MAY MONTHLY CURRENT AFFAIRS 2022: Monthly Current Affairs are very important for every competitive exam and as we all know, in the upcoming months, many government exams.
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– Judicial Infrastructure Development Authority will be formed at state level: Law Minister
Kiren Rijiju
– Joint Conference of Chief Ministers of the States and Chief Justices of High Courts held in
New Delhi
– 21 NPF (Naga People’s Front) MLAs join NDPP (Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party)
in 60-member Nagaland Assembly
– ‘Mother Nature’ a ‘living being’ with legal entity: Madras HC
– India’s multi-alignment policy can provide an answer to current geo-politics: CICA
(Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia) head Kairat
Sarybay
– EAM S. Jaishankar calls on Bhutan’s PM Lotay Tshering in Thimphu
– Degrees of students joining medical colleges in Pakistan after Dec 2018 not valid in India:
National Medical Commission
– India launches pilot phase of UPI-type protocol ONDC (open network for digital
commerce) in 5 cities
– Cochin Shipyard to build first indigenous hydrogen-fuelled electric vessels says, Union
Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal
– ED seizes over Rs 5,000 crore of Xiaomi Technology India under provisions of FEMA
– Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) wins ‘Green Brand of The Year’ Award at the
IAA Olive Crown Awards 2022
– To plug support package loopholes, NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development) plans farmer distress index
– Shell buys Indian renewables firm Sprng Energy for $1.55 billion
– Germany takes Italy to UN court (International Court of Justice) over Nazi compensation
claims
– International Jazz Day observed by UNESCO on April 30
– World’s oldest person, Kane Tanaka, dies in Japan aged 119
– Poland’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda wins Oslo Esports Cup rapid online chess tournament
– P. V. Sindhu wins bronze at Badminton Asia Championships at Manila (Philippines)
– Football: Real Madrid wins 35th La Liga title in Spain
– Sports Minister Anurag Thakur inaugurates 2nd Khelo Masters Games in New Delhi
– Maiden National Cyber Exercise (NCX) concludes in New Delhi; organised under the
aegis of National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS)
– Foundation day of Gujarat and Maharashtra celebrated on May 1
– Vice President addresses Delhi University’s Centenary Celebration
– DD National Pet Show wins ENBA (Exchange4media News Broadcasting Awards) 2021
– Indian Oil Corp rolls out methanol-blended petrol on pilot basis
WORLD
– NATO exercises — Defender Europe 2022 and Swift Response 2022 — begin along its
eastern flank, says Poland’s armed forces
– US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi meets Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv
– International Labour Day celebrated on May 1
– 2022 Badminton Asia Championships organised in Manila, Philippines: Malaysia’s Lee Zii
Jia wins men’s singles title; China’s Wang Zhiyi wins women’s singles title
– PM Modi meets Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin
– India and Germany sign Triangular Development Cooperation and Renewable Energy
Partnership
– External Affairs Ministry accepts Tamil Nadu government’s proposal to send aid to Sri
Lanka
– PM addresses Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre in Ontario, Canada on the occasion of
inauguration of Sardar Patel’s Statue there through a video message
– Debutant filmmaker Ishaan Ghose’s Bengali film ‘Jhilli’ (Discards) wins Best Film award
in the international competition section of the 27th Kolkata International Film Festival
(KIFF)
– Satyajit Ray film festival being organized in Mumbai on May 2-4 by the National Museum
of Indian Cinema
– Former Petroleum secretary Tarun Kapoor appointed as advisor to PM
– IRS officer Sangeeta Singh given additional charge of CBDT chairman
– C-DOT and C-DAC sign MoU to boost indigenous technology in telecom and ICT
– DGCA deputes team to investigate turbulence on SpiceJet’s Mumbai-Durgapur flight
– World Tuna Day observed on May 2
– PM Modi, Denmark’s PM Mette Frederiksen Mette Frederiksen hold delegation level talks
in Copenhagen; Review progress of Green Strategic Partnership between two countries
– PM Modi to participate in 2nd India-Nordic Summit hosted by Denmark on May 4 along
with PMs of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway
– India, Germany ink pact for encrypted connection between foreign offices
– India, Germany sign joint declaration of Intent on Forest Landscape Restoration
– India and Germany sign joint declaration of Intent on Indo-German Hydrogen Task Force
– India to receive 10 billion euros for green projects from Germany until 2030
– World Press Freedom Day celebrated on May 3; theme: “Journalism under digital siege”
– World Asthma Day observed on May 3
– 2nd India-Nordic Summit held at Copenhagen in Denmark; participating Prime Ministers
– India: Narendra Modi, Denmark: Mette Frederiksen, Finland: Sanna Marin, Iceland:
Katrin Jakobsdottir, Sweden: Magdalena Andersson and Norway: Jonas Gahr Store
– PM Modi meets Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II in Copenhagen
– IRCTC will run its first Bharat Gaurav Tourist train on June 21
– RBI’s monetary policy committee (MPC) votes unanimously to increase repo rate by 40
basis points (bps)
– Repo rate increased to 4.40%, with immediate effect
– Standing deposit facility (SDF) rate stands adjusted to 4.15%
– Marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate stand adjusted to 4.65%
– Cash reserve ratio (CRR) of banks hiked by 50 basis points to 4.5% of net demand and
time liabilities (NDTL) from May 21
– Second phase of mandatory hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts to come
into force from June 1
– Norway tops World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders; India ranked
150th among 180 countries
– Khelo India University Games conclude in Bengaluru; host Jain University tops medals
tally
– PM Modi holds talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris
– Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates 3 floating Border Outposts named Sutlej, Kaveri
and Narmada on Indo-Bangladesh Border
– 3-day Swasthya Chintan Shivir-Health Summit being held at Kevadiya, in Gujarat
– Prashant Kishor says will set up Jan Suraaj to work for Bihar’s development
– WHO says 47 lakh people died in India because of Covid-19; Indian govt.’s figure 4.81
lakh in 2020 & 2021
– Food processing minister Pashupati Kumar Paras launches three ‘One District One
Products’ brands” Brand Anaras: Ri Bhoi, Meghalaya, Brand Madhurmithas:
Muzaffarnagar, UP, Brand Pind Se: Amritsar, Punjab
– SC appoints panel headed by retired HC judge for recovery of monies from defaulters:
NSEL
– First FICCI national conference and awards on Industry 4.0 held in New Delhi
– World Portuguese Language Day celebrated by UNESCO on May 5
– EU announces new sanctions against Russia over Ukraine issue; plans to cut off
European purchases of Russian crude oil within six months
– US Fed hikes rate by a half-percentage point; sharpest increase since 2000
– Taliban stops issuing driving licence to women in Kabul & other provinces in Afghanistan
– Taiwan scraps deal to buy US anti-submarine helicopters
– Australia’s Robert Piper becomes UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ special
adviser on internal displacement
– Russia to open humanitarian corridor for evacuation of civilians from the blocked
Azovstal plant in Ukraine’s Mariupol
– Santosh Trophy football: Kerala beat West Bengal in penalty shootout to lift title for
seventh time; final played at Payyanad Stadium in Malappuram
– EAM Dr S. Jaishankar holds bilateral talks with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di
Maio in New Delhi
– PM addresses JITO Connect, a global summit organised by Jain International Trade
Organisation (JITO) in Pune
– Fertility rate drops to 2 children; now below replacement level: National Family Health
Survey (NFHS)
– Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar virtually inaugurates five NIELIT (National Institute
of Electronics & Information Technology)) Centres in North East Region
– Meghalaya CM Conrad K. Sangma and Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang inaugurate
Northeast Food Show in Shillong
– NHAI awarded 6,306 km of highways projects in FY22; built 4,325 km
– Unemployment rate at 8.7% in October-December 2021, says NSO survey
– RBI gives no-objection for merger of Equitas SFB, Equitas Holdings
– India highlights food, energy security challenges emanating from Ukraine conflict at
UNSC
– SpaceX brings back 4 astronauts back to earth after six months’ stay at International
Space Station
– 19th Asian Games, originally scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China from September
10 to 25, 2022, postponed because of Covid-19 concerns
– Constitution bench to decide who will control Delhi government bureaucrats
– WHO Covid death numbers an attempt to ruin India’s image: State health minsters say
at Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW)
– Home Ministry launches portal for retired CAPF and Assam Rifle personnel seeking reemployment
with private security agencies
– PM Modi asks youth to participate in Logo Design Contest for G-20 Presidency of India
– President Kovind to visit Jamaica and St. Vincent & Grenadines from 15th May
– Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman flags anonymity as ‘inherent risk’ in use of
blockchain
– Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal co-chairs India-Italy Business roundtable
with Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio in New Delhi
– Sri Lanka: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declares state of emergency
– 4th Khelo India Youth Games to be held at Panchkula, Haryana from June 4 to 13
– President appointments Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia, JB Pardiwala as Supreme Court
judges
– Centre defends sedition law and requests Supreme Court to reject pleas challenging it
– President inaugurates permanent campus of IIM-Nagpur
– UP: Prominent crossing in Ayodhya to be developed, named after Lata Mangeshkar
– DoT abolishes NOCC (network operation and control centre) charges for all telecom
licence holders
– Pushp Kumar Joshi takes charge as new CMD of PSU Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
Ltd (HPCL)
– 32 dead after a massive explosion destroys Saratoga Hotel in Havana, Cuba; gas leak is
thought to be the cause of the explosion
– Northern Ireland election: Sinn Fein wins 27 seats in the 90-seat Assembly; emerges as
the largest party for the first time
– Russian Defense Ministry says civilians’ evacuation from Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol,
Ukraine ends
– John Lee Ka-chiu, the sole candidate for Hong Kong’s leadership election, confirmed as
city’s next chief executive
– Nepal’s Kami Rita Sherpa climbs Mount Everest for 26th time to set new world record
– World Red Cross Day observed on May 8; is birth anniversary of ICRC (International
Committee of the Red Cross) founder Henri Dunant
– World Thalassemia Day observed on May 8; Thalassemia is blood disorder characterized
by abnormal formation of haemoglobin
– UN observes ‘Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives
during the Second World War’ on May 8-9
– Centre tells SC it will reconsider and re-examine provisions of sedition law
– Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Asani’: Heavy rain likely to lash AP, Odisha and West Bengal from
May 10
– Highest sex ratio at birth in Ladakh (1104); Manipur (880) has lowest, says annual report
on Vital Statistics based on 2020 Civil Registration System report
– Jammu and Kashmir Delimitation Commission chaired by Justice (retired) Ranjana
Prakash Desai notifies new J&K Assembly constituencies
– Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi visits Panama, Honduras and Chile from April 28 to May 5
– LIC IPO subscribed nearly 3 times; govt raises Rs 21,000 cr
– Shares of Campus Activewear list at premium following successful IPO
– Delhi High Court directs Centre to appoint Chairman, member in Customs, Central Excise
and Service Tax Settlement Commission in 6 weeks
– New UK India Industry Taskforce launched to facilitate free trade deal
– Jan Suraksha schemes — Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri
Suraksha Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana — bring insurance, pension accessible to
common man: FM
– Sri Lanka: PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns
– Russia: President Vladimir Putin addresses annual Victory Day parade in Moscow; marks
triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II.
– G7 countries pledge to phase out imports of Russian oil
– UN Office for Project Services chief Grete Faremo resigns after probe into investments
– UAE to introduce unemployment insurance in latest economic reform
– NASA climate scientist Cynthia Rosenzweig wins $2,50,000 World Food Prize
– Nobert Kigen (men’s) of Kenya, Bekelech Borecha (women’s) of Ethiopia win Prague
Marathon
– Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz wins men’s singles title at Madrid Open tennis
– Boxing: Russia’s Dmitry Bivol retains his WBA light-heavyweight World title
– D. Gukesh wins Chessables Sunway Formentera International chess tournament
– India’s Abhay Singh wins Archi Factory Open squash tournament in France
– Athletics: Avinash Sable breaks national record in men’s 5,000m
– Athletics: Annu Rani breaks her own National mark in women’s javelin throw
– Can sedition cases be kept in abeyance till government completes review of Section
124A: SC asks Central govt
– Taking different stands does not help: SC to Centre on identification of minorities
– Rocket-propelled grenade hits Punjab Police Intelligence wing HQ in Mohali; no injuries
– Santoor player and music composer Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma dies at 84; won Sangeet
Natak Akademi Award in 1986, Padma Shri in 1991, and Padma Vibhushan in 2001.
– Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Bharati Pawar launches Atal
Innovation Mission- Prime Playbook that aims to help entrepreneurs grow and scale-up
– Northern Railways introduces ‘Baby Berth’ on a trial basis in few trains
– 4 Indians Danish Siddiqui (posthumously), Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo and Amit
Dave win Pulitzer Prize 2022 in the ‘feature photography’ category
– Sri Lanka troops issued shoot-on-sight orders as homes of ruling party politicians
vandalised
– Philippines: Ferdinand Marcos Jr elected new President
– France and Germany advocate early ceasefire in Kyiv and Moscow negotiations:
President Emmanuel Macron
– SC stays 152-year-old sedition law under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code till review
by Govt
– Criminalising marital rape: Delhi High Court delivers 1:1 split verdict
– National Technology Day celebrated in India on May 11; marks Pokhran nuclear tests of
1998
– India unanimously elected as new Chair of Association of Asian Election Authorities for
2022-2024
– New envoys: Ambassador of Slovak Republic Robert Maxian, Ambassador of Republic of
Sudan Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain and Ambassador of Nepal Dr. Shankar Prasad
Sharma
– Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav delivers national statement at 15th Session of
Conference of Parties of UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification)
– Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande speaks to Bangladeshi counterpart Gen SM Shafiuddin
Ahmed
– Former union telecom minister, Congress leader Sukh Ram passes away at 95
– India contributes $800,000 for public outreach of UN in Hindi language
– Asani weakens to cyclonic storm; Odisha, West Bengal brace for heavy rain
– Piyush Goyal holds bilateral meeting with Oman’s Commerce Minister Qais bin
Mohammed al Yousef
– CII President T V Narendran addresses ‘Being Future Ready Business Summit 2022’
– “Shot Sage Blue Marilyn”, 20th century painting by US artiste Andy Warhol, sells for $195
million in auction
– Apple discontinues iPod after a more than two decade run
– Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins Formula One Miami Grand Prix
– Rajiv Kumar appointed new Chief Election Commissioner
– Extended-range (400 kms) BrahMos ALCM (Air Launched Cruise Missile) test fired from
Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft
– Finish Mathura-Idgah case hearing within 4 months, orders Allahabad HC
– Gujarat: PM addresses “Utkarsh Samaroh” in Bharuch district
– Prasar Bharati inks MoU with Madagascar counterpart for broadcasting collaboration
– External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaks to his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin
Farhan Al Saud
– India-UK Healthcare Conference held in London
– Chhattisgarh government chopper crashes at Raipur airport; two pilots killed
– Country’s foreign exchange reserves declined by USD 28.05 billion to USD 607.31 billion
at the end of March 2022: RBI
– Retail inflation in India surges to 8-year high of 7.79% in April
– Tata Sons appoints Campbell Wilson as CEO & MD of Air India
– Sanjiv Bajaj, CMD of Bajaj Finserv, takes over as CII President
– Ukraine halts some Russian gas flows to Europe
– US President Joe Biden convenes 2nd global COVID-19 summit
– FAO celebrates International Day of Plant Health on May 12
– International Nurses Day celebrated on May 12
– AI Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh killed by Israeli troops in Palestine
– Google adds 24 new languages including Bhojpuri & Konkani to its Google Translate
platform
– Google launches Pixel 6A smartphone and Pixel Buds Pro wireless earphones
– Cameroon: Small passenger plane crashes in a forest near capital Yaoundé
– Sri Lanka: Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe (73) appointed new PM
– Nepal’s Lakpa Sherpa (48) reaches summit of Mount Everest for record 10th time;
highest by any woman
– Athletics: Jyothi Yarraji creates new national record in women’s 100 m hurdles
– ISRO successfully tests large human-rated solid rocket booster for Gaganyaan mission
– IAS officer Nidhi Chibber appointed as Chairperson of CBSE
– 6th Road Safety Conference on “Safer & Sustainable Mobility with Innovations and
Technology” held in New Delhi
– Union environment ministry relaxes expansion of coal mining norms amid supply crunch
– NITI Ayog launches National Data and Analytics Platform to make available easily govt
data to public
– India-UAE Economic Partnership Summit organised by CII in Mumbai
– RBI opens banks credit for NBFCs to on-lend continuously to priority sector
– India’s industrial output expanded 1.9% in March
– Reliance Industries Ltd (53) is top-ranked Indian company on Forbes’ latest Global 2000
list of public companies worldwide
– NTPC initiates Girl Empowerment Mission for uplifting lives of underprivileged girls
– PepsiCo-USAID (US Agency for International Development) awards 6 women farmers in
Bengal for breaking gender stereotypes
– Swiggy acquires restaurant booking platform Dineout
– India abstains in UNHRC resolution on deteriorating human rights situation in Ukraine
due to Russian aggression
– US scientists for first time grow plants in lunar soil brought back to Earth
– Elon Musk says $44-bn Twitter deal on hold, seeks details on spam accounts
– Shell agrees to sell Russian retail business to Lukoil
– Kenya’s Anna Qabale Duba wins $250,000 global nursing award for fighting FGM (female
genital mutilation)
– United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan dies at 73
– Priyanka Mohite becomes first Indian woman to climb 5 peaks above 8000 metres
– BJP’s Biplab Kumar Deb resigns as Tripura CM
– Union Home and Co-operation Minister, Amit Shah inaugurates National Cyber Forensic
Laboratory (NCFL) in Hyderabad
– New Delhi: At least 27 people killed in massive fire in a commercial building in Mundka
area
– Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav participates in BRICS High-Level Meeting on
Climate Change held virtually
– Govt bans wheat export with immediate effect
– India’s forex reserves declined by USD 1.774 billion to USD 595.954 billion for the week
ended May 6
– IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launches GatiShakti Sanchar Portal; says it will help in
rollout of 5G network across the country
– World Migratory Bird Day celebrated on May 14; focus: Light pollution and its impact on
migratory birds
– UAE: Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan appointed new President
– Indian Embassy in Ukraine to resume operation in Kyiv from 17th May
– Thomas Cup Badminton in Bangkok: India reaches final for the first time in 73-year
history; to face Indonesia in summit clash on May 15
– China backs out from hosting 2023 AFC Asian Cup: Asian Football Confederation
Declaration for the Future of the Internet
Recently, the USA and 60 other countries signed a new Declaration for the Future of the Internet.
What are the goals of the declaration?
To keep the Internet open, free, and neutral.
To prevent rising digital authoritarianism.
To ensure affordability, net neutrality, and removing illegal content without
curtailing free expression.
To reduce the environmental footprint of the Internet and digital technologies.
What are the commitments under the declaration
Protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all.
Promoting a global Internet that advances the free flow of information.
Advancing inclusive and affordable connectivity so that everyone can benefit from
the digital economy.
Promoting trust in the global digital ecosystem, including through protection of
privacy.
Protecting and strengthening the multi-stakeholder approach to governance that
keeps the Internet running for the benefit of all.
What are the major countries that signed the declaration?
The USA, European Union (EU), United Kingdom, Canada, France, etc.
Did India sign the declaration?
India did not sign the declaration.
China and Russia are also not part of this declaration.
What are the threats to the internet in present times?
Rising digital authoritarianism where some states repress freedom of expression,
censor independent websites, interfere with elections, promote disinformation, and
deny human rights.
Also, there are cybersecurity risks that undermine the trust and reliability of
networks.
What is the rank of India regarding internet shutdowns?
According to the digital rights advocacy group, “Access Now”, India is the top
country to impose internet shutdowns in 2021 for the fourth consecutive year.
Out of 106 shutdowns in India, 85 were reported in Jammu and Kashmir.
What is net neutrality?
It is the principle that Internet service providers (ISPs) must treat all Internet
communications equally, and not charge users different rates based on content, website,
platform, etc.
What happens if there is no net neutrality?
Internet service providers (ISPs) may prioritize certain types of traffic, or potentially block
traffic from specific services, while charging consumers for various tiers of service.
Is there net neutrality in India?
In 2018, the Government unanimously approved regulations supporting net neutrality.
The regulations are considered to be the “world’s strongest” net neutrality rules,
guaranteeing free and open Internet for nearly half a billion people.
Are there any exceptions to net neutrality rules in India?
The only exceptions to the net neutrality rules are new and emerging services like
autonomous driving and telemedicine, which may require prioritized internet lanes and
faster than normal speeds.
What are the initiatives of the European Union (EU) regarding data and digital services?
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- Digital Services Act (DSA)
- Digital Markets Act (DMA).
What is General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)?
It is a law on data protection and privacy in the European Union (EU) and the European
Economic Area (EEA). GDPR also addresses the transfer of personal data outside the EU
and EEA areas. It enhances individuals’ control and rights over their data.
Rules for resignation and reinstatement of an IAS officer
An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, who resigned in 2019, has been recently
reinstated by the government.
What is resignation?
A resignation is a formal intimation in writing by an officer of his/her intention or a
proposal to leave the service.
Which rules govern the resignation of officers belonging to All-India Services?
The resignation of an officer of any of the three All-India Services — IAS, the Indian Police
Service (IPS), and the Indian Forest Service — is governed by Rules 5(1) and 5(1)(A) of the
All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958.
How resignation is different from Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS)?
Officers who take VRS are entitled to the pension, whereas those who resign don’t
get any pension.
Rule 5 of the Death-cum-Retirement Benefits (DCRB) Rules says, “No retirement
benefits may be granted to a person who has resigned from the Service.”
To whom IAS officer should submit a resignation?
An officer serving in a cadre (state) must submit a resignation to the chief secretary
of the state.
An officer who is on central deputation must submit a resignation to the secretary of
the concerned Ministry or Department.
The Ministry/Department then forwards the resignation to the concerned state.
What is the procedure after an officer submits his/her resignation?
The state will check the information on the issues of dues and vigilance status and
sends that information to the Central Government.
Later, the state will forward the resignation to the central government, along with its
recommendation.
Once the recommendation of the state is received, the competent authorities will
consider the resignation.
Who are the competent authorities?
The competent authorities are:
- Minister of State at the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) in respect of the
IAS.
- Minister for Home Affairs in respect of the IPS.
- Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in respect of the Forest
Service.
What is the role of the Prime Minister?
As the Prime Minister is in charge of the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), he
himself takes decisions currently in respect of the IAS.
In what cases resignation will be rejected?
A circular issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) in 1988, says that it is
not in the interest of the government to retain an officer who is unwilling to serve. So
generally the resignation will be accepted except in certain circumstances like:
If any dues are outstanding against the officer.
If any cases like corruption cases, disciplinary cases are pending against the officer.
Regarding disciplinary cases, the concurrence of the Central Vigilance
Commission (CVC) is obtained.
If the officer is engaged in important work and if alternatives are not available, the
resignation may not be accepted straight away. Resignation may be accepted only
when alternative arrangements are made.
The government also checks if an officer had executed any bond to serve the
government for a specified number of years on account of having received
specialized training, a fellowship, or a scholarship for studies.
Can an officer withdraw his/her resignation?
According to rule 5(1A) (i) of the amended Death-cum-Retirement Benefits (DCRB) Rules,
the central government can permit an officer to withdraw resignation “in the public
interest”.
Under what circumstances is the withdrawal of an officer’s resignation accepted?
An officer has to send intimation in writing regarding withdrawal of resignation before the
resignation is accepted by the competent authority.
India’s forex reserves
India’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves declined for the seventh consecutive week.
What are forex reserves?
Forex or foreign exchange reserves are assets held by the central bank in foreign
currencies as a reserve.
How much forex reserves does India currently have?
According to the latest data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s forex
reserves stood at $600.42 billion as of April 22, 2022.
All components in India’s forex reserves witnessed a fall in the week ending April 22,
2022.
The forex reserves were at an all-time high of $642.453 billion on September 3, 2021.
What are the components of forex reserves?
The components of forex reserves are:
- Foreign currency assets (FCA)
- Gold holdings
- SDRs (special drawing rights) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- Reserve tranche position (RTP) in the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Foreign currency assets (FCA) are comprised of?
Foreign currency assets (FCA) are maintained as a multi-currency portfolio comprising
major currencies, such as the US dollar, Euro, Pound sterling, Japanese yen, etc.
Foreign currency assets (FCA) are expressed in terms of which currency?
US dollar.
What is the use of forex reserves?
Forex reserves are usually used for backing the exchange rate and influencing monetary
policy.
Why forex reserves are important?
All international transactions are settled in US dollars and therefore a country should
have enough dollars to support its imports.
Adequate forex reserves limit any vulnerability because of a sudden disruption in
foreign capital flows, which could happen during a crisis.
Holding liquid forex gives the confidence that there is enough forex to support the
country’s crucial imports in case of external shocks.
Why there is a dip in forex reserves of India?
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is selling dollars to prevent a slide in the value of the
rupee amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The RBI intervention started when
the rupee crossed the 76 level.
The increase in global oil prices crossing $100 per barrel has affected India’s forex
reserves. This is because India depends on imports for 85% of its oil needs.
There is also capital outflow due to sustained selling by foreign portfolio investors
(FPIs).
Thus, the Ukraine war has hurt the country’s currency and its import cover.
What is import cover?
Import Cover measures the number of months of imports that can be covered with
foreign exchange reserves available with the central bank of the country.
What is the present import cover of India?
India’s $600 billion strong foreign exchange reserves are adequate to finance 12 months’
imports as of March 2022.
What are Special Drawing Rights (SDR)?
The SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) in 1969 to supplement its member countries’ official reserves.
The value of SDR is based on which currencies?
The value of the SDR is based on a basket of five currencies—the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Chinese renminbi, the Japanese yen, and the British pound sterling.
What is the Reserve tranche position (RTP) in the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
A reserve tranche is a segment of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) member
country’s quota that is accessible without fees or economic reform conditions.
State of employment in India
According to the latest data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE),
India’s labor force participation rate (LFPR) has fallen to 40% from 47% in 2016.
What is the labor force?
According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the labor force consists of
persons who are of age 15 years or older, and belong to either of the following two
categories:
- Are employed
- Are unemployed and willing to work and are actively looking for a job.
What is Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)?
LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in the labor force in the population.
LFPR includes those who are employed and those who are unemployed.
What is Worker Population Ratio (WPR)?
WPR is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.
What is Unemployment Rate (UR)?
UR is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed among the persons in the labor
force.
Which state has the lowest unemployment rate and why?
Chhattisgarh has the country’s lowest unemployment rate. Schemes and programs like
Godhan Nyay Yojana, the constitution of the Tea-Coffee Board, etc. seem to have helped
bring down Chhattisgarh’s unemployment rate to 0.6% by March 2022.
What is the LFPR at the global level?
The world over, LFPR is around 60%. In India, it has been sliding over the last 10 years and
has shrunk from 47% in 2016 to just 40% as of December 2021.
What does falling LFPR indicate?
Falling LFPR indicates that people of the working-age stopped demanding work.
Why is India’s LFPR so low?
The main reason for India’s LFPR being low is the abysmally low level of female LFPR.
What is India’s female and male LFPR?
According to CMIE data, as of December 2021, while the male LFPR was 67.4%, the female
LFPR was 9.4%. It means, less than one in 10 working-age women in India are demanding
work.
What is female LFPR at the global level?
According to World Bank data, India’s female labor force participation rate (LFPR) is
around 25% while the global average is 47%.
Why female LFPR is low?
Lack of adequate job opportunities for women.
Lack of conducive working conditions — such as law and order, efficient public
transportation, violence against women, societal norms, etc.
Incorrect measuring of women’s contribution to the economy. Many women in India
are exclusively involved within their own homes (caring for their family), which is not
measured.
What are the problems regarding the employment situation of the country?
- The rapid introduction of electric vehicles will cause a decline in employment in the
automobile sector. Increasing pollution will force India to shut down thermal power
plants and coal mines leading to mass unemployment.
- Agriculture labor is 144 million strong and predominantly low-paid. The government
must enable a smooth transition of these workers into more productive and betterpaying
jobs.
- The disparity amongst states in India is worrisome with Bihar having a meager per
capita income of Rs 50,733 as against the Rs 5.2 lakh of Sikkim.
What is the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE)?
It is a leading business information company. It was established in 1976, primarily as an
independent think tank. It produces economic and business databases.
States vs Centre on fuel taxes
The Centre and the states are at loggerheads over taxes and duties on petrol and diesel.
What is the argument of the Centre?
Centre feels that some states are not reducing Value added tax (VAT) on petrol and
diesel in line with the Centre’s cut in excise duty.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana,
Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Jharkhand have not reduced Value added
tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel.
What is the response of states?
States expressed concerns over their fiscal position, especially with the Goods and
Services Tax (GST) compensation regime due to end in June.
Telangana CM said the state had not hiked fuel prices since 2014.
Kerala Finance Minister said the rise in fuel prices is due to the cess and surcharge
levied by the Centre.
How much excise duty was reduced by the centre?
In November 2021, the Centre, for the first time in over three years, cut central excise
duties on petrol (by Rs 5 per litre) and diesel (by Rs 10 per litre).
