GS-III

Current method no longer accurate due to greater automation: Pronab Sen The Central Statistics Office (CSO) needs to rethink how it estimates the growth of the informal sector as the current method is no longer accurate, former Chief Statistician of India Pronab Sen said on Wednesday. “Using the corporate sector …

Mixed views on extension of timings, says draft report An internal committee of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which was set up to review timings of different financial markets, suggested that the foreign exchange market could function from 9 am to 9 pm At present, the currency market works …

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday clarified that the Economic Survey and the Union Budget project different rates of nominal GDP growth for 2019-20 because they use different base figures. However, she added that the two rates were consistent with each other. While the Union Budget presented on July 5 …

Some important topics for discussion include how to replicate Brazil’s success of domestic coffee consumption The World Coffee Producers’ Forum (WCPF) is scheduled to discuss a range of issues critical to the economic sustainability of coffee farmers round the globe at its two-day conference that commenced on Wednesday. WCPF is …

SIAM seeks measures to save jobs in a sector that employs close to 37 million people With domestic automobile sales continuing on a downward spiral, the industry on Wednesday cautioned that if immediate concrete measures are not taken by the government to help arrest the fall, job cuts may soon …

‘Top-line growth likely to be lowest in a decade’; global concerns to hit IT sector With companies all set to releaseresults for the first quarter of the current financial year, market participants appear to be unanimous in predicting a subdued quarter for most sectors. According to most brokerages, the overall …

Food park plan on Assam jumbo corridor shelved The plan for a mega food park in Assam’s Soniptur district has been shelved after a team of wildlife experts found 50% of its area encroaching a major elephant corridor and setting it up would severely disturb their movement. The survey and …

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would consider the plea seeking urgent hearing of a PIL petition challenging the constitutional validity of Article 370 which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir and limits Parliament’s power to make laws for the State. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi …

The Union Cabinet approved the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, a previous version of which had lapsed when the Lok Sabha was dissolved in May. The Bill looks at providing social, economic and educational empowerment to transgender persons, a statement said. Sending the Bill to the Parliament again …

The Union Cabinet approved an amendment to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The Bill, which had been introduced earlier but lapsed in Parliament when the Lok Sabha was dissolved in May, was approved by the Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash …

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved ‘Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019’ to tackle the menace of ponzi schemes in the country. The Bill, which will replace the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019, will be introduced in the ongoing session of …

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the third phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III) under which 1.25 lakh km of roads in rural areas will be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs. 80,250 crore by 2024-25. “This would facilitate easy and faster movement to and …

Calls for ‘unrelenting blows’ on Army Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has released a video asking its cadres to inflict “unrelenting blows” on the Indian Army and the government in the Kashmir Valley to “bleed” the economy and make the country suffer. This is the first time Zawahiri has issued a …

‘Sikhs for Justice’ is based abroad The Union Home Ministry has banned the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a group advocating secessionist and pro-Khalistani activities in India. The group was advocating Referendum 2020, an online campaign for Khalistan, a separate land for the Sikhs. Its founder Avtar Singh Pannu was seen …

The occupational safety Bill will be introduced “in the ongoing session.” “The decision will enhance the coverage of the safety, health and working conditions provisions manifold,” a government statement said. While the code will be applicable to all trades, including IT establishments and service sector, where more than 10 workers …

It is currently undergoing integration The Indian Air Force is looking to adopt a new European visual range air to air missile across its fighter fleet. The Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile of European missile-maker MBDA has been approved for fitting on Jaguar jets. The IAF was looking to integrating …

Of the major ports in India, Diamond Harbour, located at the mouth of the Hooghly, has recorded the maximum sea level increase, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha. While recent studies reveal that sea level rise has been estimated to be 1.3 mm/year along India’s coasts during the …

The government informed Parliament that “no foreign government or organisation has any locus standi” in repealing Article 370 in J&K as matters relating to the Constitution were internal and only for the Indian Parliament to deal with. While responding to a question on whether repeal of Articles 370 and 35A …

HoloLens, which blends digital imagery with real world, caters to firstline workers When Toby Bouska Jr. started assembling cabs for Kenworth semitrucks last year, he learned the ropes by observing longtime workers at the factory. But it wasn’t exactly engaging, and he didn’t get much practice doing the job himself. …

It seeks to merge 13 labour laws A Bill that seeks to merge 13 labour laws into one code on occupational safety, health and working conditions that would apply to all establishments with 10 or more workers was approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, paving the way for its …