INDIA WILL SEND LOCOMOTIVES TO BANGLADESH
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? India will hand over 10 railway locomotives to Bangladesh reflecting a renewed focus on the “neighbourhood first” policy to bolster economic ties and connectivity within the region amid the border standoff with China. Details The handover of the broad-gauge diesel locomotives, part of grant assistance from the Indian […]
NINE OF EVERY 10 DELIVERIES IN A HOSPITAL
Focus: GS-II Social Justice Why in news? Findings of the latest survey on the state of India’s health conducted by the National Statistical Office in 2017-18 shows the proportion of women delivering a child in a hospital (or health care institution) has increased over the past two decades. Details The positive change is that at […]
DISPLAYING COUNTRY OF ORIGIN MADE MANDATORY
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, has brought in a new regulatory framework for e-commerce in the country, requiring online platforms to display the country of origin of items sold, apart from new rules that will enforce product liability for the first time. Details Rules framed under the Consumer […]
MEA: 11 SIKHS, HINDUS FROM AFGHANISTAN TO INDIA
Focus: GS-II Governance Why in news? Around 11 members of minority communities of Afghanistan, including a Sikh community leader who was kidnapped and later released, arrived in India after India granted them visas and facilitated their travel. The efforts of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in extending necessary support for the safe […]
CHINESE INVESTMENT PROPOSALS WAIT FOR SECURITY
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? About 200 investment proposals from China are awaiting security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after new rules were notified making prior government approval mandatory for foreign direct investments (FDI) from countries which share a land border with India. Details As FDI is allowed in non-critical […]
KONGONAPHON KELY FOSSIL
Focus: Prelims, GS-III Environment and Ecology Why in news? A newly described species from Madagascar suggests that dinosaurs and pterosaurs (extinct flying reptiles) had extremely small ancestors – named Kongonaphon kely. Kongonaphon kely Kongonaphon kely is just 10 centimeters tall and the name roughly translates from the Malagasy language as ‘tiny bug slayer’ — a […]
OF MICE AND SARS-COV-2
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Introduction Science and research have always relied on using animals to understand various human diseases, and the primary reasons have been the genetic similarity between animals and humans (mice share 98% of DNA with us), and that we have developed tools to edit genes in various animals. Animal model for […]
KASHMIR SAFFRON NOW HAS GI CERTIFICATE
Focus: Prelims, GS-III Environment and Ecology Why in news? The J&K administration issued the certificate of geographical indication (GI) registration for saffron grown in the Kashmir Valley. Details Saffron crop suffers both decline in its production as well as shrinking of the land under cultivation. With the GI tag, Kashmir saffron will acquire more prominence […]
SC: GOVERNOR TO ABIDE BY ‘AID AND ADVICE’ OF CABINET
Focus: GS-III Environment and Ecology, Prelims Why in news? A Constitution Bench judgment of the Supreme Court has held that a Governor is bound to convene a meeting of the Assembly for a floor test on the recommendation of the Cabinet. Details The five-judge Constitution Bench judgment of the Supreme Court in Nabam Rebia versus […]
WHAT IS AFRICAN SWINE FEVER?
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Introduction The porcine industry in Assam suffered major losses during the COVID-19 lockdown, which was followed by an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF). What is African Swine Fever? African Swine Fever (ASF) does not affect humans but can be catastrophic for pigs. The current outbreak of ASF in India […]