Gujarat becomes first State in the country to launch Balika Panchayat.   Details – The country’s first-ever girl Panchayat, “Balika Panchayat”, which was started in several villages of Gujarat’s Kutch district, aims to promote the social and political development of the girls and ensure their active participation of girls in politics. This is a unique… Continue reading Balika Panchayat

The United States Supreme Court has overturned by a 6-3 majority ‘Roe v. Wade’, the court’s landmark 1973 judgment that made abortion a constitutional right. The decision will transform life for women in America. Near total bans on abortion will come into effect in about half of the country’s states.   What is the Roe… Continue reading Roe v Wade Case

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently convened its emergency committee to consider whether the monkeypox outbreak warrants declaring a global emergency.   About ‘monkeypox’ – Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic (disease that spreads from animals to humans) viral disease belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, the same virus family as smallpox. Monkeypox… Continue reading Monkeypox

A report named ‘Migration in India 2020-21’ was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).   Details – The ‘Migration in India’ report, which is based on first-time collection of additional data during the annual round of Periodic Labour Force Survey for July 2020-June 2021, separates the categories of ‘temporary visitors’ and… Continue reading ‘Migration in India’ Report

The unemployment rate saw a decrease of 0.6% and fell to 4.2% in 2020-21, compared with 4.8% in 2019-20, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2020-21 released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.   Details – This means that only 4.2% of adults who looked for jobs could not get… Continue reading Unemployment in India

Thailand becomes the first Asian country to legalise Marijuana.   Details – Thailand legalised the growing of marijuana and its consumption in food and drinks, the first Asian country to do so, with the aim of boosting its agriculture and tourism sectors but smoking pot is still against the law. Thailand, which has a tradition… Continue reading Marijuana

In June 2022, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) released guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and management for type-1 diabetes. This is the first time the ICMR has issued guidelines specifically for type 1 diabetes, which is rarer than type 2.   About the ‘Type-1 diabetes’ – Type 1 diabetes is a condition where… Continue reading Type-1 Diabetes

The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has invited public feedback on the new draft national policy on persons with disabilities (PwD). The draft policy proposes interventions in disability prevention, education, healthcare, social security and accessibility. The policy has been drafted by a committee headed by Anjali Bhawra, secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons… Continue reading Draft National Policy on Persons with Disabilities

The Centre has instructed state governments and their Women and Child Development (WCD) departments to ensure digitisation of anganwadi services. This is to ensure that migrating families can continue accessing the government’s Take Home Ration scheme even if they move to other states.   Key highlights – Focus on migrant families — Migrating families often… Continue reading POSHAN Abhiyan

International Albinism Awareness Day is observed every year on June 13 to bring about awareness among the people for the prevention of attacks and discrimination against persons with Albinism and also about the rights of people with Albinism.   Details – The theme for International Albinism Awareness Day this year is ‘United in making our… Continue reading International Albinism Day