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Law to ban Cryptocurrencies India plans to introduce a law to ban private cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and put in place a framework for an official digital currency to be issued by the central bank, according to a legislative agenda listed by the government. The law will “create a facilitative framework for the creation of the official digital currency to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI),” the agenda, published on the lower house website on Fri
How Neutrinos help in the death of massive stars? Many stars, towards the end of their lifetimes, form supernovas - massive explosions that send their outer layers shooting into the surrounding space. Most of the energy of the supernova is carried away by neutrinos – tiny particles with no charge and which interact weakly with matter. Researching the mechanisms of the so called Type II supernovas, a team from IIT Guwahati has come up with new insights into the part played by n
Analysis of Green Tax Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced his Ministry’s approval of a ‘green tax’ on vehicles of specified vintage, as a means of dissuading people from using polluting vehicles. Among the major features of the measure is a 10%-25% additional green tax on the road tax payable by commercial transport vehicles that are older than eight years at the time of fitness certification renewal, and for personal vehicles after 15 years. The po
China’s nuclear power plant China National Nuclear Corporation said its first nuclear power unit that uses Hualong One, a third-generation reactor, started commercial operation. The reactor, located in Fuqing city in China’s southeastern Fujian province, was designed to have a 60-year lifespan, with its core equipment domestically produced. Each unit of the Hualong No. 1 has a capacity of 1.161 million kilowatts and can meet the annual domestic electricity demand of 1 million p
President’s Address to Parliament 2021 Honourable Members, This joint sitting of Parliament which is being held during the time of the Coronavirus pandemic has great significance. It is the beginning of a new year and a new decade. We will also be entering the 75th year of India’s independence this year. All the Members of Parliament present here today embody the conviction held by every Indian that the toughest of challenges will deter neither us nor India. Whe
Key Highlights of Economic Survey 2020-21 Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey 2020-21 in Parliament today. The key highlights of Economic Survey 2020-21, which is dedicated to the COVID Warriors, are as follows: Saving Lives and Livelihoods amidst a Once-in-a-Century Crisis India focused on saving lives and livelihoods by its willingness to take short-term pain for long-term gain, at the onset of the COVID-19 pan
Funding for NGOs The Union Home Ministry has laid down a charter for banks which says that “donations received in Indian rupees” by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations from “any foreign source even if that source is located in India at the time of such donation” should be treated as “foreign contribution”. As per the existing rules, all banks have to report to the Central government within 48 hours the “receipt or utilisation o
Dr. C. Subrahmanyan Birth Anniversary The year 1910 was very significant for India and science. This was the year two great Indian stars, the astrophysicist, Dr. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, or SC, and C. Subramaniam, or CS, were born. 30th January is the 111th birth anniversary of CS. Dr. Chandrasekhar was concerned about processes of importance in the evolution of stars in the universe. Mr. Subramaniam was concerned about the problem of food security in India. He sowed the seeds o
Novavax American company Novavax, whose COVID-19 vaccine is set to be made in large numbers by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), has reported that its vaccine has proved to have 89% efficacy in preventing the infection in some trial volunteers in the United Kingdom. However, the efficacy dropped to 60% when it was tested in volunteers in South Africa, a likely consequence of a mutant coronavirus variant that is now deep-rooted there. Since December, scientists have raised
Analysis of COVID-19 situation in 2021 The course of the coronavirus pandemic in the new year presents a picture of contrasts, with some rich countries running out of vaccines, experiencing a tide of new cases and deaths, and poorer countries going without access to vaccination, while India reports a case decline. Vaccine hesitancy may even be wasting precious vials in some States. Amidst suggestions that the worst is over, the Home Ministry has proposed further relaxations in the proto
Analysis of the Whatsapp and its Monopoly There are ongoing investigations worldwide, including in the European Union and the United States, on the abuse of monopolistic power by the Big Tech firms, especially Facebook and Google. Many compare this with the earlier antitrust investigations in the U.S. on the telecom industry and the break-up of the AT&T dictated by the Department of Justice in its Modified Final Judgment in 1982. What is different this time? However, there a
Vaccines are safe for those who are on blood thinners: ICMR Both COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use in India — Covaxin and Covishield — are safe for people on blood thinners, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Balram Bhargav said on Thursday. At a Health Ministry press conference, he said manufacturers of both the vaccines had approached the Drugs Controller-General of India (DCGI) for revision of this contraindication on their fact sheets.
