GS-III

Global trade war sends stocks into a free fall

Sensex drops 500 points intraday A combination of global and domestic factors affected investor sentiment on Monday with the benchmark indices registering their biggest single-day fall in almost six months. While renewed concerns over an escalation of trade war between the U.S. and China pulled down global markets, the domestic …

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India may overtake China in farmed shrimp production

‘Many producers planning to expand capacity’ India is set gain the top slot in farmed shrimp production, overtaking China in 2019-20, said Ravi Kumar Yellanki, president, Society of Aquaculture Professionals. “We have already overtaken China in shrimp exports last year but are on par with regard to farmed shrimp production. …

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RBI intervenes as rupee breaches 72.5 to dollar

Currency among worst performers in emerging markets; widening current account deficit weighs, more rate hikes may be on the cards The rupee breached 72.5 a dollar on Monday and touched all-time low of 72.67 intraday as the current account deficit widened to five- year high in the first quarter of …

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Fuel prices continue the upward march

The state-owned oil marketing companies again increased the price of petroleum products such as petrol and diesel in the country on Monday, with Mumbai paying the highest among the four major metros. Petrol costs Rs. 88.12 a litre and diesel Rs. 77.32 in the city, according to the daily price …

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Tejas clears maiden mid-air re-fuelling trial

The first ever mid-air refuelling of the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas was successfully carried out Monday, placing India in an elite group of countries which have developed the air-to-air refuelling system for military aircraft. With this first trial, the aircraft gets much closer to the important battle-ready …

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Extend NRC to all States and seal border: Sonowal

‘What happens if illegal immigrants shift to another State?’ Defending the National Register of Citizens exercise, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday recommended such an exercise in all States. “The unabated influx from Bangladesh cannot be seen as a standalone problem of Assam. Assam accounts for just a fraction …

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Coffee Board to discuss flood impact on growers

Stresses need for special package for rain-affected crops A high-level meeting will be held on Monday at the Coffee Board to discuss the impact of the floods on coffee-growers, a majority of whom are small cultivators. The meeting is likely to be attended by senior officials of the Union Commerce …

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Deja vu? But things seem better than in 2013

External developments need to be watched, though. Oil prices and exchange rate volatility can sting beyond endurance Those with a long memory must be consumed by a sense of deja vu over developments in the past few weeks. In many ways, the present turbulent times are reminiscent of what happened …

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RTI disclosure irks J&J subsidiary

Case relates to faulty hip implants A Johnson & Johnson subsidiary caught in a controversy over faulty hip replacement systems has opposed RTI disclosure of crucial documents it submitted to the country’s drug regulator for seeking import clearance for these devices, the CIC has said. The commission, however, said it …

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Trial by WhatsApp in Jharkhand riles SC

Court frames charges via messaging app Popular among users for its ease and speed, instant messaging service WhatsApp caused raised eyebrows in the Supreme Court this week when it was informed that a criminal case was conducted via the service. The case, involving a former Jharkhand minister Yogendra Sao and …

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IAF prepares to induct Rafale jets

Pilots being sent to France again for training; Rs. 400 crore sanctioned for readying bases Though the Rafale jet deal has been caught in a political firestorm, the Indian Air Force is quietly readying infrastructure for the new fleet and training its fighter pilots to fly the aircraft. Official sources …

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