Author: prashant shekhar

News: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend SCO’s Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad. This visit to Pakistan by EAM is first in 9 years, after Sushma Swaraj last attended the Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference in 2015. 1. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a permanent inter-governmental, Eurasian organisation, established in 2001, in Shanghai by… Continue reading Jaishankar: Going for multilateral event, not to discuss India-Pak ties

News: Union Cabinet has accorded classical language status to Marathi, Pali, Bengali, Assamese, and Prakrit. 1. The Centre had created a new category of ‘classical language’ in 2004. 2. Prior to this decision, India had 6 classical languages namely, Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Odia. 3. Tamil was the first language to be accorded… Continue reading Marathi, four more languages get classical tag

News: Supreme Court has criticised the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for its inability to prevent incidents of stubble burning in the NCR and its adjoining areas. 1. Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) is a statutory body established under the provisions of Commission for Air Quality in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas… Continue reading SC slams air pollution panel for failing to stop stubble burning

News: Various global threats like Piracy in the Red Sea, conflict in Middle East, Russian invasion of Ukraine merit greater India-Italy coordination to ensure free, open, and prosperous Indo-Mediterranean. 1. Red Sea is a semi-enclosed sea of the Indian Ocean, located between Africa and Asia. 2. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti are… Continue reading Why Italy matters to India

News: Union Govt. Has launched PM Internship Scheme to tackle growing unemployment and to bridge the job market-skills gap. 1. PM’s Internship Scheme in Top Companies was announced in Budget 2024 as a part of government’s job push agenda. 2. The scheme is being administered by Ministry of Corporate Affairs. 3. The goal of the… Continue reading Internships to bridge job market-skills gap: Pilot project takes off

News: Supreme Court has directed the central govt to address the caste-based discrimination in the Model Prison Manual 2016 and the Model Prisons and correctional Services Act 2023 within three months. 1. The caste-based prisoners discrimination & work segregation; and treatment of “habitual offenders” from de-notified tribes, violates their fundamental rights under Art 15 (right… Continue reading Caste bias, segregation in prisons violate dignity: Supreme Court

News: The three new external members of the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will be taking charge at a time when many believe interest rate curve is at an inflection point. 1. Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is a statutory body under the RBI Act 1934. 2. It is responsible for fixing the… Continue reading New external MPC members may keep markets guessing

News: The Saudi Minister has said that prices could drop as low as $50 per barrel if so-called cheaters within OPEC+ don’t stick to agree upon production limits, according to the delegates in the cartel. 1. Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC): It is an intergovernmental organisation that was established in Baghdad in 1960 by… Continue reading Saudi Minister warns of $50 oil as OPEC+ members flout production curbs