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Recently, the first farm-based solar power plant under the Prime Minister’s KisanUrja Suraksha EvamUtthanMahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) schemehas come up in Jaipur (Rajasthan) district’s Kotputli tehsil with a provision for production of 17 lakh units of electricity every year. Important points: The PM-KUSUM scheme was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy …

Preliminary data released by the government showed that India’s trade deficit in goods widened to USD 14.11 billion in March 2021 from USD 9.98 billion during March 2020. Important points: Merchandise Exports: India’s merchandise exports in March 2021 were USD 34.0 billion as compared to USD 21.49 billion in March 2020, an increase of 58.23%. …

Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India participated in the 17th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)Ministerial Meeting. The meeting, chaired by Sri Lanka, was held in virtual mode. India’s Commitment: To further build the momentum of regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC framework and make the organization stronger, vibrant, more effective and result-oriented. …

Government of India launched the All-India Survey of Migrant Workers and All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey. Labour and Employment Ministry said, the objective of the All-India Survey of Migrant Workers is to study the kind of employment-related migration undertaken by workers. The survey will provide the details of working and …

Central Government has constituted three expert committees to review the existing rules and regulations on safety, health and working conditions standards, pertaining to factories, docks and construction work. Important points: One committee will look into the safety parameters of industries, docks and ports while the other two committees have been …

Government has made mandatory that a GST taxpayer having turnover of more than 5 crore rupees in the preceding financial year will have to furnish 6 digits Harmonised System of Nomenclature HSN Code, or Service Accounting Code, SAC from April 1, 2021 on the invoices issued for supplies of taxable …

The government has pushed back deadlines for coal-fired power plants to adopt new emission norms by up to three years, and allowed utilities that miss the new target to continue operating after paying a penalty, according to a notice. Important points: India had initially set a 2017 deadline for thermal …

The U.S. and Iran said that they would begin negotiations through intermediaries next week to try to get both countries back into an accord limiting Iran’s nuclear programme, nearly three years after President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal. Important points: The announcement marked the first major …

The failure of the health system to cope with COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increase in maternal deaths and stillbirths, according to a study published in The Lancet Global Health journal. Important points: Overall, there was a 28% increase in the odds of stillbirth, and the risk of mothers dying …

Union Education Minister launches “MyNEP2020” platform of NCTE Portal. The platform seeks to invite suggestions/inputs/membership from the stakeholders for preparing draft for the development of National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) and National Mission for Mentoring Program membership (NMM). The NCTE in its previous form was established in 1973 as …

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) operationalised and dedicated to the Services 3rd Joint Logistics Node (JLN) in Mumbai. The third JLN was operationalised as part of measures to boost tri-service integration and resource optimisation. The JLN would enhance joint interoperability between the Services and go a long way in improving the …

Indian Army to participate in Exercise SHANTIR OGROSHENA, a multinational military exercise in Bangladesh. Multinational Military Exercise SHANTIR OGROSHENA 2021 (Front Runner of the Peace) will be held at Bangladesh to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangladesh ‘Father of the Nation’ Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The DOGRA Regiment will participate …

The PM greeted the people of Odisha on Utkala Dibasa. Utkala Dibasa or Odisha Day is observed on 1 April every year to mark the formation of the state as a separate state out of Bihar and Orissa Province in 1936. At that time, Koraput and Ganjam were also added …

The Centre plans to issue a 14-digit identification number to every plot of land in the country within a year’s time. The Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) scheme has been launched in 10 States in the year 2021 and will be rolled out across the country by March 2022. Important points: Being described …

Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to strengthen its capacity and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to form a uniform recruitment criteria. The order was to ensure better monitoring for improved compliance of environmental norms. Earlier in January 2021, the Supreme Court (SC) had taken suo …

According to the National Election Watch (NEW) and Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), in the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, at least 1,157 out of 6,318 candidates have criminal cases against them. NEW is a nationwide campaign since 2002 comprising more than 1200 Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other citizen …

Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) delisted Ex-Telecom Minister A. Raja from the list of star campaigners. He has also been reprimanded for violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for making certain remarks during election times. Star Campaigners: A star campaigner is a celebrity vote seeker in an election for a party. This …

The demand for an autonomous state within Assam has been raised by some of the sections of the society in Assam under the provisions of Article 244A of the Constitution. Important points: In the 1950s, a demand for a separate hill state arose around certain sections of the tribal population of undivided Assam. After prolonged agitations, Meghalaya …

  The Union Cabinet has approved the Central Sector Scheme – “Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI)” with an outlay of Rs. 10900 crore. The objectives of the Scheme are to support food manufacturing entities with stipulated minimum Sales and willing to make minimum stipulated investment for …

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has decided to use sensor-based IoT devices to effectively monitor the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in more than six lakh villages. Important points: For this, National Jal Jeevan Mission in collaboration with Tata Community Initiatives Trust (TCIT) and Tata Trusts recently completed pilot …