Three National Flagship Programs launched at ICAR-CIBA

On 28th February, 2023, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying launched three national flagship programs at Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA), Chennai. 1. National Surveillance Program for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) Phase-II Need: Early detection and managing the spread of diseases among the reared aquatic

Sagar Parikrama Program Phase III

On 19th February, 2023, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying launched Sagar Parikrama Program Phase III from Hazira Port, Surat, Gujarat. About Sagar Parikrama Program Phase III It aims at sustainable use of marine resources and improving the quality of life and economic well-being of the fishing community. The phase-III of

Waste to Wealth Plants under GOBAR-Dhan Scheme

On 1st February, 2023, Finance Minister announced 500 new ‘waste to wealth' plants under GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) scheme. Under this scheme: 200 plants will be compressed biogas (CBG) 300 will be community or cluster-based plants The Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have been mandated to provide a 5 per cent share of

Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies

In the Union Budget 2023-2024, Union Government has announced Rs 2,516 crore for computerisation of 63,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) over the next five years. It aims to bring greater transparency and accountability in their operations and enabling them to diversify their business and undertaking more activities. About PACS PACS is a

Integration of APMC Mandis with e-NAM

On 22nd February, 2023, the Government approved the integration of 101 Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) mandis into the electronic platform e-NAM. Benefits of Integration Free Software for System integration/ Automation of recording transactions. Complete information on trade- Real time arrival recording. Analyze price trends, arrival and trading activities. Automated record of financial information. Reduction in

PM-KUSUM Scheme Extended by Three Years

On 2nd February, 2023, the government extended Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme till March 2026 as its implementation was significantly affected due to the pandemic. About PM-KUSUM Scheme It was launched in 2019 with the objective of providing energy and water security to farmers, enhance their income,

Free Float

On 9th February, 2023, the American index provider Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) has announced that it is reviewing the free-float status of Adani group securities. About Free Float Also known as Public float, it refers to those shares which are readily available for trading in the stock market. Shares held by non-promoters

Additional Surveillance Mechanism

On 2nd February, 2023, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) placed Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports, and Ambuja Cements under the Additional Surveillance Mechanism (ASM), which is aimed at curbing speculation and short selling. About ASM The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Introduced ASM in March 2018, ASM is a surveillance method in

Stock Market Regulation in India

On 10th February, 2023, the Supreme Court (SC) asked the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Union Government to produce the existing regulatory framework in place to protect investors from share market volatility. The SC did this in the backdrop of a report published by US-based Hindenburg Research

Fund to ‘Backstop’ Corporate Debt Market

On 17th February, 2023, India decided to set up a fund worth 330 billion rupees to provide liquidity to its corporate debt market. The purpose is to help stem panic selling and ease redemption pressures. Contribution The government will provide 90% of the money for the fund, and other asset managers would

NSE Indices launches India’s First Municipal Bond Index

On 24th February, 2023, National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE’s) index services subsidiary, NSE Indices Limited launched India’s first-ever Municipal Bond Index, Nifty India Municipal Bond Index. About Nifty India Municipal Bond Index The index includes municipal bonds issued as per the Securities Exchange Board of India Issue and Listing of

49th GST Council Meeting

On 18th February, 2023, the 49th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council Meeting was held in New Delhi. Major Outcomes of the Meeting GST Appellate Tribunal: Recommendations of Group of Ministers (‘GoM’) on setting up of GST Appellate Tribunal have been accepted with certain amendments. GST Compensation to States: Government of India has

Status and Proceeds of Disinvestment

In the Union Budget for 2023-24, the government has set a disinvestment target of Rs.51,000 crore, down nearly 21% from the budget estimate. It is also the lowest target in seven years. Moreover, the Centre has not met the disinvestment target for 2022-23 so far. As of February 8, 2023, the government's disinvestment

Land Monetisation

On 18th February, 2023, the National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC) decided to rope in international property consultancy firms to help strategise and implement transactions from start to finish. The objective is to expedite the monetisation plans for government-owned land assets across the country. Land Monetisation Land Monetisation means transferring the revenue rights of

Jantri

Recently, the Gujarat government announced a 100 percent hike in jantri rates. Jantri or Annual Statement of Rates (ASR) is a minimum rate fixed by state governments for registration of any real estate property that undergoes a change in ownership. These rates differ between cities. Even within localities, jantri rates

Conformity Assessment Scheme on IS 19000:2022

Recently, the government has formulated a conformity assessment scheme on IS 19000:2022. It has been formulated with the objective of certifying the processes related to the collection, moderation and publication of online customer reviews as per IS 19000:2022 to check the publication of fake or misleading reviews. It ensures authenticity

QR Code-Based Coin Vending Machine

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on February 8, 2023, in the bi-monthly monetary policy meeting announced that it is preparing a pilot project on QR Code based Coin Vending Machine (QCVM). (QCVM) is intended to dispense coins similar to the manner in which currency notes can be withdrawn from

International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED)

The Central Water Commission signs an agreement with IIT Roorkee for the development of an international centre of excellence for dams under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project. ICED, Roorkee will provide specialized technical support services to the Indian and overseas dam owners It will also carry out applied research,

Clean Plant Program

These centers will be set up under the ‘Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program’, which was announced by Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2023-24. The Clean Plant Centres will provide services of disease diagnostic, therapeutics, multiplying of plants and generation of mother plants. It will be implemented in a PPP mode

Mulethi (Licorice)

Himachal Pradesh has become first state in India to have organised cultivation of Mulethi. Mulethi is a perennial shrub having sweet roots due presence of glycyrrhizin, which is 50 times sweeter than sucrose and it is used as a natural sweetener in herbal medicines, flavouring in candies and tobacco. It

InfoCrop

Recently, the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) scientists used InfoCrop version 2.1 to study the long-term impact of climate change and crop management practices on yield. It is India’s only dynamic crop simulation model developed and released by the institute in 2015. InfoCrop is more suited for India as it

Supreme Court Ruling on Appointment of CEC & ECs

On 2nd March, 2023, the Supreme Court (SC) made a ruling regarding the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Elections Commissioners (ECs) in India. The bench delivered its verdict on a batch of pleas seeking a collegium-like system for the appointment of Election Commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner. Further,

Corrupt Practices under RPA Act 1951

On 20th February, 2023, the Supreme Court (SC) observed that no one in India votes for a candidate based on their educational qualifications. Therefore, providing false information about an electoral candidate’s qualifications cannot be considered a corrupt practice under Sections 123 (2) and Section 123 (4) of the Representation of

Section 69(A) of Information Technology Act 2000

On 10th February, 2023, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued orders to block 138 online betting platforms and 94 money lending apps on an “urgent” and “emergency” basis. It was done under Section 69(A) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Section 69(A) It empowers the government to restrict access to

Article 105 of Constitution: The Limits to Free Speech in Parliament

On 10th February, 2023, Rajya Sabha Chairman received a letter from the Congress President on Article 105 of the Constitution that deals with the privileges and powers of parliamentarians. About Article 105 It deals with powers, privileges, etc. of the Houses of Parliament and of the members and committees. Article 194 deals

Section 153A of IPC: Its Use and Misuse

Recently, a leader of a political party was arrested under section 153 A of Indian Penal Code (IPC) for alleged hate speech. About Section 153A of the IPC It penalises “promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance

Special Category Status

On 18th February, 2023, Union Finance Minister clarified that the Centre will not consider demands for “special category status” for any state as the 14th Finance Commission has clearly said no special status can be given. This comes as a blow to states like Odisha, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh which have

Income Tax Department’s Survey vs. Search

On 14th February, 2023, the Income Tax (I-T) Department conducted surveys at the premises of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in Delhi and Mumbai. About I-T Survey Survey operations constitute an extremely important tool for gathering relevant information by visiting the premises of the assessee, which is subsequently utilized in the

