Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DoNER inaugurates amenities at ancient Kanheri Caves on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.   About the ‘Kanheri Caves’ – The Kanheri Caves are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments cut into a massive basalt outcrop in the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, on the former island… Continue reading Kanheri Caves

The Navies of India and France concluded their second joint patrolling in the southwestern Indian Ocean, while an Australian P-8 maritime patrol aircraft is expected in India next month on a reciprocal visit, underscoring India’s continued focus on expanding maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).   Details – During… Continue reading Reunion Islands

Supreme Court has slammed the Kerala government for doing “virtually nothing” for Endosulfan pesticide exposure victims.   What is ‘Endosulfan’? Endosulfan is a pesticide developed in 1954. It was used widely on crops like cashew, cotton, tea, paddy, fruits and others until 2011. In 2011, the Supreme Court banned its production and distribution. This pesticide… Continue reading Endosulfan

According to a report, the distribution of iron-fortified rice through government schemes as a “magic solution” to combat anaemia in states like Jharkhand must be discontinued.   Why? The right to make informed dietary choices and the right to know what one consumes are basic rights. In the case of rice fortification, no prior informed… Continue reading Food Fortification

Recently, the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of a man accused of raping and murdering a minor into life imprisonment, observing the possibility and the probability of the reformation and rehabilitation of the man.   Procedure of death penalty review – The award of the death sentence by a trial court must be reaffirmed… Continue reading Commutation of death penalty

The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 has been challenged in the Supreme Court on the ground that it bars judicial review, which is a basic feature of the Constitution.   What is the issue? The Committee of Management of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, Varanasi has challenged in Supreme Court the videography survey ordered by… Continue reading Places of Worship Act, 1991

NASA has reported that on May 4, its InSight Mars lander detected the largest quake ever observed on another planet.   Background – The rover first landed on Mars in November 2018, and has since heard 1,313 quakes. The largest previously recorded “marsquake” was detected in August 2021.   What are marsquakes, and why do… Continue reading Marsquake

After prayers were held at the ruins of the eighth-century Martand Sun Temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has expressed its concern to the district administration while refraining from lodging a formal complaint.   What is the issue? The ASI, which functions under the Ministry of Culture, is the… Continue reading Martand Sun Temple

Himachal Pradesh is the first ‘smoke-free state’ in India.   How? This milestone has been achieved due to the effective implementation of Central Governments’ Pradhan Mantri ‘Ujjwala Yojana’(PMUY) and ‘Himachal Grihini Suvidha Scheme’ of the Himachal Pradesh government. Now, 100% of households in Himachal Pradesh have LPG connections in their houses.   About ‘Pradhan Mantri… Continue reading First smoke-free state of India

A team of four Indian photographers from Reuters news agency — slain photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo and Amit Dave — have won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for feature photography for their coverage of the Covid-19 crisis in India.   What is Pulitzer Prize? Pulitzer Prize was established in 1917 and has… Continue reading Pulitzer Prize