Did states reduce VAT?
While some States followed in the Centre’s footsteps with a cut in value-added tax
(VAT), many others did not.
Around 21 states and some Union Territories cut VAT in the range of Rs 1.80-10 per
litre for petrol and Rs 2-7 per litre for diesel.
What is the impact of the reduction of VAT on the state’s finances?
As per the RBI’s State Finances report for 2021-22, the revenue loss to states due to this is estimated at 0.08% of GDP.
What are the components of the retail price of petrol and diesel?
As Retail price of petrol and diesel are made up of mainly 3 components:
Base price (reflecting the cost of international oil)
Central excise duty
State tax.
Excise duty is constant all over India, whereas state taxes (sales tax and value-added tax
(VAT)) vary from state to state.
How much excise duty is levied by the Centre?
As of February 2022, the Central excise duty on petrol had four components:
- ₹1.40 per litre was charged as basic excise duty (BED).
- ₹11 per litre was charged as special additional excise duty.
- ₹2.5 per litre was labelled as agriculture infrastructure and development cess (AIDC).
- ₹13 per litre was collected for road and infrastructure cess.
Thus, the Central component amounted to ₹27.9 per litre of petrol.
What is the contribution of fuel taxes to the government exchequer?
As per the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell, the sector’s contribution to the Union
government exchequer stood at Rs 4.55 lakh crore in 2020-21, up from Rs 1.72 lakh
crore in 2014-15.
In the case of states, it rose from Rs 1.6 lakh crore to Rs 2.17 lakh crore over the
same period.
Why is the spillover effect of the rise in fuel prices?
The rise in fuel prices contributes to inflation. Since fuel is used for the transportation of
most goods across the country, the sharp rise in fuel prices will creep into the costs of
other commodities. Recently, Prices of fruits, vegetables, and even packaged items like
milk, coffee powder and instant noodles have increased.
Pilot phase of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
Recently, the pilot phase of the open network for digital commerce (ONDC) was launched.
Where is the pilot being conducted?
The pilot is being conducted across five cities Delhi, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Bhopal, and
Shillong. It will be later launched in 100 cities over six months.
What is Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)?
ONDC is an initiative aimed to promote open networks for all aspects of the
exchange of goods and services over digital or electronic networks.
It will be based on open-sourced methodology, using open network protocols
independent of any specific platform.
What is the goal of ONDC?
The goal of ONDC is to change the e-commerce market’s fundamental structure by
moving from the current platform-centric model to an open-network model.
ONDC is an initiative of which department?
ONDC is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
What segments of commerce are covered under ONDC?
ONDC will enable local commerce across segments, such as mobility, grocery, food
order, and delivery, hotel booking, and travel, among others, that can be discovered
and engaged by any network-enabled application.
ONDC will work both for products and services.
What is the need for ONDC?
At present, only two large e-commerce players (Amazon and Flipkart) control more than
half of the country’s e-commerce trade. This creates monopolies and gives rise to issues
like limited access to the market, preferential treatment to some sellers, and a squeeze on
the supplier margins. To prevent such issues ONDC is being launched.
Can the buyers and sellers use different applications?
ONDC platform will allow buyers and sellers to connect and transact with each other
online, no matter what other application they use. Thus, the buyers and sellers do not
have to use the same platform. They can use different applications and still do business
transactions.
What are the advantages of ONDC?
ONDC will democratize e-commerce, curb digital monopolies and create new
opportunities.
It will protect micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and small traders by
granting them equal opportunity in the fast-growing $1 trillion retail market.
As the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has enabled people to make payments and
money transfers through an open network, ONDC will bring a similar change to the ecommerce
segment in India.
How does ONDC benefit small traders?
Access to more buyers.
Better discoverability of products and cost.
Autonomy on terms because of multiple choices for being digitally visible.
Lower cost of doing business.
More options for value chain services like logistics and fulfillment.
How does ONDC ensure a level playing field?
ONDC will put in place the ground rules, the network participation rules, the
obligation, and dispute resolution.
To govern the online trade, it will have a set of top-class protocols in critical areas like
price discovery, vendor match, and cataloging, ostensibly in open source.
Will the ONDC platform become successful?
ONDC’s success depends on how the government builds a seamless platform that is userfriendly
and capable of giving a better shopping environment than the current dominant
e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart. The government should also ensure a
swift dispute resolution.
How big is India’s e-commerce market?
Currently, there are over 4,000 small and big e-commerce companies in India, 500 logistics
companies to deliver goods and more than 20,000 entities including travel and hotels that
provide services through e-commerce. The Indian e-commerce market is expected to
grow to USD 200 billion by 2026.
RBI Report on Currency and Finance
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the Report on Currency and Finance
(RCF) for the year 2021-22.
What is the theme of the report?
The theme of the report is “Revive and Reconstruct” in the context of nurturing a durable
recovery post-COVID and raising trend growth in the medium term.
What is the impact of the covid pandemic on the economy according to the report?
According to the report, the Indian economy is likely to take over 12 years to
overcome the COVID-19 losses.
Taking the actual growth rate of (-) 6.6% for 2020-21, 8.9% for 2021-22, and assuming
a growth rate of 7.2% for 2022-23, and 7.5% beyond that, India is expected to
overcome COVID-19 losses in 2034-35.
The supply constraints and longer delivery times pushed up shipping costs, and
commodity prices, thereby intensifying inflationary pressures and threatening the
nascent economic recovery across the world.
What are the factors that contribute to the economic growth of India?
- Sustained thrust on capital expenditure by the government.
- Push to digitalization.
- Growing opportunities for new investment in areas like e-commerce, start-ups,
renewable, and supply chain logistics.
On what themes did the report suggest the reforms?
Reforms proposed in the report revolve around seven wheels of economic progress:
- Aggregate demand.
- Aggregate supply.
- Institutions, intermediaries, and markets.
- Macroeconomic stability and policy coordination.
- Productivity and technological progress.
- Structural change.
- Sustainability.
What are the structural reforms suggested?
Suggested structural reforms include:
Enhancing access to litigation-free low- cost land.
Raising the quality of labor through public expenditure on education and health and
the Skill India Mission.
Scaling up R&D activities with an emphasis on innovation and technology.
Creating an enabling environment for start-ups and unicorns.
Rationalisation of subsidies that promote inefficiencies.
Encouraging urban agglomerations by improving the housing and physical
infrastructure.
What are the other observations of the report?
The report states that for the country to hop on to a strong and sustainable growth
path, price stability is a necessary precondition.
Reducing general government debt to below 66% of GDP over the next five years is
important to secure India’s medium-term growth prospects.
The report emphasized providing opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses.
India’s free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations should focus on the transfer of
technology and better trade terms for high-quality imports from partner countries.
The report says that the task is to create a virtuous cycle of greater opportunity for
entrepreneurs, businesses, and the fiscal authority.
What did the report say regarding the banking sector?
Public Sector banks should not be dependent on the government for recapitalization.
Reducing dependence on government recapitalization will be an important precondition
to achieve greater privatization of the sector.
What is the projected growth of the Indian economy?
While the RBI expects the Indian economy to grow at 6.35 in FY24, the International
Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) report pegged India’s
growth rate for FY24 at 6.9%.
IOC Pilot Project of Methanol-blended Petrol
Recently, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) rolled out M15 petrol on a pilot basis in Assam’s
Tinsukia district.
What is M15 Petrol?
M15 is a blend of 15 % methanol and 85 % Petrol.
Why Pilot project is started in Assam’s Tinsukia district?
The pilot rollout was done in the Tinsukia district (Assam) by the Indian Oil Corporation
(IOC) due to the ready availability of methanol, which is being manufactured by Assam
Petrochemical Ltd in the vicinity of the Digboi refinery.
What are the advantages of using M15 Petrol?
It helps lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 5 to 10%. Blending 15%
methanol in petrol would bring down GHG emissions by 20% in terms of particulate
matter, NOx, and SOx, thereby improving the urban air quality.
Blending Petrol with methanol will provide respite from the rising global fuel prices.
It helps in achieving fuel independence and reducing the import burden. Blending of
15% methanol in petrol can result in at least a 15% reduction in the import of crude
oil.
Coal reserves and municipal solid waste can be converted into methanol.
What is methanol?
Methanol is a liquid chemical with the formula CH3OH. It is a light, volatile, colorless, and flammable liquid.
Methanol is produced from which sources?
Methanol is produced from Coal (Indian High Ash Coal), agricultural residue, Natural Gas,
Biomass, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), and most importantly CO2 from thermal power
plants.
How is methanol different from ethanol?
The primary difference is that Methanol (CH3OH) contains only one carbon and ethanol
(C2H5OH) contains two carbon atoms in each molecule.
What methanol and ethanol are being considered as alternative fuels for vehicles?
Methanol and ethanol are liquid and have several physical and combustion properties
similar to gasoline.
In what sectors methanol can be used?
Methanol can be used in the following sectors:
Transport sector (road, rail, and marine)
Energy sector (comprising diesel generator sets, boilers, process heating modules,
tractors, and commercial vehicles)
Retail cooking (replacing LPG [partially], kerosene and wood charcoal).
What is the methanol economy?
The methanol economy is a suggested future economy in which methanol (CH3OH)
and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3) replace fossil fuels as a means of energy storage,
ground transportation fuel, and raw material for synthetic hydrocarbons and their
products.
Methanol Economy is the “Bridge” to the dream of a complete “Hydrogen based fuel
system”.
NITI Aayog is running a program called ‘Methanol Economy’ to promote the use of
methanol in various industrial activities.
What is dimethyl ether?
Dimethyl ether (DME) is the organic compound with the formula CH3OCH3. Dimethyl
Ether (DME) is a derivative of methanol. The production of DME is via the dehydration of
methanol.
What are the economic benefits of the methanol economy?
According to NITI Aayog, Methanol Economy will create close to 5 million jobs through
methanol production/application and distribution services. Additionally, Rs 6000 crore can
be saved annually by blending 20% DME (Dimethyl Ether, a derivative of methanol) in LPG.
This will help the consumer in saving between Rs 50-100 per cylinder.
India’s Pharma Exports in 2021-22
India’s pharma sector recorded its best-ever export performance in 2021-22.
What is the growth of India’s Pharma sector?
India’s pharma sector witnessed a growth of 103% since 2013-14, from Rs. 90, 415
crores in 2013-14 to Rs. 1,83,422 crore in 2021-22.
India’s pharma exports in 2021-22 sustained positive growth despite the global trade
disruptions.
The trade balance continues to be in India’s favor.
What is the contribution of India’s pharma sector to the world?
By virtue of price competitiveness and good quality, Indian pharma companies have
made a global mark. India is a major exporter of Pharmaceuticals, with 60% of the
world’s vaccines and 20% of generic medicines coming from India.
More than 200+ countries are served by Indian pharma exports.
India supplies over 50% of Africa’s requirements for generic medicines.
India is a leading supplier of DPT, BCG, and Measles vaccines. 70% of WHO’s vaccines
(as per the essential Immunization schedule) are sourced from India.
Thus, India has been serving as the ‘pharmacy of the world’.
What is the global ranking of India’s pharma sector?
The Indian pharmaceutical industry is the world’s 3rd largest by volume and 14th largest
in terms of value.
What is the current market size of the domestic pharmaceutical industry?
$50 billion
What are the top destinations for Indian pharma exports?
India’s top five pharma export destinations are the US, UK, South Africa, Russia, and
Nigeria.
It is noteworthy that around 55% of India’s pharma exports cater to highly regulated
markets. Indian pharma companies have a substantial share in the prescription
market in the US and European Union (EU).
What are the reasons for growth in India’s pharma sector?
Cost efficiency: Cost of production is less in India, which helps in competitive
pricing.
Government support: In June 2021, the government announced an additional
outlay of Rs. 197,000 crore that will be utilized over five years for the pharmaceutical
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in 13 key sectors such as active
pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), drug intermediaries, etc.
Increasing investment: The foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in the Indian
drugs and pharmaceuticals sector reached US$ 1.206 billion between April-December
2021.
Economic drivers: High economic growth along with increasing penetration of
health insurance is pushing expenditure on healthcare and medicine in India.
Strong industry: The domestic pharmaceutical industry includes a network of 3,000
drug companies and around 10,500 manufacturing units. India has mega-production
capabilities that adhere to industry standards. India also has a large skilled domestic
workforce.
Quality: The largest number of United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approved plants outside the US is in India. Indian exports meet the standards and
requirements of highly regulated markets of the USA, UK, European Union, and
Canada.
How much foreign direct investment (FDI) is allowed in India’s pharmaceutical sector?
India allows 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in greenfield (new) pharma projects
under the automatic route. For brownfield pharma, or investments in existing companies,
up to 74%, FDI is allowed under the automatic route, and approval is required beyond
that.
According to the recent Economic Survey, FDI in the pharmaceutical sector has seen a
sudden spurt in 2020-21 vis a vis the previous year showing a 200% increase.
Coal shortage in India
Currently, India is undergoing a second major power crisis since October 2021.
Why is India facing coal shortage?
The main reason for the coal shortage is the increasing power demand. In 2022, the
demand increased to 132 billion units (BU) per month, from 106.6 BU a month in
2019.
Another reason is the reduction in coal imports. The global coal prices increased due
to global energy shortage and supply disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war.
There are also supply constraints within India due to shortage of rail rakes. The
number of trains committed by the Indian Railways per day is 415, which is 8.4%
lower than the 453 required by the power utilities.
Why there is an increase in power consumption?
Power consumption increased due to unprecedented heatwave in the north and west
India that has boosted demand for electricity, especially domestic and agricultural load.
What is the extent of the coal shortage?
At more than 100 thermal power plants in India, that meets 70% of India’s electricity
demand, coal stocks have fallen below 25% of the required stock (critical mark).
In over 50 thermal plants, the coal stock has depleted below the 10% mark.
Coal inventories at power plants had an average stock of nine days as of April 1, the
lowest since at least 2014.
How much coal stocks should thermal power plants have?
The government guidelines recommend power plants to have at least 24 days of coal
stock on average.
What is the impact of the coal shortage?
The electricity supply in the country fell short of demand by 1.88 billion units, or 1.6%,
during the first 27 days of April, due to a shortage of coal.
Since the start of April, Jharkhand has been facing an average supply shortage of
10-12%, the worst in the country.
Andhra Pradesh, which is home to plants operated by automakers such as Kia
Motors and drug manufacturers such as Pfizer, is facing an electricity deficit of 8.7%,
pushing it to resort to widespread power cuts.
Which states are facing power cuts?
Several states across India, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jharkhand,
Bihar, Haryana, and Uttarakhand, are reeling under long power cuts to meet the increased demand for electricity.
