James Webb Space Telescope: NASA has announced the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) on December 24. Webb, the world’s premier space science observatory, will succeed the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA’s flagship telescope that has been in service for more than three decades now. JWST is a joint venture between the US (Nasa), […]
Tag: 23rd Dec 2021
World Press Freedom Index
World Press Freedom Index: The Centre does not agree with the conclusions drawn by Reporters Without Borders about press freedom in India for various reasons, including very low sample size and little or no weightage to the fundamentals of democracy, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry told the Lok Sabha. In a written reply to a […]
Open Acreage Licensing Programme(OALP) Bid Round-VII
Open Acreage Licensing Programme(OALP) Bid Round-VII: In continuation of its aggressive programme for exploration and adhering to the prescribed timelines, the Government has launched the Open Acreage Licensing Programme(OALP) Bid Round-VII for International Competitive Bidding. The bids can be submitted through a dedicated online e-bidding portal till 1200 hrs. on February 15, 2022. Award of […]
First AgriTech Challenge Cohort
First AgriTech Challenge Cohort: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) rolled out their first AgriTech Challenge cohort for its ambitious innovative Agri-tech program that aims to help smallholder farmers across Asia and Africa to address their challenges in the aftermath of the pandemic. AIM, NITI Aayog in […]
Albino Indian Flapshell Turtle
Albino Indian Flapshell Turtle: A rare species of Albino Indian Flapshell turtle was recently sighted by Mountaineers in Sirnapalli forest in Telangana’s Nizamabad. The Indian flapshell turtle is commonly found in South Asian countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The rare yellow color of the turtle may be due to the […]
Prohibition Of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021
Prohibition Of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021: Lok Sabha has sent the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which seeks to raise the age of marriage for women to 21 to a standing committee. The age of marriage should be uniformly applicable to all religions, caste, creed, overriding any custom or law that seeks […]
The Belagavi Border Dispute
The Belagavi Border Dispute: An inter-state dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra dating back to the period of Independence and the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines in 1956 has reared its head again in the Belagavi region of Karnataka. The latest flashpoint is following a series of minor incidents over the last week that have […]
The Mekedatu Project
The Mekedatu Project: Karnataka has demanded that the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) give clearance for the detailed project report (DPR) of Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir Project in its next meeting. Tamil Nadu has protested against Karnataka’s move to build a reservoir on river Cauvery at Mekedatu. However, the Karnataka Government has asserted that there […]
Chillai Kalan: Kashmir
Chillai Kalan: Kashmir is in a deep freeze as the 40-day harshest spell of winter, locally called ‘chillai kalan’, started on December 21, 2021, with the minimum temperature already sub-zero in the entire Valley. Chillai Kalan or Chillia Kalan is a Persian word which literally means forty days of intense cold. It is the local […]
Definition of the Word ‘Anti-National’
Anti-National: The word ‘anti-national’ has not been defined in statutes, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Lok Sabha. It added that ‘anti-national activity’ was inserted in the Constitution during Emergency in 1976 but was removed later. The Constitution (Forty–Second Amendment) Act, 1976 inserted in the Constitution Article 31D (during Emergency) which defined ‘anti-national […]
