Category: Test 1

Why only bureaucrats on information panels, asks SC Supreme court raised concerns over how government employees or retired ones had consistently been found more suitable than eminent persons from other walks of life as Information commissioners. The Right to Information Act of 2005 was enacted to ensure accountability in governance.The act itself requires people from… Continue reading Why only bureaucrats on information panels, asks SC

Amrut Cities–Municipal Corporations of Raigarh, Ambikapur, and Kumbakonam Bag Top Swachhata Excellence Awards AMRUT cities and Municipal Corporations of Raigarh, Ambikapur and Kumbakonam have bagged the first, second and third prizes respectively of Swachhata Excellence awards 2019. DAY-NULM Swachhata Excellence Awards have been instituted by Ministry of Housing and urban affairs to recognize the Urban… Continue reading Amrut Cities–Municipal Corporations of Raigarh, Ambikapur, and Kumbakonam Bag Top Swachhata Excellence Awards

A lifetime of finding genes to counter heart disease Geneticist Helen Hobbs found that when people had a mutation in PCSK9, they ended up with lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol.This mechanism of mutation protected people against heart disease without any side effects. She had won the 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Life… Continue reading A lifetime of finding genes to counter heart disease

Centre to bring 13 % of large dams under World Bank’s dam rehabilitation project The Indian government has decided to increase the percentage of large dams under Dam Safety Rehabilitation and Improvement Project project(DRIP) to 13%. At present, 4% of dams are under the project. The project was launched in 2012 by the Central Water… Continue reading Centre to bring 13 % of large dams under World Bank’s dam rehabilitation project

Wholesale inflation eases to 10 month low of 2.76% According to government data, wholesale inflation declined to 2.76% in January 2019. The decline has been attributed to cheaper fuel prices. Wholesale Price Inflation tracks changes in the price of goods in stages before the retail level i.e. goods that are sold in bulk and traded between… Continue reading Wholesale inflation eases to 10 month low of 2.76%

Panel moots minimum wage of ₹375 per day An Expert Committee on Determining the Methodology for Fixation of the National Minimum Wage, headed by Anoop Satpathy, has recommended setting the minimum wage at Rs 375 a day or Rs. 9,750 per month. The minimum wage has been fixed irrespective of sectors, skills, occupations and rural-urban locations… Continue reading Panel moots minimum wage of ₹375 per day

NCM sets up new panel to define minority The National Commission for Minorities has constituted a new sub-committee. The committee is entrusted with the task of preparing a report to provide a) comprehensive definition of minority and b) criteria for determining minority status of a community. The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is a statutory… Continue reading NCM sets up new panel to define minority

PM Modi to give first instalment of Kisan scheme to 1 crore The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) will be formally launched on 24thFebruary in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. The scheme was announced in the interim Budget 2019-20. Under the scheme, a direct income support of Rs 6,000/annum will be provided to small and… Continue reading PM Modi to give first instalment of Kisan scheme to 1 crore

Rajya Sabha clears law removing leprosy as ground for divorce The Parliament has cleared the Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018. The bill aims to remove leprosy- a chronic neuro-muscular disorder- as a ground for divorce. The bill seeks to amend (a) the Divorce Act, 1869, (b) the Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act, 1939, (c) the… Continue reading Rajya Sabha clears law removing leprosy as ground for divorce

Meghalaya puts cap on weight of school bags The Meghalaya government has put a cap on the weight of schoolbags for all classes. It has also restricted schools from assigning homework to students of classes I and II, except in subjects recommended by CBSE, ICSE or the state board. Meghalaya government’s orders are in line… Continue reading Meghalaya puts cap on weight of school bags