Credit Suisse-Ecuador Deal for Galapagos Conservation

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: IE  Context: Credit Suisse has announced buying Ecuadorian bonds worth $1.6 billion (€1.45 billion) in a debt-for-nature swap that cost the Swiss bank just $644 million.  Purpose: Ecuador has committed to spending (for 20 years) on the protection of one of the world’s most precious ecosystems – The Galapagos …

Central Asian Flyway (CAF)

Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: LM   Context: Eleven countries have collaborated to strengthen conservation efforts for migratory birds and their habitats in the Central Asian Flyway (CAF). The meeting was conducted by The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme/Convention on Migratory Species (UNEP/CMS).   About …

Space Science and Technology AwaReness Training (START)

Facts for Prelims (FFP)  Source: TH  Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched an online training programme named Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START) for postgraduate and final-year undergraduate students of Physical Sciences and Technology.

Front-Running

Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: NIE  Context: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has banned five entities, including an employee of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), from the securities market for ‘front-running’   Explanation: Front-running is an illegal practice in the stock market where an individual or entity trades based on …

National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG)

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TH  Context: The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) in India is expanding its capacity to train more civil servants from different countries due to increased demand for its programs in public policy and governance.   About NCGG:

Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT)

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: TH Context: The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) under the Union Ministry of Education is working on creating technical and scientific terminology in 10 underrepresented Indian languages.   More about the Initiative:

Samarth Ramdas and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE  Context: The NCP has demanded an “unconditional apology” from a religious leader (Jaggi Vasudev) for making the claim that Saint Samarth Ramdas was Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji’s guru.   Who was Samarth Ramdas/Sant Ramdas? Samarth Ramdas (1608 – 1681) was a Hindu saint, philosopher, poet, writer and spiritual master. …

Digital Tripura project

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)   Source: newsonair The Digital Tripura project aims to provide training to the Nodal Officers of all government departments to make all administrative work transparent, fast, and paperless.   Other examples of paperless governance projects are e-Office (Andhra Pradesh), e-Tendering (Maharashtra), M-Governance (Kerala) Online Land Records System (Haryana), e-Stamping (Karnataka) …

EU’s carbon border tax

GS Paper 2  Syllabus: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s Interests   Source: TH  Context: The European Parliament – the legislative body of the 27-member EU, reached a political deal on the carbon border tax – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).   Background: CBAM was first introduced as a …

India-Maldives Relations

GS Paper 2  Syllabus: Bilateral Relation   Source: IE  Context: India and the Maldives have marked a milestone in their defence ties with the laying of the foundation stone for the Coast Guard ‘Ekatha Harbour’ in the Uthuru Thila Falhu atoll.   About the project:   Importance of Maldives for India: Long-standing ties with the …

COVID-19 is no more a public health emergency of international concern

GS Paper 2  Syllabus: Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services Relating to Health   Source: TH Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 was no longer a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).   When was it declared PHEIC? COVID-19 was announced as a ‘PHEIC’ by the WHO on …