Bitcoin as legal tender Context: El Salvador, a small coastal country in Central America has become the first in the world to adopt Bitcoin, as legal tender. Legal tender is the legally recognized money within a given political jurisdiction. About: Bitcoin: Introduction: Introduced in 2009, it is a type of Cryptocurrency that enables instant...
Global Liveability Index Context: Auckland (New Zealand) has topped the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index of 140 cities around the world. About: Global Liveability Index: The index takes into account more than 30 qualitative and quantitative factors spanning five broad categories: Stability(25%), Healthcare(20%), Culture and Environment(25%), Education(10%), and Infrastructure(20%). Due to...
Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India Context: The central government has released an expert committee report on the Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India by 2025. The roadmap proposes a gradual rollout of ethanol-blended fuel to achieve E10 fuel supply by April 2022 and phased rollout of E20 from April...
Dehing Patkai and Raimona National Parks Context Recently, the Assam government notified Dehing Patkai as the 7th National Park of the state. It was created shortly after Raimona reserve forest in western Assam’s Kokrajhar district was upgraded to a national park (6th) on the occasion of World Environment Day (5th June). About: National Park An...
Election Commissioner Context: Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Anup Chandra Pandey has been appointed as the new Election Commissioner The appointment of Pandey will restore the poll panel to its full strength as a three-member commission. About Election commission of India: The constitution under article 324 provides for an Election...
UN Security Council endorses Secretary General Guterres for second term Context: The UN Security Council has endorsed Secretary General Antonio Guterres for a second five-year term- from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2026. About: UN Secretary General: The UN Charter describes the Secretary-General as “chief administrative officer” of the Organization, who...
Internet through LEO satellites: Context: OneWeb, which is a Low Earth Orbit satellite communications operator has launched its next batch of 36 satellites from Russia. With the latest launch, OneWeb’s total in-orbit constellation stands at 218 satellites. These would be a part of OneWeb’s 648 LEO satellite fleet. About: OneWebs LEO internet...
Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyan: Aspirational Districts Context: Recently, NITI Aayog and Piramal Foundation launched ‘Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyan’ in 112 aspirational districts. This drive was launched to assist the administration in providing home care support to Covid-19 patients, who are either asymptomatic or have...
An autonomous district council Context: The Rengma Nagas in Assam have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding an autonomous district council amid a decision by the Central and the State governments to upgrade the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) into a territorial council. About: Key Issue: With Assam government on verge of inking...
Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme Context: Recently, on the occasion of World Environment Day (5th June), the Tourism Minister appreciated the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme (IITFC). About: Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme IITFC Programme is a digital initiative of the Ministry of Tourism (MoT),for the citizens of India...
