Tag: GS 3

NASA’s Kepler space telescope to retire

NASA’s Kepler space telescope to retire News: NASA’s Kepler space telescope will be retired after running out of fuel nine years after its initial launch. Important Facts: Currently orbiting the sun 156 million km from the earth, the spacecraft will drift further from the earth once its radio transmitters are turned off. About Kepler space… Continue reading NASA’s Kepler space telescope to retire

Tussle for power: what’s the RBI-government stand-off?

Tussle for power: what’s the RBI-government stand-off? News: The article discusses about the simmering tensions between the Reserve Bank of India and the Centre which found spectacular release recently through a public speech by Deputy Governor Viral Acharya. Important Facts: A certain amount of creative tension is systemically in-built between Reserve Bank of India and… Continue reading Tussle for power: what’s the RBI-government stand-off?

India jumps to 77th rank in the Ease of Doing Business Index

India jumps to 77th rank in the Ease of Doing Business Index News: India has ranked 77th in the annual list, as against 100 last year in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index 2018. Important Facts: 2. India has jumped 23 ranks from 2017 becoming the top ranked country in South Asia for… Continue reading India jumps to 77th rank in the Ease of Doing Business Index

India invites Italy for defence production

India invites Italy for defence production News: On the first visit of Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte tenure, India invited Italy to participate in the defence sector under the “Make in India” scheme. Important Facts: Highlights of Joint Statement: A mutual agreement to counter terrorist financing and state sponsors of terrorism. A clear reference to… Continue reading India invites Italy for defence production

How Centre’s ‘board game’ fuelled the feud with RBI

How Centre’s ‘board game’ fuelled the feud with RBI News: The simmering tensions between the Reserve Bank of India and the Centre found spectacular release recently through a public speech by Deputy Governor Viral Acharya. Important Facts: A certain amount of creative tension is systemically in-built between Reserve Bank of India and Centre given their… Continue reading How Centre’s ‘board game’ fuelled the feud with RBI

India among nations that face grave danger to soil biodiversity: WWF

India among nations that face grave danger to soil biodiversity: WWF News: World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) released its Living Planet Report 2018 titled “ A warning sign from our planet: Nature needs life support” Important Facts: The Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas was also prepared by the WWF along with the report. Key Findings… Continue reading India among nations that face grave danger to soil biodiversity: WWF

Moths are key to pollination in Himalayan ecosystem

Moths are key to pollination in Himalayan ecosystem News: A study was conducted recently by the  Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) to reveal the moths as pollinators in the ecosystem. Important Facts: 2. Under the project titled “Assessment of Moths (Lepidoptera) As Significant Pollinators in the Himalayan Ecosystem of North Eastern India”, scientists collected moth… Continue reading Moths are key to pollination in Himalayan ecosystem

ICF rolls out Train 18, the NextGen Shatabdi

ICF rolls out Train 18, the NextGen Shatabdi News: India’s first engine-less semi-high speed train named “Train 18” was rolled out recently by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) here and will eventually replace the Shatabdi Express for inter-city travel. Important News: 2. Features: This is the first long-distance train without separate locomotive (engine) and thus… Continue reading ICF rolls out Train 18, the NextGen Shatabdi

Time to talk: on Centre-RBI differences

Time to talk: on Centre-RBI differences News: The simmering tensions between the Reserve Bank of India and the Centre found spectacular release recently through a public speech by Deputy Governor  Viral Acharya. Important Facts:  2. A certain amount of creative tension is systemically in-built between Reserve Bank of India and Centre given their different perspectives.… Continue reading Time to talk: on Centre-RBI differences

Siberian visitors freeze Assam-Meghalaya border dispute

Siberian visitors freeze Assam-Meghalaya border dispute News: Pangti village at Doyang in Nagaland’s Wokha district is selected as the venue of the inaugural edition of the Amur Falcon Conservation Week & Festivals from 8 to 10 November this year. Important Facts: 2. The festival this year, an initiative of the Nagaland government’s tourism department. 3.… Continue reading Siberian visitors freeze Assam-Meghalaya border dispute

