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Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS)

Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS) India and Russia are finalising a defence agreement that will simplify interoperability and enable military platforms to receive support and supplies across bases in both nations- Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS). It is an arrangement that will allow access to India and Russia, to each other’s military facilities for supplies and fuel, expanding the logistics support and operational turnaround of the Indian

Right to Freedom of Movement- FASTag

Right to Freedom of Movement- FASTag GS-Paper-2: Governance– UPSC PRELIMS – Mains Application Context: The Union government told the Bombay High Court that making FASTag mandatory for all vehicles plying on the national highways (NHs) doesn’t breach a citizen’s fundamental right to freedom of movement in any way. FASTag ensures seamless traffic movement, cut travel time short, and that all decisions had been taken in accordance with the Central Motor Vehicle

SUPACE Portal

SUPACE Portal The Supreme Court unveiled its Artificial Intelligence (AI) portal, the Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court’s Efficiency (SPACE). A pet project of Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, SUPACE is a tool that collects relevant facts and laws and makes them available to a judge. The portal is not designed to take decisions, but only to process facts and to make them available to judges looking for input for a decision. It is designed to make research easier for j

Lockdown Generation

Lockdown Generation The International Labour Organization (ILO) termed the current young population as the ‘lockdown generation’ citing the massive impacts of the pandemic on them. The lockdown generation emerged, as young people constitute major victims of social and economic consequences of the pandemic, and there is a risk that they will be scarred throughout their working lives. According to ILO and various other estimates, during the pandemic, Some 90% of y

Articles 25 and 26- Issue of government control over certain Hindu religious institutions

Articles 25 and 26- Issue of government control over certain Hindu religious institutions Introduction The problem of hierarchical division in Hindu society is prevalent. But the issue of government control of temples is distinct from the issue of throwing open Hindu religious institutions to all classes and sections of society. To confuse the two is constitutionally misleading. Separate pieces of legislation exist — the [Madras] Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1947 &mdas

India and Pakistan- Fishermen issue

India and Pakistan- Fishermen issue Introduction Hundreds of fishermen have been languishing in Pakistan’s prisons for years with no end in sight Issue of human rights Sosa, a fishermen was arrested in May 2019 when the fishing boat he was in allegedly entered Pakistani waters. His sentence in the Pakistani prison ended on July 3, 2019. However, not only was he not repatriated, but he was also not given consular access till his death. Sosa’s case is one mo

Covid-19- New Vaccination strategy, a boon or a bane?

Covid-19- New Vaccination strategy, a boon or a bane? New Vaccine strategy to combat COVID-19 Two key elements of the new Vaccine strategy, which will be implemented from May 1 are: First, the phased roll-out of the vaccination drive initiated on January 16 under which the vaccine-eligible sections of the population were gradually increased, has now been extended to the entire adult population, namely, to those above 18 years. Second, and more importantly, a significant dere

India and Bangladesh relationship since 1971

India and Bangladesh relationship since 1971 (The Hindu Editorial) Introduction Bangladesh and India both celebrated the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence recently, alongside the birth centenary of ‘Banghabandu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The creation of Bangladesh — from the ashes of East Pakistan — is presumably India’s finest foreign policy triumph till date, and it defies imagination why India has been so reticent in acknowledging this

Judicial federalism in India

Judicial federalism in India Introduction In comparison to the legislature and the executive, what the judiciary can deliver in the realm of socio-economic rights is limited. Courts cannot build better health infrastructure or directly supply oxygen; neither are they functionally bound to. Courts often lack the expertise and resources to decide social rights issues. Parmanand Katara v. Union of India (1989) In Parmanand Katara v. Union of India (1989), the Supreme Cour

What Israel wants in Syria?

What Israel wants in Syria? Introduction Ten years since the outbreak of the crisis in Syria in 2011, the regime of President Bashar al-Assad seems to have won the civil war. Background of Assad’s victory over the civil war If in 2015, before the Russian intervention, Mr. Assad’s area of influence had shrunken to the largely Alawite-populated region stretching from Damascus to the Mediterranean coast, his troops now control most of Syria — except Idlib and

Panchayati Raj Institutions- Rejuvenate the third layer of governance

Panchayati Raj Institutions- Rejuvenate the third layer of governance Introduction The strong local bodies are formed to enable genuine feasibility and execution of programmes and policies. The Cholas were the pioneers in the formation of local bodies as part of a well-organised hierarchy to oversee the implementation of progressive plans. The journey of Panchayati raj Essay quote: “The voice of the people is the voice of god; The voice of the Panchayat is the voice of

Exercise Khanjar- exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan

Exercise Khanjar- exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan India and Kyrgyzstan Special Forces have started a military exercise named Exercise Khanjar in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. About Exercise Khanjar Exercise Khanjar is a Joint Special Forces Military Exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan. The exercise was started in the year 2011. This is the Eighth Edition of the Exercise. The exercise aims to boost the strategic partnership between India and Kyrgyzstan. It also focuses on high-alti

