GS-II

CONTEXT Recently, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare has digitally addressed the Inter-Ministerial Conference by Partners in Population and Development (PPD). PARTNERS IN POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT: It is an intergovernmental initiative created specifically for the purpose of expanding and improving South-South Cooperation in the fields of reproductive health, …

CONTEXT: A virtual meeting took place recently between an Indian Minister and his Swiss Counterpart. IMPORTANT POINTS: Both the Ministers reiterated the desire to move forward on the India-EFTA Trade & Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) negotiations. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is the intergovernmental organisation of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway …

CONTEXT: In a message to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) on its 36 Charter Day anniversary, the Prime Minister said that SAARC can only be fully effective in the absence of “terror and violence”. SAARC Charter Day is observed annually on 8 December. This day marks the …

CONTEXT: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute has released a report on arms market across the world. IMPORTANT POINTS: The U.S. arms industry accounted for 61% of sales by the world’s “Top 25” manufacturers last year, ahead of China’s 15.7%. Total sales by the “Top 25” rose by 8.5% to $361 …

CONTEXT: The process of establishing Waqf Boards in Jammu and Kashmir and leh-kargil has started recently. MAIN POINTS: There are thousands of Waqf properties in Jammu-Kashmir and Leh-Kargil and the process has been started to register these Waqf properties. Digitisation, Geo Tagging/GPS Mapping of these Waqf properties has also been …

CONTEXT: The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government is working to connect Tharu villages in the districts of Balrampur, Bahraich, Lakhimpur and Pilibhit bordering Nepal, with the home stay scheme of the UP Forest Department. MAIN POINTS: The idea is to offer tourists an experience of living in the natural Tharu habitat, …

CONTEXT: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has declared ‘Invest India’ as winner of the United Nations Investment Promotion Award 2020. MAIN POINTS: United Nations Investment Promotion Award: It recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the world’s Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs). Since 2002, UNCTAD has organised …

CONTEXT: Recently, authorities in Bangladesh sent the first group of more than 1,500 Rohingya refugees to an isolated Bhasan Char island in the Bay of Bengal. BACKGROUND: The Rohingya people are stateless, Indo-Aryan ethnic group who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar. There were an estimated 1 million Rohingya living in …

CONTEXT: Directed the Odisha government to prepare an action plan within three months on 14 identified elephant corridors for providing stress-free migration to jumbos from one habitation to another in the State. BACKGROUND: NGT had directed authorities to expedite demarcation of the corridors and the process for formal notification within …

CONTEXT: Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has informed the Ministry of Law and Justice that it is “technically and administratively ready” to extend the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) to Non Resident Indian (NRI) voters for elections next year in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and …