The Centre Government is contemplating creation of the National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA). NIRA is supposed to be an independent autonomous body for planning, investigation, financing and the implementation of the river interlinking projects in the country. Important points: NIRA will function as an umbrella body for all river linking projects and to be headed by a …

Recently, the US intelligence reports said the tension on the Russia-Ukraine border represents a major security crisis for the region, with the potential to snowball into a broader conflict. Ukraine says that Russia has amassed around 90,000 troops at the border. Important points: Ukraine and Russia share hundreds of years of cultural, linguistic and familial …

Recently, six students were banned from entering a college in Karnataka’s Udupi district for wearing a hijab (a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women). The issue throws up legal questions on reading the freedom of religion and whether the right to wear a hijab is constitutionally protected. Article 25(1) of the Constitution guarantees the “freedom of …

NITI Aayog, in association with PhonePe (Digital Payment Service Provider), will be hosting the first-ever open-to-all Fintech Open Hackathon that aims to showcase path-breaking solutions for the fintech ecosystem. Fintech describes an emerging financial services sector in the 21st century. Originally, the term applied to technology applied to the back-end …

Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology Madras have developed such a material, called Origami metamaterials which could have many uses. These combine the Japanese art of paper folding (origami) and the existing material of choice and fold it to obtain desired properties. Researchers have developed a special class of origami metamaterials which show a constant value …

Recently, a new scheme “New India Literacy Programme” for the period FYs 2022-2027 to cover all the aspects of Adult Education to align with National Education Policy 2020 has been approved. It is also in line with Budget 2021-22, which announced that increased access to resources, online modules covering the entire gamut of adult education …

Recently, the Prime Minister addressed the The Energy and Resources Institute’s (TERI) World Sustainable Development Summit. The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) is the annual flagship event of TERI. It was earlier known as Delhi Sustainable Development Summit. Instituted in 200. It is the only Summit on global issues, taking place in the developing world. It …

Recently, India has lashed out at the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for being “communal minded” amid the Karnataka hijab row. OIC Statement: The OIC has called on the UN Human Rights Council to take “necessary measures” on the issue of Muslim girl students being told not to wear the hijab in Karnataka schools. The OIC also …

Every year the second Monday of February is observed as International Epilepsy Day (IED), and this year it was celebrated on 14th February (2022). The day spreads awareness and educates people about the true facts of epilepsy and the urgent need for improved treatment, better care, and greater investment in research. The day is a joint …

River Devika project, built at the cost of over Rs 190 crore, will be complete by June, 2022. The work on the project was started in March 2019 under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). Under the project, bathing “ghats” (places) on the banks of the Devika River will be developed, encroachments …