Despite attempts to create an egalitarian and modern society, the caste system remains a prominent feature of Indian society. Historically, castes, which are often associated with certain occupations, were arranged in a hierarchy, with some castes considered superior to others and thus accorded more power and privileges than others. This system of social stratification and power relations has been a …
Read More »UN WATER CONFERENCE
The United Nations 2023 Water Conference held recently was the first such meeting in 46 years. What is the Water Conference? The UN 2023 Water Conference is formally known as the 2023 Conference for the Midterm Comprehensive Review of Implementation of the UN Decade for Action on Water and Sanitation (2018-2028). It was held …
Read More »EXERCISE SLINEX-23
The 10th edition of exercise SLINEX-23 is scheduled at Colombo. Key details: It is a bilateral maritime exercise between India-Sri Lanka. The exercise is being conducted in two phases: the Harbour Phase a Sea Phase. Indian Navy is being represented by INS Kiltan, an indigenous Kamorta class ASW corvette and INS Savitri, an Offshore Patrol Vessel. The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted …
Read More »CHINA’S CLAIM ON ARUNACHAL PRADESH
After the Chinese government released a list of “standardised” names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian authorities rejected the move “outright”. China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs put out names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh in Chinese, Tibetan and pinyin characters which includes: two land areas, two residential areas, five mountain peaks and two rivers. Is this the …
Read More »EXERCISE COPE INDIA
Continuing the military-to-military engagement, the Air Forces of India and the U.S. are set to conduct the Cope India exercise at the Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal, with Japan as an observer. The exercise will see intense air manoeuvres aimed at improving interoperability, a defence source said. The Japanese Air Self Defence Force …
Read More »THE TIME TO REPAIR THE ROOF IS WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING
Nothing lasts forever, neither the good times nor the bad times. Therefore, over centuries, numerous ancient texts and philosophers have advised people to prepare for the inevitable downturn, while enjoying the present upturn. For instance, Christine Lagarde, the former chief and managing director of the IMF and current president of the European Central …
Read More »KALA-AZAR
Context: Experimental work undertaken in mice has shown a novel quinoline derivative to be effective in sharply reducing the load of Leishmania donovaniin, also called kala-azar (black fever) both the spleen and liver of lab-grown mice. Key details: The quinoline derivative is a potent inhibitor of an enzyme called topoisomerase 1 (LdTop1), which is essential for …
Read More »COMPETITION (AMENDMENT) BILL
The lower house of Parliament passed the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which seeks to amend the Competition Act, 2002. The Bill seeks to amend the Competition Act, 2002, to regulate mergers and acquisitions based on the value of transactions. The Act prohibits any person or enterprise from entering into a combination which may cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition. Deals with transaction …
Read More »RARE DISEASES
All drugs and food for special medical purposes, imported for personal use for the treatment of all rare diseases listed under the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021, have been exempted from basic customs duty by the central government. The new duty exemption The exemption has been granted by the Central Board of …
Read More »VIBRANT VILLAGES PROGRAMME
The Government has approved Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) recently. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. Comprehensive development of villages of blocks on the northern border to improve the quality of life of people living in identified border villages. Development of essential infrastructure and creation of livelihood opportunities Time period: It is approved for the Financial Years 2022-23 to …
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