Weekly Current Affairs Highlights – 24th to 29th May.

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

Updates in History

This week the update in history includes the postponement of the reclining Buddha statue, the need for a culture mapping project, etc. The important articles in this regard are,

• How UNESCO Grants World Heritage Site tag?
• Installation of “Reclining Buddha” Statue Postponed
• Need to revive the Cultural Mapping project
• Challenges involved in Shifting the  National Museum of India
• “Buddha Miniature Sculpture” found in Karnataka

Updates in Polity and Governance  

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

• Govt launches the first phase of “MCA21 version 3.0” online portal
• Controversies Surrounding Administrator of Lakshadweep
• Supreme Court Guidelines on “Section 304-B” of IPC

Update on Social Issues

This week health took the spotlight. Similarly, there are few articles that highlight poverty and migrant issues. The important articles in this regard are,

Articles on Health:

• Challenges in Vaccine Procurement in India – Explained, Pointwise
• “Dipcovan Kit” -DRDO develops Antibody Detection Kit 
• ” Kyasanur Forest Disease” – ICMR-NIV Develops a New Point-of-Care Testing
• First Case of “Yellow Fungus” detected in UP
• Preventive steps to avoid Mucormycosis or Black Fungus infections
• “Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome”
• Defence Minister launches “SeHAT OPD portal”
• “Ayush Clinical Case Repository (ACCR) portal” and “Ayush Sanjivani App”
• Public Expenditure on Health Needs to be Reprioritised
• India’s Mucormycosis Threat
• Role of AYUSH during pandemic and its challenges – Explained, Pointwise
• WHO report on “Origin of Covid-19”: India seeks more studies on virus

Articles on Education:

• Must Needed Reforms for Online Higher Education

Others:

• Supreme Court’s Directions for Welfare of Migrant Workers
• Record Foodgrain Exports Amid hunger in India – Right to Food Campaign
• Centre Plans “One-Stop Centres” in Foreign Countries to Help Women
• Historical Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse under POCSO Act
• Prioritise food and work for all

Report and Summits

There are a few important reports released, and the summit happened this week. The important ones are;

• “Protected Planet Report” 2020 Released by UNEP
• “Global Health Summit 2021” adopted “Rome Declaration”
• Union Minister virtually Chairs 74th “World Health Assembly”

Updates on International Relations

This week the important updates in International relations include the EU’s decision to donate 100 million doses, WHO’s BioHub facility, etc. The important articles covered by us include

• India’s Act East Policy : Issues and Challenges – Explained, Pointwise
• “BRICS Astronomy Working Group” Proposes Networking of Existing Telescopes
• UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme
• Lithuania quits China’s “17+1 cooperation forum”
• First “WHO BioHub Facility” Launched
• “One Health High-Level Expert Panel” – A WHO panel to investigate zoonotic diseases
• EU leaders agree to donate 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines
• India Abstains on “UNHRC Resolution” to Probe in Gaza Violence
• Indo-US Synergy on Regional, Bilateral and Multilateral issues
• The U.S exit from Afghanistan and Its Implications on South Asia
• One State Solution for Palestine
• Continuing Political Turmoil in Nepal and Opportunity for India
• UAE’s “Golden Visa” system offers long-term residency
• India’s Nepal policy needs to change for ensuring long-lasting friendship

Updates in Economy

This week the economic topics in news include articles on GST Council, FDI Inflow report, etc. The important articles on Economy are,

• Analysis of GST regime in India – Explained, Pointwise
• SC Ruling on Personal Guarantor’s Liability for Corporate Debt
• Significance of SC Ruling on Personal Guarantors for Corporate Loans
• FDI Inflow in 2020-21 in India
• National Mission on Use of Biomass in Thermal Power plants
• “Mekedatu Project” – A Panel to investigate charges of illegal construction
• Cooperative Federalism is Necessary for the Success of GST in India

Updates in Agriculture

This week there were certain important updates on Agriculture like the export of shahi litchi, reforms in dairy sector, etc. The important articles that covered these topics are,

• How Whiteflies are Damaging Crops in India?
• First consignment of GI certified “Shahi Litchi” exported to the U.K
• Dairy Sector in India Needs Urgent Attention
• The increasing prices of edible oil needs government intervention

Science and Technology

This week there were few important updates in the field of science and technology such as the High mercury level on rivers, the occurance of Supermoon, etc. The important articles covered in this regard are,

• Need of Indigenous Semiconductor Manufacturing Facilities in India – Explained Pointwise
• High Mercury level Found in Rivers linked to Greenland’s Glacial Meltwaters
• “Total lunar Eclipse and Super Moon” – 2 Celestial Events Coincided
• National AI Portal (INDIAai) celebrates its first anniversary

Important updates on Environment

This week there were certain important updates on the Environment like the Rights of Maldharis over Banni Grass lands, etc. The important articles that covered these topics are,

• International Day for Biological Diversity
• “Banni Grasslands” -NGT Upholds Rights of Maldharis
• A study found the reason behind “crocodile tears”
• Need for Eco Tax in India
• Odisha’s “blackbucks” double in 6 years, reveals census

Updates on Disaster Management

This week Cyclone Yaas hits the Odisha and West Bengal coast. The important articles covered in this regard are,

• Very Severe “Cyclone Yaas” hits the coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal
• Improving Resilience to Cyclones Disasters in India

Update on Security Issues

The New IT rules came into effect this week. After health, this becomes the spotlight of this week. The important articles covered in this regard are,

• New IT Rules for Social Media and its challenges – Explained, Pointwise
• Traceability Provision of New IT Rules 2021
• New IT Rules,2021 and the issue of non-compliance.
• What is “Traceability Provision” of IT rules 2021?
• WhatsApp Privacy Policy Comes into Effect : Issues and Challenges
• Issues with New IT rules for Social Media
• New IT Rules 2021- No protection under the Section 79 of IT Act upon Non compliance
• Need to Reform the Information Technology Rules, 2021