COVID-19 “performance index” New Zealand and Vietnam were ranked the best performing countries in their response to the pandemic, according to a COVID-19 “performance index” put together by the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank, which sought to assess the impact of geography, political systems and economic development in assessing outcomes. The index, which was based on six different indicators, including confirmed cases and deaths per million people and th
Republic Day violence: Analysis The chaos and mindless violence unleashed on the national capital by a section of protesting farmers on Republic Day were abhorrent. It is plausible that agents provocateurs infiltrated the farmers’ march but that does not absolve the leaders of responsibility. The chances of fatigued agitators breaking loose were high as were the possibilities of vested interests triggering violence. The leaders of the agitation should have taken note of the div
Draft Science Policy, 2020 On March 4, 1958, under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, for the first time in the history of independent India, Parliament passed a resolution on science policy. The resolution stated: “Science... has provided new tools of thought and has extended man’s mental horizon. It has thus influenced even the basic values of life, and given to civilization a new vitality and a new dynamism.” The resolution said the aim of the scientific polic
Analysis of Oxfam: Inequality Virus Report Inequality in India has risen to levels last seen when it was colonised. The additional wealth acquired by India’s 100 billionaires since March when the lockdown was imposed is enough to give every one of the 138 million poorest ?94,045, according to the Oxfam: Inequality Virus Report. An unskilled worker in India would take three years to earn what the country’s richest person earned in one second last year, the report calculate
Economic Survey 2021 The forthcoming Economic Survey will tell us about the state of the economy based on available empirical evidence. The first advance estimates of national income published on January 7 project a contraction of 7.7% for real GDP. The Q2 GDP estimates published by the National Statistical Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) on November 27 had suggested an economic recovery in India. An improvement in the rate of contraction from 2
Meghalaya Illegal Mining According to available government data, Meghalaya has a total coal reserve of 640 million tonnes, most of which is mined unscientifically by individuals and communities. In 2011–12, rat-hole mines produced about 10 million tonnes of coal. This large coal production in a small state had a devastating impact on the environment. Some of the areas of Coal mining in Meghalaya are Ksan in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills What is a rat hole
New Scrapping Policy The Centre’s proposed policy to raise road tax on vehicles of a certain age from April 1 next year has the potential to renew a big part of India’s vehicular fleet, reducing air pollution, raising fuel efficiency, and improving safety standards. It has taken the government years to finalise a “tax on clunkers” proposal, under which commercial transport vehicles will have to pay 10%-25% extra on road tax after eight years when renewing the fit
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 3.0 and Analysis On January 15, 2021, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 3.0. PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana was launched in 2015. It is an outcome-based and demand-driven skill training scheme. The objective is skill certification and reward schemes. It is implemented by the Center along with states. This is the third phase of the scheme to give a boost to ski
India’s growth rate for 2021: IMF The IMF on Tuesday projected an 11.5% growth rate for India in 2021, making the country the only major economy to register double-digit growth this year amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Monetary Fund’s growth projections for India reflected a rebound in the economy, which is estimated to have contracted by 8% in 2020 due to the pandemic. China is next with 8.1% growth in 2021 followed by Spain (5.9%) and France (5.5%). The IM
Green Tax The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has approved a proposal to levy a ‘green tax’ on old vehicles. Personal vehicles will be charged a tax at the time of renewal of Registration Certification after 15 years. The policy will come into effect from April 1, 2022. Provisions The levy may differ depending on fuel (petrol/diesel) and type of vehicle. The proposal will now go to the States for consultation before it is formally notified. It
Budget during COVID-19 India’s GDP is estimated at ? 200 lakh crore. The first priority for spending should be health and infrastructure. India has only five beds for 10,000 Indians and ranks 155th on bed availability in the Human Development Report of 2020. Experts opine that the government should increase healthcare spending from 1.5% of the GDP to 2.5%. The National Infrastructure Pipeline https://www.aspireias.com/daily-news-analysis-current-affairs/National-Infrastruc
Inequality Virus Report: Oxfam Indian billionaires increased their wealth by 35% to ?3 trillion during the lockdown, ranking them behind their counterparts in U.S., China, Germany, Russia and France, says the “Inequality Virus Report” brought out by Oxfam, a non-profit organisation. The rise in fortunes of the top 100 billionaires is enough to give every one of the 138 million poorest Indian people a cheque for ?94,045, the report released on the opening day of the World Eco
SpaceX creates a new world record after launching 143 satellites on a single rocket SpaceX, an aerospace company, has beaten the record of the Indian Space Research Organisation- ISRO where it deployed 104 satellites in February 2017 in a single launch. The reusable rocket launched 143 satellites to space which are part of the SmallSat Rideshare program of SpaceX from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Status of Education in India during COVID-19 On January 24, we celebrated the third edition of the International Day of Education, a day proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to honour education and its value to humanity and sustainable development. Our theme for 2021, ‘Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation’, places an emphasis on the way the pandemic has negatively affected learning outcomes for students globally and how we should innovate
Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) NBFCs are Companies registered under the Companies Act, 1956 engaged in giving loans; acquisition of shares, stocks, bonds, debentures & securities issued by Govt or local authorities; leasing higher purchase insurance, chit fund business.. It does not include any institution whose principle business is Agriculture, Industry, buying or selling of goods other than security or providing any services and sale and
Agriculture Credit and Institutional role in Agriculture Forms of Agriculture Credit Scheduled Commercial Banks are the largest credit providers followed by Cooperatives and Regional Rural Banks. Collateral Free Agri Loan has been increased to 1.6 lakhs. Crop loan up to Rs. 3 lakhs at 7% Rate of Interest and 3% Interest subvention for those who pay loan on time. Kisan Credit Card, 1998-99 KCC is for all type of credit needs in Agri and allied sector. It is implemented
