#Current #PT2021
H10N3 Bird Flu
News: A man in China’s Jiangsu province has been confirmed as the first human case of infection with a rare strain of bird flu known as H10N3.
- The WHO said while the source of the patient’s exposure to the virus was not known.
- Since no other cases were found among the local population, there was no indication of human-to-human transmission yet.
- H10N3 strain of avian influenza is a low pathogenic or relatively less severe strain of the virus in poultry.
- The risk of it spreading on a large scale was very low.
Spread –
1. Infected birds spread the virus through their saliva, mucus and poop.
2. Humans get infected when the virus gets in the eyes, nose or
mouth, or is inhaled from infected droplets or dust.
3. As long as avian influenza viruses circulate in poultry, sporadic infection of avian influenza will occur in humans.
H10N3 Bird Flu
News: A man in China’s Jiangsu province has been confirmed as the first human case of infection with a rare strain of bird flu known as H10N3.
- The WHO said while the source of the patient’s exposure to the virus was not known.
- Since no other cases were found among the local population, there was no indication of human-to-human transmission yet.
- H10N3 strain of avian influenza is a low pathogenic or relatively less severe strain of the virus in poultry.
- The risk of it spreading on a large scale was very low.
Spread –
1. Infected birds spread the virus through their saliva, mucus and poop.
2. Humans get infected when the virus gets in the eyes, nose or
mouth, or is inhaled from infected droplets or dust.
3. As long as avian influenza viruses circulate in poultry, sporadic infection of avian influenza will occur in humans.
#Current # PT2021
CIBER-2
- A NASA-funded rocket
- Aim: to look at how bright this light is to give scientists an estimate of how many of these stars are out there.
- Function: to count the number of stars that exist in the Universe.
- It improved upon to see if any stars had been undercounted in the previous counting attempts.
Working –
1. The CIBER-2 will launch aboard a suborbital sounding rocket that will carry scientific instruments on brief trips into space.
2. Once the instrument is above Earth’s atmosphere, it will survey a patch of sky that will include dozens of clusters of galaxies.
3. It will focus on a portion of the cosmic infrared background, which is emitted by some of the most common stars.
CIBER-2
- A NASA-funded rocket
- Aim: to look at how bright this light is to give scientists an estimate of how many of these stars are out there.
- Function: to count the number of stars that exist in the Universe.
- It improved upon to see if any stars had been undercounted in the previous counting attempts.
Working –
1. The CIBER-2 will launch aboard a suborbital sounding rocket that will carry scientific instruments on brief trips into space.
2. Once the instrument is above Earth’s atmosphere, it will survey a patch of sky that will include dozens of clusters of galaxies.
3. It will focus on a portion of the cosmic infrared background, which is emitted by some of the most common stars.
#Current #PT2021
Nano Urea Liquid
- Launched by The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO).
- World’s 1st Nano Urea Liquid for the farmers across the World.
Developed at Nano Biotechnology Research Centre, Gujrat in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Atmanirbhar Krishi.
-Function: It is a nutrient to provide nitrogen to plants as an alternative to the conventional urea.
- Significance:
1. It is developed to replace conventional urea
2. it can curtail the requirement of the same by at least 50%.
3. The conventional urea is effective 30-40% in delivering nitrogen to plants, while the effectiveness of the Nano Urea Liquid is over 80%.
4. Currently, India is dependent on imports to meet its urea requirements.
Nano Urea Liquid
- Launched by The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO).
- World’s 1st Nano Urea Liquid for the farmers across the World.
Developed at Nano Biotechnology Research Centre, Gujrat in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Atmanirbhar Krishi.
-Function: It is a nutrient to provide nitrogen to plants as an alternative to the conventional urea.
- Significance:
1. It is developed to replace conventional urea
2. it can curtail the requirement of the same by at least 50%.
3. The conventional urea is effective 30-40% in delivering nitrogen to plants, while the effectiveness of the Nano Urea Liquid is over 80%.
4. Currently, India is dependent on imports to meet its urea requirements.
#SnT #PT2021
ASPAGNII
- News: Department of Biotechnology- National Institute of Immunology (DBT-NII) receives ASPAGNII trademark.
- It is India’s First Indigenous Tumour Antigen SPAG9.
