2020: Point-Wise Current-Affairs/GS Articles

Doorsteptutor material for UGC Public-Administration is prepared by world's top subject experts: Get detailed illustrated notes covering entire syllabus: point-by-point for high retention.

Dec 30, 2020
1 Irregularities in Non-Profits’ Owl Conservation Efforts [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
Irregularities in Non-Profits’ Owl Conservation Efforts
- A forest inquiry has found irregularities in a non-profit’s owl conservation efforts.
- The non- profit is involved in owl conservation in core area inside the Melaghat Tiger Reserve.
- Melaghat Tiger Reserve is in Maharashtr
… (298 more words) …
2 Earth’S Inner Core is Older Than Previously Determined [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
Earth’s Inner Core is Older Than Previously Determined
- The estimate of the age of Earth’s solid inner core has been revised by researchers.
- They have revised it from 565 million years to 1 - 1.3 billion years.
- Over the years, estimates for core age have fluctuated.
… (355 more words) …
3 Indian-Nepalese Diplomats Discuss Bilateral Projects After Months of Acrimony [ International Relations/Organizations, Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
Indian-Nepalese Diplomats Discuss Bilateral Projects After Months of Acrimony
- Indian and Nepalese diplomats met in Kathmandu and reviewed the status of a few ongoing bilateral projects.
- In the current year, this is the first diplomat level meeting between the two sides.
- The me
… (133 more words) …
4 National Education Policy: Ministry of Education [ Education, Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
National Education Policy
- Recently, the government has approved the New Education Policy, 2020.
- The aim of the policy is to introduce several changes in the Indian education System from the school to college level.
- The NEP 2020 aims at making ‘India a global knowledge superpow
… (571 more words) …
5 FRA Helps Dhenkanal Tribals Gain Land Rights [ Environment/Ecology, Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
FRA Helps Dhenkanal Tribals Gain Land Rights
- Munda and Santhal tribals recently got forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
- They were brought to Dhenkanal district in Odisha from Jharkhand over a century ago to work in its forests.
- The Odisha government issued a notif
… (354 more words) …
6 PM SVANidhi App Launched to Street Vendors Apply for Micro Loans [ Economy, Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
PM SVANidhi App Launched to Street Vendors Apply for Micro Loans
- PM SVANidhi (PM Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi) App was launched by the Urban Affairs Ministry.
- It will provide affordable working capital loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adve
… (301 more words) …
Dec 24, 2020
1 Covid Impact – GDP Loss: (DTE 1-15 September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Down-to-Earth ]
Covid Impact – GDP Loss
Overview
- Maharashtra will contribute 14 per cent of the country’s total GDP loss, Goa will witness the maximum per capita loss of over Rs. 1,00,000. In Delhi, the per capita loss will be close to Rs. 90,000.
- Ethiopia, which introd
… (152 more words) …
2 Sustainable Crop Production: (Kurukshetra September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Kurukshetra ]
Sustainable Crop Production
- Agriculture contributes to 17 % GDP.
- India is largest producer (25%), consumer (27%) and importer (14%) of pulses.
- India is largest producer of jute, second largest of rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, groundnuts, second largest producer of fruits and
… (302 more words) …
3 Smart Agriculture: (Kurukshetra September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Kurukshetra ]
Smart Agriculture
- Increase agricultural production by 2050 to 60 % to satisfy expected demands of food and fuel
- Use GIS, GPS, and remote sensing for precision agriculture
- Innovations: precision in seed sowing (correct depth and appropriate distance) – combine geo map and sensor
… (279 more words) …
4 Delhi Government’S Electric Vehicle Policy [ Policy/Governance, Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
Delhi Government’s Electric Vehicle Policy
- Delhi Chief Minister recently launched “Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy. “
- Under the new policy, the government will waive registration fee and road tax.
- It will also provide incentive of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh for new cars in the national c
… (206 more words) …
5 The Great Indian River Question Three Bills Threatening Federalism [ Govt. Schemes/Projects, Bills ]
The Great Indian River Question Three Bills Threatening Federalism
- On the river front, Indian federalism is facing a serious challenge.
- Three bills have been presented by the Centre in the Parliament
  - River Basin Management Bill, 2019
  - River Water Disputes Bill, 2019
  - Dam Safety A
… (321 more words) …
6 Sustainability Increases if Ethanol is Made from Sugarcane Juice [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
Sustainability Increases if Ethanol is Made from Sugarcane Juice
- Sugarcane is a cash crop that requires large amount of water and land to cultivate.