What is the impact of power cuts on the economy?
Power cuts could stifle industrial activity. For example, Facor Alloys, a producer of
ferrochrome which is used in manufacturing stainless steel, recently said that it will
reduce output by 50% due to the power cuts in Andhra Pradesh.
What is the share of coal in India’s power output?
70% of India’s baseload power generation capacity is met by coal-fired thermal power plants.
What steps are being taken by the government to tackle the coal shortage?
The Centre has allowed states to use their captive coal reserves up to 25% to meet
growing domestic demand.
Recently, the Indian Railways decided to cancel 753 trips involving 42 passenger
trains to prioritize the delivery of coal rakes across India.
What are the reforms in the coal sector introduced by the Centre last year?
In 2020, the Centre introduced mining reforms to end Coal India Limited’s (CILs)
monopoly on India’s coal manufacturing. The reforms allowed commercial mining in the
coal sector. Any party can bid for coal mines instead of only captive consumers (i.e
companies that use coal for running their businesses). However, the reforms were
criticized for harming the tribal population and forests.
Electric Vehicle fire incidents
Recently, in India, there have been multiple incidents of two-wheeler electric vehicles (EVs)
catching fire.
What is the response of the government?
- The Union Government constituted an expert panel to probe the recent series of Liion
battery explosions in electric vehicles (EVs).
- Last month, the government asked the Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment
Safety (CFEES) to probe the incident in Pune and give suggestions to prevent such
incidents.
Who are the major electric vehicles (EVs) manufacturers?
Pure EV, Ola, Okinawa, and Jitendra EV scooters.
What factors contributed to the growth of electric vehicles?
- The growing concern over climate change gave the push to the development of
electric vehicles.
- The cost of Li-ion (Lithium-ion) batteries has decreased significantly in the last
decade.
- The governments are providing incentives and private industry is ramping up plans
for capturing the market.
The convergence of these factors is leading to the transition in the transportation sector.
What is an electric vehicle?
- An electric vehicle (EV) operates on an electric motor, instead of an internalcombustion
engine. Batteries are used to power electric motors.
- As the electric vehicle runs on electricity, it emits no exhaust from a tailpipe and does
not contain the liquid fuel components, such as a fuel pump, fuel line, or fuel tank.
Which type of battery is used in electric vehicles?
The most common type of battery used in modern electric vehicles is the lithium-ion
battery.
Why lithium-ion batteries are most preferred batteries?
Because they charge faster, last longer, and have high energy density. They are also
lightweight and require low maintenance.
What are the components of lithium-ion batteries?
Every Li-ion battery consists of three active components:
- The anode, typically graphite.
- The cathode, typically based on nickel, cobalt, and manganese-based oxide.
- An electrolyte, typically a salt of lithium in an inorganic solvent.
Manufacturing of lithium-ion battery is a complex task involving forming sheets of the
anode and cathode and assembling them into a sandwich structure held apart by a thin
separator.
What is the function of separators in lithium-ion batteries?
The main function of separators is to keep the anode and cathode apart to prevent
electrical short circuits.
The first two-day International Research Conference on Insolvency and Bankruptcy was
recently organized in India.
Who organized the conference?
The conference was organized by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI),
jointly with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA).
What are the highlights of the conference?
The Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation praised the
significant contribution Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016 made by
establishing an effective ecosystem for insolvency resolution in the Indian economy.
He also highlighted that introduction of the proposed cross-border insolvency
resolution framework will be a landmark step in redefining India’s economic
relations with the world.
Chairperson of IBBI noted the importance of evidence-based research in
policymaking.
He emphasized that basic research efforts should be made to cut down the delays at
all stages of insolvency resolution beginning with recognition of stress to final
resolution.
What is Insolvency?
Insolvency is a situation that arises due to the inability to pay off the debts due to
insufficient assets to meet the liabilities.
What is Bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy is a situation wherein an application is made to an authority declaring
insolvency and seeking to be declared bankrupt. A bankrupt would be a conclusive
insolvent.
Thus, insolvency is a state and bankruptcy is a conclusion.
Will all insolvencies lead to bankruptcies?
All insolvencies will not lead to bankruptcies.
Typically insolvency situations have two options – resolution or liquidation.
What is Resolution?
Resolution of an insolvent company means that the company will continue to exist by
bringing in some new management or debt restructuring or other mechanisms. It will not
be closed.
What is Liquidation?
Liquidation means, the company will be closed and its assets will be sold in the market
and whatever money recovered will be given to the creditor.
What is the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016?
IBC 2016 is India’s bankruptcy law, which seeks to consolidate the existing
framework by creating a single law for insolvency and bankruptcy.
Earlier, the process of winding up companies was regulated by the Companies Act,
1956, under the superintendence of courts, which resulted in undue delays.
Under IBC, the winding-up procedure is under the supervision of the National
Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which ensures quick and prompt action during the
early stage of debt default by a firm, thereby resulting in an optimum recovery rate.
What is the objective of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016?
The prime objective of the IBC is to rescue corporate debtors in distress. The Code
specifies a time-bound insolvency resolution process.
What is the process under IBC?
Company creditors or troubled companies first approach the National Company Law
Tribunal (NCLT). NCLT appoints an insolvency resolution professional. That person then
sets up a committee of creditors to decide on the future of the company.
May 4, 2022
Indo-German Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz signed a joint
declaration of intent (JDI) establishing the Green and Sustainable Development
Partnership.
What is the goal of the partnership?
To intensify bilateral and multilateral cooperation and accelerate actions towards climate
protection.
How much financial assistance will be provided by Germany?
Under the partnership, Germany has made an advance commitment to investing €10
billion in climate change related projects in India. The amount will be invested until 2030.
What are the agreements under the partnership?
As deliverables of the Indo-German Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development,
both countries agreed to:
- Develop an Indo-German Green Hydrogen Roadmap based on the inputs from the
Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task.
- Establish an Indo-German Renewable Energy Partnership focusing on innovative
solar energy and other renewables.
- Establish lighthouse cooperation on “Agroecology and Sustainable Management of
Natural Resources” to benefit the rural population and small-scale farmers in India.
- Further examine collaboration on Green Energy Corridors, e.g. the Leh-Haryana
transmission line and the project of a carbon-neutral Ladakh.
- Deepen cooperation in restoring forest landscapes under the Bonn Challenge.
- Deepen cooperation on the creation of suitable conditions for the successful and
sustainable use of green technologies.
- Offer sustainable, viable, and inclusive projects in third countries to support the
achievement of climate targets.
What is India- Germany Pact on Green hydrogen?
The India- Germany Pact on Green hydrogen will establish an “Indo-German Green
Hydrogen Task Force” to strengthen cooperation in the production, utilization, storage,
and distribution of green hydrogen.
What is Green hydrogen?
Green hydrogen is defined as hydrogen produced by splitting water into hydrogen
and oxygen using renewable energy such as solar or wind energy.
As hydrogen only emits water as a residue when burnt, it is being considered a
potential substitute for fossil fuel.
What are the flagship initiatives of India and Germany regarding hydrogen?
India has launched the “National Green Hydrogen Mission” to make India the global
hub of green hydrogen production and export.
Germany has developed an ambitious National Hydrogen Strategy to assume global
leadership in hydrogen technologies.
What are the strengths of India and Germany regarding hydrogen technologies?
India is blessed with abundant renewable energy potential and has experience in
implementing renewable energy projects. Thus, India can produce low-cost green
hydrogen and also export it to meet global demand.
Germany’s strengths are innovation and manufacturing. It also has the experience of
implementing numerous hydrogen projects.
How India is encouraging the production of Green energy?
The Centre has set itself a target of setting up 5 million tonnes (mt) of green hydrogen
production by 2030. According to the ‘Green Hydrogen’ policy announced by the
government in February 2022, manufacturers of green hydrogen or ammonia may
purchase renewable power from the power exchange or set up renewable energy capacity
themselves. Inter-State transmission charges are waived for 25 years for such
manufacturers.
2022 State of World’s Forests Report
The 2022 edition of The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO), released on day one of the World Forestry Congress, 2022 (May 2, 2022).
Who published the report?
“The State of the World’s Forests” (SOFO) is the flagship publication of the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published every two years. FAO is a
specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that leads international efforts to defeat
hunger and improve nutrition and food security.
What is the report about?
“The State of the World’s Forests” (SOFO) report presents an analysis of the interaction
between forests and people, with a focus on a specific pertinent topic. It explains the
importance of forests to the global economy and biodiversity. The report is regarded as
one of the most important stocktakes on forest ecosystems.
What are the observations of the report?
The world has lost 420 million hectares (mha), approximately 10.34% of its total
forest area in the last 30 years (between 1990 and 2020) due to deforestation.
Though the rate of deforestation was declining, 10 mha of forests were lost every
year between 2015 and 2020. This poses severe risks for the 68% of mammal species,
75% of bird species, and 80% of amphibian species that inhabit forests.
Forest biodiversity remains under threat from deforestation and forest degradation.
How much area is covered by the forests globally?
Forests cover 4.06 billion ha (31%) of the earth’s geographical area.
What did the report say about infectious diseases?
The report stated that 30% of new diseases, reported since 1960, can be attributed to
deforestation and land-use change.
Deforestation, particularly in the tropics, has been associated with an increase in
infectious diseases such as dengue fever and malaria.
More responsible land-use planning to address the “underlying drivers of disease
emergence”.
What did the report say about India and China?
India and China could emerge as the biggest hotspots for new zoonotic viral diseases over
the next few decades if human pressure on forests continues to increase. Due to
increasing human-wildlife interactions, infectious diseases can easily spread to humans.
What are zoonotic diseases?
A zoonosis is an infectious disease that can be transmitted naturally from a nonhuman
animal to humans.
Zoonotic diseases are caused by harmful germs like viruses, bacteria, parasites, and
fungi.
Examples of Zoonotic diseases include anthrax (from sheep) rabies (from rodents
and other mammals) West Nile virus (from birds).
What are the suggestions given in the report?
The report suggested three interrelated pathways to achieve green recovery and tackle
environmental crises:
- Halting deforestation and maintaining forests
- Restoring degraded lands and expanding agroforestry
- Sustainably using forests and building green value chains.
What is Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use?
It is the declaration pledged by more than 140 countries to eliminate forest loss by 2030
and to support restoration and sustainable forestry. To this end, an additional $19 billion
has been allocated to help developing countries achieve these objectives.
India-Denmark Business Forum
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi jointly participated with the Prime Minister of
Denmark, and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, in the “India- Denmark Business
Forum”.
What are the highlights of PM Modi’s speech?
Prime Minister Modi Invoked the popular social media expression FOMO (fear of
missing out) and said those not investing in India will certainly miss out.
He highlighted the business-friendly approach of India and said that economic
reforms created investment opportunities in various sectors like green technology,
cold chains, shipping, and ports.
He emphasized the complementary skillsets of the two economies and invited
Danish companies to take advantage of India’s enormous opportunities.
Over 200 Danish companies in India are actively engaged in taking forward ‘Make in
India’, Jal Jeevan Mission’, Digital India’, and other key national missions.
More than 60 Indian companies in Denmark, mainly in the IT sector, are further
cementing bilateral business-to-business ties.
Which areas were focused on in the event?
- Green Technology, Innovation, and Digitization
- Energy Independence and Renewable Energy
- Water, Environment, and Agriculture
- Infrastructure, Transportation & Services.
What are the pacts signed during PM Narendra Modi’s one-day visit to Denmark?
- Declaration of Intent (DoI) on Migration and Mobility
- Letter of Intent (LoI) on Centre of Excellence in Green Shipping.
- Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) between the Ministry of Culture, GoI, and
Ministry of Culture of Denmark for the years 2022-2026.
- Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of
Environment of Denmark.
- MoU on Cooperation in the field of Skill Development, Vocational Education, and
Entrepreneurship.
- Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Cooperation in the fields of Animal Husbandry and
Dairying.
- Launch of Energy Policy Dialogue at Ministerial level.
- India to join as the mission partner to ICARS (International Centre for Anti-Microbial Resistance Solution).
- Letter of Intent (LoI) between Invest India and Technical University of Denmark to
facilitate start-up collaboration.
What is India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership?
‘India-Denmark: A Green Strategic Partnership’ was established in September 2020.
During PM Modi’s visit to Denmark, both countries agreed to further strengthen the
Green Strategic Partnership with a focus on green hydrogen, renewable energy, and
wastewater management.
The aim is to push the world for an ambitious green energy transition and
demonstrate the pathways to achieving it, focusing both on energy efficiency and
renewable energy.
What is International Centre for Anti-Microbial Resistance Solution (ICARS)?
It is a research partnership supporting the development & implementation of
context-specific & cost-effective solutions to tackle Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) in
low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
ICARS co-develops tailored solutions with LMIC governments, who then implement
them on the ground using ICARS funding and expertise.
In November 2018, the Danish Government formally announced its ambition to
establish ICARS. In November 2021 ICARS became an independent organization
following the appointment of the first Board of Directors.
How many Indians live in Denmark?
Denmark is home to a robust Indian diaspora of 16,000 people.
World Tuna Day 2022
On the 2nd of May, World Tuna Day is observed. This day is celebrated to raise awareness
about the Tuna fish. This fish is very important for both planet Earth and humans.
What does this day promote?
This day looks to promote the importance of the habit of fishing practices that is
sustainable. This day also looks to educate the world about how tuna fish have been listed
in the endangered species category as it has a high demand.
Why is tuna fish important?
Tuna fish is important for developing as well as developed countries as they are a
significant source of food and they also have high nutritional value. This fish species has a
high level of Vitamin B12, Omega 3, minerals, and proteins.
When was World Tuna Day established?
In December 2016, this day was established by the United Nations General Assembly.
What was the aim of establishing this day?
This day was established to generate awareness about the preservation of this fish
species.
In which year was the first World Tuna Day observed?
This day was first observed in the year 2017.
How much tuna is harvested annually?
According to the United Nations, about 7 million metric tons of tuna are being harvested annually.
How many countries have tuna fisheries?
About 80 countries across the world have tuna fisheries.
On what do several depend on tuna for?
Several nations across the planet depend on tuna for economic development, food
security, livelihood, and employment.
What is the theme of this year’s celebration?
This year’s theme is “Our Tuna, Our Heritage.”
How many countries are involved in Tuna conservation?
Currently, 96 countries are working on tuna conservation and management.
By how much has the tuna population declined?
The Tuna population has declined globally by over 97 percent. Hence, these species of fish have been placed in the endangered species category.
P-75I and Air-independent propulsion(AIP) Technology
Recently, France’s Naval Group announced that it is withdrawing from the Indian Navy’s
P-75I submarine project.
What is the Indian Navy’s P-75I submarine project?
