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GS-2 MUNICIPAL PERFORMANCE INDEX (MPI) 2020 Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs announced the release of the final rankings of Municipal Performance Index (MPI) 2020.  About: In the Million+ category, Indore has emerged as the highest ranked municipality, followed by Surat and Bhopal. In the Less than Million category, New …

GS-2 WORLD FOOD PRICE INDEX RISES IN FEBRUARY The World food prices have increased for the ninth consecutive month in February 2021. This increase is the at its highest level since July 2014. Highlights The Food and Agriculture Organisation stated that the food prices have increased because of jumps in …

GS-2 INDIA’S PERFORMANCE IN QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS The eleventh edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject was released on March 4, 2021. The report was compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The ranking provided the independent comparative analysis regarding the performance of 14,435 individual university programme. As per …

GS-2 NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (NHRC) NHRC of India is an independent statutory body established on 12 October, 1993 as per provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, later amended in 2006. NHRC has celebrated its Silver Jubilee (25 years) on October 12, 2018. Its headquarter is located in New Delhi. …

GS-2 CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS DUE TO COVID IMPACTED 247 MN CHILDREN IN INDIA: UNICEF  As many as 1.5 million schools remained shut during 2020 due to the pandemic and lockdowns, impacting 247 million children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in India, according to data released by UNICEF. Report: Online education is not an …

GS-2 FIELD TRIALS FOR CENSUS-NPR TO BEGIN SOON  The Registrar-General of India (RGI) is preparing to conduct field trials of the first phase of the Census and the National Population Register (NPR) using a mobile application in all the States and Union Territories. First phase: The first phase involving house listing and housing …

GS-2 FREEDOM IN THE WORLD 2021: DEMOCRACY UNDER SIEGE: The government in India and its State-level allies continued to crack down on critics during the year. Freedoms in India have reduced, according to a report from a U.S. thinktank, Freedom House, resulting in India being classified as ‘partly free’. The ruling Hindu nationalist …

GS-2 WHO’S FIRST WORLD REPORT ON HEARING The World Health Organization (WHO) has published the first world report on hearing on World Hearing Day which was observed on March 3, 2021. In the new report, the WHO has highlighted that, one in every four individuals across the world will be …

GS-2 EXERCISE DESERT FLAG-VI: UAE For the first time, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in the Exercise Desert Flag-VI, hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force. Ex Desert Flag is an annual multinational large force employment warfare exercise hosted by the UAE Air Force. Aim:  To provide operational exposure to the participating forces while …

GS-2 INDIA-EU RELATIONS What is the European Union? The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union between 27 European countries. The EU’s predecessor is the then European Economic Community, created in 1958 to increase economic cooperation between 6 countries – Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Since …

GS-2 INDIA SRI LANKA RELATIONS Background of India Sri Lanka Relations India has ancient links with Sri Lanka since the rule of Emperor Ashoka. The relationship between the two countries has built upon a legacy of: Intellectual Intercourse Cultural Intercourse Religious Intercourse and Linguistic Intercourse. In recent years, the relationship has been …

GS-2 RASHTRIYA UCHCHATAR SHIKSHA ABHIYAN (RUSA) Union Education Minister chairs a review meeting on RashtriyaUcchatar Shiksha Abhiyan. The RashtriyaUchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA): It is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2013. It aims to provide strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions. The central funding (in the ratio of …

GS-2 JANAUSHADHI DIWAS 2021 Celebrations of the 3rd JanaushadhiDiwas 2021 kicks off. Important points: JanaushadhiDiwas is observed on March 7 all over the country. The week-long celebrations such as health camps, interactions and rallies have started, especially in the Jan Aushadhi Centres. JanaushadhiDiwas 2021 theme: “Sevabhi – Rozgar bhi”. Janaushadhi …

GS-2 INDIA’S HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO MADAGASCAR India is sending a consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes of rice and one lakh tablets of HCQ to Madagascar. This is in response to the urgent appeal made by Madagascar for international solidarity and assistance to deal with the humanitarian crisis in South of …

GS-2 SUGAMYA BHARAT APP Union Minister for Social justice and Empowerment will virtually launch “Sugamya Bharat App” Important points: The App has been developed by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Sugamya Bharat APP — a Crowdsourcing Mobile Application is …

GS-2 PAKISTAN-SRI LANKA AND INDIA  RELATIONS Recently, Pakistan’s Prime Minister visited Sri Lanka. It is the first Pakistani PM visit to Sri Lanka since 2016 and first visit by any head of government to Sri Lanka since the Covid-19 pandemic began.     Important points: Sri Lanka-Pakistan Relationship (Background): Sri …

GS-2 SAME SEX MARRIAGE Recently, the Central Government opposed same-sex marriage in Delhi High Court stating that a marriage in India can be recognised only if it is between a “biological man” and a “biological woman” capable of producing children. Background: Petitions, seeking recognition of same sex marriages under the …

GS-2 INDIA-CHINA HOTLINE Recently, India and China announced that both have agreed to establish a Hotline.     Hotline: The decision to install a Hotline between the two countries was taken over a telephonic meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister and China’s Foreign Affairs Minister. Hotline is a direct telephone …

GS-2 E-DAAKHIL PORTAL E-Daakhil portal for consumer grievance redressal is operational in 15 States/UTs. What is E-Daakhil Portal? It is a portal for e-filing of consumer complaints with the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) and other consumer commissions. It was launched by the NCDRC in September 2020 with Delhi …

GS-2 PRESIDENT’S RULE IN PUDUCHERRY President’s Rule has been imposed in the Union Territory of Puducherry, on the recommendation of the Lieutenant Governor, after the established government lost power during a vote of confidence. The President was satisfied that a situation had arisen in which the administration of the Union …