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v Recently, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has pitched for protective measures to preserve Ukraine’s endangered cultural heritage in light of Russia’s invasion over Ukraine. v To avoid deliberate or accidental damages, the agency is marking cultural sites and monuments in Ukraine with the distinctive “Blue Shield” emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention …

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently held a discussion on “protection of the basic human rights of refugees and asylum seekers in India”. Many participants raised the issue of India not having a specific law for refugees and asylum-seekers. The discussion noted that, though India has not signed the United Nations Refugee Convention, …

Recently, the government launched a nation-wide campaign called KanyaShikshaPraveshUtsav on the eve of the International Women’s Day (8th March). The aim of the campaign is to bring back four lakh out-of-school adolescent girls in the 11-14 years age group into the education system. The project aims to work on a complete system for out-of-school girls by building on …

According to the latest report from the V-Dem Institute at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg, the level of democracy enjoyed by the average global citizen in 2021 is down to 1989 levels, with the democratic gains of the post-Cold War period eroding rapidly in the last few years. The Report is titled ‘Democracy Report 2022: Autocratisation Changing …

Recently, on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2022, the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), launched a Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women -“SAMARTH” . Under the Samarth initiative of the Ministry, following benefits will be available to aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs: 20% Seats in free Skill Development Programs organised …

Recently, in its interim report, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Delimitation Commission has proposed significant changes to the electoral map of J&K. The delimitation exercise had started in June 2021 in the state. Previous Distribution of J&K Constituencies The erstwhile J&K State had an 87-member assembly, with 37 constituencies in the Jammu region and …

Recently, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)and Russia discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraineand its implications for security in Europe at the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) in Brussels. Talks between representatives of NATO and Russia concluded without a clear outcome. NRC was established at the NATO-Russia Summit in Rome (Rome Declaration) on 28 May 2002. It replaced …

Recently, the fourth meeting of the foreign ministers of the QUAD grouping (India, the US, Australia and Japan) was held in Melbourne , Australia. The meeting was held amid escalating tension between Russia and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)countries over Ukraine, the Afghan crisis and increasing concerns over China’s “coercion” in the Indo-Pacific region. It is the grouping of four democracies –India, Australia, …

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has proposed a guaranteed return scheme, Minimum Assured Return Scheme (MARS), which will provide savers and people from the salaried class an option for their investments. This will be the first scheme from the pension regulator that will offer a guaranteed return to investors. India’s pension assets under …

The evacuation of thousands of Indian students in Ukraine (Operation Ganga) is the most immediate impact of Russia’s war over Ukraine on India. However, the Russia-Ukraine conflict will have long-term implications too. For example, negotiating its relationships with the United States and other Western nations on one side, and the historically deep and strategic ties with Russia on the other. This will …

Recently, Ukraine has filed an application before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), instituting proceedings against Russia. Ukraine has accused Russia of falsely claiming that “acts of genocide have occurred in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts of Ukraine”, and of using that as a pretext to recognise the independence of these regions and of going to war …

Recently, a Joint Military Exercise, “Exercise Dharma Guardian-2022”, between India and Japan will be conducted at foreign training node, Belagavi (Belgaum, Karnataka) from 27th February to 10th March 2022. Exercise Dharma Guardian-2022 is an annual training event which is being conducted in India since 2018. The scope of this exercise covers platoon level joint training on operations in …

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), under the aegis of Department of Pharmaceuticals is going to celebrate their 4th Jan AushadhiDiwas All the activities will be organised within the spirit of “AzadiKaAmritMahotsav” and several events have been planned at 75 locations. This will generate awareness about the usages of generic medicines and benefits of Jan AushadhiPariyojana. The theme …

Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the countrywide implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) with the budgetary allocation of Rs 1,600 crore for five years. Under the mission, citizens will be able to create their Ayushman Bharat health account numbers, to which their digital health records can be linked. Ayushman Bharat is …

Recently, the Government has approved the continuation of the Immigration Visa Foreigners Registration Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme for a period till 31st March 2026 with a financial outlay of Rs.1,364.88 crore. It seeks to interlink and optimise functions relating to immigration, visa issuance, registration of foreigners and tracking of their movements in the country. Its core objective is modernisation and …

The MInistry of Social Justice and Empowerment will distribute 4,800 daily living aids and assistive devices among 895 senior citizen beneficiaries under RashtriyaVayoshriYojana (RVY). It was launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It is a central sector scheme funded from the Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund. The fund was notified …

Every year, 27th February is observed as the World NGO day all over the world. India has over three million Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) that work across a range of arenas and play important roles of facilitator, catalyst or partner in bringing social transformation. What is the History of World NGO Day? The day assumed its official status when 12-member …

Recently, the United Nation Security Council voted on the draft resolution by the US and Albania that sought to condemn Russian aggression and called for the immediate cessation of violence and withdrawal of Russian military from Ukraine. The Council’s resolution reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. …

The Indian Navy’s multilateral Exercise MILAN 2022 is scheduled to commence from 25th Feb 2022 in the ‘City of Destiny’, Visakhapatnam. 2020 edition of MILAN was postponed to 2022 due to Covid-19. MILAN 22: MILAN 22 will witness its largest ever participation, with more than 40 countries sending their warships/ high level delegations. This …

The Ministry of Education launched a campaign ‘Bhasha Certificate Selfie under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB). In 2021, the Ministry of Education launched the BhashaSangam initiative under EBSB. Key Points It was launched to encourage cultural diversity and promote multilingualism and to foster the spirit EBSB. It aims to promote the BhashaSangam mobile app, developed by the Ministry of …