CONTEXT: National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited will be adopting Light Detection and Ranging Survey (LiDAR) technique using Laser enabled equipment mounted on a Helicopter for conducting ground survey for the preparation of Detailed Project Report for the proposed DelhiVaranasi HSR corridor. BACKGROUND: The proposed Delhi-Varanasi HSR alignment covers mixed …

CONTEXT: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute has released a report on arms market across the world. IMPORTANT POINTS: The U.S. arms industry accounted for 61% of sales by the world’s “Top 25” manufacturers last year, ahead of China’s 15.7%. Total sales by the “Top 25” rose by 8.5% to $361 …

CONTEXT: The process of establishing Waqf Boards in Jammu and Kashmir and leh-kargil has started recently. MAIN POINTS: There are thousands of Waqf properties in Jammu-Kashmir and Leh-Kargil and the process has been started to register these Waqf properties. Digitisation, Geo Tagging/GPS Mapping of these Waqf properties has also been …

CONTEXT: The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government is working to connect Tharu villages in the districts of Balrampur, Bahraich, Lakhimpur and Pilibhit bordering Nepal, with the home stay scheme of the UP Forest Department. MAIN POINTS: The idea is to offer tourists an experience of living in the natural Tharu habitat, …

CONTEXT: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has declared ‘Invest India’ as winner of the United Nations Investment Promotion Award 2020. MAIN POINTS: United Nations Investment Promotion Award: It recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the world’s Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs). Since 2002, UNCTAD has organised …