News: Prime Minister announced Project Dolphin on Independence Day Project Dolphin: The project is aimed at the conservation of the Gangetic Dolphins — both riverine as well as the oceanic dolphins in India. Significance: Aquatic life is an indicator of the health of river ecosystems. As the Gangetic dolphin is at the top of the… Continue reading Project Dolphin
Category: Subjects
About MSP (Minimum Support Price)
News: Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 does not provide any safeguards for the continuance of the existing minimum support price (MSP)-based procurement regime. Facts: MSP is the minimum price paid to the farmers for procuring food crops. It is announced by the Government at the beginning of the sowing season.… Continue reading About MSP (Minimum Support Price)
Priority Sector Lending (PSL) guidelines
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released revised priority sector lending (PSL) guidelines to augment funding for COVID-19 impacted companies. Facts: Aim: To align Priority Sector lending with emerging national priorities and bring sharper focus on inclusive development. Key Revised PSL Guidelines: Bank finance for start-ups (up to ₹50 crore), loans to farmers for installation of… Continue reading Priority Sector Lending (PSL) guidelines
GST Compensation Cess
What is Cess? A cess is an earmarked tax that is collected for a specific purpose and ought to be spent only for that. Cess may initially go to the CFI but has to be used for the purpose for which it was collected. Cess collections are supposed to be transferred to specified Reserve Funds… Continue reading GST Compensation Cess
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) It is a constitutional body established under Article 148 of the Constitution of India. Purpose: CAG audits all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and the state governments, including those of bodies and authorities substantially financed by the government. Appointment: CAG is appointed by the President of India following a… Continue reading Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India
Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)
Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) News: In the current Lok Sabha, 17 Bills were referred to committees. Parliamentary Committees are established to study and deal with various matters that cannot be directly handled by the legislature due to their volume. Constitutional Provision: Indian Constitution mentions two kinds of parliamentary committees under Article 118 (1) of the… Continue reading Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs)
What is Carbon Tax?
Carbon Tax A carbon tax is a fee imposed on the burning of carbon-based fuels (coal, oil, gas). It is a way to have users of carbon fuels pay for the climate damage caused by releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It works on the ‘the polluter pays’ principle. After economic reforms and carbon emissions… Continue reading What is Carbon Tax?
Draft Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill 2020
Draft Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill 2020 Bill has been framed to ensure that renewable energy tariffs are not changed by the states after the execution of contracts, and electricity regulatory commissions have more teeth to enforce power purchase agreements between projects and distribution companies (discom). It seeks privatisation of discoms (distribution companies) by way of… Continue reading Draft Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill 2020
What is Industrial Revolution 4.0?
Industrial Revolution 4.0 Industry 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial revolution related to manufacturing and chain production. It is driven by breakthroughs in digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, the IoT, Big Data etc. The Drivers of Change: Technological breakthroughs: New technological innovations such as Big Data, 3-D printing, artificial intelligence and… Continue reading What is Industrial Revolution 4.0?
Freedom of press in India
What is Freedom of press? In India, freedom of the press has been treated as part of the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution. The Indian constitution guarantees the “freedom of speech and expression” as a fundamental right of every citizen of India. Restrictions on the freedom of press: The… Continue reading Freedom of press in India