Draft policy to help grow nano, micro-enterprises Udyog Sahayak Enterprises Network put together by FICCI, TISS and Azim Premji University A new policy on the anvil, the Udyog Sahayak Enterprises Network (USENET), may give a major fillip to the growth-stunted nano and micro-enterprises in India’s informal sector. The proposed framework, whose draft was jointly put together by the Azim Premji University, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and the T
Defence procurement for India The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is scheduled to deliver the first batch of three indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) to Army and Air Force before March 31. They are part of the 15 Limited Series Production (LSP) LCH helicopters approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). Early this month, the Defence Ministry said in its annual report the contracts for the procurement of the LCH from HAL, additional Harop (P-IV) loitering drones from
Sunderbans is home to 428 species of birds, says ZSI The Indian Sunderbans, which is part of the largest mangrove forest in the world, is home to 428 species of birds, a recent publication of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) states. The publication, Birds of the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, released earlier this month by the ZSI, not only documents the avifauna of the Sunderbans, but also serves as a comprehensive photographic field guide, with detailed distribution and locality
Prison Tourism Project of Maharashtra The State government will open to visitors jails which once held freedom fighters The Maharashtra government is set to launch “jail tourism” under which historically significant jails in Maharashtra, which are still being used as penal centres, will be opened to visitors to see the barracks where freedom fighters were imprisoned by the British. “Pune’s Yerawada Jail will be opened for first-of-its-kind jail touris
National Security Directive for Telecom sector Under the security directive, operators will have to buy equipment from trusted sources. Telecom firms have asked the government to clarify about the entity that will be held liable in the event of a security breach in the network post implementation of the National Security Directive (NSD) in the telecom sector. A meeting was called to work on the road map for trusted products by the NSCS. Telcos wanted the government to come out with cl
Flash Droughts What are Flash droughts? Flash droughts are those that occur very quickly, with soil moisture depleting rapidly. Normally, developing drought conditions take months, but these happen within a week or two weeks’ time. Several factors including atmospheric anomalies, and anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions play an important role. In 1979, India faced a severe flash drought, affecting about 40% of the country and taking a toll on agriculture. An article p
Romulus’ Krait: New Species of Snake A study of snakes in southern and western India has identified a new species of snake. Named the Romulus’ krait (Bungarus romulusi) after the ‘snake man of India’, Romulus Whittaker, the species has so far remained undetected because of its similarity in appearance to the common krait (B. caeruleus) and only a careful genetic analysis revealed that the two were distinct species. The study also showed that some kraits i
Nikhil Srivastava is joint winner of maths prize Indian mathematician Nikhil Srivastava has been named winner of the prestigious 2021 Michael and Sheila Held Prize along with two others for solving long-standing questions on the Kadison–Singer problem and on Ramanujan graphs. Srivastava from the University of California, Berkeley, Adam Marcus, from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Daniel Alan Spielman from Yale University will receive the 2021 Michael an
How do butterflies fly with such small bodies and large wings? Unlike any other flying animal, butterflies have unusually short, broad and large wings relative to their body size. By studying the aerodynamics of butterflies in a wind tunnel, researchers have now answered this question which has confused lepidopterologists (who study moths and butterflies) for years. The results suggested that butterflies use a clap technique which helps them take off rapidly. “When the wings cla
USA and Paris Climate Deal Joe Biden assumed office as President of the United States on January 20, 2021, and among the first orders he signed was one to restore America’s participation in the United Nations Paris Agreement on climate change. His decision on America’s return will take effect on February 19, which would be 107 days after its withdrawal under the Donald Trump administration became formal on November 4, 2020. Under President Barack Obama, the U.S. played an
COVID-19 vaccines and possible side effects Two COVID-19 vaccines, Covaxin and Covishield, after being granted emergency use authorisation, were rolled out on January 16 across India to inoculate three crore healthcare and frontline workers in the first phase of the vaccination drive. Both the vaccines have been manufactured in India. While Covaxin is produced under a collaboration between Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research, Covishield has been developed by Ast
Nasal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine What is a nasal vaccine? An intranasal vaccine does exactly what it says it does — deliver a vaccine through a spritz through the nostrils. The advantages of this method of vaccine delivery over the injection and oral forms are quite apparent. The method comes with the guarantee of better compliance and the advantage of lower costs. But only clinical trials can determine whether such a vaccine with an easy delivery mechanism can be efficacio
Cambridge Analytica and FB issue The Central Bureau of Investigation has booked Cambridge Analytica (U.K.) Limited and Global Science Research Limited (U.K.) for alleged illegal harvesting of personal data of about 5.62 lakh Indian users on Facebook through an application. It stems from a preliminary enquiry launched by the agency in July 2018 on a complaint from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) following media reports alleging the illegal harvesting of
India’s new draft “Arctic policy” India has unveiled a new draft ‘Arctic’ policy that, among other things, commits to expanding scientific research, “sustainable tourism” and mineral oil and gas exploration in the Arctic region. India expects the Goa-based National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research to lead scientific research and act as a nodal body to coordinate among various scientific bodies to promote domestic scientific research capacities
Analysis of Whatsapp Privacy Policy Data localisation is not the only approach to protecting data privacy. Following an exodus of its users from its messaging service, WhatsApp, to apps such as Signal and Telegram, which promise more privacy options, the Facebook-owned service might have been forced to postpone the date for users to accept its new privacy policy terms to May 15. In just days after the earlier announcement by WhatsApp, Signal has emerged as the leading app on “ap