Greater Tipraland

On 14th February, 2023, the Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) Motha again came up with the demand for a Greater Tipraland. It demanded the Union government to carve out a separate state of 'Greater Tipraland' for the indigenous communities in Tripura under Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution. Tipraland It is

Issue of Missing Deputy Speaker

On 14th February, 2023, the Supreme Court issued notices on a petition highlighting the vacant posts of Deputy Speakers in Lok Sabha and five state assemblies for years. The PIL flagged that the constitutionally-mandated office of Deputy Speaker is vacant for years in the Lok Sabha and five state assemblies of

President’s Rule under Article 356

On 10th February, 2023, the Prime Minister in the Parliament recalled the misuse of Article 356 in the past by the Union Government. About Article 356 Article 356 of the Indian Constitution contains provisions for the imposition of “President’s Rule” in a state, removing an elected government. Article 356 was inspired by

Government sets up Panel on Digital Competition Law

On 7th February, 2023, the government constituted a 16-member inter-ministerial committee to examine the need for a separate law on competition in digital markets. The panel will be headed by Manoj Govil, secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Need The move comes amid increased regulatory antitrust-related scrutiny over big tech

Neutral Citation System

On 23rd February, 2023, Chief Justice of India (CJI) announced that the Supreme Court will adopt a “neutral citation system” for its judgments. The Delhi, Kerala, and Madras High Courts have already introduced neutral citation. Need A few decades ago, the exercise of citing cases was simple because the number of litigation

Conflict of Interest in India’s Food Fortification Policies & Programs

On 16th February, 2023, a report titled “Do India’s Food Safety Regulator (FSSAI) and Indian Citizens Need Saving From (Foreign & Indian) Private Players Behind Food Fortification Initiatives? – A Report on the Objectionable Conflict of Interest that Pervades India’s Food Fortification Public Policies & Programs” was released by the

Status of Aadhaar Linking in India

According to the Election Commission (EC), over 60% of India's 94.5 crore voters have linked their Aadhaar number to their voter IDs. Tripura has the highest rate of Aadhaar linking, with over 92% of voters in the state providing their Aadhaar details to the EC. Lakshadweep and Madhya Pradesh have

Alderman

Supreme Court said that Constitution does not allow aldermans of a municipality right to vote in meetings. Alderman refers to a member of a city council or municipal body, with exact responsibilities depending on the location of its usage. According to Delhi Municipal Corporation Act of 1957, LG (of National

National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) App

It was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in 2021. It aimed at bringing more transparency and ensuring proper monitoring of the schemes. The NMMS App permits taking real time attendance of workers at Mahatma Gandhi NREGA worksites along with geo-tagged

Yuva Sangam Portal

Yuva Sangam registration portal is an initiative of Government of India to strengthen people to people connect - especially between youth belonging to North Eastern India and other States. It will focus on conducting exposure tours of youth between 8 North Eastern States and other States. It is conceptualized under

Advocate Act of 1961

It was enacted in order to carry out the recommendations of the All India Bar Committee, which were supported by the Law Commission’s fourteenth report in 1955. This Act’s primary goal is to unite and create a single class of attorneys called “advocates.” Under Section 16 of the

Aadhaar Mitra

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched its chatbot ‘Aadhaar Mitra’. Chatbot is software that simulates human-like conversations with users via

eSanjeevani

It is an e-health initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, part of Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission. It is an alternative to conventional physical consultations via digital platform. eSanjeevani- National Telemedicine Service of India- is world’s largest telemedicine implementation in primary

37th Statehood Day of Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh celebrated its 37th Statehood Day on 20 February, 2023. Through the 55th amendment to the Indian Constitution in 1986, it became the 24th state of the Indian Union on 20th February 1987. During the British Colonial Rule, until 1972, the state was named as the North-East Frontier

Caveat

Racently, Cheief Justice of India (CJI) reprimandad a law student for filing a caveat in "shailendra Mani Tripathi v. Union of India & Others”. In common parlance, a caveat refers to “warning” or “caution”. However, legally it connotes a “formal notice requesting the court to refrain from taking some specified action without

India and Germany to Enhance Cooperation

On 25th February, 2023, during the visit of German Chancellor, India and Germany agreed on a vision statement to enhance cooperation on innovation and technology. Also, both countries agreed to further strengthen cooperation in various other areas. Key Highlights Vision Document The Vision Document focuses on deepening ties between industry and spurring cooperation

G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting

On 24th-25th February, 2023, the first meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) was held in Bengaluru. At the end of the meeting, a Chair’s Summary and Outcome Document was released. Key Points International Policy Cooperation: The leaders agreed to enhance international policy cooperation and steer the global economy

3rd ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting

On 10th February, 2023, the 3rd ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting with India was held on a virtual platform. The meeting had fruitful and productive discussions on strengthening India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) relations in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Key Points Theme: The theme of the meeting was

India Abstains in UN Vote on Ukraine

On 23rd February, 2023, India abstained in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on a resolution on Ukraine. The resolution got 141 votes in favour and 7 against. India was among the 32 countries that abstained. The Resolution The 193-member UNGA adopted the draft resolution, put forward by Ukraine and its supporters, titled

EU Green Deal Industrial Plan

On February 1st, 2023, the European Commission published its Green Deal Industrial Plan, designed to boost the competitiveness of EU net zero industries using the strength of the single market. The plan was announced in the context of a global energy crisis, international competition for green technologies, and the ongoing threat

REAIM 2023

On 15th-16th February, 2023, the world’s first international summit on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the military (REAIM 2023) was held in The Hague, Netherlands. The maiden conference, co-hosted by South Korea, brought together governments, corporations, academia, startups, and civil societies to deliberate on the issue. Key Points Aim: REAIM 2023

Indo-Pacific Strategy of Canada

On 7th February, 2023, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and India’s Minister of External Affairs held the meeting on Canada-India Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi. India welcomed Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, given the shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. About Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy The Indo-Pacific is a replacement for the formerly

Ratification of Chicago Convention

On 22nd February, 2023, the Union Cabinet approved the ratification of three Protocols relating to amendments in the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), 1944. Three Protocols The ratification has been approved in the following three protocols: Protocol to insert Article 3 bis in the Chicago Convention, 1944 to refrain member States

India, UAE & France Trilateral Cooperation Initiative

On 4th February, 2023, India, France and the UAE announced an ambitious road map for cooperation in defence, energy and technology under a trilateral framework. The trilateral was first discussed on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2022. About the Initiative The three countries agreed to work

Fab 4 Chip Alliance

Recently, the “Fab 4” semiconductor alliance of Taiwan, the United States, Japan and South Korea held a meeting of senior officials. The “Fab” in the name refers to a shorthand of an industry term for the fabrication plants where chips are made and used for virtually everything from fridges to

Windsor Framework

The UK government recently reached a landmark deal with the European Union (EU) on post-Brexit trade rules that will govern Northern Ireland. Called ‘Windsor Framework’, it will replace the Northern Ireland Protocol, which had proved to be among the thorniest of Brexit fall-outs, creating problems both economic and political. The

Seattle Bans Caste Discrimination

Seattle became the first US city to outlaw caste discrimination, after its local council voted to add caste to the city’s anti-discrimination laws. The legislation banning caste-based discrimination will prohibit businesses from discriminating based on caste with respect to hiring, tenure, promotion, workplace conditions, or wages. It will ban

UN Commission for Social Development

Recently, India’s Ruchira Kamboj (Permanent Representative of India to the UN) was elected as the Chair of the 62nd Session of the UN Commission for Social Development. For the 62nd session, the priority theme of the session is decided as “Fostering Social Development and Social Justice through Social Policies to

Gulfood 2023

Recently, India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) participated in the 28th edition of Gulfood 2023 held in UAE. It is a platform that connects food and beverage sectors around the globe, providing ample of opportunities to Indian exporters. More than 50 Indian exporters with focus on

