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Recently, the Defence Minister has approved the budgetary support of Rs. 498.8 crore to Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) challenge under the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) for the next five years. Earlier, the Defence Minister released an E-booklet titled ‘20 Reforms in 2020’ highlighting the major reforms undertaken by the …

Recently, the Indian Coast Guard has pressed into service an aircraft for ‘Operation Oliva’ to protect Olive Ridley turtles It is an Armed Force, Search and Rescue and Maritime Law Enforcement agency under the Ministry of Defence. It was established in 1978. It has a wide range of task capabilities …

The Wide Area Linear Optical Polarimeter (WALOP), a vital instrument for the PASIPHAE Project, is being developed at Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), India. Polar-Areas Stellar-Imaging in Polarisation High-Accuracy Experiment (PASIPHAE) is an international collaborative sky surveying project. Astronomical Polarimetry Polarimetry, a technique to measure the polarisation of …

China’s dominance in the rare earth metals, key to the future of manufacturing, is posing a major concern for the West. Important points: China has over time acquired global domination of rare earths, even at one point, it produced 90% of the rare earths the world needs. Today, however, it …

The ‘National AI Portal’, celebrated its first anniversary on 28th May, 2021. Important points: It is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and NASSCOM. In 2009, NeGD was created as an Independent Business Division under the Digital India Corporation (a not-for-profit …

Recently, the Indian Prime Minister announced the ‘Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors’ (YUVA) scheme – a mentorship programme to train young authors. Important points: The scheme is aimed at training 75 aspiring writers below 30 years, who are ready to express themselves and project India and its culture and literature …

Recently, NITI Aayog and Piramal Foundation launched ‘Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyan’ in 112 aspirational districts. This drive was launched to assist the administration in providing home care support to Covid-19 patients, who are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Most of these districts are in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and …

Recently, the Maharashtra Government asked the Prime Minister for state-wide implementation of the ‘Beed model’ of the crop insurance scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY). Important point: Beed is a district of Maharashtra located in the drought-prone Marathwada region. 80-110 Formula: This model is also called 80-110 Formula. Under …

In a bid to encourage crop diversification, the Central Government has hiked the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Paddy, Pulses and Oilseeds (for all mandated Kharif Crops). Important point: The MSP is the rate at which the government purchases crops from farmers, and is based on a calculation of at …

The Maharashtra Cabinet has passed an action plan to protect and preserve trees older than 50 years in urban areas by terming them heritage trees. Important points: Few important criteria for considering a tree as a “heritage tree” are: size, shape, rarity, aesthetical/historical values, association with historic person, place or …

Recently, Odisha announced a cash award of Rs. 1,000 to conserve gharials in Mahanadi River Basin. Important points: Gharials, sometimes called gavials, are a type of Asian crocodilian distinguished by their long, thin snouts. Crocodilians are a group of reptiles that includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and more. India has three …

Recently, researchers from the Pune-based Tata Institute for Fundamental Research (TIFR) and the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), have assembled the largest collection of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) catalogue. The data is from Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME). In 2020, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) spotted …

The central government has released an expert committee report on the Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India by 2025. The roadmap proposes a gradual rollout of ethanol-blended fuel to achieve E10 fuel supply by April 2022 and phased rollout of E20 from April 2023 to April 2025. Important points: The …

El Salvador, a small coastal country in Central America has become the first in the world to adopt Bitcoin, as legal tender. Legal tender is the legally recognized money within a given political jurisdiction. Important points: Introduced in 2009, it is a type of cryptocurrency that enables instant payments to …

Recently, European Space Agency (ESA) has announced a new mission- EnVision mission to Venus Important point: It is an European Space Agency (ESA) led mission with contributions from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It is likely to be launched sometime in the 2030s. Once launched on an Ariane …

Recently, the Government of India has released funds for various activities of Farm Mechanization under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme. Important point: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare launched SMAM in 2014-15. Under it, subsidy is provided for purchase of various types of agricultural equipment and machinery …

Recently, the Assam government notified Dehing Patkai as the 7th National Park of the state. It was created shortly after Raimona reserve forest in western Assam’s Kokrajhar district was upgraded to a national park (6th) on the occasion of World Environment Day (5th June). National Park An area, whether within …

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the allotment of 5 MHz spectrum in the 700 MHz frequency band to the Indian Railways for improving its communication and signalling systems. Railways has also approved a indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). Important points: The project, targeted to be completed in five …

NITI Aayog, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and RMI India’s new report, Fast Tracking Freight in India: A Roadmap for Clean and Cost-Effective Goods Transport, present key opportunities for India to reduce its logistics costs. RMI is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1982. NITI Aayog It is a public policy …

Recently, the World Bank has released its June 2021 Global Economic Prospects where it has forecast India’s GDP growth to be 8.3% for the year 2021-22. Important points: India’s economy is expected to grow at 8.3% for Fiscal Year 2021-22, 7.5% for 2022-23 and 6.5% for 2023-24. The world economy …