Lakshadweep Development Authority (LDA): Discontent is simmering in the Lakshadweep group of islands over the creation of a Lakshadweep Development Authority (LDA) by the new administrator Praful Khoda Patel Mr. Patel, a BJP leader and former Home Minister of Gujarat, is the first political appointee as Administrator, a post mostly held by retired civil servants. […]
Category: Current Affairs
Belarus and India Relationship
Belarus: The authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus sparked international outrage after his regime forced a commercial airline flying from Greece to Lithuania to land in its territory allegedly on the pretext of a bomb scare, so it could arrest a dissident journalist on board. The journalist, Roman Protasevich, is a prominent opponent of Lukashenko […]
Mandatory Hallmarking Of Gold Jewellery And Artefacts
Mandatory Hallmarking Of Gold Jewellery And Artefacts: The Centre further extended the deadline for mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts by a fortnight till June 15 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2019, the government had announced that hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts would be made mandatory across the country from […]
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India: Latest Trends
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Measures Taken By The Government: Measures taken by the Government on the fronts of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy reforms, investment facilitation and ease of doing business have resulted in increased FDI inflows into the country. The following trends in India’s Foreign Direct Investment are: India has attracted highest ever total […]
What are Zoonotic Diseases?
Zoonotic Diseases: The World Health Organization (WHO) has formed a high-level expert panel ‘One Health’ to study the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases like H5N1, avian influenza, MERS, Ebola, Zika, and possibly the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The panel will advise global agencies on how future outbreaks, especially due to zoonotic diseases, can be […]
National Green Tribunal on Gujarat’s Banni Grasslands
The National Green Tribunal (NGT): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered all encroachments to be removed from Gujarat’s Banni grasslands within six months and directed a joint committee to prepare an action plan in a month. The court also said the Maldharis will continue to hold the right to conserve the community forests in the […]
National Award 2021 : Technology Development Board (TDB)
National Award 2021 From Technology Development Board (TDB): A Bangalore-based startup has received the National Award 2021 from the Technology Development Board (TDB) for developing a commercial solution for the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to chemicals and fuels. The startup has received funding under the Nano Mission. The startup developed efficient catalysts and methodologies […]
Cyclone Yaas
Cyclone Yaas: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has informed that a low-pressure area is formed over the north Andaman Sea and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around May 22. It is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by May 24. It has been named Cyclone Yaas. The name ‘Yaas’ was suggested by Oman and […]
Zebrafish and Induced Hibernation
Zebrafish: New research in zebrafish has demonstrated how induced hibernation (torpor) may protect humans from the elements of space, especially radiation, during space flight. The researchers exposed zebrafish to radiation like what would be experienced on a six-month journey to Mars. They observed signs of oxidative stress (imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals), DNA damage, […]
What is Havana Syndrome?
Havana Syndrome: Two US officials have shown symptoms of a mystery illness that is linked to Havana Syndrome. In 2020, a report by the National Academies of Sciences (NAS), US found directed microwave radiation to be the plausible cause of the Havana syndrome. An increasing number of cases is being considered a mass psychogenic illness. […]
