United Nations Security Council has met for a closed-door informal consultation on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir at the request of China. India and Pakistan did not attend the UNSC meeting which was open only to the five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members. However,except China,no other UNSC member commented on the meeting after… Continue reading End of special status to Jammu and Kashmir an internal matter
Author: ForumIAS
Explained: What fertility rate data show
During his Independence Day speech,Prime Minister has underlined challenges posed by population growth in the country. According to the data,the Total fertility rate(TFR) has dropped to 2.2. This is only marginally higher than the fertility rate (2.1) required for replacement of the existing population. Total fertility rate(TFR) is defined as the number of children born… Continue reading Explained: What fertility rate data show
Forex reserves at a new high of $430.57 bn
According to the latest RBI data,India’s foreign exchange reserves has reached a new high at USD 430 billion due to rise in foreign currency assets. Foreign exchange reserves are assets held on reserve by a central bank in foreign currencies.These reserves are used to back liabilities and influence monetary policy. These assets serve many purposes… Continue reading Forex reserves at a new high of $430.57 bn
India contributes 1 million to UN Fund
India has contributed 1 million US Dollars to the United Nations Special Purpose Trust Fund(SPTF). SPTF is a specific fund housed within United Nation(UN) Secretariat.It was established to receive, consolidate, manage and account for all contributions as well as financial transactions of new Resident Coordinator(RC) system. SPTF web portal displays in real time all commitments,… Continue reading India contributes 1 million to UN Fund
India’s tax administration needs a mindset change: Nirmala Sitharaman
Union Finance Minister has held a meeting with the tax officials.The meeting was aimed to interact with tax officials and taxpayers. Addressing the meeting,she called for inculcating technology-driven approach in dealing with the matters of tax administration. She said that in order to prevent the tax-terrorism,we need to promote faceless assessment and curb the interaction… Continue reading India’s tax administration needs a mindset change: Nirmala Sitharaman
NASA scientists fly over Greenland to track melting ice
NASA scientists will study how global warming is melting Greenland’s ice. Specifically, Scientists would study whether melting is being caused more by warm air or warm seawater. The project is known as Oceans Melting Greenland (OMG). To study the melting of ice, NASA scientists will fly over Greenland for 5 years in a Douglas DC-3… Continue reading NASA scientists fly over Greenland to track melting ice
FDA approves new oral three-drug regimen for extensively drug-resistant TB
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved new oral three-drug regimen for the extensively-drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). The treatment involves Pretomanid tablets in combination with bedaquiline and linezolid, collectively referred to as the BPaL regimen. It has an efficacy rate of 90%. Pretomanid was developed by TB Alliance, a not-for-profit organisation. Tuberculosis (TB)… Continue reading FDA approves new oral three-drug regimen for extensively drug-resistant TB
More than half of forest wildlife declined since 1970: WWF
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has released the “Below the Canopy report”. It is the world’s first-ever global assessment of forest-living species populations. The report uses the methodology of WWF’s Living Planet Report (Living Planet Index) and developed a Forest Specialist Index that tracks wildlife that lives only in forests. In total, the report took… Continue reading More than half of forest wildlife declined since 1970: WWF
India gets first national essential diagnostics list
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has finalised India’s first National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL). With this, India has become the first country to have such a list. The World Health Organisation (WHO) released a first edition of its essential diagnostics list (EDL) in May, 2018. This has acted as a reference for ICMR’s NEDL.… Continue reading India gets first national essential diagnostics list
ISRO arm begins search for PSLV makers
NewSpace India Ltd has invited expressions of interest from one or more experienced companies to produce PSLV satellite launch vehicles. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is an indigenously-developed expendable launch system of the ISRO. It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages. It comes in the category of medium-lift launchers… Continue reading ISRO arm begins search for PSLV makers
