INSTA CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH 2021 WWW.INSIGHTSONINDIA.COM INSIGHTSIAS www.insightsonindia.com 1 InsightsIAS Table of Contents 1. SC seeks States’ views on 50% cap on quota: ... 19 2. No-trust vote: .................................................... 20 GENERAL STUDIES – 1 ..................................... 7 3. State Election Commissioners: .......................... 21 4. National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Topics: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Bill, 2021: ................................................................... 22 Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to 5. Applicability of Anti-defection law for nominated modern times. .............................................................. 7 MPs:. .......................................................................... 23 1. What are Sattras? ............................................... 7 6. Appropriation Bill gets the nod of Lok Sabha: .. 24 2. Declaration Of World Heritage Sites By 7. Supplementary demand for grants: .................. 25 UNESCO:.. .................................................................... 7 8. Right to counsel in custody: .............................. 26 3. Konark Sun Temple: ............................................ 8 9. Sixth Schedule areas: ........................................ 27 4. Tomar king Anangpal II: ...................................... 9 10. A-G says no to contempt proceedings: ........ 27 11. Freedom of Religion: .................................... 28 Topics: Modern Indian history from about the middle of 12. Uniform Civil Code: ....................................... 29 the eighteenth century until the present- significant 13. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI): ................... 30 events, personalities, issues. ........................................ 9 1. Lachit Borphukan: ............................................... 9 Topics: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to Topics: The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and the federal structure, devolution of powers and important contributors /contributions from finances up to local levels and challenges therein. ..... 31 different parts of the country. .................................... 10 1. SC stays HC decision barring aided school 1. Padyatra to commemorate salt march: ............ 10 teachers from contesting polls: ................................. 31 Topics: Women and women related issues. ................ 11 Topics: Separation of powers between various organs 1. ‘The Opportunity Index 2021’ report: ............... 11 dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions. ......... 31 2. Disha (Special Courts for Specified Offences 1. How Election Commission decides on party against Women and Children) Bill: ............................ 11 symbols? .................................................................... 31 3. Plea to constitute district medical boards: ....... 12 2. Mullaperiyar dam isssue: .................................. 32 4. Orunudoi scheme:............................................. 13 3. Demarcate how amicus curiae can help: SG tells 5. Corrective voice from top court against top court: ................................................................... 33 stereotyping women: ................................................ 13 4. How Supreme Court chooses the Chief Justice of India? ......................................................................... 34 Topics: Population and associated issues, poverty and 5. SC suggests posting retired judges to clear developmental issues. ................................................ 14 backlog in HCs: ........................................................... 35 1. City Innovation Exchange (CiX): ........................ 14 2. Ease of Living Index (EoLI): ................................ 15 Topics: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, 3. Municipal Performance Index 2020: ................. 15 functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. ................... 35 Topics: Distribution of key natural resources across the 1. Termination of Session: .................................... 35 world (including South Asia and the Indian 2. How the electoral bonds scheme has worked so subcontinent) ............................................................. 16 far, and why it has been challenged in SC? ............... 36 1. North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC): ..................................................... 16 Topics: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act. ............................................................... 37 Topics: Important Geophysical phenomena such as 1. Registration of political parties: ........................ 37 earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., 2. NOTA (None Of The Above): ............................. 38 geographical features and their location- changes in 3. Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT): ...... 39 critical geographical features (including water-bodies 4. What are postal ballots? ................................... 40 and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of 5. Model code of conduct: .................................... 40 such changes. ............................................................. 17 1. What is space hurricane? .................................. 17 Topics: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various GENERAL STUDIES – 2 ................................... 19 Constitutional Bodies. ................................................ 41 1. The Chief Minister: Appointment, Power, Topics: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, Function and Position: ............................................... 41 evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure; Comparison of the Indian Topics: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial constitutional scheme with that of other countries. ... 19 bodies. ........................................................................ 42 www.insightsonindia.com 2 InsightsIAS 1. Insurance ombudsman: .................................... 42 Topics: Role of civil services in a democracy. .............. 67 2. Banks Board Bureau (BBB): ............................... 43 1. ‘Lateral entry’ into bureaucracy: reason, process, and the controversy:.................................................. 67 Topics: Government policies and interventions for 2. Annual democracy report: ................................ 68 development in various sectors and issues arising out 3. The Bihar police Bill: .......................................... 69 of their design and implementation............................ 44 1. National Population Register: ........................... 44 Topics: India and its neighbourhood- relations. .......... 70 2. National Capital Territory Bill: ........................... 45 1. International North South Transport Corridor: . 70 3. One Nation One Ration Card System: ............... 45 2. India reaffirms Lanka defence ties: ................... 70 4. Places of Worship Act: ...................................... 46 3. China plans to build downstream dams on 5. MMDR Amendment Bill, 2021: ......................... 47 Brahmaputra: ............................................................. 71 6. SC sought Centre’s response in “ration cards 4. Indus water panel holds meeting: .................... 72 cancellation” case: ..................................................... 48 7. Insurance Amendment Bill, 2021: ..................... 48 Topics: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and 8. Places of Worship Act: ...................................... 49 agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s 9. Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA): ...... 50 interests. .................................................................... 73 10. GST compensation: ....................................... 51 1. Quad leaders for ‘open, free’ Indo-Pacific: ....... 73 11. Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020:….. ..................................................................... 51 Topics: Effect of policies and politics of developed and 12. No digital tax if goods sold via India arm: ..... 53 developing countries on India’s interests, Indian 13. Development of Iconic Tourist Destinations diaspora. .................................................................... 74 Scheme: ..................................................................... 53 1. The US 2021 President’s Trade Agenda and 2020 14. Unique Land Parcel Identification Number Annual Report: ........................................................... 74 (ULPIN) scheme: ........................................................ 54 2. U.S. thinktank report classifies India as ‘partly 15. NRC rejection slips to be issued soon: .......... 54 free’: ………………………………………………………………………75 3. China warns U.S. over its Taiwan stand: ........... 76 Topics: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the 4. What does Biden’s peace plan mean for population by the Centre and States and the Afghanistan? .............................................................. 76 performance of these schemes. .................................. 55 5. The Indian Ocean border dispute between Kenya 1. Panel flags Centre’s meagre pensions: ............. 55 and Somalia: .............................................................. 77 2. State welfare boards for building and other 6. Riyadh