CONTEXT: As per a report by PwC (a global network of firms), India reported a 45% increase in the use of Artificial Intelligence, the highest among all countries, following the outbreak of the virus. MAIN POINTS The rise of AI adoption (45%) recorded in the country is the highest, when …

CONTEXT: Recently, Israel launched the Beresheet 2 project aimed at landing an unmanned craft on the moon in 2024. Earlier, Israel’s Beresheet probe crash landed on the Moon. MAIN POINTS The Beresheet probe was a private mission to the Moon by Israeli nonprofit SpaceIL organisation. Beresheet in hebrew (spoken in …

CONTEXT: Recently, the Ministry of Railways has written to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) seeking exemption for procuring certain medical items manufactured outside India, particularly medicines used in the treatment of Covid-19, cancer,DPIIT is a central government department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. …

CONTEXT: Nepal and China have announced the revised height of Mount Everest as 8,848.86 metres. The new height is 86 cm more than the previous measurement. MAIN POINTS: The new height of 8,848.86 meters replaced the long-associated 8,848 metre height, which was, as per a measurement carried out by the …

CONTEXT: Entire Lakshadweep group of islands has been declared as an organic agricultural area under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) of India. PARTICIPATORY GUARANTEE SYSTEM: PGS is a process of certifying organic products, which ensures that their production takes place in accordance with laid-down quality standards. The certification is in …

CONTEXT: A virtual meeting took place recently between an Indian Minister and his Swiss Counterpart. IMPORTANT POINTS: Both the Ministers reiterated the desire to move forward on the India-EFTA Trade & Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) negotiations. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is the intergovernmental organisation of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway …

CONTEXT: In a message to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) on its 36 Charter Day anniversary, the Prime Minister said that SAARC can only be fully effective in the absence of “terror and violence”. SAARC Charter Day is observed annually on 8 December. This day marks the …

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 …