Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Context: The new Chief Information Commissioner pays a courtesy call on the Union Minister and provides an update on the disposal rate of RTI applications. Relevance: GS-02 (Constitutional Bodies) Main highlights: As per CIC data, a total of 11,499 RTI Appeals/Complaints […]
Re-criminalising Adultery Context: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs recently proposed the reinstatement of adultery as a criminal offense in India, albeit on gender-neutral grounds, seeking to safeguard the sanctity of marriage. This recommendation comes after a unanimous 2018 Supreme Court decision decriminalized adultery, […]
Digital Government Senior Leaders Program Context: The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) is orchestrating the Digital Government Senior Leaders Program as part of the Digital India initiative. Main highlights: This collaborative program with IIM-Bangalore is scheduled to take place from November 20-25, 2023. The six-day intensive […]
Improving the capability of the Indian State Context: The governance scenario in India presents a paradox — a vast administrative system with intricate regulations coexists with a shortage of personnel across critical sectors. The debate on the size and efficiency of the Indian state […]
Simultaneous Elections Context: The Union Government’s recent notification on the formation of a six-member panel to explore the feasibility of simultaneous elections has reignited a longstanding debate. Simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, State assemblies, and local bodies were a norm during the initial […]
Broadcast regulation 3.0, commissions and omissions Context: The recently unveiled Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting marks another attempt in the journey of regulating broadcasting comprehensively. Background: The previous endeavors, notably in 1997 and 2007, aimed at […]
Major oil and gas firms have pledged to go carbon-neutral Context Several oil and gas corporations have committed to being net zero — or carbon neutral — by 2050, according to Sultan Al Jaber, president-designate of the 28th Conference of Parties (COP-28), at a news […]
India backs UN resolution against Israel Context India supported a draft resolution in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that expressed deep concern about Israel’s refusal to withdraw from the Syrian Golan Heights. The Syrian Golan is an area in southwest Syria that Israel seized […]
Project Collaboration Agreement Context: The Ministry of Ayush and the World Health Organization (WHO) have formally entered into a ‘Project Collaboration Agreement’ focusing on Traditional and Complementary Medicine. Relevance: GS – 2 (India and its Neighbourhood) Main highlights: The initial phase of this agreement is […]
Rat Hole Mining Context: The recent rescue of 41 workers from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand shed light on the usage of rat-hole mining, a method once prevalent in Meghalaya but later banned due to its hazardous nature. This mining technique, involving cramped tunnels and […]