Analysis of the level of Agriculture support needed in India Sachin Kumar Sharma is an Associate Professor at the Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi. Adept Dobhal is a Research Fellow at the Centre for WTO Studies. The ongoing stalemate between the farmers protesting over the recently passed farm laws and the government has sparked an interesting debate regarding the level of agricultural support. Many media reports, based on data by the Organisation for
CoWIN software enhanced for vaccine rollout An enhancement in Co-WIN software has been introduced to cater to the creation of more session sites, more sessions per site, and a change in site location, which is now allowed. “The enhanced version also allows planning and scheduling the sessions for entire week and works for the enhanced safety of the beneficiaries, tagging of contraindications. These new features are being enabled in vaccinator module,. Health Minister Harsh Vardh
Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 The many States have not been able to provide quality supply, especially to rural and small electricity consumers. The enactment of consumer-centric rules does spark a public debate that brings the rights of consumers to the fore. In this vein, the Rules lay an emphasis on national minimum standards for the performance parameters of electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs), without urban-rural distinction, especially for new co
Farmer Bills and CAA Protests: Comparison After the long silence since 2014, India is now erupting with various collective mobilisations. Last winter, we saw a major movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Shaheen Bagh, and this winter, we witnessed a mobilisation at Delhi’s borders. But though both are against unjust legislation, they have been received differently. What can this difference tell us about political mobilisation and the place of ethics and publ
India sends COVID-19 vaccines to 6 countries: Vaccine diplomacy and SAARC India on Wednesday began the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to six “neighbouring and key partner countries”. They are Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles. The delivery began with two special flights carrying the first consignments of Covishield to the Maldives and Bhutan. Sources said Bangladesh and Nepal will receive two large consignments of the same vaccine on Thursda
Dragonfruit renamed as 'Kamalam' The Gujarat government has decided to rename the dragon fruit as ‘kamalam’, and comments have flooded the Internet and social media platforms. According to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, the fruit’s outer shape resembles a lotus, which is also the election symbol of the BJP. “We have applied for a patent of the dragon fruit to be called ‘kamalam’, Mr Rupani said at the launch of the Chief Minister Hort
Dr. V Shanta passed away A pioneer in cancer care in the country, and the chairperson of the Adyar Cancer Institute, V. Shanta breathed her last in Chennai early on Tuesday morning. She was admitted to Apollo Hospitals after she complained of chest pain on Monday night. She was 93. A crusader for cancer research and making cancer care affordable for all, Dr. Shanta and her mentor S. Krishnamurthi built the Cancer Institute from a cottage hospital into a 500-plus bedde
Analysis of Deepfakes What is Deepfake? Deepfakes — synthetic media, meaning media (including images, audio and video) that are either manipulated or wholly generated by Artificial Intelligence — even have the power to threaten the electoral outcome of the world’s oldest democracy. Deepfake makes it possible to fabricate media — swap faces, lip-syncing, and puppeteers — mostly without consent and bring threat to psychology, security, political stability,
Whatsapp New Privacy Policy What is the news? Center has asked WhatsApp to withdraw the proposed changes to its privacy policy, stating that it raised “grave concerns” over the implications of the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens. The government pointed out that by not giving the option to opt-out of data-sharing with Facebook companies, Indian users were being treated differently from those in Europe. Whether this [the new policy] will enable better provision
E-Commerce rules in India What is the news? India is considering revising its foreign investment rules for e-commerce. This move could compel players, including Amazon.com Inc., to restructure ties with some major sellers. The government discussions coincide with a growing number of complaints from India’s bricks-and-mortar retailers, which have for years accused Amazon and Walmart Inc.-controlled Flipkart of creating complex structures to bypass federal rules, allegations the U
Guidelines for the use of Covaxin and Vaccine Hesitancy Those with a history of allergies, fever and bleeding disorder, people on blood thinners and those with compromised immunity or on medication that affects the immune system have been told by Bharat Biotech, manufacturer of Covaxin, not to take the COVID-19 vaccine. A statement uploaded on the company website on Monday said the vaccine was also contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, those using other COVID-19 vaccines and
Mining Laws and Policies in India National Mineral Policy, 2019 The policy proposes to grant the status of ‘industry’ to mining activity to boost financing of mining for the private sector. It focuses on the use of coastal waterways and inland shipping for evacuation and transportation of minerals and also encourages dedicated mineral corridors to facilitate the transportation of minerals. It also makes efforts to harmonize taxes, levies & royalty with world benchmar
Whatsapp chats of Arnab Goswami The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) on Monday said the WhatsApp chats of Arnab Goswami were shocking. In a statement, the NBA said Republic TV be expelled from the Indian Broadcasting Foundation. The NBA Board called for Republic TV to be left out of the BARC rating system till the final court order in the matter. These WhatsApp messages not only reflect manipulation of ratings but is also about power play, it said. The messages exchanged go on
Labour laws in India The Union Labour and Employment Ministry is likely to appoint legal consultants this month to look at whether the States’ labour laws are in consonance with the Centre’s four new labour codes, according to senior Ministry officials. The codes on wages, social security, industrial relations and occupational safety, health and working conditions could be implemented before the April 1 target. Labour and Employment Secretary Apurva Chandra told that the r
The government may raise import duties by 5-10% India is considering raising import duties by 5%-10% on more than 50 items including smartphones, electronic components and appliances in the upcoming budget. The move to increase import duties is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s self-reliant India campaign that aims to promote and support domestic manufacturing, said the sources, who asked not to be named as the discussions are not public. One of the sources said the governme
