National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment
Focus: GS II- Government policies and Interventions Why in News? Recently, the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been ranked first under Central Ministries Portal, and the Digital Police portal ranked second in a National E-Governance service delivery assessment (NeSDA) of websites of central government ministries. About National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment Department of Administrative Reforms & Public […]
Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat
Focus: GS II- Government policies and Interventions Why in News? Prime Minister during the 91st Edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ highlighted the importance of traditional fairs in promoting the spirit of unity in diversity ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’. About Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” was announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 31st October, […]
Universal Service Obligation Fund
Context: The Union Cabinet has approved a project for providing 4G mobile services in thousands of villages across the country under the USOF. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Welfare Schemes, Government Initiatives and Policies) Dimensions of the Article: What is the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)? Who are the partners of USOF? What is […]
What is Election Freebies?
Context: Recently, the Supreme court asked the central government whether distributing irrational freebies during election campaigns is financially viable. It also referred to use the expertise of the Finance Commission in curbing the irrational poll freebies. Relevance: GS-II: Governance (Government Policies and Interventions, Issues arising out of the design and implementation of policies, Transparency and Accountability) Dimensions […]
Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
Context: Recently, The Supreme Court upheld the core amendments made to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which gives the government and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) virtually unbridled powers of summons, arrest, and raids, and makes bail nearly impossible while shifting the burden of proof of innocence on to the accused rather than the […]
Supreme Court Collegium
Context: In a significant step to fill vacancies in the higher judiciary, the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana on Monday approved and recommended to the Centre the proposal for the elevation of 20 advocates and 15 judicial officers as judges in six High Courts. Relevance: GS-II: Governance, GS-II: Polity and Constitution […]
Optical Fibers and the 5G Spring
Context India is preparing to auction off airwaves in order to launch 5G services across the country. The infrastructure required for such a rollout necessitates the connection of existing radio towers via optical-fibre cables. Relevance GS Paper: 2 Government Policies & Interventions GS Paper: 3 IT & Computers, Indigenization of Technology, Scientific Innovations & Discoveries Mains Question […]
The Potentials of ICT: E-Governance In India
Context Democratic governance mechanisms are becoming more open to the potentials of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for achieving good governance in their implementation. This use of ICTs for governance falls under the umbrella term of E-governance. India, as one of the largest democratic, demographic, and geographically diverse countries, faces a significant challenge in implementing […]
Marburg Virus Disease
Context Ghana declared the country’s first Marburg virus disease outbreak after two unrelated people died. The news of a new outbreak of a deadly disease caused by viral infections heightened the concerns of a public already exhausted by the coronavirus pandemic and alarmed by the spread of monkeypox and a new case of polio. Relevance […]
Public Safety Act (PSA)
Context: Families of several youth taken into preventive detention this year under the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA), which allows detention for up to two years without a trial, allege their kin were “shifted outside jails and held incommunicado” in violation of the provisions of the Act. Relevance: GS-II: Governance (Government Policies and Innovations, Issues […]