GS-III

Cabinet clears Rs. 5,538-crore proposal that includes higher production aid to ryots For the fourth time in the last five months, the Centre has approved incentives to help the cash-starved sugar mills clear thousands of crore in arrears of payment to cane farmers. On Wednesday, the Cabinet Committee on Economic …

The government on Wednesday released a list of 19 categories of items on which it would be hiking import duties, which include white goods such as air-conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines as well as non-essential items such as gems, travel bags and aviation turbine fuel (ATF). The new rates will …

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded with the UN’s highest environmental honour, also given to five other individuals and organisations, for his leadership of the International Solar Alliance and pledge to eliminate single use plastic by 2022. Cochin International Airport was honoured with the award for Entrepreneurial Vision, for …

Scientists said on Wednesday that they have finally solved the riddle of the world’s largest bird. A study released on Wednesday by British scientists suggested that one species of elephant bird was even larger than previously thought, with a specimen weighing an estimated 860 kg — about the same as …

It is the only digitally-available document for opening accounts online The Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday that Aadhaar is not mandatory for opening bank accounts could affect online opening of accounts. The State Bank of India, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank are among the banks that allow opening of …

As many as 672 people were rescued from Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti district after the recent snowfall and rain closed off most roads in the region, officials said on Wednesday. The operations via road were taken up by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and 641 stranded people were reported …

Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani, who was the first Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India, has said that the landmark judgment was in favour of the unique identification programme. “More than just opining on the constitutionality of the Act, the Supreme Court has unequivocally validated the founding principles for …

Registered firms are only dismantling and not processing trash, says report Many of India’s electronic-waste (e-waste) recyclers aren’t recycling waste at all. While some are storing it in hazardous conditions, others don’t even have the capacity to handle such waste, says a new report prepared by the Union Environment Ministry. …

Agriculture Minister pegs output at 141.59 million tonnes India’s foodgrains production is estimated at a record 141.59 million tonnes (MT) in the kharif season of 2018-19 crop year, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Wednesday. The country had produced 140.73 MT foodgrains in the kharif season of 2017-18 crop …

The partial striking down of Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act, which allows private entities to use Aadhaar for authentication of a person’s identity, comes as a great blow to corporate entities. Section 57 has been one of the most watched areas in the Aadhaar litigation before a Constitution Bench …