THEODORE BASKARAN WON SANCTUARY LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD 2020 S. Theodore Baskaran who is a writer, a historian, a naturalist and an activist has won the Sanctuary Lifetime Service Award, 2020. The award was instituted by the Sanctuary Nature Foundation. Theodore on Conservation Theodore is of the view that any conservation initiative should be in the local language in order to gain momentum as a people’s movement. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award (Iyal
Analysis of Whatsapp Privacy Policy WhatsApp’s decision to delay the update of its privacy policy, following a backlash from its users, is an implicit acknowledgement of the increasing role played by perceptions about privacy in the continued well-being of a popular service. Problems for the Facebook-owned app started earlier this month when it announced an update to its terms of service and privacy policy, according to which users would no longer be able to opt out of sharing dat
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) CSIR is the largest R&D organisation in India. CSIR has a pan-India presence and has a dynamic network of 38 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, 3 Innovation Complexes and 5 units. It was established in Sep 1942 with HQ at Delhi. CSIR is funded by MoS&T and it operates as an autonomous body through the Societies Registration Act, 1860. CSIR covers a wide spectrum of strea
New Orvakal Airport The Orvakal airport on the outskirts of Kurnool city in Andhra Pradesh has got the approval of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after the completion of all the mandatory safety inspections and the creation of infrastructure. “With all the efforts and budgetary support of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath, the Kurnool / Orvakal airport got the DGCA approval after completion of works as per its sp
Gujarat River Pollution The unchecked flow of untreated industrial effluent into rivers in Gujarat has led to increasing pollution in the Sabarmati, Mahisagar, Narmada, Vishwamitri and Bhadra. According to data from the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), the Sabarmati is among the most polluted rivers in the country. Gujarat ranks fourth among the top five States with highly polluted rivers, with as many as 20 rivers in the critically polluted category. Recently, a thick fr
Migratory birds in Harike wetland, Punjab Winter migratory water birds using the central Asian flyway have started making a beeline to Punjab’s Harike wetland, offering a delight for bird lovers. Birds such as the Eurasian coot, greylag goose, bar-headed goose, gadwall and the northern shoveler are the prominent ones that could be sighted at Harike. Among other species, common pochard, spot-billed duck, little cormorant, pied avocet, great cormorant, ferruginous pochard and common
Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices raised for the 4th time What is Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)? ATF is Kerosene-based fuel used for powering jet and turboprop engine aircraft. ATF doesn’t come under the GST (Goods and Services Tax) regime. States charge ~30% in sales tax on ATF on top of Excise duty of Center. What is the news? Jet fuel, or ATF, price on Saturday was hiked by 3% — the fourth increase in two months — on firming international oil pric
Do plants share genetic material with each other? The genetic material of plants and animals is well protected in the nucleus of each cell and stores all the information that forms an organism. In addition, cells contain small organelles that contain their own genetic material. These include chloroplasts in plants, which play a key role in photosynthesis, and mitochondria, which are found in all living organisms and represent the power plants of every cell. Scientists at the
RBI and Financial Stability Report On Monday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the 22nd issue of its biannual Financial Stability Report outlining the risks to financial stability as well as the resilience of the financial system in the contemporary context. In his foreword, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das flagged the many risks ahead, including the recent, accentuating “disconnect between certain segments of financial markets and the real economy”. Mr. Das warned, &
Analysis of FSSAI guidelines on Transfats On December 29, 2020, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) reduced the permissible limit of trans fatty acids (TFA) in oils and fats to 3% for 2021 and 2% by 2022, against the earlier cap of 5%. The decision was effected by an amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations. The new rules apply to edible refined oils, vanaspati (partially hydrogenated oils), margarine, bakery shor
World’s largest vaccination programme Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first phase of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive. The world’s largest vaccination programme will begin at a total of 3,006 session sites across all the States and the Union Territories, which will be connected virtually throughout the exercise. Nearly 100 beneficiaries will receive the vaccine at each of the session sites on Saturday. #joinourtelegram# A dedicated 24x7
Air India flight between Hyderabad and Chicago The first-ever non-stop service of Air India between Hyderabad and Chicago commenced with the maiden flight arriving at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) here early on Friday. The flight, operating on Wednesdays, left Chicago at 21.30 hours (local time) on January 13 and arrived at 1 a.m. The return flight AI-107 from Hyderabad to Chicago, which operates once a week every Friday, left Hyderabad at 12.50 p.m. to arrive in Chicago
SWITCH UAV The Indian Army has signed a $20-million contract with ideaForge, a player in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, to procure undisclosed quantities of a high-altitude variant of SWITCH UAV, an indigenous system used in surveillance operations. SWITCH UAV is an indigenous system built to cater to the most demanding surveillance operations of the Indian forces. This fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing UAV can be deployed at high altitudes and under harsh environ
FATF, Pakistan and India In his speech to the UN Security Council (UNSC) marking 20 years since the resolutions that announced a global commitment to the war against terror after the U.S. 9/11 attacks, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made a pitch for greater coordination between counter terrorism agencies worldwide. He highlighted the necessity to streamline the process of the UN’s top body in designating terrorists while strengthening coordination in the agencies that che
Emergency in Malaysia due to COVID-19 Malaysia’s king declared a nationwide state of emergency on Tuesday to fight a coronavirus surge and Parliament was suspended, with critics charging that it was a bid by the unstable government to cling to power. The surprise move came a day after the Prime Minister announced sweeping new curbs across much of the Southeast Asian nation, including the closure of most businesses, and warned the health system was “at breaking point”.
