Recently, in its interim report, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Delimitation Commission has proposed significant changes to the electoral map of J&K. The delimitation exercise had started in June 2021 in the state. Previous Distribution of J&K Constituencies The erstwhile J&K State had an 87-member assembly, with 37 constituencies in the Jammu region and …

Recently, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)and Russia discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraineand its implications for security in Europe at the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) in Brussels. Talks between representatives of NATO and Russia concluded without a clear outcome. NRC was established at the NATO-Russia Summit in Rome (Rome Declaration) on 28 May 2002. It replaced …

Recently, the fourth meeting of the foreign ministers of the QUAD grouping (India, the US, Australia and Japan) was held in Melbourne , Australia. The meeting was held amid escalating tension between Russia and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)countries over Ukraine, the Afghan crisis and increasing concerns over China’s “coercion” in the Indo-Pacific region. It is the grouping of four democracies –India, Australia, …

Recently, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released the second part of its sixth assessment report. This second part of the report is about climate change impacts, risks and vulnerabilities, and adaptation options. The first part of this report, on the physical science of climate change in 2021. It had warned that 1.5 degree Celsius warming was likely to be …

Recently, the Indian Army commenced implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tagging of its ammunition inventory. Earlier in 2021, the Union Government integrated the E-Way Bill (EWB) system with FasTag and RFID. RFID is a type of passive wireless technology that allows for tracking or matching of an item or individual. The system has two …

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has proposed a guaranteed return scheme, Minimum Assured Return Scheme (MARS), which will provide savers and people from the salaried class an option for their investments. This will be the first scheme from the pension regulator that will offer a guaranteed return to investors. India’s pension assets under …

The evacuation of thousands of Indian students in Ukraine (Operation Ganga) is the most immediate impact of Russia’s war over Ukraine on India. However, the Russia-Ukraine conflict will have long-term implications too. For example, negotiating its relationships with the United States and other Western nations on one side, and the historically deep and strategic ties with Russia on the other. This will …

Recently, Ukraine has filed an application before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), instituting proceedings against Russia. Ukraine has accused Russia of falsely claiming that “acts of genocide have occurred in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts of Ukraine”, and of using that as a pretext to recognise the independence of these regions and of going to war …

Recently, a Joint Military Exercise, “Exercise Dharma Guardian-2022”, between India and Japan will be conducted at foreign training node, Belagavi (Belgaum, Karnataka) from 27th February to 10th March 2022. Exercise Dharma Guardian-2022 is an annual training event which is being conducted in India since 2018. The scope of this exercise covers platoon level joint training on operations in …

Recently, India has improved its overall International Intellectual Property (IIP) score from 38.4% to 38.6%, and the country is ranked 43rd out of 55 countries on the International Intellectual Property Index. International Intellectual Property Index is an annual report compiled by the US Chambers of Commerce. This year (2022) the index is topped by the US with 95.4%. …