GS-II

CONTEXT: Recently, the Vice President of India has launched the first ever SCO Online Exhibition on Shared Buddhist Heritage. IMPORTANT POINTS: National Museum, New Delhi, in active collaboration with SCO member countries. Participants: Museums from India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The launch happened during the …

CONTEXT: The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) obtained membership of International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS). IMPORTANT POINTS: With this membership IFSCA would have access to IAIS’s global network and would be able to exchange ideas and information with other global regulators. This would help in developing a vibrant …

CONTEXT: Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has held that lottery, gambling and betting are taxable under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, 2017. BACKGROUND: The SC passed the order in a batch of pleas filed by various lottery dealers who argued that the Central government had wrongfully classified lottery …

CONTEXT: Ranjitsinh Disale, a primary teacher from Maharashtra’s Solapur, has won the Global Teacher Prize 2020. GLOBAL TEACHER PRIZE: It is a 1 million dollar award presented annually to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to their profession. Varkey Foundation, which is a global charitable foundation focused …

CONTEXT: Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has released the World Malaria Report (WMR) 2020. The report provides a comprehensive update on global and regional malaria data and trends including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, elimination and surveillance. It indicates that India has made considerable progress in reducing its malaria burden. MAIN …

CONTEXT: Recently, the government has announced two major initiatives for ending the hazardous practice of manual cleaning of septic tanks and sewer lines and making the mechanised cleaning must. BACKGROUND: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will amend the law for making machine cleaning mandatory, whereas the Ministry of …

CONTEXT: A review meeting regarding the progress of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan Scheme (UBA) was held via video conferencing. MAIN POINTS: Identify three to five core issues common amongst all the villages and few issues based on local conditions and work on these. Efforts should be made to maximise the number …

CONTEXT: The World AIDS Day is observed on 1 December every year all over the world. MAIN POINTS: It was founded in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and was the first ever global health day with a motto of raising public awareness about Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). …

CONTEXT: Recently, the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment has virtually inaugurated an Assistance to Disabled Persons (ADIP) Camp for free distribution of assistive aids and devices to Divyangjan or Divyang.These are Hindi word meaning the ‘one with a divine body’ MAIN POINTS: The camp was organized by the Artificial …

CONTEXT: In an address at the virtual meet of the council of heads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu particularly mentioned about cross-border terrorism and called for combating the menace under a collective approach. BACKGROUND: SCO SCO is a significant organization that has …

CONTEXT: India has targeted to have it’s Islands- A&N and Lakshadweep as Green Energy says Shri R.K Singh at Country session of Maldives during 3rd Global Re-Invest.Power Minister assures full cooperation to Maldives in its efforts promote RE projects BACKGROUND: Shri R K Singh, Union Minister of New & Renewable …

CONTEXT: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Invest India have launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Investor Map for India. MAIN POINTS: It laid out 18 Investment Opportunities Areas (IOAs) in six critical SDG enabling sectors, that can help the country push forward on the trajectory of Sustainable Development. The …

CONTEXT: India and Finland sign MoU for developing cooperation in the field of environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. DETAILS: The MoU is a platform to further advance Indian and Finnish partnership and support, exchange best practices in areas like prevention of air and water pollution; waste management; promotion of circular …

CONTEXT: The Central Government made the rules under the powers conferred by the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. The Act came into effect on 10 January 2020, which is the first concrete step towards ensuring welfare of transgender persons. BACKGROUND: In 2014, the Supreme Court of India, in …

CONTEXT: Recently, the Prime Minister of India has addressed the concluding session of the 80 All India Presiding Officers Conference via videoconference, at Kevadiya (Gujarat) on the occasion of Constitution Day (26 November). MAIN POINTS: The idea is about structuring the Indian election cycle in a manner so that elections …

CONTEXT: EPFO conferred with Platinum Partner Award for highest transactions on UMANG App. BACKGROUND: As a majority of EPFO members are from the socio-economically disadvantaged sections, an accessible and affordable solution was needed to reach out to crores of EPFO subscribers. Considering the popularity and ease of usage of internet-based …

CONTEXT Recently, the Prime Minister (PM) has chaired the 33 PRAGATI meeting.Interaction through PRAGATI is held once every month on Fourth Wednesday, known as PRAGATI Day. MAIN POINTS Highlights of the Meeting: The PM asked states to develop a state-specific export strategy, and reviewed development projects worth Rs. 1.41 lakh …

CONTEXT: Recently, the NITI Aayog has released “Accelerating Progress On Nutrition In India: What Will It Take”, the third progress report on the National Nutrition Mission or the Poshan Abhiyaan. MAIN POINTS Launched in 2018, it is the Government of India’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant …

CONTEXT: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, has launched an international version of the government’s UMANG app.The international version of UMANG app called ‘UMANG International’ was launched to mark three years of UMANG (UMANG App was launched in 2017). MAIN POINTS: …

CONTEXT: Union Education Minister inaugurates 46 online ATAL Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs) organised by AICTE. KEY POINTS: 46 online AICTE Training and Learning (ATAL) Academy Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs) were inaugurated to train teachers of higher education institutions associated with the All India Council of Technical Education in thrust and …