India Sri Lanka Relations: After strong opposition from trade unions across the country, Sri Lanka has unilaterally pulled out of a 2019 agreement with India and Japan for developing the strategic East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo Port. In 2019, India and Sri Lanka signed a memorandum of understanding for “co-operation on economic […]
Category: Current Affairs
Hindi Word Of The Year 2020 : Aatmanirbharta Or Self-Reliance
Aatmanirbharta’ Or Self-Reliance: Oxford Languages has chosen ‘Aatmanirbharta’ or self-reliance as its Hindi word of the year for 2020. The 2019 Oxford Hindi word of the year was “Samvidhaan” or Constitution as the panelists felt that in 2019, the abrogation of Article 370 and the Supreme Court’s judgment on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute brought […]
Lithium Deposits Found in Karnataka
Lithium Deposits: Preliminary surveys on the surface and limited subsurface by Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) have shown the presence of Lithium resources of 1,600 tonnes in the pegmatites of Marlagalla – Allapatna area, Mandya district, Karnataka. About Lithium: It is a soft, silvery-white metal. Under standard conditions, it is the lightest […]
National Rail Plan, Vision 2024 : Key Objectives
National Rail Plan: The Government has issued the Draft Final Report of the National Rail Plan. The Plan aims at providing a long-term perspective planning for augmenting the Railway Network. Objectives of the plan: To create capacity ahead of demand by 2030, which in turn would cater to growth in demand right up to […]
Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) – Budget 2021 : Key Points
Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban): In the Budget 2021-22, Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) has been announced under the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry to provide universal coverage of water supply to all households through functional taps in all statutory towns in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal- 6. It complements the Jal Jeevan Mission (Rural) which envisages […]
Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC): Guidelines by Delhi Court
Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC): The Delhi High Court (HC) ordered the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to ensure “complete and strict” implementation of the regulation issued by it in 2018 for curbing Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC). UCC means any Commercial Communication which a subscriber opts not to receive, but does not include- any transactional […]
Asset Reconstruction Company – Budget 2021 : Key Points
Asset Reconstruction Company: In the Budget 2021-22, Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) has been proposed to be set up by state-owned and private sector banks, and there will be no equity contribution from the government. The ARC, which will have an Asset Management Company (AMC) to manage and sell bad assets, will look to resolve stressed […]
First Human Milk Bank To Be Open In Kerala : Key Points
First Human Milk Bank in Kerala: Kerala is going to open its first Human Milk Bank (HMB) on February 5, 2021. The milk bank will ensure the availability of breast milk for new-born babies who are not breastfed by their own mothers who are sick or deceased or due to insufficient production of breast milk. The […]
Protein Based Biosensors for Covid-19 : Key Points
Protein-based Biosensors: A team of researchers led by David Baker, who is the professor of biochemistry and director of the Institute for Protein Design at UW Medicine, have created a new protein-based biosensor that will detect the Coronavirus. The protein-based biosensors will detect the proteins that make up the pandemic coronavirus. It would also help […]
Nari Shakti Puraskar 2020 Submission Date Extended
Nari Shakti Puraskar-2020: The Ministry of Women and Child Development has recently extended the last date for submission of nomination for Nari Shakti Puraskar-2020. The last date has been extended till February 6, 2021 Nari Shakti Puraskar is conferred every year on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The award is conferred by the Ministry […]