Appointment of Ad hoc judges

Appointment of Ad hoc judges Introduction The Supreme Court’s decision to invoke  Article 224A in the Constitution to clear the way for the appointment of retired judges as ad hoc judges to clear the mounting arrears in the various High Courts is an indictment of the extraordinary delay in filling up judicial vacancies. Huge vacancy in High court Whether the fault lies with the Collegium system or the Centre’s tardiness, there is little doubt that the u

National Green Tribunal- issues with appointments

  Introduction The appointment of former IAS officer, Girija Vaidyanathan, as Expert Member in the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), was challenged in the Madras High Court. Even though the court initially granted an interim stay on her appointment, it ruled that she was not ineligible, going by the criteria in the NGT Act. She was found to have fulfilled the eligibility requirements by virtue of her administrative experience of nearly five years in “d

World Press Freedom Index 2021

World Press Freedom Index 2021  The World Press Freedom Index 2021 was recently released. About World Press Freedom Index: The index is Published by Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) or Reporters Without Borders since 2002. The Index ranks 180 countries and regions according to the level of freedom available to journalists. However, the index neither ranks public policies and nor is it an indicator of the quality of journalism in each country or region. The index r

Global Youth Mobilization Initiative Launched by UN

Global Youth Mobilization Initiative Launched by UN Recently, United Nations agencies, youth organisations, and WHO have come together to launch the Global Youth Mobilization initiative for local Solutions. About Global Youth Mobilization Initiative: World Health Organization and United Nations Foundation are supporting Global Youth Mobilization Initiative. It is also led by the world’s six largest youth organisations, including The World Alliance of Young Men’s

State’s control over the religious institutions- Issues with the Article 26 of the Constitution

State’s control over the religious institutions- Issues with Article 26 of the Constitution Introduction This article talks about the state's control over the Hindu religious establishments, constitutional backing and the issues involved in it. Indian Secularism The principles on which secularism rests in India are distinct from their western antecedents. The Constituent Assembly was especially mindful of the civic history (the practice of social evils like the D

Police Reforms- Appointment of Police Chief and its analysis

Police Reforms- Appointment of Police Chief and its analysis Need for Police Chief’s operational autonomy A crucial way in which governments exercise control over the State police is through their unregulated power to decide who the chief will be. There is no independent vetting process to assess the suitability of qualified candidates, and the government’s assessment, if it is done at all, remains opaque and is an exercise behind closed doors. While the principles of d

EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy approved by EU Council

EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy approved by EU Council The Council of the European Union has approved the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. About EU Indo-Pacific Strategy: The Indo-Pacific region spans from the east coast of Africa to the Pacific Island States with the world’s two most populous countries & economies — India and China. The strategy aims to contribute to the stability, security, prosperity, and sustainable developm

National Green Tribunal and Mekedatu Project

National Green Tribunal and Mekedatu Project About Mekedatu Project: Mekedatu, meaning goat’s leap, is a deep gorge situated at the confluence of the river Cauvery and its tributary Arkavathi. Ontigondlu is the proposed reservoir site, situated in Ramanagara district in Karnataka about 100 km away from Bengaluru. It is in the midst of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. The Rs. 9,000 crore project aims to store and supply water for drinking purposes for Bengaluru city. Around

Inclusive Internet Index 2021

Inclusive Internet Index 2021 Inclusive Internet Index 2021 has recently been released by Facebook. About Inclusive Internet Index, 2021 Facebook commissioned the Inclusive Internet Index, 2021, and The Economist Intelligence Unit develops the index. It seeks to measure the extent of accessibility and affordability of the Internet. Also, the internet should be able to enable positive social and economic outcomes at the individual and group levels. The index assesses the perf

WHO's Global Diabetes Compact Initiative

WHO's Global Diabetes Compact Initiative The World Health Organization (WHO) recently launched a Global Diabetes Compact Initiative. About Global Diabetes Compact Initiative: Global Diabetes Compact aims to reduce the risk of diabetes. It will ensure that all people diagnosed with diabetes have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable, quality treatment and care. This initiative launched at the Global Diabetes Summit. WHO and the government of Canada Co-hosted the summ

India and Russia ties-need for a reset

India and Russia ties-need for a reset Introduction It was clear from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s ‘working visit’ to India two weeks ago that India-Russia relations are not quite the flavour of the season. Mr. Lavrov’s principal objective was to prepare the ground for the visit of President Vladimir Putin later this year. Mr. Lavrov’s criticism last year of a U.S.-led Indo-Pacific policy, drawing India into “anti-China games” a

Delay In Judicial Appointments

Delay In Judicial Appointments In light of the extraordinary delay in filling up judicial vacancies and to clear the mounting arrears in the various High Courts, the Supreme Court decided to invoke a “dormant provision” in the Constitution to clear the way for the appointment of retired judges as ad hoc judges. Article 224A of the Constitution, which provides for appointment of ad hoc judges in the High Courts based on their consent. A Bench headed by CJI S.A. Bobde has made it