India-EU Trade and Technology Council

Recently, India and the European Union announced the establishment of three Working Groups under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) and their Terms of Reference. TTC was launched by India’s Prime Minister and President of the European Commission in April in 2022. The TTC is a strategic coordination mechanism

SSLV-D2/EOS-07 Mission

On 10th February, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its second developmental flight of a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle, SSLV-D2. It placed three satellites in its precise orbit. SSLV-D2 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre-SHAR, Sriharikota. The first developmental flight of SSLV, launched on August 7, 2022,

Chandrayaan-3 Lander Completes EMI-EMC Test

The Chandrayaan-3 lander has successfully completed the crucial EMI-EMC (Electro - Magnetic Interference/ Electro - Magnetic Compatibility) test at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. The EMI-EMC test is conducted for satellite missions to ensure the functionality of the satellite subsystems in the space environment and their compatibility with

JWST Spots Six Monster Galaxies

A recent study conducted by an international team of astrophysicists highlighted that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered six extraordinarily massive first-generation galaxies. These galaxies seem to have been created during the universe’s early years. The study found numerous mysterious objects that were hidden away in the images taken by

NISAR Mission

Recently, NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), an Earth-observation satellite, got a traditional send-off ceremony at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, US. The satellite will be shipped to India and is expected to be launched in 2024 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. Key Points Development: NISAR has been jointly

New Evidence of Ancient Lake on Mars

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Curiosity Rover has discovered new evidence that an ancient lake existed in a region of Mars, which was earlier believed to be drier. Background Since 2014, the Curiosity Rover has been ascending the foothills of Mount Sharp, a 5-kilometer-tall mountain that was once laced with

First Flue Gas Desulphurization Plant in South India

The Singareni Thermal Power Plant (STPP) in Mancherial district in Telangana is set to become the first public sector coal-based power generating station in south India and the first among the State PSUs in the country to have flue gas desulphurization (FGD) plant to meet the green norms by cutting

Indole-based Novel Molecule as Preventive against COVID Variants

Recently, a team of researchers from India and Paris has developed a novel molecule that has shown promise in lab tests as a potential preventive against the variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Key Points The compounds are based on indole which are ubiquitous molecules found in some amino acids and natural alkaloids. The

Earth’s Innermost Realm

Recently, scientists confirmed the existence of a distinct structure inside our planet's inner core – an intensely hot innermost solid ball of iron and nickel about 1,350 km wide. The study was based on the behaviour of seismic waves. Context Earthquakes unleash seismic waves that travel through the planet and can reveal

Bendable Concrete

Scientists are developing CO2-infused concrete that locks up the greenhouse gas and can be stronger and bendable. Consisting of special type of materials that make it flexible, bendable concrete can take the bending stresses. It is filled with small fibers, generally polymer-derived, organized into a microstructure that helps give the

Mad Cow Disease

Recently, Brazil halted beef export to China after a case of mad cow disease was confirmed in the northern state of Para. Also known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), Mad Cow Disease is a deadly and slowly progressive infection affecting adult cattle’s central nervous system. BSE is a result

Organ on a Chip

Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act 2.0 approved computer-based and experimental alternatives to animals to test new drugs. An organ-on-a-chip is a small device containing human cells that are used to mimic the environment in human organs, including blood flow and breathing movements, serving as synthetic environments

ALMA

The Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) is set to get software and hardware upgrades. ALMA, comprising 66 antennas, is a state-of-the-art radio telescope that studies celestial objects at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths. It is situated at an altitude of 16,570 feet above sea level on the Chajnantor plateau in Chile’s

Automatic Train Supervision

Recently, Bharat Electronics announced that the Delhi Metro launched i-ATS, India’s first ever indigenously developed Train Control & Supervision System. It was jointly developed by Bharat Electronics Limited and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The i-ATS is a computer-based system which manages train operations. i-ATS can be used in

CCR5 Mutation

Recently, a patient from Germany has become at least the third person to have been cured of HIV with bone-marrow transplant from people carrying a specific HIV-resistant genetic mutation (CCR5-Delta32 mutation). HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) mainly attacks the CD4 immune cells in the human body, thereby reducing a person’s

Israel’s Sniffing Robot

Israeli scientists have recently developed a sniffing robot with locust antennae. The new robot is equipped with a biological sensor that uses the antennae of locusts. On the four-wheeled robot, the researchers placed the insect’s antenna between two electrodes that send electrical signals as a response to a nearby odour.

Glacial Lake Outburst Floods

According to a recently published study, lives of millions across the globe are threatened due to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). It is the first global assessment of areas vulnerable to GLOFs. Key Findings Extreme Vulnerability: Around 15 million people across the world face the risk of sudden and deadly flooding from

Feedback Loops Worsening Climate Crisis

A recently released report has highlighted the significant role of climate feedback loops in worsening the climate crisis. The report, researchers believe, contains the most comprehensive list of feedback loops ever compiled. What is a Climate Feedback Loop? In climate change, a feedback loop is something that speeds up or slows down a

Poaching and Trafficking of Pangolins in India

On 18th February, 2023, on the eve of World Pangolin Day, TRAFFIC, an International non-profit organisation working on the international trade of animals and plants, brought out a fact sheet reporting rampant poaching and illegal trade of pangolins in India. The factsheet is titled ‘India’s Pangolins Buried in Illegal Wildlife Trade’. The

GSI Discovers Lithium in Jammu and Kashmir

Recently, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) established “inferred” lithium resources of 5.9 million tonnes in Salal-Haimana area of Reasi District of Jammu and Kashmir. Key Points The Mineral Block: The inferred Lithium resources have been established as part of the “Reasi Sersandu-Kherikot-Rahotkot-Darabi” mineral block, where prospecting has been ongoing since 2021-22. Inferred

Gross Domestic Climate Risk Report

On 20th February, 2023, a report, titled “Gross Domestic Climate Risk” was released by the Cross Dependency Initiative (XDI), a global organisation specialising in climate risk analysis for regions, banks and companies. The report is primarily aimed at helping investors with their choice of long-term investment destinations. About the Report The index calculated

IEA Report Flags Rising Methane Emissions

On 21st February, 2023, the International Energy Agency (IEA) published a report which highlighted that methane emissions are rising and the fossil fuel industry is failing to tackle methane emissions despite its pledges to uncover and fix leaking infrastructure. Key Points Rising Emissions: In 2022, the global energy industry released into the

Global Assessment of Soil Carbon in Grasslands

Recently, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published its first Global Assessment of Soil Carbon in Grasslands. It measured the baseline of stocks of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) - the carbon held within the soil that is measurable, expressed as a percentage by weight (gC/Kg soil) -

Rhododendrons

The latest publication of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) has revealed that Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas are home to more than one-third of all types of rhododendrons found in India. This highlights the ecological significance of the region as far as an indicator species like Rhododendron is concerned. The

Marine Spatial Planning

Puducherry has launched the country’s first Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) framework as part of a pact under the Indo-Norway Integrated Ocean Initiative. Marine Spatial Planning refers to the process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic and social

Omorgus Khandesh

Omorgus Khandesh is a new beetle species that has been discovered in India recently. The new species belongs to the Trogidae family. With the addition of this new species, now there are a total of 14 extant species of this family in India. Omorgus Khandesh is necrophagous and is, therefore,

Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ)

A recent analysis shows banks and financial institutions, a part of the GFANZ initiative, continue to invest billions in fossil fuels. GFANZ is a global coalition of leading financial institutions committed to accelerating the decarbonization of the economy. GFANZ was launched in April 2021 to coordinate efforts across all sectors

Save Wetlands Campaign

Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’. Two publications were also released during the occasion: ‘India’s 75 Amrit Dharohar- India’s Ramsar Sites Factbook’ and ‘Managing Climate Risks in Wetlands – A Practitioner’s Guide’. ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’ is structured on a “whole of society”

E20 Fuel

Recently, Prime Minister of India officially announced the availability of E20 at the India Energy Week (IEW) 2023 in Bengaluru. E20 fuel is a blend of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. The Government aims to achieve a complete 20% blending of ethanol by 2025. In the next two years its

Ales Bialiatski

A Belarusian court has sentenced human rights activist Ales Bialiatski, one of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize winners, to 10 years in prison — continuing a brutal crackdown on dissent that began in response to pro-democracy protests in 2020. He shared the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize with Ukraine’s Center for

Giorgia Meloni

She is the Prime Minister of Italy, who recently visited India. He was the chief guest and keynote speaker at the 8th Raisina

Ajay Banga

US President Joe Biden recently nominated the former Master Card CEO Ajay Banga as the new World Bank President after the resignation of David

Girish Chandra Murmu

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Girish Chandra Murmu has been selected as External Auditor of the International Labour Organization in Geneva for a four-year term from 2024 to 2027.

Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu

He has been declared as the next president of Bangladesh by the country’s Election Commission after no other candidate was put forward. Shahabuddin will replace the incumbent, Abdul Hamid, whose tenure expires on April 24,

Dr. Mahendra Mishra

Dr. Mahendra Kumar Mishra, an Indian educator and social worker for the advancement of indigenous languages in Odisha, received the International Mother Language Award from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on International Mother Language Day (21

Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar

He assumed the position of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He replaced B.S.

Rashmi Shukla

She has been appointed as the Director General of the border-guarding force Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The SSB guards the country's borders with Nepal and

B.V.R. Subrahmanyam

He has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Niti Aayog. He will replace Parameswaran lyer, who was assigned as the Executive Director of World

Rajiv Gauba

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba will head a top panel comprising a senior official from the Prime Minister's Office, seven secretaries, among others, to monitor the implementation of the government's ambitious Mission Karmayogi programme for training of government

Ayushman Khurana

UNICEF India has appointment Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana as a ‘National Ambassador’, for children’s

Neal Mohan

Indian-American Neal Mohan has been appointed as the CEO of YouTube. He replaced Susan

Craig Fulton

South Africa's Craig Fulton has been appointed as the new chief coach of the men's national hockey team. He replaced Australian Graham Reid, who quit after India's dismal show in the World Cup.

Paul Berg

He was an American biochemist and the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1980, along with Walter Gilbert and Frederick Sanger for their contributions to basic research involving nucleic acids, especially recombinant

Kanak Rele

She was a dancer, choreographer, and academic best known as an exponent of Mohiniyattam. Rele was conferred with Padma Shri (1990), Padma Bhushan (2013), Kalidas Samman, and Sangeet Natak Akademi

Pandit Vijay Kumar Kichlu

He was an eminent classical singer (Dhrupad and Khayal) and exponent of the Agra Gharana. He was awarded Padma Shri and Sangit Natak Akademi

Aziz Mushabber Ahmadi

He was the 26th chief justice of India. He served as chancellor at the Aligarh Muslim University for two

Om Prakash Kohli

He was the Governor of Gujarat from 2014 to 2019. From 8 September 2016 to 19 January 2018, he held the additional charge of the office of Governor of Madhya Pradesh along with Gujarat.

Tulsidas Balaram

He belonged to the golden generation of Indian football in the 1950s and 60s where he paired with legends such as Chuni Goswami and PK Banerjee, and they came to be known as 'holy trinity'. Balaram’s exploits at the 1960 Rome Olympics is exceptional. He received Arjuna Award in

Lalitha Lajmi

She was an acclaimed painter who through her impeccable artworks, narrated a layered history of the modern Indian woman in the decades that followed the Independence of the country. Her works “reflect the hidden tensions that exist between men and women, captured in the different roles they play”.

Gurugram

Boeing has launched its first Global Support Centre (GSC) in India. Based in Gurugram, it will deliver customised operational efficiency and safety improvement projects for Boeing's airline customers, civil aviation regulatory bodies and other industry

Shinku La Tunnel

The Union Cabinet gave its nod for the construction of the 4.1-km Shinku La tunnel on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road link to provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas of Ladakh.

FRINJEX-23

The maiden joint military exercise between the Indian Army and French Army was conducted at the Pangode military station, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on March 7 and 8, 2023.

TARKASH

It is a joint exercise by the National Security Guard (NSG) and US Special Operations Forces. The recently held exercise at Chennai has for the first time included “Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) terror response” in its

Shinyuu Maitri 23

It is a bilateral Air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) which was held at Komatsu,

Dharma Guardian

The fourth edition of India-Japan bilateral Army exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ was held at Camp Imazu in Shiga province,

Cobra Warrior

Indian Air Force is participating in the Cobra Warrior 23 multilateral exercise at the Royal Air Force’s Waddington Air Force Base in Lincolnshire,

Desert Flag VIII

Indian Air Force contingent is participating in the multilateral Air exercise Desert Flag VIII hosted by United Arab Emirates at the Dhafra base. This is the first occasion when the LCA Tejas shall participate in an international flying exercise outside

Dustlik

The 4th Edition of India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise Dustlik was held at Pithoragarh,

Civil Aviation Research Organisation

The Centre is setting up a Civil Aviation Research Organisation (CARO) at the Begumpet airport. The facility, being set up under the auspices of Airports Authority of India, would carry out advanced research in the aviation sector. Research in various areas, including airports, air navigation services, air traffic management communications,

World Hindi Conference

The 12th World Hindi Conference was organized in Fiji from 15-17 February, 2023 by Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India in association with Government of Fiji. The theme was "Hindi - Traditional Knowledge of Artificial

International Dharma-Dhamma Conference

The 7th International Dharma Dhamma Conference was organized from March 3 to 5 at the Kushabhau Thakre International Auditorium in Bhopal with the theme 'Eastern Humanism for the New Era'. It was organised by India Foundation in collaboration with Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic

Indian Rice Congress-2023

The 2nd Indian Rice Congress-2023 was held in Cuttack, Odisha. The National Rice Research Institute has been established at Bidhyadharpur,

World Government Summit 2023

The World Government Summit 2023 was held at Dubai, United Arab Emirates under the theme of “Shaping Future Governments”.

Thyreus narendrani

A new species of cuckoo bee, Thyreus narendrani, has been discovered from the kole wetland ecosystem in Malappuram district in

Horaglanis populi

It is a new species of catfish found in the lateritic aquifer systems in the Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts of

Porter Prize 2023

The Union Health Ministry has been awarded the Porter Prize 2023 (named after US citizen Michael E Porter, an economist, researcher, author, advisor, speaker and teacher) for successfully combating the COVID-19 crisis. The prize was announced at "The India Dialog", organized by Institute for Competitiveness (IFC) and US Asia Technology

Marconi Prize 2023

Computer scientist Hari Balakrishnan has been awarded the 2023 Marconi Prize. The Marconi Prize is a top honour for computer scientists and is awarded by the U.S.-based Marconi Foundation. It is given to those “who have made a significant contribution to increasing digital inclusivity through advanced information and communications

Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Award for Excellence in Journalism

Veteran journalist A.B.K. Prasad was conferred the prestigious Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Award for excellence in journalism, by the Press Council of India, New Delhi. The award was conferred by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, chairperson of the Press Council of

Maharashtra Bhushan

Renowned social worker, preacher and reformer Dattatreya alias Appasaheb Dharmadikari will be honoured with Maharashtra Bhushan award for the year

Grammy Award

Indian music composer and producer Ricky Kej won his career's third Grammy award for his 'Divine Tides' album, which was nominated in the Best Immersive Audio Album category. This song was Kej's collaborative project with rock-legend and Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Prior to this, Kej had won another Grammy for

Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna/ Akademi Puraskar

President of India presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the year 2019, 2020 and 2021. Nine eminent personalities were given Akademi Ratna in the field of performing arts and 128 artists from the field of music, dance, theatre, traditional, folk,

Khelo India Youth Games

5th edition of Khelo India Youth Games was held in Madhya Pradesh from 30th January to 11th February 2023.Maharashtra won the overall championship and topped the medal tally with 161 medals (56 gold, 55 silver, and 50 bronze).Haryana (40 golds) and Madhya Pradesh (39 golds), were ranked 2nd and 3rd,

Khelo India Winter Games 2023

The third edition of Khelo India Winter Games 2023, was held in Gulmarg (J&K) the popular hill station in Jammu and Kashmir from February 10 to 14, 2023.J&K topped the medal tally of KIWG 2023 with 26 Golds, 25 silvers and 25 bronze, a total of 76

Ranji Trophy 2022-23

Saurashtra defeated Bengal to win their second title.Player of the Series: Arpit Vasavada (Saurashtra) Some Notable Facts Madhya Pradesh was the defending champions, winning their first Ranji Trophy title previous season.During this season, Sikkim hosted Ranji Trophy matches for the first time.Narayanan Janani, Vrinda Rathi and Gayathri Venugopalan became the

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023

The Australian women’s national cricket team won the 8th edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Twenty20 International (T20I) World Cup 2023 by defeating South Africa.Player of the Series: Ashleigh Gardener (Australia) ICC women’s T20I World Cup 2023 was hosted by South Africa from 10th to 26th February 2023.Bangladesh

Important Days/Weeks

Date Day Theme 2 February World Wetlands Day “Revive and restore degraded wetlands” 10 February World Pulses Day “Pulses for a Sustainable Future” 10 February World Day of Social Justice “Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice” 11 February International Day of Women and Girls in Science “Innovate. Demonstrate. Elevate. Advance. Sustain. ( I.D.E.A.S.)” 21 February International Mother Language Day “Multilingual education – a necessity to

Musical Instruments and Folk Art of India

On 26th February, 2023, in his Mann ki Baat address, Prime Minister spoke of several musical instruments and folk art of India. Sursingar It is a stringed instrument made of ivory and wood. This traditional instrument is found in various parts of North India. The strings of the instrument are usually four in

Lavani Folk Art

Recently, a younger generation of women dancers is accused of vulgarising Lavani, the traditional folk art form with their allegedly risque dressing and sexually suggestive moves. About Lavani It is a genre of music popular in Maharashtra, India. Lavani dance was generally performed by Dhangars or Shepherd living in the Solapur, Maharashtra. Essentially, it

Dhamaal Dance

Recently, a new documentary has focused on the music and dance performances of the Siddis community in Gujarat, called Dhamaals. About Dhamaal It is a mix of Sufi and African (mostly East African) musical and dance traditions. It refers particularly to the spiritual practices of the Siddis of Gujarat. The Siddis begin almost

Aadi Mahotsav

On 16th February, 2023, the Prime Minister inaugurated Aadi Mahotsav, the mega National Tribal Festival in Delhi. About Aadi Mahotsav It is an annual initiative of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Limited (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It is an attempt to showcase tribal culture on the national stage and

Siang Unying Festival

On 25th February, 2023, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush attended the colourful Siang Unying Festival, an important festival of the Adi community at Boleng, Arunachal Pradesh. About Siang Unying Festival It is basically a hunting festival followed by the Adi tribesmen. It is the first festival of the Adi

Tourist Circuit of Heritage Sites

In its 2023-24 Budget, the Karnataka government has proposed to start a Tourist Circuit of Heritage Sites of the state. It provided grant for the comprehensive development of the complexes of Sannati Chandralamba Temple and Ganagapura Dattatreya Temple in Kalaburagi and Madhukeshwara Temple of Banavasi. Chandrala Parameshwari Temple The Temple is located in

Sangam Era Keeladi Findings

Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has presented a report on the findings at the Sangam-era site of Keeladi and their significance. Keeladi is a tiny hamlet in the Sivaganga district in south Tamil Nadu. It is about 12 km south-east to the temple city of Madurai and is located

1,300-year-old Buddhist Stupa found in Odisha

On 27th February, 2023, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has found a 1,300-year-old stupa in the middle of a mining site in Odisha’s Jajpur district from where Khondalite stones were excavated for the project around the Jagannath Temple in Puri. About the Stupa The stupa could be 4.5 meters tall and

200th Birth Anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati

On 12th February, 2023, Prime Minister paid tribute to Dayanand Saraswati on the 200th birth anniversary of the social reformer Swami Dayanand Saraswati. About Swami Dayanand Saraswati He was born on 12th February, 1824, in Tankara, Gujarat in a Brahmin family. He was earlier named Mool Shankar Tiwari as he was born

Sant Sevalal Maharaj

On 26th January, 2023, the Central Government kick-started the year-long commemoration of the 284th birth anniversary of Sant Sevalal Maharaj, a spiritual and religious leader of the Banjara community. About Sant Sevalal Maharaj He was born on February 15, 1739, at Surgondankoppa in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district. He dedicated his life to serving tribal

14th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav

It was held during 25th February – 5th March, 2023, in Bikaner, Rajasthan. Started in 2015, it is an annual cultural exchange that promotes national unity and integrity in India. It aims to promote, preserve, and popularize India's rich cultural

Dr Zakir Hussain

The President of India paid tributes to Dr Zakir Hussain on his 126th birth anniversary. Dr Zakir Hussain served as third President of India and first Muslim to hold the position. He helped found the Muslim National University in Aligarh (later moved to New Delhi and today known as

Country’s First Marina

The Karnataka Government will build the country's first Marina or a boat basin offering dockage, at Byndoor in Udupi district to promote coastal tourism in Karnataka. The government will collect the history of the greatest dynasties such as Ganga, Kadamba, Rashtrakoota, Chalukya, and Hoysala from the Department of Archaeology and

Mohiniattam

Mohiniattam belongs to Kerala in southern India and takes its name from the mythic enchantress Mohini. It is a dance of feminine grace, and has grown out of performances connected with Kerala’s temples. The prince Swati Tirunal of Travancore was one of the chief architects of the dance in

Ahmadiyya Movement

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad founded the movement in 1889 in Qadian near Amritsar in Punjab, India. In opposition to some aspects of Islam, he preached that he was the promised messiah who had the task of bringing God’s teaching into harmony with the present-day world. The sect has long

Govandi Arts Festival

It is a celebration of arts and culture that thrive in marginalised neighbourhoods through sustained creative interventions in the form of mentoring programs, artist’s residencies, and art processions, culminating into a parallel community led arts festival in Mumbai, India with digital projections in Bristol, UK. Govandi Arts festival is part

Aluxes

Recently, Mexico President claimed a blurry, dark photo of a tree at night showed a figure from Mayan mythology as ‘alux’. According to Mayan mythology, aluxes are small, mischievous creatures that inhabit forests and fields and play tricks on people, like hiding things. It is said that some people leave

Anubhuti Inclusive Park

On 20th February, 2023, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways laid the foundation stone for the world's largest and unique Divyang Park - Anubhuti Inclusive Park, in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The park will have adapted facilities for all 21 types of disabilities like a touch and smell garden, hydrotherapy unit, water

Right to be Forgotten

On 25th February, 2023, the Delhi High Court decided to hear a doctor’s plea for enforcement of his ‘Right to be Forgotten’ on March, 15, 2023. About Right to be Forgotten It is the right to have personal information removed from publicly available sources, including the internet and search engines, databases, websites

Right against Self-incrimination

Recently, a Special CBI Court granted Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister custody to CBI on the grounds that he “failed to provide satisfactory answers” during the investigation. The court rejected the Deputy Chief Minister’s arguments of right against self-incrimination. Individual’s Right against Self-incrimination The right against self-incrimination has its origins in Roman

