GS1: Social Issues
- When she marries(IE) The relationship between the level of education and early marriage is well established. With no education, 44.7 per cent women are married before 18 years. This drops to 39.7 per cent with primary education, 23.2 per cent with secondary education and 2.9 per cent with higher education.
GS2: Polity
- Explained: When can a Governor use his discretion, how has the SC ruled?(IE) Article 174 of the Constitution gives the Governor the power to summon from time to time “the House or each House of the Legislature of the State to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit…”However, the phrase “as he thinks fit” is read as per Article 163 of the Constitution which says that the Governor acts on the aid and advice of the cabinet.
GS2: Governance: Health
- The majority cannot afford a balanced diet(TH) New analysis from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows that hundreds of millions of people in India above the international poverty line of $1.90 purchasing power parity (PPP) per person per day cannot afford a healthy or nutritious diet.
- India likely to miss target of eradicating AIDS by 2030: ICMR study(Mint) As per the study published in the latest issue of the Indian Journal of Medical Research, the national adult prevalence of HIV was estimated to be 0.22% in 2017. Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland had the highest prevalence of over 1%.
GS2: International Relations
- Needed, a map for India’s foreign policy(TH) But what makes the current downturn serious is that there is a relative decline in India’s smart power, especially in the neighbourhood and the extended neighbourhood, which demands a deeper perusal of the foreign policy trajectory itself.
- Modern tools, age old wisdom(TH) Sri Lanka’s strategic location makes it apparent that not only economic fortunes but the security of both countries are inextricably linked. Therefore it is heartening that India and Sri Lanka constantly strive for excellence in neighbourly relations, recognising that a calamity in one country can adversely impact the other.
GS3: Environment
- In reverse gear(TH) Now in draft, it seeks to replace the existing EIA notification of 2006. The proposed provisions show that the Ministry has gone to great lengths to reduce or even remove public participation, and by extension independent expert opinion, from the process of granting environmental clearances; public reporting of violations may also not be taken cognisance of.
- Conservationists elated as tiger numbers up(TH) The Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is the largest one in the country and it is here the number of big cats is on the rise.
- India among top 10 countries gaining forest area in the world: FAO (DTE) India has ranked third among the top 10 countries that have gained in forest areas in the last decade, the latest Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) brought out by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has said.
- NGT sets tough conditions for commercial use of groundwater(Mint) NGT has also struck down the Central Ground Water Authority’s (CGWA) 2020 guidelines, saying they were against the law. The 2018 version of the guidelines had been struck down by the NGT last year.
GS3: Science & Technology
- Department of Biotechnology supported efficacy trial with recombinant BCG vaccine, VPM1002 completes enrolment of about 6000 health-workers and high risk individuals(PIB)" BCG vaccine is administered routinely to all newborn babies as a part of the National childhood immunization programme to prevent tuberculosis (TB), an infection caused by bacteria that mainly affects the lungs.
- Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) celebrates its Foundation Day(PIB) A new Coastal Research Vessel “SAGAR ANVESHIKA” was commissioned in February 2020. This is by far one of the most remarkable developments in the history of India's coastal research with India's private sector partnering the Government and boosting the vision of 'Make in India'.
GS3: Schemes
- Shri Sadananda Gowda launches Schemes and announces guidelines paving way for setting up of Bulk Drugs Parks & Medical Devices Parks in the country(PIB)" It is a matter of concern that our country is critically dependent on imports for basic raw materials, viz. Bulk Drugs (Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates (DIs) and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)) that are used to produce some of the essential medicines. Similarly in medical devices sector, our country is dependent on imports for 86% of its requirements of medical devices.
