PM CARES schemes for Children Prime Minister Narendra Modi released benefits under the PM CARES schemes for Children. The scheme offers a lumpsum amount of ₹10 lakh when children turn 23 years old as well as a monthly stipend from 18 years to 23 years. School-going children will also receive free education, textbooks and uniforms at the nearest government schools.  Those in private schools may avail fee reimbursement under norms for the Right to Education Act, 2005. Older students can also avail free education at residential schools such as ...
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The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, launched by United States President Joe Biden is being joined by 12 other countries including India. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) aims to reassert U.S. economic engagement and to provide a U.S.-led alternative to China’s economic statecraft in the region. The 12 countries other than the U.S. are India, Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam (Taiwan is not part of it). They together account for ...
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The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has issued guidelines easing norms for research into genetically modified (GM) crops and circumventing challenges of using foreign genes to change crops profile.    GM Crop A genetically modified organism (GMO) or living modified organism (LMO), is any organism whose genetic material has been modifiedusing laboratory-based transfer of genetic material from another organism. Development of GM cropsstarts with the identification of genes of interest and isolating it from the host organism. The gene is incorporated into the DNA of crop plants using laboratory based ...
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The newly released National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) reconfirms that a large number of Indians have a preference for sons with the only exception of Meghalaya. About NFHS The NFHS is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India. The NFHS provides estimates on key indicators related to population, family planning, child and maternal health, nutrition, adult health, and domestic violence, among others. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has designated International ...
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The Supreme Court has directed the District Magistrate of Varanasi to ensure protection of the area at the Gyanvapi mosque complex where a ‘shivling’ is said to have been found during the survey there. Places of Worship Act In March 2021, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to respond to a petition that challenges the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The law was enacted to freeze the status of all places of worship in the country as on August 15, 1947 ...
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The Reserve Bank has taken steps towards normalisation of liquidity management to pre-pandemic levels, with the introduction of the standing deposit facility (SDF) as the basic tool to absorb excess liquidity, and narrowing the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) to 0.50% from the 0.90%. Governor Shaktikanta Das said the SDF would be at 3.75%, ie, 0.25% below the repo rate and 0.5% lower than the marginal standing facility (MSF) which helps the banks with funds when required. The SDF has its origins in a 2018 amendment to ...
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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has accorded its approval for supply of fortified rice throughout the Targeted Public Distribution System, Integrated Child Development Services, Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman-PM POSHAN and Other Welfare Schemes in all States and Union Territories by 2024. It will be implemented in a phased manner. Fortifying rice involves grinding broken rice into powder, mixing it with nutrients, and then shaping it into rice-like kernels using an extrusion process. These fortified kernels are then mixed ...
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India and Australia have signed an Economic Co-operation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart in Canberra Scott Morrison, with an eye on doubling bilateral trade to $50 billion in five years and ease movement of people, goods and services across borders. The agreement with Australia is expected to create 10 lakh additional jobs in the country over the next five years. About ECTA ECTA is an interim trade agreement that would be followed by a comprehensive deal ...
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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of Emergency in Sri Lanka after the public resentment due to a sharp economic downturn. Economic crisis in Sri Lanka War time effects- During the period of the war, budget deficits were high. The capital flight that accompanied the global financial crisis of 2008 drained Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange reserves. The IMF loan in 2009 was obtained with the conditionality that budget deficits would be reduced to 5% of the GDP by 2011. Post ...
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With space junk posing an increasing threat to Indian assets in space, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is building up its orbital debris tracking capability by deploying new radars and optical telescopes under the Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) project. Significance The primary goal of Netra is to monitor, track, and defend national space assetswhile also serving as a centre for all space situational awareness (SSA) activities. The initiative would provide India with its own space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities,similar to that of other space ...
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