Governments around the world are exploring the potential use of vaccine passports as a way of reopening the economy by identifying those protected against the coronavirus. Vaccine Passports: A vaccine passport is an e-certificate that stores and records jabs and Covid-19 test status. It can be kept in a smartphone app or …

Recently, several hundred Uighur Muslim women in Turkey staged an International Women’s Day march against the extradition agreement of Turkey with China and demanding the closure of mass incarceration camps in China’s Xinjiang Province. Earlier in 2020, the United States House of Representatives approved a legislation calling for sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for oppression of Uighur …

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways has suggested rationalisation of both freight and passenger fares. Social Service Obligations: The losses incurred by the railways in passenger services purportedly due to the social service obligations which include pricing tickets at fares lower than costs and passenger concessions. The railways incur losses to the tune of Rs. 35,000-38,000 …

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) asked the government to explain the reasons for not setting up an “Independent Environment Regulator” to oversee green clearances. SC’s Order: SC had ordered the setting up of a national environment regulatory body under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to ensure independent oversight of green clearances way back in Lafarge Umiam Mining …

GS-2 JANAUSHADHI DIWAS The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) celebrated the 3rd JanaushadhiDiwas (7th March 2021) to spread awareness about quality generic medicines, available at low prices. Theme of JanaushadhiDiwas was “SevaBhi – Rozgarbhi”. The Janaushadhi week was celebrated across the country from 1st-7th March 2021. As a part of celebrations, the Prime Minister inaugurated the 7,500th Janaushadhi Kendra at NEIGRIHMS, Shillong. Important points: Janaushadhi …

GS-3 NEW UMBRELLA ENTITY FOR PAYMENT SYSTEMS The private companies have shown interest in setting up New Umbrella Entities (NUEs) for payment systems – an idea floated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The aim is to create an alternate mechanism to the existing National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).     New Umbrella Entities (NUEs): About: NUEs will …

GS-3 PLI SCHEME FOR TELECOM SECTOR The Union Cabinet has approved the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI)scheme for the telecom sector with an outlay of Rs. 12,195 crores over five years. About the PLI Scheme: In order to boost domestic manufacturing and cut down on import bills, the central government in March 2020 introduced a scheme that aims to give companies …

GS-2 PUSH FOR CHABAHAR PORT IN INSTC CORRIDOR India expressed its intent to include Chabahar port in the 13-nation International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) that extends from India to Russia, and to expand INSTC membership by including Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, at a “Chabahar Day” event organised as part of Maritime India summit. This Summit saw …

GS-3 SUB-MISSION ON AGROFORESTRY SCHEME The Central Silk Board (CSB) under the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a “convergence model” in order to implement the “Agro-forestry in silk sector” under the “Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme”. …

GS-1 EARTH’S HIDDEN LAYER Scientists have recently detected the signs of a hidden structure inside the core of Planet Earth. This sign has the potential to change the long-standing narrative of what lies at centre of Earth. This layer is being termed as the ‘fifth layer’. Highlights As per the …