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The Ministry of Education has approved the proposal to provide monetary assistance to students through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of the cooking cost component of the Mid-Day-Meal (MDM) Scheme, to all eligible children. Important points: With schools closed for months due to Covid-19, this move will give a fillip to the Midday Meal programme. This …

Recently, the 43rd Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting was held. This was the first meeting of the GST Council in the financial year 2021-22. The council’s last meeting was held in October 2020. GST Council It is a constitutional body (Article 279A) for making recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related …

Recently, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare virtually participated in a meeting with Ministers of Health of the NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) Countries. Important points: Despite its own needs, during the Covid-19 pandemic, India ensured supply of medicines to 123 partner countries including 59 NAM nations. Universal health coverage is defined as ensuring that all people …

Recently, the Karnataka government has decided to challenge before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) its decision to appoint a joint committee. The joint committee is supposed to look into allegations of unauthorised construction activity taking place in Mekedatu where Karnataka had proposed to construct a dam across the Cauvery. Mekedatu, meaning goat’s leap, is a deep gorge situated at the …

Recently, the Ministry of Ayush launched its Ayush Clinical Case Repository (ACCR) portal and the third version of Ayush Sanjivani App in a virtual event. Important points It is conceptualized and developed by the Ministry of Ayush as a platform to support both Ayush practitioners and the public. It welcomes Ayush practitioners from all over the world to enrol and share information about …

Member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are calling on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to set up a permanent commission to report on human rights violations in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. The move comes in the wake of the latest surge in violence in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Important …

Recently, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) announced that Assets Under Management (AUM) under the National Pension System (NPS) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY), crossed the milestone of Rs. 6 trillion. AUM is the total market value of the investments that a person or entity handles on behalf of investors. Important points: National Pension System: The Central …

The Uttarakhand High Court has reprimanded the State government for stopping some Van Gujjar families on the way to Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and said their right to life is being violated by the authorities. Important points: The Van Gujjars pursue seasonal migration from the Terai-Bhabar and Siwalik region of Uttarakhand to the higher bugyals in the Western …

The Supreme Court of India (SC) has directed the Central Government and the State Governments to complete the registration process of unorganized workers so that they can avail the welfare benefits given under various government schemes. Important points: It has asked states and Union territories to keep a record of the returning migrant labourers, including details …

Recently, messaging platform WhatsApp has moved the Delhi High Court to challenge the traceability provision in the New IT Rules 2021 Earlier the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) had 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 …