According to the recent data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s Foreign Exchange (Forex) reserves declined by USD 2.986 billion to reach USD 579.285 billion in the week ended 26th March 2021. The gold reserve component of the Forex Reserve increased whereas the other components – Special Drawing Rights (SDR), the Foreign Currency …

The Supreme Court has held that a public employer can reject a candidate as unsuitable if he/she had, in the past, been acquitted of a serious crime merely on the benefit of doubt. Benefit of doubt is granted to the accused when there is total absence of evidence or in the criminal jurisprudence requiring the case …

Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has approved the National Rare Disease Policy 2021. Earlier, the Delhi High Court had directed the Centre to set up a Rare Diseases Committee, a Rare Diseases Fund and to finalise and notify the National Health Policy for Rare Diseases on or before 31st March, …

Recently, the government has extended the Rs. 3-lakh-crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)until 30th June 2021, and also widened its scope to new sectors, including hospitality, travel and tourism. ECLGS was rolled out in May 2020 as part of the Centre’s Atmanirbhar packagein response to the Covid-19 crisis. The objective was to support small businesses struggling to …

Recently, the first farm-based solar power plant under the Prime Minister’s KisanUrja Suraksha EvamUtthanMahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) schemehas come up in Jaipur (Rajasthan) district’s Kotputli tehsil with a provision for production of 17 lakh units of electricity every year. Important points: The PM-KUSUM scheme was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy …

Preliminary data released by the government showed that India’s trade deficit in goods widened to USD 14.11 billion in March 2021 from USD 9.98 billion during March 2020. Important points: Merchandise Exports: India’s merchandise exports in March 2021 were USD 34.0 billion as compared to USD 21.49 billion in March 2020, an increase of 58.23%. …

Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India participated in the 17th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)Ministerial Meeting. The meeting, chaired by Sri Lanka, was held in virtual mode. India’s Commitment: To further build the momentum of regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC framework and make the organization stronger, vibrant, more effective and result-oriented. …

Government of India launched the All-India Survey of Migrant Workers and All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey. Labour and Employment Ministry said, the objective of the All-India Survey of Migrant Workers is to study the kind of employment-related migration undertaken by workers. The survey will provide the details of working and …

Central Government has constituted three expert committees to review the existing rules and regulations on safety, health and working conditions standards, pertaining to factories, docks and construction work. Important points: One committee will look into the safety parameters of industries, docks and ports while the other two committees have been …

Government has made mandatory that a GST taxpayer having turnover of more than 5 crore rupees in the preceding financial year will have to furnish 6 digits Harmonised System of Nomenclature HSN Code, or Service Accounting Code, SAC from April 1, 2021 on the invoices issued for supplies of taxable …