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Recently, the Association of Geospatial Industries released a report titled “Potential of Geospatial Technologies for the Water Sector in India”. The report mentions opportunities in the Water sector that can benefit from the use of Geospatial technologies. As the severity of the water crisis in India increases every year, central and state government agencies …

Recently, the Ministry of Finance has extended the Standup India Scheme up to the year 2025. Important points: It was launched in April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at the grass-root level focusing on economic empowerment and job creation. To leverage the institutional credit structure to reach out to the underserved sector of people such as SCs, …

Recently, the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released the first list of photovoltaic module manufacturers in India. MNRE has made it mandatory for solar cell and module manufacturers to register under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) – an initial step towards reducing India’s dependence on solar imports and self-reliance. …

People around the world have been doubly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and extreme weather events which experts say have been fuelled by climate change Important points: The unprecedented heat wave that drove temperatures across Canada and parts of the United States to a record high, causing hundreds of deaths between June 25 to 30. The recent floods in Germany that killed …

Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme “SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”. It includes a subscheme – ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in Begging’.  Important points: It is a new Scheme after the merger of existing Schemes for Beggars …

In June 2021, India exported its first consignment of dragon fruit from a farmer of Maharashtra to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Important points: The dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) is indigenous to the Americas. It is a member of the cacti family. It is also known as ‘Pitaya’, ‘Pitahaya’, strawberry pear, noblewoman and queen of the night throughout the world. In …

Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has highlighted Moon’s Wobble as a potential problem in the near future. Important points: When the Moon makes its elliptical orbit, its velocity varies and alters causing our perspective of the “light side” to appear at slightly different angles. This is what it calls the Moon’s wobble or that is how it appears …

NASA has returned the science instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to operational status, almost a month after suspending their work due to trouble with its payload computer. Important points: It is named after the astronomer Edwin Hubble. The observatory is the first major optical telescope to be placed in space and has made …

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is set to table the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021 in Parliament during the Monsoon Session. Important points: Initially, the Commission for Air Quality Management ordinance was promulgated by the President in October, 2020 but the bill to replace the ordinance …

Recently, it has been reported that Pegasus, the malicious software, has allegedly been used to secretly monitor and spy on an extensive host of public figures in India. Important points: It is a type of malicious software or malware classified as a spyware. It is designed to gain access to devices, without the knowledge …