News: The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has adopted a 20-20 formula to implement Smart Cities Mission. Facts: About 20-20 plan 20 best performing cities (according to internal rankings) have been paired up with the 20 bottom cities and they will work as “sister cities”. The pairing has been done on the basis of… Continue reading Urban Ministry devises smart city plan for top 20 to help bottom 20
Author: ForumIAS
Explained: Behind Kerala’s ban on CFL and filament bulbs from November 2020
News: Kerala will impose a ban on the sale of compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and incandescent (filament) bulbs starting November 2020 as part of sustainable energy policy. It is in line with ‘Filament-free Kerala’ envisaged in 2018 as part of the state’s Urja Kerala mission. Facts: Filament-free Kerala Project Aim: Replace incandescent bulbs and CFLs… Continue reading Explained: Behind Kerala’s ban on CFL and filament bulbs from November 2020
NASA Mysteriously Fixes Voyager-2’s Interstellar Glitch From 11.5 Billion Miles Away
News: NASA has managed to fix its Voyager-2 probe remotely, almost 11.5 billion miles away from its location. Facts: Voyager 2 was launched by NASA in 1977. Achievements: Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to study all four of the solar system’s giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.) at close range. Voyager 2 discovered… Continue reading NASA Mysteriously Fixes Voyager-2’s Interstellar Glitch From 11.5 Billion Miles Away
7PM |Seeking a more progressive abortion law|10th February 2020
Context: Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 More in News: The Union Cabinet has approved the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. Background: The Indian Penal Code, enacted in 1860 based on British law, declared induced abortion illegal (Section 312), describing it as intentionally ‘causing… Continue reading 7PM |Seeking a more progressive abortion law|10th February 2020
Explained:Indian Diaspora
News:The Ministry of External Affairs has informed Lok Sabha that there are over 1.36 crore Indian nationals living abroad. Facts: About Indian Diaspora: Indian Diaspora is a generic term used for addressing people who have migrated from the territories that are currently within the borders of India. Key takeaways from the Data: The highest number… Continue reading Explained:Indian Diaspora
This Word Means:Fermentophone
News:Recently,Joshua Rosenstock of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute has shown that the chemical processes of fermentation can be used to create spontaneous tunes called Fermentophone Facts: About Fermentation: Fermentation is the chemical breakdown of a substance by microorganisms such as bacteria or yeasts which results in some of the most delicious foods and beverages including cheese,… Continue reading This Word Means:Fermentophone
India developing new 200-km strike range Pranash ballistic missile
News:India is working on a new tactical ballistic missile called Pranash missile. Facts: About Pranash missile: Pranash is a surface-to-surface missile being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO). It will be a non-nuclear missile which will be propelled by a single-stage solid propellant engine. The missile is capable of striking targets at a… Continue reading India developing new 200-km strike range Pranash ballistic missile
BBIN countries agree on quick implementation of MVA
News:Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal(BBIN) have held a meeting to finalize the Passenger and Cargo Protocols for implementation of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement(MVA). Facts: About BBIN: Bangladesh,Bhutan,India and Nepal had signed a framework Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA)in June 2015. Aim:To provide seamless people-to-people contact and enhance economic interaction by facilitating cross border movement of… Continue reading BBIN countries agree on quick implementation of MVA
Guru Ravidas Jayanti being celebrated across country
News:Guru Ravidas Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas is being celebrated across the country on February 9th,2020. Facts: About Guru Ravidas: Guru Ravidas was a 14th century saint and reformer of the Bhakti movement in North India. He was born as a member of an untouchable leather-working Chamar caste. He gained prominence due to… Continue reading Guru Ravidas Jayanti being celebrated across country
RBI to release Digital Payment Index by July 2020
News:The Reserve Bank of India announced that it will create a Digital Payment Index by July 2020. Facts: About the Index: Aim:To capture the extent of digitization of monetary payments in the country. The index will have a classification of urban, semi-urban and rural geographies to analyze the kind of digital payments that are gaining… Continue reading RBI to release Digital Payment Index by July 2020
