Recently, the Lok Sabha has passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021. The bill has excluded live-in couples, single men and the LGBTQ community. Important points: The Government had been working on the bill to regulate the ART industry since 2008 when it was first drafted by the Indian …

Recently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched the first edition of the India Young Water Professional Programme. Its launch marks a significant milestone in Australia-India Water relationship. This Programme looks to prepare future water leaders. Important points: This program has been taken up under the National Hydrology Project. It …

According to the recent data, as many as 23,948 Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) had registered with intent to adopt the principle of the Zero Defect Zero Effect Scheme (ZED). Important points: Launched in 2016 by the Ministry of MSME, the scheme is an integrated and comprehensive certification system. …

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed amendments to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, which would enable it to launch a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), thus enhancing the scope of the definition of ‘bank note’ to include currency in digital form. The move has come …

Recently, an analysis of water level data done by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) indicates that about 33% of the wells monitored have registered decline in ground water levels in the range of 0 – 2 metres. Moreover, a decline of more than 4.0 m has also been observed …

Recently, NITI Aayog has released the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). Earlier, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2021 was released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI). Important points: The MPI seeks to measure poverty across its multiple dimensions and in effect complements …

Recently, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)-National Brain Research Centre (DBT-NBRC) has developed Project SWADESH, for managing Neurological disorders. NBRC is the only institute in India dedicated to Neuroscience Research and Education. Important points: It is the first large-scale multimodal neuroimaging database designed specifically for the Indian population with big-data architecture …

Recently, SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecast and Research) has studied post Diwali Air Pollution in the four Indian Cities (Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Pune). Air pollution during the Diwali period in 2021 was higher compared to 2020 in the three metropolitan cities of Delhi, Ahmedabad and Mumbai, …

Recently, India’s Minister for Science & Technology chaired the 9th BRICS Science & Technology Ministers meeting. Earlier, the Prime Minister chaired the annual summit of the BRICS which was held virtually. 2021 is an important landmark year in BRICS Cooperation as the grouping completed 15 years. Important points: Global Innovation …

The World Health Organization has declared the recently-discovered B.1.1.529 strain of Covid-19, to be a variant of concern. The virus was first detected in Southern Africa and it is renamed Omicron. Important points: Omicron is placed in the most-troubling category of Covid-19 variants, along with the globally-dominant Delta plus its …