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Recently, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has completed 100 years. PAC is one of the three Financial Parliamentary committees, the other two are the Estimates Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings. Parliamentary committees draw their authority from Article 105 (on privileges of Parliament members) and Article 118 (on Parliament’s …

Recently, Rajya Sabha reserved its decision to allow the introduction of a Private Member’s Bill to amend the Preamble to the Constitution. The Bill seeks to change the words in the Preamble “EQUALITY of status and of opportunity” to “EQUALITY of status and of opportunity to be born, to be …

Recently, the Worldwide Cost of Living report has been released highlighting that Tel Aviv (Israel’s capital) is the world’s most expensive city to live in. . The report is compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). It compares the cost of living indices in different cities. Important points: The Israeli …

World AIDS Day is observed on 1st December every year all over the world to spread awareness about the disease and remember all those who lost their lives to it. Important points: It was founded in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and was the first ever global health …

Recently, India joined the G20 ‘Troika’ and with this India has started the procedure for taking over the G20 presidency next year. Important points: It refers to the top grouping within the G20 that consists of the current, previous and the incoming presidencies — Indonesia, Italy and India. As a …

Recently, the Lok Sabha has passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021. The bill has excluded live-in couples, single men and the LGBTQ community. Important points: The Government had been working on the bill to regulate the ART industry since 2008 when it was first drafted by the Indian …

Recently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched the first edition of the India Young Water Professional Programme. Its launch marks a significant milestone in Australia-India Water relationship. This Programme looks to prepare future water leaders. Important points: This program has been taken up under the National Hydrology Project. It …

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed amendments to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, which would enable it to launch a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), thus enhancing the scope of the definition of ‘bank note’ to include currency in digital form. The move has come …

Recently, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)-National Brain Research Centre (DBT-NBRC) has developed Project SWADESH, for managing Neurological disorders. NBRC is the only institute in India dedicated to Neuroscience Research and Education. Important points: It is the first large-scale multimodal neuroimaging database designed specifically for the Indian population with big-data architecture …

Recently, India’s Minister for Science & Technology chaired the 9th BRICS Science & Technology Ministers meeting. Earlier, the Prime Minister chaired the annual summit of the BRICS which was held virtually. 2021 is an important landmark year in BRICS Cooperation as the grouping completed 15 years. Important points: Global Innovation …

The World Health Organization has declared the recently-discovered B.1.1.529 strain of Covid-19, to be a variant of concern. The virus was first detected in Southern Africa and it is renamed Omicron. Important points: Omicron is placed in the most-troubling category of Covid-19 variants, along with the globally-dominant Delta plus its …

Recently, the latest data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2019-21) has been released. Earlier in 2020, the first-phase data of the NFHS-5 2019-20 was released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which provided data on various issues related to women in india. Important points: The share …

Recently, India and the United States have agreed for a transitional approach on equalisation levy or digital tax on e-commerce supplies beginning from 1st April, 2022. Earlier in January 2021 , the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) had said that the Digital services taxes adopted by India, …

Recently, the latest data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2019-21) has been released. The data shows a declining trend regarding Total Fertility Rate (TFR: the average number of children per woman). Important points: Total fertility rate (TFR) in simple terms refers to the total number of children born …

Recently, the Defence Minister of India addressed the 5th World Congress on Disaster Management (WCDM) held in New Delhi. At the congress the Defence Minister asserted that, time and again India has proved itself to be “first responder” in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The emerging concept of India as …

The 37th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (India-Indonesia CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy is being conducted. Important points: It will witness participation of Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both Nations. It highlights the mutual trust, synergy and cooperation between the two friendly Navies. To reinforce maritime links, …

The 15th edition of the biennial trilateral coast guard exercise ‘Dosti’ involving India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka is underway in the Maldives, which will conclude today. The year 2021 marks 30 years since these exercises were first launched. Important points: The exercise was first initiated in 1991, between the …

Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the extension for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY-Phase V) for a period of another 4 months i.e. December 2021 till March 2022. Important points: PMGKAY is a part of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to help the poor fight the …

Recently, the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (Meity) inaugurated a 3-day workshop titled ‘Aadhaar 2.0- Ushering the Next Era of Digital Identity and Smart Governance’. The Workshop aims to analyze the reach of Digital Identity in major reforms and schemes launched by the Government. It also aims to look …

According to the recently released Global Nutrition Report (GNR, 2021), India has made no progress on anaemia and childhood wasting. Important points: At the current rate of progress, the global nutrition targets will not be achieved by 2025 globally and in most countries worldwide. There is substantial variation in data …