VANDALISM OF BUDDHIST ROCK ENGRAVINGS IN GILGIT-BALTISTAN
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture, Geography, Prelims Why in news? India has reacted strongly to reports of vandalism and defacement of ancient Buddhist rock carvings in Gilgit-Baltistan under Pakistan’s control. Buddhist Carvings in Gilgit-Balistan Before arrival of Islam in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan the majority of the people were Buddhist and they had engraved the […]
CWMA, CWRC MEETING ON JUNE 2020
Focus: GS-II Governance, Environment , Prelims Why in news? The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), after being notified formally as a body under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti in late April, will hold its first meeting through videoconferencing on June 10. The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) will have its meeting on June 9. […]
THREE ORDINANCES TO BOOST FARM INCOME, ATTRACT INVESTORS
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? Formalising its plan to unlock the growth potential of farm incomes by allowing unrestricted sale of produce, the Centre on 3rd June 2020, approved three major legislative reforms through ordinances intended to create “one India, one agriculture market” while attracting private investments in a sector crippled by varying […]
IMPLEMENTING NEW NORMS OF CLASSIFICATION OF MSMES
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? Implementation of the revised definition and criteria of MSMEs in the country will come into effect from 1st July, 2020. Background to the Revision of Definition The existing criterion of definition of MSMEs is based on the MSMED Act, 2006. It was different for manufacturing and services units. […]
EGOs AND PDCs FOR ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS IN INDIA
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? The Union Cabinet has given its approval for setting up of an “Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS) and Project Development Cells (PDCs) in Ministries/Departments of Government of Indiafor attracting investments in India”. Details Government is determined to put in place an investment friendly ecosystem that strongly supports the […]
SWADES: SKILL MAPPING EXERCISE FOR RETURNING CITIZENS
Focus: GS-II Social Justice, Prelims Why in news? With the aim of making the best of our skilled workforce returning to the country due to the ongoing pandemic, the Government of India has launched a new initiative SWADES. SWADES initiative SWADES (Skilled Workers Arrival Database for Employment Support) is implemented to conduct a skill mapping […]
WHAT IS THE ONGOING SIXTH MASS EXTINCTION?
Focus: GS-II Environment and Ecology Introduction The ongoing sixth mass extinction may be one of the most serious environmental threats to the persistence of civilisation, according to new research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). The research claims that this extinction is human-caused […]
MULTILATERALISM IN THE NEW COLD WAR
Focus: GS-II International Relations Introduction In the new cold war, defined by technology and trade not territory, non-alignment is an uncertain option. Developments on the International Stage for India As chair of the Executive Board of the World Health Assembly India can set the global response in terms of multilateralism, not just medical issues. In […]
SEIZING THE MOMENT AT THE WHO
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? On May 22, 2020, Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, was elected the Chair of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) executive board. The elevation affords India an important platform to steer the global public health response to COVID-19. Five elements to India’s policy approach, What can […]
CHINA TO BUILD POWER PROJECT IN POK DESPITE INDIA OBJECTION
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? China under the multi-billion-dollar China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will set up a 1,124-megawatt power project in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir despite India’s objection to it. Details A tripartite agreement has been finalised among China’s Three Gorges Corporation, the authorities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the PPIB to implement the 1,124-megawatt […]