News: Recently, 21st India – Russia Annual summit took place. The summit highlighted the “all-weather” partnership between India and Russia. Must read: Recent developments in India-Russia Relations – Explained, pointwise What are the challenges in India-Russia relations? 1. Despite considerable progress with vaccinations, both countries still face public health concerns and face challenges in controlling… Continue reading India-Russia summit recognised that each needs the other, and that the drift in bilateral ties needs to be arrested
About Swacch Bharat Mission 2.0: Being free of old waste
News: Main focus of Swacch Bharat Mission 2.0 is to work on solid waste management. About Swacch Bharat Mission 2.0 The mission aims to provide financial assistance to set up fresh waste processing facilities and bioremediation projects across all the ULBs. Financial assistance is limited to chosen large cities that have a population of over 5… Continue reading About Swacch Bharat Mission 2.0: Being free of old waste
What schools need to do during pandemic
News: School life during and after the Covid-19 pandemic is not going to be the same. The coming of a new sub-variant, Omicron, triggered concerns worldwide on what measures should adopt to protect children. What is the exposure rate of adults and children? According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study, both adult and child… Continue reading What schools need to do during pandemic
Health account numbers that require closer scrutiny
News: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released the National Health Accounts Report for 2017-18. How does NHA capture data? NHA captures health data like out-of-pocket expenditure, insurance premiums from various sources like the “Household social consumption in India: Health” survey of the National Sample Survey Organization. Read here: Per capita out-of-pocket health expenditure sees… Continue reading Health account numbers that require closer scrutiny
New research: A plant-based chewing gum that ‘traps’ coronavirus
What is the News? Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a chewing gum that can potentially reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. How does the covid virus spread? When a person infected with SARS-CoV-2 sneezes, coughs or speaks, some of the viruses can be expelled and reach others. This virus then enters the… Continue reading New research: A plant-based chewing gum that ‘traps’ coronavirus
Explained: What is NASA’s new communications system LCRD; its importance
What is the News? NASA has launched its new Laser Communications Relay Demonstration(LCRD). What is Laser Communications Relay Demonstration(LCRD)? LCRD is NASA’s first-ever laser communications system. Purpose: It has been launched to help demonstrate the benefits of space-to-ground laser communications also called optical communications. Orbit: The LCRD payload is hosted onboard the US Department of… Continue reading Explained: What is NASA’s new communications system LCRD; its importance
Explained: AFSPA and the Northeast
What is the News? Nagaland Cabinet has recommended that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 be repealed from the state after the incident in Mon district in which security forces gunned down 13 civilians. What is AFSPA? AFSPA was originally promulgated by the British in response to the Quit India movement in 1942. … Continue reading Explained: AFSPA and the Northeast
NCW Launches a Pan-India Capacity Building Programme ‘She is a Changemaker’ for Women in Politics
What is the News? National Commission for Women(NCW) has launched a pan-India capacity building programme named ‘She is a Changemaker’. About ‘She is a Changemaker’ Programme Objective: To undertake capacity building of women political leaders and improve their decision-making and communication skills including, oration, writing etc. Target Group: The programme is for women representatives at… Continue reading NCW Launches a Pan-India Capacity Building Programme ‘She is a Changemaker’ for Women in Politics
Explained: What are the Minsk agreements on the Ukraine conflict?
What is the News? The United States has warned Russia not to invade Ukraine and urged both countries to return to a set of Minsk agreements designed to end a separatist war by Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine. What are Minsk Agreements? Minsk agreements were signed to stop the ongoing conflict between pro-Russian separatists and… Continue reading Explained: What are the Minsk agreements on the Ukraine conflict?
Successful Flight Test of Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile
What is the News? India has successfully test-fired the Vertically Launched Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. About VL-SRSAM VL-SRSAM missile has been indigenously designed and developed by Defense Research and Development Organization(DRDO) for the Indian Navy. Purpose: It is meant for… Continue reading Successful Flight Test of Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile
