In the past decade, debt-for-climate swaps have grown relatively popular among low- and middle-income countries. Debt-for-climate swaps allow countries to reduce their debt obligations in exchange for a commitment to finance domestic climate projects with the freed-up financial resources. It was introduced as a debt restructuring device that aims to combat climate change by ensuring that debt-ridden countries do …

A government panel that looked into allegations of sexual harassment by some of the nation’s top wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India chief found that there was no Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), as mandated by law under the 2013 Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act. As many as 16 of the …

An India Habitat Trust team is conducting a survey of the critically-endangered grassland species Bengal Florican at Dudhwa National Park. The Bengal florican: It has not been spotted for last few years now indicating a fall in numbers or extinction. The Bengal florican  also called the Bengal bustard, is a bustard species. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, Cambodia, …

India slips in press freedom index, ranks 161 out of 180 nations In 2022, India was ranked at 150. Comparison with neighbours: In comparison, Pakistan has fared better when it comes to media freedom as it was placed at 150. Sri Lanka also made significant improvement on the index, ranking 135th this year as against 146th in 2022. Norway, Ireland and Denmark occupied the top …

Brazilian government has promised to speed up the expulsion of illegal miners in the country’s largest indigenous territory, Yanomami. Yanomami region stretches across Roraima and Amazonas states in the northwest corner of Brazil’s Amazon. It has been a subject of interest for illegal gold miners for decades. 20 per cent of the Yanomami community died due to violence, the spread of diseases and damage to the …

AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd said it has received an approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for the cancer drug trastuzumab deruxtecan for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The company has been granted approval to import and market trastuzumab deruxtecan used in the treatment of select “HER-2 positive” breast cancer. Globally, trastuzumab deruxtecan is approved in more than 40 countries, including …

A host of Cadbury chocolates have been recalled in the United Kingdom over fears of potential contamination by Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that causes infection with flu-like symptoms. Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria exists in the environment. It is found in water, soil and some animals’ intestines. While these …

Government launches Vivad se Vishwas scheme for relief to MSMEs for COVID-19 period, as announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 Under the scheme, Ministries have been asked to refund performance security, bid security and liquidated damages forfeited/ deducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Certain relief has also been provided to MSMEs debarred for default in execution of contracts during the …

A Union Minister said that “Mission Karmayogi”, launched by Prime Minister had institutionalised the process of capacity building, particularly for the benefit of civil servants It was launched in 2020. Mission Karmayogi is a National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCP). The programme aims at building a future-ready civil service with the right …

The recent strike by Zomato-owned Blinkit delivery agents has once again brought to the forefront issues plaguing the gig economy in the country. Who is a ‘gig worker’? Gig workers refer to workers outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship. When gig workers use online algorithmic matching platforms or apps to connect with customers, they are called platform …