- It has enjoyed immense political patronage which led to India becoming the second-largest sugarcane producer.
- However, the count
… (245 more words) …
Dec 23, 2020
1 Rule of Law: (Yojana September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Yojana ]
Rule of Law
- Law embedded within society
- Vehicle for social engineering and orderly functioning
- Peace, order, justice, and equality
- Instrument of change
- Establish authority and power
- Procedural tools for accountability and resolving disputes
- Disobedience to law leads to corruptio
… (98 more words) …
2 Corporate Ethics: (Yojana September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Yojana ]
Corporate Ethics
Learning at mother’s feet – learning and values instilled in the formative years shape the character and help form a personality and discern between right and wrong.
Honesty, Integrity, Moral Code of Conduct
- Businessman – must not cheat custome
… (195 more words) …
3 Gandhian Ethics: (Yojana September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Yojana ]
Gandhian Ethics
Overview
- Relation b/w spiritual and material & ethical and moral – 21 years in South Africa & 32 years of campaign
- Truth beyond all we perceive & hold to be true
- Science is truth seeking – Experiments with Truth
- He changed views from God is Truth
… (168 more words) …
4 Accountability: (Yojana September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Yojana ]
- Process and norms that make decision makers answerable to ones for whom decision are taken – not based on hierarchy
- Answerable component to justify action and enforce it
Improve Confidence of Public
- Feedback b/w government and citizens
- External acc
… (129 more words) …
5 Information Sharing: (Yojana September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Yojana ]
Information Sharing
Overview
- Results in Karimnagar Telangana improved with the same.
- Invest India by Business Immunity Platform designed resource to help businesses get real time update on COVID-19.
- RTI – any citizen may request information from public auth
… (27 more words) …
6 One Sun, One World One Grid Project [ Policy/Governance, Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
One Sun, One World One Grid Project
- Prime Minister in his Independence speech mentioned about “One Sun, One World, One Grid” or a trans- national electricity grid supplying solar power across the globe.
- This idea was first floated by PM in 2018 during first assembly of the Inte
… (280 more words) …
7 New Genealogy Project Allows Astronomers to Trace Ancestors [ Policy/Governance, Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
New Genealogy Project Allows Astronomers to Trace Ancestors
- A genealogy project for academics who earned doctorates on astronomy related theses was launched by the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and its Historical Astronomy Division.
- The AstroGen project or Astronomy Genea
… (188 more words) …
8 Centre Launches Pilot Project to Reduce Emissions from Agriculture [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
Centre Launches Pilot Project to Reduce Emissions from Agriculture
- The Union government recently launched Green-Ag project in Mizoram.
- The aim of the project is to reduce emissions from agriculture and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.
- The project is designed to achie
… (196 more words) …
Dec 22, 2020
1 Agricultural Trade Exports and Imports: (Kurukshetra September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Kurukshetra ]
Agricultural Trade Exports
- WTO forecasted that 2020 trade will be low by 13 to 32 % due to pandemic
- 10 % of global agricultural trade at $19.67 trillion -17 % gross value added, 40 % employment and 11 % India’s trade
- India is 8^th largest exporter of ag
… (178 more words) …
2 Agricultural Research and Challenges: (Kurukshetra September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Kurukshetra ]
Agricultural Research
- A recently released book entitled Supporting Indian Forms the Smart Way shows that every rupee
… (88 more words) …
3 NABARD: (Kurukshetra September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Kurukshetra ]
NABARD
Overview
The water productivity has been analyzed from three broad perspectives namely, Physical water productivity (crop output per unit of total consumptive water used (TCWU) ), Irrigation water productivity (crop output per unit of irrigation water appl
… (37 more words) …
4 Independence Day Highlights and Integrity: (Yojana September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Yojana ]
Independence Day Highlights
5 National Education Policy: (Yojana September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Yojana ]
Focus on co-curricular and extra-curricular activities
Integrate Sports and Arts
- Book Fuzzy and The Techie by Scott Hartley – innovation not only by technology but social scientists also
- 4-year integrated Bed – strengthen Teacher Eligibility Test (TET)
… (61 more words) …
6 GIS: (Yojana September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Yojana ]
GIS
Overview
- Entire GIS mapping for land bank information portal by BISAG, Gandhinagar & MeITY
- GIS based information for industrial cluster – land based on plot size, connectivity, raw material, and sectoral clusters
- Impetus on National Single Window Clearance
… (39 more words) …
7 Citizen’S Charter and Corruption: (Yojana September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Yojana ]
Citizen’s Charter
8 Ethics in Journalism: (Yojana September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Yojana ]
Ethics in Journalism
Overview
- Principles, standards, guidelines, and code of conduct – deals with conduct, behavior, and character
- Yellow Journalism – late 19^th & early 20^th century – biased, sensational, and manipulating or distorting news with exaggerated
… (202 more words) …
Dec 22, 2020
1 Media Governance and Public Funding of Elections: (Yojana September 2020) [ Agriculture/Agro Industries, Govt. Schemes/Projects, Yojana ]
Media Governance
- 24/7 news channel, English & regional newspaper, social media, platform-based economy, advancement in digitization – regulatory conditions for decision making
- Media being guided towards strategic neglect framework
- Absence of streamlined protocols – those who are
… (187 more words) …
Dec 19, 2020
1 New Influenza Virus Isolated in Pigs in China [ Science/Technology, Down-to-Earth ]
New Influenza Virus Isolated in Pigs in China
- A new re-assorted influenza virus has been identified by scientists from pigs in China.
