Q. Why is this in news? Recently, the Central Government opposed same-sex marriage in Delhi High Court stating that a marriage in India can be recognised only if it is between a “biological man” and a “biological woman” capable of producing children. Q. What is the background for it? Petitions, seeking recognition of same sex marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act (... Read More...
Q. What is the news? Recently 1,040 militants of five militant groups of Karbi Anglong district ceremonially laid down arms at an event in Guwahati in the presence of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, a development which further bolsters the ‘terrorism-free Assam’ image of the current BJP-led government. Among the surrendered militants is Ingti Kathar Songbijit, a primary accused in multiple cases of militancy and ethnic violence in the state. Read More...
Q. Why in News? The Union Budget 2021 has announced the privatisation of two public sector banks and one general insurance company in the upcoming fiscal 2021-22. The move, coming after 51 years of nationalisation of government-owned banks in 1969, will give the private sector a key role in the banking sector. Presently, India has 22 private banks and 10 small finance banks. Read More...
Q. What is the news? The Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) has launched a Seaweed Mission. Q. What is its Background? Out of the global seaweed production of 32 million tons fresh weight valued around 12 billion US dollars, China produces 57%, Indonesia 28% followed by South Korea, whereas India is having a mere share of 0.01-0.02%. Despite several advanta... Read More...
Q Why is it in News ? Recently, Google has signed a deal with a group of French publishers to make digital copyright payments for online news content. Q What is this Google-French Deal? France became the first country to enshrine the European Union copyright rules into national law. This brought into effect 'neighbouring rights' law. The newly adopted EU directive ensures that media are paid for original content, typically news, offered online by tech giants such as Google and Facebook. Read More...
Q. What is the news? According to a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the number of registered unrecognised political parties has increased two-fold from 2010 to 2019. Q. What is ADR? ADR is an Indian non-governmental organization established in 1999 situated in New Delhi. Q. What are the findings of the report? Read More...
Q. What is the news? The government’s fiscal deficit has increased to Rs. 11.58 lakh crore or 145.5% of the Budget Estimate (BE) at the end of December 2020 (accounting for the first nine months of the year 2020-21) mainly on account of lower revenue realisation. Q. What are the Fiscal Deficit Target Fixed for 2020-21 and previous year? A. The Centre had pegged the fiscal deficit at Rs. 7.96 lakh crore or&nb... Read More...
Q. What is the news? The Economic Survey released by the Union Ministry of Finance on January 29, 2021 highlighted the concept of setting up a social stock exchange (SSE) in India for raising capital by organisations working for the realisation of a social welfare objective. It will be under the regulatory ambit of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the survey said. Q. What is the background for it? SEBI co... Read More...
Q. What is the news? After an estimated 7.7 per cent contraction in 2020-21, the Finance Ministry’s Economic Survey projects that India’s real GDP would record a growth of 11 per cent in 2021-22. The nominal GDP growth has been estimated at 15.4 per cent, implying an assumption of 4.4 per cent inflation during the year. Q. On what basis has the 11 per cent growth projection been made? One of the factors is the low base while calculating the year-on-year inflation rate, given the c... Read More...
Q. Why is this in news? The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has sought inputs from tele-companies and other industry experts on the sale and use of radio frequency spectrum over the next 10 years, including the 5G bands. Q. What is 5G technology and how is it different? 5G or fifth generation is the latest upgrade in the long-term evolution (LTE) mobile broadband networks. 5G mainly works in 3 bands, namely low, mid and high frequency spectrum — all of which have their own uses a... Read More...
What is the news? Gujarat Chief Minister has recently announced the tourism policy for 2021-25, seeking to position the state as the country’s foremost tourist destination, with a focus on investment and livelihood opportunities. The policy seeks to make Gujarat a hub of “MICE” tourism. What is MICE tourism? The acronym “MICE” stands for “Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions”, and is essentially a version of business tourism that dra... Read More...
Q. What is Bioterrorism? It is the deliberate and intentional ill intended release of biological agents such as viruses, bacteria, toxins, or other harmful agents to cause illness or death among humans, food crops, and livestock to terrorize the civilian population. They are very harmful because they can be accordingly altered, tailored, or mutated. They generally consist of two parts – a weaponized agent and a delivery mechanism. A small quantity is enough to bring about a disastrous effect and also any diseas... Read More...
Q. What is the news? The major demand of the protesting farmers in Delhi border has been that the government guarantee in writing the MSP system, which assures them of a fixed price for their crops, 1.5 times of the cost of production. Q. What is MSP? Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention by the Government of India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. The minimum support prices are announced by the Government of India at the beginning of the sowing se... Read More...
Q. What is the context? India’s coasts have always been vulnerable to anti-national activities. Numerous cases of the smuggling of goods, gold, narcotics, explosives, arms and ammunition as well as the infiltration of terrorists into the country through these coasts have been reported over the years. The Government had been aware of the activities that are carried out through the country’s coasts and had been implementing corrective measures from time to time. Read More...
Q. Why is this in news? Recently, Governor of Kerala turned down the recommendation of the state government to convene the session of the state legislature. It also points to the trend of declining sittings of the state legislature and issues with it. Q. What is this Governor-Government conflict? The Kerala government made a recommendation to the governor for summoning the state’s legislature for a one-day session. The government wanted to discuss the situat... Read More...
Q. What is this bill? The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019 seeks to provide for an autonomous and independent institution for better management of arbitration in country. Arbitration is basically a settlement of dispute between two parties to a contract by a neutral third party i.e. the arbitrator without resorting to court or judicial action. Arbitrators can be chosen for their expertise. It is confidential and can be speedier and cheaper than court. There... Read More...
Q. What is the news? Recently, India has added Tso Kar Wetland Complex in Ladakh as its 42nd Ramsar site, a conservation status conferred by International Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Q. What is Tso Kar Wetland Complex? The Tso Kar Basin is a high-altitude wetland complex, consisting of two principal waterbodies: Startsapuk Tso, a ... Read More...
Q. Why is this in news? A. Prime Minister recently inaugurated a 351-km section between Khurja and Bhaupur in Uttar Pradesh for commercial operations of the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) . He also dedicated to the nation a state-of-the-art Operation Control Centre in Prayagraj. The total 2,843-km project — billed as the largest rail infrastructure being built in independent India — has been in the making since 2006 with little movement on the ground. It is finally ready to t... Read More...
Q. What is the news? India’s urban mass rapid transit will mark a milestone on December 28 when Prime Minister is scheduled to flag off the country’s first ‘driverless’ metro in Delhi. The first ‘driverless’ train will roll out on the 38-km Line 8 or Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro, which has a 390-km-long network spread across the national capital and adjoining cities such as Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Bahadurgarh. Delhi Metro, now the country&... Read More...
Q. What is the news? The government has recently used financial innovation to recapitalise Punjab & Sind Bank by issuing the lender Rs 5,500-crore worth of non-interest bearing bonds valued at par. The funds raised through issuance of these instruments, which are a variation of the recapitalisation bonds issued earlier to public sector banks, are being deployed to capitalise the state-run bank. Though these will earn no interest for the subscriber, market participants term it both a ‘financial illusion’ and ‘great innovation’ by the ... Read More...