BY ANY CALCULUS INDIA QUALIFIES FOR UNSC PERMANENT SEAT
Why in news? India is due for election to the temporary membership of the U.N. Security Council later in 2020. Priorities for India to work on India in many ways is a sui generis (unique)country, the only example in history of a billion-plus people working together in a democratic framework. Our USP (Unique selling proposition) is that […]
ONLY 30 LAKH FOUND MGNREGA WORK IN APRIL 2020
Why in news? Although the Centre gave explicit instructions to reopen its flagship rural jobs scheme from April 20, only 30 lakh people were provided work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in April, about 17% of the usual, government data show. In mid-April, only 1% of the usual number of […]
STUDY ON CHINA DAMS BRINGS THE BRAHMAPUTRA INTO FOCUS
Why in news? A new study highlighting the impact of China’s dams on the Mekong river has raised fresh questions on whether dams being built on other rivers that originate in China, such as the Brahmaputra, may similarly impact countries downstream. The Mekong flows from China to Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. What the […]
NEET APPLIES TO MINORITY COLLEGES: SC
Why in news? The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is mandatory for admission to medical colleges run by religious and linguistic minority communities, the Supreme Court held on 29th April 2020. The court dismissed arguments made by the managements of several minority-run medical institutions that bringing them uniformly under the ambit of NEET would be a violation […]
INDIA REMAINS ON U.S. PRIORITY WATCH LIST
Why in news? India continues to be on the ‘Priority Watch List’ of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for lack of adequate intellectual property (IP) rights protection and enforcement, the USTR said in its Annual Special 301 Report, released on 29th April 2020. Details India remained one of the most challenging economies for IP enforcement […]
Animal Poaching Registers a Sharp Increase During Lockdown
Why in news? The instances of poaching of wild animals and birds, including the endangered chinkara or Indian gazelle, have registered a sharp increase across Rajasthan during the COVID-19 lockdown, with the hunters taking advantage of slack monitoring and sparse public movement in the remote areas. Armed poachers have been moving inside the national parks and […]
NO IMPROVEMENT IN GANGA WATER QUALITY AFTER LOCKDOWN
Why in news? The lockdown in the wake of coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak may have dramatically reduced air pollution across the country but it hasn’t significantly reduced pollution in the Ganga, according to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Details The dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, a measure of the amount of free oxygen […]
$1.5 BILLION ADB LOAN TO FUND COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Why in news? The Government of India has taken a $1.5 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund its immediate response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, both in terms of the health and socio-economic impacts. The money, translating to more than ₹11,000 crore, will be spent to implement the containment plan and […]
BRICS SHOULD HELP ENTREPRENEURS: INDIA
Why in news? The Member countries of the BRICS group should assist private entrepreneurs to help them deal with the economic fallout of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, External Affairs Minister said on 27th April during a video conference of foreign ministers. What was emphasized by India in the conference? We need to provide support to businesses, […]
HEALTH MINISTRY DOES A U-TURN ON PLASMA THERAPY
Why in news? Plasma therapy is not an approved treatment for COVID-19 and is only one of the several therapies which is being explored currently, the Health Ministry said on 28th April 2020, adding that the therapy is still at an experimental stage and the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) is currently studying its efficacy. […]