Global Food Policy Report 2021 by IFPRI

Global Food Policy Report 2021 by IFPRI The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) recently released the Global Food Policy Report, in 2021. About Global Food Policy Report, 2021: The report provides lessons drawn from the current crisis. Especially the lessons that can help transform food systems to reduce the impact of the ongoing pandemic, better prepare for future shocks, and address long-standing weaknesses and inequalities. Theme: “Tran

UN Food Systems Summit 2021

UN Food Systems Summit 2021 The Ministry of Agricultural and Farmers Welfare recently conducted a National Dialogue on UN Food Systems Summit, 2021. About UN Food Systems Summit,2021: The first-ever UN Food Systems Summit is expected to be held in September 2021. The summit will aim to strategize the actions for positive change in Agri-food systems in the world. It will help to realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Summit will focus on levers and

India-UK agree for Nirav Modi's Extradition to India

India-UK agree for Nirav Modi's Extradition to India The U.K.’s Home Department has recently approved the extradition of Nirav Modi to India in connection with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud. About Extradition: Extradition is the formal process of surrendering an individual from one state to another state. The aim of the process is prosecution or punishment for crimes committed by an individual in the requesting country’s jurisdiction. The extradition of a fug

Cuba after the Castros

Cuba after the Castros Introduction The retirement of Raul Castro as the first secretary of Cuba’s ruling Communist Party brings to an end the six-decade-long rule of the “historic generation”, who, under the leadership of Fidel Castro, captured power in 1959 through an armed revolution. Background Fidel remained at the helm of affairs in the island, in the face of growing hostility from the U.S. until he fell sick in 2006. In 2008 later, he handed the p

Ordinance route of the government- issue repromulgation

Ordinance route of the government- issue promulgation Introduction The central government has promulgated the ordinance that establishes the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020. About ordinance The Constitution permits the central and State governments to make laws when Parliament (or the State Legislature) is not in session (U/A.123 and 213). As law making is a legislative function, this power is provided f

Eatsmart Cities Challenge and Transport 4 All Challenge by Govt

Eatsmart Cities Challenge and Transport 4 All Challenge by Govt The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has recently launched the EatSmart Cities Challenge and Transport 4 All Challenge. About EatSmart Cities Challenge: EatSmart Cities Challenge is organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The challenge is organised in association with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It aims to motivate Smart

India on US’s Currency Watch list

India on US’s Currency Watch list The US treasury places India along with 10 other countries on its currency watch list. What is Currency Manipulator: Current Manipulators are countries engaging in “unfair currency practices” by deliberately devaluing their currency against the dollar. The practice would mean that the country in question is artificially lowering the value of its currency. By that, it aims to gain an unfair advantage over others. This is because

State of World Population Report 2021 by UN Population Fund

State of World Population Report 2021 by UN Population Fund The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently released its report “State of World Population Report 2021” titled ‘My Body is My Own. About State of World Population Report 2021: The State of World Population is an annual report published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Bodily autonomy is the first time the focus of the report. It is defined as the power and agency to make choices abou

Digital Repository on Health, Nutrition- Poshan Gyan- Released

Digital Repository on Health, Nutrition- Poshan Gyan- Released NITI Aayog has launched a platform named “Poshan Gyan”. About Poshan Gyan: Niti Aayog launched Poshan Gyan in partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University. It is a National Digital Repository on health and nutrition. Key Features: It is a comprehensive online resource for anybody working in the nutrition sector in India. It

Online Grievance Management Portal for Scheduled Castes by NCSC

Online Grievance Management Portal for Scheduled Castes by NCSC National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) recently launched an Online Grievance Management Portal for Scheduled Castes .in the country About Online Grievance Management Portal: The Portal will allow submission of complaints about atrocities against the Scheduled Castes. The portal also allows users to track the progress of their complaints. It was developed in collaboration with the Bhaskaracharya Institute for S

2021- Raisina Dialogue

2021- Raisina Dialogue The Prime Minister delivered a video address at the Inaugural Session of the Raisina Dialogue. About Raisina Dialogue: Raisina Dialogue is an annual multilateral conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation have been jointly organizing it since 2016. The conference discusses cooperation on the most challenging international policy matters. It involves a variety of global policymakers in

US imposed sanctions on Russia

The US imposed sanctions on Russia The United States announced sanctions against Russia on Thursday and the expulsion of 10 diplomats in retaliation for what Washington says is the Kremlin’s U.S. election interference, a massive cyberattack and other hostile activity. President Joe Biden’s broadside against Russia came the same week as he offered to meet President Vladimir Putin for their first summit. In an executive order, Mr Biden widened restrictions on U.S. banks tradi

Indo-Pacific v/s. Greater Eurasian Alliance

Indo-Pacific v/s. Greater Eurasian Alliance Introduction This article talks about the rising tensions between the major powers which are the USA, Russia and China and the importance of the 4 nations which will decide the future of the multipolar world order. 4 nations to script the emerging World order Japan, Iran, Turkey and India are well set to shape the emerging world order USA on the Indo-Pacific region USA considers the

