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 […]
ISRO TO LAUNCH GISAT-1 ON MARCH 5
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, Prelims Why in news? GISAT-1, the country’s first earth imaging satellite in a geostationary orbit, will be launched in the evening of March 5 from the Sriharikota launch centre. Medium-lift GSLV launcher numbered F10 would orbit the 2,275-kg spacecraft. Details Operating from its geostationary orbit [at around 36,000 km from […]
IN RAKHIGARHI, ANXIETY TRUMPS HISTORY
Focus: GS-I History, Prelims Why in news? Looking at the mounds at the Harappan site of Rakhigarhi, where locals dry cow dung cakes and dump garbage, there is little to show the thousands of years of history beneath. But the Centre is moving ahead with its plan to develop the site as a tourist hub and setting […]
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 […]
APEX ENVIRONMENT BODY DEFERS DECISION ON PARLIAMENT REVAMP PLAN
An apex environmental screening committee has deferred a decision on clearance to the Parliament redevelopment project. This has been done on the grounds that there was a dispute, being heard in the Delhi High Court, regarding the land on which some of the proposed structures were to come up As the alterations which are proposed […]
TRUMP RENEWS OFFER TO MEDIATE ON KASHMIR, BUT SKIRTS CAA
India and the United States on Tuesday strengthened their partnership with agreements on healthcare and energy, and issued a joint statement that designated the two countries as “Comprehensive Global Strategic partners The statement followed bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump, during which the latter renewed his offer to mediate […]
CWMA DROPS DISCUSSION ON KEKADATU DAM
Why in news? Background Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) CWMA has been created as per the Cauvery Management Scheme framed by Centre and approved by Supreme Court. The Cauvery Management Scheme deals with release of water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. It will be implemented by Cauvery Management Authority (CMA). CMA will be sole […]
ASI PLANNING BARRICADE AROUND FAMED STONE CHARIOT AT HAMPI
Why in news? The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is contemplating installing a wooden barricade around the stone chariot inside Vittala Temple complex at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi in Karnataka in a bid to protect it from vandalism. Vittala Temple is not only among the most visited protected monuments at Hampi, but […]
DONALD TRUMP CALLS MODI A ‘TRUE FRIEND’, LAVISHES PRAISE ON PM
U.S. President Donald Trump, on his maiden visit to India on 24th February 2020, heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “true friend”, and said his rise from a humble background as a teaseller to India’s Prime Minister “underscores India’s limitless promise”. Mr. Trump’s lavish praise, while addressing a mammoth crowd at […]
ENERGY TO DOMINATE INDIA-U.S. RELATIONS
Why in news? Energy could take over from Defence as the strongest link in the Indo-U.S. relationship – with talks over increasing India’s imports of U.S. oil and gas, a clean energy deal including an MoU on building pipeline infrastructure for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) between American oil company ExxonMobil, gas transportation technology company Chart […]