The Supreme Court has referred the matter to a larger bench to decide on whether to impose a ban on private companies to manufacture the drug Oxytocin and restrict its manufacture to a single public sector undertaking. This decision comes after a petition was filed against government ban on private drug manufacturers from producing Oxytocin.… Continue reading Explained: What is Oxytocin and why does the govt want to ban its commercial use?
Author: ForumIAS
Explained: Report on illegal global tiger trade counts 2,359; highest in India
A recent report titled ‘Skin and Bones Unresolved:An Analysis of Tiger Seizures from 2000-2018’ has quantified the illegal global trade in tigers and tiger parts between 2000 and 2018. The report has been compiled by TRAFFIC in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund(WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN). The report says that… Continue reading Explained: Report on illegal global tiger trade counts 2,359; highest in India
Russia sends its first humanoid robot Fedor into space
Russia has sent its first life sized Humanoid robot known as Fedor into the International Space Station(ISS). Fedor stands for Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research (Skybot F-850).It is the first humanoid robot to be sent to space by Russia. Fedor is the size of an adult and can emulate movements of the human body.The main… Continue reading Russia sends its first humanoid robot Fedor into space
India-U.S. 2+2 meeting
Indian and U.S. officials will hold a 2+2 intersessional and the Maritime Security Dialogue in California,USA. 2+2 is a format of dialogue where the defense and foreign ministers or secretaries meet with their counterparts from another country. The 2+2 Dialogue between India and US aims to enhance strategic coordination between both countries and maintaining peace… Continue reading India-U.S. 2+2 meeting
Worsening water quality reducing economic growth by a third in some countries: World Bank
The World Bank has released a report on the relation between water pollution and economic growth. The report relied on the biggest-ever database assembled on global water quality using monitoring stations, satellite data and machine learning models. According to the report,poor water quality is affecting economic growth and worsening health conditions.It says that a lack… Continue reading Worsening water quality reducing economic growth by a third in some countries: World Bank
India, Mauritius close to sewing up FTA
India and Mauritius are close to finalising the proposed bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). The agreement had got delayed due to apprehensions amongst domestic players in both countries about providing unlimited market access for some items. The two countries have now decided to go for tariff rate quotas(TRQs) for items where limited preferential access is… Continue reading India, Mauritius close to sewing up FTA
R K Singh approves proposal to declare ocean energy as Renewable Energy
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE) has approved a proposal to declare ocean energy as renewable energy. This means that energy produced using various forms of ocean energy such as tidal, wave and ocean thermal energy conversion will now be considered as Renewable Energy. This decision will help the sector to grow as it will… Continue reading R K Singh approves proposal to declare ocean energy as Renewable Energy
Centre signs pact to digitise all gram panchayats
The Common Service Centre Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV) has signed a pact with the Panchayati Raj Ministry to turn gram panchayats into ‘digital panchayats’ This move is aimed at providing speedy delivery of government services to people in rural areas and promoting rural BPO across all 2.5 lakh panchayats in the country. According to… Continue reading Centre signs pact to digitise all gram panchayats
IIT Hyderabad scientists convert fly ash into waterproofing material
Researchers from the IIT Hyderabad have found a method that can convert fly ash into a waterproofing material. They have converted fly ash by treating it with stearic acid which is commonly used in soaps and shampoos. Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid with an 18-carbon chain and has the IUPAC name octadecanoic acid.… Continue reading IIT Hyderabad scientists convert fly ash into waterproofing material
Explained: What Henley Passport Index tells us about mobility of an Indian passport
Henley Passport Index 2019 has been released.The Index is based on data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). The index has ranked India at 86 down five places from 81 in 2018. India’s mobility score is 58 which means that Indian passport holders can access 58 countries around the world without a prior… Continue reading Explained: What Henley Passport Index tells us about mobility of an Indian passport