- SPAG9 was discovered by Dr Anil Suri in 1998.
- Currently, ASPAGNII is being used in dendritic cell (DC) based immunotherapy in cervical, ovarian cancer and will be used in breast cancer.
- Immunotherapy is a new approach that exploits the body’s inner capability to put up a fight against cancer.
- With this approach, either the immune system is given a boost, or the T cells are “trained’’ to identify recalcitrant cancer cells and kill them.
- In DC-based vaccine, patient’s cells called monocytes are collected from their blood and modified into dendritic cells.
- The DCs are primed with ASPAGNII and are injected back to the patient to help the ‘fighter’ cells, or T-cells, in the body to kill the cancer cells.
- DC-based immunotherapy is safe, affordable and can promote antitumor immune responses and prolonged survival of cancer patients.
ASPAGNII
- News: Department of Biotechnology- National Institute of Immunology (DBT-NII) receives ASPAGNII trademark.
- It is India’s First Indigenous Tumour Antigen SPAG9.
- SPAG9 was discovered by Dr Anil Suri in 1998.
- Currently, ASPAGNII is being used in dendritic cell (DC) based immunotherapy in cervical, ovarian cancer and will be used in breast cancer.
- Immunotherapy is a new approach that exploits the body’s inner capability to put up a fight against cancer.
- With this approach, either the immune system is given a boost, or the T cells are “trained’’ to identify recalcitrant cancer cells and kill them.
- In DC-based vaccine, patient’s cells called monocytes are collected from their blood and modified into dendritic cells.
- The DCs are primed with ASPAGNII and are injected back to the patient to help the ‘fighter’ cells, or T-cells, in the body to kill the cancer cells.
- DC-based immunotherapy is safe, affordable and can promote antitumor immune responses and prolonged survival of cancer patients.
#Current #PT2021
BIS Scheme on SDO Recognition.
News: Research Design & Standards Organization (RDSO) of Indian Railways has become the first Institution to be declared as a Standard Developing Organization (SDO)
- Under the BIS SDO Recognition Scheme.
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), has launched a BIS SDO Recognition Scheme.
Key points :
- To attain “One Nation One Standard” vision of Govt.
- BIS is a National Standards body under Department of Consumer Affairs.
-BIS integrates the existing capabilities and dedicated domain specific expertise available with various organizations
- Engaged in standards development in their sectors.
Aims to enable convergence of all standard development activities in the country resulting in “One National Standard for One Subject”.
- In order to become an SDO, RDSO reviewed its Standard Formulation procedures.
- Encoded in the WTO-TBT “Code of Good Practice” and
Mandated by the BIS as essential criteria for recognition as SDO.
- The scope of RDSO’s recognition as SDO, as approved by BIS is “SDO for products, processes and services for railway transportation sector in
India”.
- The recognition is valid for 3 years
- will require renewal after completion of the validity period.
Significance -
1. More faster transition from development of technology & innovation stage to actual use on ground.
2. The initiative will create a Brand India identity for quality of product manufactured inters the country.
BIS Scheme on SDO Recognition.
News: Research Design & Standards Organization (RDSO) of Indian Railways has become the first Institution to be declared as a Standard Developing Organization (SDO)
- Under the BIS SDO Recognition Scheme.
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), has launched a BIS SDO Recognition Scheme.
Key points :
- To attain “One Nation One Standard” vision of Govt.
- BIS is a National Standards body under Department of Consumer Affairs.
-BIS integrates the existing capabilities and dedicated domain specific expertise available with various organizations
- Engaged in standards development in their sectors.
Aims to enable convergence of all standard development activities in the country resulting in “One National Standard for One Subject”.
- In order to become an SDO, RDSO reviewed its Standard Formulation procedures.
- Encoded in the WTO-TBT “Code of Good Practice” and
Mandated by the BIS as essential criteria for recognition as SDO.
- The scope of RDSO’s recognition as SDO, as approved by BIS is “SDO for products, processes and services for railway transportation sector in
India”.
- The recognition is valid for 3 years
- will require renewal after completion of the validity period.
Significance -
1. More faster transition from development of technology & innovation stage to actual use on ground.
2. The initiative will create a Brand India identity for quality of product manufactured inters the country.
#Current #PT2021
Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority
- It is a Statutory Authority.