The Project 75 (India)-class submarines (P-75I) are a planned class of diesel-electric
submarines, which are to be built for the Indian Navy.
Under this project, the Indian Navy intends to acquire six conventional, diesel-electric
attack submarines, which will also feature advanced capabilities – including airindependent
propulsion (AIP), and anti-ship warfare (AShW), and other features.
All 6 submarines are expected to be constructed in India, under the Make in India
initiative.
When Indian Navy’s P-75I submarine project was first approved?
In 1999, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved a 30-year plan for the Indian
Navy to indigenously build and induct 24 submarines by 2030.
In the first phase, two lines of production were to be established — the first, P-75;
the second, P-75I. Each line was to produce six submarines.
What is the status of the P-75 project?
In 2005, a $3.75 billion contract for building six Scorpene-class submarines under
P-75 was signed between India and France.
The executing company on the Indian side was Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd
(MDL) and on the French side, it was the Naval Group, then known as DCNS.
The first submarine under the project was commissioned in 2017.
Subsequently, the other five have been built and the final one, Vagsheer, was
launched in April 2022, and will be commissioned by 2023.
What is the status of the P-75I submarine project?
The P-75I witnessed many delays and the Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued in July 2021.
Why P-75I submarine project is unique?
P-75I project will be India’s first project under the Strategic Partnership Model.
What is the Strategic Partnership model?
Under this model, the government will give the contract to an Indian Strategic Partner
(SP), which will partner with a foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to build
Air-independent propulsion (AIP)-powered submarines in India.
Who are the selected partners under the P-75I submarine project?
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) and Larsen and Toubro (L&T) are the two
selected strategic partners.
The five selected Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are Naval Group
(France), ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (Germany), ROE (Russia), Daewoo
Shipbuilding, and Marine Engineering (South Korea), and Navantia (Spain).
Why did France’s Naval Group withdraw from the Indian Navy’s P-75I submarine project?
The reason given by France’s Naval Group is that it could not satisfy the conditions of the
Request for Proposal (RFP).
What is Air-independent propulsion (AIP) Technology?
Air-independent propulsion (AIP) is a technology that allows a non-nuclear submarine to
operate without access to atmospheric oxygen.
What is the importance of AIP technology?
AIP enhances the submerged endurance of the submarine. AIP allows a submarine to remain submerged for more than a fortnight therefore the chances of being detected are less.
How many countries have AIP submarines?
Around 10 countries have developed or are close to building AIP technology, and almost
20 nations have AIP submarines.
IIT Bombay’s collaboration with India Meteorological Department (IMD)
Recently, IIT Bombay entered into collaboration with India Meteorological Department
(IMD) to develop climate solutions at the village, city, and district levels.
What are the expected outcomes of the collaboration?
Sensors and Drone-based Smart Monitoring System
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technology for water and food security
Intelligent and automated early warning systems
Climate and Health
Smart power grid management
Wind energy and heatwave forecasts
Climate forecast and information-based smart applications for different sectors.
Meteorological aviation, observational and instrumentation applications.
Climate change policy information, and human resource development.
What is Climate-smart agriculture (CSA)?
It is an integrated approach to managing landscapes that address the interlinked
challenges of food security and climate change. It aims to simultaneously achieve three
outcomes:
- Increased agricultural productivity to improve nutrition security and boost incomes.
- Enhanced resilience and reduced vulnerability to climate-related risks and shocks.
- Reduced emissions and identify ways to absorb carbon out of the atmosphere.
What is IIT Bombay’s Interdisciplinary Program in Climate Studies (IDPCS)?
IDPCS was set up in 2012 and has completed its 10-year journey with major financial
support from the Department of Science and Technology. IIT Bombay aims to establish a
Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Climate Services and Solutions within IDPCS that will leverage
the expertise of its students and faculty members to conduct solution-oriented research.
IT Bombay also established the first-ever Chair Professorship in climate studies, titled
“Vinaya and Samir Kapoor Chair in Climate Studies”, which will greatly benefit IDPCS.
International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the
International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI), 2022.
Who hosted the conference?
The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in partnership with the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted the
International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) 2022.
Prime Ministers of Australia and Japan, as well as Presidents of Ghana and
Madagascar, addressed the conference.
What are the highlights of PM Modi’s speech?
PM held that India is committed to meeting the needs of the poor and vulnerable by
building next-generation infrastructure.
He said that people must be at the heart of any infrastructure growth story and they
must be provided quality, dependable & sustainable services in an equitable manner.
What is CDRI?
CDRI is a multi-stakeholder global partnership, launched by the Prime Minister of
India, Narendra Modi, at the 2019 UN Climate Summit.
CDRI is led and managed by national governments, where knowledge is generated
and exchanged on different aspects of disaster resilience of infrastructure.
Which organizations are the supporting partners of CDRI?
The following six organizations are supporting partners:
- The World Bank Group
- The Asian Development Bank
- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
- The Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE)
- Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment (CCRI).
What is disaster-resilient infrastructure?
Disaster resilient infrastructure is any infrastructure that is strategically designed to
withstand the impact of a natural disaster like a flood, earthquake, etc.
Examples include elevated foundations that can keep a building out of floodwaters or
earthquake-proof materials and foundations that will stop a building from collapsing.
New Member of Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) central board gave its approval to appoint Rajiv Ranjan
as an ex-officio member of the RBI’s monetary policy committee.
Who is Rajiv Ranjan and he is replacing whom?
Mridul Saggar is being replaced by Rajiv Ranjan. Saggar retired at the end of April 2022.
Ranjan has been working with the RBI for more than 33 years. Recently, he headed RBI’s
“department of economic and policy research.” This department is in line with the
research function and monetary policy of the central bank.
What do you mean by Monetary Policy?
It is the RBI’s policy regarding the use of monetary instruments that are under the control
of the central bank. The monetary policy’s main goal is to maintain price stability in India
while also considering the growth objective.
What is the function of the monetary policy committee?
The Monetary Policy Committee fixes the interest rate that is applicable in the country.
This committee meets 4 times a year which is once every quarter. The MPC after every
meeting publishes the decisions that have been taken by them.
How many members are there in the monetary policy committee?
The MPC has six members. There are three officials who are from the RBI and there are
three external members who are nominated by the central government. This committee’s
chairperson is the Governor of the RBI.
Who are the members of the MPC?
- Chairperson- Shaktikanta Das
- Michael Debabrata Patra
- Rajiv Ranjan
- Ashima Goyal
- Shashank Bhide
- Jayanth Varma
Members 1 to 3 are officials from the RBI and members 4 to 6 are appointed by the central government.
When was the MPC formed?
The MPC was first proposed by the Urjit Patel Committee. The idea was to set up a fivemember
MPC with 3 from RBI and 2 appointed by the Indian government. The central
government however proposed a seven-member MPC. After much negotiation, a sixmember
MPC was decided upon. RBI’s Monetary Policy Department (MPD) helps the
MPC. This committee came into existence on 27th June 2016.
Maharashtra Jivhala Scheme
A loan scheme named Jivhala has been launched by the Maharashtra Department of
Prisons for the inmates who are serving sentences in various jails across Maharashtra.
Which bank is offering this scheme?
Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank is offering this newly launched credit scheme that has been named Jivhala. This credit scheme is a first-of-its-kind scheme that has been launched for prisoners in India. The existing loan initiatives that are being provided by the banks for the inmates of the nation are for the purpose of rehabilitation only after they complete their prison terms.
Where was the pilot of this scheme launched?
The pilot for this scheme was launched for the prisoners who are in the Yerawada Central
Jail, Pune. This scheme will be implemented in around sixty prisons in Maharashtra.
For whom has this scheme been launched?
This scheme has mainly been launched for all those convicted inmates who are in prison
facing a sentence of more than three years. The majority of such inmates are the sole
breadwinners of their families and due to them being incarcerated their families have no
income sources. Therefore, this loan will be issued to the family members of such inmates
in the inmates’ names.
How much loan will be provided?
In the initial phase of this scheme, a Rs 50,000 loan will be given. The interest rate that will
be applicable is 7 percent. Out of the interest that will be earned by the bank, 1 percent
will be contributed by the bank to the prisoners’ welfare fund. For issuing this loan no
guarantor or mortgage is required. The inmates will be able to utilize this loan for the
medical treatment of their family members, their children’s education, legal fees, etc.
How many loan applications are being processed in the pilot phase?
In this scheme’s pilot phase, 230 loan applications are being processed from the
Yerawada Central Prison. Out of the total loan applications, 222 are from males and 8 are
from females. Based on the response that will be received from the pilot project along
with the inmates’ creditworthiness, the loan amount can be increased.
Basava Jayanti
On May 3rd, 2022, Basava Jayanti, the birth anniversary of renowned philosopher
Basaveshwara was celebrated.
Who is Basavanna?
Basavanna was a 12th-century poet, philosopher, and social reformer during the reign of
the Kalyani Chalukya/Kalachuri dynasty.
When is Basava Jayanthi celebrated?
As per the Hindu calendar, the birth of Basavanna falls on the 3rd day of Vaisahaka month
in the Shukla paksha. This usually falls either in April or May of the English calendar. It is
celebrated primarily in the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra
Pradesh.
Which sect did Basavanna establish?
Basavanna is the founder of Lingayatism.
What is Lingayatism?
It is a Hindu denomination based on Shaivism. Lingayatism emphasizes qualified monism
(vishista Advaita), with philosophical foundations similar to those of the 11th–12th-century
Ramanuja. Lingayatism rejects the authority of Vedas and Puranas.
What social reforms are brought by Basavanna?
Basavanna believed in a society free of the caste system, with equal opportunity for
all.
He rejected superstitions and rituals but introduced the Ishtalinga necklace to every
person to be a constant reminder of one’s bhakti (devotion) to Shiva.
He condemned gender discrimination and animal sacrifices.
He also founded the Anubhava Mantapa (experience pavilion) in the 12th Century
C.E., which welcomed people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
What is Anubhava Mantapa?
Anubhava Mantapa is an academy, located in Basavakalyan in Bidar district of
Karnataka.
The academy included Lingayat mystics, saints, and philosophers, who would
congregate and share experiences and wisdom of life. Thus, it was the fountainhead
of all religious and philosophical thought about the lingayat sect.
The Anubhava Mantapa is also called the Mahaamane.
The Anubhava Mantapa was also the fountainhead of the Vachana literature.
What are the literary works of Basavanna?
His literary works include the Vachana Sahitya in the Kannada Language. Through
vachanaas, he spread social awareness in society.
Harshada Sharad Garud
Eighteen years old Harshada Sharad Garud has become India’s first weightlifter to have
won a gold medal at the IWF Junior World Championships that is being organized in
Heraklion, Greece from 2nd to 10th May 2022.
In which category did she win the gold medal?
She has secured the gold medal in the women’s 45 kg category. She won the gold with a
total effort of 153kg i.e. 70kg+83kg. Along with her Gyaneshwari Yadav and V Rithika have
also won medals in the 49 kg category.
How many Indians have so far won medals at the Junior World Championships?
Till now only six Indians have won medals at the Junior World Championships for the
country.
Mirabai Chanu (bronze) in 2013.
Jhilli Dalabehera (bronze) in 2018.
Achinta Sheuli (silver) in 2021.
Harshada Sharad Garud (gold) in 2022.
Gyaneshwari Yadav (silver) in 2022
V Rithika (bronze) in 2022
How many Indians are participating in this tournament?
In this tournament, India is being represented by an eight-member team. This team
consists of 6 women and 2 men.
Which organization organizes the Junior World Championships?
The Junior World Championships is organized by the International Weightlifting
Federation. The first tournament was held in the year 1975 in Marseille, France.
What do you know about International Weightlifting Federation?
This organization governs the Olympic weightlifting sports across the globe. It was
founded in the year 1905 and its headquarter is located in Lausanne, Switzerland.
India’s first greenfield grain-based ethanol plant
Recently, a greenfield grain-based ethanol plant was inaugurated in Bihar by Bihar Chief
Minister.
What is the cost of the plant?
The grain-based ethanol plant was built for Rs 105 crore.
Which company set up the plant?
Eastern India Biofuels Pvt Ltd.
What are the other facts about the ethanol plant?
The ethanol plant is a zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) plant.
It is the first plant developed since the center gave the go-ahead to Bihar’s ethanol
production and promotion policy-2021.
The plant has been built on 15 acres of land and is expected to produce 65,000 liters
of ethanol per day using 150 tonnes of maize and rice every day.
It will also produce DDGS (distiller’s dried grains with solubles) as a by-product,
which will be sold for animal feed.
A 10-year-long term ethanol purchase agreement has been with the Oil Marketing
Companies (OMCs) like Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum.
The plant will help Bihar in its aspiration to foray into ethanol production using sugarcane,
maize, and rice to meet the fuel needs.
What is zero-liquid discharge (ZLD)?
Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) is a wastewater management strategy that eliminates liquid
waste and maximizes water usage efficiency.
What are the favorable conditions for ethanol production in Bihar?
Abundance of raw materials: For example, three maize crops are harvested every
year in Bihar. Sugarcane and broken rice which is not fit for consumption can be
used.
Availability of water: The groundwater level in Bihar is good due to several water
bodies.
Availability of labor: Labour is available at a relatively cheap rate.
What is ethanol?
Ethanol is a clear, colorless organic liquid. It is used as a chemical solvent and in the
synthesis of organic compounds, apart from being an alternative fuel source.
How is ethanol produced?
Ethanol can be produced from the fermentation of biomass (plant materials) or via
petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration.
What is Bioethanol?
Ethanol produced from biomass is also called Bioethanol. It can be produced from starch- or sugar-based feedstocks, such as corn, sugarcane, and other plant materials.
Why ethanol is important to India?
To meet the rising energy demand in the country.
To reduce reliance on crude oil imports, thereby enhancing India’s energy security.
To reduce environmental pollution and meet climate goals.
To generate employment through ethanol production plants.
To promote Make in India.
To help increase farmers’ incomes.
To promote Waste to Wealth generation.
What is National Policy on Biofuels – 2018?
The central government notified the National Policy on Biofuels, in 2018 to promote the
use of biofuels including bio-ethanol in India. It allowed the production of Ethanol from Bheavy
Molasses, Sugarcane Juice, and damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, etc.
which are unfit for human consumption.
What is India’s target for ethanol blending?
India has achieved 9% ethanol blending in petrol. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
advanced the target of achieving 20% ethanol blending to 2025 from 2030.
RSF 2022 World Press Freedom Index
India ranked 150 on the World Press Freedom Index 2022. This index is released by the
Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF).
When was this index published?
This index was published on 3rd May 2022 which also coincides with the World Press
Freedom Day 2022. This index evaluates press freedom levels in 180 territories and
countries across the globe.
