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EXPANDING THE NORMS FOR INCENTIVES AND EXPORT

The Centre has expanded the norms for incentives and export obligations under the Foreign Trade policy to cover foreign trade transactions settled in rupees, the Commerce Ministry said on Wednesday. In July, the RBI and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade had carried out amendments in the Foreign Trade policy …

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GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION IN INDIA

Groundwater extraction in India saw an 18-year decline, according to an assessment by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) made public on Wednesday. The total annual groundwater recharge for the entire country is 437.6 billion cubic metres (bcm) and annual groundwater extraction for the entire country is 239.16 bcm, according …

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PASHMINA WOOL

Traders of universally prized Pashmina shawls are complaining that “obsolete testing methods” have resulted in many of their export consignments being flagged by Customs authorities for presence of Shahtoosh guard hair, which is obtained from endangered Tibetan antelopes. The traders claim the use of obsolete techniques such as “light microscopy” …

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50TH CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA

Justice Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud was sworn in as the 50th Chief Justice of India (CJI) by President DroupadiMurmu at a brief ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Wednesday. He took the oath in English and in the name of God, in the presence of Vice-President and Rajya …

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DELHI POLICE CONFERENCE

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) convened a conference in late October in the capital, which saw the participation of the Union Home Minister, a few State Home Ministers and police chiefs. West Bengal did not send its highest officials citing its preoccupation with pooja-related issues. The Delhi conference was …

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INDIA PARTICIPATES IN WORLD TRAVEL MARKET 2022 (WTM)

Secretary Tourism and High Commissioner of India to UK inaugurate the Indian Pavilion at WTM2022 India to be promoted as a multi product and around the year destination with sustainability at WTM Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is participating at World Travel Market (WTM) 2022 from 7th to 9th …

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MANGROVE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE (MAC) AT COP 27, EGYPT

MAC initiative brings the world together to advance the global cause of Mangroves. India’s extensive experience in mangrove restoration to contribute to global knowledge base. Integration of mangroves into the national REDD+ programs need of the hour. Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav spoke at …

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POCSO Act

On November 4, the Dharwad Bench of the Karnataka High Court, while dismissing a case filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, said the Law Commission of India would have to rethink the age criteria, to take into consideration the ground realities. A study noted that …

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THE SUPREME COURT ORDER VIEWS ON PF PENSIONS

On November 4, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled in a case where the EPFO appealed various orders favouring employees issued by the Kerala, Rajasthan, and Delhi High Courts. The order provided relief to some employees. The Supreme Court upheld the amendments to the pension scheme made by …

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INDIA RUSSIA TALKS

Russia is India’s “steady and time-tested partner”, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, defending the 20-fold increase in India’s oil imports from the country this year, said after meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Denis Manturov in Moscow on Tuesday. Laying out India’s …

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GARUDA-VII AIR EXERCISE

The chiefs of Indian and French Air Forces on Tuesday joined the Air Exercise Garuda-VII in Jodhpur. While Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal (ACM) V.R. Chaudhari flew a sortie on an IAF Rafale fighter, French Air and Space Force (FASF) Chief General Stéphane Mille flew on an …

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UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL’S COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE

India’s decision to host the special session of the United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee (UNSC-CTC) last month — held in Mumbai and New Delhi, it focused on new and emerging technologies — is one of a number of events planned by the Government to give its counter-terror diplomacy a …

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IPC TO CURB ‘PRINTING OF INDECENT MATTER

Taking cue of the legislation introduced in Odisha and Tamil Nadu, the Kerala government proposes to amend the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and bring in legislation to curb the printing, publishing and distribution of ‘grossly indecent or scurrilous matter or matter intended for …

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NEW CRAB SPECIES IN VELLAR ESTUARY

Researchers have discovered a new species of estuarine crab at the mangroves of Parangipettai near the Vellar river in Cuddalore district. The species has been named Pseudoheliceannamalai in recognition of Annamalai University’s 100 years of service in education and research. The discovery has been published in the latest issue of …

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A NECESSARY SIGNAL -COP27

The 27th session of the Conference of Parties (COP) is underway at Egypt’s sea-side city of Sharm el-Sheikh where, over two weeks, heads of government, diplomats, business heads, activists, journalists, and lobbyists will converge. The attempt is to inch ahead on a global rehaul of energy consumption to improve earth’s …

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EPFO PENSION SCHEME

Employees who were existing EPS members as on September 1, 2014 can contribute up to 8.33 per cent of their ‘actual’ salaries —as against 8.33 per cent of the pensionable salary capped at Rs 15,000 a month — towards pension. Employees who were existing EPS members as on September 1, …

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TESTING & EVALUATION FACILITY FOR SONAR SYSTEMS OF INDIAN NAVY

Giving impetus to the ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ and India’s ‘Make in India’ commitment, Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) launched Hull Module of Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterization & Evaluation (SPACE) facility at Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory   (NPOL) Kochi recently. It is a state-of-the-art testing and evaluation facility for sonar …

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INDIA’S G20 PRESIDENCY AND FOOD SECURITY

Global and regional food security have been deliberated upon as one of the priority agendas of the G20 for many years now. The situation has worsened with growing conflicts, and spiralling climate crises marked by droughts, floods, cyclones, and economic downturns in the past few years. In this context, India’s …

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