- Comes under the Department of Food and Public Distribution
It was constituted in 2010.
- Warehousing Act, 2007.
Function:
1. It regulates and ensures implementation of Act for the development and regulation of warehouses.
2. It implements and regulates the Negotiable Warehouse.
3. Receipt/electronic-NWR System in the country.
4. It promotes orderly growth of the warehousing business.
Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority
- It is a Statutory Authority.
- Comes under the Department of Food and Public Distribution
It was constituted in 2010.
- Warehousing Act, 2007.
Function:
1. It regulates and ensures implementation of Act for the development and regulation of warehouses.
2. It implements and regulates the Negotiable Warehouse.
3. Receipt/electronic-NWR System in the country.
4. It promotes orderly growth of the warehousing business.
#Current #PT2021
Solar Energy Corporation of India
- Set up in 2011.
- It is dedicated to solar energy sector.
- Comes under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Aim: To build ‘Green India’ through harnessing abundant solar radiation.
Key points:
1. It was to facilitate the implementation of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.
2. It is responsible for implementation of a number of schemes of MNRE.
3. Viability Gap Fund schemes for large-scale grid-connected projects under JNNSM.
4. Solar park scheme and grid-
connected solar rooftop scheme.
Solar Energy Corporation of India
- Set up in 2011.
- It is dedicated to solar energy sector.
- Comes under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Aim: To build ‘Green India’ through harnessing abundant solar radiation.
Key points:
1. It was to facilitate the implementation of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.
2. It is responsible for implementation of a number of schemes of MNRE.
3. Viability Gap Fund schemes for large-scale grid-connected projects under JNNSM.
4. Solar park scheme and grid-
connected solar rooftop scheme.
#Current #PT2021
Dekho ApnaDesh Campaign
- Initiated by the Ministry of Tourism
- Released the content of the pledge during a function on Mygov platform.
- Function: It promotes domestic tourism in India
Aim: To enhance tourist footfalls in places of tourist interest - to develop local economy.
- Tourism Ministry organised webinars on the overall theme of 'DekhoApnaDesh'.
- Objective of the webinars - To create awareness, provide and in-depth knowledge on and promote several tourism destinations in India.
Dekho ApnaDesh Campaign
- Initiated by the Ministry of Tourism
- Released the content of the pledge during a function on Mygov platform.
- Function: It promotes domestic tourism in India
Aim: To enhance tourist footfalls in places of tourist interest - to develop local economy.
- Tourism Ministry organised webinars on the overall theme of 'DekhoApnaDesh'.
- Objective of the webinars - To create awareness, provide and in-depth knowledge on and promote several tourism destinations in India.
#Current #PT2021
Elephant Corridor
- Elephant corridors are linear, narrow, natural habitat linkages that allow elephants to move between secure habitats without being disturbed by humans.
88 elephant corridors have been identified by the wildlife trust of India under the National elephant Corridor project.
Reasons: The elephants cross the plateau in search of food and water.
Aim: To secure a future for wild elephants it is essential that we ensure their uninterrupted movement between key habitats.
Gaj Yatra’, a nationwide campaign to protect elephants, was launched on the occasion of World Elephant Day in 2017. The campaign is planned to cover 12 elephant range states.
The elephant is part of India’s animal heritage and the Government celebrates this day to spread awareness about the conservation of the species
Elephant Corridor
- Elephant corridors are linear, narrow, natural habitat linkages that allow elephants to move between secure habitats without being disturbed by humans.
88 elephant corridors have been identified by the wildlife trust of India under the National elephant Corridor project.
Reasons: The elephants cross the plateau in search of food and water.
Aim: To secure a future for wild elephants it is essential that we ensure their uninterrupted movement between key habitats.
Gaj Yatra’, a nationwide campaign to protect elephants, was launched on the occasion of World Elephant Day in 2017. The campaign is planned to cover 12 elephant range states.
The elephant is part of India’s animal heritage and the Government celebrates this day to spread awareness about the conservation of the species
#Governmentinitiative #PT2021
National Urban Digital Mission
- Launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Key Features:
- It will create a shared digital infrastructure for urban India.
- It work across the three pillars of people, process, and platform.
- It Provide holistic support to cities and towns.
