Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change submitted its report on the proposed the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021. The standing committee has found that some species were excluded from various schedules of wildlife and plants that have been proposed by the …

Recently, Japan described four islands whose ownership it disputes with Russia as illegally occupied in the latest version of a diplomatic Bluebook. The use of stronger language underscored the chilled relations between the two sides amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia refers to these islands as the Kuril Islands, …

On 22nd April 2022, the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day was celebrated. Earth Day is an international event celebrated around the world to pledge support for environmental protection. The theme for Earth Day 2022 is “Invest In our Planet”. Earth Day was first observed in 1970 when 20 million took …

Recently, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders launched the sixth Scorpene Submarine ‘Vagsheer’ of Project-75. The submarines in the Project-75 Scorpene Class are powered by diesel-electric propulsion systems. Scorpene is one of the most sophisticated submarines, capable of undertaking multifarious missions including anti-surface ship warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and area …

Recently, the NITI Aayog released the draft battery swapping policy for Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the country. The policy aims to improve the efficiency of the battery swapping ecosystem for electric scooters and three-wheeler electric rickshaws, thereby driving EV adoption. As per the draft policy, all metropolitan cities with a …

Recently, the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) launched the Fincluvation Platform to promote innovative solutions in collaboration with fintech startups to accelerate financial inclusion among the underserved and unserved population. The term Fintech (Financial Technology) refers to software and other modern technologies used by businesses that provide automated and imporved …

Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has announced that all 100 smart cities will have Integrated Command and Control Centers (ICCCs), under Smart Cities Mission (SCM). These ICCCs are spread across various states that have been developing Smart Cities, with states such as Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya …

Recently, some Cases of a Mysterious Liver Disease have been reported in Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands, besides the US and UK. Children between the age of 1 to 6 years old have been the target of the disease. According to reports, the disease might be related to virus usually …

Recently, the Indian Railways has delivered water to Pali district in western Rajasthan to ensure survival of Mugger Crocodile or Marsh Crocodile as the region’s water bodies have dried up due to a hot March. Scientific Name-Crocodylus palustris An egg-laying and hole-nesting species, also known to be dangerous. Mainly restricted …

According to a recent Research, a region of cooling water in the North Atlantic Ocean near Iceland, nicknamed the “Blue blob” may have helped temporarily stall the melting of Arctic sea ice. However, the study has also stated that the effects of climate change will catch up to the massive …

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying will set up a seaweed park in Tamil Nadu to improve the livelihood of fishermen. Tamil Nadu has been requested to set aside space for a Special Economic Zone for seaweed farming. In 2021, the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) …

Recently, the centre has extended the ceasefire agreements between the Central government and three Naga groups by a year which was signed on 19th April 2022. The Naga groups include National Socialist Council of Nagaland-NK (NSCN-NK), National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Reformation (NSCN-R) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-K-Khango (NSCN-K-Khango). All …

Recently, East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, Asia’s Youngest Democracy, held the second and final round of its presidential election. The territory was colonised by Portugal in the 18th century and remained under its control until 1975. When the Portuguese withdrew, troops from Indonesia invaded and annexed East Timor …

Recently, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has conducted the 8th edition of two-day National Level Pollution Response Exercise, ‘NATPOLREX-VIII’, off Mormugao harbour, Goa. Besides NATPOLREX, ICG is concurrently conducting a capacity building professional training course in Marine Oil Response and Preparedness for 45 international participants from 18 countries including member …

Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation released the draft Protection and Enforcement of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2022. The proposed law will help international aircraft leasing companies to repossess and transfer planes out of India in case of a financial dispute with an Indian airline at a time many …

According to a new report, an imbalance in nitrogen availability has been reported across the globe, with some places having an excess and others a shortage of the element. Rising carbon dioxide levels and other global changes have increased demand for nitrogen by plants and microbes. Plants grow quickly when …

Recently, the World Bank published the paper titled ‘Poverty has Declined over the Last Decade But Not As Much As Previously Thought’. The paper came close on the heels of a working paper published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) saying India has almost eradicated extreme poverty and brought down …

Recently, tensions flared up again at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque between the Palestinians and Israeli police. Over the decades, this site in Jerusalem’s Old City has frequently been a flashpoint for violence between Palestinians and Israeli forces and hardline groups and is at the heart of competing for historical claims. These …

With the possibility of a new Covid-19 variant triggering a fresh surge in cases, the Centre has told the states to send sewage samples to all sentinel sites that currently carry out surveillance of Poliovirus. Sentinel surveillance is the “monitoring of rate of occurrence of specific diseases/conditions through a voluntary …

Recently, the Centre announced to stop the purchase of excess parboiled rice after which Telangana Chief Minister and members of his Cabinet staged a dharna demanding a uniform paddy procurement policy. The dictionary meaning of ‘parboil’ is ‘partly cooked by boiling’. Thus, the expression parboiled rice refers to rice that …