Child Marriage

On 3rd February, 2023, the Assam Police launched a statewide crackdown on child marriages. The men who married girls below 14 years of age would be booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO). Those marrying girls between the age of 14 and 18 years would be booked under the

NHRC Flags Implementation Gap in Mental Healthcare Act 2017

On 2nd February, 2023, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in a report flagged the “inhuman and deplorable” condition of all 46 government-run mental healthcare institutions across the country. The human rights body’s observations were made after visits to all operational government facilities, to assess the implementation of the Mental Healthcare

Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission

On 6th February, 2023, the Indian government has signed loan agreements with Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank to strengthen its health infrastructure. It is mainly to augment Prime Minister-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). About PM-ABHIM It was launched in October 2021 by the Union

Direct Benefit Transfer

Recently, according to the government, transfer of subsidies to the beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has reached about Rs. 5.5 trillion so far in the current financial year i.e., 2022-23. About DBT It was started on 1st January, 2013 with the aim of reforming Government delivery system in welfare schemes

New Organ Transplantation Guidelines

On 16th February, 2023, the Union Health Ministry modified national organ transplantation guidelines to facilitate the process of organ donations in India. It is aimed at better and more equitable access to organs and also to promote cadaver donations, which currently form a minuscule fraction of all organ transplants carried out

Trends in Maternal Mortality from 2000 to 2020

On 23rd February, 2023, United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (UN-MMEIG) released a report titled- Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000 to 2020. Major Highlights Maternal Mortality Rate There were an estimated 287,000 maternal deaths worldwide in 2020, which is a slight decrease from 309,000 in 2016 when the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

Jadui Pitara

Jadui Pitara is a learning-teaching material designed for children aged 3-8 years old, consisting of playbooks, toys, puzzles, posters, flashcards, storybooks, and worksheets. It is tailored to reflect local culture, social context, and languages, and is available in 13 Indian languages. Developed under the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), Jadui

Suposhit Maa Abhiyan

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the initiative of ‘Suposhit Maa’. It was launched in 2020 to protect the health of our future generation through a nation-wide campaign, in Kota, Rajasthan. The goal of this initiative to keep every mother and child healthy.. Only one pregnant woman would be adopted

eShram Portal

Recently, aover 28.60 crore workers have registered on the eShram portal. The eShram portal was launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Labour & Employment to create a National Database of unorganised/migrant workers and to provide them with a Universal Account Number (UAN). The objective is to extend the benefits

Mission Shakti

Recently, Supreme Court has directed Union government to present record on current status of Mission Shakti. Mission Shakti is a scheme in mission mode aimed at strengthening interventions for women safety, security and empowerment. Launched for a period of 2021-22 to 2025-26 by Ministry of Women and Child Development. It

Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA)

Recently, Finance Minister said that government will work in “mission mode” to eliminate SCA by 2047. SCA is an inherited blood disorder is highly prevalent among tribes in South Indian States. It affects shape of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body. People with this

Menstrual Leaves

Recently, Spain has become the first European country to grant paid menstrual leave to workers, with the right to three days of menstrual leave per month, which can be expanded to five days. Bihar and Kerala are the only Indian states that have introduced menstrual leave policies for women. Bihar's

MoMo Pregnancy

Recently, a US woman gave birth to two pairs of identical twins within six months of each other. Such twins, known scientifically as ‘MoMo‘, an abbreviation for monoamniotic-monochorionic, are some of the rarest types of twins, making up less than 1% of all births in the United States. In

North East’s First Compressed Biogas Plant

The first-ever compressed biogas plant project in northeast will be set up at Domora Pathar in Sonapur under the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district. The plant, which is being built under the name Redlemon Technologies, is expected to begin operating in November 2023 and will have a 5 tonne-per-day production capacity for

First Indian State to Use Robotic Scavengers

The Kerala government has launched robotic scavenger, "Bandicoot", to clean sewages in the temple town of Guruvayur, becoming the first state in the country to use robotic technology to clean all its commissioned manholes. Bandicoot, developed by Kerala-based Genrobotics, had recently bagged ‘Kerala Pride’ award at the Huddle Global

First Indian High Court to Publish Judgment in Regional Language

On February 21, 2023, also known as International Mother Language Day, the Kerala High Court published two of its most recent decisions in Malayalam, making it the first high court in the nation to do so. On the court’s website, the Malayalam decisions were posted right underneath the English version.

Pact with UN Women

The Kerala government and UN Women entered into an agreement, in order to promote activities that are welcoming to women in the State’s tourist industry. In addition to offering advice for baseline research, implementing women-friendly tourist destinations, and supporting interventions to change pervasive discriminatory social norms, this will be

Green Hydrogen Hubs

The Kerala government announced a scheme of Rs 200 crore for developing green hydrogen hubs at Trivandrum and Kochi. Kerala aims to become a 100 per cent renewable energy-dependent state by 2040 and a net carbon-neutral state by 2050. The state has a favorable atmosphere for the production of

India’s First Agri Chatbot ‘Ama KrushAI’ Launched in Odisha

Governor of Odisha launched India’s first AI Chatbot for the Agricultural sector ‘Ama KrushAI’ at the valedictory session of ‘Krushi Odisha 2023’. ‘Ama KrushAI’ chatbot will help the farmers with the best agronomic practices, inform them about government schemes, and loan products from more than 40 commercial and cooperative

State Food Security Scheme

The state government has decided to provide 5 kilograms of rice under SFSS to the beneficiaries free of cost for a period of one year starting from January 2023 to December 2023. The total expenditure of the plan will be Rs 185 crore. It has been distributing 5 kgs of

Aska Police Station Awarded as the Best Police Station in India

Union Home Ministry has awarded the Aska Police Station of Ganjam, district of Odisha as the number one police station in the country. Aska Police station was awarded in the annual ranking of Police Stations for 2022. The award was given during the DGsP/IGsP Conference 2022 which was

International Craft Summit

It was inaugurated an International Craft Summit in Jajpur district. The International Craft Summit is the first-of-its-kind to feature pioneer craftspersons, culture, and art enthusiasts. Jajpur was the ancient capital of Odisha and has existing assets of religious tourism, urban tourism, and Buddhist

Family ID – One Family One Identity Portal

It aims to identify families as a unit for implementing the 'one job per family' proposal. According to a state government, all such families that are not eligible for the National Food Security Scheme will be able to avail of the ID, while the ration card ID of the families

Aarohini Initiative

It aims to empower girls from the underprivileged class. The Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan will work under the Aarohini Initiative Training Programme for the safety and security of girls in 746 Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls Schools in Uttar Pradesh. The main objective of the Aarohini program, which will be implemented in

Ladli Bahna Scheme

Ladli Bahna Yojana will be created for the poor and lower middle class women of the state, irrespective of caste or category. They will receive Rs. 1,000 each month. The funds will be deposited each month into the accounts of the recipients from every eligible family, enabling them to achieve

Chief Minister’s Residential Land Rights Scheme

The scheme aims to provide free plots to the poor living in rural areas for building their houses. The land will be offered completely free of cost and along with the plot, the benefits of all other schemes will also be delivered. The Chief Minister had instructed the Revenue Department

Project Aspiration for Girls

Woxsen University has launched Project Aspirations with its firm belief in developing its ecosystem and empowering the community around the campus. Woxsen University has conceptualized the project for the ambitious girls of Classes IX-XII, Telangana Model School & Junior College. Under Project Aspiration, students are selected by the school principal

Third Edition of Annual Orange Festival 2023

The third edition of the two-day Orange Festival has been organized in Nagaland's Rusoma village to mark the harvest of organic oranges in the district. The orange festival is held to display the harvested oranges from the village. The Rusoma village is situated about 8 kilometers from the state’s capital