- It will create a shared digital infrastructure that can consolidate digital initiatives.
- It will institutionalize a citizen-centric, principles-based and ecosystem-driven approach.
- Will provide urban governance and service delivery in 2022 cities by 2022 across all cities and towns in India by 2024.
- It Inherits the technology design principles of the National Urban Innovation Stack.
National Urban Digital Mission
- Launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Key Features:
- It will create a shared digital infrastructure for urban India.
- It work across the three pillars of people, process, and platform.
- It Provide holistic support to cities and towns.
- It will create a shared digital infrastructure that can consolidate digital initiatives.
- It will institutionalize a citizen-centric, principles-based and ecosystem-driven approach.
- Will provide urban governance and service delivery in 2022 cities by 2022 across all cities and towns in India by 2024.
- It Inherits the technology design principles of the National Urban Innovation Stack.
#Current #PT2021
NISAR(NASA-ISRO SAR)
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- Signed a partnership in 2014
Launching NISAR (NASA-ISRO SAR) by 2022.
- It is a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) that can produce extremely high-resolution images.
Significance:
1. A joint earth observation satellite mission.
2. It measure changes in Earth’s surface less than a centimetre across.
3. It will observe Earth’s land and ice-covered surfaces with 12-day regularity on ascending and descending passes,
4. Sampling Earth on average every 6 days for a baseline 3-year mission.
5. It collects data day and night in any weather.
NISAR(NASA-ISRO SAR)
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- Signed a partnership in 2014
Launching NISAR (NASA-ISRO SAR) by 2022.
- It is a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) that can produce extremely high-resolution images.
Significance:
1. A joint earth observation satellite mission.
2. It measure changes in Earth’s surface less than a centimetre across.
3. It will observe Earth’s land and ice-covered surfaces with 12-day regularity on ascending and descending passes,
4. Sampling Earth on average every 6 days for a baseline 3-year mission.
5. It collects data day and night in any weather.
#Current #PT2021
EnVision
- It is a European Space Agency (ESA) led mission.
- Its orbiter will visit Venus in the 2030s.
Key points:
- Once launched on an Ariane 6 rocket, the spacecraft will reach Venus in 15 months
- It will take 16 more months to achieve orbit circularisation.
- It will follow another ESA-led mission ‘Venus Express’ (2005-2014).
- It focussed on atmospheric research and pointed to volcanic hotspots on the planet’s surface
Significance:
1. will study the planet’s atmosphere and surface
2. Monitor trace gases in the atmosphere and analyse its surface composition.
3. Radar provided by NASA will help to image and map the surface.
4. ESA’s mission is the question of how Earth and Venus evolved so differently.
EnVision
- It is a European Space Agency (ESA) led mission.
- Its orbiter will visit Venus in the 2030s.
Key points:
- Once launched on an Ariane 6 rocket, the spacecraft will reach Venus in 15 months
- It will take 16 more months to achieve orbit circularisation.
- It will follow another ESA-led mission ‘Venus Express’ (2005-2014).
- It focussed on atmospheric research and pointed to volcanic hotspots on the planet’s surface
Significance:
1. will study the planet’s atmosphere and surface
2. Monitor trace gases in the atmosphere and analyse its surface composition.
3. Radar provided by NASA will help to image and map the surface.
4. ESA’s mission is the question of how Earth and Venus evolved so differently.
#Current #PT2021
G7
- It is an informal group of seven countries - the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Origin - The G7 draws its roots from a meeting between the current G7 members, excluding Canada that took place in 1975.
Background : Russia participated in the G8 from 1998 to 2014 until its invasion of Ukraine’s Crimea caused the group to eject it.
G7 summit - The heads of these countries hold an annual G7 summit with European Union and other invitees.
News: India has been invited to the 2021 G7 summit as a special guest.
Key points:
1. It will be particularly interested in the talks related to global vaccine delivery as both a major manufacturer and consumer.
2. The presidency of G7 meetings is held by each of the seven countries in turn, each year.
3. The country holding the presidency is responsible for organising and hosting the meeting.
4. The UK holds the G7 presidency for 2021 in Cornwall.
Facts:
1. Together the member countries represent 40% of global GDP and 10% of the world’s population.
2. It has no binding impact on policy, and all decisions and commitments made at G7 meetings.
G7
- It is an informal group of seven countries - the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Origin - The G7 draws its roots from a meeting between the current G7 members, excluding Canada that took place in 1975.
