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Recently, the Union Education Minister released the Report on United Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2019-20 for School Education in India. United Information System for Education Plus It is one of the largest Management Information Systems on school education. It was launched in 2018-2019 to speed up data entry, reduce errors, improve data …

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited has invited Expression of Interest (EOI) for sale of fly ash, in its endeavour to achieve 100% utilization of fly ash, from the designated plants of the Middle East and other regions. Fly Ash is a byproduct from burning of coal in the thermal power generation. Important points: It is called fly ash …

The ‘Last Ice Area’ (LIA), located in the Arctic’s Ice north of Greenland, has started melting earlier than what the scientists had expected. Important points: This region is located north of Greenland and Ellesmere Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. This area was believed to be strong enough to withstand global warming The total disappearance of summer ice in the Arctic …

Recently, the US troops departed from the biggest airbase in Afghanistan after the 20-year-long war, effectively ending their military operations in the country. Important points: On 11th September 2001, terrorist attacks in America killed nearly 3,000 people. Osama Bin Laden, the head of Islamist terror group al-Qaeda, was quickly identified as the man responsible. The Taliban, radical Islamists …

Kerala houseboats in Vembanad Lake are about to begin soon amid a robust vaccination drive. This is the largest lake in Kerala and the longest Lake in India. Important points: Vembanad Lake is also known as Vembanad Kayal, Vembanad Kol, Punnamada Lake (in Kuttanad) and Kochi Lake (in Kochi). Spanning several districts of …

Recently, 150 vultures were seen in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), Bihar, which has prompted a vulture conservation plan in the protected region of VTR. Important points: It is one of the 22 species of large carrion-eating birds that live predominantly in the tropics and subtropics. They act an important function as nature’s garbage collectors and help …

Amid escalating tensions, the Police forces were deployed at various hydel power projects in bordering districts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Andhra Pradesh has complained to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) about the drawing of water from the Srisailam project by Telangana for power generation. The KRMB, in its recent orders, had asked …

According to a new report by the Wash Institute (a global non-profit organisation), India was responsible for the largest drop in open defecation since 2015, in terms of absolute numbers. Universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to achieve the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 was also emphasised. WASH WASH is an acronym that stands for the interrelated …

According to the recent data from the Reserve Bank of India, India’s Foreign Exchange (Forex) Reserves surged by $ 5 billion to $ 609 billion in the week ended 25th June, 2021. Increase in the Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) is the major component of overall reserves. Important points: FCA rose by $ 4.7 billion to $ 566 billion. …

Recently, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) decided to felicitate around 54,000 taxpayers to mark the competition of 4 years of Goods and Services Tax (GST). Important points: The introduction of e-way bills coupled with the crackdown on fake invoicing has helped in bringing in a substantial portion of GST revenues, which were either …

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the 23rd issue of its Financial Stability Report (FSR). The FSR which is published biannually reflects the collective assessment of the Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC – headed by the Governor of RBI) on risks to financial stability and the resilience of the financial system. The Report also discusses issues …

Recently, Indian Railway (IR) has opened the first movable freshwater tunnel aquarium at Bengaluru Railway Station. Important points: The Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station also known as Bengaluru City Railway Station has become the first railway station in India with a movable freshwater tunnel aquarium. The aquarium has been opened by the Indian Railway Stations Development …

Recently, the Philippines increased the alert level on Taal Volcano to level 3 on a five-level scale after a Phreatomagmatic Eruption (PE) occurred that generated a dark grayish plume, one kilometer high. Alert Level 3 means there is magmatic unrest, or movement of magma that may further drive succeeding eruptions. Important points: Situated on the island of …

The IHS Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) slipped to 48.1 in June from 50.8 in May, moving below the 50-level separating growth from contraction. India’s manufacturing activity contracted in June for the first time in 11 months as the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and strict containment measures negatively impacted demand and led to renewed …

Recently, LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) has made the discovery of gravitational waves from a pair of neutron star-black hole (NS-BH) mergers. The reverberations from these two objects were picked up using a global network of gravitational wave detectors, the most sensitive scientific instruments ever built. Until now, the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration (LVC) was only able …

Recently, the Pacific Northwest and some parts of Canada recorded temperatures around 47 degrees, causing a “historic” heat wave. This is a result of a phenomenon referred to as a “heat dome”. Important points: The phenomenon begins when there is a strong change (or gradient) in ocean temperatures. In the process known as convection, the …

LEAF (Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance) Coalition was announced at the Leaders Summit on Climate, 2021. LEAF coalition will be one of the largest ever public-private efforts to protect tropical forests and intend to mobilize at least USD 1 billion in financing to countries committed to protecting their tropical forests. Important …

Recently, the 7th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) was hosted by the French Navy at Réunion island. It is a biennial event which was conceived by the Indian Navy in 2008. Important points: The IONS is a voluntary and inclusive initiative that brings together navies of Indian Ocean Region littoral states to increase maritime co-operation and enhance …

Recently, the Prime Minister of India addressed a virtual event to mark the completion of six years of Digital Indian programme Important points: The data and demographic dividend combined with India’s proven tech prowess presents massive opportunity for the country, and this decade will be ‘India’s techade’. Vision Areas: Digital infrastructure as Utility to Every …

Recently, India has ranked tenth (10th) in Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020 by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) by moving up 37 places. The affirmation came just ahead of the sixth anniversary of Digital India on 1st July. Important points: The US topped (1st), followed by the UK (United Kingdom) and …