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Recently, US India Artificial Intelligence (USIAI) initiative has been launched to scale up the science and technology relationship between India and the United States. Important points: US India Artificial Intelligence (USIAI) is an initiative of Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) which was established in March 2000. The Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government …

Scientists from the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) have developed an on-farm green energy refrigeration system (Pusa-FSF) and a technology for extraction of gluten from wheat dough and its regeneration in bajra (pearl-millet) and makka (maize) flour.   Pusa-FSF: Pusa Farm Sun Fridge (Pusa-FSF) is a 100% solar-powered battery-less cold store that can preserve around 2 tonnes of freshly-harvested produce at 3-4°C during the day …

The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has decided to conduct simultaneous purchase and sale of government securities (G-Sec) under Open Market Operations (OMOs) for an amount of Rs. 10,000 crore each. Important points: Simultaneous purchase and sale of government securities under OMOs, popularly known as operation twist, involves purchasing G-Sec of longer maturities and selling equal amounts …

Recently, a new research conducted by Pew Research Center has found that the coronavirus pandemic has pushed about 32 million Indians out of the middle class and increased poverty in the country. The report is based on an analysis of World Bank data. Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, …

The Jharkhand government announced the launch of SAAMAR (Strategic Action for Alleviation of Malnutrition and Anemia Reduction) campaign to tackle malnutrition in the state. About: The campaign aims to identify anaemic women and malnourished children and converge various departments to effectively deal with the problem in a state where malnutrition …

State-owned Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. has entered into a joint venture with Israel-based battery technology startup Phinergy to develop aluminium-air technology based battery systems for electric vehicles and stationary storage, as well as hydrogen storage solutions. About: Top automakers, including Maruti Suzuki and Ashok Leyland, have already signed letters of …

TIGER Six tigers — four adults and two sub-adults — have been unaccounted for since March 2020 in the Ranthambore tiger sanctuary, Rajasthan. However, State forest officials are not willing to label them “missing” and denied reports that they may have been poached. About: The National Tiger Conservation Authority, a …

Union Minister for Agriculture questioned in the Rajya Sabha the methodology and data accuracy of the Global Hunger Index (GHI) report, which has placed India at 94th among 107 countries in 2020. About: The Minister said the government had written to the NGO, Welthungerhilfe, which compiles the report, expressing concerns …

Lok Sabha passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021 to streamline the renewal of the auction process for minerals and coal mining rights About: The amendment proposes to allow captive miners of both coal and other minerals to sell up to 50 per cent of their …

The Lok Sabha passed The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that seeks to put seven castes under one nomenclature of “DevendrakulaVellalars” with some exceptions for some of the castes in certain districts of Tamil Nadu. About: The castes include Devendrakulathan, Kadaiyan, Kalladi, Kudumban, Pallan, Pannadi and Vathiriyan. The …

Recently, a seminar highlighted the legacy of the long-forgotten Tomar king – Anangpal II. Anangpal II: Anangpal II, popularly known as AnangpalTomar, belonged to the Tomar dynasty. He was the founder of DhillikaPuri, which eventually became Delhi. Evidence about the early history of Delhi is inscribed on the iron pillar of Masjid Quwaatul Islam, adjacent to QutubMinar. Multiple inscriptions and coins …

Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, has been appointed Chairman of the Stop TB Partnership Board. He will serve a three year term, commencing July 2021, as the Chair of the Board of Stop TB Partnership. Important points: It was established in 2000 and is mandated to eliminate Tuberculosis as a …

Recently, the Coal and Mines Minister introduced the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Bill, 2021 in Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957which regulates the mining sector in India. Removal of restriction on end-use of minerals: The Act empowers the central government …

The Delhi government should consider launching a scheme guaranteeing jobs at a fixed minimum daily wage to tackle the alarming surge in the city’s unemployment rate during the pandemic-induced lockdown. The unemployment rate in Delhi rose from 11.1% in January-February 2020 to 28.5% in October-November, according to a Delhi government-commissioned survey. It …

The Bihar Assembly recently passed the Bihar Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that proposes to punish people filing false cases before the anti- corruption ombudsman body to prevent any waste of time or misuse of the institution. Four other Bills passed by the Assembly during the day are the Bihar Municipality (Amendment) Bill, Bihar Taxation …

Supreme Court judge, Justice N.V. Ramana, has outlined a three-pronged approach, with special focus on alternative dispute resolution, to reverse the nearly 4 crore pendency in courts across the country. Justice Ramana, who is next in line to be the Chief Justice of India as per the seniority norm, was speaking at the …

India has assured Sri Lanka of its support at the UN Human Rights Council, Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary JayanathColombage has said, just days before member countries vote on a new resolution on the island nation’s rights record. India’s Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment on the Sri Lanka Foreign Secretary’s …

Chief Justice of India agreed with advocate Prashant Bhushan recently to urgently hear a plea by NGO Association for Democratic Reforms to stay the sale of a new set of electoral bonds on April 1, before the Assembly elections in crucial States such as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Responding to an …

Recently, the Union Minister of State Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) said that connectivity is an important element of Act East Policy. Important points: The ‘Act East Policy’ announced in November, 2014 is the upgrade of the “Look East Policy”. It is a diplomatic initiative to promote economic, strategic and cultural relations with the vast Asia-Pacific region at different …

A carcass of a five-year-old tigress was found in the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (Uttar Pradesh). About: It is located in Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. It was notified as Tiger Reserve in 2014. In 2020, it bagged international award TX2 for doubling up the number of tigers in the past four years. It forms …