GS2

GS-2 4. NORTH EAST VENTURE FUND (NEVF) IMPORTANT POINTS: It is the first and the only dedicated Venture Fund for the North Eastern Region. The Venture Fund Scheme launched by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) intended to promote growth of business ventures and skill development in …

GS-2  1.PRIME MINISTER’S NATIONAL RELIEF FUND (PMNRF) PM approves an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to hospital fire in Maharashtra. ABOUT PMNRF: PMNRF was established in 1948 by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. The initial purpose …

GS-2 5.JAPAN PROVIDES LOAN TO INDIA India and Japan signed an agreement for a loan of up to 50 billion yen (about Rs.3,550 crore) to back India’s economic support programmesfor the poor and vulnerable affected by the Covid-19 crisis. ABOUT THE LOAN: It is a part of Japan’s Official Development …

GS-2 3.DEMAND FOR AUTONOMY IN ASSAM There has been a demand for implementation of Article 244A for the creation of an autonomous State within Assam BACKGROUND: The appeal to the Centre has been for the creation of an autonomous State for the KarbiAnglong region. The districts are currently governed by …

GS-2 2.INDIA-MONGOLIA RELATIONS Recently, India and Mongolia have reviewed bilateral cooperation in hydrocarbons and steel sectors. IMPORTANT POINTS: India reiterated its commitment to timely completion of the Mongol Refinery Project, the country’s 1 oil refinery. The greenfield Mongol Refinery Project is being built under a Line of Credit from the …

GS-2 1.SEVENTH TRADE POLICY REVIEW OF INDIA AT THE WTO Recently, the final session of India’s seventh Trade Policy Review (TPR) concluded at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. APPRECIATION FOR INDIA: Introduction of Goods & Services Tax in 2016. India’s efforts in the implementation of WTO’s Trade …

GS-2 5.WORLD FOOD PRICE INDEX The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index averaged 107.5 points in December 2020, up 2.3 points from November 2020. This marks the seventh month of consecutive increase. ABOUT THE INDEX: It was introduced in 1996as a public good to help in monitoring developments …

GS-2 4.SCHEME FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairshas approved the proposal of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)for CentralSector Scheme for Industrial Development of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). DPIIT comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. CENTRAL SECTOR …

GS-2  3. HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT Recently, the Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife (SC-NBWL)in its 60 meeting has approved the advisory for management of Human-Wildlife Conflict(HWC)in the country. THE ADVISORY: In the meeting approval was given for including Caracal, a medium sized wildcat into the list of critically endangered species …

GS-2 2.SPECTRUM AUCTIONS Bidding for the sixth round of spectrum auction for radio waves worth Rs. 3.92 lakh crore will start from 1st March 2020. ABOUT THE SPECTRUM AUCTIONS: The long-awaited spectrum auction is being held after a gap of four years and over two years after the Telecom Regulatory …

GS-2 1.USTR Recently, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)has said thatthe Digital services taxes adopted by India, Italy and Turkey discriminate againstUS companies and are inconsistent with international tax principles. THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE (USTR): It is responsible for developing and coordinating US …

GS-2 2.LONGITUDINAL AGEING STUDY OF INDIA Recently, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has released the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Wave-1 Report on the virtual platform. ABOUT LASI: It is a full scale national survey of scientific investigation of the health, economic, and social determinants and consequences of population ageing in India. It …

GS-2 2.SOLIDARITY AND STABILITY DEAL Recently, Gulf states signed a ‘solidarity and stability’ deal at the 41 Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit held in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. SANCTION S ON QATAR: In June 2017, Saudi Arabia and its allies, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt severed ties …

GS-2 1.JUDICIAL REVIEW Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) refused to treat the Central Vista project as a unique one requiring greater or heightened judicial review. JUDICIAL REVIEW: It is a type of court proceeding in which a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public …

GS-2 2. INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED DNA VACCINE CANDIDATE DBT-BIRAC supported indigenously developed DNA Vaccine Candidate by ZydusCadila, approved for Phase III clinical trials. IMPORTANT POINTS: India’s first indigenously developed DNA vaccine candidate against COVID-19, ZyCoV-D, by ZydusCadila has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), for the conduct …

GS-2 5.INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF SECURITIES COMMISSIONS (IOSCO): The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has become an Associate Member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). IFSC IN INDIA: The first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in the country has been set up at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City …

GS-2 4.CHINA AMENDS DEFENCE LAW TO BOOST WAR PREPAREDNESS: China’s National Defence Law has been amended. KEY CHANGES: Gives the Central Military Commission (CMC) greater power in mobilising resources to protect a new and broader definition of what constitutes the national interest. Experts say the phrase “development interests” included the …

GS-2 4. CLEAR CONNECTION The termination charge for wireless to wireless domestic calls has been zeroed from January 1, 2021 onwards. Until now operators paid Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) of 6 paise per minute on mobile calls. INTERCONNECTION USAGE CHARGES: Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) is a charge paid by the …

GS-2 3. HEALTH MINISTRY PLANS COMMUNICATION STRATEGY The Union Ministry of Health has come up with an elaborate communication strategy to counter issues arising out of vaccine hesitancy, and ‘eagerness’ among the people. DETAILS: The strategy is structured to guide national, state and district level communication channels. The idea is …

GS-2 1. IFSCA BECOMES MEMBER OF IOSCO The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has become an Associate Member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). ABOUT IOSCO: The IOSCO is the international organization that brings together the world’s securities regulators, covering more than 95% of the world’s securities …