SUPREME COURT ON LOAN MORATORIUM SCHEME
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? The Supreme Court criticised the Centre for “hiding behind the Reserve Bank of India” without making its stand clear on the loan moratorium scheme introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Details The court wanted to know whether the deferment of loan interest to prop up borrowers through their financial […]
MAKING AGRICULTURAL MARKET REFORMS SUCCESSFUL
Focus: GS-III Agriculture Introduction The recent reforms in agricultural marketing have brought a sea change in policy. The removal of restrictions under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA) should help attract private investment in agriculture and help farmers of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, onion and potato, who have been adversely affected by the policy regime hitherto that […]
BRINGING THE INTERNET TO EVERYONE
Focus: GS-II Social Justice, GS-III Science and Technology Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the influence of technology in our lives – We live in times where we can buy or sell anything online, get quality access to healthcare, government services and education online, etc. Marginalised and isolated Meanwhile, a substantial section of our population, […]
UNCHARTED TERRITORY OF OUTER SPACE
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, GS-II International Relations Introduction Several space events planned well in advance have proceeded amidst the COVID-19 pandemic without much attention. The launch of missions to Mars by China and the U.S. along with the UAE’s Mars orbiter; the first astronaut trip to orbit on a commercial enterprise built by Space […]
WHAT IS VACCINE NATIONALISM?
Focus: GS-II International Relations Introduction Countries are engaging in agreements for purchase of COVID-19 vaccines at an average of more than 1 per person:The United States has entered into multi-billion-dollar agreements with at least six big pharmaceutical companies for assured supplies of vaccines (in development) amounting to more than two doses for every American citizen. […]
HOW MARRIAGE AGE AND WOMEN’S HEALTH ARE LINKED?
Focus: GS-II Social Justice How prevalent is underage marriage? Data show that the majority of women in India marry after the age of 21. Although, the mean age of women at marriage is 22.1 years, and more than 21 in all states- this does not mean that child marriages have disappeared. The latest National Family […]
WHY RBI SENT RS 73,615 CRORE TO RBI’S CONTINGENCY FUND?
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Introduction The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the government’s banker, has retained a whopping amount of Rs 73,615 crore within the RBI by transferring it to the Contingency Fund (CF) of the central bank, thus leading to a sharp fall in the transfer of surplus to the government in the current […]
TEXTILE GRAND CHALLENGE 2019
Focus: GS-III Environment and Ecology Why in news? Union Minister of Textiles and Women & Child Development spoke at the award giving ceremony for winners of the Textile Grand Challenge 2019 organized by Ministry of Textiles. Textile Grand Challenge 2019 The Textile Grand Challenge 2019 was organized by the Ministry of Textiles with the active […]
NEW ROUTES APPROVED UNDER UDAN 4.0
Focus: GS-III Industry and Infrastructure Why in news? 78 new routes under the 4th round of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)- Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) have been approved following the three successful rounds of bidding by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. What is UDAN scheme? UDAN is a regional connectivity scheme spearheaded by the […]
BUREAU OF POLICE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (BPR&D)
Focus: GS-II Governance Why in news? The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) is celebrating its Golden Jubilee Anniversary soon (50 years since its establishment on 28th August, 1970). Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), was set up in furtherance of the objective of the […]