Background : Russia participated in the G8 from 1998 to 2014 until its invasion of Ukraine’s Crimea caused the group to eject it.
G7 summit - The heads of these countries hold an annual G7 summit with European Union and other invitees.
News: India has been invited to the 2021 G7 summit as a special guest.
Key points:
1. It will be particularly interested in the talks related to global vaccine delivery as both a major manufacturer and consumer.
2. The presidency of G7 meetings is held by each of the seven countries in turn, each year.
3. The country holding the presidency is responsible for organising and hosting the meeting.
4. The UK holds the G7 presidency for 2021 in Cornwall.
Facts:
1. Together the member countries represent 40% of global GDP and 10% of the world’s population.
2. It has no binding impact on policy, and all decisions and commitments made at G7 meetings.
#Current #PT2021
PASIPHAE
- Polar-Areas Stellar-Imaging in Polarisation High-Accuracy Experiment
- It is an international collaborative sky surveying project
- launched by the Institute of Astrophysics, Greece.
- Significance:
1. It will be used in upcoming sky surveys to capture polarisation coming from very faint stars that are so far away.
2. The survey will use two high-tech optical polarimeters to observe the northern and southern skies, simultaneously.
3. Astronomers will perform a maiden magnetic field tomography mapping of the interstellar.
4. a polarimeter with high sensitivity and accuracy was needed, so WALOP was planned sometime in 2013.
PASIPHAE
- Polar-Areas Stellar-Imaging in Polarisation High-Accuracy Experiment
- It is an international collaborative sky surveying project
- launched by the Institute of Astrophysics, Greece.
- Significance:
1. It will be used in upcoming sky surveys to capture polarisation coming from very faint stars that are so far away.
2. The survey will use two high-tech optical polarimeters to observe the northern and southern skies, simultaneously.
3. Astronomers will perform a maiden magnetic field tomography mapping of the interstellar.
4. a polarimeter with high sensitivity and accuracy was needed, so WALOP was planned sometime in 2013.
#Governmentinitiative #PT2021
PENCiL Portal
- The Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour (PENCiL)
- Launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
- Function: to rehabilitate child labour in the country.
Key points:
- This portal is an online platform
- It aims at engaging the Central and State Governments, District, civil society and the public in eradicating child labour to
- Achieve the target of child labour free society.
- To mainstream into legal schools of all children who have been withdrawn from child labour and rehabilitated through the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme.
- To build a strong authentication mechanism for implementing and monitoring both the enforcement.
Components of PENCiL Portal - 1. Child Tracking System,
2. Complaint Corner
3. State Government
4. National Child Labour Project, Convergence.
Implementation Process -
- All complaints filed will be received by the District Nodal Officers
- DNOs who are nominated by the Districts.
- After receiving the complaints, the rescue measures will be taken within the 48 hours in coordination with the police department only
- if the complaint filed is found to be genuine.
PENCiL Portal
- The Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour (PENCiL)
- Launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
- Function: to rehabilitate child labour in the country.
Key points:
- This portal is an online platform
- It aims at engaging the Central and State Governments, District, civil society and the public in eradicating child labour to
- Achieve the target of child labour free society.
- To mainstream into legal schools of all children who have been withdrawn from child labour and rehabilitated through the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme.
- To build a strong authentication mechanism for implementing and monitoring both the enforcement.
Components of PENCiL Portal - 1. Child Tracking System,
2. Complaint Corner
3. State Government
4. National Child Labour Project, Convergence.
Implementation Process -
- All complaints filed will be received by the District Nodal Officers
- DNOs who are nominated by the Districts.
- After receiving the complaints, the rescue measures will be taken within the 48 hours in coordination with the police department only
- if the complaint filed is found to be genuine.
#Environment #PT2021
Blue-finned Mahseer
News: On the IUCN red list, the Blue-finned Mahseer (Tor Khudree) has been moved from the ‘endangered’ status to the ‘least concern’ status.
Location : The IUCN group is involved in conservation of the blue-finned and golden Mahseer for 50 years in Lonavala, Maharashtra.
