U.S., U.K. and Australia – new security partnership
Context: The U.S. has announced a new trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific between Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. (AUKUS). Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Foreign Policies and Treaties affecting India’s Interests) Dimensions of the Article: About AUKUS Why was AUKUS needed? Five Eyes Alliance Indo-Pacific Region About AUKUS A new trilateral security partnership for […]
SC gives Govt. two weeks to fill all tribunal vacancies
Context: The Supreme Court accused the Centre of “cherry-picking” names for appointments to tribunals groaning under backlog and left almost defunct by long-pending vacancies. Relevance: GS-II: Governance (Government Policies and Interventions), GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Constitutional Provisions, Quasi-Judicial Bodies) Dimensions of the Article: About the present vacancies in tribunals Constitutional provisions and mandates regarding Tribunals […]
Agriculture Ministry inks MoU with 5 firms
Context: Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed 5 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with private companies for taking forward Digital Agriculture. These pilot projects are part of the Digital Agriculture Mission and will draw on the National Farmers Database which already includes 5.5 crore farmers identified using existing national schemes. Relevance: GS-III: Indian […]
India, Singapore to link their fast payment systems
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced a project to link their respective fast payment systems — Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and PayNow which will facilitate instant low-cost cross border fund transfer. Relevance: GS-III: Indian Economy (Growth and Development of Indian Economy, Monetary Policy, Inflation) Dimensions of […]
J&K tribal population to get their due: Forest Rights Act
Context: After a long delay, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to implement the Forest Rights Act, 2006, which will elevate the socio-economic status of a sizeable section of the 14-lakh-strong population of tribals and nomadic communities, including Gujjar-Bakerwals and Gaddi-Sippis, in the Union Territory. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice (Issues Related to SCs & […]
World Bank on Climate Change and Migration
Context: The second part of the Groundswell report examined how the impacts of slow-onset climate change such as water scarcity, decreasing crop productivity and rising sea levels could lead to millions of what it describes as “climate migrants” by 2050 under three different scenarios with varying degrees of climate action and development. Relevance: GS-II: International […]
Israeli armed robots to patrol borders
Context: State-owned Israel Aerospace Industries has unveiled a four-wheel-drive remote-controlled armed robot- “REX MKII” which is capable of patrolling battle zones, tracking infiltrators and opening fire. Relevance: GS-III: Science and Technology, GS-IV: Ethics Dimensions of the Article: Benefits of using robots in war Disadvantages of robots in war Ethicality of using Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems […]
India, U.S. to collaborate on
Context: Official visit of the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate to India for the launch of the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD). Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important International Treaties and Agreements), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and degradation, Conservation of Environment and Ecology) Dimensions of the Article: About the Climate Action […]
India, U.S. agree to collaborate on emerging fuels
Context: Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and U.S. Secretary of Energy co-chaired a virtual Ministerial meeting and launched the revamped U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP). Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important Foreign Policies and Agreements affecting India’s interests) Dimensions of the Article: Highlights of the India U.S. meeting on Emerging Fuels Highlights of the […]
Centre appoints new members to NCLT, ITAT
Context: The government has appointed 31 people as judicial, technical and accountant members at the NCLT and the ITAT, amid the Supreme Court flagging concerns about vacancies in various tribunals. Relevance: GS-III: Indian Economy (Capital Market, Statutory Bodies) Dimensions of the Article: ITAT NCLT NCLAT Differences between NCLT and NCLAT ITAT India’s Income Tax Appellate […]