Covid-19 dynamics- Important data and solutions

Covid-19 dynamics- Important data and solutions Introduction This article talks about the rapid rise of the covid-19 in the second wave, its major reasons, data and the steps to be taken. Infection dynamics Earlier, we concluded that at the end of the first wave, 60% of the population had been infected (828 million). The uninfected 40% would be 1,380 million minus 828 million = 552 million. According to a recent Indian Council of Medical Research report, the reinfection

Roots of decentered International world order

Roots of decentered International world order Introduction The International Institute for Strategic Studies puts the overall estimate of China’s military budget at $230 billion. The primary geopolitical rivals, namely Russia and China may possibly provide the strategic and tactical counterbalance to the hegemony of America. Moreover, the international order is under threat of the rising economic power of the BRICS nations, with China dominating in its economic and military

WHO guidelines to control Transmission of Zoonotic Diseases

WHO guidelines to control Transmission of Zoonotic Diseases The World Health Organization(WHO), World Organization for Animal Health and United Nations Environment Programme jointly released guidelines to control “Zoonotic Diseases” for governments. Guidelines ask to reduce the risk of transmission of zoonotic pathogens to humans in food production and marketing chains. What are Zoonotic Diseases? Zoonosis is an infectious disease that jumps from a non-human anima

Mandatory Gold Hallmarkings

Mandatory Gold Hallmarking The government said that it is fully prepared to implement the mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts from June 1, 2021. What is Gold hallmarking? Gold hallmarking is a purity certification of precious metal. At present, It is voluntary in nature. Gold Hallmarking in India: In 2019, the Government announced that hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts will be made mandatory across the country. The government had given jewelle

Jordan's 100th Anniversary as a Kingdom

100th anniversary of the Kingdom of Jordan PM recently congratulated King Abdullah II on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Kingdom of Jordan. He emphasized the importance of the region and applauded Jordan as a powerful voice and a global symbol of moderation and inclusivity. He appreciated Aqaba Process has contributed to promoting coordination on regional peace and security. The Aqaba Process is an initiative by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan to enhance global

Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) of USA in Lakshadweep and its issues

Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) of USA in Lakshadweep and its issues Introduction On April 7,2020- the U.S.’s 7th Fleet Destroyer, the USS John Paul Jones, conducted a ‘Freedom of Navigation Operation’ 130 nautical miles west of the Lakshadweep Islands inside India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Issue with FONOP View of USA: Not only was this exercise conducted without requesting India’s consent, but the U.S. 7th Fleet noted in its pre

LGBTQ+ justice-Siras Act

LGBTQ+ justice-Siras Act Introduction A law to accord an ex post facto pardon to those who were convicted under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) would do poetic justice to the LGBTQ+ community and Professor Ramachandra Siras. What happened to Siras? What happened to Siras is a perfect example of the persecution faced by the LGBTQ+ community in India. He was a Professor and head of the Department of Modern Indian Languages at Aligarh Muslim University. On a wi

Sushil Chandra -24th CEC

Sushil Chandra -24th CEC Context  Sushil Chandra assumed charge as the 24th Chief Election Commissioner of India, succeeding  Sunil Arora. About: Shri Sushil Chandra has been serving in the Commission as Election Commissioner since 15 February 2019. He is also Member of the Delimitation Commission since 18th February 2020 looking after the Delimitation of Jammu Kashmir UT. Having held several posts in the Income-Tax Department for nearly 39 years, Sh Sushil C

Women and Men in India Report, 2020

Women and Men in India Report, 2020 The National Statistical Office released the Women and Men in India report, in 2020. About Women and Men in India Report, 2020: NSO produces this report annually. This is the 22nd issue in its series. The report consolidates the crucial socio-economic indicators that portray gender situations in the country. Key Findings from the Report: Population and Related Statistics: India’s projected population in 2021 is 136.13 Crore wi

Raisina Dialogue 2021

Raisina Dialogue 2021 What is Raisina Dialogue? It is a multilateral conference held annually in New Delhi, India. Since its inception in 2016, the conference has emerged as India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics. The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation, an independent think tank, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs of India. The conference is structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion, involving

Violence in Northern Ireland (UK)

Violence in Northern Ireland (UK) Recently, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom (UK) saw the worst violence in years. Parts of Northern Ireland are split along sectarian lines, 23 years after a peace deal largely ended Northern Ireland's troubles. Reasons behind the Violence Geographically, Northern Ireland is part of Ireland. Politically, it’s part of the UK. Ireland, long dominated by the UK, broke free about 100 years ago after ce

COVID-19 response plan

COVID-19 response plan Introduction While leaders are debating whether India is experiencing a second wave or Delhi is experiencing a fourth wave, the virus is spreading rapidly across the country, helped by the more infectious variants that arrived from abroad or emerged at home as a ‘double mutant’. Changes, a year on There are several differences from the pandemic which we experienced in 2020, both in its spread and in our response. The virus affected relati

