The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the revision of project outlay for setting up of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) from Rs.1435 crore to Rs.2255 crore as equity infusion to meet regulatory requirement. The Cabinet also granted in principle approval for future fund infusion to the tune of Rs.500 crore for meeting regulatory requirements and technological upgradation.
Tag: Generalstudies
Evolution of India’s Africa Policy-lecture by Ambassador Gurjit Singh-17/02/2022
When the Cold War ended around 1989 to 1991, the traditional colonial partners or even post-colonial partners of Africa, became embroiled more in their neighbourhood like Europe, and the Russians became involved in their own resettlement, the Americans got involved in Iraq. So suddenly Africa was open to new partners.
Indian Foreign Policy: yesterday, today and tomorrow, lecture by Satish C Mehta-28/02/2022
The 1962 China War shattered that illusion. We lost territory, we lost global esteem - after all losers aren’t good examples- and we lost our self-belief. The lessons were clear. Our help to China in its freedom struggle or other support when it was isolated didn’t carry much weight.
India – Peru diplomatic relationship
India established diplomatic relations with Peru in March 1963. The Indian Ambassador in Chile was concurrently accredited to Peru. In September 1969, India opened its resident mission in Lima, Peru. The first resident Indian Ambassador in Lima took charge in November 1973
Ministry of Ayush has established Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences
The Ministry has developed a Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of International Co-operation in AYUSH (IC Scheme) under which Ministry of Ayush provides support to Indian Ayush Manufacturers/ Ayush Service providers to give boost to export of AYUSH products & services; facilitate International promotion, development and recognition of AYUSH system of medicine;
UPSC General Studies – Question Papers and Study Materials
Four papers upsc-genstudies-question-paper-I-2021Download upsc-genstudies-question-paper-ii-2021Download upsc-general-studies-question-paper-iii-2021Download upsc-general-studies-question-paper-iv-2021Download GENERAL STUDIES STUDY MATERIALS Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2021 [Link]
Urban Unskilled/Skilled Workers in India as per Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted by National Statistical Office-21/03/2022
As per the Quarterly Bulletin ( January-March 2021) of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO), the estimates of Unemployment Rate (UR) according to Current Weekly Status (CWS) in urban areas of different States for female, male and persons of age 15 years and above is 11.8%, 8.6% and 9.3% respectively.
Remarks by Indian PM at 2nd India-Australia Virtual Summit-21/03/2022
Our relations have made remarkable progress in the last few years. Trade and investment, defence and security, education and innovation, science and technology – we have very close cooperation in all these areas. Our collaboration has grown rapidly in many other areas, such as critical minerals, water management, renewable energy, and Covid-19 research.
Major Port Authorities Act 2021 provides regulation, operation and planning of Major Ports in India
The Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 provide for regulation, operation and planning of Major Ports in India and vests the administration, control and management of such ports upon the Boards of Major Port Authorities. The legislation empowers these ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of increased autonomy in decision making and by modernizing their institutional framework.
Cow dung procurement from farmers is the responsibility of State Government- GOI-15/03/2022
Under Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund and Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund, provision has been made to provide interest subvention for the projects which can convert cow dung and agri- wastes into Compressed biogas and organic fertilizers.
IMF summary of economic responses of India Govt on human and economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic
The economic impact of COVID-19 has been substantial and broad-based. GDP contracted sharply in 2020Q2 (-24.4 percent year-on-year) due to the unprecedented lockdowns to control the spread of COVID-19. The contraction moderated to -7.4 percent year-on-year in 2020Q3, and growth returned to positive territory in 2020Q4 and 2021Q1, at 0.5 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively. The national statistical office revised up FY2020/21 GDP growth to -7.3% in the latest provisional estimate.
India’s bilateral trade turnover with Ukraine was US$ 2.52 billion in 2019-20
Pharmaceuticals account for majority of Indian exports to Ukraine. India is the third largest exporter of pharmaceutical products to Ukraine, after Germany and France, in value terms. A number of Indian companies like Ranbaxy, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Sun Group etc. have their representative offices in Ukraine. Representatives of major pharmaceutical companies have set up an Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (IPMA) in Ukraine.
Borrowing and Lending in foreign currency in India
The Reserve Bank of India, is the custodian of the country’s foreign exchange reserves and is vested with the responsibility of managing their investment. The legal provisions governing management of foreign exchange reserves are laid down in the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. The Reserve Bank issues licences to banks and other institutions to act as Authorised Dealers in the foreign exchange market. In keeping with the move towards liberalisation, the Reserve Bank has undertaken substantial elimination of licensing, quantitative restrictions and other regulatory and discretionary controls.
Food Products Testing Labs in India
There are 726 Testing Laboratories for food products in the country as per study conducted by Ministry of Food Processing Industries in 2020-21 and these Laboratories are operational at different levels of operation and testing of food products. Out of these, 585 food testing laboratories have obtained Accreditation as per the international standards i.e. ISO/IEC 17025/NABL.
Food Corporation of India is operating 2199 warehouses for storage of food grains across the country
The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabhaon 11 FEB 2022, informed that that augmentation of capacity is a continuous process. Food Corporation of India (FCI) continuously assesses and monitors the storage capacity and based on the storage gap assessment, storage capacities are created/hired.