India’s First Green Solar Panel Factory

Luminous Power Technologies revealed that it has planned to build India’s first green energy-based solar panel manufacturing plant in Uttarakhand which will be operational by the end of this year. The location of the new India’s first green energy-based solar panel is Rudrapur which will be equipped with the latest

Vision for All School Eye Health Program

It has been launched in partnership with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and Prasad Netralaya. The program is an extension of the current Vision for All Goa eye health program. It will focus on training 2000 teachers on basic visual acuity tests for the children in their respective schools, followed by

State Song of Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government announced the ‘Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha’ as the state song, which is usually performed at school cultural events on May 1. The song will now be played on official occasions. The national anthem will always take precedence, and the state song will play at all government-organised events,

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival

The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival was celebrated from 4th to 12th February 2023 in Mumbai. It is Asia's biggest multicultural festival. The festival is usually held at the Kala Ghoda Art district which starts from the Regal Circle at the Southern end, stretches to the Mumbai University at the

First Divyang Park of Maharashtra

World's largest and unique Divyang Park - Anubhuti Inclusive Park – will be set up in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The park is being developed keeping in mind the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build an inclusive society. Instead of sympathy, this park will show empathy; hence this park has

Himachal Niketan

Himachal Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of ‘Himachal Niketan‘ which will provide accommodation facilities to the students and residents of Himachal Pradesh visiting New Delhi. ‘Himachal Niketan’, a five-story building will be constructed in Dwarka, Delhi for Rs 57.72 crore. There are two VIP rooms and 36 general

The Paalam Project

The Paalam Project or the City Livelihood Centre in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district is successfully placing educated unemployed youth in good jobs. The aim of the Paalam Project was to act as a bridge between job seekers and

18th National Jamboree of the Bharat Scouts and Guides

The President of India inaugurated the 18th National Jamboree of the Bharat Scouts and Guides at Pali, Rajasthan on 4th January 2023. Rajasthan is hosting the National Jamboree of the Bharat Scouts and Guides after 66 years. To accommodate the participants, a smart Village has been set up with all

‘School of Eminence’ Project

It aims to rejuvenate education in government schools and ensure the holistic development of students. The five pillars of the ‘School of Eminence’ are state-of-the-art infrastructure, academics, human resource management, sports, co-curricular activities, and community engagement. The project is also concerned with inducing innovative teaching methods for the students to

Irrigation

Evolution of Irrigation System Indus Valley Civilization: Indus Valley Civilization protected their crops with slings and clays of balls. They also built walls to protect them from floods. They used irrigation canals to bring water from the river to their crops. Ancient India: The Veda mentions only well-style irrigation, where kupa and

Seeds

Types of Seeds Hybrid Seeds: Hybrid seeds are obtained by cross pollination of different varieties of related plants. These seeds were instrumental in Green Revolution. These seeds combine desirable properties of two related plants. Drawback is that these seeds don’t regenerate seeds of same quality. Hybrid seeds are further classified into –

Fertilizers

Evolution The history of the Indian fertilizer industry dates back to 1906, when the first fertilizer factory opened at Ranipet (Tamil Nadu). Prior to 1960/61, India produced only straight nitrogenous fertilizers [ammonium sulphate (AS), urea, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), ammonium chloride and single superphosphate (SSP)]. The production of NP complex fertilizers commenced

Power

Important Facts Agriculture consumed 215,000.000 GWh (13.66% of total production) of electricity in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 211,295.000 GWh for 2020. Key Developments PM KUSUM: The Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme in 2019 to improve irrigation access

Land Holdings

Historical Aspect (Average Land Holdings) Agriculture Census in India is conducted at an interval of five years since 1970-71. Operational Holding: All land which is used wholly or partly for agricultural production and is operated as one technical unit by one person alone or with others without regard to the title, legal

Agro-Climatic Zones

The National Agricultural Research Project was launched in 1979 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for agro climatic zonation or ecological land classification. It listed 126 zones. The National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) in 1992 gave twenty agro-ecological zones based on the growing period

Crop Production

Geographical and Historical Aspect Historical evidence suggests rice and cotton were cultivated in the Indus Valley. As per Bhumivargaha, an Indian Sanskrit text, agricultural lands are classified into 12 categories: Urvara (fertile), Ushara (barren), Maru (desert), Aprahata (fallow), Shadvala (grassy), pankikala (muddy), jalaprayah (watery), kachchaha (contiguous to water), sharkara (full of pebbles

Dryland/Rainfed Farming

Characteristics of Dryland Farming Vagaries of Monsoon: Main characteristics of rainfall influencing crop production are its variability, intensity and prolonged dry spells during the crop period. Soil Constraints: Alluvial soils occupy the largest area in dryland agriculture. Problems of crop production are not so acute in these soils as they are in

Livestock Farming

Geographical and Historical Aspect During Indus Valley Civilization, the Indian humped cattle (Bos indicus) were domesticated. The buffalo (B. bubalis), sheep, Indian pig, and goats were less common and may have been wild. In the Arthashastra, goat has been described as an important milch animal like cows and buffaloes. Sheep were

Poultry

Categories of Chicken Broilers: These chickens are ideal for their high growth rate and are raised for meat specifically. These breeds can be slaughtered at only 8 weeks old. Layers: This bird is grown for egg laying, contributing to egg and egg powder markets. These breeds start laying at about 6 months

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Types of Aquaculture in India Freshwater Aquaculture: Freshwater prawn or shrimp is an important form of aquaculture and prawn is raised for human consumption. This type is practiced in states of West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Brackish Water Farming: This is mostly confined to coastal wetlands impounded by human, locally known

Sericulture

Geographical and Historical Aspect Geographically, Asia is the main producer of silk in the world and produces over 95 % of the total global output. Though there are over 40 countries on the world map of silk, bulk of it is produced in China and India, followed by Japan, Brazil and Korea.

Major Agricultural Revolutions

Black Revolution: The government intended to speed up ethanol production and combine it with gasoline to create biodiesel in order to increase petroleum production. Ethanol is a by-product of the manufacturing of sugar from molasses and is a renewable energy source.In the USA and Brazil, ethanol and gasoline have been

Mining Industry

Based on the geological mapping of the country, an area of 571,000 sq. km, out of a total of 3.1 Mn sq. km. has been demarcated as an Obvious Geological Potential (OGP) area, where the geological potential for the occurrence of mineral deposits is higher. 11 states account for 90% of

Iron and Steel Industry

Geographical Aspect In India, the iron and steel industry grew in areas where raw materials were plentiful. The Chota Nagpur plateau is home to all of India's major steel-making centres, which are spread across four states: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. Historical Aspect The Mehrauli pillar is evidence that Indians were skilled at

Aluminium Industry

Evolution of Aluminium Industry When the factory of the Aluminium Corporation of India was put into operation, India's production of aluminium officially began. The facility, which was built with the financial and technical assistance of Alcan, Canada, had a production capacity of 2,500 tonnes annually. In 1959, the Hindustan Aluminium Company (HINDALCO)

Textile Industry

Phases of Textile Industry 1818: 1st modern mill established at Fort Gloster near Calcutta – soon closed. 1854: Parsi entrepreneur Kawasji Dhabar started the first successful cotton textile mill in Mumbai. 1860’s: Shahpur Mill in 1861 and Calico Mill in 1863 set up in Ahmadabad. 1870’s: The real expansion of the cotton textile industry

Pharmaceutical Industry

Evolution of Pharma Sector in India The evolution of pharmaceutical sector in India may be set into following stages: The first stage is the period before the year 1970 in which the Indian market was dominated by foreign companies with little domestic participation. The second stage is the period between 1970 and

Automobile Industry

Evolution of Indian Automobile Industry In 1897, the first car ran on an Indian road. Through the 1930s, cars were imports only, and in small numbers. Hindustan Motors was launched in 1942. Mahindra & Mahindra was established by two brothers in 1945, and began assembly of Jeep CJ-3A utility vehicles. In the same

