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The Union Minister has stated that the government will not impose penalties or take strict action for the next three months against stakeholders who have not yet registered Waqf properties on the UMEED Portal. This temporary relaxation is intended to encourage voluntary compliance and smooth implementation of the portal. About the UMEED Portal The Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Portal is a centralised digital platform created for the registration and management of Waqf properties across India. Its core objective is to improve transparency, efficiency, and governance in the administration of Waqf assets. The portal enables real-time uploading,…
06 January, 2026
Institutions
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has recently issued 84 Quality Control Orders (QCOs), based on recommendations from various ministries and departments. These orders are aimed at ensuring that products meet quality standards, reinforcing BIS's role in regulating and promoting product safety and quality across various sectors in India. About the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) BIS is the National Standard Body of India, established under the BIS Act, 2016. It plays a key role in setting the framework for product quality and safety in the country. Objective of BIS Harmonious Development: BIS was created to oversee the standardization, marking,…
25 October, 2025
Institutions
The recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between National Co-operative Exports Limited (NCEL) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a significant development in India’s agricultural export landscape. About National Co-operative Exports Limited (NCEL) Background Established by the Ministry of Cooperation, NCEL is set up under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002. It serves as an umbrella organization that promotes exports from the cooperative sector, focusing on enhancing the global competitiveness of cooperative-produced goods and services. Objectives and Role Main Aim: To enhance the global competitiveness of goods and services produced by cooperatives. It works…
12 October, 2025
Institutions
The Quality Council of India (QCI) is an autonomous, non-profit body that plays a pivotal role in promoting and ensuring quality across various sectors in India. It was established in 1996 with the mission of leading the nationwide quality movement in India, facilitating the adoption of quality standards, and enabling the growth of a robust accreditation system. Key Details: Genesis: Founded in 1996 as a national body for accreditation, QCI was created to oversee the development and implementation of quality standards in various industries and sectors. Mission: QCI's mission is to lead the quality movement in India, working to improve…
19 August, 2025
Institutions
NOTTO has issued a 10-point advisory stating that women patients and relatives of deceased donors awaiting organ transplants will now receive priority as beneficiaries. NOTTO hopes to increase the overall equity in the system and enhance the fair distribution of organs.This move is aligned with India's ongoing efforts to ensure that organ donation and transplantation processes are inclusive, efficient, and conducted with fairness at every level About National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) NOTTO is a national-level organization established under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi. It was created under the…
18 August, 2025
Institutions
Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush, has introduced a definitive list of Ayurvedic food preparations under the category “Ayurveda Aahara.” About Ayurveda Aahara Ayurveda Aahara refers to food products that are developed in alignment with the holistic dietary principles of Ayurveda, one of the oldest systems of health and wellness in the world. These food preparations emphasize: Balance: Maintaining harmony between the body, mind, and environment. Seasonal Suitability: Consuming foods that are suitable to the current season, based on Ayurvedic principles of dosha and prakriti. Natural Ingredients: Focus on…
12 August, 2025
Institutions
The central government has recently encouraged Indian states to actively use the India Cine Hub Portal to promote and facilitate global film production locally. About India Cine Hub Portal Launch Date: The India Cine Hub Portal was launched on June 28, 2024. Purpose: It serves as a single-window system to streamline various processes involved in filmmaking, such as: Permissions Incentives Resource mapping Establishment: The portal was developed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, under the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). The core objective is to promote foreign film productions in India, positioning the country as a…
12 August, 2025
Institutions
National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) was set up as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 on 2005 with a mandate of creating dope-free sports in India.
20 January, 2024
Institutions
National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India (NCDFI) was registered on 1970 under the Bombay Cooperative Societies Act (VII of 1925). Headquarters - New Delhi. NCDFI is an apex body of cooperative dairies. Members - NCDFI members include federal dairy cooperatives of states and union territories.
01 January, 2024
Institutions
The new National Medical Commission logo has an image of god Dhanvantri, and replaces the word 'India' with 'Bharat' recently. The National Medical Commission (NMC) is India's top regulatory body for medical education and practice. It was established in 2020 by the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, replacing the Medical Council of India (MCI). The NMC has 33 members.
