Weekly Current Affairs Highlights – 19th to 24th Apr.

On this page, you can read all the major news/Current Affairs of the week.

On a daily basis, we are covering all relevant Current Affairs under our various initiatives. For further reading, you can refer to our following initiatives:

1. 9 PM: Daily Current Affairs Summaries For UPSC 
2. Daily Editorials: Daily Current Affairs Editorials For UPSC 
3. Factly: Daily Current Affairs For Prelims
   

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   Updates in Judiciary and Important cases

   This week the Judiciary was in the spotlight with the updates like the Judgements and orders portal, SC direction in the ISRO espionage case, etc. Following articles covered these update

• SC Guidelines for “Appointment of Ad-hoc Judges” in HCs
• What is a “Memorandum of Procedure(MoP)”?
• Supreme Court Sets timeline for Appointment of Judges

Other updates in Polity and Governance

There are few updates received in the Polity and governance topics from the newspapers. The important updates are,

• Need of Granting Interim Bail to Pregnant Women Undertrials
• Demands for Delinking of State and Religion
• Police Reforms Needed to Ensure Political Neutrality
• Criteria for Selection of Experts in Tribunals Needs More Clarity
• Misuse of Ordinance Making Power
• Issues Associated with Election Commission of India

Social Issues

This week health and education took the spotlight. With the increase in the Covid-19 cases, India issued a New vaccine policy. Similarly, there are few articles that highlight the migrant issues. The important articles in this regard are,

• India’s “New Covid-19 vaccine policy”
• Zydus Cadila’s antiviral drug “Virafin” gets emergency use nod
• Covid-19 Pandemic and Internal Migration in India- Explained, Pointwise
• Post-Pandemic School Education System: Issues and Challenges – Explained, Pointwise
• “Global Diabetes Compact” – To Increase Access to Treatment
• “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana” – Centre to give 5 kg food grains free to poor
• Roadblocks to achieve universal vaccination
• Need to Prioritise Vaccination for Migrant workers
• A Lost Opportunity to Reform the Educational System

Report and Indices

There are a few important reports and indices released this week. The important ones are;

• “Inclusive Internet Index 2021” Released
• “World Press Freedom Index” 2021 Released
• Indian Ads Increase Gender Stereotypes, Shows Study 
• National Climate Vulnerability Assessment Report
• WEF Releases “Energy Transition Index 2021”
• WMO Releases “State of the Global Climate Report 2020”

Updates on International Relations

This week the important updates in International relations include the EU’s approval of the Indo-Pacific strategy, the Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia, etc. The important articles covered by us include

• EU Council Approves “EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy”
• “Global Youth Mobilization Initiative” launched by UN
• “Boao Forum for Asia” Annual Conference 2021
• Extradition of Fugitives to India – Explained, Pointwise
• USCIRF Recommends “Country of Particular Concern” Tag for India
• Why India-Russia Relations Demands Reconsideration?
• “Exercise Khanjar” – A military exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan

Updates in Economy

This week the economic topics in news include articles on Bad Bank, India as a global Investment Hub, etc. The important articles on Economy are,

• “Asset Reconstruction Companies” – Sudarshan Sen Committee Set-up
• “Startup India Seed Fund Scheme” launched
• “RoDTEP Scheme” -Delay in Notification of Rebate Rates
• “National Startup Advisory Council” – First Meeting Held
• India needs to be cautious before joining Global Minimum Tax rate

Science and Technology

Cryptocurrency and National Digital Currency

This week there are few important articles that talked about Digital currencies. The important ones are;

• What is “Dogecoin” cryptocurrency?
• Future of Cryptocurrencies in India
• Introducing National Digital Currency in India – Explained, Pointwise

The Issue of Medical Oxygen

A number of states are reporting shortages of medical oxygen. So, India decided to import medical oxygen. Further, oxygen leak in Maharashtra led to the death of patients. Following articles covered these update

• India to Import “Medical Oxygen” to cater demand 
• The Issue of Medical Oxygen in India-Explained, Pointwise
• “Disaster Management Act, 2005” Invoked to facilitate supply of Medical Oxygen
• DRDO Develops SpO2 Based “Supplemental Oxygen Delivery System”

Other important articles on Science and Technology

This week there were few important updates in the field of science and technology such as the Chimera of Human-Monkey embryo, etc. The important articles covered in this regard are,

• “NASA’s Mars Helicopter Ingenuity” Makes First Flight on Another Planet
• First “Human-Monkey Embryo” Sparks Ethical Debate
• India’s “Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel” Joins Search For Submarine
• ISRO’s “RESPOND Programme” to support joint research projects of IIT-D
• National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHEM)
• Data Revolution and New Global Order
• UK Variant Behind current COVID-19 surge in Delhi: NCDC chief
• “Harlequin Ichthyosis” – Odisha’s First Case

Important updates on Environment

This week there were certain important updates on the Environment like suspension of the Inter-state Tiger Relocation project, Namami Gange Programme, etc. The important articles that covered these topics are,

• Meghalaya Records India’s First “Disc Footed Bat” with Sticky Disks
• “Great Indian Bustard” Poaching in Pakistan desert
• PM Addressed “Leaders Summit on Climate”
• “Blue Nature Alliance” launched to restore oceans in five years
• The significance of “World Earth Day”
• Introducing Green Targets for Corporates
• Concerns Associated to Ken-Betwa Link project
• Short Term Targeted Approach to Achieve Net Zero Emissions Target
• Important of Stepping Up National Climate Action Plans

Miscellaneous articles for this week

• Webinar on “Khajuraho Temples” Under Dekho Apna Desh
• “Vande Bharat Mission” Becomes One of Top Civilian Evacuation Mission
• IMD’s new Dynamical Forecast Model
• “Gender Samvaad” Event Organised by Ministry of Rural Development
• The issue of Urban Fires in India – Explained, pointwise