- The virus has pandemic potential.
- The study has been published in Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a US journal.
- The study
… (275 more words) …
2 Terminal to Import LPG in Bangladesh [ International Relations/Organizations, Railways ]
Terminal to Import LPG in Bangladesh
- A terminal to import Liquefied Petroleum Gas will be set up in Bangladesh.
- Indian Oil Corporation has agreed to form a joint venture Bangladesh’s Beximco’s LPG for setting up the terminal.
- An agreement for LPG business in Bangladesh has be
… (231 more words) …
3 Accelerate Vigyan Scheme [ Science/Technology, Economy ]
Accelerate Vigyan Scheme
- The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) have launched a scheme called Accelerate Vigyan (AV) to strengthen scientific research mechanisms in the country.
- The objective of the scheme is to give more thrust on encouraging high-end scientific res
… (328 more words) …
4 E-Waste to Increase 38% by 2030 [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
E-Waste to Increase 38 % by 2030
- The Global E-waste Monitor, 2020 report has been released.
- As per the report, global e-waste will increase by 38 percent in the decade between 2020 and 2030.
- There was 53.6 MT e-waste in 2019.
- That is a nearly 21 percent increase in just five
… (286 more words) …
5 The Theme of National Doctors Day [ Health, Important Days, Down-to-Earth ]
National Doctors Day
- National doctor’s Day is celebrated on July 1 every year.
- The theme of National Doctor’s Day, 2020 is – “Lessen the mortality of COVID-19” which is dedicated to the hard work of doctors amid the pandemic.
- The day is celebrated to thank doctors and physicia
… (174 more words) …
6 AIR to Broadcast Its First Ever News Programme in Sanskrit [ Culture, Newspaper Editorials ]
AIR to Broadcast Its First Ever News Programme in Sanskrit
- From July 4,2020, All India Radio (AIR) FM news channel started broadcasting its first ever news programme in Sanskrit language.
- The programme was of 20 minutes duration.
- All India Radio- ‘Sanskrit Saptahiki’ has named
… (153 more words) …
7 400 Mn Jobs Lost in Q2 [ Economy, Health ]
400 mn Jobs Lost in Q2
- International Labour Organization said that in the wake of novel coronavirus pandemic, nearly 400 million full-time jobs were lost between April-June 2020 (second quarter).
- The job losses in Africa are much more than its earlier estimates.
- Many more work
… (227 more words) …
8 Paddy Puzzle [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
Paddy Puzzle
- A unique tussle has been going on between Haryana government and the state’s paddy farmers for some time now.
- The state government encouraged farmers to grow paddy for more than 50 years since the Green Revolution.
- But now the government wants them to shift to oth
… (236 more words) …
Dec 19, 2020
1 Hilsa Vanishing from Poor and Middle Class People’S Menu in Odisha [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
Hilsa Vanishing from Poor and Middle Class People’s Menu in Odisha
- Hilsa, a prized variety of fish, is vanishing from the menu of poor and middle class people in Odisha.
- The reasons are
  - Over-exploitation of fish stocks
  - Construction of dams
  - Usage of gill nets
  - Climatic factors
… (183 more words) …
2 Railway BHEL Tie up for Solar Power Generation [ Science/Technology, Railways ]
Railway BHEL Tie up for Solar Power Generation
- BHEL commissions solar PV plant at Bina in Madhya Pradesh for Indian Railways.
- The capacity of plant is 1.7 MW.
- The power will be directly fed to traction system of Indian railways by the plant.
