Syllabus subtopic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora.
News: India was the leading country of origin of international migrants in 2019 with a 17.5 million strong diaspora, according to new estimates released by the United Nations, which said the number of migrants globally reached an estimated 272 million.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the key findings of the report and its significance, issues related to migration, causes and its impact on the world
UN body publishing the report:
Key findings of the report:
What does it say about refugees and asylum seekers?
Women related data
Significance of the report
Source: Indian Express
Syllabus subtopic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources, issues relating to poverty and hunger.
News: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is set to regulate the fee charged by private deemed universities for professional programmes.
Prelims and Mains focus: About the move by UGC, about UGC and its criticisms.
How will it regulate the fees?
Current Scenario:
About UGC:
The UGC has two primary responsibilities:
Its main functions are:
Criticism of UGC
Source: Indian Express
Syllabus subtopic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests
News: The U.S. is to cut its contribution to NATO’s operating budget, officials said on Thursday, with Germany increasing payments as the alliance tries to appease President Donald Trump ahead of a summit next week.
Prelims and Mains focus: about NATO, challenges and its achievements so far, impact of U.S move on world security
Background
Changes made in the new agreement
About North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO):
Significance: It constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party.
Objectives:
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
News: Union Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Thursday introduced the Industrial Relations Code Bill 2019 in the Lok Sabha amid protests from the Opposition members.
Prelims and Mains focus: About the Bill, Key features and their significance
Context: It was part of the government’s initiative to reform labour laws by combining 44 laws related to labourers into four codes.
About the Code
The draft code on Industrial Relations has been prepared after amalgamating and simplifying the relevant provisions of following three Central Labour Acts:
Features
Source: Livemint
Syllabus subtopic: Indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
News: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, met on Thursday and approved the procurement of weapons and equipment worth ? 22,800 crore.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the equipments procured and their use in defence, about DAC, DRDO
About the equipments to be procured:
Indigenous design
The DAC approved the indigenous design, development and manufacture of ‘thermal imaging night sights’ for assault rifles, and these will be made by the “Indian private industry and used by troops deployed on the front line.” It also approved the procurement of twinengine heavy helicopters for the Coast Guard.
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC):
What is it? To counter corruption and speed up decision- making in military procurement, the government of India in 2001 decided to set up an integrated DAC. It is headed by the Defence Minister.
Objective: The objective of the DAC is to ensure expeditious procurement of the approved requirements of the Armed Forces, in terms of capabilities sought, and time frame prescribed, by optimally utilizing the allocated budgetary resources.
Functions: The DAC is responsible to give policy guidelines to acquisitions, based on long-term procurement plans. It also clears all acquisitions, which includes both imported and those produced indigenously or under a foreign license.
About DRDO
Genesis & Growth
Mission
Issues with DRDO
Way Forward
Source: The Hindu
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