Ukraine and the United States launched joint naval Exercise ‘Sea Breeze’ in the Black Sea in a show of Western cooperation with Ukraine as it faces off with Russia. The drills come just days after the British Royal Navy’s HMS Defender passed near Russian-annexed Crimea in the Black Sea. Important …

Recently, China has put into operation the Baihetan Dam, world’s Second Biggest Hydropower Dam. The Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydropower dam in the world and is also along China’s Yangtze River. It began operations in 2003. Important Points It is on the Jinsha River, a tributary of the …

The central government has extended the term of K.K. Venugopal as Attorney General (AG) for one more year. This is the second time the Centre has extended his tenure. Venugopal received his first extension of term in 2020. Venugopal was appointed the 15th AG of India in 2017. He succeeded …

Recently, a new generation nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-P (Prime) was successfully test-fired by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha, Balasore. Important Points Agni-P is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class (under IGMDP – Integrated …

Recently, the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949 has been challenged before the Gujarat High Court, more than seven decades after it came into effect as the Bombay Prohibition Act. The prohibition on manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor in the state vide the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949, has been challenged on …

Recently, the Ministry of Finance announced a slew of measures to provide relief to diverse sectors affected by the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. It aims to prepare the health systems for emergency response and provide impetus for growth and employment. However it will increase the Fiscal Deficit by 0.6% …

Government may reduce interest rates on small saving schemes for the July – September Quarter. A cut in small savings rates at this point would further hurt households amid a surge in inflation, according to economists. Important Points Small savings rates were slashed between 0.5% and 1.4% on different instruments …

Recently, the Defence Minister visited the Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka to review the ongoing infrastructure development under Phase-II of ‘Project Seabird’. Important points: Project Seabird involves construction of a naval base over an area of 11,169 acres. Phase I comprised construction of a deep-sea harbour, breakwaters dredging, a township, …

Recently, the Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment launched the website for the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (26th June) The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is the nodal ministry for Drug Demand Reduction, implements various programmes …

Indian Prime Minister paid homage to Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay on his Jayanti on 27th June. Important points: He was one of the greatest novelists and poets of India. He was born on 27th June 1838 in the village of Kanthapura in the town of North 24 Parganas, Naihati, present …