… (146 more words) …
3 Upgrade Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary to a National Park [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
Amid Coal Mining Row Assam Government Decides to Upgrade Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary to a National Park
- The Assam government has decided to upgrade the 111.942 sq. km Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary in to a National Park.
- It is located within the larger Dehing Patkai Elep
… (251 more words) …
4 Nekar Samman Yojana [ Policy/Governance, Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
Nekar Samman Yojana
- Karnataka’s Chief Minister has launched a scheme for weaver’s community in the state of Karnataka.
- The name of the scheme is Nekar Samman Yojana, which means Weaver Samman Yojana.
- According to 4^th All India Handloom Census, there are 54,789 handloom weavers
… (194 more words) …
5 Climate Change Can Affect Diseases Spread by Insect Vectors [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
Climate Change Can Affect Diseases Spread by Insect Vectors
- Recently, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and International Livestock research Institute (ILRI) released a report.
- Report says that climate change is a major factor in disease emergence.
- The survival, re
… (152 more words) …
6 Man Taken by Estuarine Croc in Fatal Attack [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
Man Taken by Estuarine Croc in Fatal Attack
- In Bhitarkanika, a man went missing after being dragged into a river by an estuarine crocodile in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park.
- Similarly, a milk supplier was attacked in the morning while he was standing near the bank of the c
… (163 more words) …
7 Human Cell Membrane on a Chip Can Fast Track COVID-19 Drug Testing [ Science/Technology, Down-to-Earth ]
Human Cell Membrane on a Chip Can Fast Track COVID-19 Drug Testing
- Researchers are on their toes to find out cure for novel coronavirus COVID-19.
- A group of scientists have developed a human cell ‘membrane on a chip’ that can keep track of how infectious agents and cells intera
… (213 more words) …
8 Andhra Pradesh Celebrates Farmer’S Day [ Important Days, Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
Andhra Pradesh Celebrates Farmer’s Day
- The birth anniversary of the former and 14^th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh is celebrated as Rythu Dinotsavam meaning Farmer’s Day.
- Farmer’s day was first celebrated in 2009.
- The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy
… (206 more words) …
Dec 19, 2020
1 First Machine to Automate Manual Processes of Molecular Diagnostic Tests [ Science/Technology, Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
First Machine to Automate Manual Processes of Molecular Diagnostic Tests
- Mylab Discovery Solutions has launched a machine to automate the manual processes of molecular diagnostic tests including RT-PCR tests for COVID-19.
- Mylab Discovery Solutions is Pune based.
- The company ha
… (150 more words) …
2 Cabinet Approves Capital Infusion for Public Sector General Insurance Firms [ Economy, Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
Cabinet Approves Capital Infusion for Public Sector General Insurance Firms
- The Union cabinet has approved the capital infusion in three Public Sector General Insurance Company
  - Oriental Insurance Company Limited
  - National Insurance Company Limited
  - United India Insurance Company
… (82 more words) …
3 Migration Reduces Transmission of Pathogens between Species [ Environment/Ecology, Down-to-Earth ]
Migration Reduces Transmission of Pathogens between Species
- The migration behavior of several species is changing due to man-made factors like
  - climate change
  - habitat loss
- Recently a report jointly released by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and ILRI (Internatio
… (226 more words) …
4 Inauguration of Six Bridges in J and K [ Defense, Govt. Schemes/Projects ]
Inauguration of Six Bridges in J and K
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated six strategic bridges along Pakistan border.
- Other projects for the people of J and K and armed forces are also in the pipeline.
- In Jammu region, about 1,000 km roads are currently under construc
… (186 more words) …
5 IIT Alumni Council CSIR IGIB to Jointly Conduct COVID-19 Research Patient Data Analysis [ Science/Technology, Economy, Health ]
IIT Alumni Council CSIR IGIB to Jointly Conduct COVID-19 Research Patient Data Analysis
- The IIT Alumni Council has signed an agreement with the CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) to jointly conduct research on COVID-19 and patient data analysis.
- For
… (262 more words) …
6 Odisha Uses Satellite Technology to Prevent Encroachment of Govt Land [ Science/Technology, Environment/Ecology, Space/ISRO ]
Odisha Uses Satellite Technology to Prevent Encroachment of Govt Land
- The Odisha Chief Minister used BLUIS (Bhubaneswar Land Use Intelligence System).
- The system will help in preventing encroachments of government lands with the help of satellites.
- BLUIS is a web and mobile ba
… (158 more words) …

Last Updated:Dec 30, 2020