GS-3 1.PRARAMBH: STARTUP INDIA INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT ‘Prarambh: Startup India International Summit’ to be held for two days in January 2021. ABOUT PRARAMBH: The Summit is being organized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is a follow up of the announcement …

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Science & Technology, Health and Family Welfare and Earth Sciences, launched a website that gives comprehensive information about the numerous COVID-19 clinical trials that CSIR is engaged in partnership with industry, other government departments and ministries. Called CuRED or CSIR Ushered Repurposed Drugs, the website …

20 Major Success Stories of DST in 2020 The major challenges that 2020 put before the world helped India emerge as a forerunner in underscoring the critical role of science and technology in bringing positive transformations for a safe, secure, better society well prepared for the future. The country pole-vaulted …

GS-2 4.KAYAKALP AWARD SCHEME IMPORTANT POINTS: The award scheme was launched in 2015 to appreciate and recognise the efforts of public health facilities to create a healthy environment. The parameters for judging are hospital/facility upkeep, sanitation and hygiene, waste management, infection control, support services and hygiene promotion. OBJECTIVES OF KAYAKALP: …

GS-2 3.URBAN LOCAL BODIES REFORMS Manipur becomes the 4th state to complete urban local bodies reforms.   IMPORTANT POINTS: Manipur has become the 4th state in the country to successfully undertake “Urban Local Bodies (ULB)” reform stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. Thus, the State has become …

GS-3 2.CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES CBDT launches e-portal for filing complaints regarding tax evasion/Benami Properties/Foreign Undisclosed Assets. IMPORTANT POINTS: CBDT has launched an automated dedicated e-portal on the e-filing website of the Department to receive and process complaints of tax evasion, foreign undisclosed assets as well as complaints regarding …

GS-2 1.NEW FOREIGN TRADE POLICY 2021-26 New Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2021-2026 to be rolled out from April 2021. IMPORTANT POINTS: The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that India’s new Foreign Trade Policy 2021-2026, under formulation, will come into effect from April 1, 2021. India’s FTP has conventionally …

Indians will soon have access to the country’s first indigenous flow diverter stent for diverting blood flow away from localized ballooning of arteries in the brain and a device that promotes better healing of the hole in the heart. Nitinol-based occluder devices, which are presently used to heal Atrial Septal …

Scientists have found a clue to dynamical origin of fluctuations in systems like fish schools, swarm of insects, flocking birds and bacterial colonies, which are called active matter systems. This understanding can be useful in nanotechnology applications like building small-scale energy-efficient bio-devices as well as biomedical applications like characterizing infection …

GS-2 6.FIVE YEARS OF PRADHAN MANTRI FASAL BIMA YOJANA Recently, the flagship crop insurance scheme of the Government of India –the Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojana (PMFBY)– has completed five years of its launch.PMFBY was launched on 13 January 2016. The scheme was conceived as a milestone initiative to provide a comprehensive risk …

GS-3  5.SPINTRONICS Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali (Punjab), an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, have produced an ultra-high mobility 2d-electron gas (2DEG) at the interface of two insulating oxide layers. WHAT IS SPINTRONICS? Spintronic, also known …

GS-3 6. MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION (MEE) Environment Minister releases Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of 146 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries (2018 – 19). MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION (MEE) MEE is the assessment of how well protected areas such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves, community reserves and tiger reserves are …

GS-1 5. KHADI PRAKRITIK PAINT Khadi Prakritik Paint has been launched by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute, Jaipur (a KVIC unit). ABOUT KHADI PRAKRITIK PAINT: It is an eco-friendly, non-toxic paint with anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties. Based on cow dung as its main ingredient, the paint is cost-effective and odourless, and …

GS-2 4. NORTH EAST VENTURE FUND (NEVF) IMPORTANT POINTS: It is the first and the only dedicated Venture Fund for the North Eastern Region. The Venture Fund Scheme launched by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) intended to promote growth of business ventures and skill development in …

GS-3 SEA VIGIL-21 The second edition of the biennial pan-India coastal defenceexercise ‘Sea Vigil-21’ will be conducted for two days in January 2021. ABOUT EX SEA VIGIL: The exercise is conducted by the Indian Navy and involves maritime stakeholders, including the Coast Guard, Customs, fisheries, fishing and coastal communities in …

GS-3 2. SINGLE WINDOW CLEARANCE PORTAL OF MINISTRY OF COAL Union Home Minister launches Single Window Clearance Portal of Ministry of Coal. Important points: The newly launched portal is a unified platform that facilitates grant of clearances and approvals required for starting a coal mine in India. Currently, about 19 …

GS-2  1.PRIME MINISTER’S NATIONAL RELIEF FUND (PMNRF) PM approves an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to hospital fire in Maharashtra. ABOUT PMNRF: PMNRF was established in 1948 by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. The initial purpose …

We may soon have a wheat variety that does not lose its productivity under heat stress. Heat stress causes a dramatic reduction in yield and quality loss of wheat, the food crop that nurtures more than one-third of the world population. In order to address this challenge,  Department of Science …

GS-1 5.JAGANNATH TEMPLE Recently, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) announced that devotees don’t need to produce their Covid-19 negative report for getting entry into the shrine in Puri from January 21. At present devotees entering the temple have to show Covid- 19 negative reports. The temple opened to the …

GS-3 4.DOMESTIC EXPLORATION OF LITHIUM Recent surveys by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) have shown the presence of lithium resources in Mandya district, AMD is the oldest unit of the Department of Atomic Energy. ABOUT LITHIUM: PROPERTIES: It is a chemical element with the symbol Li …