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Indian security agencies in the past two years checked the antecedents of more than 9,000 Indians who wanted to enrol for the US’ Global Entry Program. The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) is being used for antecedent verification. Important points: Global Entry is a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows speedy clearance for …

The Electoral Bonds worth Rs. 695.34 crore were sold during elections to the Assemblies of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal, Assam and Kerala. The amount sold was the highest-ever for any Assembly elections since the scheme started in 2018. Important points: Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties. The bonds are issued …

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the country has witnessed speed and progress in various schemes under the Ministry of Rural Development. Important points: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005: The scheme was introduced as a social measure that guarantees “the right to work”. The Ministry of Rural Development monitors the entire implementation …

Recently, the Telangana government has selected 16 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) for pilot testing the ambitious ‘Medicine from the sky’, the first-of- its-kind project. Important points: The project involves delivery of medicines through multiple drones. The project is being launched following the approval granted by the Civil Aviation Ministry. The Ministry has granted conditional exemption to the …

India has been a major exporter of healthcare workers to developed nations particularly to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Europe and other English-speaking countries. This Brain Drain in the health sector is part of the reason for the current shortage in nurses and doctors. Important points: Brain drain is a term indicating substantial emigration or migration of …

Recently, Cyclone Tauktae made landfall in Gujarat. The cyclone has left a trail of destruction as it swept through the coastal states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra. Important points: It is a tropical cyclone, named by Myanmar. It means ‘gecko’, a highly vocal lizard, in the Burmese language. Typically, tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean region (Bay …

Recently, the West Bengal government has decided to set up a Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). For setting up the Council, a Bill has to be introduced in the Assembly and then a nod from the Governor is required. The Legislative Council in the State was abolished in 1969. Important points: India has a bicameral system of legislature. Just as Parliament has two Houses, the …

As India battles a raging second wave, cases of children losing their parents to Covid-19 are also mounting. Further, the apprehension of child trafficking in the garb of adoption has increased. Important points: Various social media posts are getting circulated with details of children who have lost either both their parents or the only living …

Recently, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court (SC) seeking the constitution of an independent collegium to appoint members of the Election Commission. Election Commission of India It is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India. The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the …

Recently, Iran gave the Farzad-B Gas Field to Petropars, a domestic gas producer. This is a setback for India’s energy ties with Iran as ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) had discovered the gas field in 2008 and has been part of the ongoing cooperation on that front. Important points: Farzad-B Gas Field: It is located in Persian …

Cabinet Secretary chaired National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting on Cyclone Tauktae. National Crisis Management Committee: The NCMC is a committee set up by the Government of India in the wake of a natural calamity for effective coordination and implementation of relief measures and operations. It is headed by the …

Recently, the Government of India’s Special Window for Affordable & Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) completed its first residential project. The residential project – Rivali Park, located in suburban Mumbai, was the first housing project in India to have received funding under the SWAMIH Fund. Important points: This is a government backed fund that was set up as a Category-II …

According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), a total of 186 elephants were killed after being hit by trains across India between 2009-10 and 2020-21. Important points: Assam accounted for the highest number of elephant casualties on railway tracks (62), followed by West Bengal (57), and Odisha (27). Uttar Pradesh saw a single death. Measures Taken: A Permanent Coordination Committee has …

The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs. 18,100-crore, to reduce imports. The scheme is called the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage (NPACC). It is under the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises. Important points: It aims to give companies incentives on incremental sales from products manufactured in domestic units. It invites …

As per a latest report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), India continues to label itself as a country with no Community Transmission (CT) since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic Countries such as the United States, Brazil, United Kingdom, France have all labelled themselves as being in the ‘community transmission’ stage whereas Italy and Russia do not label themselves as being …

Recently, the Minister of State for Culture discussed various issues under the Cultural Exchange Programme with his Mongolian counterpart. Important points: Strengthening the strategic partnership- established in 2015. The Cultural Exchange Program between India and Mongolia stands renewed until 2023. 10 dedicated ICCR scholarships for studying ‘Tibetan Buddhism’ have been allocated for Mongolians to study in specialized institutes of …

The Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds in six tranches from May 2021 to September 2021. Important points: The Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) scheme was launched in November 2015 with an objective to reduce the demand for physical gold and shift …

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has provided an enhanced allocation of Rs. 2250 Crore for the year 2021-22 for ‘Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture’ (MIDH). Horticulture is the branch of plant agriculture dealing with garden crops, generally fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. M.H. Marigowda is considered the Father of Indian Horticulture. Important points: About: MIDH is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for …

Recently, some activists and organisations of Karnataka have raised the issue of increased child marriages in Lockdown with the Ministry of Women and Child Development. According to a report published in December 2020 by ChildLine India, the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have proved to be new drivers of child marriages in rural Madhya Pradesh. Important points: It is defined …

Recently, an independent global panel, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPPR) in its report named “Covid-19: Make it the Last Pandemic concluded that the catastrophic scale of the Covid-19 pandemic could have been prevented. The report was requested by World Health Organization (WHO) member states in May 2020. Important points: A series of bad decisions meant Covid-19 …