GS

The Prime Minister expressed his “gratitude” towards the scientists and their “efforts” that led to the “successful Pokhran tests in 1998” on National Technology Day (11th May). The day, which was first observed on 11th May, 1999, aims to commemorate the scientific and technological achievements of Indian scientists, engineers. The day was named by the former Prime Minister …

According to the global annual to decadal climate update report issued by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), India could be among the few regions globally where below normal temperatures have been predicted for the year 2022 and the next four years. The year 2022 will be cooler (compared to the 1991 – 2020 average) …

The Supreme Court (SC) has stayed proceedings in various High Courts on petitions challenging the efficacy of the regulatory frameworks for social media and Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. These regulatory frameworks are established by the Information Technology Rules 2021 and the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules 2021. This comes after the central government requested …

Recently, the Delhi High Court delivered a split verdict in a batch of petitions challenging the exception provided to marital rape in the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In case of a split verdict, the case is heard by a larger Bench. The larger Bench to which a split verdict goes can be a three-judge Bench …

The Supreme Court collegium has made recommendations to five new Chief Justices of high courts. It is the system of appointment and transfer of judges that has evolved through judgments of the Supreme Court (SC) and not by an Act of Parliament or by a provision of the Constitution. It declared that the “primacy” of the CJI’s (Chief …

Recently, the AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers in Innovation, Market Readiness, and Entrepreneurship) Playbook was launched by NITI Aayog. The playbook was aimed at promoting early-stage science-based, deep technology ideas to market through training and guidance over a period of 12 months using a blended learning curriculum. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) AIM is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to …

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has organised the 6th Edition of the monthly ‘Webinar with Universities’ series on ‘Igniting Young Minds, Rejuvenating Rivers’. The theme for the webinar was ‘Waste Water Management.’ The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is implemented by the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga …

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved an exemption to the laws governing the regulation of coastal zones and has paved the way for gas-powered plants to be set up at Andaman and Nicobar islands. The Island Coastal Zone Regulation (ICRZ), 2019, limits infrastructure development on vulnerable coastal stretches. The National …

Recently, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed the fifteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP15)of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)in Cote d’Ivoire (Western Africa). COP 15 is a key moment in the fight against desertification, land degradation and drought. It will build on the findings of …

The Ministry of Communications has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s VVDN Technologies Private Limited to facilitate registered startups, innovators and MSMEs working in the field of Open RAN (Radio Access Network) to get their product tested at the existing lab of M/s VVDN. Such testing certification shall accelerate the research …

The Prime Minister of India paid tribute to Gopal Krishna Gokhale on his Jayanti. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a great social reformer and educationist who provided exemplary leadership to India’s freedom movement. 9th May 1866 in Kotluk village in present-day Maharashtra (then part of the Bombay Presidency). Gokhale worked towards social empowerment, …

The level of ethanol blending in petrol in India has reached 9.99%. It is one of the principal biofuels, which is naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration. It is aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on crude oil imports cutting carbon emissions and boosting farmers’ incomes. The Government …

Recently, the Ministry of Finance has revised the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme(MPLADS) rules, where the interest that the fund accrues will be deposited in the Consolidated Fund of India. So far, the interest accrued on the fund used to be added to the MPLADS account and could be used …

The Indian rupee fell to an all-time low of 77.44 against the U.S. Dollar. Currency depreciation is a fall in the value of a currency in a floating exchange rate system. Rupee depreciation means that the rupee has become less valuable with respect to the dollar. It means that the rupee is now weaker …

The Prime Minister on 9th May, 2022 paid tribute to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary. According to the Bengali calendar, the Tagore Jayanti falls on the 25th day of the Boishakh month. Rabindranath Tagore He was born in Calcutta on 7th May 1861. He was also referred to as ‘Gurudev’, ‘Kabiguru’, and ‘Biswakabi’. He …

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted the Cyclone Asani to intensify into a ‘severe cyclone’ over Southeast regions of Bay of Bengal. The name Cyclone Asani has been given by Sri Lanka. It means ‘wrath’ in Sinhalese. Cyclones that Hit India in 2020-21: Tauktae, Yaas, Nisarga Amphan Occurrence of Cyclones in India India has a bi-annual cyclone season that occurs between March …

The recently published Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report AR6 (Sixth Assessment Report) has emphasised that humidity is very important factor while estimating the physiological stress that extreme heat puts on the human body. Instead of the “dry bulb” temperaturewhich is usually measured using a regular thermometer, an alternative metric known as the “wet bulb …

Recently, the National Report of the 2nd phase of fifth round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) was released. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India. It comprises detailed information on key domains of population, health and family welfare and …

Recently, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution revised the PMKGAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana) allocation of rice and wheat for all the 36 states/UTs for the remaining five months — from May to September 2022. PMGKAY is a part of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package …

Recently, scientists from the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) in Coimbatore carried out a survey of Grey slender loris populations in Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul forest division. The Grey slender loris belongs to the family Loridae. It is a species of primate. It has got a lean …