Q What is the Digital Services Act , and to whom will it Apply?A As defined by the EU Commission, the Digital Services Act is “a set of common rules on intermediaries’ obligations and accountability across the single market”, and ensures higher protection to all EU users, irrespective of their country.Objective: The Digital Services Act will tightly regulate the way intermediaries, especially large platforms such as Google, Facebook, and YouTube, function when it comes to moderating user content.Self Regulation Era is Over: Instead of letting pl... Read More...
Q What is SIPRI?A The SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.It was established in 1966 in Stockholm (Sweden) Read More...
Q. Who is a Star Campaigner?A. A star campaigner can be described as persons who are nominated by parties to campaign in a given set of constituencies.These persons are, in almost all cases, prominent and popular faces within the party.There is no specific definition according to law or the Election Commission of India.Star campaigners for a party will not exceed 40 where it is a recognised political party.For parties that are deemed unrecognized, the number of star campaigners will not be more than 20. Q. What are their purpose ?A.&... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A. Recently, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana, have deferred a proposal, approved by the Centre’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), to test a new kind of Transgenic Cotton Seed that contains a gene, Cry2Ai.Gene Cry2Ai purportedly makes cotton resistant to pink bollworm, a major pest. The conflict shows that a broad acceptance of genetically modified crops continues to be elusive.Telangana requested an extension to consider the proposal and later responded that trials would not be allowed in th... Read More...
Q. What are the Key Highlights of the Policy?A.About:Grant up to Rs. 1.5 Crore to innovators on equal sharing basis with provision of milestone-wise payment.The complete process from floating of problem statement to development of prototype is online with defined time line to make it transparent and objective.Trials of prototypes will be done in Railways.Enhanced funding will be provided to scale up deployment on successful performance of prototypes.Selection of Innovator/s will be done by a transparent and fair system Read More...
Q. What are Discoms ?A. Discom stands for ‘Distribution Company’. Discoms are the companies that are responsible for the distribution the electricity to the consumers. These do not produce electricity, they buy the electricity from the producers and then sell it to consumers. Q. What are important role played by DisComs ?A. Distribution Companies (DisComs) are the utilities that typically buy power from generators and retail these to consumers.For all of India’s global leadership for growth of renewable energy, or ambitions of smart energy, the b... Read More...
Q. What is the Museums Grant Scheme?A.About:The scheme was launched in 2013.The Ministry of Culture provides financial assistance under the Scheme to the State Governments and Societies, Autonomous bodies, Local Bodies and Trusts registered under the Societies Act 1860, for setting up new Museums.It aims to strengthen and modernize the existing museums at the Regional, State and District level.The scheme also aims to develop at least 1 Central / State Government Museum located in t... Read More...
Q What is Most Favoured Nation status?A The World Trade Organization’s 164 members commit to treating other members equally so they can all benefit from each other’s lowest tariffs, highest import quotas and fewest trade barriers.This principle of non-discrimination is known as most favoured nation (MFN) treatment.There are some exceptions, such as when members strike bilateral trade agreements or when members offer developing countries special access to their markets.For countries outside the WTO, such as Iran, North Korea, Syria or Russian ally Belarus, WTO members can impose whatever trad... Read More...
Q. Why is this in News?A.Recently, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana, have deferred a proposal, approved by the Centre’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), to test a new kind of Transgenic Cotton Seed that contains a gene, Cry2Ai.Gene Cry2Ai purportedly makes cotton resistant to pink bollworm, a major pest. The conflict shows that a broad acceptance of genetically modified crops continues to be elusive.Note: Agriculture being a State subject means that, in most cases, companies interested in testing their seed... Read More...
Q. What is CERT-IN?A.Computer Emergency Response Team - India is an organisation of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology with the objective of securing Indian cyberspace.It is the nodal agency which deals with cybersecurity threats like hacking and phishing.It collects, analyses and disseminates information on cyber incidents, and also issues alert on cybersecurity incidents.CERT-IN provides Incident Prevention and Response Services as well as Security Quality Management Services. Q. What are the Mandates of the CERT-In? Read More...
Q. What is ‘Office of Profit’?A.MPs and MLAs, as members of the legislature, hold the government accountable for its work.The essence of disqualification is if legislators hold an ‘office of profit’ under the government, they might be susceptible to government influence, and may not discharge their constitutional mandate fairly.The intent is that there should be no conflict between the duties and interests of an elected member.Hence, the office of profit law simply seeks to enforce a basic feature of the Constitution- the principle of separation of power between the legislature an... Read More...
Q. What is Parliamentary Privilege?A.Parliamentary privilege refers to the right and immunity enjoyed by legislatures.The legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made in the course of their legislative duties.They are granted so that the MPs/MLAs can effectively discharge their functions.The powers, privileges, and immunities of either House of the Indian Parliament and of its members and committees are laid down in Article 105 of the Constitution.... Read More...
Q. What is green hydrogen?A.Green hydrogen is hydrogen gas produced through electrolysis of water.It is an energy intensive process for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen— using renewable power to achieve this. Q. What are the Key takeaways of the Green Hydrogen Policy?A. The new policy offers 25 years of free power transmission for any new renewable energy plants set up to supply power for green hydrogen production before July 2025.This means that a green hydrogen producer will be able to set up a solar p... Read More...
Q. What are Nature-Based Solutions?A.Nature-based solutions (NBS) refer to the sustainable management and use of nature for tackling socio-environmental challenges.The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines NbS as actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.It is further associated with other sector-specific terms like green infrastructure, natural infrastructure, ecological engineering, ecosystem-based mitigation, ecosystem-... Read More...
Q. What is SEED?A. About:The Scheme for Economic Empowerment of Denotified/Nomadic/SemiNomadic (SEED) communities was launched in February 2022 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.It aims to provide free competitive exam coaching to these students, to provide health insurance to families, to uplift clusters of these communities through livelihood initiatives, and to provide financial assistance for housing.Components:Free coaching to students from these communities for Civil Services, entry ... Read More...
Q. What are Fast Track Courts ?A. Fast Track Courts: Fast track courts (FTCs) are special courts for speedy trials. Fast track courts deal with speedy disposal or solution of cases to make the judiciary more effective and to avail justice as fast as possible.The Fast Track Courts (FTCs) were established in Indian in the year 2000 with an aim to clear the long pending Sessions and other lower judicial cases.They are ‘special court’ is one which is to deal with special types of cases under a shortened and simplified procedure Read More...
Q. What are ‘Green Jobs’?A.‘Green jobs’ refer to a class of jobs that directly have a positive impact on the planet, and contribute to the overall environmental welfare.Jobs involving renewable energy, conservation of resources, ensuring energy efficient means are categorised under the same.In all, they are aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of economic sectors and furthering the process of creating a low-carbon economy.The idea behind a low-carbon economy or decarbonisation is fairly simple — it is about maintaining a sustainable economy.India and ‘green jobs... Read More...