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Recently, the traditional annual killing of whales and dolphins (grindadrap” hunt) in North Atlantic islands that belong to Denmark has sparked controversy. 1,428 white-sided dolphins were slaughtered at Faroe Islands. Important points: Their common name comes from the prominent white stripes on their sides, which span from below the dorsal fin to their tail, where it turns into a …

Recently, Mura-Drava-Danube (MDD) was declared as the world’s first ‘five-country biosphere reserve’ by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Important points: The biosphere reserve covers 700 kilometres of the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers and stretches across Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. The total area of the reserve is a million hectares – in the so-called ‘Amazon of Europe’, which …

Recently, the Union Minister of State for Power attended the 15th East Asia Summit Energy Ministers Meeting. The theme of the meeting was “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”.         Important points: The meeting was aimed at coordinating efforts of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries in pursuing the goal of energy security and energy transition …

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a Rs. 26,058 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for auto, auto-components and Drone industries to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities. The scheme for the sector is part of the overall production-linked incentives announced for 13 sectors in the Union Budget 2021-22 with an outlay of Rs 1.97 lakh crore. It is …

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the Rs 30,600 crore guarantee to back Security Receipts issued by National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL) for acquiring stressed loan assets. The NARCL is a part of a new Bad bank structure that was announced in the Budget 2021. Important points: For resolution of huge NPAs (Non-Performing Assets) …

The 6th edition of Exercise Peaceful Mission is being hosted by Russia in the Orenburg Region of South West Russia from 13th to 25th September 2021. India participated for the first time in the 5th edition of the Exercise (2018). Important points: It is a Multilateral and Joint Counter Terrorism Exercise, which is conducted biennially as part of military diplomacy between Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states. The …

Recently, scientists have unraveled the mystery behind Odisha’s ‘Black Tigers’ in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) The STR is the only tiger habitat in the world with melanistic tigers, which have broad black stripes running across their bodies and thicker than those seen on normal tigers. Important points: Black Tigers are a rare colour variant of the tiger and are not …

Recently, NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and RMI India’s have launched the Shoonya Campaign. It is an initiative to promote zero-pollution delivery vehicles by working with consumers and industry. RMI is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1982. Important points: The campaign aims to accelerate adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs)in the urban deliveries segment and create consumer awareness about the benefits of zero-pollution delivery. …

Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has added a new variant of Covid-19 in the list of Variants of Interest (VOI) and named it Mu (B.1.621). It has also added C.1.2 as a new VOI. According to INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium), India has so far not seen Mu and C.1.2, and the Delta variant and its sub-lineages continue …

Every year, 16th September is observed as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone layer (World Ozone Day). Important points: After the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the ozone layer signed by almost every country in 1987, the United Nation General Assembly, in 1994, proclaimed this day as the International Day for the Prevention of the …

Recently, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh (1886-1979) State University in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Important points: Born in Hathras (UP) in 1886, he was a freedom fighter, revolutionary, writer, social reformer, and internationalist. He was well versed in eight different languages and practised different religions. Promoted Education: In 1909, he gave up …

India’s industrial output grew by 11.5% in July compared to a 10.5% contraction a year ago, as per quick estimates from the National Statistical Office (NSO). Important points: Mining, manufacturing and electricity recorded growth of 19.5%, 10.5% and 11.1%, respectively, albeit driven by favourable base effect. The country’s output of the eight core sectors – …

Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed 5 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with private companies for taking forward Digital Agriculture. These pilot projects are part of the Digital Agriculture Mission and will draw on the National Farmers Database which already includes 5.5 crore farmers identified using existing national schemes. Important points: Digital Agriculture is “ICT (Information …

Recently, the US announced that the first in-person meeting of the Quad countries is going to be held in New York, US. The heads of all the four countries (India, Japan, Australia, and the US) are going to attend the meeting. Reacting to the upcoming summit, China criticized the Quad and said the formation of “exclusive cliques …

Every year on 15th September, India along with Sri Lanka and Tanzania celebrate National Engineer’s day to recognise and honour the achievements of the great engineer Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. The day is observed to commemorate the great work of engineers and to encourage them for improvement and innovation. It is different from the World Engineers’ Day celebrated annually by UNESCO on …

Recently, NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in collaboration with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) has launched ‘ATL Space Challenge 2021’. Earlier, the Union cabinet in June 2020 decided to open up the space sector for private sector participation, and cleared the creation of a new entity, Indian National Space Promotion and …

The Thamirabarani civilisation in Tamil Nadu is at least 3,200 years old, reveals carbon dating done on organic material retrieved from archeological excavations in Sivakalai, Thoothukudi district. The determination of the age or date of organic matter from the relative proportions of the carbon isotopes carbon-12 and carbon-14 that it contains. Important points: The shortest river in …

Recently, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has revised the Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) scheme for specified agriculture products. It will be effected on or after 1st April, 2021, up to 31st March, 2022. Important points: It was launched in 2019, for providing financial assistance for the transport and marketing of agricultural products to boost exports of such …

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 …