Inflation trends in India India’s retail inflation decelerated appreciably to 4.59% in December, from 6.93% in November, dipping below 6% for the first time since March 2020 as food prices cooled. Other data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Tuesday, however, showed that a nascent industrial recovery, which had begun in September, retreated in November as industrial output shrank 1.9%. The lowest consumer price inflation (CPI) print in 14 months was driven by an
Autism What is Autism? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a broad term used to describe a group of neurodevelopmental disorders. These disorders are characterized by problems with communication and social interaction. People with ASD often demonstrate restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped interests or patterns of behaviour. ASD is found in individuals around the world, regardless of race, culture, or economic background. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (
COVID and impact on Schooling The Union Education Ministry’s directive to the States to launch a mission to avoid large-scale dropouts in schools in the coming year, partly by relaxing the detention policy, should end the anxiety of millions of students about their academic prospects. Managing schooling during COVID-19 has been a challenge, with UNESCO estimating that at the end of 2020, about 320 million students were locked out of schools globally. South and West Asia are amo
Investments in India A continued rise in private investments in the third quarter (Q3) of 2020-21, led by a 102% surge in manufacturing investments, helped India register a healthy 10.3% increase in fresh project spending in Q3 over the previous quarter. However, new capital expenditure proposals from the government collapsed between October and December 2020, as funding constraints began to pinch the States, dragging their new project investments down nearly 25% from the previous quarte
SOP for COVID Vaccination The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Immunisation Division) has issued a Standard Operating Procedure for the Ministry of Home Affairs in case of Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI). The vaccination drive will start from January 16. The Hindu has a copy of SOP that provides a step by step guide to the police and other response agencies. The SOP is meant to help the investigator ensure appropriate handling of the vaccine, victim assistanc
Hospital Fire in Maharashtra The deadly fire that snuffed out the lives of 10 infants in the Bhandara District General Hospital in Maharashtra is a shocking reminder that safety norms in several medical facilities in India do not pass muster. The parents of the babies who perished in the sick newborn unit have been plunged into a lifetime of trauma. Some of the victims, a few just days old, had been brought to the hospital for better care from smaller health facilities; seven ha
Current challenges faced by RBI in COVID Pandemic Duvvuri Subbarao is a former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) embarked on an extraordinary expansionary policy to manage the financial pressures unleashed by COVID-19. It slashed policy interest rates aggressively, flooded the market with an unprecedented amount of liquidity and instituted a slew of measures for targeted assistance to especially distressed sectors. Must be a deliberative process
FAME and Electric Mobility FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles) It was started in 2015 under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Aim of FAME: To encourage faster adoption of Electric and Hybrid vehicles by offering upfront incentives on the purchase of electric vehicles and also by establishing necessary charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Fast track goals of NEMMP. 4 focus areas = Charging
Quantum Technology In last year’s budget session, the Finance Minister of the Government of India proposed that Rs.8,000 crore be set aside to develop quantum science and technology. The detailed project report for a National Mission on Quantum Technology and Applications (NM-QTA) has been drawn out and finalised, and in the next couple of months, this mission might get approval. Recognising the importance of quantum technology, the Department of Science and Technology of the G
Identical twins are not exactly genetically the same Scientists in Iceland sequenced DNA from 387 pairs of identical twins – those derived from a single fertilized egg – as well as from their parents, children and spouses. That allowed them to find “early mutations that separate identical twins. A mutation means an alteration in a sequence of DNA – a tiny change that is not inherently good or bad, but can influence physical features or susceptibility to certain
What is Co-WIN? In good measure, the dry runs were not only a step to test the operational feasibility of various States to roll out the vaccine programme effectively, but also a recce to see if the electronic vaccine intelligence network, eVIN, used during routine immunisation programmes, and remodelled as Co-WIN, was functional at the field-level. Co-WIN aspires to be a comprehensive digital database of every COVID-19 vaccine that will be administered in India — tracking benefici
Dolphin killed by a group in UP A video of a group of men and boys in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh district beating to death a Gangetic river dolphin surfaced on social media on Friday. An endangered species, the Gangetic River Dolphin is recognised as the National Aquatic Animal. The Pratapgarh police said they had arrested three persons and sent them to jail. Further legal action was being taken. Killing the Gangetic River Dolphin is a punishable offence under Section 9/51 of t
GDP to contract by 7.7% this year India’s real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is estimated to contract by 7.7% in 2020-21, with GVA (Gross Valued added) shrinking by 7.2%, advance estimates released by the National Statistical Office show. India’s economy had expanded 4.2% in 2019-20, but entered a recessionary phase with two successive quarters of sharp contraction triggered by the COVID-19 lockdowns. Following a 23.9% collapse in the economy in the April-June period, the GD
Analysis of Bird Flu in India Assessment of Bird Flu spread in Kerala A three-member Central team reached Kerala on Thursday to assess the situation following the outbreak of avian influenza (H5N8) in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts. The Central team is primarily looking at the circumstances that led to the outbreak, its spread and bird culling operations being undertaken as per the Central government guidelines. The team is also evaluating the public health risk posed by H5N8. The
Analysis of Fake news in India Disinformation, or “fake news”, is a malaise that has been worsened by the infodemic of the social media age. The reasons are the four Ps of power, profit, profound public disagreement and platforms will continue to drive disinformation in 2021. Fake news keeps increasing because political parties have found out that if you put out organised disinformation, then any political narrative can be controlled. At the same time, even tho
New Freight Corridor Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Rewari-New Madar section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and flagged off the world’s first 1.5-km-long electrified double stack long haul container train. Mr. Modi said the project was part of the mission to modernise the country’s infrastructure and was being seen as a game changer for the India of 21st century. The section, which became operational after a hard work of five to six years, woul
Nutrition Committees of India The three top committees responsible for policies regarding nutrition are: The National Nutrition Council (NNC), headed by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar and including 12 Union Ministers and five Chief Ministers on a rotational basis; The Executive Committee (EC) of the National Nutrition Mission headed by the Secretary of the Women and Child Development Ministry Ram Mohan Mishra; and The National Technical Board on Nutrition (NTBN), heade
India’s Fiscal Deficit to exceed 7% India’s fiscal deficit for the year ending in March is likely to exceed 7% of gross domestic product, three sources told Reuters, as revenue collections suffered from a lockdown and restrictions to rein in the spread of COVID-19. The government had in February projected a deficit of 3.5% for the current year. It estimated government borrowing of Rs. 7.8 trillion, later revised to Rs. 12 trillion, to provide relief to millions of people a
World food price index by FAO World food prices rose for a seventh consecutive month in December, with all the major categories, barring sugar, posting gains last month, the United Nations food agency said. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 107.5 points last month versus 105.2 in November. For the whole of 2020, the benchmark index averaged 97.