Characteristics -
1. They inhabit both rivers and lakes.
2. Most of species ascend into rapid streams with rocky bottoms for breeding.
3. They are omnivorous.
4. They eat algae, crustaceans, frogs, insects and other fish. They also eat fruits that fall from trees overhead.
5. The species is migratory; moving upstream during rains.
6. It prefers clean, fast flowing and well oxygenated waters
Habitat - This species is found in River Mota Mola east of Pune and other rivers of the Deccan Plateau.
Threats -
1. Over harvesting
2. Habitat manipulation
3. Competition from other fish species
Blue-finned Mahseer
News: On the IUCN red list, the Blue-finned Mahseer (Tor Khudree) has been moved from the ‘endangered’ status to the ‘least concern’ status.
Location : The IUCN group is involved in conservation of the blue-finned and golden Mahseer for 50 years in Lonavala, Maharashtra.
Characteristics -
1. They inhabit both rivers and lakes.
2. Most of species ascend into rapid streams with rocky bottoms for breeding.
3. They are omnivorous.
4. They eat algae, crustaceans, frogs, insects and other fish. They also eat fruits that fall from trees overhead.
5. The species is migratory; moving upstream during rains.
6. It prefers clean, fast flowing and well oxygenated waters
Habitat - This species is found in River Mota Mola east of Pune and other rivers of the Deccan Plateau.
Threats -
1. Over harvesting
2. Habitat manipulation
3. Competition from other fish species
#Environment #PT2021
Operation Olivia
- Every year, the Indian Coast Guard conducts “Operation Olivia”
- Aim: to protect turtles as they arrive to nest in Odisha.
Acts:
1. Odisha has also formulated laws for protecting Olive Ridley turtles.
2. he Orissa Marine Fisheries Act empowers the Coast Guard as one of its enforcement agencies.
Threats:
1. Indiscriminate fishing with trawlers and gill nets
2. Beach soil erosion
3. Dense fishing activity along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
4. Trawlers, mechanised fishing boats and gill-netters.
Concern: It is estimated that only one in a thousand survive
Origin: early 1980s
Role:
1. It involves round-the-clock surveillance from November till May using fast patrol vessels, air cushion vessels, interceptor craft etc.
2.Enforcing the use of turtle excluder devices (TED) by trawlers in the waters adjoining nesting areas
3.Prohibiting the use of gill nets and curtailing turtle poaching.
Fact:
All five species of sea turtles found in India are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and in the Appendix I of the CITES.
Operation Olivia
- Every year, the Indian Coast Guard conducts “Operation Olivia”
- Aim: to protect turtles as they arrive to nest in Odisha.
Acts:
1. Odisha has also formulated laws for protecting Olive Ridley turtles.
2. he Orissa Marine Fisheries Act empowers the Coast Guard as one of its enforcement agencies.
Threats:
1. Indiscriminate fishing with trawlers and gill nets
2. Beach soil erosion
3. Dense fishing activity along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
4. Trawlers, mechanised fishing boats and gill-netters.
Concern: It is estimated that only one in a thousand survive
Origin: early 1980s
Role:
1. It involves round-the-clock surveillance from November till May using fast patrol vessels, air cushion vessels, interceptor craft etc.
2.Enforcing the use of turtle excluder devices (TED) by trawlers in the waters adjoining nesting areas
3.Prohibiting the use of gill nets and curtailing turtle poaching.
Fact:
All five species of sea turtles found in India are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and in the Appendix I of the CITES.
#Culture #PT2021
Tulu
News: Tulu speakers have been requesting the governments to give Tulu the official language status and include it in the 8th schedule to the Constitution.
Key points:
- Presently, there are 22 official languages.
- Tulu is a Dravidian language spoken mainly in regions of Karnataka (Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts) and Kerala (Kasaragod district).
- This region is informally known as Tulu Nadu.
- Robert Caldwell (1814-1891), in his book, A Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian Family of Languages, called Tulu as one of the most highly developed languages of the Dravidian family.
- Tulu is not an official language in the country.
- Karnataka government introduced Tulu as a language in schools a few years ago.
Tulu
News: Tulu speakers have been requesting the governments to give Tulu the official language status and include it in the 8th schedule to the Constitution.
