CENTRE TARGETS PSBS’ STAKE SALE
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a framework for setting up of a pan-India umbrella entity for retail payments systems. Details: The Entity for Retail Payments The pan-India umbrella entity for retail payments systems is to be incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, would need to focus […]
RBI UNVEILS FRAMEWORK FOR RETAIL PAYMENTS ENTITY
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? The Finance Ministry is working to expedite the sale of stakes in four state-owned banks — IDBI Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Punjab & Sind Bank and UCO Bank — with the aim of completing the disinvestment process in the current fiscal. Details The government is looking to divest […]
PM-CARES CONTRIBUTION NEED NOT BE CREDITED TO NDRF: SC
Focus: GS-II Governance Why in news? The Supreme Court held that funds received into the PM-CARES Fund need not be credited to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Details The court held that there is “no statutory prohibition on individuals to make voluntary contributions to NDRF” under the […]
‘NO-GO’ FORESTS CLEARED FOR COAL MINING
Focus: GS-III Industry and Infrastructure, Environment and Ecology Why in news? Since 2015, of the 49 blocks cleared for coal mining, 9 were in ‘No-Go’ areas, according to a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report. In 2020, of the 41 blocks put up for auction, 21 feature in the original No-Go list. The CSE […]
IIP NUMBERS AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY IN LOCKDOWN
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) numbers for June completes the data for first quarterly estimates of a major sector’s activity during the lockdown phase. Details The IIP has three components by economic activity: mining and quarrying, manufacturing and electricity. These three sub-sectors had a share of around […]
INDIA RANKS AMONG LOWEST IN TERMS OF INTERNET QUALITY
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, Industry and Infrastructure Why in news? India ranks among the lowest in the world in terms of Internet quality, according to the “Digital Quality of Life Index 2020” global research released by SurfShark. Details “Digital Quality of Life Index 2020”, researches on the quality of a digital wellbeing in 85 […]
MINIMUM AGE OF MARRIAGE FOR WOMEN: MAKE IT SAME
Focus: GS-II Social Justice Introduction The government’s decision to reconsider the minimum age of marriage for women is a step welcomed by many. Currently pegged at 18 years for women and 21 for men, the minimum age of marriage is a product of personal laws that mostly do not have equal rights for women. For […]
COMMITTEE FOR REFORMS IN CRIMINAL LAW: COLONIAL OR DECOLONIAL
Focus: GS-II Governance Why in news? The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) constituted the Committee for Reforms in Criminal Law to undo the “colonial foundations of our criminal law”. The precise mandate of the Committee has not been put into the public. Reforms based on the Committee’s recommendations will have serious ramifications for every person […]
TIME FOR INDIA AND NEPAL TO MAKE UP
Focus: GS-II International Relations Introduction When the Nepal-India dispute over the Himalayan territory of Limpiyadhura (Kalapani row) flared up, a series of events involving: Indian media coverage of Nepal, Accusation of Nepal acting under Chinese influence, Nepalese questioning of India’s commitment to ‘satyameva jayate’, Nepal’s claim that the true birthplace of Lord Ram was situated […]
CABINET APPROVES PROPOSAL FOR LEASING OUT THREE AIRPORTS
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? The Union Cabinetchaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for leasing out three airports namely Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports of Airports Authority of India (AAI) through Public Private Partnership (PPP). Background and Details These projects will bring efficiency in service delivery, expertise, […]