What does the index say about India?
In this year’s index, the country slipped eight positions from 142 to 150th position. India is
said to be one of the most dangerous countries for the press. In the country, an average
of 3 to 4 journalists are killed each year. In this index’s inaugural edition, India was ranked
80th.
What do you mean by the World Press Freedom index?
This index has been published annually since the year 2020. This index is published by the
Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) or Reporters Without Borders. This index is used to rank
countries according to the press freedom levels available to the journalists of a country.
The index doesn’t serve as an indicator of journalism quality.
What is the scoring criteria of this index?
The rankings are based on scores that range from 0 to 100. A score between the range is
assigned to each country or region. 100 is the maximum score that can be given while 0
denotes the worst.
What is the evaluation criteria of this index?
Each region or country is evaluated by using five indicators which are:
legal framework
political context
sociocultural context
economic context
safety
Which are the top 5 countries in the index?
- Norway
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Estonia
- Finland
Which are the bottom 5 countries in the index?
- Myanmar
- Turkmenistan
- Iran
- Eritrea
- North Korea
What is the ranking of India’s neighbouring countries?
Nepal- 76
Sri Lanka- 146
Pakistan- 157
Bangladesh- 162
China- 175
Myanmar- 176
What is the reason for the fall in India’s ranking?
According to this index, the Indian media faces huge pressure from the state as well as central governments. Also, India is one of the most dangerous countries across the globe for media persons. The journalists in the country face ambushes by several political activists, physical violence, and retribution from corrupt officials and criminal groups.
What is Reporters Sans Frontières?
RSF is an international non-governmental as well as a non-profit organization that
safeguards the right to freedom of information. RSF enjoys consultative status at UNESCO, the United Nations, the International Organisation of the Francophonie, and the Council of Europe. It’s headquarter is located in Paris, France.
RBI Monetary Policy Committee Announcements – Update (May, 2022)
Recently, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held an unscheduled meeting and made some important announcements.
What are the announcements?
The MPC unanimously decided to increase the policy repo rate under the liquidity
adjustment facility (LAF) by 40 basis points to 4.40% with immediate effect.
The MPC also decided to maintain the accommodative stance.
Which other rates are changed?
As the repo rate increased to 4.4%,
The standing deposit facility (SDF) rate stands adjusted to 4.15%.
The marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 4.65%.
Cash reserve ratio hiked by 50 bps to 4.5% effective May 21.
What are factors considered by MPC in increasing the repo rate?
Global Economy: In recent times, geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions
have increased. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has scaled down the projection
of world trade growth for 2022 by 1.7 percentage points to 3%.
Domestic Economy: In March 2022, headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation
surged to 7% from 6.1% in February. Overall system liquidity remained in large
surplus. India’s forex reserves declined by USD 6.9 billion in 2022-23 (up to April 22)
to USD 600.4 billion.
The main reason for the hike in the repo rate is inflation. MPC expects that inflation will
continue to remain high. Therefore calibrated steps should be taken to reduce inflation.
What is the repo rate?
The repo rate is the rate at which the country’s central bank lends money to commercial
banks. It is used by monetary authorities to control inflation.
How will a hike in repo rate control inflation?
Increasing the repo rate makes borrowing money from the central bank more expensive.
Therefore, commercial banks will hike lending rates. That means the interest rates on
loans will increase. The rising interest rates will discourage consumer and business
spending. As a result money supply reduces and inflation can be brought under control.
What is India’s inflation target?
The inflation target is to maintain consumer price index (CPI) inflation of 4% within a band
of +/- 2%.
How did markets react to the increase in repo rate?
Markets crashed after the RBI announcement to hike the repo rate. The Sensex slipped
1,307 points. Investors reportedly lost Rs 6.27 lakh crore because of the crash.
Vietnam Bach Long Pedestrian Bridge
The Bach Long pedestrian bridge in Vietnam is a glass-bottomed bridge that is suspended
around 500 ft. off the ground. This newly opened bridge is the world’s longest such
bridge.
What is the meaning of the name ‘Bach Long’?
Bach Long means ‘the white dragon.’ This bridge is 2000 ft or 632 metres long. This bridge
is connecting two mountains and is hanging over a lush green valley. This bridge is
located in the Son La Province, Northwest Vietnam.
What is this bridge made of?
This bridge is made out of three layers of 40mm thick tempered glass that has been
produced in France. This tempered glass is able to support up to 450 people at a time. This
bridge is said to surpass the 526-metre long bridge that is located in Guangdong, China.
This claim has not yet been checked by the officials from Guinness World Records. This is
the country’s third glass-bottomed bridge that has been constructed to attract tourists.
How has the bridge been tested?
The company that has constructed this bridge claimed to have tested the strength of the
bridge by running heavy trucks on it. However, people on the bridge will be moving in one
direction at one point of time to ensure their safety.
How will this Bridge help in improving the country’s economy?
Vietnam depends a lot on tourism and COVID disrupted this sector for the past two years.
Hence, the government hopes that this bridge will be attracting tourists from across the
world. In mid-March, the country opened its borders to international tourists. It also
relaxed restrictions related to COVID. The government has also resumed the 15 days of
visa-free travel that is applicable for 13 countries from across the planet.
Odisha Tribal Health Observatory (TriHOb)
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Regional Medical Research
Centre (RMRC) and ST & SC Development Department to establish a Tribal Health
Observatory (TriHOb) in the state of Odisha.
Does any other state of India have a tribal health observatory?
This TriHOb is the first in India. This observatory will be looking to establish a depository
regarding the health of all the tribal populations in Odisha.
Who are the signatories of this MoU?
This MoU has been signed between Dr. Sanghamita Pati, Director of RMRC, ICMR, and
Ranjana Chopra, Principal Secretary, ST & SC Dev. Department.
Why has this observatory been launched?
This observatory has been launched to establish a storehouse of the sort that will help to
store information regarding the health of the tribal population of the state. It has been
designed to be a policy-oriented, evidence-based, and virtually established centre that will
perform systematic observation on issues such as health-seeking behaviour, disease
burden, and the healthcare delivery system regarding Odisha’s tribal health.
What survey was launched during the signing of the MoU event?
Sushmita Bagchi, the chairperson of the ‘Mo School’ Abhiyan launched a tribal family
health survey named ‘Odisha Tribal Family Health Survey’ among the state’s indigenous
communities.
What is the purpose of launching the ‘Odisha Tribal Family Health Survey?’
This is a first-of-its-kind survey of the tribal communities in India. Through this survey,
health and demographic data will be collected and made available to make various
policies. This study will also help in furthering the longitudinal cohort studies and their
implementation. This study will generate an idea regarding the reach of the various
policies and health programmes in the tribal areas of the state and will also help by
suggesting any course correction that may be required.
What is the aim of Odisha’s ‘Mo School’ Abhiyan?
The ‘Mo School’ Abhiyan was launched in the year 2017. This initiative has the aim of creating a platform for the people to collaborate, connect, and contribute to rebuild the government as well as the government-aided schools in the state.
India – ‘Country of Honour’ at Cannes Marche’ Du Film
India will be the official Country of Honour at the upcoming Marche’ Du Film, as per the
announcement of the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting.
What is the significance?
It is the first time the Marché du Film has an official Country of Honour and India is chosen
as the first country. This comes at a time when France and India are marking 75 years of
their diplomatic relations.
What is Marché du Film?
The Marché du Film (Film Market) is the business counterpart of the Festival de Cannes
(Cannes Film Festival) and one of the largest film markets in the world. It was established
in 1959 and it is held annually in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival.
What does the ‘Country of Honour’ designation mean to India?
It will ensure India’s presence as Focus Country at the Opening Night of Marche Du Films.
There will be a spotlight on India’s cinema and its rich cultural heritage. There will be
special performances by Indian Choir bands along with Folk Music. Indian Cuisine will also
be served at the event, along with French cuisine.
Which Indian movies are selected for “Goes to Cannes Section”?
India got the opportunity to pitch the following 5 movies at the “Goes to Cannes Section”:
- Baghjan by Jaicheng Zxai Dohutia – Assamese, Moran
- Bailadila by Shailendra Sahu – Hindi, Chhattisgarhi
- Ek Jagah Apni (A Space of Our Own) by Ektara Collective – Hindi
- Follower by Harshad Nalawade – Marathi, Kannada, Hindi.
What is the Cannes film festival?
The Cannes Festival is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new
films from all around the world. It was founded in 1946.
What is the focus of the India Pavilion this year?
India Pavilion will focus on the theme of “India as the content hub of the world”. It will
showcase Indian cinema across the linguistic, cultural, and regional diversities of India.
Plastindia 2023 Plastic Exhibition & Conference
“Plastindia 2023-11th International Plastic Exhibition & Conference” was recently launched
by Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers.
When will the exhibition be held?
It will be held from February 1 to February 5, 2023, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
What is the importance of the exhibition?
It will attract international plastic players to India.
It will provide opportunities for the exchange of best practices and technologies
among industry players.
It will provide opportunities for employment generation, facilitate the growth of the
Indian plastic industry and make India a hub for sourcing plastic for global needs.
What are the highlights of the speech of the Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers?
The minister highlighted that India’s Petrochemical Industries has been one of the
fastest-growing industries in the Indian economy.
He suggested the need to create a roadmap for the plastic industry for long-term
policy support, investment as well as export promotion.
He noted that the government is industry-friendly as industrial growth is important
for generating employment and Nation building.
He further said the domestic plastic industry should be competitive in the
international market.
He also asked the plastic industry to focus on research and development (R&D) and
develop technologies to curb pollution.
What is the support given by the government to the plastic industry?
The Indian government is supporting the plastic industry by developing common
infrastructure facilities for all industries. The government set up 10 plastic parks as well as
the Plastic Export Promotion Council to develop the plastic sector.
How much India’s plastic industry is valued?
India’s plastic industry is worth Rs 5 lakh crore currently.
How much plastic is produced and consumed by India?
The domestic production and consumption of plastic is estimated at 25 million tonnes
(MT) currently, which will touch 30 million tonnes (MT) by 2030.
Civil Registration System (CRS) data for 2020
Recently, the Central government published the Civil Registration System (CRS) report
2020 based on birth and death reports.
What is Civil Registration System (CRS)?
The Civil Registration System (CRS) is a universal, continuous, compulsory and permanent
recording of birth, death and stillbirth.
Currently, Registration of births and deaths are done under which act?
Births and deaths are registered under a central Act “Registration of Birth and Death Act
(RBD), 1969”. As per the Act, registration of births, deaths and stillbirths is mandatory in
India. The Act mandates the use of uniform birth and death reporting forms and
certificates throughout India.
In Pre-independence era, births and deaths are registered under which act?
In 1886, a Central Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act was promulgated to
provide for registration throughout British India. But the registration was voluntary.
Who coordinates the registration activities?
The Registrar General, India (RGI) at the Central Government level coordinates and unifies
the activities of registration throughout India.
Who implements the Registration of Birth and Death Act (RBD), 1969?
The implementation is done by the state governments. The functionaries appointed by the state governments register births and deaths.
Recently, a Flow Chemistry Technology Hub (FCT Hub) was opened in Hyderabad.
Where is the FCT hub located?
It is located at Dr. Reddy’s Institute of Life Sciences (DRILS), Hyderabad. The hub is
initiated by the Telangana government.
What is flow chemistry?
“Flow chemistry”, also known as “continuous flow chemistry” is the process of performing
chemical reactions in a tube or pipe. Here, a chemical reaction is run in a continuously
flowing stream rather than in batch production.
What are the advantages of flow chemistry?
Faster reactions
Cleaner products
Safer reactions
Easy scale-up.
What are the benefits of having an FCT hub?
The hub will help in the greater incorporation of flow chemistry techniques in the pharma
sector as well as the adoption of continuous synthesis for the manufacturing of active
pharma ingredients (APIs).
Which city is regarded as the Life Sciences capital of India?
Hyderabad is regarded as the Life Sciences capital of the country.
Why Hyderabad is regarded as the Life Sciences capital of India?
Hyderabad has over 800 pharmaceutical companies and hosts the highest number of
United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved facilities globally.
Two out of three adult vaccines for Covid and two vaccines for children have been
developed in Hyderabad.
The largest pharma cluster is being planned in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad contributes to about 35% of India’s overall pharmaceutical production.
What are the achievements of Telangana in the life sciences sector?
Telangana has succeeded in attracting investments worth Rs 6,400 crore in the life
sciences sector from 215 companies. Telangana has set a target of doubling the value of
the life-sciences ecosystem to about USD 100 billion by 2030 from the current USD 50
million with the creation of about 4 lakh jobs.
ISRO 2024 Venus Mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch a spacecraft to
Venus in December 2024.
What are the objectives of the ISRO Venus mission?
To study what lies below the surface of the Venus.
To study Venus’ atmosphere, which is toxic and corrosive in nature as clouds of
sulfuric acid cover the planet
What experiments are planned by the ISRO under the Venus mission?
Investigation of the surface processes and shallow sub-surface stratigraphy,
including active volcanic hotspots and lava flows.
Studying the structure, composition, and dynamics of the atmosphere.
Investigation of solar wind interaction with the Venusian Ionosphere (where the
atmosphere meets space).
Why December 2024 is suitable to launch the spacecraft to Venus?
If the spacecraft is launched in December 2024, orbital manoeuvre can be planned in 2025.
In 2025, the Earth and Venus would be aligned in a manner that it would require minimum
amount of propellant for the spacecraft to enter the orbit of the Venus.
When is the next similar window available?
A similar window to conduct the mission would next be available in 2031.
Which instrument will be used to study the surface of Venus?
High resolution synthetic aperture radar will be used, that will examine Venus’ surface,
despite the clouds around the planet, which lowers visibility.
Is the sub-surface of the Venus studied till now?
No prior observation of the sub-surface of Venus has been done till now by any country.
India will be flying the sub-surface radar for the first time, which will penetrate the subsurface
of Venus up to a few hundred meters.
What is Orbital manoeuvre?
Orbital manoeuvre is the use of propulsion systems to change the orbit of a spacecraft.
What is Stratigraphy?
Stratigraphy is a branch of geology in which rock layers and layering are studied.
Which is the hottest plant of solar system?
Even though Mercury is closer to the Sun, Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system.
Coast Guard’s Second Air Squadron
The second air squadron of the Indian Coast Guard has been commissioned. This
squadron is equipped with the indigenously designed as well as developed advanced light
helicopter (ALH) MK-III.
Where has this squadron been commissioned?
The squadron has been commissioned at the Coast Guard Air Enclave, Nedumbassery,
Kochi on the 4th of May 2022. Director-General V S Pathania commissioned the 845
squadron (CG) in Kochi.
