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GS-3 2.MEITY QUANTUM COMPUTING APPLICATIONS LAB The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will establish a Quantum Computing Applications Lab in the country, in collaboration with AWS. Quantum computing is an emerging field that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to build powerful tools to process information. It has …

GS-2 1.EXERCISE DESERT KNIGHT-21 Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force (Armée de l’Airet de l’Espace) will conduct a bilateral Air exercise, Ex Desert Knight-21 at Air Force Station Jodhpur from 20 to 24 Jan 2021. The exercise is unique as it includes fielding of Rafale aircraft by …

GS-1 5.SEMERU VOLCANO OF INDONESIA Recently, Semeru volcano erupted in Indonesia’s East Java province. Other volcanoes, such as the Merapi volcano (Java) and Sinabung volcano (Sumatra), also erupted recently. SEMERU VOLCANO: Semeru – also k nown as “The Great Mountain” – is the highest volcano in Java and one of …

GS-1 4.WESTERN DISTURBANCE According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), awestern disturbance is likely to affect the Himalayan regionsoon. The disturbances will result in fairly widespread light to moderate snowfall and rainsin the plains of Jammu. IMPORTANT POINTS: Western Disturbance (WD), labelled as an extra-tropical storm originating in the Mediterranean,is …

GS-3 3.CHABAHAR PORT IMPORTANT POINTS: Government of India strengthens cargo handling capacity of Chabahar Port, Iran. India has supplied a consignment of two Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC) to Iran’s Chabahar port, with a total contract value of over USD 25 Million under a contract agreement for supply of 6 MHC. …

GS-1 2.SUSHRUTA WHO WAS SUSHRUTA? Sushruta (c. 7th or 6th century BCE) was a physician in ancient India known today as the “Father of Indian Medicine” and “Father of Plastic Surgery” for inventing and developing surgical procedures. His work on the subject, the Sushruta Samhita(Sushruta’s Compendium) is considered the oldest …

GS-3 1.GST COMPENSATION SHORTFALL 12th instalment of Rs. 6,000 crore released to the states as back to back loan to meet the GST compensation shortfall. IMPORTANT POINTS: The Government of India had set up a special borrowing window in October 2020 to meet the estimated shortfall of Rs 1.10 Lakh …

GS-1 5.THIRUVALLUVAR DAY The Prime Minister remembered Thiruvalluvar on the occasion of Thiruvalluvar Day (15 January 2021), observed to mark the birth anniversary of Tamil poet andphilosopher. ABOUT THE THIRUVALLUVAR DAY: It was first celebrated on 17 -18 May in 1935. In the present time, it is usually observed either …

GS-3 4.MODIFIED SCHEME TO PRODUCE 1G ETHANOL Recently, the Department of Food & Public Distribution has notified a modified scheme for extending financial assistance for producing 1 Generation (1G) ethanol. The aim is to achieve blending targets of ethanol with petrol (Ethanol Blending Programme). ETHANOL BLENDING PROGRAMME (EBP): It aims …

GS-2 3.PRADHAN MANTRI KAUSHAL VIKAS YOJANA 3.0 The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has launched Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 3.0, in a bid to empower India’s youth with employable skills by making over 300 skill courses available to them. IMPORTANT POINTS: Skill India Missionwas launched by …

GS-3 2.ADAPTATION GAP REPORT 2020: UNEP Recently, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Adaptation Gap Report 2020 estimated the annual cost of adaptation to the effects of climate change fordeveloping countries to at least quadruple by 2050. The current cost for these countries is in the range of USD 70 …

GS-3 1.SAKSHAM PCRA launches a month-long mass awareness campaign ‘SAKSHAM’ to spread awareness about ‘Green and Clean Energy’. ABOUT SAKSHAM: Saksham (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav) is a campaign organised by Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) to sensitize the masses about conservation and efficient use of petroleum products which will lead towards …

GS-1 6.INDIAN ARMY DAY Army Day is celebrated every year on 15 Januaryin India to commemorate the jawans and the Indian Army. This year India is celebrating its 73 Army Day. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: On 15 January 1949, Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa, who was then a Lieutenant General, took over …

GS-3 5.NATIONAL INNOVATION PORTAL Union Minister dedicates the National Innovation Portal to the nation. WHAT IS THE NATIONAL INNOVATION PORTAL? The portal is a database of innovations and traditional knowledge by the people, for the people and of the people. It is currently home to about 1.15 lakh innovations scouted …

GS-3 4.CSIR-NISCPR CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) inaugurated. WHAT IS CSIR-NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AND POLICY RESEARCH? The new institute has been formed by merging two prestigious institutes of CSIR namely, CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (CSIR-NISCAIR)and CSIR-National Institute of Science, Technology …

GS-3  3.INDIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED 9MM MACHINE PISTOL India’s first indigenous 9mm Machine Pistol has been jointly developed by DRDO and Indian Army. The weapon has been named ‘Asmi’. ABOUT ASMI: The Asmi machine pistol fires the in-service 9 mm ammunition and has an upper receiver made from aircraft-grade aluminiumand …

GS-3 2.RCS – UDAN The first flight to the newly constructed Hisar airport in Haryana from Chandigarh was flagged off under the Regional Connectivity Scheme – UdeDeshKaAamNagrik (RCS-UDAN). DETAILS: Belonging to the Government of Haryana, Hisar airport is a public licensed airport that is suitable for 18 seat type aircraft. …

GS-3 1.PRARAMBH: STARTUP INDIA INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT ‘Prarambh: Startup India International Summit’ to be held for two days in January 2021. ABOUT PRARAMBH: The Summit is being organized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is a follow up of the announcement …

GS-2 3.URBAN LOCAL BODIES REFORMS Manipur becomes the 4th state to complete urban local bodies reforms.   IMPORTANT POINTS: Manipur has become the 4th state in the country to successfully undertake “Urban Local Bodies (ULB)” reform stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. Thus, the State has become …

GS-3 2.CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES CBDT launches e-portal for filing complaints regarding tax evasion/Benami Properties/Foreign Undisclosed Assets. IMPORTANT POINTS: CBDT has launched an automated dedicated e-portal on the e-filing website of the Department to receive and process complaints of tax evasion, foreign undisclosed assets as well as complaints regarding …