14 December, 2023
Institutions
Survey of India The Survey of India will continue to be the ultimate authority on maps showing State and federal boundaries, according to the Indian government. About: After the Department of Science and Technology published its rules in 2021, the Survey of India (SoI) lost its exclusive right to produce high-resolution maps. The National Geospatial Policy of India was published by the government in December 2022, allowing any private organization to produce high-resolution maps. The government has now made it clear that Survey of India would continue to be the deciding authority on maps that deal with State and national…
27 February, 2023
Institutions
Quality Council Of India (QCI) The Quality Council of India (QCI) recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. The QCI has also started a campaign called "Gunvatta Se Atmanirbharta: India's Quality Movement" to highlight India's quality centres, raise awareness of India's historic accomplishments, and let people know about programmes designed to improve everyone's quality of life. The Quality Council of India (QCI) is what, exactly? History: In 1996, the Quality Council of India (QCI) was founded as a National Organisation for Accreditation. As a result, QCI was established through a PPP model as a free-standing organisation with the backing of the Indian…
06 October, 2022
Institutions
NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY It is the Central Agency mandated to investigate all the offenses affecting the sovereignty, security, and integrity of India, friendly relations with the foreign state, and the offenses under the Statutory law enacted to implement international treaties, agreements, conventions, and resolutions of the United Nations. When did NIA come into being? In the wake of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, which shocked the entire world the UPA government decided to establish the NIA and introduced the National Investigation Agency Bill. Initially, the agency dealt with only 8 laws mentioned in the schedule, and also a balance had been…
03 July, 2022
Institutions
FINANCIAL SERVICES INSTITUTION BUREAU The Central government has transformed the Banks Board Bureau (BBB) into the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) by making a few amendments. The new framework was proposed by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance. In 2016, the Prime Minister has approved the constitution of the Banks Board Bureau (BBB) as a recruiter for whole-time directors and non-executive chairpersons of state-owned banks and financial institutions. It was also entrusted with the work of engaging with the Board of Directors of all PSBs to formulate appropriate strategies for their growth and development. Guidelines for the selection…
03 July, 2022
Institutions
APEDA & TRIFED The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985. It functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Authority has its headquarters in New Delhi. Functions of APEDA APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the scheduled products viz. fruits, vegetables and their products; meat and meat products; poultry and poultry products; dairy products; confectionery, biscuits and bakery products; honey, jaggery and sugar products; cocoa and its products, chocolates of all kinds; alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; cereal…
25 December, 2021
Institutions
Context: "Central Bureau of Investigation: Deep Analysis" is an important topic for UPSC Prelims and GS Paper 2 Introduction The CBI owes its origin to the Delhi Special Police Establishment, established in 1941, to enquire into cases of corruption in the procurement during the Second World War. The CBI is not a statutory body. It derives its powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. The CBI is the main investigating agency of the Central Government. Based on the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption, CBI was established by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Later, it was transferred to the…
16 November, 2021
Institutions
Geological Survey of India The Geological Survey of India (GSI ) was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways. Over the years, GSI has not only grown into a repository of geo-science information required in various fields in the country but has also attained the status of a geo-scientific organisation of international repute. Its main functions relate to creating and updating of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment. These objectives are achieved through ground surveys, air-borne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting and investigations, multi-disciplinary geoscientific, geo-technical, geo-environmental and natural hazards studies, glaciology, seism tectonic…
21 August, 2021
Institutions
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 jewellers more than a year to shift to hallmarking and register themselves with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Key Features of Gold Hallmarking: Hallmarked gold jewellery will…
15 April, 2021
Institutions
Autonomous bodies are crucial to the government’s functioning. Streamline them Context The Union Government has recently abolished the All India Handicrafts Board, Handloom Board and the Power Loom Board in consonance with the government’s vision of minimum government, maximum governance. The Ministry of Textiles also changed the status of the eight Textile Research Associations to “approved bodies”, instead of the earlier “affiliated bodies”. Thereafter, the government withdrew the officials of the ministry of textiles from the governing bodies of these textile associations. These are bold steps in achieving leaner government machinery and to introduce systematic rationalisation of government bodies. Further,…
13 September, 2020
Institutions
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) NIPFP is India’s premier economic think tank - a centre for research in public economics and policies, located in Delhi. It is an autonomous body set up jointly by the Ministry of Finance, the erstwhile Planning Commission, and several state governments. It was founded in 1976 and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It undertakes research, policy advocacy and capacity building in areas related to public economics. One of the major mandates of the institute is to assist the Central, State and Local governments in formulating and reforming public policies by…
23 June, 2020
Institutions
Government dismiss false news alarm that UPSC exams have been cancelled due to COVID -19 Union Government has dismissed false reports in a regional news channel that examinations held by UPSC have been cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. In a tweet, Press Information Bureau clarified that the claim is false. It said, any rescheduling of the UPSC examination if necessary, will be notified on the Commission's website Watch this for UPSC PT 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfd6v9PSYZs
18 April, 2020
Institutions
National Teleconsultation Centre (CoNTeC) and COVID-19 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- Institution Recently, the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare launched the COVID-19 National Teleconsultation Centre (CoNTeC). Key Points The CoNTeC is a Telemedicine Hub established by AIIMS, New Delhi, wherein expert doctors from various clinical domains will be available 24x7 to answer the multifaceted questions from specialists from all over the country. Doctors worldwide are using different protocols to treat COVID-19 patients. The goal of the facility is to at least connect the doctors in the country together to discuss amongst themselves the protocols undertaken and provide the best treatment accordingly. It is a multi-modal…
30 March, 2020
Institutions