‘Star Rating Protocol of Garbage Free Cities- Toolkit 2022. It is the most important governance tool of waste management – the Star Rating Protocol for Garbage Free Cities. In the revised …

Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched 14 Honey Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) of TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India) along with various other initiatives such as The TRIFED Van Dhan Chronicle, The MIS Portal for Minimum Support Price for Minor Forest Produces etc. The TRIFED Van …

Recently, the Government has advised the Automobile Manufacturers in India, to start manufacturing Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV) and Flex Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FFV-SHEV) complying with BS-6 Norms in a time bound manner. Important points: They have engines that can run on flexible fuel — a combination of petrol …

Recently, the Centre has notified Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules, 2021 for the direct selling industry. It prohibits promotion of pyramid schemes and participation in money circulation schemes. It has been notified in exercise of the powers conferred by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Earlier, the government notified and made …

Recently, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari has reached the Port of Maputo, Mozambique to deliver 500 tonnes of food aid to support the efforts of Government of Mozambique to cope with ongoing drought and concurrent challenges of pandemic. India has also delivered two fast interceptor craft and self-defence military equipment …

Recently, the Prime Minister of India COP26 climate summit announced that India will attain net zero emissions by 2070. In order to meet these climate targets, countries like India will need approximately USD 1 trillion in additional financing over the next ten years. Important points: Green financing is to increase …

The State of India’s Livelihood (SOIL) Report 2021 has stated that just 1-5 % of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) have received funding under central government schemes introduced to promote them in the last seven years. Important points: Access Development Services, a national livelihoods support organisation has prepared the SOIL report. …

Recently, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced that India’s major metros will have 5G services next year. Like other global players, India had, in 2018, planned to start 5G services as soon as possible, with an aim to capitalise on the better network speeds and strength that the technology …

NITI Aayog has released the fourth edition of the State Health Index for 2019–20. The report, titled “Healthy States, Progressive India”, ranks states and Union Territories on their year-on-year incremental performance in health outcomes as well as their overall status. Earlier, the Global Health Security (GHS) Index 2021, developed in …

The ‘Kisan Diwas’ or National Farmers Day is observed across the country on 23rd December to celebrate the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India. It is celebrated to promote awareness among the citizens to understand the importance of the contributions of the farmers to …

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has analyzed air quality trends with special focus on cities outside Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The latest analysis by the has found that when pollution spikes during winter,entire northern India experiences smog episodes. Important point: This analysis aims to understand …

Recently, the government has notified, under the Essential Commodities Act 1955, to declare ‘soya meal’ as an essential commodity up to 30th June, 2022. This step is expected to stop any unfair practises (like hoarding, black marketing etc) in the market having the potential to hike the prices of soya …

As per Directorate General of Trade Remedies’ (DGTR) recommendations, India has imposed Anti-Dumping Duties on five Chinese products, including certain aluminium goods and some chemicals, for five years. The DGTR has concluded that these products have been exported at a price below normal value in Indian markets, which has resulted …

On the occasion of the Good Governance Day (25th December), the government released the Good Governance Index 2021. The index was prepared by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Earlier this year, India was ranked 49th in the Chandler Good …

Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted maiden flight test of a new indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile ‘Pralay’. The missile was tested from the Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. Important points: About: Pralay’ is India’s first conventional quasi-ballistic missile and is …