GS-II

Interim order calls govt.’s move ‘waste of public money’ The Madras High Court on Wednesday questioned the rationale behind universal distribution of the Pongal cash gift of Rs. 1,000 to all ration cardholders in the State, irrespective of their economic status. It further ordered that the money should be paid …

Panel had investigated 21 encounter killings in Gujarat The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that a confidential report filed by the Justice H.S. Bedi (retired)Monitoring Committee into 21 police encounters in Gujarat, which had occurred during the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the State’s Chief Minister, be shared with …

Rajya Sabha clears proposed law after nine-hour-long heated debate The Parliament on Wednesday cleared the Constitutional Amendment Bill providing 10% quota in education and employment to economically weaker sections in the general category, after the Rajya Sabha approved the proposed law following an over nine-hour-long heated debate, during which the …

Mr. Verma is posted as DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards; M. Nageshwar Rao appointed interim Director. The high-power committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday removed Alok Verma as CBI Director, a day after he resumed office following the Supreme Court verdict restoring his position. …

Physical exercise can help counter the loss of memory caused by Alzheimer’s as well as delay the onset of the most common type of dementia, said a study. Researchers at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), established a link between levels of irisin, a hormone produced by the …

The season is the most busy time for workers, who view their work as ‘spiritual’ In Vietnam’s “incense village”, dozens are hard at work dying, drying and whittling down bamboo bark to make the fragrant sticks ahead of the busy lunar new year holiday. It is the most frantic time …

TNA MPs challenge speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s decision Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was on Tuesday named the Leader of Opposition in the Sri Lankan Parliament, amid pending questions about his eligibility to hold the position. The announcement came as a reaffirmation of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s earlier position acknowledging Mr. Rajapaksa as …

‘210 approved, only 62 completed’ Tardy implementation of projects under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) between 2008-2017 led to an almost threefold jump in the cost of these projects to Rs. 1.20 lakh crore, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), tabled in Parliament on …

PM calls up U.S. President, extends New Year greetings Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump discussed strategic cooperation on Afghanistan and trade issues on Monday. The conversation came days after the American leader argued for greater Indian contribution for ending the civil war in Afghanistan. A White …

CM, Finance Minister welcome move; leaders of communities concerned sniff an ‘election gimmick’ Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday welcomed the Union Cabinet’s nod for granting Scheduled Tribe status to six communities listed as Other Backward Classes in Assam. Leaders of these communities, however, were more sceptical than happy …