Freedom of Navigation Operation (FPNOP) by US near Lakshadweep

Freedom of Navigation Operation (FPNOP) by US near Lakshadweep Introduction India’s strategic community was agitated last week when the USS John Paul Jones carried out a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) 130 nautical miles west of the Lakshadweep Islands. Indian observers reacted with shock and dismay at what some described as an unnecessary provocation by the U.S. Navy. The disquiet in Delhi was heightened by an unusual press release by the Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet,

India’s South Asian opportunity

India’s South Asian opportunity The realisation to India-Pakistan animosity The statement issued by the Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan, in late February, that they agree to strictly observe all agreements between the two countries, coincided with a statement made by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Colombo that “our only dispute is Kashmir and it can only be resolved through dialogue.” This was later strongly endorsed by Pakista

Vienna talks- USA and Iran

Vienna talks- USA and Iran Introduction U.S. and Iran should rebuild the lost trust and resolve the nuclear crisis before time runs out Vienna talks The Vienna talks between the remaining members of the Iran nuclear deal — China, Russia, the U.K., France, Germany and Iran — have raised hopes for the revival of the agreement from which then President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. in May 2018. After the initial round of talks, European and Iranian d

Lab on Wheels Programme by Delhi Technological University

Lab on Wheels Programme by DelhiTechnological University Delhi Education Minister inaugurated Delhi Technological University (DTU) Lab on Wheels programme. About Lab on Wheels Programme: The Programme aims to impart education in the fields of Mathematics and Science. Especially the students from marginalised and poor economic backgrounds. The programme aims to stimulate their interest in these subjects while pursuing higher education. The programme becomes mutually benef

SC's Verdict: People are Free to Choose Religion

SC's  Verdict: People are Free to Choose Religion The Supreme Court refused to entertain a PIL seeking directions to the Centre to ban black magic, superstition, and deceitful religious conversion. What was the case filed? A petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking to control black magic, superstition & mass religious conversion of SC/STs. The petition also mentions the religious conversions through intimidation, threats & gifts. The plea argued that such fo

AICTE's “Lilavati Awards” 2020

AICTE's “Lilavati Awards” 2020 Union Minister of Education has presented the AICTE Lilavati Awards 2020 on women empowerment to the winners. About Lilavati Awards: Lilavati Award is an initiative of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). It aims to recognise efforts by AICTE-approved institutions to treat women with equality and fairness. The award has got its name after the 12th-century book called “Lilavati”. The Mathematician Bhaska

China – Sri Lanka relations

China – Sri Lanka relations China on Monday signed a $500 million loan agreement with Sri Lanka, in a move that Colombo hopes would boost its foreign reserves that are under severe strain since the pandemic struck last year. This is the second instalment of the $1 billion loan sought by Sri Lanka last year. The first was released in March 2020, just as the pandemic hit Sri Lanka. The approval comes a month after Sri Lanka obtained a currency swap facility from China for $1.5 bil

India - Denmark MoU on Atal Innovation Mission

India - Denmark MoU on Atal Innovation Mission As part of the Indo-Danish bilateral Green strategic partnership, India is all set to take a giant leap towards building a world-class innovation ecosystem as Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of India’s premier policy think tank NITI Aayog and Embassy of Denmark to India today officially announced their collaboration. Under this ambitious partnership, Innovation Center Denmark in India will collaborate with AIM to support various cu

Afghanistan crisis for UPSC

Afghanistan crisis for UPSC Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- IR  Historical Background The Saur Revolution had taken place in Afghanistan in 1978 which installed a communist party in power. Nur Muhammad Taraki became the head of the state replacing the previous president Daoud Khan. Taraki’s government introduced many modernisation reforms that were considered too radical and left them unpopular, especially in the rural areas and with the trad

Judicial Appointments

Judicial Appointments Context: CJI Sharad A. Bobde had recommended Justice Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana, the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court, for appointment as the 48th Chief Justice of India. About NV Ramana: Student leader working for farmers and industrial workers to journalist for a leading Telugu newspaper to a first-generation lawyer. He was Additional Advocate General for Andhra Pradesh before being called to the State High Court Bench in 2001. Justice Ramana was

People are Free to Choose Religion: Supreme Court

People are Free to Choose Religion: Supreme Court The Supreme Court refused to entertain a PIL seeking directions to the Centre to ban black magic, superstition, and deceitful religious conversion. About the case in the SC A petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking to control black magic, superstition & mass religious conversion of SC/STs. The petition also mentions the religious conversions through intimidation, threats & gifts. The plea argued that such forceful re

EU to Support Southeast Asia against Climate Change

EU's Support to Southeast Asia against Climate Change The European Union (EU) has earmarked millions of euros for supporting climate-friendly development in Southeast Asia after the EU became a “strategic partner” of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc in December 2020. Other Talking Points Multilateral Assistance: The EU is the largest provider of development assistance to the ASEAN region and has committed millions of e