Who is leading this squadron?
Commandant Kunal Naik is leading this squadron comprising 35 men and 9 officers.
Why has this squadron been commissioned?
The squadron has been commissioned to improve the country’s self-reliance in the area of
long-range maritime surveillance and search and rescue operations. This commission is in
line with the government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” plan. So far 12 ALH MK-III helicopters
have been inducted into the Indian Coast Guard with the latest four helicopters being
positioned in Kochi with the aim of covering the entire coast of Kerala, Karnataka, and
Lakshadweep.
What are the features of the ALH MK-III helicopters?
This indigenously developed helicopter features a variety of state-of-the-art sensors that
will help increase the country’s maritime prowess. The helicopters are fitted with:
the powerful Shakti engines
a searchlight that has high intensity
a full-glass cockpit
collision-avoidance system
traffic alerts system
automatic identification system
advanced communication systems
automatic flight control system.
The helicopters are also equipped with modern surveillance radar and electro-optical
equipment. This enables the helicopters to undertake long-range maritime
reconnaissance and can also help provide long-range search and rescue both during day
and night. The helicopters have also been fitted with heavy machine guns. A removable
medical intensive care unit (MICU) has also been equipped so as to facilitate any critically
ill patients during medical evacuation.
India-Nordic Summit 2022- Highlights
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Second India-Nordic Summit.
Where was the summit held?
Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.
What are the highlights of the summit?
The Nordic countries reiterated their support for India’s permanent membership of
the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The leaders agreed to work together to fight and address climate change.
They reiterated their commitment to ambitious cooperation on renewable energy,
energy diversification, smart grids, and energy efficiency.
The leaders affirmed their strong commitment to multilateralism and cooperation.
Prime Minister Modi invited Nordic companies for investing in the blue economy
sector, especially in Sagarmala Project. He also invited the sovereign wealth funds of
the Nordic countries to invest in India.
The PM also noted that India’s Arctic Policy provides a good framework for the
expansion of India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region.
Which are the Nordic countries?
The Nordic countries are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the
North Atlantic. The Nordic countries include Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden,
and the Faroe Islands (an archipelago of islands as an autonomous country within the
kingdom of Denmark).
How women Prime ministers of Nordic countries are tackling climate change?
Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir of Iceland is a fervent supporter of the
environment. She has mobilized Iceland to address climate change by reducing
emissions, restoring wetlands, planting trees, and switching to renewable fuels — all
to make Iceland carbon neutral by 2045.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin of Finland is considered progressive due to her ideas on
ways to combat climate change, which is on top of her agenda since she came into
power.
Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson of Sweden supports the fair distribution of
resources.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark had promised to work toward cutting
carbon emissions (as much as 70%) by 2030.
When was the first India-Nordic Summit held?
The first India-Nordic Summit was held in 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden.
What is the significance of the India-Nordic Summit?
Apart from the United States, India is the only other country with which the Nordic
countries have summit-level engagement.
How much is the trade between India and Nordic countries?
India’s trade with Nordic countries stands at over USD 5 billion (2020-21).
Neobank: India’s 100th Unicorn Start-up
Open, a Bengaluru-based neobank platform has become the 100th unicorn start-up in
India.
What is the valuation of Open?
The start-up has raised fresh funds that increased its valuation to USD 1 billion. The new
investment round to raise funds was led by IIFL, a Mumbai-based investment firm along
with the existing investors, Temasek, Tiger Global, and 3one4 Capital. USD 50 million was
raised in the latest round.
Who are the other investors of this start-up?
Temasek, Google, SoftBank, and Visa have invested USD 100 million in this neobank startup
Open.
When was Open founded?
The start-up was founded in the year 2017 by Anish Achuthan, his wife Mabel Chacko, and
his brother Ajeesh Achuthan. Deena Jacob is the fourth founding member of this
organization. In the month of May 2018, USD 2 million was raised by this start-up.
CEO- Anish Achutan
Chief Operating Officer- Mabel Chacko
Chief Technology Officer- Ajeesh Achutan
Chief Financial Officer- Deena Jacob
What does Open offer?
This start-up offers a platform through which all the tools that are used by small
businesses are integrated with the current account of the business. In India, 20 lakh
businesses are using this platform and annually more than USD 30 billion worth of
transactions are being processed on this platform. Open also has the aim of launching
three new products:
early settlement card offering Settl
revenue-based financing Flo
working capital lending Capital
What are Neobanks?
Neobanks are digital banks having zero branches. Instead, such organizations have their
presence online. Neobank organizations target the tech-savvy customers. Neobanks
basically are fintech firms providing mobile-first and digital services like debit cards,
payments, lending, money transfers, etc. The services of the neobanks can be accessed via
an app.
What are Unicorns?
A Unicorn is a start-up company that is privately held and has been valued at more than
USD 1 billion. This term was made popular by venture capitalist Aileen Lee who is the
founder of Cowboy Ventures.
How many Indian unicorns are profitable?
India has 100 unicorn start-ups but only 23 out of them are churning profits.
UN ‘Energy Plan of Action’
Recently, the United Nations launched the “UN-Energy Plan of Action Towards 2025” and
“Energy Compact Action Network”.
What is the UN-Energy Plan of Action?
It sets out a framework for collective action by nearly 30 UN and international
organizations.
What is the aim of the UN-Energy Plan of Action?
The aim is to achieve the massive pledge made by the organizations at the time of the
High-level Dialogue on Energy last September.
What were the commitments made?
To support 500 million more people to gain access to electricity.
To support 1 billion more people to gain access to clean cooking solutions.
To ensure a 100% increase in renewables capacity globally.
To ensure there are no new coal power plants in the pipeline after 2021.
To facilitate 30 million jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency by 2025.
To ensure doubling annual clean energy investment globally.
What are the seven areas identified by the UN-Energy Plan of Action?
Scaling up collective UN-Energy action to ensure just, inclusive energy transitions.
Catalysing multi-stakeholder partnerships by scaling up Energy Compacts, including
through the Energy Compact Action Network.
Growing the momentum, by spearheading a global campaign for Sustainable
Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) action.
Leading by example, by greening UN-Energy organizations’ operations.
Convening an annual Global SDG 7 Action Forum on the margins of the UN General
Assembly (UNGA) High-level Week in September.
Informing global agenda-setting by providing analytical inputs and policy guidance
to key intergovernmental processes.
Leveraging the power of data, digitalization, and visualization for strengthening
monitoring, tracking, and accountability.
What is the aim of the Energy Compact Action Network?
To match those governments that are seeking support for their clean energy goals with
those governments and businesses that pledged over $600 billion to support these
commitments regarding clean energy.
What is Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7)?
It is one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) in 2015. It aims to “Ensure access to affordable, reliable,
sustainable and modern energy for all.”
Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation’s (IRCTC) first Bharat Gaurav Tourist
Train will be run under the aegis of the new policy of the Ministry of Railways. On 21st June
2022, this train will be commencing its maiden journey.
On which route will the train run?
This train will be showcasing all the prominent places that are associated with Lord
Rama’s life and also including Janakpur, Nepal which is the birthplace of Goddess Sita. This
train’s 18-day maiden journey will begin from the Safdarjung Station, Delhi. It will be
running on the Ramayana Circuit of the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
What will be available on this train?
This train will be equipped with a pantry car that will be well-equipped to provide freshly
made vegetarian meals to the tourists. An infotainment system will also be fitted along
with security guards and CCTV cameras. A safety kit containing a face mask, a hand
sanitizer, and hand gloves will also be provided. The temperatures of all the staff and the
tourists will also be checked. The train will also be frequently sanitized at the halt stations.
What are Bharat Gaurav Tourist Trains?
The Indian Railways introduced the Bharat Gaurav Tourist Trains with the aim of
showcasing the country’s historical places and the rich cultural heritage to the citizens of
India as well as to tourists from across the world. These trains are theme-based tourist
circuit trains. The trains have been launched under the central government’s “Dekho Apna
Desh” initiative.
What are the halts of this train?
Ayodhya- Lord Rama’s birthplace. Here the tourists will be visiting Hanuman temple
and Shri Ram Janmbhumi temple.
Buxar- here the tourists will visit the Ramrekha Ghat and the hermitage of Maharishi
Vishwamitra
Sitamarhi- From here the tourists will be taken by road to visit Janakpur. They will
visit the Ram-Janaki Temple
Varanasi- The tourists will be visiting Prayag, Varanasi Sita Samahit Sthal, Chitrakoot,
and Shringverpur.
Nasik- Trimbakeshwar temple and Panchvati will be visited by tourists.
Krishkindha, Hampi- Shri Hanuman’s birthplace atop the Anjaneyadri Hills will be
visited along with other religious and heritage sites.
Rameshwaram- Dhanushkodi and Ramanathaswamy temple will be visited.
Kanchipuram- The tourists will visit Vishnu Kanchi, Shiv Kanchi, and Kamakhshi
temple.
Bhadrachalam, Telengana- Last stoppage of this train.
Then, the train will be returning back to Delhi. It will cover around 8000 kilometres during
this tour.
World Hand Hygiene Day
On the 5th of May, World Hand Hygiene Day is observed annually across the planet. This
day is observed to increase visibility, global promotion, sustainability, and the importance
of hand hygiene in health care.
What is the theme for this year’s celebration?
“Unite for safety: clean your hands” is the theme under which this year’s day is being
observed. This theme focuses on encouraging people across the planet to clean their
hands using the correct products at the right times. Doing this can help achieve a higher
quality of global safe care.
What is the history of this day?
In the year 2009, WHO launched a global campaign titled “Save Lives: Clean Your Hands.”
This campaign was launched with the aim of highlighting the importance and need for
handwashing among the health care workers as well as the people across the globe. This
campaign of the WHO is celebrated as World Hand Hygiene Day on the 5th of May.
What does WHO state about hand hygiene?
WHO urges people at all levels to create an environment that will promote knowledge
regarding the importance of cleaning one’s hands. Hand hygiene can be promoted by:
Education
system change
training
feedback and monitoring
reminders regarding hand hygiene
cultural changes
It also looks to make this behaviour a part of every culture. WHO also urges patients,
health care workers as well as the general public to frequently clean their hands and to
embrace it as a habit.
Maip macrothorax: Largest Megaraptor Dinosaur
An apex-predator dinosaur has been discovered by Argentine palaeontologists. This
dinosaur measured to be as tall as three stories building from its nose to its tail. It also
used to disembowel its prey with its curved and sharp claws.
Where has the study of this dinosaur been published?
The details regarding this newly discovered dinosaur have been detailed in a study that
has been published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports. “Maip macrothorax” is the
scientific name given to this dinosaur.
Where was the fossil of this dinosaur discovered?
A team of researchers discovered this dinosaur fossil in Argentina’s Santa Cruz Province in
the year 2019. The dig was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is the size of this dinosaur?
This dinosaur measured about 33 ft in length. It also had two sharp and curved claws in
each front paw. The talons were 15.7 inches in length. This megaraptor is the largest that
has been discovered. This megaraptor was lightweight and had powerful legs. This made
it agile and fast.
During which period did this dinosaur exist?
This newly discovered dinosaur lived around 70 million years ago somewhere during the
end period of the Cretaceous period. This species became extinct about 66 million years
ago.
What did the newly discovered megaraptor eat?
This newly discovered six-ton megaraptor used to feed on smaller dinosaurs after ripping
them to shreds with its talons.
Mukhyamantri Muft Sewer Connection Yojana
25,000 households located in East Delhi will be provided with free sewer connections
under the ‘Mukhyamantri Muft Sewer Connection Yojana.’
In how many colonies will the sewer connection be provided?
The free sewer connections will be provided by the Delhi government in 12 colonies in
Mustafabad and Karawal Nagar. The colonies will be including Chandu Nagar, Rajiv
Gandhi Nagar, and parts of Khajuri Khas. Rs 19 crore has been allocated by the state
government for the implementation of these connections.
Where will the waste generated be carried to?
Through the free sewer connections, the households will be connected to Delhi’s existing
sewer network. The waste generated will be carried to the Yamuna Vihar sewage
treatment plant. The aim of providing the free sewer connection is to prevent the sewage
that is generated from landing in the River Yamuna. The sewer connections in these
colonies will help to prevent 2.5 crore litres of untreated waste from falling into River
Yamuna.
What other projects were approved?
During the meeting for free sewer connections, a project was approved to lay sewer
connections in the 25 km unsewered areas of Burari and 10 km of Narela. The Rithala
Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) having a capacity of 40 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) will
be upgraded so as to reduce the total suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand
in the treated water. Also, in Sonia Vihar, a new 7 MGD STP will be set up by the state
government.
30 RO plants at JJ colonies will also be set up with the aim of increasing the supply of
drinking water. Each plant will be providing about 50,000 litres of water every day and it
will be free. At Okhla, a 6 MGD water treatment plant will be set up to treat ammonia. The
WTPs of the Delhi Jal Board at present can treat ammonia for only up to 0.9 ppm and the
one that will be set up at Okhla will be able to treat up to 10 ppm.
What is the acceptable ammonia limit?
According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the acceptable ammonia limit in drinking
water is 0.5 ppm.
Environmental Impact of Jog Falls Project
The centre has asked whether any environmental impact study has been carried out
before giving environmental clearance for a five-star hotel at the Jog Development
Projects
What proposal did Karnataka submit?
Earlier, a proposal was submitted by Karnataka to seek diversions of 0.8536 hectares of
forest land in the Nadavada Talakalale village, Sagar Taluk. The proposal was submitted to
build a five-star hotel.
Who has sought additional clarifications?
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change’s (MoEF&CC) Regional
Empowered Committee (REC) sought details and clarifications regarding the project and
has pointed out that this proposed project is amidst the Western Ghats fragile ecosystem.
MoEF&CC enquired about any study that has been conducted regarding the
environmental impact of the project and whether any precautionary measures have been
developed. The government of Karnataka was looking to demolish the existing PWD guest
house that was already in this area to build the hotel. The MoEF & CC also asked whether
approval was taken by the state government under Forest Conservation Act 1980 to
construct the existing structure.
Which organization had filed objections?
The Living Earth Foundation (LEAF), an environmental research and advocacy organisation
that is based in Bengaluru had filed objections regarding the developmental projects and
the MoEF&CC also enquired about whether the objections have been clarified or not.
What other projects were to be constructed in this area?
Along with the 5-star hotel view decks, retail outlets, landscape work, a grand entrance, a
ropeway, and a dedicated transit hub have been planned to be constructed to transform
the Jog Falls as a tourist destination.
What would be the environmental impacts?
