GS2

Recently, the first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Coordination Group (IMCG) at Secretary level was convened by India’s Foreign Secretary. The IMCG has been set up as a high-level mechanism towards mainstreaming of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy vision that sought to develop better relations with the country’s neighbours. IMCG is supported by inter-ministerial Joint Task Forces (JTFs) convened by joint …

Recently, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a plea seeking to simplify the legal process for child adoption in India. In 2021, Adoption (First Amendment) Regulations, 2021 was notified which allowed Indian diplomatic missions abroad to be in charge of safeguarding adopted children whose parents move overseas with the child within two …

Recently, the NITI Aayog launched the State Energy and Climate Index (SECI). It is the first index that aims to track the efforts made by states and UTs in the climate and energy sector. The parameters of the index have been devised keeping in mind India’s goals for climate change and clean energy transition. Ranking the States based on …

Recently, the Supreme Court ordered the reconstitution of the Mullaperiyar dam’s supervisory committee. The committee will include one technical expert each from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the two States involved in the dispute concerning safety of the dam. The court has empowered the panel with functions and powers on par with that of the National Dam Safety Authority …

While addressing the National Judicial Conference on Mediation and Information Technology, the President advocated the concept of Mediation in the Judicial Process. Mediation is a voluntary, binding process in which an impartial and neutral mediator facilitates disputing parties in reaching a settlement. A mediator does not impose a solution but creates a conducive environment in which …

Recently, the Government of India provided that Hindi would be made compulsory up to Class 10 in the eight northeastern states. Hindi is described as “the language of India”. However, the move has been met with protests from various organisations in the Northeast. Also, several south Indian states have criticised the central government decision. …

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO), the World food price index averaged 159.3 points in March, breaking an earlier record of 137.6 points scaled 11 years ago in February 2011. Reasons of Global Food Price Surge The FAO index has exhibited huge volatility in the last two years through the Covid-19 pandemic and …

The Union government has extended the scheme to provide Rs.40 crore grants-in-aid to the Dalai Lama’s Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC) for another five years, up to fiscal year 2025-26. The scheme provides for an annual grant of Rs.8 crore to CTRC to meet the administrative expenses of Settlement Offices and social welfare expenses for …

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the constitutional validity of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act (FCRA), 2020. It held that receiving foreign donations cannot be an absolute right and can be regulated by the Parliament. In 2020, the Indian government had proposed amendments to the FCRA, which imposed new restrictions on how Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), individuals, and other organisations …

Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment informed that a total of 971 people lost their lives while cleaning sewers or septic tanks since 1993. Earlier, the Union Cabinet approved the extension of the tenure of the National Commission for SafaiKaramcharis (NCSK) for three years beyond 31st March, 2022. The major beneficiaries would be …

Recently, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has released draft guidelines on how the doctors will be registered in order to practise medicine. It aims to bring uniformity in the registration process of medical practitioners in India. Earlier, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has released an Approach Paper for the Draft National …

Recently, a 50-year-old woman in Mumbai, may have been infected with the newly-discovered ‘XE’ variant of the coronavirus. XE is a sub-variant of Omicron, which caused the third wave of Covid-19, which had not been found in India until now. So far, there is no indication that it is more dangerous than other variants. The Omicron variant, which is …

Every year 7th April marks the celebration of World Health Day. World Mental Health Day is observed on 10th October every year. Its idea was conceived at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and it came into effect in 1950. It is being celebrated today to mark the foundation of the World Health Organization (WHO) on 7th April 1948. Over the …

Recently, the Ministry of Rural Development has notified fresh wage rates under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for financial year 2022-23. The wage rates are notified under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005. The MGNREGA wage rates are fixed according to changes in the CPI-AL (Consumer Price Index-Agriculture Labour), …

Recently, the Government of India introduced in the Lok Sabha the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022. The bill envisages to prohibit financing of any activity in relation to WMD and to empower to act against financiers of such activities. The bill seeks to modify …

Recently, Scientists detected the presence of IgG antibodies against Nipah virus infection (NiV) in 51 bats that were captured from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Antibody, also called immunoglobulin, is a protective protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance, called an antigen. A wide range …

Recently, the Haryana Vidhan Sabha has passed a resolution seeking completion of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal. The canal, once completed, will enable sharing of the waters of the rivers Ravi and Beas between Haryana and Punjab. The Satluj Yamuna Link Canal is a proposed 214-kilometre-long canal connecting Sutlej and Yamuna rivers. Water resources …

Recently, the standing committee of Parliament has criticised the functioning of the development programme for de-notified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes. The committee noted that the Scheme for economic empowerment of Denotified Tribes (DNTs) communities has total outlays of Rs 200 crore for the period of five years from 2021-22 and the Department could not spend even a single …

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has launched the Broadcast Seva (BS) Portal. The portal is likely to help 900 satellite TV channels, 70 teleport operators, 1,700 MSOs, 350 Community Radio Stations (CRS) and 380 private FM channels, among others. It is a 360 degree digital solution that will facilitate stakeholders in seeking permissions, applying …

The Prime Minister of Nepal visited India and held a summit meeting with the Indian Prime Minister. Earlier, the Union Cabinet had cleared a plan to build a new bridge connecting India and Nepal over the Mahakaliriver and link Dharchula in Uttarakhand with Nepal’s Dharchula. Highlights: Launched the 35-km cross-border railway line linking Jaynagar in …