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GS-2 1.NEW FOREIGN TRADE POLICY 2021-26 New Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2021-2026 to be rolled out from April 2021. IMPORTANT POINTS: The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that India’s new Foreign Trade Policy 2021-2026, under formulation, will come into effect from April 1, 2021. India’s FTP has conventionally …

GS-2 6.FIVE YEARS OF PRADHAN MANTRI FASAL BIMA YOJANA Recently, the flagship crop insurance scheme of the Government of India –the Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojana (PMFBY)– has completed five years of its launch.PMFBY was launched on 13 January 2016. The scheme was conceived as a milestone initiative to provide a comprehensive risk …

GS-3  5.SPINTRONICS Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali (Punjab), an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, have produced an ultra-high mobility 2d-electron gas (2DEG) at the interface of two insulating oxide layers. WHAT IS SPINTRONICS? Spintronic, also known …

GS-3 6. MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION (MEE) Environment Minister releases Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of 146 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries (2018 – 19). MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION (MEE) MEE is the assessment of how well protected areas such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves, community reserves and tiger reserves are …

GS-1 5. KHADI PRAKRITIK PAINT Khadi Prakritik Paint has been launched by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute, Jaipur (a KVIC unit). ABOUT KHADI PRAKRITIK PAINT: It is an eco-friendly, non-toxic paint with anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties. Based on cow dung as its main ingredient, the paint is cost-effective and odourless, and …

GS-2 4. NORTH EAST VENTURE FUND (NEVF) IMPORTANT POINTS: It is the first and the only dedicated Venture Fund for the North Eastern Region. The Venture Fund Scheme launched by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) intended to promote growth of business ventures and skill development in …

GS-3 SEA VIGIL-21 The second edition of the biennial pan-India coastal defenceexercise ‘Sea Vigil-21’ will be conducted for two days in January 2021. ABOUT EX SEA VIGIL: The exercise is conducted by the Indian Navy and involves maritime stakeholders, including the Coast Guard, Customs, fisheries, fishing and coastal communities in …

GS-3 2. SINGLE WINDOW CLEARANCE PORTAL OF MINISTRY OF COAL Union Home Minister launches Single Window Clearance Portal of Ministry of Coal. Important points: The newly launched portal is a unified platform that facilitates grant of clearances and approvals required for starting a coal mine in India. Currently, about 19 …

GS-2  1.PRIME MINISTER’S NATIONAL RELIEF FUND (PMNRF) PM approves an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to hospital fire in Maharashtra. ABOUT PMNRF: PMNRF was established in 1948 by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. The initial purpose …

GS-1 5.JAGANNATH TEMPLE Recently, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) announced that devotees don’t need to produce their Covid-19 negative report for getting entry into the shrine in Puri from January 21. At present devotees entering the temple have to show Covid- 19 negative reports. The temple opened to the …

GS-3 4.DOMESTIC EXPLORATION OF LITHIUM Recent surveys by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) have shown the presence of lithium resources in Mandya district, AMD is the oldest unit of the Department of Atomic Energy. ABOUT LITHIUM: PROPERTIES: It is a chemical element with the symbol Li …

GS-1 3.PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9 January every year to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India. On the occasion, several events such as PBD Convention, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award and Bharat ko Janiye Quiz are organised. 9 January …

GS-3 2.QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY The detailed project report for a National Mission on Quantum Technology and Applications (NMQTA) has been drawn out and finalised. BACKGROUND: Union Budget 2020-21 proposed to spend Rs 8,000 crore on the newly launched NMQTA. In 2018, the Department of Science & Technology unveiled a programme called …

GS-1 1.NATIONAL YOUTH PARLIAMENT FESTIVAL Second National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) to be concluded on 12 January. MAIN PONTS: The second NYPF was launched in December 2020 through virtual mode. 34 lakh youth from across the country participated in the first stage. It was followed by State Youth Parliaments through …

GS-2 5.JAPAN PROVIDES LOAN TO INDIA India and Japan signed an agreement for a loan of up to 50 billion yen (about Rs.3,550 crore) to back India’s economic support programmesfor the poor and vulnerable affected by the Covid-19 crisis. ABOUT THE LOAN: It is a part of Japan’s Official Development …

GS-3 4.NATURAL CAPITAL ACCOUNTING AND VALUATION OF THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES PROJECT Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of the Ecosystem Services (NCAVES)India Forum-2021 is being organised by the Ministry of Statistics and ProgrammeImplementation (MoSPI) in virtual format. The MoSPI has taken up several initiatives under the project “Natural Capital Accounting and …

GS-2 3.DEMAND FOR AUTONOMY IN ASSAM There has been a demand for implementation of Article 244A for the creation of an autonomous State within Assam BACKGROUND: The appeal to the Centre has been for the creation of an autonomous State for the KarbiAnglong region. The districts are currently governed by …

GS-2 2.INDIA-MONGOLIA RELATIONS Recently, India and Mongolia have reviewed bilateral cooperation in hydrocarbons and steel sectors. IMPORTANT POINTS: India reiterated its commitment to timely completion of the Mongol Refinery Project, the country’s 1 oil refinery. The greenfield Mongol Refinery Project is being built under a Line of Credit from the …

GS-2 1.SEVENTH TRADE POLICY REVIEW OF INDIA AT THE WTO Recently, the final session of India’s seventh Trade Policy Review (TPR) concluded at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland. APPRECIATION FOR INDIA: Introduction of Goods & Services Tax in 2016. India’s efforts in the implementation of WTO’s Trade …

GS-2 5.WORLD FOOD PRICE INDEX The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index averaged 107.5 points in December 2020, up 2.3 points from November 2020. This marks the seventh month of consecutive increase. ABOUT THE INDEX: It was introduced in 1996as a public good to help in monitoring developments …