PLEA TO BRING PM CARES FUND UNDER RTI
Focus: GS-II Governance, Indian Polity Why in news? A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been moved before the Delhi High Court seeking greater transparency in the PM CARES Fund by bringing it under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. There were recent newspapers reports of the PM CARES Fund refusing to […]
SIXTH MASS EXTINCTION THREAT GROWS
Focus: GS-III Environment and Ecology Why in news? A recent analysis of data has warned of an acceleration in the sixth mass extinction. Scientists have found that 515 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, have fewer than 1,000 individuals each and are on the brink of extinction including in India. Details Among those facing extinction, […]
SC ON JOINT PLEA: MORATORIUM INTEREST WAIVER
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? Petitions were filed before the SC regarding the waiver of interest rates accrues during the 6 month period offered by RBI due to COVID 19. The Court asked the RBI and the Finance ministry to respond regarding the same. Two main issues: the first was whether interest should […]
INDIA, AUSTRALIA BROADEN TIES IN KEY SECTORS
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? India and Australia in June 2020 upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and signed several agreements, spanning mining of critical elements, cybersecurity cooperation and defence. It reflects India and Australia’s strong commitment to practical global cooperation to address major challenges like COVID-19. Key Highlights Cooperation across […]
DOWN TO EARTH’S STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT
Focus: GS-III Environment and Ecology, Disaster Management Why in news? India had one in five of all internal displacements caused by disasters across the world in 2019, mostly caused by floods, cyclones and drought, according to the Down to Earth’s State of the Environment report released in June 2020. The “State of India’s Environment in […]
26 June 2020, Static Quiz on Environment
TIME TO DISCONTINUE FREE POWER FOR FARMERS
Focus: GS-II Social Justice Introduction The Centre has prescribed that the free power supply scheme should be replaced with the direct benefits transfer (DBT) as a condition to allow States to increase their borrowing limit. Free Power Tamil Nadu was the first State to introduce free power in September 1984. In the last 15 years, […]
MOVE OVER G7, IT’S TIME FOR A NEW AND IMPROVED G11
Focus: GS-II International Relations Introduction US President Donald Trump is keen to expand G7 to include India, Russia, South Korea and Australia. What prompted US to call for an expansion? The G7, formed in 1975-76, comprises the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Japan, and Italy. India is both a military and economic giant but […]
IN HIMALAYAN STAREDOWN, THE DILEMMAS FOR DELHI
Focus: GS-II International Relations Introduction The growing number of reports about Chinese troops crossing the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India in the Ladakh region — neither acknowledged nor denied by the Indian government as yet — indicate a new age of Chinese territorial aggression against India. The growing territorial aggression China’s growing […]
GLOBAL VACCINE SUMMIT 2020
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology Why in news? India has pledged 15 Million US Dollars to GAVI, the international vaccine alliance, while addressing the virtual Global Vaccine Summit. What the Prime Minister Highlighted during the Global Vaccine Summit? India shared the country’s available stocks of medicines (Hydro chloroquine and others) with over 120 countries. Mission […]