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The Department of Science and Technology has released a report titled ‘The Report Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation Planning in India Using a Common Framework’. Important points: It identifies the most vulnerable states and districts in India with respect to current climate risk and key drivers of vulnerability. It aids …

British authorities are exploring the possibility of creating a Central Bank Digital Currency, being touted as “Britcoin.” It is a step towards future proofing Pound Sterling (currency of the United Kingdom) against cryptocurrencies and improving the payments system. Important points: In the wake of declining cash payments in the country …

The Department of Science and Technology recently launched the National Climate Vulnerability Report. According to the report, eight Eastern States in the country are highly vulnerable to climate change. They are Mizoram, Bihar, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Assam. Key Findings of the report The report has …

The two biggest polluters of the world China and US have agreed to work together in tackling climate change issues. They recently issued a joint statement that they will work together to uphold Paris Agreement. The announcement comes days before the Earth Day Leaders Summit. The announcement was made after …

The Tiki Formation in Madhya Pradesh, a treasure trove of vertebrate fossils, has now yielded a new species and two genera of cynodonts, small rat-like animals that lived about 220 million years ago. Important points: The researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, used scanning electron microscopy to study …

Skygazers watched a rare celestial event when the moon came between Earth and Mars. The phenomenon is known as occultation. Important points: An occultation is an event that occurs when one object is hidden by another object that passes between it and the observer. The term is often used in …

China has asked Japan to take back its decision to release more than 1 million tonnes of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. Important points: The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is a disabled nuclear power plant located on a 3.5-square-kilometre site in the towns of …

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted an eight-member National Task Force (NTF) to combat air pollution and monitor remedial steps to improve air quality. Important points: Composition: Senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs, Petroleum, Transport, Power, Agriculture, Health …

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched a Global Diabetes Compact to better fight the disease while marking the centenary of the discovery of insulin. The programme was launched at the Global Diabetes Summit co-hosted by the Government of Canada. Important points: The Global Diabetes Compact has the vision of reducing …

The team of researchers from Purdue University have created an ultra-white paint. The newer paint is whiter and keeps the surface areas it is painted on cooler and thus can act as a breakthrough in combating the woes of global warming. Important points: The new ultrawhite white paint reflects 99% …

Recently, the UK’s Home Department has approved the extradition of Nirav Modi, a diamond merchant to India in connection with the Rs. 13,758-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud. India and the UK entered into an extradition treaty in 1992. Important points: Extradition is the process by which one state, upon …

Recently, the Union government told the Bombay High Court that making FASTag mandatory for all vehicles does not breach a citizen’s fundamental right to freedom of movement in any way. A Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Court challenging the government’s decision to make FASTag, the electronic toll collection …

Recently, the United States (US) placed 11 countries, including India in the Currency Practices Monitoring List (Currency Manipulators Watch List). India was on the list in the December 2020 report as well. In 2019, the US Treasury Department had removed India from its currency manipulator watch list of major trading …

Recently, Odisha has released the final data on the dolphin census, indicating a spectacular growth in numbers. Important points: The population of dolphins in Chilika, India’s largest brackish water lake, and along the Odisha coast has doubled this year (2021) compared with last year. Three species were recorded during the …

Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has inaugurated three new initiatives/services of National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI). IP Guru, NIXI Academy, NIXI-IP-INDEX have been launched to facilitate adoption of IPv6 and create an environment to ensure smooth transition from IPv4 to IPv6. Important points: NIXI is …

Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the EatSmart Cities Challenge and Transport 4 All Challenge. The challenges aim at creating an environment of right food practices and habits and to make public transport safe, affordable, comfortable, and reliable. Important points: EatSmart Cities Challenge: The EatSmart Cities Challenge …

Recently, Singapore’s Foreign Minister while addressing the 6th edition of the Raisina Dialogue suggested India to reassess its stand on Regional Trading Agreements (RTA) such as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier conference on geopolitics and …

Recently, the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) flagship State of World Population Report 2021 titled ‘My Body is My Own’ was launched. This is the first time a United Nations report has focused on bodily autonomy, defined as the power and agency to make choices about your body without fear …

Sputnik V, the vaccine against Covid-19 developed by Russia, has been cleared for emergency use by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). It is now the third coronavirus vaccine to get emergency use approval, after Covishield (Serum Institute of India) and Covaxin (Bharat Biotech). Important Points About the Sputnik …

Researchers from IIT Guwahati have developed a technique to improve the performance of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which power most of the portable devices used today. Important Points The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was jointly awarded to Stanley Whittingham, John Goodenough and Akira Yoshino for work that led to the …