INDIA REGISTERED A TOTAL OF 826 FATALITIES AND 26,917 CASES
Why in news? The death toll due to COVID-19 continued to rise on Sunday, with the country registering a total of 826 fatalities and 26,917 cases. 5,913 people have recovered, with a recovery rate of 21.9%. The doubling rate had been showing regular improvement and stood at 10.5 days when seen over a period of […]
FIRST-EVER DIGITAL GEOLOGICAL MAP OF MOON
Why in news? The first ever digital, unified, global, geological map of the moon was released virtually by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Lunar Planetary Institute on April 22, 2020. Details Data from recent satellite missions to the moon and resources data from NASA’s Apollo Missions […]
PANDEMIC IS CHINA’S BIGGEST CRISIS SINCE TIANANMEN
Challenges the Party had to face? The global financial crisis in 2008-2009 was a big challenge for China. They got through that through a massive stimulus programme. The COVID-19 Crisis is probably the longest downturn for China post-Tiananmen or maybe since the late seventies. They now have a sort of global political crisis or global […]
ASSAM’S BTAD MIGHT SEE GOVERNOR’S RULE
Why in news? The COVID-19 pandemic may earn Governor’s rule for the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) in Assam. The State’s Governor is the constitutional head of the BTAD that falls under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and is administered by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). Why Governor’s rule? Elections were scheduled to be […]
PANDEMIC WILL DEEPEN JOB AND LIVELIHOOD CRISIS OF MIGRANTS
Why in news? Migrant workers, who constitute about 50% of the urban population and many of whom are engaged in what are called “3D jobs” (dirty, dangerous and demeaning) are likely to face job and livelihood crisis owing to COVID-19 pandemic, according to findings of a research. Details of how grave the situation is? The […]
EXECUTIVE IS BETTER-SUITED TO DEAL WITH COVID-19: CJI
Why in news? In an Interview the Chief Justice of India said that the Executive with its three ‘Ms’ of money, men and material is the better-suited branch of the Government to deal with COVID-19 crisis regarding Supreme Court interventions. He also said that hearing of cases through videoconferencing are not in-camera hearings and virtual […]
FOR BRICS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Why in news? The COVID-19 crisis seems to have put Russia’s Presidency of BRICS (a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to the test. While each BRICS country is busy fighting the pandemic in its own way, Moscow is trying to make sure that it gains from the crisis. A study notes […]
FIRST MERGER OF TWO BLACK HOLES WITH UNEQUAL MASSES DETECTED
Why in news? In another first, scientists at the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors announced a signal from Blackhole Mergers unlike anything they’ve ever seen before – While many black hole mergers have been but this particular signal was the first where the two black holes had distinctly different masses. Details The event, dubbed […]
SEWAGE SURVEILLANCE CAN ESTIMATE COMMUNITY SPREAD
Why in news? Sampling sewage for viral particles is a time-tested method of environment surveillance and is routinely resorted to for understanding circulation of several viruses — wild and vaccine-derived polio, rota virus, Hepatitis E and typhoid — in the community. Now, researchers in France have found that sewage surveillance can help in understanding the […]
QUICK NOD LIKELY FOR CHINA INVESTMENTS
Why in news? The Centre plans to fast track the review of some investment proposals from neigbouring countries such as China following concerns new screening rules could hit plans of companies and investors. Background To avoid opportunistic takeovers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, India said this past week that all foreign direct investment from countries […]