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Recently, the Supreme Court has released the Draft Model Rules for Live-Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings. The Rules are part of the National Policy and Action Plan for implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the judiciary. The Rules would cover live-streaming and recording of proceedings in High …

Recently, the Interpol has launched a new global database named “I-Familia” to identify missing persons through family DNA and help the police solve cold cases in member countries. Important points: The first of its kind, I-Familia is a global database for identifying missing persons based on international DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) kinship matching. The database seeks to identify missing persons or …

Recently, the Union Minister of Panchayati Raj released a Model Panchayat Citizens Charter. Important points: It is prepared by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) in collaboration with National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR). NIRDPR is an autonomous organisation under the Union Ministry of Rural Development. It has been developed for the delivery of the services …

Recently, the Finance Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations reached a landmark accord setting a Global Minimum Corporate Tax Rate (GMCTR). The agreement could form the basis of a worldwide deal. It will now be discussed in detail at a meeting of G20 financial ministers and central bank governors in July 2021. G7 also agreed …

Recently, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) informed the United Nations (UN) that in 17 cases chemical weapons were likely or definitely used by Syria. OPCW was formed under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) 1997. Important points: A Chemical Weapon is a chemical used to cause intentional death or harm through its toxic properties. Munitions, devices and other …

Recently, the US suspended imposition of retaliatory tariffs against six countries, including India, that had begun imposing digital services tax on companies such as Google and Facebook. Other than India, the countries slapped with this tariff proposal are Austria, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Background: Tariffs were imposed after the office of the United …

The Union Education Minister has approved the release of Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2019-20 for States and Union Territories. The PGI is a tool to provide insights on the status of school education in States and UTs including key levers that drive their performance and critical areas for improvement. Important points: The PGI for …

Recently, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has released the World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends (WESO) report 2021.   Important points: It has pushed over 100 million more workers into poverty worldwide. The world would be 75 million jobs short at the end of this year compared to if the pandemic had not occurred. Relative to 2019, an …

India has placed an advance order to block 300 million doses of a new Covid-19 vaccine, Corbevax. Important points: It is India’s indigenous Covid-19 vaccine which is currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials. It is a “recombinant protein sub-unit” vaccine. It means it is made up of a specific part of SARS-CoV-2 – the spike protein on the virus’s surface. The spike protein allows …

Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment virtually launched the SAGE (Seniorcare Aging Growth Engine) initiative and SAGE portal for elderly persons. An amount of Rs. 100 crore has been assigned for the promotion of the silver economy. Silver economy is the system of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services aimed at using the purchasing potential of older and ageing …