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Recently, the European Union (EU) imposed sanctions against Belarus, including banning its airlines from using the airspace and airports of the 27-nation bloc EU. Important points: Europe’s longest-serving ruler, President of Belarus Lukashenko took office in 1994 amid the chaos caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Often described as Europe’s “last dictator”, he has tried …

The Ministry of Women and Child Development will set up One Stop Centres (OSCs) across 10 countries to provide assistance to Indian women who are survivors of gender-based violence. The missions where the OSCs will come up are Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Canada and Singapore. It will also set …

The latest Draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation, 2021, for the creation of a Lakshadweep Development Authority (LDA) is widely resented by the people of Lakshadweep. Important points: It empowers the government, identified as the administrator, to constitute Planning and Development Authorities under it to plan the development of any area identified as having “bad layout …

Recently, the Central Government has appointed ‘Subodh Kumar Jaiswal’ as a new Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) The Director of the CBI is appointed as per section 4A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act of 1946. Important points: The CBI was set up in 1963 by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs. …

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered all encroachments to be removed from Gujarat’s Banni grasslands within six months. The court also said the Maldharis (Pastoralists) will continue to hold the right to conserve the community forests in the area, granted to them as per the provisions in Section 3 of Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. National Green Tribunal It …

India and Israel have signed “a three-year work program agreement” for development in agriculture cooperation. Important points: The programme aims to grow existing Centres of Excellence, establish new centers, increase CoE’s value chain, bring the Centres of Excellence into the self-sufficient mode, and encourage private sector companies and collaboration. Both countries are implementing the “INDO-ISRAEL Agricultural Project Centres of Excellence” and “INDO-ISRAEL Villages of Excellence”. …

Recently the 12th Annual Day of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) was observed on 20th May. Important points: Competition Commission of India is a statutory body responsible for enforcing the objectives of the Competition Act, 2002. CCI was established by the Central Government with effect from 14th October 2003, but it became fully functional on 20th May, 2009. A Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government. The CCI was …

Recently, two US officials have shown symptoms of a mystery illness that is linked to Havana Syndrome. In 2020, a report by the National Academies of Sciences (NAS), US found directed microwave radiation to be the plausible cause of the Havana syndrome. Increasing number of cases is being considered a mass psychogenic illness. Mass psychogenic illness is when people in a group start feeling …

Recently, Lithuania quit China’s 17+1 cooperation forum with central and eastern Europe, by calling it “divisive”, now it is 16+1. Lithuania (Baltic Country) urged other EU (European Union) members to pursue “a much more effective 27+1 approach and communication with China.” Important points: The 17+1 (China and Central and Eastern Europe Countries) initiative is a China-led format founded in 2012 in Budapest with an aim to expand cooperation between Beijing and …

Recently, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) released its Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Roadmap – named ‘Net Zero by 2050’. It is the World’s first comprehensive energy roadmap which comes ahead of the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 climate change convention in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021. ‘Net zero emissions’ refers to achieving an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions …

Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has sent a notice to WhatsApp asking it to withdraw a controversial update to its privacy policy which might be a threat to Data Protection of Indians. Important points: According to WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy, users would no longer be able to stop the app from sharing data (such as …

In view of Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will give transgender persons a one-time financial assistance of Rs. 1,500. Important points: Immediate subsistence assistance to trans persons would be given through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), for which beneficiaries can register with the National Institute of Social Defence. NISD is an Autonomous Body and is registered under Societies …

Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) approved India’s first self-use Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for Covid-19 named as CoviSelf. It is developed by MyLab Discovery Solutions, a Pune-based molecular company. ICMR is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, and is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. Important …

Recently, India and Oman renewed the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on military cooperation as well as on maritime security. Important points: The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India and an important speaker at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab League and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) fora. India is a member of IORA but not a member of GCC and Arab …

Recently, China has completed construction of a strategically significant highway enabling greater access to remote areas along the disputed border with Arunachal Pradesh in India. Important points: The construction began in 2014 and is part of a wider infrastructure push in border areas in Tibet. The highway passes through the Grand Canyon of the Brahmaputra river (Yarlung Zangbo in …

The Union Government has integrated the E-Way Bill (EWB) system with FasTag and RFID. Important points: E-Way Bill is usually a unique bill number generated for the specific consignment involving the movement of goods. Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, EWBs are mandatory for inter-state transportation of goods valued over Rs. 50,000 from …

Setting up of 22 new regional AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) has been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) so far. Important points: PMSSY was announced in 2003 with objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in …

The effectiveness of the Social Security Code (SS Code) 2020 in helping the informal workforce is questioned by many. With SS Code 2020, two other codes were passed which are Code on Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020 and Industrial Relations Code, 2020. The SS Code 2020 subsumes nine regulations relating to social security, retirement and …

Indian security agencies in the past two years checked the antecedents of more than 9,000 Indians who wanted to enrol for the US’ Global Entry Program. The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) is being used for antecedent verification. Important points: Global Entry is a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows speedy clearance for …

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the country has witnessed speed and progress in various schemes under the Ministry of Rural Development. Important points: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005: The scheme was introduced as a social measure that guarantees “the right to work”. The Ministry of Rural Development monitors the entire implementation …