SAUDI KING TO CHAIR G20 VIRTUAL SUMMIT
Focus: GS-III International Relations, Prelims Why in news? Leaders of the G20 group of nations will hold a video conference on 26th March 2020. The virtual summit will be led by King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud of Saudi Arabia which is the current president of the economic grouping. Details G20 members will be joined […]
RAJYA SABHA PASSES SIX BILLS ON LAST DAY OF SESSION
Focus: GS-II Governance, Indian Polity, Prelims Why in news? The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on 23rd March 2020, ahead of the schedule, owing to the lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. In the Budget session that began on January 31, the Upper House passed only 12 Bills, six of which were passed […]
LOK SABHA PASSES FINANCE BILL WITHOUT DEBATE
Focus: GS-II Governance, Indian Polity ,Prelims Why in news? The Finance bill was hurriedly passed in the Lok Sabha without the customary discussion or reply by the Union finance minister and duly returned by the Rajya Sabha as the country headed for a lockdown to fight the coronavirus crisis. What to expect from the Finance […]
PURSUE NO-TRUST MOTION: MADHYA PRADESH GOVERNOR TELLS SPEAKER
Focus: GS-II Governance, Prelims Why in news? The day the BJP leaders had met him, Madhya Pradesh Governor directed Speaker to convene the session so that legislators could act on the no-confidence motion pending against him. What is a no-confidence motion? A government can function only when it has majority support in the Lok Sabha. […]
CENTRAL LAWS TO APPLY RETROSPECTIVELY IN J&K
Why in news? The Union cabinet has given approval for their applicability in an effort to ensure administrative effectiveness and smooth transition, removing any ambiguity, in line with the Constitution. Details Jammu and Kashmir had a separate provision of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) under which cases were registered by the state police Apart from IPC […]
MERIL’S DEVICE
Why in news? Three years after setting cap on stents, NPPA exempts Meril’s device from price control Details Meril had approached the NPPA for exemption under this provision after it received the Indian drug regulator’s approval in 2017 for the stent, a drug-coated product called MeRes-100 that naturally dissolves over a period of time. The […]
CENTRE SET TO REVAMP IT ACT
Focus: GS-II Governance, GS-III Industry and Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Prelims Why in news? The government will soon kick-start the process of revamping the nearly 20-year old Information Technology Act, 2000, with an aim to bring it in tune with the technological advancements with a focus on stronger framework to deal with cybercrimes. An expert […]
SRI LANKA NOTIFIES UN ABOUT RIGHTS RESOLUTION WITHDRAWAL
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? Sri Lanka on 27th February formally notified the UN Human Right Council that it was withdrawing from the UN resolution on post-war accountability and reconciliation – statement at the High-Level Segment at the ongoing UNHRC session. History of Sri Lanka’s UNHRC Resolution In 2015, six years after Sri […]
J&K ‘WAS, IS AND SHALL FOREVER’ REMAIN ITS INTEGRAL PART: INDIA TELLS PAKISTAN AT UNHRC MEETING
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? Jammu and Kashmir will remain an integral part of India for ever, and the world should act against countries that shelter terrorists, India told the Human Rights Council on 26th February 2020, speaking at the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council. Other Statements: The transformative changes wrought […]
CABINET APPROVES BILL TO REGULATE SURROGACY
Focus: GS-II Governance, Prelims Why in news? The Union Cabinet on 26th February 2020 approved the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020, allowing a “willing” woman to be a surrogate mother and proposing that the Bill would benefit widows and divorced women besides infertile Indian couples. The Cabinet approved the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill after incorporating the recommendations […]