GS-III

Lok Sabha clears Bill on NHRC constitution

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote. The Bill expedites the process of appointment of Chairperson and members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and provides for, among others, including the chairpersons of the National Commission for Backward Classes, …

Read More »

Mosquitoes wiped out on two islands

Scientists have used a new technique to wipe out a population of mosquito species on two islands in China. The results of the pilot trial, published in the journal Nature , show that combining incompatible and sterile insect techniques enabled near elimination of Aedes albopictus , or the Asian tiger …

Read More »

7,000 species added to IUCN ‘Red List’

Habitat destruction and hunting by humans are reasons for fall in numbers Mankind’s destruction of nature is driving species to the brink of extinction at an “unprecedented” rate, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) warned on Thursday, as it added more than 7,000 animals, fish and plants …

Read More »

‘Government can prosecute IL&FS auditors’

The NCLT has given a go-ahead to the government to prosecute Deloitte and BSR Associates for their failure to detect and report the scams that took place across the now bankrupt IL&FS Group and 21 other entities, when they were the auditors of IL&FS Financial Services. The NCLT, in an …

Read More »

Quick nod for green energy transmission

Power and Renewable Energy Minister R.K. Singh on Thursday approved the proposal for early regulatory approvals of transmission schemes identified for 66.5 GW of renewable energy projects by designating them ‘projects of national importance’. “As the gestation period of renewable energy (RE) projects is much shorter in comparison to the …

Read More »

Animals seek refuge on highlands

Floods drive rhinos out of Kaziranga park Kaziranga National Park (KNP)’s man-made highlands have turned into islands of relative safety for the park’s animals as large parts of Assam remain inundated by flood waters. Among the handful of species that have taken refuge in these patches of higher ground are …

Read More »

FinMin expects no flight of FPIs on higher tax

Companies won’t be hit, she says The increase in tax on high net worth individuals, announced in the Union Budget, will not result in an outflow of Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPIs), Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The higher tax will only apply to individuals and …

Read More »

Breakthrough technique to eradicate mosquitoes

Uses 2 population control methods — radiation and bacteria A breakthrough technique harnessing two methods to target disease-carrying mosquitoes was able to effectively eradicate buzzing biters in two test sites in China, according to research published on Thursday. The mosquitoes targeted are a type that is particularly difficult to control …

Read More »