Analysis of Farm Bills Almost all sections of people including farmers agree that the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC)-mandi policies for agricultural marketing, initiated in the 1960s for a few crops, have outlived their utility and the system needs a new policy in the face of the agricultural sector’s growth slowdown, the crop-composition not widening, and investments in land not happening. Recently, the government of the day has opened up the output market with the a
Pipeline Network of India Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that as part of efforts to make India a natural gas-based economy, 10,000 more CNG (compressed natural gas) stations would be opened and several lakh PNG (piped natural gas) household connections given in the coming days. Inaugurating the 450-km Kochi-Koottanad-Mangaluru LNG (liquefied natural gas), Mr. Modi said the facility was part of his government’s “one nation, one gas grid” policy. The governmen
Atmanirbhar Bharat and India’s Recovery While the global economic recovery has been hit by second waves of infections and more stringent lockdowns in several countries, India’s economy is ‘riding against the COVID-19 wave’ with persistent improvements in economic indicators showing a V-shaped recovery. The new year has dawned with the approval of the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine and the initiation of vaccination drives in various countries. This gives strength to
Education Reforms Context: UPSC Mains GS III Education (Prelims Mains Interview) The Directorate of Education has issued a circular asking school to follow the new ‘School Bag Policy, 2020’ released by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). According to the circular, schoolteachers should inform the students in advance about the books and notebooks to be brought to school on a particular day and frequently check their bags to ensure that they ar
Pangolin and Porcupine Pangolin Out of the 8 species of Pangolin in the World, Indian and Chinese Pangolin are found in India. Indian Pangolin The Indian pangolin is an endangered animal that is rarely sighted in forests. The Indian Pangolin is the only scaly mammal hunted for meat and used in traditional Chinese medicine. They are nocturnal. Indian Pangolins are among the most trafficked wildlife species in the World. The projected population declines range from 50
FATF and arrest of Lakhvi by Pakistan The timing of Pakistan’s arrest of Zaki Ur Rahman Lakhvi, the LeT operations commander, and linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, just ahead of the next meeting of the global watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), has been greeted with scepticism in India. Whenever Pakistan has faced a decision on its “grey list” status, it has carried out similar actions that appear to be aimed more at ensuring a better outcome for itself
Analysis of the Unemployment in India and Gig Economy With the Indian economy gradually finding its feet after a historic contraction of negative 23.9% in the April-June quarter, economic commentators have busied themselves with debating the need for fiscal expansion and the viability of a “V-shaped recovery”. These debates, however, have shifted focus away from the employment question, considered resolved after a sharp rally following the collapse in employment numbers in A
Energy Efficiency in India The Power Minister, R.K. Singh, recently announced the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020. The rules lay down uniform performance standards for power distribution companies (discoms) and make them liable to compensate consumers in case of violations. The well-intentioned rules come at a time when Indian discoms are struggling to manage their finances. This is partly linked to drop in payment rates, as consumers are struggling to pay their bill
Bird Flu in India Kerala was placed on high alert on Monday after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. The presence of the H5N8 subtype of the Influenza A virus was reported in ducks in Thalavadi, Thakazhy, Pallipad and Karuvatta in Alappuzha district and Neendoor in Kottayam district. The Alappuzha district authorities have decided to cull birds within a 1 km radius of the infected areas. While it can prove lethal for birds, the H5N8 strain
Covishield and Covaxin approved for emergency use as COVID vaccines The Central Drugs and Standards Committee (CDSCO) formally approved the COVID-19 vaccines by Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India (SII). This allows the vaccines — Covishield by SII and based on the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, and Covaxin by Bharat Biotech — to be offered to healthcare workers and frontline workers in India. The Health Ministry had said that 3 crore such personnel, considere
Income Tax Dept. to crack down on GST fraud To read everything about Goods and Services Tax: click here Tightening the noose around fraudsters rigging the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, the government has roped in the Income Tax Department to tap illicit incomes as part of a crackdown against 7,000 fraud companies, identified using data analytics tools. Any income traceable to the use of fake bills and other GST frauds shall be considered concealed
5 Emerging Career paths for a student post COVID-19 Amid the ongoing pandemic and the changing dynamics of the business world, it has become imperative for students to choose a resilient career path. Let’s take a look at five emerging options that students can consider. Defensive cybersecurity This is one of the two fundamental pillars of cybersecurity. These experts identify security vulnerabilities in organisational networks by performing risk assessments and developing de
Nendran Banana grit or granules Scientists at the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) at Pappanamcode in Kerala have come up with a new product, banana grit or granules, developed from raw Nendran bananas. Billed as an ideal ingredient for a healthy diet, banana grit can be used for making a wide range of dishes, according to the NIIST. The product resembles ‘Rava’ and broken wheat. “The concept was introduced to utilis
FSSAI and Nutrition The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has capped the number of trans fatty acids (TFA) in oils and fats to 3% for 2021 and 2% by 2022 from the current permissible limit of 5% through an amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations. The FSSAI notified the amendment on December 29, more than a year after it issued a draft on the subject for consultation with stakeholders. The revised regulation applie
Facial Recognition System Context: GS III Internal Security-Cyber Security (UPSC Prelims and Mains) It is a biometric technology that uses distinctive features of the face to identify and distinguish an individual. Over a period of almost 6 decades, it has evolved in many ways- from looking at 3D contours of a face to recognizing skin patterns. The facial recognition system works primarily by capturing the face & its features through the camera and then using various kinds
Type of Vaccines Context: UPSC GS Paper III - Vaccines, S&T, COVID-19 (Prelims Mains) Each type is designed to teach your immune system how to fight off certain kinds of germs — and the serious diseases they cause. What does scientists consider when they create a vaccine? How your immune system responds to the germ Who needs to be vaccinated against the germ The best technology or approach to create the vaccine Based on a number of these factors, scientists deci
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) ICMR is India’s apex scientific body for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research. It was established in 1911 as Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) making it one of oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world. ICMR functions under Dept of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. HQ - Delhi. Presided by Health Minister. Director General– Prof. Balram Bhargava. It pub
T. S. R. Subramanian Committee Report on Education The T.S.R. Subramanian committee was entrusted with preparing a new education policy for India. The major recommendations are An Indian Education Service (IES) should be established as an all-India service with officers being on a permanent settlement to the state governments but with the cadre controlling authority vesting with the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry. The outlay on education should be raised to at least 6% of G
Ramsar sites in India Ramsar Convention or Convention on Wetlands of International Importance It is an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. It was adopted on 2 Feb 1971 (Thus World Wetlands Day) in the Iranian city of Ramsar (Caspian Sea) and came into force in 1975. It is the only global environmental system treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem. #joinourtelegram# Criteria&nbs
Evolution of Life Chemists have come up with a new proposition for how life may have begun. In a study published in Angewandte Chemie, the researchers showed a simple compound diamidophosphate could have knitted together the building blocks of DNA to form the primordial structures. The possibility is that DNA and RNA arose together and that the first life forms were a mixture of the two.
