The South Korean and U.S. militaries announced to hold of their most extensive joint field exercises in five years, as the U.S. flew a long-range B-1B bomber to the Korean Peninsula in a show of force against North Korea.
North Korea is highly sensitive to the deployment of B-1Bs, which are capable of carrying a large conventional weapons payload.
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Details of the exercise:
Why is such an exercise being conducted?
Nuclear Diplomacy:
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India and Nuclear Power:
Significance to possess nuclear weapons:
Despite being abundant with resources and a developed energy sector, BIMSTEC countries are not much advance in generation and utilisation to provide affordable energy access to all.
BIMSTEC energy Centre (BEC):
Status of energy access in BIMSTEC countries:
Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand have achieved 100 per cent or near 100 per cent energy access. |
In a significant decision, the government has decided to give a one-time option to select Central government employees to migrate to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
About the proposal:
Who are eligible to apply?
Till January 31 2023, there were 23, 65,693 Central government employees and 60, 32,768 State government employees enrolled under the NPS. Except for West Bengal, all States had implemented the NPS. |
The New Pension Scheme (NPS):
What is DA?
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The World Bank is lending up to $1 billion to help India with preparedness for future pandemics as well as to strengthen its health infrastructure.
Both the PHSPP and the EHSDP utilise the Program-for-Results financing instrument that focuses on achievement of results rather than inputs. Both the PHSPP and EHSDP loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) have a final maturity of 18.5 years including a grace period of five years. |
Need of the initiative:
India’s Health sector:
Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission:
Key features:
The World Bank has released India’s score for the index on the life cycle of a working woman obtained down to 74.4 out of a possible 100.
A score of 100 on the Index means that women are in equal standing with men on all the eight indicators being measured. |
Highlights of the index:
India’s Women workforce:
Issues:
India lags behind when it comes to laws affecting women’s pay, laws affecting women’s work after having children, constraints on women starting and running a business, gender differences in property and inheritance, and laws affecting the size of a woman’s pension.
Reasons for Low Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP):
In India, the forest certification industry is growing at 8 to 10 per cent every year, mainly catering to exporters wanting to tap the US and European markets that have strict regulations to ensure the legality of wood products coming in.
Forest Certifications:
Significance and the need for forest certification:
Forest certification in India:
Key features:
Network for Certification and Conservation of Forests (NCCF): NCCF is a non-profit organisation that came into existence in January 2015 as a Society to have a globally aligned certification program developed within India and address the concerns for sustainable management of forests and plantations, while at the same time making the Indian wood and forest fibre-based industry competent globally. |
Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification:
History Sishupalgarh
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Land mafias damage rampart of ancient fortified city of Sisupalgarh. About
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Environment |
Yellowstone National Park, celebrating its 151st anniversary contains large biodiversity. About
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Environment Jerdon’s narrow-mouthed frog (Uperodon montanus) |
Jerdon’s narrow-mouthed frog (Uperodon montanus) has been re-spotted in western ghats.
About
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Context:
Supreme Court’s verdict:
Verifying, please be patient.