State ranked first with 10.5% growth

State ranked first with 10.5% growth News: Andhra Pradesh has achieved number one rank in the country with an average growth of 10.5% during the last four years, surpassing many developed States such as Maharashtra and Gujarat following “focused approach” Important Facts: 2. Andhra Pradesh (AP) achieved a growth rate of 10.5 per cent in… Continue reading State ranked first with 10.5% growth

Not just liquidity: on NBFCs crisis

Not just liquidity: on NBFCs crisis News: Non-banking financial companies are stuck in a liquidity crises which has now reached to the tumbling stock prices. Important Facts: About the crises: It started with defaults by Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS), which has been classified as core investment company by RBI. This infrastructure lender… Continue reading Not just liquidity: on NBFCs crisis

Saudi Arabia promises to meet India’s oil needs

Saudi Arabia promises to meet India’s oil needs News Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met chiefs of national and international oil and gas companies and other stakeholders to discuss the challenges posed by volatile oil prices. Important facts: Backdrop: Oil prices have increased in 2018 on expectations that U.S. sanctions on Iran will strain supplies… Continue reading Saudi Arabia promises to meet India’s oil needs

Two international astronauts survive space scare. How well is India prepared?

Two international astronauts survive space scare. How well is India prepared? Article: In the backdrop the recent failure of a Russian rocket launch, the article assesses India’s preparation to launch its human space mission, Gaganyaan Important Analysis: Failure of Russian rocket launch: On October 11 2018, the launch of Russian rocket Soyuz FG failed leading… Continue reading Two international astronauts survive space scare. How well is India prepared?

A job at hand

A job at hand News The Union Ministry of Labour has urged States to issue orders permitting fixed-term employment (FTE) across industries. Important Facts: Fixed-term employment Fixed-term employment is a contract in which a company or an enterprise hires an employee for a specific period of time. Under fixed-term employment, workers are entitled to statutory… Continue reading A job at hand

Mission Mercury

Mission Mercury News: European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully sent two probes on a joint mission to Mercury. Important Facts: Ariane 5 rocket, launched from French Guyana, lifted an unmanned spacecraft, BepiColombo The spacecraft which is carrying the two probes went into orbit for the 7-year trip to Mercury.… Continue reading Mission Mercury

Climate fund allots $1bn for poor nations

Climate fund allots $1bn for poor nations News: United Nation’s Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved more than $1 billion in new investments to tackle climate change after a four-day meeting in Bahrain. Important Facts: About UN’s Green Climate Fund (GCF): The GCF was established at the Sixteenth Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention… Continue reading Climate fund allots $1bn for poor nations

China’s melting glacier draws tourists amid climate worries

China’s melting glacier draws tourists amid climate worries News: Baishui No. 1 Glacier in China has lost 60% of its mass and shrunk 250 m since 1982, according to a 2018 report in the Journal of Geophysical Research. Important Facts: As an impact of climate change, the glacier has lost 60 percent of its mass… Continue reading China’s melting glacier draws tourists amid climate worries

Migratory birds start arriving at Chilika, numbers are down

Migratory birds start arriving at Chilika, numbers are down News: Migratory birds arriving in Chilika lake this year winters have declined than their usual numbers. Important Facts: 2. About Chilika lake: Chilika Lake, Odisha is one of the largest wintering grounds in Asia, where close to one million birds congregate on the mudflats of the… Continue reading Migratory birds start arriving at Chilika, numbers are down

IAF gets first overhauled Sukhoi

IAF gets first overhauled Sukhoi News: In a major step towards improving the availability rate of the backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter fleet, the IAF’s Base Repair Depot (BRD), in Ojhar, Maharashtra has successfully overhauled a Su-30 MKI aircraft. Important Facts: 2. During the overhaul, the aircraft was stripped completely and rebuilt… Continue reading IAF gets first overhauled Sukhoi

