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Recently, China has completed construction of a strategically significant highway enabling greater access to remote areas along the disputed border with Arunachal Pradesh in India. Important points: The construction began in 2014 and is part of a wider infrastructure push in border areas in Tibet. The highway passes through the Grand Canyon of the Brahmaputra river (Yarlung Zangbo in …

The Union Government has integrated the E-Way Bill (EWB) system with FasTag and RFID. Important points: E-Way Bill is usually a unique bill number generated for the specific consignment involving the movement of goods. Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, EWBs are mandatory for inter-state transportation of goods valued over Rs. 50,000 from …

Recently, China’s spacecraft Tianwen-1 landed on Mars carrying its first Mars rover named Zhurong. It became the third country to land on Mars after the US and Soviet Union. China’s previous ‘Yinghuo-1’ Mars mission, which was supported by a Russian spacecraft, had failed after it did not leave the earth’s orbit and disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean in 2012. Important points: The Tianwen-1 …

Setting up of 22 new regional AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) has been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) so far. Important points: PMSSY was announced in 2003 with objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in …

The Finance Ministry has granted ‘Infrastructure’ status for exhibition and convention centres. In 2020, the government had added affordable rental housing projects to the list of sectors recognised as infrastructure. Important points: Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre has been included in the Harmonised Master List of Infrastructure sub-sectors by insertion of a new item in the category of Social and …

Recently, the Punjab government has announced the formation of Malerkotla as the 23rd district of the state. Section 5 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887 says the “State government may, by notification, vary the limits and alter the numbers of tehsils, districts and divisions into which the State is divided.” History of Malerkotla: The Malerkoltla …

Recently, a report was published which gave details of who makes single-use plastic, 130 million tons a year at last count, and who makes money from it. The report was published by Minderoo, a nonprofit organization based in Australia along with academics at the University of Oxford and the Stockholm Environment Institute. Important points: Half of the …

The effectiveness of the Social Security Code (SS Code) 2020 in helping the informal workforce is questioned by many. With SS Code 2020, two other codes were passed which are Code on Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020 and Industrial Relations Code, 2020. The SS Code 2020 subsumes nine regulations relating to social security, retirement and …

International Museum Day is observed on 18th May every year to raise awareness among people about the museums. 2021 Theme: The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine. Important points: The Day was instituted in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) ICOM is a membership association and a non-governmental organisation which establishes professional and ethical standards for museum activities. …

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 …