SC SETS UP PANEL TO LOOK INTO J&K INTERNET CURBS
Why in news? The Jammu and Kashmir government’s orders do not reveal any reason for making mobile 4G Internet inaccessible across the Union Territory (UT), the Supreme Court said in an order on 11th May 2020. Besides, the government orders snipping the Internet speed to 2G were meant to operate for only a limited time. Petitions […]
BOND YIELDS RISE AS GOVT. EXPANDS BORROWING PLAN
Why in news? The yield on the most-traded 10-year government bond spiked 20 bps (basis points) on 11th May 2020, after the government announced it would increase its market borrowings by more than ₹4 lakh crore for FY21. Intraday, yield rose 27 bps, the sharpest intraday surge since February 2017. As per the new revised FY21 […]
NO INCREASE IN LEASE RENT OF SEZ UNITS
Why in news? The government on 11th May said the lease rent for units in the government-owned Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will not be increased for 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This move which will provide relief to these facilities in SEZ. Details The commerce and industry ministry said that after consulting the proposal with […]
RIGHT TO RELIGION: SUPREME COURT EXPLAINS
Why in news? A nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court declared that superior courts enjoy untrammeled power to take up any cause to do complete justice – three months ago, decided to go ahead and examine “larger issues” of religious freedom across multiple faiths in connection with the Sabarimala review. Background: Entry of women Supreme Court’s original […]
INDIA’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED: CMIE
Why in news? India’s unemployment rate dropped to 23.97% on May 10 from 27.11% on May 3, as the government lifted some curbs on economic activity, including farming, after a month-long lockdown. Unemployment Rate Survey results: Urban The urban jobless rate, on the other hand, declined more modestly, underlining the fact that cities are still […]
CENTRE PLANS TO CHECK CHINESE FPI FLOWS
Why in news? After foreign direct investment (FDI), the government is now looking to clamp down on unbridled access of Chinese portfolio investors into the Indian market as it seeks to plug a possible loophole that investors from across the border can use to acquire shares in listed domestic companies. Details The department of economic […]
CLASHES IN LADAKH & SIKKIM
Why in news? The Border tensions between India and China have flared up once again with at least two incidents of violent clashes and stone-pelting taking place between rival troops in Ladakh and Sikkim. Details The clash in eastern Ladakh, in particular, led both India and China to send additional troop reinforcements to the border […]
KALAPANI ROW
Why in news? Nepal will increase the number of security outposts and deploy more armed personnel in the border with India. Kathmandu expects India to avoid any unilateral measures in the Kalapani region and remain committed to the ‘fixed border’ principle as agreed during the past official talks. This comes after India completed the road […]
NIV DEVELOPS ELISA TEST TO DETECT ANTIBODIES
Why in news? The Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) has developed an immunological assay — enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) — to detect antibodies that the body develops in response to infection by the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus. Details This is the first time India has developed an indigenous ELISA test for coronavirus. This kit was validated […]
MASSIVE REVAMP OF FOREST MINISTRY UNITS
Why in news? The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has introduced a massive restructuring plan that entails merging the 10 regional offices of the MoEF&CC and 19 centres of the Forest Survey of India (FSI), National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and Central Zoo Authority (CZA) into just […]