Our time begins now

Our time begins now News: The article discusses about India’s vulnerability to climate change and a road map to transit quickly to a near-zero carbon economy. Important Facts: 2. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), recently released a report in Seoul  highlighting the impacts that developing countries like India would face if global warming touches… Continue reading Our time begins now

India set to be third largest aviation market

India set to be third largest aviation market News: In its latest 20-year forecast for the aviation industry, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revealed that India will be the third largest aviation market globally  in 6 years. Important Facts: 2. India is now expected to be among the top three countries by 2024… Continue reading India set to be third largest aviation market

Aim, shoot for a citizen-science repository of Indian mammals

Aim, shoot for a citizen-science repository of Indian mammals News: Scientists from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore have come up with a new citizen-science repository on Indian mammals, called Mammals of India (MaOI). Important Facts: 2. About Mammals of India (MaO): It is an online, peer- reviewed, freely-accessible portal which aims to… Continue reading Aim, shoot for a citizen-science repository of Indian mammals

Tribunal to try benami cases soon

Tribunal to try benami cases soon News: The government has approved the appointment of Adjudicating Authority and establishment of Appellate Tribunal for speedy disposal of cases related to benami transactions. Important Facts: The Adjudicating Authority and Appellate Tribunal has been created under Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act (PBPT), 1988. Salient Features of Adjudicating Authority… Continue reading Tribunal to try benami cases soon

SC bans sale of BS-IV vehicles from 2020

SC bans sale of BS-IV vehicles from 2020 News: The Supreme Court has ordered a ban on sales of vehicles compliant with BS-IV emission norms in India starting 1st April 2020. Important Facts: Background: The BS-IV norms have been enforced across the country since April 2017. In 2016, the Centre had announced the country would… Continue reading SC bans sale of BS-IV vehicles from 2020

Our fixation with metro rail projects

Our fixation with metro rail projects News: The article discusses about the viability metro rail system in India with regard to the economic viability and the transportation needs of cities. Important Facts: Metro projects in India: After the first metro project in Kolkata in 1984, India executed its second metro rail project in Delhi in… Continue reading Our fixation with metro rail projects

Environment pollution more hazardous than climate change, say experts

Environment pollution more hazardous than climate change, say experts News: According to experts from CARE (The Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment), unsafe environment poses greater risk to health than climate change. Important Facts: Extent of the problem Globally, there are an estimated five million potentially- contaminated sites that threaten… Continue reading Environment pollution more hazardous than climate change, say experts

Panel for adopting UN model on cross-border insolvency 

Panel for adopting UN model on cross-border insolvency  News: The Insolvency Law Committee (ILC) has suggested amendments to India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to align it with United Nations’ model to handle cross-border insolvency cases. Important Facts: The ILC headed by Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) secretary Injeti Srinivas recommended the adoption of the… Continue reading Panel for adopting UN model on cross-border insolvency 

Turf battle: on independent payments regulator

Turf battle: on independent payments regulator News: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has opposed the move to have an independent Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) as envisaged by the draft proposal for amendments to the Payment & Settlement Systems Act, 2007. Important Facts: About the Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) : The Union Government in Budget… Continue reading Turf battle: on independent payments regulator

Where Ganga meets the Bay of Pollution

Where Ganga meets the Bay of Pollution News: A research paper highlighted the worsening water quality of Ganga river after the Ganga Sagar Mela celebrated on Sagar Islands (West Bengal) Important Facts: A paper titled ‘Pollution and its consequences at Ganga Sagar mass bathing in India’, was published recently in the journal Environment, Development and… Continue reading Where Ganga meets the Bay of Pollution

In urban U.P., 87% of waste from toilets goes to rivers, agri land’

In urban U.P., 87% of waste from toilets goes to rivers, agri land’ News: 1.    A Study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has expressed concern over the sewerage system and wastewater management in Uttar Pradesh (UP). Important Facts: Findings of the study: According to CSE, onsite sanitation systems such as septic tanks or… Continue reading In urban U.P., 87% of waste from toilets goes to rivers, agri land’