VIRUS OUTBREAK SPREADS TO BEIJING, SHANGHAI
Why in news? An outbreak of a new coronavirus has spread to more Chinese cities, including the capital Beijing and Shanghai, authorities said on 20th January, and a fourth case has been reported beyond China’s borders China’s National Health Commission confirmed that the virus, which causes a type of pneumonia, can pass from person-to-person, Spreading […]
IMF BRINGS DOWN INDIA’S GROWTH FORECAST TO 4.8%
Why in news? The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 20th January, lowered India’s economic growth estimate for the current fiscal to 4.8% Reasons for slowdown. Decline in rural demand growth and an overall credit sluggishness for the lowering of India forecasts IMF The International Monetary Fund (IMF), is an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. […]
SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO STAY POLL BOND SCHEME
Why in news? SC said that, electoral bond scheme is not unconstitutional and thus it will not stay it More about electoral bonds As per provisions of the Scheme, electoral bonds may be purchased by a citizen of India, or entities incorporated or established in India. A person can buy electoral bonds, either singly or […]
SOCIAL MOBILITY INDEX: INDIA RANKS LOW AT 76TH PLACE; DENMARK TOPS
Why in news? India has been ranked very low at 76th place out of 82 countries on a new Social Mobility Index compiled by the World Economic Forum Details The report also lists India among the five countries that stand to gain the most from a better social mobility score that seeks to measure parameters […]
146 IRRAWADDY DOLPHINS SIGHTED IN ODISHA’S CHILIKA
Details India’s largest brackish water lake is home to their highest single lagoon population in the world The Chilika Development Authority (CDA) is elated that the direct sighting of 146 dolphins meant that its population in the lake would stabilise well above 150 The total population of these aquatic mammals in the world is estimated […]
SUBMARINE-LAUNCHED BALLISTIC MISSILE K-4
Why in news? India successfully test-fires 3,500-km range submarine-launched ballistic missile K-4 Details The test was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from a submerged pontoon off the Visakhapatnam coast Very few countries which have managed to achieve this technological breakthrough Our Circular Error Probability (CEP) is much more sophisticated Once […]
LIBYA SUMMIT SEEKS END TO FOREIGN MEDDLING
Why in news? World leaders made a fresh push for peace in Libya at a summit in Berlin on January 19, 2020 Details UN-led talks in Berlin is a bid to curb military interference, help relaunch political dialogue The summit’s main goal is to get foreign powers wielding influence in the region to stop interfering […]
KOTIYATTAM
Details: Koodiyattam, also transliterated as Kotiyattam, is a traditional performing artform in the state of Kerala, India. It is a combination of ancient Sanskrit theatre with elements of Koothu, a Tamil/ Malayalam performing art which is as old as Sangam era It has a documented history of a thousand years in Kerala It is traditionally […]
SERVICES SECTOR ACTIVITY GROWTH AT 5 MONTH HIGH
India’s services sector activity gained momentum and touched a five month high in December, supported by an uptick in new business orders that boosted output and employment IHS Markit India Services Business Activity Index improved from 52.7 in November to 53.3 in December 2019, highlighting the second strongest rate of increase in output in over […]
STRESSED URBAN COOPERATIVE BANKS TO FACE PCA LIKE CURBS
Why in News? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to impose restrictions on urban cooperative banks (UCBs) for deterioration of financial position, in line with the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework that is imposed on commercial banks RBI’s action includes cancellation of banking license Under this revised Supervisory Action Framework (SAF), UCBs will […]