RETAIL INFLATION EASES TO 5.91%
Why in news? Retail inflation dropped to 5.91% in March from the 6.58% in February, mostly on a drop in food prices, according to the Consumer Price Index data released by the National Statistical Office on 13th April 2020. Details Food inflation fell to 8.76% in March, in comparison with the 10.81% in February. Vegetable […]
RBI ANNOUNCES MEASURES TO DEAL WITH COVID-19 CRISIS-UPSC
RBI’s measures to tackle COVID-19 The measures taken by RBI have four objectives in mind. These are aimed to maintain adequate liquidity in the system and its constituents, to facilitate and incentivize bank credit flows, to de-stress and enable performance of markets. Important graphs to correlate with RBI Measures for UPSC exam Targeted Long-Term Repo […]
WATER FROM GANGA, YAMUNA BEING TESTED
Why in news? The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) — the arm of the Water Ministry tasked with directing the ₹20,000 crore clean-up of the Ganga — and the Central Pollution Control Board are expected to find out if the lockdown had a measurable impact on the water quality of the Ganga and Yamuna, […]
ONLINE CHILD PORN TRAFFIC RISES BY 95%
Why in news? Consumption of child pornography after the lockdown in the country has gone up by 95% with online data monitoring websites. the India Child Protection Fund (ICPF) said in a statement that Traffic from India increased by 95% between March 24 and 26, as compared to average traffic before the lockdown. The ICPF […]
FLOOR TEST IS GOVERNOR’S DISCRETION
Why in news? A Governor can call for a floor test any time he objectively feels a government in power has lost the confidence of the House and is on shaky ground, the Supreme Court held in its judgement on 13th March 2020. Highlights of the Judgement A Governor can call for a trust vote […]
MGNREGA JOBS CRASH TO 1% OF NORMAL
Why in news? Employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has collapsed to just over 1% of the usual rate in April, due to the COVID-19 lockdown. How many are affected? Data from the MGNREGA website show that less than 1.9 lakh families have been provided work under the scheme so […]
CENTRE MAY RAISE LOAN TO PAY GST DUES TO STATES
Why in news? The Union government is exploring raising a loan to pay the shortfall of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation amount to States as the latter have had to ramp up spending to combat the outbreak of COVID-19. Details The idea has been circulated and since the GST Act prohibits withdrawal of […]
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE SPECIAL ISSUES DURING VIRUS OUTBREAK
What are the unique challenges that people with disability face? People with disability have special issues in a situation like the spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). People with disability are a diverse group, experiencing different hardships in accessing information on prevention and risk of infection. They may not be eating properly and may experience […]
STIMULUS MUST PRECEDE LIFTING OF LOCKDOWN
Why in news? The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) has said that before the lockdown is lifted, adequate notice should be given and an economic package announced. Views of the CII The principle should be that we look at opening up in concentric circles around the red zones. The radiating heat map should turn from […]
RESUME INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY IN 15 SECTORS: DPIIT
Why in news? The Commerce and Industries Ministry has called for far-reaching measures to be taken to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown, urging the Home Ministry to allow relaxations of the restrictions on a number of industry sectors. Recommendations Industrial activity be restarted in at least 15 sectors, including heavy electricals, electronics and […]