UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Urban Infrastructure Development Fund

Aug 08, 2023

For Tier 2 & 3 Cities: 1. What is the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF)? UIDF aims to supplement efforts of the State Governments/UTs for urban infrastructure development work implemented through Public/State Agencies, Municipal Corporations, Urban Local Bodies in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities by providing a stable and predictable source of financing.Simple terms:UIDF is a fund of Rs 10,000 crore operationalized by the central government for creating infrastructure in tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India. 2. Which cities are covered ... Read More...

China's Double Standards on Terrorism

Aug 07, 2023

India's Proposal for UN Counter-Terrorism Sanctions Regime Q. What is India's proposal regarding UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime within BRICS? India has proposed that BRICS nations should jointly prepare a list of terrorists and their proxies under the UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime. The objective is to ensure a fair and unbiased approach to countering terrorism within BRICS countries and avoid the use of double standards in dealing with terrorist entities. Q. How has China responded to the proposal? Read More...

Carbon Market in India

Aug 07, 2023

Indian Carbon Market (ICM) The Indian government has released a draft framework for a carbon market in India. The market will be called the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) and will be based on the Energy Conservation Act. The ICM will be a hybrid market, with both compliance and voluntary components. The governing body of the ICM will be the ICM Governing Board (ICMGB), which will be co-chaired by the secretaries of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Ministry of Power (MoP). The ICMGB wi... Read More...

Gyanvapi Mosque Dispute

Aug 07, 2023

Q. What is the Gyanvapi Mosque Dispute? A. The Gyanvapi Mosque Dispute is a legal and historical controversy surrounding the Gyanvapi Mosque located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The dispute involves claims and counterclaims regarding the origins of the mosque and whether it was built on the site of the original Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Q. When did the Gyanvapi Mosque Dispute reach the Supreme Court? A. In 2022 Q. What are the main issues in the Gyanvapi Mosque Dispute? ... Read More...

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022 and Changes to Drugs and Cosmetics Act

Aug 07, 2023

Q: What is the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022, and what does it aim to do? A: The Jan Vishwas Bill, 2022, decriminalizes about 180 minor offenses across 42 central laws in various sectors, including pharma, media, agriculture, environment, and industry. It converts or "compounds" prison sentences into fines and penalties, providing businesses with more leniency for minor deviations. Q: What has been the recent debate around the Bill, particularly concerning the Drugs and Cosmetics Act? A: The recent... Read More...

Licensing Requirement for Importing Laptops, Tablets, and All-in-One PCs

Aug 07, 2023

Q: What is the recent notification issued by the Directorate-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)? A: The DGFT issued a notification imposing a licensing requirement for the import of laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs, and ultra-small form factor computers and servers falling under HSN 8741, effective immediately. Q: What is the purpose of imposing the licensing requirement? A: The move aims to address India's security concerns, especially regarding items shipped from China, and to boost local manufacturing. The government aims to encourage dome... Read More...

Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023

Aug 07, 2023

Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023: Reasons for the Bill Q1: Why was the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 introduced? A1: The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 was introduced to address new challenges in forest conservation, ecological preservation, and tackling climate change at both national and international levels. The aim is to strengthen the country's commitment to preserving forests, biodiversity, and achieving carbon neutrality. Q2: What are the key reasons behind proposin... Read More...

Rating Agencies and Fitch Ratings

Aug 07, 2023

Q: What is a rating agency? A: A rating agency is an independent organization that evaluates the creditworthiness and risk associated with debt securities, bonds, or other financial instruments issued by governments, corporations, or other entities. They assign credit ratings to these instruments, indicating the likelihood of the issuer defaulting on their obligations. Q: What are credit ratings? A: Credit ratings are grades assigned by rating agencies to debt securities or issuers. These ratings assess the creditworthiness and risk of default... Read More...

Biofuels

Aug 07, 2023

Food vs. Fuel Trade-off and Ethanol Blending in India: Q: What is the concept of "food vs. fuel" trade-off in the context of ethanol blending in India? A: The "food vs. fuel" trade-off refers to the potential conflict between using agricultural crops for producing biofuels, such as ethanol, and using the same crops for food production. When crops like sugarcane and grains are used to produce ethanol for blending in petrol, it diverts these crops from the food supply chain, potentially affecting food availability and prices. Read More...

Mediation Bill 2021

Aug 07, 2023

1. What does the Mediation Bill, 2021 aim to achieve? Answer: The Mediation Bill, 2021 aims to promote and encourage the use of mediation as an alternative method for resolving civil or commercial disputes, with the objective of reducing the burden on courts and facilitating faster and cost-effective resolution of disputes. 2. What is the maximum time limit for completing mediation proceedings under the bill? Answer: The bill halves the maximum time for completing mediation proceedings from the current duration to 180 days, making the proces... Read More...

Direct Listing of Indian Companies in GIFT City

Aug 07, 2023

What is GIFT City? Answer: GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) is India's first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It is a designated area that offers a business-friendly environment for financial services and related activities. What is the recent development regarding listing in GIFT City? Answer: The Finance Minister announced that Indian companies will soon be allowed to directly list on overseas exchanges and the exchanges located in GIFT IFSC (International Financial Servic... Read More...

E-invoicing under GST

Aug 07, 2023

Q: What is e-invoicing under the Goods and Services Tax (GST)? A: E-invoicing under GST is a system where taxpayers generate invoices electronically on a government portal. It was initially introduced for taxpayers with an annual turnover of over Rs 500 crore from October 1, 2020. Q: What is the recent change in the threshold for mandatory e-invoicing? A: Starting from August 1, 2023, the Union government has extended e-invoicing to taxpayers whose aggregate turnover in any preceding financial year is Rs 5 crore or more. Previously, the thresh... Read More...

Drug Safety and Quality

Aug 07, 2023

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Pharma Companies in India Q1: What is Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)? A1: Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is a set of quality assurance and control guidelines that ensure pharmaceutical products are consistently produced and controlled to meet the required quality standards. Q2: Why is the Indian government requiring pharma companies to obtain a GMP certificate? A2: The Indian government has mandated the GMP certificate to ensure the production of high-qua... Read More...

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

Aug 07, 2023

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has been a pioneer in the development of ESG reporting in India. In 2012, SEBI introduced the Business Responsibility Report (BRR) as a mandatory ESG reporting framework for the top 100 listed companies in India by market capitalization. The BRR was a significant step forward in the development of ESG reporting in India, but it had some limitations in terms of its scope and depth. In 2021, SEBI released the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) as a new and improved Environmental, social, and corporate governan... Read More...

National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023:Contents and Constitutionality

Aug 07, 2023

Q: What is the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023? A: The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, is a proposed legislation introduced by the Union Government of India to nullify the effect of the Supreme Court's judgment in Government of NCT of Delhi v. Union of India. The bill seeks to give primacy to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) in matters related to the transfer and postings of civil servants serving the Delhi Government. Q: What was the Supreme Court's judgment in the Government of NCT of Delhi v. U... Read More...