Analysis of Banking sector and COVID-19 Context: The banking sector is one of the most important topics of UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains Examinations. It is a part of GS III Economic Issues. After losses in two consecutive years, India’s scheduled commercial banks turned profitable in 2019-20. State-run banks continued to bleed for the fifth year in a row, but their losses were much more stifled. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reckons that the first half of 2020-21 saw even
FATF, Terrorism and Pakistan What is the news? Nearly five years after he was released on bail in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operations commander Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi was arrested in Pakistan by its Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on charges of using terror funds. The timing of the arrest is significant as it comes ahead of meetings of the global watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and its Asia Pacific Joint Group (APJG, which will consider Pakist
Covishield and COVID Vaccine Covishield, the vaccine candidate from the Pune-based Serum Institute of India, was approved by a subject expert committee (SEC) of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). The SEC gives its recommendation to the DCGI which is the approving authority for drugs and vaccines. Similar to that in the United Kingdom, we’ve approved the vaccine to be given in two doses 4-12 weeks apart. #joinourtelegram# Covishield, which is similar to t
Kerala Model of Farming For more than a month now, farmers are writing a new history, camping at the borders of Delhi. The concrete barricades, thorny iron fences and powerful water cannons have not been able to prevent their tractor trollies from reaching the vicinity of the national capital. They have been so determined and prepared that the Delhi winter has failed before them. Assembled in their thousands, they have established a new way of life at Singhu, Tikri, Ghazipur, Noida and
Analysis of Telecom Sector: IUC Charges The end of the Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) regime on January 1, under which one telecom operator paid a charge to another on whose network a subscriber’s voice call was completed, creates a new era in which these companies can focus on upgrading their networks and service. The measure was delayed by a year by regulator TRAI due to concerns that not all operators were ready, and the shift to more efficient 4G networks and compatible su
Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC-India) initiative With the continuous expansion of India as a knowledge-driven economy, the ‘customer-focused’ and ‘application-driven’ policy for the Indian Telecom Sector, which can form the main pillar of Digital India has become the need of the hour. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of six Light House Projects in six cities as part of the Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC-I
UNDP and PCMC join hands for ‘first social impact bond’ Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Pune has recently signed an MoU with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India to co-create India’s first Social Impact Bond (SIB). This is the first time that a government body will act as the ‘outcome funder’ in a bond, whereas traditionally most government-funded public projects require large and early investments by the govern
IFSCA becomes Associate Member of IOSCO The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has become an Associate Member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). The headquarters of IOSCO is at Madrid, Spain. The IOSCO is the international organization of the world’s securities regulators, covering more than 95% of the world’s securities markets, and is also the global standard-setter for the se
Core Industries, IIP and Annual Survey of India What is in the news? Output from India’s eight core sectors hit a three-month low in November, contracting 2.6% in the festive month with coal, fertilizers and electricity the only sectors to record positive growth on a year-on-year basis, suggesting the economy is still not out of the woods. The good news is that the Index of Eight Core Industries was revised upwards for both August and October, based on updated data inputs re
How to tackle the new strain of COVID? Constant monitoring is the only way India can build up its defences against new virus strains In less than a month, it will be a year since India confirmed its first SARS-CoV-2 cases in Kerala. From then and now, India looks infinitely more prepared in terms of testing capacity, vaccine candidates in development, public awareness and the kaleidoscopic experiences of those who have been exposed to the virus. However, the report of the new varia
Analysis of Climate Change in India Several parts of north India are in the grip of a severe cold wave. While winter may be longer and harsher in some regions due to La Niña, forecasters suggest that 2021 would still be among the Earth’s hottest years recorded. Rising temperatures have led to a sharp increase in climate extreme events in recent years. A recent report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water found that 75% of districts in India, home to over half
Light House Projects Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Light House projects (LHPs) at six sites across six States through a video conference on 1st January 2021. The LHPs will be implemented in Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi (Jharkhand), and Agartala (Tripura) and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). The project is being constructed under the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC
01 Feb,2024
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