GS2

Recently, Finland and Sweden have shown interest to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It has stayed out of such alliances because it always wanted to maintain cordial relations with its neighbour, Russia. For a long time, the idea of not joining NATO or getting too close to the West was a …

Recently, India has been unanimously elected as the new Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) for 2022-2024 at the recently held meeting of the Executive board and General Assembly at Manila, Philippines. The newly added members to the Executive board include Russia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Taiwan and Philippines. It …

The Supreme Court (SC) has stayed proceedings in various High Courts on petitions challenging the efficacy of the regulatory frameworks for social media and Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. These regulatory frameworks are established by the Information Technology Rules 2021 and the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules 2021. This comes after the central government requested …

Recently, the Delhi High Court delivered a split verdict in a batch of petitions challenging the exception provided to marital rape in the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In case of a split verdict, the case is heard by a larger Bench. The larger Bench to which a split verdict goes can be a three-judge Bench …

The Supreme Court collegium has made recommendations to five new Chief Justices of high courts. It is the system of appointment and transfer of judges that has evolved through judgments of the Supreme Court (SC) and not by an Act of Parliament or by a provision of the Constitution. It declared that the “primacy” of the CJI’s (Chief …

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has organised the 6th Edition of the monthly ‘Webinar with Universities’ series on ‘Igniting Young Minds, Rejuvenating Rivers’. The theme for the webinar was ‘Waste Water Management.’ The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is implemented by the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga …

Recently, the Ministry of Finance has revised the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme(MPLADS) rules, where the interest that the fund accrues will be deposited in the Consolidated Fund of India. So far, the interest accrued on the fund used to be added to the MPLADS account and could be used …

Recently, the National Report of the 2nd phase of fifth round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) was released. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India. It comprises detailed information on key domains of population, health and family welfare and …

Recently, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution revised the PMKGAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana) allocation of rice and wheat for all the 36 states/UTs for the remaining five months — from May to September 2022. PMGKAY is a part of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package …

Recently, an annual report named Global Report on Food Crises 2022 was launched by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC). The report is the flagship publication of the GNAFC and is facilitated by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN). It was Founded by the European Union, FAO and WFP …

Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has asked states to speed up implementation of the Unique Disability ID (UDID) scheme for Persons With Disabilities (PwD) in the 75 districts. The Rural Development Ministry has selected the UDID programme as a part of its 90-day campaign in districts “selected …

Recently, the Prime Minister of India held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland. At the meetings, a discussion was made regarding ways to further deepen bilateral ties and views were exchanged on regional and global developments. The meeting was organized on …

On the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) (3rd May), the 20th edition of the World Press Freedom Index was published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). India ranked 150th among the 180 countries. Highlights of the World Press Freedom Day The day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993, …

Centre is considering the Himachal Pradesh’ government’s request for inclusion of the Hatti community in the list of Scheduled Tribes in the state. The community has been making the demand since 1967, when tribal status was accorded to people living in the Jaunsar Bawar area of Uttarakhand, which shares a …

Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0), has launched the ‘National Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Framework for Garbage Free Cities’ to strengthen the ongoing jan andolan for ‘Garbage Free Cities’. National Behaviour Change Communication Framework The BCC Framework for Garbage Free Cities shall serve as a guiding document and blueprint for …

Recently, the Supreme Court gave two months to high courts and states to implement a set of guidelines meant to streamline inadequacies and deficiencies in criminal trials. These guidelines are referred to as Draft Rules of Criminal Practice, 2020. The Draft Rules recommends reforms in investigation and trial, including proposals …

Recently, the Ministry of Education has released the “mandate document” for a National Curriculum Framework under the new National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. The mandate document is envisaged to bring about a paradigm shift with focus on holistic development of children, emphasis on skilling, vital role of teachers, learning in …

Recently, the High Court of Bombay noted that arguable issues have been raised in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the “lifetime status of the rank of Cabinet minister” according to Pratap Singh Rane, a six-time Chief Minister of Goa and a legislator for a full 50 years. The PIL …

Recently, the UK Prime Minister (PM) visited India. In this visit, both the countries agreed on a joint statement titled ‘Towards shared security and prosperity through national resilience’. Highlights of the Visit Respecting India-Russia Relations: In the context of Ukraine Crisis and India’s neutral stance, UK PM asserted that India’s …

Recently, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended for the second year in the row to put India on a list (Countries of Particular Concern or CPCs) for the worst violations of religious freedoms in 2021. Earlier, the US State Department released a strong and critical report …