Current affairs

Through biofuel blending country saved 91,000 crore rupees on import bill

Context The Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas has said through biofuel blending the country has saved 91,000 crore rupees on the import bill. About Biofuels Biofuels are liquid fuels produced from renewable biological sources, such as plants, algae...

National Technical Textiles Mission

Context The Ministry of Textiles approves 12 research projects under the National Technical Textiles Mission. About National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) It was launched by the Ministry of Textiles in 2020 to increase the penetration level of technical textiles in...

Unrealised Gender Dividend

Context The India Human Development Survey (IHDS), conducted by the University of Maryland and the National Council of Applied Economic Research, offers insights into changing social norms and economic participation among Indian women. Key Findings from the IHDS Survey Waves...

Debating The Health Longevity Initiative

Context The World Bank's 2024 report, "Unlocking the Power of Healthy Longevity: Demographic Change, Non-communicable Diseases, and Human Capital," addresses significant demographic changes and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally, particularly in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Demographic Transformation...

A Mixed Report Card of IMEC

Context In September 2023, the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) was announced during the G20 summit in New Delhi. This ambitious transcontinental project aims to enhance trade and connectivity between India, the Middle East, and Europe, offering significant reductions in transit...

Govt. cites 17 reasons to cancel FCRA registration

Context The Union Home Ministry has listed diversion of foreign funds for carrying out anti-development activities, inciting malicious protests and religious conversions among 17 reasons to deny or cancel the FCRA registration of a non-governmental organisation (NGO). About Foreign Contribution...

World Intellectual Property Indicators Report 2024

Context The World Intellectual Property Organization has published the World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2024. Key Insights of WIPO World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024 India’s Position in Global IP Filings: India has earned a place in the global top 10...

Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Assumed Office as 51st Chief Justice of India

Justice Sanjiv Khanna assumed office as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on November 12, 2024. His tenure as CJI will last approximately six months, ending with his retirement in May 2025. Faced with a backlog of over 66,000...

States and The Centre’s Fetter of Net Borrowing Ceiling

Context In 2023, the central government imposed a Net Borrowing Ceiling (NBC) on the State of Kerala, restricting its maximum borrowing to 3% of the projected Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for FY 2023-24. This ceiling applies to all borrowing...

Can India Get Rich Before Growing Old?

Context Since economic liberalization, the demographic dividend has become synonymous with a promise of sustained economic growth. However, India's total fertility rate (TFR) is declining faster than anticipated, raising concerns about the permanence of this advantage. Current Demographic Reality Approximately...