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Recently, the Prime Minister of India chaired a meeting regarding the management of the cryptocurrency sector. Citing the unregulated nature of the crypto market, he called for taking progressive and forward-looking steps. At the moment, there is no legislature that covers cryptocurrencies in India. In India, owning cryptocurrencies is still not illegal. In 2020, the Supreme Court had struck …

The Centre Government is contemplating creation of the National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA). NIRA is supposed to be an independent autonomous body for planning, investigation, financing and the implementation of the river interlinking projects in the country. Important points: NIRA will function as an umbrella body for all river linking projects and to be headed by a …

Recently, the US intelligence reports said the tension on the Russia-Ukraine border represents a major security crisis for the region, with the potential to snowball into a broader conflict. Ukraine says that Russia has amassed around 90,000 troops at the border. Important points: Ukraine and Russia share hundreds of years of cultural, linguistic and familial …

Recently, six students were banned from entering a college in Karnataka’s Udupi district for wearing a hijab (a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women). The issue throws up legal questions on reading the freedom of religion and whether the right to wear a hijab is constitutionally protected. Article 25(1) of the Constitution guarantees the “freedom of …

NITI Aayog, in association with PhonePe (Digital Payment Service Provider), will be hosting the first-ever open-to-all Fintech Open Hackathon that aims to showcase path-breaking solutions for the fintech ecosystem. Fintech describes an emerging financial services sector in the 21st century. Originally, the term applied to technology applied to the back-end …

Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology Madras have developed such a material, called Origami metamaterials which could have many uses. These combine the Japanese art of paper folding (origami) and the existing material of choice and fold it to obtain desired properties. Researchers have developed a special class of origami metamaterials which show a constant value …

Recently, a new scheme “New India Literacy Programme” for the period FYs 2022-2027 to cover all the aspects of Adult Education to align with National Education Policy 2020 has been approved. It is also in line with Budget 2021-22, which announced that increased access to resources, online modules covering the entire gamut of adult education …

Recently, the Prime Minister addressed the The Energy and Resources Institute’s (TERI) World Sustainable Development Summit. The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) is the annual flagship event of TERI. It was earlier known as Delhi Sustainable Development Summit. Instituted in 200. It is the only Summit on global issues, taking place in the developing world. It …

Recently, India has lashed out at the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for being “communal minded” amid the Karnataka hijab row. OIC Statement: The OIC has called on the UN Human Rights Council to take “necessary measures” on the issue of Muslim girl students being told not to wear the hijab in Karnataka schools. The OIC also …

Every year the second Monday of February is observed as International Epilepsy Day (IED), and this year it was celebrated on 14th February (2022). The day spreads awareness and educates people about the true facts of epilepsy and the urgent need for improved treatment, better care, and greater investment in research. The day is a joint …

River Devika project, built at the cost of over Rs 190 crore, will be complete by June, 2022. The work on the project was started in March 2019 under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). Under the project, bathing “ghats” (places) on the banks of the Devika River will be developed, encroachments …

Recently, the government-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) for its mega Initial Public Offering (IPO) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The Government, which owns 100% of LIC, will be offloading 5% of its stake through the IPO. All the proceeds from the IPO, which is in …

Recently, Maharashtra has signaled that it may opt out of Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojana Scheme. Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Bihar, Gujarat, Punjab and West Bengal – all predominantly agriculture states – have already opted out of the scheme. Launched in 2016 and is being administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It replaced the …

Recently, the Supreme Court has refused to entertain a petition questioning the exclusion of madrasas and Vedic schools (Minority Educational Institutions (MEI)) from the ambit of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009. The exclusion of these institutions was specifically inserted into the 2009 Act by …

Recently, the Union Health Ministry has said that the National Health Authority (NHA) is working to integrate the database of Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 beneficiaries with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) portal. This step envisages that beneficiaries can seek information regarding their entitlements under the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB PM-JAY) …

Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation’s earth observation satellite EOS-04 and two small satellites (INSPIREsat-1 and INS-2TD) were successfully placed into the intended orbit by the PSLV-C52 rocket. This launch was the 54th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket, and the 23rd of its most powerful XL-version that has six strap-on boosters. What are Earth Observation Satellites? Earth observation satellites are the satellites …

Recently, the Ministry of Health virtually launched Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 4.0. India is implementing the largest immunisationprogramme globally where it annually covers more than three crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore children through the Universal ImmunisationProgramme (UIP). It will ensure that Routine Immunization (RI) services reach unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children and pregnant women. …

Recently, India and Australia have announced that they are set to conclude an Interim Trade Agreement in March 2022 and a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) 12-18 months thereafter. The agreement will cover “most areas of interest for both countries” including goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and customs procedures. Earlier, India, Japan …

Recently, the fourth meeting of the foreign ministers of the QUAD grouping (India, the US, Australia and Japan) was held in Melbourne , Australia. The meeting was held amid escalating tension between Russia and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries over Ukraine, the Afghan crisis and increasing concerns over China’s “coercion” in the Indo-Pacific region. It is the grouping of four democracies –India, …

Recently, Australia has officially classified koalas as ‘endangered’. Australia’s Koala population has been on the road to extinction for over two decades now. The number of Koalas in NSW (New South Wales) declined by between 33% and 61% since 2001. But despite several demands by animal rights groups and conservationists, the government …