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Recently, the first Indigenously Designed High Ash Coal Gasification Based Methanol Production Plant has been opened in Hyderabad. With this, Government owned engineering firm BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) has successfully demonstrated a facility to create methanol from high ash Indian coal. Important points: Methanol is utilized as a motor fuel, to power …

Recently, the Lunar Science Workshop 2021, was conducted by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to commemorate the completion of two years of operation of Chandrayaan-2 orbiter in lunar orbit. According to the ISRO, the observations of the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter payloads have yielded discovery-class findings . The Chandrayaan-3 mission is likely to be launched late next year. Important points: It …

A new island has been discovered that is located off the Greenland’s coast. Important points: Measuring 60×30 metres and with a peak of three metres above sea level, it has now become the new northernmost piece of land on Earth. Before this, Oodaaq was marked as the Earth’s northernmost terrain. It …

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs will set up an Atmanirbhar Bharat corner in 100 Indian Missions/ Embassies across the world. The first Atmanirbhar Bharat corner was inaugurated at the Indian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, on Independence Day. TRIFED is a national-level apex organization functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of …

Indian Scientists, along with international collaborators, have measured the magnetic field of an eruption from the Sun’s atmosphere (solar corona), offering a rare peek to the interior of the Sun. Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is one of the biggest eruptions from the Sun’s surface that can contain a billion tons of matter …

According to a recent report prepared by two independent think tanks, EMBER and Climate Risk Horizons, India does not require additional new coal capacity to meet expected power demand growth by Financial Year (FY) 2030. Important points: India’s peak power demand would reach 301 GW by 2030, if it grows at an annual …

Recently, the Ministry of Education released the India Rankings 2021 instituted by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) (sixth edition). Important points: The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) was approved by the Ministry of Education (Erstwhile Ministry of Human Resource Development) in September 2015. It is the first-ever effort by the government to rank Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country. …

The government has decided to release pending claims worth Rs. 56,027 crore in FY 2021-22 for merchandise as well as service exports under various export promotion schemes. Merchandise exports for April-August, 2021 was nearly $164 billion, which is an increase of 67% over 2020-21 and 23% over 2019-20. Important points: It is expected …

Recently, the National Statistical Office (NSO) released the quarterly bulletin of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for October-December 2020. This dataset differs from the Annual Report of Periodic Labour Force Survey, which covers both rural and urban areas. Unemployment data for urban areas is released quarterly. NSO is the central statistical agency of the Government mandated under …

Recently, the Prime Minister chaired the annual summit of the BRICS which was held virtually. The theme for the Summit was ‘BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS cooperation for continuity, consolidation and consensus’. Important points: Highlighted the achievement of several new initiatives during India’s Chairship this year (2021), i.e. an Agreement on cooperation in the field of remote-sensing satellites; a virtual BRICS …

Recently, the Prime Minister has released a special commemorative coin of Rs 125 to mark the 125th birth anniversary of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) founder Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Important points: The ISKCON, founded in 1966, is commonly known as the “Hare Krishna movement”. ISKCON has translated the Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta and other Vedic literature …

Recently, India and Australia have participated in the 4th edition of AUSINDEX Naval Exercise. It comes on the heels of the Malabar Naval Exercise, one of the largest wargaming exercises of India, in which all the four members of the Quad had participated – India, Australia, the US and Japan – in the last week of August. …

Recently, the Ministry of Defence has released the Delegation of Financial Powers to Defence Services (DFPDS), 2021 rules. The primary focus of the enhanced delegation of financial powers is to overcome procedural delays, bring about greater decentralisation and operational efficiency. The DFPDS 2021 rules is another big step in defence reforms to strengthen security infrastructure. Important …

Recently, a report named Renewable Energy and Land Use in India by Mid-Century suggested that careful planning today can maximise the benefits and minimise the costs of India’s history-making energy transition It was released by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) which examines issues related to energy markets, trends and policies. It’s mission is to …

Recently, the Union cabinet has approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the textile sector. PLI scheme for Textiles is part of the overall announcement of PLI Schemes for 13 sectors made earlier during the Union Budget 2021-22, with an outlay of Rs. 1.97 lakh crore. PLI for Textiles along with RoSCTL RoDTEP and other measures of Government in the …

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has cleared procurement of 56 C-295 MW medium transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force under the Make-in-India initiative in the aerospace sector The C-295MW aircraft will be purchased from Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain. Important points: The C-295 MW is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology. …

Recently, the Union Government has entered into a Ceasefire Agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) Niki Group for a period of one year. This initiative is a significant boost to the Naga peace process and in line with Prime Minister of India’s vision of ‘insurgency free, prosperous North East’. Important points: After …

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given new directions in relation to storage of bank\card data by entities or other merchants. It has directed that no entity or merchant, other than card issuers and card networks, should store card details. It will reduce the frauds that occur by sharing …

Recently, the Tamil Nadu government has tabled a bill to amend Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947. The bill sought to add a subsection to mandatorily provide seating facilities for the employees. Important points: The proposed Section 22-A to the Act reads that the premises of every establishment shall have suitable seating arrangements for all employees so …

Recently, the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, while speaking at the International Day of Clean Air For Blue Skies, informed that the number of cities with improved air quality had increased. On the occasion, he also inaugurated the first functional Smog Tower at Anand Vihar in Delhi and launched Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution …