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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its approval for continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-I and II (PMGSY-I and II) upto September, 2022 for completion of balance road and bridge works. The CCEA also approved continuation of Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) …

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Working Group (WG) Committee has made recommendations pertaining to Digital Lending, including a separate legislation to prevent illegal digital lending activities. The RBI constituted a WG on digital lending including lending through online platforms and mobile apps in January, 2021. The panel was …

Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched the e-Governance for Civil Aviation (e-GCA) online platform through which the Civil Aviation will provide 298 services including pilot licensing and medical examination. The launch of the e-GCA project under DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) was part of the 100-day plan …

The Odisha Government is expected to soon lay the foundation stone of the Puri heritage corridor, which is being developed at a cost of Rs 800 crore. The project is a part of the Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme for developing Puri as …

Recently, Bribery Risk Matrix 2021 was released by TRACE, an anti-bribery standard setting organisation. Important points: It measures business bribery risk in 194 countries, territories, and autonomous and semi-autonomous regions. It was originally published in 2014 to meet a need in the business community for more reliable and nuanced information …

Recently, the Ministry of Rural Development inaugurated ‘Bhumi Samvaad’ – National Workshop on Digital India Land Record Modernisation Programme (DILRMP). The Ministry also launched the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) portal and Dashboard. Important points: The DILRMP was approved by the Cabinet on 21st August, 2008. For modernization of …

Recently, the 16th edition of the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER 2021) survey was released. The survey analysed the impact of Covid-19 on learning. It shows an increase in dependence on private tuitions and an absence of ready access to smartphones. Specific attention is needed to help make up …

Recently, Pochampally village in Telangana was selected as one of the Best Tourism Villages by United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). The award will be given on the occasion of the 24th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in December 2021 in Madrid, Spain. The Union Ministry of Tourism has …

Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh. Important points: It starts from Chandsarai village, located near the existing Lucknow-Sultanpur Road (NH-731), in Lucknow district and it ends at Haidaria village on National Highway 31 in Ghazipur, 18 km from the UP-Bihar border, in Ghazipur district. The …

Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched a week-long awareness campaign on SafaiMitra Suraksha Challenge (SSC) as part of the ‘World Toilet Day’ (19th November) celebrations, to run up to the ‘Swachh Amrit Diwas’. The Swachh Amrit Diwas is an award ceremony to recognize the role …

Recently, Ministries of Power and New and Renewable Energy released guidelines which allows thermal generation companies to set up renewable energy generation capacity and supply power to consumers under existing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Important points: The new guidelines allow thermal generation companies“to set up renewable energy generation capacity either …

Recently, President Joe Biden of the United States and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for the first virtual bilateral meeting. The meeting ended with the clear divergences in the positions taken by the two sides. US-China confrontation is on multiple fronts including ideological and cultural hegemonic rivalry, trade wars which …

Recently, Arunachal Pradesh has approved the large, brightly coloured Kaiser-i-Hind as the State butterfly. Kaiser-i-Hind literally means Emperor of India. Important points: It is one of the very rare and elusive swallowtail butterflies which are found at medium and higher elevations. Swallowtail butterfly is any of a group of butterflies …

Recently, scientists have observed a quasi-satellite named Kamo`oalewa, tracking the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, could be a fragment from the moon. A mission to collect Kamo’oalewa’s samples has been scheduled for a launch in 2025. Important points: Discovered in 2016 (through the PanSTARRS telescope in Hawaii), Kamo’oalewa is a …

Recently, the Union Government has conducted the National Achievement Survey (NAS) across India, assessing about 38 lakh students from 1.23 lakh schools in 733 districts in 36 States and Union Territories. The survey was last conducted in 2017 and was scheduled to take place in 2020. However, due to the …

Recently, the Prime Minister has launched the integrated ombudsman scheme. In 2019 the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had launched the Complaint Management System (CMS) in order to improve the customer experience in the grievance redressal process of banking services. The PM has also launched the RBI’s Retail Direct Scheme. …

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 …

Recently, the 32nd edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy was conducted. Important points: India and Thailand have been carrying out CORPAT along their International Maritime Boundary Line twice a year since 2005. Indian Naval Ship (INS) Karmuk, an indigenously built …

The sixth edition of the Indo-French Shakti 2021 (bilateral joint training exercise), will be conducted in November in Frejus, France. From the Indian side, a platoon strength of a Gorkha Rifles Infantry Battalion will participate in the exercise. Important points: It will focus on Counter Terrorism operations in backdrop of …

Forces from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Israel and the United States Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) began a multilateral maritime security operations exercise in the Red Sea. This is the first publicly acknowledged naval exercise between the United States, Israel and the two Gulf countries. Important points: The UAE …