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GS-3 NATIONAL AWARDS BY THE DEPT. OF CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS 10th national awards for ‘Technology Innovation in Petrochemicals & Downstream Plastics Processing Industries’ to be presented. Important points: The National Awards for ‘Technology Innovation in Petrochemicals and Downstream Plastic Processing Industries’ is an initiative of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. …

GS-3 NATHU LA PASS Recently, the Indian Army rescued several tourists caught in a snowstorm at Nathu La on the India-China border in Sikkim. Important points: Nathu La, one of the highest motorable roads in the world, is a mountain pass in the Himalayan peaks situated on the Indo-Tibetan border 14450 ft. above sea level. …

GS-3 HELINA AND DHRUVASTRA Recently, India has successfully test-fired indigenously-developed anti-tank guided missile systems ‘Helina’ and ‘Dhruvastra’ in the Pokhran range, Thar desert (Rajasthan). Important points : The Helina (the Army version) and Dhruvastra (Indian Airforce version) are helicopter-launched versions of third-generation anti-tank guided missiles (the Nag missile system). The missile system has all-weather day-and-night capability and can defeat …

GS-3 SAMBHAR LAKE The State Government of Rajasthan will identify new tourist points at Sambhar Salt Lake. The Lake forms part of the desert circuit in the Centre’s Swadesh Darshan Scheme. The Scheme was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2014 -15 for integrated development of theme based tourist circuits in the country. Important points: Situated about 80 km …

GS-3 HYDERABAD WINS GLOBAL ‘TREE CITY’ STATUS Hyderabad has received recognition as ‘Tree City’ for its urban forestry drive Urban forestry campaign gets global recognition Important points: Hyderabad city has received another feather in its cap by being chosen as one among the ‘Tree Cities of the World’ by the …

GS-3 DRAFT BLUE ECONOMY POLICY Recently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has rolled out the draft Blue Economy policy, inviting suggestions and inputs from various stakeholders. It is in line with the Government of India’s Vision of New India by 2030. The policy document highlighted the blue economy as one of the ten core dimensions …

GS-3 PLI SCHEME FOR TELECOM AND NETWORKING PRODUCTS The Union Cabinet has approved the PLI Scheme for Telecom and Networking Products. Important points: This scheme is part of the umbrella scheme approved by the cabinet in November 2020 for implementation of Production Linked-Incentives (PLI) under various ministries/departments. This is in …

GS-3 NASSCOM TECHNOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP FORUM (NTLF) Organised by NASSCOM, the forum is a platform where the technology industry is celebrated for serving as a as a backbone to boost businesses during the current crisis, draw a roadmap for the way ahead towards building a better future and bringing out …

GS-3 DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT Recently, the Ministry of Communications has decided to set up a Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) as a nodal agency to deal with complaints of unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) and cases of financial fraud, especially in the digital payments space. Apart from the DIU a Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer …

GS-3 BHUVAN PORTAL Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)and MapmyIndia have partnered to come up with an indigenious geospatial portal known as ‘Bhuvan’. This is in line with the above discussed new guidelines for the Geo-Spatial Sector in India. Geospatial Portal (Bhuvan): It is a type of web portal used to find and access geographic information (geospatial information) and associated geographic …

GS-3 LEATHERBACK NESTING SITES COULD BE OVERRUN BY ANDAMANS PROJECT Proposed intensive growth in islands contradicts National Marine Turtle Action Plan released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate ChangeProposals for tourism and port development in the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands have conservationists worried over the fate of …

GS-3 INDIA LIBERALISED THE REGULATION ON GEOSPATIAL DATA India has liberalised its regulations on geospatial data starting from February 15, 2021. It has now allowed the private companies to conduct surveying and mapping without getting government approvals in advance. About New Policy The new policy has allowed to share the …

GS-3 BITCOIN Bitcoin has been rallying hard, jumping over 300% in 2020, breezing past its record high to reach $42,000 in January and pushing above $44,000. What is bitcoin? Bitcoin is the original and most popular cryptocurrency, or digital coin, and started circulating in 2009. It was created by the …

GS-3 FASTAG The FASTag is a reloadable tag that allows automatic deduction of toll without having to stop for carrying out the cash transaction. The tag uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and is fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle once active. Important points: Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) is the …

GS-3 KARLAPAT WILDLIFE SANCTUARY  Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Kalahandi district and a popular tourist attraction of Odisha in India. Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary is about 15 km from Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi district. The sanctuary covers an area of 175 square kilometres (68 sq mi). It lies within the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forestsecoregion. Major …

GS-3 SOIL HEALTH CARD SCHEME Important points: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare introduced the scheme on December 5, 2015. Soil Health Card (SHC) is a printed report which contains nutrient status of soil with respect to 12 nutrients: pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S), Zinc …

GS-3 UNIFIED FARMER SERVICE PLATFORM (UFSP): UFSP is a combination of Core Infrastructure, Data, Applications and Tools that enable seamless interoperability of various public and private IT systems in the agriculture ecosystem across the country.  UFSP is envisaged to play the following role: Act as a central agency in the …

GS-3 NATIONAL E-GOVERNANCE PLAN IN AGRICULTURE (NEGPA): TOWARDS THE MISSION OF DIGITAL AGRICULTURE NeGPA aims to achieve rapid development in Indian Agriculture Sector through use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Important Points: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA) was initially launched in 2010-11 in …

GS-3 SERB ANNOUNCES WOMEN EXCELLENCE AWARD 2021 Important points: Four young women fellows of National Science Academies have been awarded for excelling in science and engineering on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021. The SERB Women Excellence Award that has been conferred on them provides a …

GS-3 TIFAC UNVEILS TWO NEW INITIATIVES OF TECHNOLOGY Two schemes launched: SAKSHAM (Shramik Shakti Manch) Seaweed Mission Who has launched the schemes? TIFAC has launched the two schemes. ABOUT TIFAC: TIFAC or Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council is a technology think tank and autonomous body under the GOI’s Department …