Online Dispute Resolution in India

Online Dispute Resolution in India NITI Aayog recently released a handbook on the Online Dispute Resolution mechanism. ODR has the potential to decentralize, diversify, democratize, and disentangle the justice delivery mechanism in India’s courts. Present Scenario in India’s Courts & Associated Issues The pendency of over 40 million cases in our judicial system remains a focal point for reform and reduction. This pendency makes a strong case for online dispute

Global Minimum Corporate Income Tax

Global Minimum Corporate Income Tax The US Treasury Secretary has urged the world’s 20 advanced nations to move in the direction of adopting a global minimum corporate income tax. What is the Global Minimum Corporate Tax Rate? It is a type of corporate tax. Under this, If a company moves some of its operations to another country having low-tax jurisdiction, then the company have to pay the difference between that minimum rate and whatever the firm paid on its overseas earnin

Meeting of Education Ministers of E9 Countries

Meeting of Education Ministers of E9 Countries Recently, a consultation meeting of Education Ministers of E9 countries was held on the theme ‘E9 initiative: Scaling up digital learning to accelerate progress towards SDG4’. Major Highlights The United Nations (UN) is spearheading a global initiative on digital learning and skills for all, targeting marginalized children and youth and aiming to close the digital divide and drive rapid chan

China – Pakistan relations

China – Pakistan relations In a joint statement, the two countries said they would “firmly safeguard multilateralism and support the central role of the United Nations in international affairs.” China and Pakistan have pledged to back each other’s “core and major interests” in the United Nations after holding bilateral consultations on UN affairs. Both countries, which describe their relationship officially as one of “all-weather partners&rdqu

Post Matric Scholarship scheme for Scheduled Castes

Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had revamped the post-matric scholarship scheme earlier for students from the Scheduled Castes (SCs), including a new funding pattern of 60-40 for the Centre and States. Equality in the Constitution Equality enshrined in the Constitution is not mathematical equality and does not mean all citizens will be treated alike without any distinction. To this effect, the Constitution underlines two di

India-Seychelles Virtual Meet

India-Seychelles Virtual Meet Recently, the Prime Minister of India will take part in a high-level virtual event with the President of the Republic of Seychelles & jointly inaugurated several Indian projects in Seychelles. Major Highlights Seychelles is central to India’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ – ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region. During times of need, India was able to supply essential medicines and 50,000 doses of Mad

Pakistan’s resuming trade ties with India

Pakistan’s resuming trade ties with India Reason for Pakistan’s resumption of trade with India Pakistan’s double U-turn on resuming trade with India highlights the internal differences within Ministries, between business and political communities, and the emphasis on politics over economy and trade. It also signifies Pakistan cabinet’s grandstanding, linking normalisation of ties with India to Jammu and Kashmir. On March 31, Pakistan’s new Finance Mini

Why should the electoral bonds scheme go?

Why should the electoral bonds scheme go? Introduction For the last three years, electoral bonds have been the dominant method of political party funding in India. In their design and operation, they allow for limitless and anonymous corporate donations to political parties. For this reason, they are deeply destructive of democracy, and violate core principles of the Indian Constitution. A blow against democracy No right to know: And there is no piece of information more

Project REHAB

Project REHAB Khadi and Village Industries Commission(KVIC) has launched a unique project called Project REHAB (Reducing Elephant – Human Attacks using Bees). About Project REHAB: Project RE-HAB stands for Reducing Elephant-Human Attacks using Bees. It is an initiative of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). The project has been launched as a sub-mission of KVIC’s National Honey Mission. It intends to create “bee fences” to thwart elephant a

India-Netherlands Virtual Summit

India-Netherlands Virtual Summit Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in a virtual meeting discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte. During the Summit, the two leaders exchanged views on further expanding the relationship in trade and economy, water management, agriculture sector, smart cities, science & technology, healthcare and space. The two Prime Ministers also agreed on instituting a ‘Strategic Partnersh

Jal Jeevan Mission: Working Mechanism & Governance

Jal Jeevan Mission: Working Mechanism & Governance Jal Jeevan Mission – Har Ghar Jal announced on 15th August 2019, to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural home by 2024, which is in its third year of implementation. National Jal Jeevan Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti will soon roll out the annual planning exercise with States. The working mechanism is as follows: While implementing, States/ UTs are to give priority to water quality-affected

IMF's World Economic Outlook Report- 2021

IMF's World Economic Outlook Report- 2021 The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook has raised its Financial Year (FY) 2021 growth forecast for India to 12.5% from 11.5% estimated earlier in January 2021. Highlights of the Report: Indian economy is expected to grow by 12.5% in 2021 and 6.9% in 2022. In 2020, India’s economy witnessed an estimated contraction of 8%. The growth rate for India in 2021 is st

