Atal Ranking Of Institutions On Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2021: The Ministry of Education’s innovation cell released the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2021. The very first edition of ARIIA started in 2019. It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Education and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to systematically […]
Ken-Betwa Link Project
Ken-Betwa Link Project: The Ken-Betwa river interlinking project will lead to the submergence of a major portion of the core area of the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, triggering a major loss of the tiger and its major prey species such as chital and sambar, according to a new study. The project may incur […]
PESA Act
PESA Act: Hundreds of kendu leaf pluckers, binders and workers recently staged a demonstration in Sambalpur, Odisha demanding the abolition of GST on kendu leaves. A GST of 18 per cent is imposed on kendu leaves which is against the Forest Rights Act-2006 and the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) to […]
A defamation Case Has Been Filed Against Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu
A defamation Case Has Been Filed Against Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu: A defamation case has been filed against Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu for his speeches praising two party members for “being capable of making policemen wet their pants”. However, after the controversy, Sidhu said that the comment should not be taken […]
Veerangana Lakshmibai
Veerangana Lakshmibai: The Jhansi Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh will be known as Veerangana Lakshmibai Railway Station. The Uttar Pradesh government had earlier sent a proposal about renaming the station to the Union Home Ministry. The ministry consents to a name change of any station or place after obtaining no-objections from the Union Ministry of […]
Egypt As The Fourth New Member Of BRICS New Development Bank
Egypt As The Fourth New Member Of BRICS New Development Bank: India has welcomed Egypt as the fourth new member of BRICS New Development Bank that was established by the BRICS countries six years ago. Bangladesh, UAE, and Uruguay joined in September 2021. Membership expansion enables New Development Bank to position itself as a premier […]
Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Act
Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Act: The Maharashtra Assembly passed the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Act unanimously. With the passage of the Bill, it became the second state in India after Andhra Pradesh to approve death penalty for heinous offences of rape and gangrape. The Act has amended the existing criminal laws to include […]
Third Positive Indigenisation List
Third Positive Indigenisation List: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has restricted the import of 351 systems and components as a part of third Positive Indigenisation List to boost Indigenisation in Defence Manufacturing. In June 2021, the MoD had notified the second negative import list, renamed as the ‘positive indigenisation list’ of 108 items. The ‘First […]
Nilgais
Nilgais: The Bihar government has announced that it will not cull the Blue Bull, locally known as the nilgai or ghurparas, anymore. It will, instead, sterilise them to control their increasing population in the state. The nilgai is the largest Asian antelope and is ubiquitous across the northern Indian subcontinent. The nilgai is the sole […]
Digital Lending
Digital Lending: A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Working Group (WG) on digital lending, including lending through online platforms and mobile apps submitted its recommendations in November this year. Key recommendations: A separate legislation should be enacted to oversee such lending. Setup a nodal agency to vet the Digital Lending Apps. A Self-Regulatory Organisation should […]
