There have been protests in Hawaii over Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) – a proposed astronomical observatory with an extremely large telescope (ELT). It is proposed to be built on Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano and the highest point in Hawaii. The protests are taking place as Mauna Kea is considered to be a sacred ground… Continue reading Thirty Meter Telescope
Author: ForumIAS
Lucknow to host DefExpo next year
The Defence Ministry has announced that Lucknow will host the 11th edition of DefExpo from February 5 to 8, 2020. It is the first time that the exhibition will take place in Uttar Pradesh. The theme of the DefExpo 2020 will be “India: the emerging defence manufacturing hub” and it will be focussed on “digital… Continue reading Lucknow to host DefExpo next year
Not even 1 in 5 Indian rural households gets piped water, govt tells Parliament
The Jal Shakti Ministry has told the Parliament that only 18% of India’s rural households have access to piped water. The Ministry has also reiterated that it aims to supply piped water to all rural households under its Jal Jeevan Mission. Jal Jeevan Mission seeks to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household… Continue reading Not even 1 in 5 Indian rural households gets piped water, govt tells Parliament
World celebrates 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing
July 20th marked the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing. Apollo 11 was the fifth crewed mission of NASA’s Apollo program. On 20 July 1969, the Eagle module from Apollo 11 landed at Tranquility Base, a site on Moon. Neil Armstrong, one of the astronaut aboard the Apollo 11, made history by becoming the… Continue reading World celebrates 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing
Moon mission to try landing on Sept 7
ISRO has announced that Chandrayaan-2’s targeted landing date on the lunar South Pole is September 7th. The launch of Chandrayaan-2, which was scheduled to be launched on July 15th, was aborted after a technical snag in the launch vehicle system- GSLV Mk-III rocket. The moon landing has been planned during the particular period as the… Continue reading Moon mission to try landing on Sept 7
New panel to discuss cultural safeguards for Assam on July 24
The Home ministry has constituted a high-level panel to suggest ways to implement Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord.The panel is headed by former Gauhati high court judge Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma. The ministry had to reconstitute the panel after four of the nine members named on the earlier panel had refused to be… Continue reading New panel to discuss cultural safeguards for Assam on July 24
What has changed in RTI Act?
The government has introduced Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The bill seeks to amend the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 RTI Act 2005 sets the term of the Chief Information Commissioner (CICs) and Information Commissioners (ICs) at the centre and state levels at five years (or until the age of 65, whichever is… Continue reading What has changed in RTI Act?
India enters 37-year period of demographic dividend
According to studies, India has entered a 37 year period of demographic dividend since 2018. The period of demographic dividend will last till 2055. This has been created as India’s working-age population (people between 15 and 64 years of age) has grown larger than the dependant population (children aged 14 or below plus people above… Continue reading India enters 37-year period of demographic dividend
India warns WTO’s appeals body may collapse
India has warned of the collapse of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Appellate Body. This statement came as the US has repeatedly blocked the selection complaining the Appellate Body failed to follow the rules in the Dispute Settlement Understanding. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that is concerned with the regulation of… Continue reading India warns WTO’s appeals body may collapse
Kerala to set up nation’s first Space Systems Park
The Kerala government will set up the country’s first Space Systems Park at the upcoming Knowledge City in Thiruvananthapuram, kerala.The project will be implemented by the State Government’s Electronics and IT Department. The facility will seek to attract global start-ups working in the space sector and also make it as a major manufacturing hub for… Continue reading Kerala to set up nation’s first Space Systems Park
