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Recently, the Union Minister of State Science & Technology has proposed Integrated Aroma Dairy Entrepreneurship for Jammu & Kashmir to augment the income of farmers. The Aroma Mission, also popularly referred as “Lavender or Purple Revolution”, has started from J&K and transformed the lives of farmers who are able to grow lavender, make …

Recently, the Union Government has put restrictions on funding for 10 international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) working on Child Rights, Climate Change and environmental projects. In February 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued new regulating guidelines to banks under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. Important points: The Reserve Bank of India had previously asked for several foreign organisations to …

Recently, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare has released the 3rd State Food Safety Index (SFSI). Also, 19 Mobile Food Testing Vans (Food Safety on Wheels) have been flagged off to supplement the food safety ecosystem across the country. Important points: The index is developed by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) to measure the …

Recently, India has climbed two spots and has been ranked 46th in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2021 rankings. Important points: The GII is launched by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations. The GII aims to capture the multi-dimensional facets of innovation ranking and rich analysis referencing around 132 economies. …

The third edition of maritime exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ between India and Indonesia will be conducted from 20th-22nd September, 2021 in the Sunda Strait. Important points: In pursuance of India’s Act East Policy, Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ was conceived in 2018 as a bilateral IN-IDN exercise. The exercise aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship, enhance mutual understanding and interoperability …

Recently, the Trifed (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India)inked an agreement with the Jharkhand-based Purty Agrotech for the promotion of pearl farming  in tribal areas. Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India It is a national-level apex organization functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It came into existence in 1987. It …

Recently, the NITI Aayog launched an initiative with BYJU’S (an edutech giant) to provide free access to tech-driven learning programmes to children from India’s 112 aspirational districts. Important points: Students of Classes 6-12 in government schools across 112 ‘Aspirational Districts (AD)’ will get free access to the company’s “premium learning resources”. ADs are the districts which are affected …

Recently, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways concluded the two-day review of the work progress on the eight-lane Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. It will be the world’s longest highway once completed. It is expected to be completed by March 2023. Important points: It is a 1380-km eight-lane expressway that can be expanded to a …

Recently, the Ministry of Power has issued an order for the setting up of District Level Committees to improve the quality of electricity supply in the country. Important points: All States and Union Territories will have to notify and ensure establishment of these District Electricity committees, under intimation to the Ministry of Power. It will oversee all power related …

Recently, the Ministry of Railways launched Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana (RKVY) under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). Important points: This is a skill development programme, where training will be provided to youth with a special focus on jobs that are relevant to the Railways. The training will be provided in four trades viz. Electrician, Welder, Machinist and …

The central banks of India and Singapore will link their respective fast digital payment systems – Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and PayNow – for “instant, low-cost, cross-border fund transfers”. The linkage is targeted to be operationalised by July 2022. Important points: The Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-PayNow linkage is a significant milestone in the development of infrastructure for …

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in 2018, released the Draft Food Safety And Standards (Labelling And Display) Regulation. However, even after so many expert panel recommendations and regulations, India still does not have a clear labelling or Front-of-pack (FoP) Labelling System, which can warn consumers about harmful levels of fat, …

Recently, at the virtual ASEAN(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit on Future of India-ASEAN Connectivity Partnerships, the Indian government underlined the importance of cross-border connectivity between India and Southeast Asian nations. ASEAN brings together ten Southeast Asian states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – into one organisation. …

Recently, two Indians (Vinisha and Vidyut) among 15 finalists were selected for the first ever Earthshot Prize 2021, which will be held in London. A 14-year-old Tamil Nadu schoolgirl’s solar-powered ironing cart and a Delhi entrepreneur’s agricultural waste recycling concept named among finalists. Important points: The prize was launched by Britain’s Prince William in …

Recently, a petition has been submitted by some activists to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reclassify toxic 3 Os (Oxybenzone, Octinoxate and Octocrylene) used in sunscreen. They demanded that chemicals be shifted to “Not Generally Recognized As Safe & Effective” (GRASE Category II). Important points: Oxybenzone (OBZ), avobenzone (AVB), octocrylene (OCR) and …

Recently, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched the SPIN (Strengthening the Potential of India) scheme to make potters self-sustainable. KVIC A statutory body established under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956. It functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. In 2017-18, it launched the Honey Mission programme. Recently, it launched a project named Bamboo …

The World Bank would discontinue the practice of issuing ‘Doing Business report’ following an investigation reported “data irregularities” in its 2018 and 2020 editions (released in 2017 and 2019, respectively) and possible “ethical matters” involving bank staff. It will be working on a new approach to assessing the business and investment climate. …

The 21st Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)Council of Heads of State was held recently via video Conferencing in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. At the meet the focus was primarily on the ground situation in Afghanistan and its global repercussions. Iran has been accepted as the ninth full member of the organisation. Important points: It took a strong stance against radicalisation and extremism, urging …

Recently, NITI Aayog has launched the report titled ‘Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India’. Important points: India’s population stood at 1210 million in 2011, with an urbanisation level of 31.1% (Census of India 2011) Urbanisation is an increase in the number of people living in towns and cities. The distribution of urban centres and the pace …

Recently, while addressing the G-33 Virtual Informal Ministerial Meeting, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister pointed out the imbalances in the Agreement on Agriculture at the World Trade Organization (WTO) He claimed that it was in favour of developed countries and historical asymmetries and imbalances must be corrected to ensure a rule-based, fair and equitable order. He urged that …