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According to a new clause in the adoption regulations, Indian diplomatic missions abroad will now be in charge of safeguarding adopted children whose parents move overseas with the child within two years of adoption. So far, Indian missions have had a role in inter-country adoption of Indian children limited to kids adopted by Non Resident Indians …

Indo-UK Naval Exercise, ‘Konkan 2021’ was recently held between INS Tabar and HMS Westminster in the English Channel. The English Channel is located between the Isle of Great Britain’s southern coast and France’s northern coast and separated from the North Sea on the north by the Strait of Dover. Important points: The Bilateral Konkan exercise is a naval exercise conducted between India …

Recently, India has decided to vaccinate Afghanistan returnees against Polio for free as a preventive measure against the Wild Polio Virus. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where polio is still Endemic. Important points: Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly viral infectious disease that affects the nervous system. There are three individual and …

Recently, a group of experts under the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concerns over the slow pace of reforms in the criminal justice system to ensure speedy justice. NHRC of India is an independent statutory body established on 12th October, 1993 as per provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, later amended …

India, in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), has launched a technology platform to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers who are operating across the world. The launch of the UNITE AWARE platform came as India assumed the Presidency of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the month of August. Important …

Recently, during BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) meet, India proposed that NDB’s (New Development Bank) scope be expanded to strengthen Social Infrastructure besides promoting industry. Social Infrastructure includes the construction and maintenance of facilities that support social services such as healthcare, education, and housing. India is the chair of the BRICS grouping for 2021. Important points: It …

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) has recommended to the government nine names for appointment as SC judges. The Collegium has for the first time, in one single resolution, recommended three women judges. It has thus sent a strong signal in favour of representation of women in the highest judiciary. Important …

Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) approximately 20.32 lakh Covid-19 tests and 7.08 lakh treatments were authorised from April 2020 to July 2021. Important points: It offers a sum insured of Rs.5 lakh per family for secondary care (which doesn’t involve a super specialist) as well as tertiary care (which involves a …

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs has said in the Lok Sabha that owing to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, Census 2021 and other Census-related field activities have been postponed until further orders. In India, a census is conducted every decade and Census 2021 will be the 16th national census of the country. Important points: The earliest …

Recently, the Taliban has seized Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, raising questions over the US and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) trained Afghan Forces. The Taliban have proclaimed that there will be no witch hunt, that it will respect a transitional process, and that it will work for a future Islamic system that is …

Recently, India and Saudi Arabia started their first-ever Naval joint exercise called the Al-Mohed Al-Hindi Exercise. The decision on this Bilateral exercise was taken in the Riyadh Summit held in 2019. Important points: Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kochi is participating in the exercise. The exercise comprises several coastal and sea-based exercises between the two navies. INS Kochi is the second …

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has planned to set up 200 ‘Van Dhan’ producer companies in all the 27 states in the next five years with priority to the Aspirational Districts under the Van Dhan programme Aspirational Districts are those districts in India that are affected by poor socio-economic indicators. The Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ Programme (TADP) is being anchored by the NITI Aayog at …

Recently, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched the 2nd phase of the SAMVAD programme. The second phase was launched on the completion of one year of programme. The programme is aimed at mental health outreach for children who are abandoned and orphaned, child survivors of trafficking, or in conflict with law. Earlier, the government …

Recently, India organized the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) Tourism Ministers’ virtual meeting. India is the current IBSA Chair. Important points: The IBSA is a trilateral, developmental initiative between India, Brazil and South Africa to promote South-South cooperation and exchange. The idea of South-South Cooperation (SSC) is not new. Its genesis can be traced …

Every year, International Youth Day is observed on 12th August to recognise and bring attention to the problems faced by the youth. National Youth Day is held every year on 12th January to observe the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Important points: In 1999, the United Nations decided to commemorate International Youth Day every year on this day. It was based …

Recently, Prime Minister (PM) of India participated in ‘Atmanirbhar Narishakti se Samvad’ and interacted with women Self Help Group (SHG) members promoted under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) Important points: The PM lauded the Self-Help Groups of women for their unprecedented services during the Covid-19 period. For example, women’s unparalleled contribution in making masks …

Recently, the Election Commission of India inaugurated the 11th Annual meeting of the Forum of the Election Management Bodies of SouthAsia (FEMBoSA) for the year 2021. Important points: Election Commission of Bhutan. The Election Commission of India handed over the chairmanship of FEMBoSA role to the Election Commission of Bhutan for 2021-22. A resolution was unanimously adopted by …

Recently, the Government of India introduced The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha which seeks to withdraw tax demands made using a 2012 retrospective legislation to tax the indirect transfer of Indian assets. The government has stressed the need to establish its sovereign right to taxation. Important points: Sovereignty, in political theory, means …

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs has informed in the Lok Sabha that according to some reports some Rohingya migrants are indulging in illegal activities. The response came on the queries about the current situation of Rohingya living illegally in various parts of the country. Rohingya The Rohingya people are a stateless, Indo-Aryan ethnic group who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar. They are described by the …

Recently, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted the first-ever presidential statement on maritime security. India, as the UNSC president for August 2021, noted the threats to maritime safety and security and called upon the members to consider implementing the 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. All the permanent members of UNSC (US, China, Russia, …