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The Ministry of Tourism has formulated three draft strategies with roadmaps for promoting Medical and Wellness Tourism, for development of Rural Tourism and for promotion of MICE Industry in India. India has been ranked 34th out of 140 countries on the World Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index 2019, released by …

The Wuhan Institute of Virology was said to have conducted gain-of-function research on coronaviruses which may possibly have caused the lab-leak origin of the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19 pandemic). Important points: In virology, gain-of-function research involves deliberately altering an organism in the lab, altering a gene, or introducing a mutation in a …

The Ministry of Science and Technology has issued a Special Call for the NorthEast Region as a part of its Mission Programme “Biotech-Krishi Innovation Science Application Network (Biotech-KISAN)”. Important points: It is a scientist-farmer partnership scheme launched in 2017. It is a pan-India program, following a hub-and-spoke model and stimulates …

Biofortification is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology. Importance of Biofortification: Biofortified staple crops, when consumed regularly, will generate measurable improvements in human health and nutrition. Biofortified crops are also often more resilient to pests, …

The maiden Indian Navy – European Union Naval Force (IN-EUNAVFOR) Exercise is being conducted in Gulf Of Aden. Important points: Along with Indian Navy, other naval forces are from Italy, Spain and France. The naval exercise included advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, tactical manoeuvres, Search & Rescue, and other …

The illegal cultivation of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Bt cotton has seen a huge jump as the sale of illegal seed packets has more than doubled from 30 lakh in 2020 to 75 lakh in 2021. Important points: Bt cotton is the only transgenic crop that has been approved by the …

Recently, a high-level committee has been formed for the consultations on the creation of integrated triservice theatre commands. The committee will examine all issues and find a way forward before a formal note on their creation is sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security. Important points: The move was necessitated …

Recently, a study has projected that sea levels will rise around Lakshadweep Islands due to the impact of global warming. It will affect airport and residential areas that are quite close to the present coastline. India’s smallest Union Territory, Lakshadweep is an archipelago consisting of 36 islands with an area …

Recently, an agreement was signed for Development of 35 MLD (Mega Liters per day) Sewage Treatment Plant in Maheshtala (City situated on the east bank of River Ganga), West Bengal under Namami Gange Programme. The project was signed under Hybrid Annuity PPP mode. Important points: Namami Gange Programme is an …

Recently, a Chinese spaceship “Shenzhou-12” carrying a three-person crew docked with China’s new space station module Tianhe-1. his has come after the launch of the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft, which carried vital supplies for the space station. Important points: The Shenzhou-12 craft connected with the Tianhe space station module about six …

The Ministry of Home Affairs has operationalised the national Helpline 155260 and Reporting Platform for preventing financial loss due to cyber fraud. The helpline was soft-launched on 1st April. The National Helpline and Reporting Platform provides a mechanism for persons cheated in cyber frauds to report such cases to prevent …

The central government issued a notification amending the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 thereby providing a statutory mechanism for redressal of grievances/complaints of citizens. These grievances/complaints are related to content broadcast by television channels in accordance with the provisions of the Cable Television Network Act, 1995. Important points: About the …

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the Inland Vessels Bill, 2021, which will replace the Inland Vessels Act, 1917 after passing in Parliament. The Bill will regulate safety, security and registration of inland vessels. Important points: A key feature of the Bill is a unified law for the entire country, instead …

Recently, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution made it mandatory for the hallmarking of gold jewellery, which will be implemented in a phased manner. Important points: The Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) which operates the gold and silver hallmarking scheme in India, defines hallmarking as the “accurate …

Recently, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a USD 484 million loan for the Tamil Nadu Industrial Connectivity Project. The loan is to improve transport connectivity and facilitate industrial development in the Chennai – Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) in the state of Tamil Nadu. It …

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a plan to corporatise the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). Important points: 41 factories across the country will be dissolved into seven new Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU). The newly created entities will be 100% owned by the government. These entities will be responsible for different …

Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM). The blueprint of the DOM to explore the deep recesses of the ocean was unveiled in 2018. Earlier, MoES had also rolled out the draft Blue …

Recently, the 31st edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy was conducted in the Andaman sea close to the Strait of Malacca Important points: India and Thailand have been carrying out CORPAT along their International Maritime Boundary Line twice a year …

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Ministry of Civil Aviation signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Development of Seaplane Services in India. India’s first seaplane service started operation between Kevadia and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad in October 2020, under Sagarmala Seaplane Services. Important points: This MoU envisages …

Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited and Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (BSHPC) for Implementation of Dagmara Hydro-Electric Project, Supaul, Bihar. NHPC is a Category-A Miniratna Company under the Ministry of Power, in the field of Hydropower. It is …