To develop this area into a tourist attraction significant amount of construction would
need to be done on the forest land within the Sharavati Valley Lion Tailed Macaque
Sanctuary’s Eco-Sensitive Zone. The LEAF has stated that the constructions in this zone will
cause major environmental impacts which will affect the flora and fauna of this area. Also,
after construction, the increase in footfalls in this area will bring rise to additional
challenges such:
increase in dry and wet waste
water consumption
additional vehicular traffic and this will cause emission
The area will be receiving artificial light due to the vehicles which will be harmful to
the flora and fauna of the area
LEAF also argues that no study has been conducted to gauge the environmental impacts
of the developmental project and no plans have been developed to lessen the impacts.
‘Global Report on Food Crises’
The 2022 Global Report on Food Crises was recently published, highlighting acute food
insecurity globally.
Who published the report?
Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC).
Where the report does focus on?
The report focuses on those countries and territories where the magnitude and severity of
the food crisis exceed the local resources and capacities.
How many people are facing acute food insecurity?
Around 193 million people in 53 countries or territories experienced acute food insecurity
at crisis or worse levels in 2021.
Did food insecurity worsen in 2021 as compared to 2020?
Around 40 million more people globally experienced acute food insecurity at crisis or
worse levels in 2021 than in 2020.
Which countries are most suffering from food insecurity?
Around 6 lakh people in Ethiopia, southern Madagascar, South Sudan, and Yemen were
classified in the most severe phase of acute food insecurity.
What are the three main drivers of food insecurity as per the report?
The three main drivers are:
- Conflict: Conflict forced 139 million people in 24 countries into acute food insecurity.
- Weather extremes: Weather extremes forced over 23 million people in eight
countries into acute food insecurity.
- Economic shocks: Due to economic shocks, around 30 million people in 21
countries/territories suffered acute food insecurity in 2021.
What are the suggestions given to tackle food insecurity?
There is a need to tackle the root causes of food crises rather than just responding
after they occur.
There is a need to prioritize smallholder agriculture as a frontline humanitarian
response to overcome access constraints.
What is Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC)?
It is an international alliance of the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), and
governmental and non-governmental agencies working to tackle food crises together.
Rajasthan: First to surpass 10 GW solar capacity
According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, Rajasthan became the first state in the
country to surpass 10 GW of cumulative large-scale solar installations.
What is the total installed power capacity of Rajasthan?
Rajasthan has a total of 32.5 GW of installed power capacity.
What is the contribution of renewable energy to Rajasthan’s total installed power capacity?
Renewable energy contributes to 55% of installed power capacity. Whereas thermal
energy contributes 43%, and nuclear energy contributes the remaining 2%.
What is the share of solar energy?
Solar is the predominant source in Rajasthan, which accounts for around 36% of the
power capacity mix and 64% of renewables. According to Mercom’s India Solar Project
Tracker, Rajasthan has over 16 GW of solar projects under development.
What are the favorable conditions in Rajasthan for the generation of solar power?
The favorable conditions are:
Rajasthan enjoys the highest solar irradiation levels in India.
Availability of land to commission solar projects.
Minimal power curtailment issues.
What is Rajasthan’s solar energy policy?
Rajasthan’s Solar Energy Policy 2019, which aims to achieve a target of 30 GW of
solar power by the FY 2024-25.
Of this, utility or grid-scale solar parks have a major share, which will account for 24
GW.
What is the installed solar capacity of India?
As of December 2021, the cumulative solar installed capacity of India is 55GW. Within the
55GW, grid-connected utility-scale projects contribute 77%.
What is Mercom India?
It is a subsidiary of the US-based Mercom Capital Group. It is a clean energy research and
communications firm providing expertise in Indian cleantech markets.
2022 World Food Prize
The World Food Prize is an award that is given with the aim of recognizing the
achievements of individuals from across the world who have helped in advancing the
development of humans by improving the quantity, quality, or availability of food across
the world.
Who was awarded the 2022 World Food Prize?
Cynthia Rosenzweig, NASA’s head of the Climate Impacts Group and a senior research
scientist at Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) received this year’s prize from the
World Food Prize Foundation on 5th May 2022. She received USD 250,000 along with a
commemorative sculpture and a diploma.
Why was Cynthia Rosenzweig awarded?
She received the award for her research that helped understand the relationship between
food systems and climate and the forecast of how both will be changing in the future. Her
work has provided policymakers across the globe to come up with strategies that will help
mitigate climate change and help the food systems adapt to the changing planet.
When was the prize established?
This award was conceived by Norman Borlaug, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. In the
year 1986, this prize was established with the support of General Foods. The first prize was
given in the year 1987.
What does this prize envision?
The prize has been envisioned as the Nobel prize in the field of agriculture and food. The
World Food Prize Foundation now awards this prize with the support from numerous
sponsors.
This prize recognizes contributions in which field?
This prize has been awarded annually since to recognize contributions in all those fields
that involve world food supply like:
Aquaculture
animal science
water conservation
soil science
health
nutrition
seed science
plant science
crop protection
plant pathology
food safety
food technology
research
policy
emergency relief
infrastructure
hunger
poverty alleviation
Who received the first World Food Prize in the year 1987?
In the year 1987, the first recipient of this award was M.S. Swaminathan. He was given this
award for contributing to the introduction of high-yield rice and wheat varieties in India
and also for starting the country’s green revolution.
WFP- India Talks on procurement of wheat
The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) is in discussions with India on the
procurement of Indian wheat.
Why World Food Programme (WFP) wants to procure wheat from India?
This is because many countries all over the world are facing food security challenges due
to the supply chain disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war.
How much do Russia and Ukraine contribute to global wheat exports?
Russia and Ukraine together account for about 30% of the total global exports of wheat.
How much wheat is produced in India?
India produced 109.59 million tonnes of wheat in the 2020-21 crop year (July-June).
How much wheat stockpile does India have?
India has a wheat stockpile estimated at around 100 million tonnes.
What is the global rank of India in wheat production?
India is the world’s second-largest producer of wheat after China.
Recently, how much wheat did India donate to Afghanistan?
India has pledged 10 million tonnes of wheat donations to Afghanistan.
What are the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules on exports of food?
WTO restricts exports of food, which is procured by governments at support prices. This
rule is limiting wheat exports from India, as the Indian government procures wheat at a
minimum support price (MSP) from farmers.
What is the World Food Programme (WFP)?
It is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations (UN). It was founded in 1961 and is
the world’s largest humanitarian organization focused on hunger and food security. It is headquartered in Rome. The WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its
efforts to provide food assistance in areas of conflict and to prevent the use of food as a weapon of war.
Politics of Disinformation Report
The Politics of Disinformation report has been released by the Future of India Foundation,
a non-profit organization that is based in Delhi. This report states that in this age where
user engagement is being boosted, social media companies across the globe cannot and
must not use ‘freedom of expression’ as an excuse for letting false information spread
and leading to an increase in propaganda.
What does the report say?
According to the report, the huge amount of disinformation floating around on the social
media platforms is harming the youths in India. The companies are also not putting
serious efforts to combat this menace of disinformation.
How has the report understood social media habits?
Discussions were held with the youths from 8 states with the aim of understanding their
social media habits and the impact misinformation and harmful content have on them. In
India, 70 percent of internet users are below 35 years of age.
What does the report say about disinformation?
Disinformation, which means using misinformation deliberately, is a political problem. The
solution to this cannot be found only in the laws that have been enacted by the
government and their execution. The report has stated that social media platforms play a
huge role in the spread of disinformation. The report also stated that amplification is
being driven by engagement and not by the content’s quality or trustworthiness of the
sources. This is causing the spread of disinformation and the platforms are not doing
enough to curb it.
What is the major source of information?
For smartphone users, the dominant sources of information are the social media
platforms while TV news that is broadcasted in regional languages is the only other source
that is more dominant than the social media platforms.
What does the report say about the consumers?
Most of social media users are passive consumers. However, the active users have
demonstrated passive information consumption through their platform feed. The report
states that most of the users do not and cannot differentiate between personal posts and
news as the country has low digital literacy and the media also has low credibility. The
report states that the content sources are significant drivers of the way information is
received. The report has also observed that most misinformation can be linked to
narratives that have been propagated by business and political entities.
The Punjab government recently announced incentives for farmers opting for Direct
Seeding of Rice (DSR).
How much incentive is provided by the Punjab government?
Rs. 1,500 per acre.
How Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique is different from the Traditional transplantation method?
In the traditional method, where the paddy is transplanted, the farmer first prepares
nurseries. The seeds are sown in these nurseries and raised to young plants. After 25-35
days, these seedlings are uprooted and sown in the field.
In the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique, the seeds are sown directly in the field
rather than transplanting the seedlings. A tractor-powered machine is used to drill the
seeds into the soil. There is no nursery preparation.
How much area in Punjab is under the DSR technique?
Last year, 5.62 lakh hectares of area in the state were under the DSR technique. This is 18%
of the rice area in the state.
What is the government target?
Punjab government has the target of bringing 10 lakh hectares under the DSR technique.
Why Punjab government is encouraging the DSR technique?
Because the DSR technique helps in reducing water usage for growing the paddy crop.
How much water is required to grow one kg of rice?
According to the studies by Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) around 3,600 liters to
4,125 liters of water are required to grow one kg of rice depending on the paddy variety.
How much water is used in Punjab every year to grow rice?
Punjab needed 5,400 billion liters of water to produce 135 lakh tonnes of rice. This is based
on the study of Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), which estimated that one kg of rice
requires 4,000 liters in Punjab.
How much water can DSR help save?
According to an analysis by the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), the DSR technique
can help save 15% to 20% of water. In Punjab, DSR can save 810 to 1,080 billion liters of
water every year if the entire rice crop is brought under the DSR technique.
What are the other benefits of the DSR technique?
It solves the problem of labor shortage, as there is no nursery preparation in the DSR
technique.
It enables groundwater recharge as it prevents the development of the hard crust.
The field studies also indicated that yield in the DSR technique is higher than
puddled transplanted rice.
What is the extent of groundwater exploitation in Punjab?
Punjab is facing rampant depletion in its groundwater levels. Of the 150 blocks in Punjab,
117 are categorized as “overexploited” in terms of groundwater use.
New Draft of National Youth Policy
A new draft of the National Youth Policy (NYP) has been prepared by the central
government of India. The new draft has been prepared after the government reviewed
the existing National Youth Policy, 2014.
What does this draft policy envision?
A ten-year vision for the development of youth has been envisioned by this draft policy
that India is looking to achieve by the year 2030.
Which organization is seeking suggestions regarding this policy?
The Department of Youth Affairs has asked for suggestions and comments regarding the
draft of the NYP from all stakeholders across the country. The suggestions, as well as the
comments regarding the new draft policy, must be sent within 45 days i.e. the 13th of June
2022.
This draft policy is aligned with which goals?
This policy has been aligned with the country’s Sustainable Development Goals and it also
looks to unlock the potential of the country’s youth.
The policy has sought action across how many areas?
This policy is looking to establish extensive action regarding youth development across
five priority areas which are:
entrepreneurship and employment
education
development and youth leadership
social justice
sports, fitness, and health
The priority areas have been identified under the principle of social inclusion. This will help
in achieving equitable progress by including the country’s most marginalized sections.
Khelo India University Games- Highlights
From 24th April 2022 to 3rd May 2022, the Khelo India University Games 2021 was
successfully conducted at Jain University, Bengaluru. This is the second edition of these
games.
How many games were held in this competition?
In this competition, a total of 20 games were played. 3900 students from across 210
Universities in the country have participated in this edition of the Khelo India University
Games.
What indigenous sporting competitions were held in this edition?
Mallakhamba and Yogasana were introduced for the first time in this edition of the games.
How many medals were awarded?
A total of 852 medals were awarded which have been categorized into
Gold medals- 259
Silver medals- 258
Bronze medals- 335
Which were the top three universities in this competition?
The top three universities in this competition were:
- JAIN University- They won 20 gold, 7 silver, and 5 bronze medals.
- Lovely Professional University- They won 17 gold, 15 silver, and 19 bronze medals.
- Punjab University- They won 15 gold, 9 silver, and 24 bronze medals.
Who were the most successful athletes in this competition?
Jain University’s swimmer Siva Sridhar was the most successful male athlete at KIUG 2021
having won 9 medals (7 golds, 2 silvers). Jain University’s female swimmer Shrungi
Bandekar won 5 medals (4 golds, 1 silver) and was the most successful female athlete in
this competition.
National Report of 5th round of NFHS-5
Recently, the Union Health Minister released National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 data.
When was the survey conducted?
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) was conducted between 2019 and 2021.
What did the report say regarding marriage age?
National average of underage marriages has come down.
According to NFHS-5, 23.3% of women surveyed got married before attaining the
legal age of 18 years, down from 26.8% reported in NFHS-4.
However, in some states like Punjab, West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura, and Assam,
underage marriages increased.
West Bengal and Bihar are the states with one of the highest rates of underage
marriages in the country. Underage marriages are lowest in Jammu and Kashmir,
Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Nagaland, Kerala, Puducherry, and
Tamil Nadu.
Tripura has seen the largest jump in marriages under the legal age of 18 years for
women. And biggest gains in improving legal marriage have been seen in
Chhattisgarh.
What did the report say about contraceptive usage?
The knowledge of contraceptive methods is almost universal in India. But the use of
modern contraceptives for family planning is only 56.4%
Women who are employed are more likely to use modern contraception.
Contraceptive usage increases in communities and regions that have seen more
socioeconomic progress.
Usage of modern contraceptives also increases with income.
What is the total fertility rate?
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the average number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her child-bearing years and give birth to children in alignment with the prevailing age-specific fertility rates.
What is India’s Total fertility rate (TFR)?
Total Fertility Rates has declined from 2.2 (NHFS-4) to 2.0 (NFHS-5) at the national level.
Thus, the TFR is currently below the replacement level of fertility.
What is the replacement level of fertility?
Replacement level fertility is the level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces
itself from one generation to the next.
How many states in India have a fertility rate above the replacement level of fertility?
Only five states are above the replacement level of fertility of 2.1. These five states are
Bihar (2.98), Meghalaya (2.91), Uttar Pradesh (2.35), and Jharkhand (2.26) Manipur (2.17).
What is the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)?
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted
on a representative sample of households throughout India.
What information is provided by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)?
NFHS provides state and national information for India on fertility, infant and child
mortality, the practice of family planning, maternal and child health, reproductive health,
nutrition, anemia, utilization, and quality of health and family planning services.
What are the goals of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)?
NFHS has two specific goals:
- To provide essential data on health and family welfare for policy and program
purposes.
- To provide information on important emerging health and family welfare issues.
Who is designated as the nodal agency?
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) designated the International Institute for Population Sciences(IIPS) Mumbai, as the nodal agency, to provide coordination and technical guidance for the survey.
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