GS3

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development and Authority (APEDA) has devised a strategy to promote Export of Agricultural and Horticulture products grown in North-Eastern (NE) states. Created a platform in Assam for the exporters to get the products directly from the producer group and the processors. The platform will link the producers and …

Recently, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park has started an ambitious programme to release 20 Red Pandas in about five years to the forests. The Singalila National Park, the highest protected area in West Bengal, will soon get new denizens. There are only two different panda species in the world, the Giant Pandas and the Red Pandas. …

According to the 2022 edition of the United Nations’ World Population Prospects (WPP), India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023. The Population Division of the UN has been publishing the WPP in a biennial cycle since 1951. Each revision of the WPP provides a historical time series of …

Recently, the Government of India has launched the OALP Bid Round-VIII, offering 10 blocks for International Competitive Bidding. The Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) replacing the erstwhile New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) was approved in March 2016 and the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) along with the National Data Repository (NDR) were launched in June 2017 as …

Recently, Prime Minister Addressed a Natural Farming Conclave, where he urged farmers to take up Natural Farming. Natural Farming It is defined as a “chemical- free farming and livestock based”. Soundly grounded in agro-ecology, it is a diversified farming system that integrates crops, trees and livestock, allowing the optimum use of functional biodiversity. …

A report released by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has stated that Sustainable use of wild species can meet needs of billions. Delegates from 140 countries came together to discuss and reach an outcome on the sustainable use of wildlife. The assessment shortlisted five categories of practices used …

Recently, Astrome has signed a contract with the Department of Telecommunication to start the pilot project called “GigaMesh Network Solution with 15 villages in India. GigaMesh, developed by Astrome, will address congestion issues in rural 4G infrastructure and provide high-tech and affordable internet connectivity. The solution has been developed by Astrome. …

Recently, various brands gathered for the founding of the Metaverse Standards Forum for the development of interoperability standards to drive the growth of the metaverse. The metaverse is not a new idea, science fiction writer Neal Stephenson coined the term in 1992, and the concept is commonplace among video game companies. Metaverse is the next …

June 2022 witnessed the worst Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) selloff since March 2020 when India announced a nationwide lockdown at Rs. 50,000 crore. June was also the ninth on the trot that FPIs had sold net of their assets i.e. sold more than they had purchased. Foreign portfolio investors are those that invest funds …

Ministry of Science & Technology has inaugurated “Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation” or TiHAN, in IIT- Hyderabad, which is a first “Autonomous Navigation” facility. It is seen as one of the steps toward India’s vision of ‘Atmanibhar Bharat’, ‘Skill India’ and ‘Digital India’. TiHAN It is a multidisciplinary initiative, which aims at making India a global player …

Australian authorities have killed millions of honeybees over the past two weeks in an effort to stop a potentially catastrophic parasite plague named Varroa mite. The decision to kill honeybees could adversely impact the growth of several crops including almonds, macadamia nuts, and blueberries that are dependent on hives for pollination. …

Recently, NITI Aayog has releases a report titled ‘Alternative Products and Technologies to Plastics and their Applications’ to encourage use of alternatives of plastics. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also banned Single Used Plastics (SUP), violation of the ban will invite punitive action under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act (EPA). …

Recently, the Prime Minister has inaugurated the Digital India Week 2022 under the Digital India Programme, with the aim to strengthen Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living. Theme: ‘Catalyzing New India’s Techade’. To transform the nation into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. During the programme, PM launched multiple digital initiatives aimed at enhancing the …

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change proposed amendments in the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Incidentally, the Environment Protection Act provisions will be in force for penal provisions of the single use plastic ban which has come into force recently. Key Amendments Proposed in the Environment Protection Act The Ministry has proposed the decriminalisation of the existing …

Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) carried out the maiden test flight of a new unmanned Aerial Vehicle, an Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator. DRDO is in the process of developing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) of different classes to meet the requirements of the armed forces. It’s an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) or a combat drone that is a …

Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved the feat of successfully launching the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module or ‘POEM’. Besides this achievement, ISRO also launched three satellites from Singapore on the PSLV-C53. This was the second Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle(PSLV)  mission of the year. In February 2022, ISRO launched PSLV-C52 with the Earth observation satellite EOS-04 and …

Recently, the final 20 MW of the 100 MW Ramagundam floating solar PV project’s commercial operation date was recently announced. With this, the 100 MW Ramagundam floating solar PV project in Telangana is declared operational from 1st July 2022. It is the largest project of its kind in India. Floating Solar Panels These are Photovoltaic (PV) modules …

Recently, the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) Climate Centre for Cities (NIUA C-Cube), World Resources Institute India (WRI India) and their partners launched India’s first National Coalition platform for Urban nature-based solutions (NbS) at the 11th World Urban Forum in Poland. NIUAfocuses on research, knowledge management, policy, advocacy, and capacity building on urban development and management to address and develop sustainable, inclusive, and productive urban ecosystems in the country. …

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved to digitise around 63,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). PACS will be digitised at a cost of RS 2,516 crore, which will benefit about 13 crore small and marginal farmers. Each PACS will get around RS 4 lakh to upgrade its capacity and even old …

Recently, at the 47th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister, officials approved hiking the rates for some goods and services while removing exemptions for several mass consumption items to simplify the rate structure. The Goods and Services Tax regime came into force after the Constitutional …