Kazakhstan and India- Defence Minister Bilateral Talks

Kazakhstan and India- Defence Minister Bilateral Talks The Defence Minister of Kazakhstan visited India recently with a focus on boosting bilateral defence cooperation. Both countries share common interests of actively combating the threat of global terrorism and maintaining peace.  The meet will enable greater military to military contact and cooperation between Kazakhstan and India. India – Kazakhstan Relations:     Relations between India and Kaz

Iran to enrich Uranium to 60%, the highest ever

Iran to enrich Uranium to 60%, the highest ever What is JCPOA? About Iran nuclear deal? Iran agreed to rein in its nuclear programme in a 2015 deal struck with the US, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) Tehran agreed to significantly cut its stores of centrifuges, enriched uranium and heavy water, all key components for nuclear weapons. The JCPOA established the Joint Commission,&nb

First Meeting of BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors

First Meeting of BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors As 2021 BRICS Chair, India’s approach is focused on strengthening intra-BRICS cooperation based on Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus. BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors discussed the financial cooperation agenda set by India for 2021 - Global Economic Outlook and Response to COVID-19 pandemic, New Development Bank (NDB) Activities, Social Infrastructure Financing and Use of Digital Technologies,

Global Gender Gap Report 2021

Global Gender Gap Report 2021 Global Gender Gap Report 2021 was released recently. Released by World Economic Forum Key takeaways India has fallen 28 places  It is now one of the worst performers in South Asia,  It is ranked below neighbouring countries – Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. India’s rank: 140 among 156 countries. South Asia incidentally is one of the worst performing regions, followed only by the Middle

Supreme court must hold Circuit benches

The Supreme court must hold Circuit benches Introduction It is ironic that it has taken a pandemic to acknowledge the significance of fair and equal access to the Supreme Court through virtual hearings Increasing reach Even at the time the Constitution was being debated by the Constituent Assembly, geographical access to the Supreme Court was flagged as a concern. The B.R. Ambedkar-led Drafting Committee was nevertheless of the view that the Court must have a specified pla

U.S. and China need each other

U.S. and China need each other Introduction U.S. President Joe Biden has called Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean President Kim Jong-un “thugs”, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan an “autocrat” and Russian President Vladimir Putin a “killer”. The public is accustomed to read-outs about conversations between international leaders. These often portray a righteous West instructing the world on how to behave by constructing a media n

Blockchain Enabled Interface for Indian Spices

Blockchain Enabled Interface for Indian Spices Spices Board India and UNDP India's Accelerator Lab sign MoU to develop a blockchain-powered traceability Interface for Indian spices. This new interface will serve to enhance transparency in the supply chain and trade.  India is the largest exporter, producer and consumer of spices in the world. What are Blockchains? Blockchains are a new data structure that is secure, cryptography-based

Phase III eCourts Project of Supreme Court

Phase III eCourts Project of Supreme Court In another major initiative, the eCommittee Supreme Court has prepared the draft vision document for Phase III of the eCourts Project under the auspices of the Supreme court of India. E-Courts Project is a mission mode project undertaken by the Department of Justice, Government of India. The eCommittee Supreme Court of India yesterday released the Draft Vision document for Phase III of the aforementioned e-Courts Project. The eCommit

Stand Up India Scheme

Stand Up India Scheme Stand up India Scheme was launched on 5th April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at grassroots level focusing on economic empowerment and job creation. This scheme has been extended up to the year 2025. The objective of Stand-Up India is to promote entrepreneurship amongst women, Scheduled Castes (SC) & Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories, to help them in starting a greenfield enterprise in the trading, manufacturing and services sector, by both ready and trainee b

PLI Scheme for White Goods

PLI Scheme for White Goods Taking another important step towards the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods (Air Conditioners and LED Lights) with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 6,238 crores. The prime objective of the PLI scheme is to make manufacturing in India globally competitive by removing sectoral disabilities, creating economies of scale and ensu

PLI scheme: 'National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules'

PLI scheme: 'National Programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules The Cabinet has approved the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy's proposal for the implementation of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme 'National Programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV (Photo Voltic) Modules' for achieving manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in high-efficiency solar PV modules with an outlay of Rs.4,500 crore. Analysis of PLI Scheme on Solar PV Modules

India contributes $300,000 to UN Women

India contributes $300,000 to UN Women  India recently announced the contribution of USD 300,000 to the UN Women to support gender equality and women empowerment. About UN Women: UN Women is the United Nations entity, dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. Headquartered in New York. Established in 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly to accelerate the progress in meeting women’s needs worldwide. It was formed by merging the four p

National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 Released

National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 Released The Union Health Ministry recently released the policy. Rare Diseases: WHO defines a rare disease as a lifelong disease or disorder that often highly weakens an individual. It has a prevalence of 1 or less per 1000 population. Example: Haemophilia, Thalassemia, Sickle cell anaemia, and auto-immune diseases among others. However, every country has its own definition of rare diseases. The US  defines rare diseases as a disease o

National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021

Rare diseases in India According to the government, so far only about 450 diseases have been recorded in India from tertiary care hospitals that are globally considered rare diseases. The most commonly reported diseases include Haemophilia, Thalassemia, Sickle-cell Anaemia and Primary Immuno Deficiency in children, auto-immune diseases, and Lysosomal storage disorders such as Pompe disease, Hirschsprung disease, Gaucher’s disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Hemangiomas and certain forms of m

President Biden Revokes Immigrant Ban

President Biden Revokes Immigrant Ban In 2020 the US President imposed a ban on H-1B visas. The current US President decided to reverse the ban & allowed a 2020 ban to expire on March 31st. About the 2020 H1-B Visa Ban: In 2020, the previous US President signed an executive order suspending the entry of H-1B and other foreign work visa holders. This decision was to protect American jobs after the Covid-19 pandemic impacts. However, the ban did not have its intended impact.

