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Central Government has constituted three expert committees to review the existing rules and regulations on safety, health and working conditions standards, pertaining to factories, docks and construction work. Important points: One committee will look into the safety parameters of industries, docks and ports while the other two committees have been …

The U.S. and Iran said that they would begin negotiations through intermediaries next week to try to get both countries back into an accord limiting Iran’s nuclear programme, nearly three years after President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal. Important points: The announcement marked the first major …

The failure of the health system to cope with COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increase in maternal deaths and stillbirths, according to a study published in The Lancet Global Health journal. Important points: Overall, there was a 28% increase in the odds of stillbirth, and the risk of mothers dying …

Union Education Minister launches “MyNEP2020” platform of NCTE Portal. The platform seeks to invite suggestions/inputs/membership from the stakeholders for preparing draft for the development of National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) and National Mission for Mentoring Program membership (NMM). The NCTE in its previous form was established in 1973 as …

Indian Army to participate in Exercise SHANTIR OGROSHENA, a multinational military exercise in Bangladesh. Multinational Military Exercise SHANTIR OGROSHENA 2021 (Front Runner of the Peace) will be held at Bangladesh to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangladesh ‘Father of the Nation’ Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The DOGRA Regiment will participate …

According to the National Election Watch (NEW) and Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), in the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, at least 1,157 out of 6,318 candidates have criminal cases against them. NEW is a nationwide campaign since 2002 comprising more than 1200 Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other citizen …

Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) delisted Ex-Telecom Minister A. Raja from the list of star campaigners. He has also been reprimanded for violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for making certain remarks during election times. Star Campaigners: A star campaigner is a celebrity vote seeker in an election for a party. This …

The demand for an autonomous state within Assam has been raised by some of the sections of the society in Assam under the provisions of Article 244A of the Constitution. Important points: In the 1950s, a demand for a separate hill state arose around certain sections of the tribal population of undivided Assam. After prolonged agitations, Meghalaya …

The India-Mauritius CECPA will enter into force on 01 April 2021. Important points:  India and Mauritius signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) on 22 February 2021. The CECPA is the first trade Agreement signed by India with a country in Africa. The India-Mauritius CECPA provides for an …

The Union Commerce and Industry Ministry announced extension of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) of Government of India. Important points: The present Policy which came into force on 1st April 2015, was for 5 years and was extended thereafter upto 31st March, 2021. In view of the persisting COVID-19 pandemic, …