The Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence of the Sultanate of Oman is on a visit to India. He will be in Delhi to co-chair the Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) with India’s Defence Secretary. Important points: The two countries across the Arabian Sea are linked by geography, history …

According to recent data from Reserve bank of india (RBI), India’s Foreign Exchange (Forex) reserves posted a decline of USD 678 million during the week ended 21st January 2022 to reach USD 634.287 billion. The slip in the reserves was on account of a drop in the Foreign Currency Assets …

The Budget, which will be tabled in Parliament by the Finance Minister on 1st February is likely to address concerns around growth, inflation and spending. Budget is the government’s blueprint on expenditure, taxes it plans to levy, and other transactions which affect the economy and lives of citizens. According to …

General Bipin Rawat, first Chief of Defence Staff who died in an air crash recently, and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh who headed the State during the Babri Masjid demolition were conferred with Padma Vibushan posthumously on the eve of the Republic Day (73rd). Padma Vibhushan, part of …

Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that India is “positive” and “willing to engage” in talks with Pakistan on upgrading the 1974 Joint Protocol on Religious Pilgrimages. It will allow air travel as well as increase the number of shrines pilgrims from both countries could visit. The government …

Recently, the Prime Minister of India greeted people of Himachal Pradesh (H.P.) on its statehood day (25th Janurary). Important points: The British territories in the hill came under British Crown after Queen Victoria’s proclamation of 1858. The states of Chamba, Mandi and Bilaspur made good progress in many fields during …

Recently, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Lala Lajpat Rai on his Jayanti. Lala Lajpat Rai’s birth anniversary is celebrated on 28th of january every year. Important points: He was born on 28th January, 1865 in a small village named Dhudike in Punjab’s Ferozepur district. Lala Lajpat Rai was one …

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying organised a webinar on “Cage aquaculture in Reservoir: Sleeping Giants” as a part of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”. Department of Fisheries, GOI earmarked the investment targets for promoting cage aquaculture under flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Important points: Cage …

Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the constitution of a ‘Fly Ash Management and Utilisation Mission. Important points: The order by the NGT takes note of the ‘unscientific handling and storage’ of the fly ash by coal thermal power stations. For example, the draining of industrial effluents and fly …

On the eve of the 73rd Republic Day, six personnel of the Indian Army were awarded the Shaurya Chakra, the third-highest peacetime Gallantry Award in the country, in recognition of their distinguished service. Of them, five were awarded posthumously. The gallantry awards are announced twice in a year — first …

Recently, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), in partnership with the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) launched the Swachhata Start-Up Challenge under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0. Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 SBM-U 2.0 was launched on 1st October 2021 …

In India, especially in North India, the winter of 2021-22 has been unusually cold and unusually long. The days, in particular, have felt colder and chillier than normal. Important points: Since December 2021, maximum temperatures across the North, Northwest and Central India regions have persistently remained below normal, resulting in …

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) approval for the implementation of the proposal for setting up a ‘Bad Bank is still pending. In September 2021, the Union Cabinet approved the Rs. 30,600 crore guarantee to back Security Receipts issued by National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL) for acquiring stressed loan …

Recently, the Prime Minister of India hosted the first India-Central Asia Summit in virtual format. It was attended by Presidents of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan. This first India-Central Asia coincided with the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between …

In a historic move, Amar Jawan Jyoti merged with the National War Memorial flame. Important points: Established in 1972, it was to mark India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 War, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had inaugurated it on Republic Day …

On the Statehood Day of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura (21st January), Prime Minister and other leaders praised the traditions and culture of the three northeast states. On 21st January, 1972, all the three states became full-fledged states under the North Eastern Region (Reorganisation) Act, 1971. Important points: Before 15th August …

Recently, the 4th Asia Ministerial Conference on tiger conservation was held. India’s National Tiger Conservation Authority has also decided to introduce guidelines for the reintroduction of tigers that can be used by other Tiger Range Countries. Important points: The conference is an important event for reviewing progress towards the Global …

Recently, the government has decided to install a grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate to commemorate his 125th birth anniversary and as part of the year long celebrations. The Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskars, for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 in the investiture …

Recently, scientists investigating how the shape of dark matter affects the motion of stars in the centre of some galaxies (stellar bars) have found that out-of-plane bending can be explained through dark matter halos in barred galaxies. Out of plane bending of the bar in barred galaxies is a rare …

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) while hearing a plea by the Maharashtra government decided to recall its December 2021 order, which stayed 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local body elections. The Supreme Court has entrusted the Backward Classes Commission with the responsibility of giving political reservation to …