Cottage Industry

Types of Cottage Industries Cotton Weaving: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat are the three states with the most cotton production. Silk Weaving: Silk is a key producer and exporter in our country, both domestically and internationally. Karnataka is the most important silk producer, accounting for almost 70% of the total silk weaving

Industrial Regions

Maharashtra Industrial Region The Mumbai-Pune industrial zone, which has roots in colonial governance in India, is the largest industrial region in the nation. The growth of this region is related to the growth of the cotton textile industry. The coastal region of Ratnagiri offers both qualified and unskilled labour. Mumbai and

Industrial Policy

Industrial Policy Resolution, 1948 The Indian economy was designated as a Mixed Economy. Small-scale and cottage businesses were prioritised, and foreign investment was restricted. Four categories were used to categorise industries. Arms and ammunition, nuclear energy production, and railroad management are all under the sole control of the central government. New projects are only

Special Economic Zones

Indian Special Economic Zone was structured with the establishment of the first Export Processing Zone (EPZ) at Kandla in the year 1965. The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Policy was announced in April 2000. This resulted in the formation of a much larger and more efficient form of their predecessors with world-class

Classification of Minerals

Types of

Conservation of Minerals

Minerals fall into the non-renewable resource group. Mineral formation and concentration take thousands of years to complete. The rate of mineral creation is substantially slower than the rate of mineral consumption by people. In the mining process, waste reduction is essential. Recycling metals is another technique to preserve mineral resources. Conservation of

Rocks

Major Types of Rocks Igneous Rocks As igneous rocks form out of magma and lava from the interior of the earth, they are known as primary rocks. The igneous rocks (Ignis – in Latin means ‘Fire’) are formed when magma cools and solidifies. When magma in its upward movement cools and turns into

Logistics

Bharatmala Pariyojana Bharatmala Pariyojana is an umbrella program for the highways sector that focuses on optimizing efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through effective interventions. Interventions include development of Economic Corridors, Inter Corridors and Feeder Routes, National Corridor Efficiency Improvement, Border and International

Health Infrastructure

Historical Aspect Even in 6th century BC, during the time of Buddha, there were a number of the hospitals to look after the handicapped and the poor. The outstanding hospitals in India at that time were those built by King Ashoka (273–232 BC). Books written by Arabian and European travellers (around

Education Infrastructure

Historical Aspect During the ancient period, two systems of education were developed, Vedic, and Buddhist. The medium of language during the Vedic system was Sanskrit, while those in the Buddhist system were Pali. During those times the education was of Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, and Dharmasutras. Takshashila was the famous center of learning,

Renewable Energy

Types of Renewable Energy Solar Energy: It is estimated that during a year India receives the energy equivalent to more than 5,000 trillion kWh. Under clear (cloudless) sky conditions, the daily average varies from 4 to 7 kWh/m2. The solar energy reaching unit area at outer edge of the earth’s atmosphere

Non-Renewable Energy

Thermal Power Kilburn and Co., which later became Calcutta Electricity Supply Co., electrified Harrison Road (renamed MG Road) in Calcutta in 1889. This was the first street to have electric light bulbs in India. The Electricity Act of India was framed in 1910. It allowed private companies to generate and supply electricity. The

Surface Transport

Historical Aspect In the 1830s, the British East India Company started a programme of metalled road construction (gravel road), for both commercial and administrative purposes. This programme resulted in an estimated 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) of metalled roads being constructed by the 1850s. The Grand Trunk Road – from Calcutta, through Delhi

Railways

Historical Aspect The first railway proposals for India were made in Madras in 1832. The country's first transport train, Red Hill Railway (built by Arthur Cotton to transport granite for road-building), ran from Red Hills to the Chintadripet bridge in Madras in 1836-1837. In 1845, the Godavari Dam Construction Railway was built by

Water Transport

Inland Waterways National Waterways Act came into effect in 2016. It proposed 106 additional National Waterways and declared the 6 National Waterways which are as follows – National Waterways 1: It starts from Allahabad (Prayagraj) to Haldia with a distance of 1620 km. The NW 1 run through the Ganges, Bhagirathi, and

Air Transport

Historical Aspect The first commercial aviation flight in India took place on 18th February 1911 from Allahabad, across the Yamuna River to Naini, a distance of 9.7 kilometres. The aircraft was a Humber biplane shipped from England by French aviator Henri Pequet. In 1932, J. R. D. Tata was awarded a contract

Vegetation

Types of Forests in India Indian forests can be classified in five major groups namely: 1. Moist Tropical Forest Where the amount of annual rainfall ranges between 200 and 250 cm, the mean annual temperature lies between 24 and 27 and humidity percentage is 80, the evergreen forests degenerate into semi evergreen forests;

Social-Forestry

Types of Social Forestry Farm Forestry: Individual farmers are being encouraged to plant trees on their own farmland to meet the domestic needs of the family. In many areas this tradition of growing trees on the farmland already exists. Non-commercial farm forestry is the main thrust of most of the social

Mangroves

Importance of Mangroves Species: The nutrients found in the leaves and roots of mangrove trees provide food for plankton, algae, fish, and shellfish. Mangroves are home to a wide variety of birds and mammals, including mangrove monkeys in South Asia and Bengal tigers in the Sunderbans. Fishery: The significance of mangroves for

Ecological Issues

Air Pollution According to the World Air Quality Report 2021, India is home to 63 of the 100 most polluted cities, with New Delhi named the capital with the worst air quality in the world. The study also found that PM2.5 concentrations – tiny particles in the air that are 2.5

Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development refers to the ‘development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. This most widely accepted definition of Sustainable Development was given by the Brundtland Commission in its report Our Common Future (1987). Core Elements of Sustainable Development Environmental

​Tourism: Important Facts

Important Facts The total foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) in India from Jan-June 2022 stood at 2.124 million. The Indian hotel market including domestic, inbound and outbound was estimated to reach ~US$ 52 billion by FY27, driven by the surging demand from travellers and sustained efforts of travel agents to boost the

Medical Tourism

Historical Aspect Since the advent of yoga more than 5,000 years ago, India has seen a steady influx of medical tourists and spiritual students looking to learn and utilise this most fundamental and venerated discipline of complementary medicine. When the US's New Age movement was only getting started in the 1960s, pilgrims

Demographic Attributes

Key Demographic Attributes The sex ratio refers to the number of females per 1000 males in a given area at a specified time period. The fertility rate refers to the number of live births per 1000 women in the child-bearing age group, usually taken to be 15 to 49 years. The total fertility

Settlements

Historical Settlements The first known settlements in ancient India were in the Indus River valley. There were farming communities in this valley as early as 4500 B.C.E. By 3000 B.C.E., people also lived near the Ganges River. By 2500 B.C.E., there were walled settlements in the Indus River valley. The geography

Regional Imbalance

Reasons for Regional Imbalance (Macro Indicators) Natural Resources: The many areas of India are blessed with various natural and human resources. While some states, like Punjab and Haryana, have stronger irrigation systems, others, including West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, are endowed with better mineral resources. Manmade/Historical Reasons: In terms of

Human Development

Historical Aspect The roots of the concept of human development can be traced to early periods in human history and can be found in many cultures and religions. The idea that social arrangements must be judged by the extent to which they promote ‘human goods’ dates at least to Aristotle (384

Major River Interlinking Projects

Name Rivers States Peninsular Component Mahanadi (Manibhadra) – Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link Mahanadi and Godavari Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka and Maharashtra Godavari (Inchampall) -Krishna (Pulichintala) link Godavari and Krishna Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka Krishna (Almatti) – Pennar link Krishna and Pennar Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka Pennar (Somasila) –Cauvery

Model MCQs

General Studies