2020

Syllabus Section- Science and technology   Why in news? Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) unveiled India’s first indigenously developed pneumococcal vaccine on Monday. The world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by doses, SII is also the maker of Covishield, the Indian version of the AstraZeneca-Oxford coronavirus vaccine. About • SII’s pneumococcal vaccine, Pneumosil, was developed through …

NEWS IMPULSE – PNEUMOSIL: INDIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUSLY CREATED VACCINE AGAINST PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE | 29 DECEMBER Read More »

Syllabus section: Art and culture Why in News? KVIC Brings Alive 1000-yrs Old Monpa Handmade Paper Industry in Tawang to Revive the Heritage Art; a Historic Feat for North East About: • The art of making Monpa handmade paper originated over 1000 years ago. • This handmade paper was a major source of livelihood for …

NEWS IMPULSE – MONPA HANDMADE PAPER | 29 DECEMBER Read More »

Syllabus Sections- Important International event/Current Affairs   Why in news? • Approximately two years after Israel passed its controversial nation state law, the country’s Supreme Court assembled on Tuesday this week for a special session to hear a petition by Arab-Israeli citizens and rights groups asking for the scrapping of this law. The petition asks …

NEWS IMPULSE – ISRAEL’S NATION STATE LAW | 28 DECEMBER Read More »

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) SEHAT scheme for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, via video conferencing. • The beneficiaries of Jammu and Kashmir were not covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. ABOUT AB-PMJAY SEHAT • The full form of SEHAT is social, endeavour for …

NEWS IMPULSE – AYUSHMAN BHARAT PMJAY SEHAT SCHEME | 28 DECEMBER Read More »

Syllabus Section- Indian Economy   Why in news The government has used financial innovation to recapitalise Punjab & Sind Bank by issuing the lender Rs 5,500-crore worth of non-interest bearing bonds valued at par. The funds raised through issuance of these instruments, which are a variation of the recapitalisation bonds issued earlier to public sector …

NEWS IMPULSE – ZERO COUPON BONDS: INNOVATIVE GOVT TOOL TO FUND PSBS | 28 DECEMBER Read More »

Syllabus Section- Indian Polity and Constitution Why in news? Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have takenthe lead in undertaking the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) reforms.The two States have successfully completed the set of reforms in functioning of ULBs, as specified by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.To motivate the States to undertake reforms in …

NEWS IMPULSE – URBAN LOCAL BODIES (ULB) REFORMS | 24 DECEMBER Read More »

Syllabus section: science and technology   Why in news? Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) state-of-the-art Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (HWT) test facility placing India in a select group of nations with the technology.According to reports, only the United States and Russia have similar facilities. Wind tunel: • Wind tunnels are large tubes with air blowing …

NEWS IMPULSE – HYPERSONIC WIND TUNNEL TEST FACILITY | 22 DECEMBER Read More »

Syllabus listing: Economy   Why in News? Reliance Industries Ltd and BP (British Petroleum) have announced the start of gas production from the R cluster, the deepest off-shore gas field in Asia. About R cluster: • The R cluster is an off-shore gas field which is a part of the KG-D6 block of the Krishna …

NEWS IMPULSE – KRISHNA GODAVARI BASIN’S R- CLUSTER | 23 DECEMBER Read More »

Syllabus listing: environment and ecology   Why in news? Released recently by the Environment Ministry. Key findings: • 60 percent rise in Leopard population across the Country; India now has 12,852 leopards. • The States of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra recorded the highest leopard estimates at 3,421, 1,783 and 1,690 respectively. • As for …

NEWS IMPULSE – STATUS OF LEOPARDS REPORT | 23 DECEMBER Read More »

Syllabus Section- International Relations   Why in news? Recently, Nepal Prime Minister K P Oli recommended dissolution of the House of Representatives, the lower of Parliament, a move promptly approved by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari. This effectively ended the unity forced among the left forces that had led to the creation of the single, grand …

NEWS IMPULSE – POLITICAL CRISIS IN NEPAL | 23 DECEMBER Read More »