Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) are the grassroots-level cooperative credit institutions in India that serve as a vital part of the country’s cooperative credit structure. They play a crucial role in providing financial assistance and credit to farmers, particularly in rural areas. PACS are an instrument of financial inclusion of rural India and empower farmers to get community support.
KenBetwa project
Context: The KenBetwa project involves transferring “excess” water from the Ken river to the Betwa river, both tributaries of the Yamuna, via a 221km link canal, including a 2km tunnel. Ken-Betwa River Linking Project
Vadhvan Port: Deep Seaport in Maharashtra
Biopharmaceutical
Context: UKbased pharma giant AstraZeneca has announced plans to restructure its biopharma unit to concentrate on nextgeneration therapeutics. Biopharmaceutical A biopharmaceutical is a pharmaceutical drug that is made from biological sources, such as humans, animals, plants, or microorganisms. They are also known as biologics or biological medical products. General Characteristics of Biopharmaceuticals Biologics
The Competition Commission of India
Context: The Competition Commission of India (CCI), which has received a complaint of anticompetitive practices against quick commerce (qcom) companies, is waiting for more information on the allegations from the complainant before taking a decision on the matter. The Competition Commission of India is the national top-level competition regulator in India. It enforces the Competition Act, 2002 to promote competition and prevent adverse activities. It investigates cases affecting competition.
National Informatics Centre’s (NIC)
Context: Several government websites went down on Tuesday following a power outage at the National Informatics Centre’s (NIC) data centre in Shastri Park in northeast Delhi, sources said. National Informatics Centre Services National Informatics Centre Services Inc. is a government department of India under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
National Informatics Centre Services
National Informatics Centre Services Inc. is a government department of India under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
The Foreigners Registration Office
The Foreigners Registration Office is a department of the Indian government which is responsible for registering foreign nationals visiting India on a long-term visa. Its registration is within 14 days, 24 hours for Pakistani nationals, and children under 16 years are exempted from its registration.
Appointment of Judges
The Constitution of India provides for the appointment of judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts under Articles 124(2) and 217. Impeachment of High Court Judge
Important Indexes and India’s Position
Index India’s Position (2023/2024) Description Issuing Organization Human Development Index (HDI) 132nd (2022) A composite index measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions: life expectancy, education, and per capita income. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) 58th (2023) Measures factors that drive long-term productivity and prosperity, including institutions, infrastructure, and innovation. World Economic Forum (WEF) Ease of Doing Business Index 63rd (2020) Ranks countries based on the conduciveness of their regulatory environment to business operations. (Note: Discontinued in 2021) World Bank Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 86th (2023) Ranks countries based on perceived public sector corruption, determined by expert assessments and surveys. Transparency International World Press Freedom Index 161st (2024) Measures media freedom in different countries, based on pluralism, independence, and transparency. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Global Innovation Index (GII) 40th (2023) Assesses innovation capability based on R&D, infrastructure, and education. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 168th (2022) Ranks countries on environmental health and ecosystem vitality. Yale University, Columbia University Global Hunger Index (GHI) 107th (2023) Multidimensional index measuring hunger and malnutrition around the world. Concern Worldwide, Welthungerhilfe World Happiness Index 126th (2023) Measures happiness levels based on income, freedom, trust, and social support. United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 11th (2023) Assesses terrorism impact based on incidents, fatalities, and threats. Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) World Economic Forum’s Social Mobility Index 52nd (2023) Assesses how well countries offer opportunities for social mobility, including access to education, health, and economic opportunities. World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 10th (2020) Measures countries’ commitment to cybersecurity, considering legal, technical, organizational measures, and capacity building. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) International Tax Competitiveness Index (ITCI) 61st (2023) Ranks countries on the competitiveness of their tax systems, evaluating corporate taxes and individual taxes. Tax Foundation Global Peace Index (GPI) 135th (2023) Measures peacefulness based on violence, conflict, incarceration rates, and access to weapons. Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) Sustainable Development Goals Index 120th (2023) Measures countries’ progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 44th (2023) Ranks countries on logistics performance, including trade efficiency, infrastructure, and customs procedures. World Bank Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) 80th (2023) Assesses a country’s ability to develop, attract, and retain talent based on education, training, and employment. INSEAD, Adecco Group, Google