Key points:
- Presently, there are 22 official languages.
- Tulu is a Dravidian language spoken mainly in regions of Karnataka (Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts) and Kerala (Kasaragod district).
- This region is informally known as Tulu Nadu.
- Robert Caldwell (1814-1891), in his book, A Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian Family of Languages, called Tulu as one of the most highly developed languages of the Dravidian family.
- Tulu is not an official language in the country.
- Karnataka government introduced Tulu as a language in schools a few years ago.
#Current #PT2021
River Devika National Project
- The River Devika Project in Jammu & Kashmir is being compared with the pioneer “NamamiGange” project of the Central Government.
- Centrally funded Rs.190cr. Project
Includes:
1. Bathing “ghats” (places) on the river’s banks will be developed
2. Encroachments will be removed
3. Natural water bodies will be restored andCatchment areas will be developed.
4. The project includes the construction of three sewage treatment plants of 8 MLD, 4 MLD and 1.6 MLD capacities, sewerage network.
5. Protection structures, small hydropower plants and three solar power plants.
6. On completion of the project, the rivers will see reduction in pollution and improvement in water quality.
River Devika National Project
- The River Devika Project in Jammu & Kashmir is being compared with the pioneer “NamamiGange” project of the Central Government.
- Centrally funded Rs.190cr. Project
Includes:
1. Bathing “ghats” (places) on the river’s banks will be developed
2. Encroachments will be removed
3. Natural water bodies will be restored andCatchment areas will be developed.
4. The project includes the construction of three sewage treatment plants of 8 MLD, 4 MLD and 1.6 MLD capacities, sewerage network.
5. Protection structures, small hydropower plants and three solar power plants.
6. On completion of the project, the rivers will see reduction in pollution and improvement in water quality.
#current #PT2021
Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed this project
- $484 million loan to improve the Tamil Nadu Industrial Connectivity Project.
Key points:
1.improve transport connectivity and facilitate industrial development in the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) in the state of Tamil Nadu.
2. It is part of India’s East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC), which stretches from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu and connects India to the production networks of South, Southeast, and East Asia.
3.The Connectivity project is part of the priority infrastructure projects identified for corridor development under the ADB-supported CKIC comprehensive development plan.I
4.eimprove the planning capacity of Tamil Nadu’s Highways and Minor Ports Department.
5.The project will upgrade about 590 km of state highways in the CKIC influence areas that cover 23 of the 32 districts between Chennai and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed this project
- $484 million loan to improve the Tamil Nadu Industrial Connectivity Project.
Key points:
1.improve transport connectivity and facilitate industrial development in the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) in the state of Tamil Nadu.
2. It is part of India’s East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC), which stretches from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu and connects India to the production networks of South, Southeast, and East Asia.
3.The Connectivity project is part of the priority infrastructure projects identified for corridor development under the ADB-supported CKIC comprehensive development plan.I
4.eimprove the planning capacity of Tamil Nadu’s Highways and Minor Ports Department.
5.The project will upgrade about 590 km of state highways in the CKIC influence areas that cover 23 of the 32 districts between Chennai and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
#current #PT2021
Biotech-KISAN Programme
Its a program of Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
- It is Biotech-Krishi Innovation Science Application Network (Biotech-KISAN).
- This programme is a scientist-farmer partnership scheme.
- launched in 2017.
- Developed by and with farmers under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
Objective:
to connect science laboratories with the farmers to find out innovative solutions and technologies to be applied at farm level.
Significance:
follows a hub-and-spoke model and stimulates entrepreneurship and innovation in farmers and empowers women farmers.
- These hubs have been established covering all 15 agroclimatic zones and 110 Aspirational Districts in the country.
Biotech-KISAN Programme
Its a program of Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
- It is Biotech-Krishi Innovation Science Application Network (Biotech-KISAN).
- This programme is a scientist-farmer partnership scheme.
- launched in 2017.
- Developed by and with farmers under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
Objective:
to connect science laboratories with the farmers to find out innovative solutions and technologies to be applied at farm level.
Significance:
follows a hub-and-spoke model and stimulates entrepreneurship and innovation in farmers and empowers women farmers.
- These hubs have been established covering all 15 agroclimatic zones and 110 Aspirational Districts in the country.