GS

Recently, West Africa’s first case of the extremely contagious and deadly Marburg virus was confirmed in Guinea. Its first case was first identified just two months after the country was declared free of Ebola Both the Marburg case and this year’s Ebola cases were detected in Guinea’s Gueckedou district. The first cases of the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic, the …

Recently, the Prime Minister has announced a new national initiative on palm oil production to help increase farm incomes. The scheme, called National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), for self-reliance in edible oil involves investment of over Rs. 11,000 crore (over a five year period). Important points: To harness domestic edible oil prices that are …

Recently, the Prime Minister launched the second phase of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) or Ujjwala 2.0 Scheme. He mentioned plans to promote “gobar dhan” – tapping cow dung for energy on the occasion of World Bio Fuel Day (10th August). Ujjwala is part of the ambitious agenda for behavioural change that will help India transit to …

For the first time, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) inducted women officers in the combat role. Two women officers joined it as Assistant Commandants (AC). Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force ITBP is a Central Armed Police Force functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The ITBP was raised on 24th October, 1962 during the India-China War and is a border guarding …

Recently, the fourth round of Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-4) was released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Important points: GYTS-4 was conducted in 2019 by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) under the MoHFW. IIPS, Mumbai, formerly known as the Demographic Training and Research Centre (DTRC) till 1970, was established in July 1956 under …

Recently, the National Commission for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (NCPCR) conducted a Nationwide Assessment of Minority Schools. The report was titled “Impact of Exemption under Article 15 (5) with regards to Article 21A of the Constitution of India on Education of Minority Communities”. The aim was to assess how the 93rd Amendment to Indian Constitution, …

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the Monetary Policy Report (MPR) for the month of August 2021. It kept the policy rate unchanged for the seventh time in a row. And appealed to the centre and states to reduce taxes on fuels to curb inflationary pressures. Monetary Policy Report The MPR is published by …

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) system has resulted in a 10% savings in public procurement costs in five years, but has still tapped only 5% of India’s total government purchases of about Rs 20 lakh crore a year. 56% of the order value processed through the GeM portal has been delivered by Micro, Small and Medium …

Recently, the Prime Minister released the 9th instalment of financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Further, the Prime Minister also interacted with farmer beneficiaries during the event. Important points: Under the scheme, the Centre transfers an amount of Rs 6,000 per year, in three equal instalments, directly into the bank accounts of all landholding …

World Tribal Day or International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9th August every year. It is aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of the world’s indigenous population and to acknowledge the contributions that indigenous people make towards world issues such as environmental protection. Important points: The day recognizes the first …

The India Plastics Pact, the first in Asia, will be launched in September in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Recently, a report published on closing the plastic circular Gap, suggested that there is a dire need to make large scale global interventions to manage plastic waste. …

Recently, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the first part of its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) titled Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. It is prepared by the scientists of Working Group-I. The two remaining parts would be released in 2022. It noted that global net-zero by 2050 was the minimum required to keep the temperature rise to 1.5 …

Recently, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has secured Patent registration for its innovative Plastic-mixed Handmade Paper developed to reduce plastic menace from nature. Important points: The plastic-mixed handmade paper (which is recyclable and eco-friendly) was developed under Project REPLAN (REducing PLAstic from Nature). The project was launched in September 2018 as part of KVIC’s commitment to Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan It …

Recently, the Income Tax (I-T) Department notified three official email IDs to register grievances, under the Faceless or e-Assessment Scheme. The Prime Minister in August 2020 announced three key structural tax reforms under the ‘Transparent Taxation – Honouring the Honest’ platform- faceless assessment, faceless appeal and taxpayers’ charter to reduce tax disputes. …

Recently, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched ‘PM-DAKSH’ (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi) Portal and ‘PM-DAKSH’ Mobile App to make the skill development schemes accessible to the target groups – Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Safai Karamcharis. Important points: PM-DAKSH Yojana is being implemented from the year 2020-21. Under this, eligible target groups are …

Recently, the former foreign secretary of India, Vijay Gokhale in his book claimed that the Left parties in India were influenced by China in their decision to oppose the Indo-US nuclear deal. Although with the Indo-US nuclear agreement, India got a special Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) waiver, the progress of Greenfield projects is slow. Greenfield Projects: A greenfield project …

Recently, the Union Minister of State for Rural Development has informed in Rajya Sabha about the various steps taken by the government for implementation of the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY). Important points: The scheme was launched in 2014 on the birth anniversary of Jai Prakash Narayan. Under the Yojana, Members of Parliament (MPs) are responsible …

Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has noted the delays in corporate insolvency under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. It has called out the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) on persistent vacancies in National Company Law Tribunals (NCLTs). Earlier, the government introduced the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment Bill), 2021 in the Lok Sabha …

On 8th Aug 2021, India completed 79 years of Quit India Movement also known as August Kranti. Important points: On 8th August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave a clarion call to end the British rule and launched the Quit India Movement at the session of the All-India Congress Committee in Mumbai. Gandhiji gave the call “Do or Die” in his speech delivered at the …

Recently, India has proposed to convene an open debate of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on enhancing maritime security. The objective of this debate is to highlight effective international maritime cooperation to respond holistically to natural and manmade threats to maritime security. It also reflects India’s international evolution as a maritime nation. Important points: With …