• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched the India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme. DST has launched the programme in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Foundation for…
• PM to deliver keynote address at India Ideas Summit on 22 July. • The Summit is being hosted by the US-India Business Council. Key highlights: • The Summit will witness discussions on areas including India-US cooperation and future of…
• The 12th edition of the Environment Performance Index (EPI 2020) – released by Yale University – ranked India at 168 out of the 180 countries analysed, behind all South Asian nations, except Afghanistan, with a score of 27.6. About:…
• UNFPA recently released the State of the World Population 2020 report. Key Findings: • The Report focuses on the three harmful practices against women: (1) Child Marriage, (2) Son Preference and Gender Biased Sex Selection (GBSS), and (3) Female…
• The Union Health Ministry cautioned against the use of N-95 valved respirator/masks – which is basically the raised plastic disk that is embedded in the fibre – stating that it does not prevent the novel Coronavirus from spreading out…
• The Supreme Court held that the erstwhile Travancore royal family is the “human ministrant” or the shebait (manager) of the properties belonging to Sree Padmanabha, chief deity of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Background: • This settled…
Mains Paper 2: National Prelims level: Food security Mains level: Public Distribution System objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security Context: • In the early days of India’s lockdown, stories of food insecurity were rampant. •…
Mains Paper 2: International Relations Prelims level: 25-year strategic partnership Mains level: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Context: • Reports that Iran and China are close to concluding a 25-year strategic partnership…
Mains Paper 2: International relations Prelims level: Indian Culture Centre Mains level: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Context: • India and South Korea have signed numerous bilateral agreements with the aim of…
Mains Paper 2: International Prelims level: Non- Alignment Movement Mains level: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Context: • In separate statements this week, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar laid out India’s world…
Mains Paper 2: International relations Prelims level: China’s consulate Mains level: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests Context: • The U.S.’s decision to close China’s consulate in Houston is an unprecedented escalation in…