Children and schooling in the post-COVID-19 era
Context: The UNESCO Report titled ‘No Teacher, No Class’ prepared along with scholars from Tata Institute of Social Science focuses on the need for reforms in education in India. This report with the recently constituted R. Ramanujam Committee focuses on education in the post-COVID-19 era. Children’s education and health are two major domains in which […]
Covid-19 and rise in child sexual abuse online
Context: The Global Threat Assessment report 2021, by WeProtect Global Alliance said COVID-19 had contributed to a significant spike in child sexual exploitation and abuse online. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Issues related to Children, Vulnerable Sections) Dimensions of the Article: Global Threat Assessment report 2021 Report: Most Online Content on Child Sexual Abuse […]
MHA on ex gratia of Rs. 50,000 for each COVID-19 death
Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Supreme Court that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has recommended the payment of ₹50,000 each as ex gratia assistance to the next kin of those who died of COVID-19, including those who succumbed to the virus while involved in relief operations and preparedness activities. Relevance: GS-III: […]
WMO on Covid-19 barely cutting down carbon emissions
Context: The virus-related economic downturn caused only a temporary downturn in CO2 emissions last year and it was not enough to reverse the rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Conservation of Environment) Dimensions of the Article: World Meteorological […]
Economy grows 20.1% in Q1, lags pre-COVID level
Context: Economic statistics for the first quarter of the current fiscal (April to June period), released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) shows that India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown by more than 20% in the first quarter of 2021-22. Relevance: GS-III: Indian Economy (Growth and Development of Indian Economy) Dimensions of the Article: […]
India toughens stand on EU COVID passport
Context: India took issue with the European Union’s plans to institute a “green pass” from July 1, with government sources warning that India will introduce a “reciprocal policy” only allowing ease of travel for those European countries that recognise Indian vaccines Covishield and Covaxin. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important Foreign Policies and Agreements Affecting India’s […]
BRICS will assist India to fight COVID-19, says China
Context: The Foreign Ministers of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) grouping expressed “grave concern” with regard to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the Chinese Foreign Minister expressed solidarity with India over the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (India’s Neighbors, Important International Groupings) Dimensions of the Article: What […]
Deflating India’s COVID black market boom
Context: With the second wave of infections and the rise in COVID-19 positive cases in India, the necessity for integral medicines, hospital beds and oxygen supplies has gone up incrementally. In such a situation, the boom in black-market sale of essential needs such as medicines and oxygen tanks has emerged as most reprehensible is the […]
Vaccine tourism: Going abroad for Covid-19 shots
Context: Recently, reports emerged of a Dubai-based tour operator offering a 24-day package tour from Delhi to Moscow, which included two shots of the Russian Sputnik-V vaccine. Even as several constraints need to be worked out first – including visa and flights from India to Russia – a Delhi-based travel agency has also jumped in […]
Adoption issues for those orphaned during COVID-19
Context: Cases of children losing their parents to Covid-19 are mounting as the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic rages on. Childline 1098 has recorded 51 calls between May 1 to May 12 2021 for children whose both parents succumbed to COVID-19 , but the actual number is likely to be much higher as there […]