17th BIMSTEC Summit- Key Talking Points

17th BIMSTEC Summit- Key Talking Points India’s External Affairs Minister recently attended the 17th ministerial meet of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries. About the Ministerial Meet: Sri Lanka Chaired the 17th Ministerial Meeting. Dr. S. Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to take BIMSTEC forward. About BIMSTEC: BIMSTEC is a regional organization consisting of members from So

AIM-PRIME

AIM-PRIME AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers on Innovations, Market-Readiness & Entrepreneurship) aims to translate science-based deep-tech research to startups & ventures across India. Partners - Atal Innovation Mission has joined hands with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to launch this initiative, which will be implemented by Venture Center, a technology business incubator. Beneficiaries - The program is open to technology developers (early-stage deep t

Global Gender Gap Index 2021

Global Gender Gap Index 2021 This Index was released by the World Economic Forum in 2006. The Gender Gap Index acts as a compass to track the progress on their toward gender parity of the countries in four areas, Political Empowerment, Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment and Health and Survival. It examines the drivers of gender gaps and outlines the policies and practices needed for a gender-inclusive recovery. The index scores th

Food Waste Index 2021

Food Waste Index 2021 The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report aims to advance progress on the Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 SDG 12.3 aims at halving per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reducing food losses along production and supply chains. This report presents food waste data collection, analysis and modelling to date, generating a new estimate of global food waste. It publishes a methodology for countries to measure

Investment Opportunities in India’s Healthcare Sector Report- NITI Aayog

Investment Opportunities in India’s Healthcare Sector Report- NITI Aayog Highlights of the Report: The report outlines the investment opportunities in various segments of India’s healthcare sector. This includes hospitals, medical devices and equipment, health insurance, telemedicine, home healthcare, and medical value travel. India’s Healthcare Industry: Healthcare Sector Growth Rate: India’s healthcare industry is growing at a Growth Rate&nbs

China-Iran increasing ties

China-Iran increasing ties GS-Paper-2: International issue and Political science Optional – UPSC PRELIMS – Mains Application Context: China and Iran have signed a 25-year "strategic cooperation pact” which includes "political-economic and strategic components". The agreement comes as a major push from China to back Iran to deal with the continuing weight of sanctions reinstated by the US after its withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal

India’s 2021 economic output-below 2019 level: UN report

India’s 2021 economic output below 2019 level: UN report GS-Paper-3: Economic issue and Economics Optional – UPSC PRELIMS – Mains Application Context: India, according to the 'Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021: Towards post-COVID-19 resilient economies', is estimated to record economic growth of 7 per cent in 2021-22, over a contraction of 7.7 per cent witnessed in the previous fiscal on account of the pandemic's impact on normal business

DSIR-PRISM Scheme

DSIR-PRISM Scheme DSIR-PRISM Scheme will be aligned with three National Initiatives like Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), Smart India Hackathon (SIH) and Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG), IIT Delhi. Dept. of Scientific and Industrial Research - Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Startups and MSMEs (DSIR-PRISM) scheme supports individual innovators enabling inclusive development of India. It aims at transforming an innovator into a technopreneur by promoting and funding implementable

National Capital Territory of Delhi Amendment Bill, 2021

National Capital Territory of Delhi Amendment Bill, 2021 The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) moved the NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to the Lok Sabha where it proposed that “government” in Delhi means the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Key Provisions: Delhi’s present status is a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly - an outcome of the 69th Amendment Act.  The act introduced Articles 239AA and 239BB in the Constitution. They have cre

Global Wind Report 2021

Global Wind Report 2021 The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has released the Global Wind Report, 2021. About Global Wind Report: The Global Wind Report highlights the role of wind power on the road to net zero emissions. Key Findings of the report: The world’s capacity to generate electricity from wind jumped 53% in 2020. A total of 93 gigawatts (GW) capacity was installed in the year. However, this is not sufficient for the world to reach a ‘net

Heart of Asia Peace Conference

Heart of Asia Peace Conference India’s Foreign Minister is attending the 9th ministerial conference of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.  About Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process: It is a regional initiative of Afghanistan and the Republic of Turkey. It was launched in November 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey. The process aims to promote economic and political cooperation for Afghanistan's peace through dialogue and confidence-building


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01 Feb,2024
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