74% FDI IN DEFENCE NOTIFICATION TO COME
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy Why in news? The government is going to come out with a decision on 74% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in defence and a notification is bound to be released soon. The second draft of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2020, now renamed as the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, was put […]
INDIAN NAVY DEEPENS WATCH TO CHECK CHINA AMBITIONS
Focus: GS-III Internal Security Challenges, GS-I Geography Why in news? The Indian Navy has stepped up surveillance and activities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), which, it believes, China will “inevitably” try to enter in its quest to become a global power, just as it has laid claim to large portions of the disputed South […]
AIR POLLUTION CUTS INDIANS’ LIFE EXPECTANCY
Focus: GS-III Environment and Ecology, Prelims Why in news? Pollution levels in India reduces 5.2 years from the life expectancy of the average Indian according to an assessment by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Assessment Highlights India is the second most-polluted country globally after Bangladesh, while Nepal, Singapore and Pakistan are […]
INDIA’S AGRICULTURE POLICY DILEMMA
Focus: GS-III Agriculture, Indian Economy Why in news? Reserve Bank of India Governor spoke about five dynamic shifts which are underway in the Indian economy in which one of the five themes in the speech was “fortunes shifting in favour of the farm sector” giving a policy direction for the future. Click Here to read […]
PROTECTING ARTISTS AND THE ARTS
Focus: GS-I Art and Culture Introduction Although there is tremendous diversity and excellence of fine arts, performance arts and crafts — folk, classical, and contemporary — there are neither authoritative definitions nor data on the size or shape of “Creative economy”. Troubled times for the creative sector A large section of artists and artisans are […]
NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES (NTDS)
Focus: GS-III Science and technology Introduction Disease outbreaks usually result in single-minded efforts to stem the tide, distracting from other public health issues in the process. For example, the 2016 Ebola outbreak resulted in the loss of an additional 10,600 West African lives due to HIV, TB and malaria. Now, as health services, resources and […]
RIC, A TRIANGLE THAT IS STILL IMPORTANT
Focus: GS-II International Relations Introduction Recently India decided to attend a (virtual) meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Russia, India and China (RIC), amidst the tensions on the Line of Actual Control. Highlights of the meeting The Chinese Minister did not see the irony in his call for opposing bullying practices, rejecting power politics and […]
THE SOUTH ASIAN-GULF MIGRANT CRISIS
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? The Kerala High Court issued notice to the Central and State governments on a petition seeking to set up a mechanism to assist NRIs who had lost their jobs abroad and had returned to India, to seek due compensation. It seeks the court’s intervention to reclaim unpaid salaries, […]
NAMAMI GANGE IN PM’S AWARD
Focus: GS-III Environment and Ecology, Governance Why in news? The Namami Gange project has been included in the prestigious ‘Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2020’. Benefits of Namami Gange: Reasons for Nomination Economic activities are also benefiting from the efforts of the 26 District Ganga Committees of Uttar Pradesh. There, has been […]
START OF ASSEMBLY OF THE ITER
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology, GS-II International Relations Why in news? The ITER Organization is celebrating the Start of Assembly of the ITER Tokamak with a ceremony. Highlights of Indian PM’s message ITER and global participation of scientists and engineers are a perfect illustration of the age-old Indian belief – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the entire […]