LOCKDOWN ENSURED GROWTH OF CASES REMAINED LINEAR
Why in news? India has managed to maintain a linear growth of COVID-19 cases over the one-month period during its lockdown, the Union Health Ministry said on 23rd April 2020 even as the country reported over 1,409 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of cases to 21,700 with 16,689 active ones. There are 12 districts […]
GLOBAL REMITTANCES TO WITNESS SHARPEST FALL
Why in news? Global remittances are projected to experience their sharpest decline in recent times — 20% — owing to migrants losing jobs and wages because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Bank Group said in a report. This is in stark contrast to 2019 when they grew by 6.1%. In India, remittances for 2020 […]
INDIAN TEST KITS MUST FOR RELIABILITY
The need of the hour For reliable antibody testing kits, India will have to make its own, according to independent epidemiologists and biotechnologists. Much like home-based pregnancy tests, antibody tests are valuable because they give results quickly and only needs a pinprick’s worth of blood. However, they can only detect antibodies produced by the immune […]
CENTRE, STATE CAN FIX SUGARCANE PRICE, SAYS SC
Why in news? The Supreme Court on 22nd April 2020 held in its judgment that both the central government as well as the state governments have the power to fix the price of sugarcane provided the price set by the State is higher than the minimum price fixed by the Centre. The judgment was passed by […]
TRUMP SET TO SIGN IMMIGRATION ORDER
Why in news? President Donald Trump confirmed he would sign an order later on 22nd April 2020 partially blocking immigration to the U.S., in a move he argues would protect workers from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The President said on 21st April 2020 that he would stop the issuing of green cards — permanent […]
NO 100% QUOTA FOR TRIBAL TEACHERS: SC
Why in news? A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held it unconstitutional to provide 100% reservation for tribal teachers in schools located in Scheduled Areas across the country. The five-judge Bench was answering a reference made to it in 2016 on whether 100% reservation is permissible under the Constitution. What was said in […]
ATTACKS ON HEALTH WORKERS TO ATTRACT UP TO 7 YEARS IN PRISON
Why in news? The Union Cabinet on 22nd April 2020, approved the promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, making acts of violence against medical staff a cognizable and non-bailable offence and to provide compensation for injury to healthcare personnel or for damage or loss to property. The ordinance proposes that in […]
27th April – Editorials/Opinions Analyses
Contents At the edge of a new nuclear arms race Protecting the poor from becoming poorer Nations opting to trade with economies having political trust Where does COVID-19 virus first strike? AT THE EDGE OF A NEW NUCLEAR ARMS RACE Focus: GS-II International Relations, GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? In mid-April, a report […]
Current Affairs for UPSC IAS Exam – 27 April 2020
Contents Executive is better-suited to deal with COVID-19: CJI Pandemic will deepen job and livelihood crisis of migrants Assam’s BTAD might see Governor’s rule Pandemic is China’s biggest crisis since Tiananmen First-ever digital geological map of moon India Registered a total of 826 fatalities and 26,917 cases EXECUTIVE IS BETTER-SUITED TO DEAL WITH COVID-19: CJI […]
ORGANIC-INORGANIC HYBRID NANOCOATINGS FOR DISPOSABLE MASKS
Why in news? The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has approved support for large scale production of organic-Inorganic hybrid nanocoating for disposable masks. Why is this Nanocoating needed? The N95 masks available in the market are capable of filtering out all types of particles, including viruses and bacteria, but they are expensive and need […]