Water pollution caused by detergents has become a big concern in the global context. The per capita (per person) detergent consumption in India is around 2.7 kilogram per year. It is around 3.7 kg in the Philippines and Malaysia and 10 kg in the United States of America. Water Pollution Water pollution occurs when harmful substances—often chemicals or microorganisms—contaminate a …

Recently, the Office of the Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has released the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for the month of June, 2021. Important points: Inflation in wholesale prices stayed high in June 2021 at 12.07% following the record high of 12.94% in May 2021. The high rate of inflation in …

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved implementation of a special livestock sector package. Important points: To boost growth in the livestock sector and thereby making animal husbandry more remunerative to 10 crore farmers engaged in Animal Husbandry Sector. Total Amount: The Central government will spend Rs. 9,800 crore on livestock development over the next …

The Union Government has approved continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary for further five years to 2026 at a total cost of Rs. 9000 crore. 50 crore will be allocated for Gram Nyayalayas Scheme through National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms. National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms …

The Leader of Opposition in the Goa Legislative Assembly is set to move a private member’s resolution to recommend to the Central government to address the various issues associated with the anti-defection law. Important points: The Tenth Schedule — popularly known as the Anti-Defection Act — was included in the Constitution via the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985 and sets the provisions …

Recently, Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Banglore for the first time discovered two species of Few-Electron Bubbles (FEBs) in Superfluid Helium Gas. It is a chemical element with the symbol He and atomic number 2. The British chemist Sir William Ramsay discovered the existence of helium on Earth in 1895. It is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic, …

Recently, a six person crew on Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity spaceship undertook a brief trip to the “edge of space” which is known as Suborbital Flight. Sirisha Bandla, an astronaut born in India, was a part of the crew. She was the third woman of Indian origin to go to space after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams. Virgin …

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has demanded an additional $200 billion fund flow to developing countries from various sources to manage nature through 2030. It is one of many demands and targets that have been set through 2030 in the official draft of a new Global Biodiversity Framework. Convention on Biological …

Recently, the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers has reviewed the initiatives of the Department of Fertilisers for making India Atmanirbhar in Fertilisers. The Government is planning to liberalise Market Development Assistance (MDA) policy to promote the use of alternative fertilisers. Important points: MDA policy was earlier limited to city compost only. There were demands to expand this policy by incorporating organic waste like Biogas, Green Manure, …

The Union Minister of Finance of India along with her counterpart, the Finance Minister of Bhutan has jointly launched Bharat Interface for Money – Unified Payments Interface (BHIM-UPI) in Bhutan. The payment system was launched by NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL), the international arm of National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI), in partnership with the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) of Bhutan. Important points: Bhutan is …

After a large-scale rejig at the Council of Ministers, Prime Minister effected some changes in Cabinet committees. Important points: Eight Cabinet Committees: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Cabinet Committee on Accommodation. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs. Cabinet Committee on Security. Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth. Cabinet Committee …

The Aadhaar enrolment of more than 27 lakh people in Assam has become uncertain/delayed because of the delay in completing the process of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The biometrics of these people were frozen after the publication of the NRC in August 2019. The Centre had earlier been asked to unfreeze the biometrics since …

Recently, the death of Father Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist, while in judicial custody, has brought the stringent provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) into the focus. UAPA is the India’s main anti-terrorism legislation, but the law makes it more difficult to obtain bail. This difficulty in obtaining bail is …

The Rajasthan government will develop a tiger corridor connecting the newly proposed ‘Ramgarh Tiger Reserve’, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve Sariska Tiger Reserve is another Tiger reserve in Rajasthan. Important points: Wildlife or animal corridors are meant to ensure safe passage for animals between two isolated habitats. In wildlife parlance, corridors are mainly of two …

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre on the use of Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 that was scrapped several years ago. The court struck down the provision as unconstitutional and a violation of free speech in 2015 in the Shreya Singhal Case. The IT Act, 2000 provides for legal recognition for transactions through electronic …

Recently, India’s first cryptogamic garden was inaugurated in the Chakrata town of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The garden will be housing nearly 50 species of lichens, ferns and fungi (collectively known as Cryptogamae). Plant kingdom can be divided into two sub-kingdoms viz. Cryptogams and phanerogams. Cryptogams consist of seedless plants and plant-like organisms whereas phanerogams consist of …

Recently, thirty people were killed in separate incidents of lightning in various parts of the country. Lightning is the biggest contributor to accidental deaths due to natural causes. Important points: It is a very rapid and massive discharge of electricity in the atmosphere. It is the process of occurrence of a natural ‘electrical discharge of very short …

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the ‘RBI Retail Direct’ Scheme. In February 2021 RBI proposed to allow retail investors to open gilt accounts with the central bank to invest in Government securities (G-secs) directly. Important points: Under the scheme, retail investors (individuals) will have the facility to open and maintain the ‘Retail Direct Gilt …

In recent years, countries around the world have been attempting to pass effective ‘right to repair’ laws. The movement traces its roots back to the very dawn of the computer era in the 1950s. The goal of the movement is to get companies to make spare parts, tools and information on how to repair devices available to customers and …

Vietnam has appointed Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in Bangalore to promote trade, economics, investment, tourism, educational and cultural cooperation between Vietnam and the State of Karnataka. Industrialist N.S. Srinivasa Murthy based in Bengaluru has been appointed as Honorary Consul General of Vietnam for Karnataka. He is the first honorary consul general of Vietnam from …