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Recently, China’s spacecraft Tianwen-1 landed on Mars carrying its first Mars rover named Zhurong. It became the third country to land on Mars after the US and Soviet Union. China’s previous ‘Yinghuo-1’ Mars mission, which was supported by a Russian spacecraft, had failed after it did not leave the earth’s orbit and disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean in 2012. Important points: The Tianwen-1 …

The Finance Ministry has granted ‘Infrastructure’ status for exhibition and convention centres. In 2020, the government had added affordable rental housing projects to the list of sectors recognised as infrastructure. Important points: Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre has been included in the Harmonised Master List of Infrastructure sub-sectors by insertion of a new item in the category of Social and …

Recently, a report was published which gave details of who makes single-use plastic, 130 million tons a year at last count, and who makes money from it. The report was published by Minderoo, a nonprofit organization based in Australia along with academics at the University of Oxford and the Stockholm Environment Institute. Important points: Half of the …

The Electoral Bonds worth Rs. 695.34 crore were sold during elections to the Assemblies of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal, Assam and Kerala. The amount sold was the highest-ever for any Assembly elections since the scheme started in 2018. Important points: Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties. The bonds are issued …

Cabinet Secretary chaired National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting on Cyclone Tauktae. National Crisis Management Committee: The NCMC is a committee set up by the Government of India in the wake of a natural calamity for effective coordination and implementation of relief measures and operations. It is headed by the …

According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), a total of 186 elephants were killed after being hit by trains across India between 2009-10 and 2020-21. Important points: Assam accounted for the highest number of elephant casualties on railway tracks (62), followed by West Bengal (57), and Odisha (27). Uttar Pradesh saw a single death. Measures Taken: A Permanent Coordination Committee has …

The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs. 18,100-crore, to reduce imports. The scheme is called the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage (NPACC). It is under the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises. Important points: It aims to give companies incentives on incremental sales from products manufactured in domestic units. It invites …

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has provided an enhanced allocation of Rs. 2250 Crore for the year 2021-22 for ‘Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture’ (MIDH). Horticulture is the branch of plant agriculture dealing with garden crops, generally fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. M.H. Marigowda is considered the Father of Indian Horticulture. Important points: About: MIDH is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for …

Recently, an independent global panel, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPPR) in its report named “Covid-19: Make it the Last Pandemic concluded that the catastrophic scale of the Covid-19 pandemic could have been prevented. The report was requested by World Health Organization (WHO) member states in May 2020. Important points: A series of bad decisions meant Covid-19 …

India has S-400 TRIUMF, which also caters to the three threats (rockets, missiles and cruise missiles). But they have much longer range. It has a much larger air defence bubble to knock off threats. It is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM) designed by Russia. The system can engage all types of aerial targets within the range of …

India observes its National Technology Day on 11th May every year. Important points: The day, which was first observed on 11th May, 1999, aims to commemorate the scientific and technological achievements of Indian scientists, engineers. The day was named by the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Every year, the Technology Development Board of India celebrates the day by awarding individuals with the …

Water hyacinth is a type of invasive floating plant found in water bodies across the world. These invasive species block the sunlight reaching and oxygen level in water systems, which results in damaging water quality and seriously affecting various life forms in the ecosystem. It is also referred to as the terror of Bengal given its …

Recently, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft departed from asteroid Bennu, and started its two-year long journey back to Earth. OSIRIS-REx is NASA’s first mission to visit a near-Earth asteroid, survey its surface and collect a sample from it. Important points: It is the United States’ first asteroid sample return mission, aiming to collect and carry a pristine, …

National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) is in the process of creating a verified and accurate database of companies (Public Interest Entities) and auditors that come under the regulatory ambit of it. In this regard, the NFRA has been engaging with the Corporate Data Management (CDM) division of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and three …

Recently, there has been an across-the-board rise in global commodity prices that is being billed as a new commodity super cycle. A commodity is a basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other goods of the same type. Commodities are most often used as inputs in the production of other goods or services. Important points: A …

Recently, the Environment Appraisal Committee which flagged concerns over the project has now ‘recommended’ it ‘for grant of terms of reference’ for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies. In August, 2020 the Prime Minister had declared that the Andaman and Nicobar islands will be developed as a “maritime and startup hub”. Important points: The proposal includes …

There are cases of clearance of forest land, digging and construction activities on at least three animal corridors within the eco-sensitive zone of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. The Supreme Court of India in its 2019 order had said that “No new construction shall be permitted on private lands which form part of the …

Recently, India participated in the 3rd Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM) and shared plans for research and long-term cooperation in the Arctic Region. The first two meetings—ASM1 and ASM2—were held in the USA in 2016 and Germany in 2018, respectively. Arctic Region The Arctic region comprises the Arctic Ocean and parts of countries such as Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Russia, USA (Alaska), …

The Ministry of Finance has released the second monthly instalment of Post Devolution Revenue Deficit (PDRD) Grant of Rs. 9,871 crore for the year 2021-22 to 17 States. Important points: The Centre provides the Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant to the States under Article 275 of the Constitution. The grants are released as per the recommendations of …

Recently, the Reserve Bank Of India (RBI) has constituted an Advisory Group to assist the second Regulations Review Authority (RRA 2.0). The RBI has set up the RRA 2.0, initially for a period of one year from 1st May, 2021, with a view to streamline regulations and reduce the compliance burden of regulated entities. Important points: …