Greenland Summit Subject – Environment Context – On Saturday last week, for the first time on record, the summit of Greenland received rain and not snow, just as temperatures at the spot went above freezing for the third time in less than ten years. The event has sparked fear as scientists are pointing […]
Land degradation and Desertification Subject – Environment Context – Despite PM Modi’s assurance, land degradation, desertification increasing Concept – Land degradation is caused by multiple forces, including extreme weather conditions, particularly drought. It is also caused by human activities that pollute or degrade the quality of soils and land utility. Desertification is a […]
Indian Coastline Subject – Geography Context – ‘Redraw coastline to cope with rise in sea level’. Concept – India has a coastline of 6 Km [6100 km of mainland coastline + coastline of 1197 Indian islands]touching 13 States and Union Territories (UTs). The straight and regular coastline of India is the result of faulting […]
Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) Subject – Governance Context – CCPA cracks down on firms with misleading Covid ads. Concept – The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 establishes the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) whose primary objective will be to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers. It will be empowered to conduct investigations into violation of […]
Narayankoti Temple Subject – Art and Culture Context – MoU for facelift of Narayankoti temple under Centre’s Adopt a Heritage project. Concept – The temple is a group of ancient temples, about 2 km from Guptkashi on the Rudraprayag-Gaurikund highway. This is the only place in the country which has nine planetary temples in a group that […]
Hydrogen Steel-making Subject – Environment Context – Hydrogen steel-making can cut CO2 emissions: TERI study Concept – The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in a new study, suggests measures to decouple the growth of the iron and steel sector from rising carbon emissions using green hydrogen. Hydrogen steel-making has the potential to drastically […]
Misconduct in Rajya Sabha Subject – Polity Context – The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is reportedly contemplating action against MPs who, he thinks, were involved in the fracas in the House. Concept – House rules vest in the chairman all the powers necessary to conduct proceedings smoothly. The rules also provide for […]
Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) (Second Amendment) Rules 2021 Subject – Economy Context – RBI, IRDAI nod must for FDI in bankled insurance. Concept – Applications for foreign direct investment in an insurance company promoted by a private bank would be cleared by the RBI and IRDAI to ensure that the 74% limit of overseas investmentis not breached. The changes […]
Monetary Policy Committee Subject – Economy Context – MPC’s Varma flags risks of policy stance. Concept – The Monetary Policy Committee is a statutory and institutionalized framework under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, for maintaining price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth. The Governor of RBI is ex-officio Chairman of the committee. The committee comprises six members (including the Chairman) – […]
Three-Child policy in China Subject – IR Context – China formally passes three-child policy into law Concept – China’s legislature has formally amended the country’s family planning rules to allow couples to have three children. The amended law calls on the authorities to take supportive measures, including those in finances, taxes, insurance, education, housing and employment, […]