Welfare

Context The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to frame a model policy on menstrual leave for women employees. This directive highlights the need for recognizing menstrual leave, which offers time off for those experiencing period pains, similar to sick leave. Currently, menstrual leave is not covered under standard sick …

Context: The Supreme Court has requested a comprehensive report from States and High Courts on the establishment and functioning of Gram Nyayalayas Overview: Definition: Gram Nyayalayas are village courts deemed to be Courts of Judicial Magistrate of First Class, having civil and criminal jurisdiction to resolve minor disputes at the …

Context: Nominations for the National Gopal Ratna Award for 2024 are now open. Overview: Since 2021, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has awarded the National Gopal Ratna Award annually under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. This is one of the highest national awards in livestock and dairy, aimed at …

The PESA Act 1996 was enacted to empower Scheduled Tribes by recognizing them as key political stakeholders. Historical Background: Tribal communities in India have faced marginalization and exclusion from mainstream political and economic systems. They have encountered challenges such as displacement, loss of land and resources, and cultural erosion. The …

Context: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike’s (BBMP) proposal for a Solid Waste Management (SWM) Cess highlights the financial strain ULBs face in managing India’s burgeoning solid waste crisis. ULBs and SWM: The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 authorize ULBs to levy user fees or SWM cess to recover costs associated …

Context: The Union Cabinet recently approved the development of the Vadhavan Port, a major greenfield deep-draft port project in Maharashtra. This ambitious project, estimated to cost ₹76,200 crore, is poised to significantly enhance India’s maritime infrastructure. Project Details: Implementation: The port will be constructed by Vadhavan Port Project Limited (VPPL), …

Introduction: The GREAT Scheme is an initiative by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. It aims to boost innovation and entrepreneurship in the technical textiles sector. Objectives: Promote research and development: GREAT encourages scientists, technologists, and startups to translate their ideas into commercially viable products and technologies for technical …

GS-2: Plight of delivery workers in India’s gig economy,  Measures needed to protect rights and ensure fair treatment of gig workers, etc. What allows companies to keep workers casual, celebrating ‘partners’ for PR purposes while ignoring protests demanding basic rights? Worker Conditions Heatwave Impact: Workers endure extreme heat; customers are …

Reserve Bank of India Surplus Transfer: A Boon or Bane? GS3 :Reserve Bank Of India (RBI), Income and Expenditure of Central Bank, RBI Surplus Transfer To Government, Sources and Uses of RBI Surplus, Significance of RBI’s Surplus Transfer The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) recent announcement of a record-breaking ₹2.11 …

  GS3: Biodiversity Conservation, Engaging Tribal communities in Forest Management, The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, The Forest Conservation Act, 1980, National Forest Academy, Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. Recently, the President of India gave a congratulatory message to the 2022 batch of Indian Forest Service (IFoS) trainee …

Scheme Overview: Launched: Union Budget 2022-23 (ongoing till 2025-26) Target: Border villages along the northern borders of India (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh) Focus: Comprehensive development of these villages to improve living standards and curb outmigration. Funding: Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a budget of ₹4,800 crores. Key Objectives: …

Introduction: The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), also known as “Housing for All” mission, is a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India in 2015. It aims to achieve the ambitious goal of “Housing for All by 2022” by providing affordable housing solutions to all eligible urban and rural …

GS Paper III (Environment & Ecology): The syllabus emphasizes climate change mitigation strategies, and carbon farming is a prominent concept in this domain. GS Paper III (Agriculture): You can link carbon farming practices to sustainable agriculture and improved soil health. Essay Paper: Carbon farming can be a compelling point for …

Introduction The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, popularly known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA), is a landmark legislation in India. It aims to address historical injustices faced by Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs) and empower them by …

Introduction The National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) is a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India (GoI) in 2021 to address India’s heavy dependence on edible oil imports. This mission aims to significantly increase domestic oil palm production, a key source of edible oil, and reduce import …

Introduction: Launched in 2014, the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), also known as the Clean India Mission, is a national campaign aimed at eliminating open defecation and improving overall sanitation practices in India. Provisions and Initiatives: The SBM is a two-pronged mission with distinct rural and urban components: Swachh Bharat Mission …

Introduction The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), launched in 2015, is a flagship initiative by the Government of India to achieve the vision of “Housing for All” by 2022. This essay will delve into the scheme’s objectives, provisions, achievements, challenges, and the way forward for its successful implementation. Objectives Facilitate …

Introduction India has a rich history of co-existence with animals. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (PCA Act) serves as a cornerstone legislation for safeguarding animal welfare in the country. Enacted in 1960, it aims to minimize unnecessary pain and suffering inflicted upon animals. Objectives of the PCA …

Introduction The Remission of Duties or Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme is a key government initiative aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Indian exports in the global market.  Objectives of the RoDTEP Scheme The RoDTEP scheme was introduced in January 2021, replacing the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS). …

Concept : Governments impose anti-dumping duties as a trade remedy measure to protect domestic industries from unfair competition resulting from the dumping of goods by foreign producers. Dumping: Dumping refers to the practice of exporting goods to another country at prices lower than their normal value, typically the price in …