#MainsFodder #PT2021 #SnT_Currents
The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)
- It is an autonomous society
- Launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- Established in 1991.
Objective: encouraging, promoting and boosting the export of software from India.
Significance:
- provide statutory and other promotional services to the exporters
- promote micro, small and medium entrepreneurs
- Creating conducive environment for entrepreneurship in the field of IT/ITES.
- Establish and manage infrastructure resources such as Datacom facilities etc
The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)
- It is an autonomous society
- Launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- Established in 1991.
Objective: encouraging, promoting and boosting the export of software from India.
Significance:
- provide statutory and other promotional services to the exporters
- promote micro, small and medium entrepreneurs
- Creating conducive environment for entrepreneurship in the field of IT/ITES.
- Establish and manage infrastructure resources such as Datacom facilities etc
#PT2021 #SnT_Currents
Fast Radio Burst in Milky Way
News: Recently NASA has spotted fast Radio Burst for the first time in the Milky Way
FRB is bright bursts of radio waves whose durations lie in the millisecond-scale.
It was first discovered in 2007.
NASA observed a mix of X-ray and radio signals.
The findings confirm that magnetars could be sources for FRBs.
Fast Radio Burst in Milky Way
News: Recently NASA has spotted fast Radio Burst for the first time in the Milky Way
FRB is bright bursts of radio waves whose durations lie in the millisecond-scale.
It was first discovered in 2007.
NASA observed a mix of X-ray and radio signals.
The findings confirm that magnetars could be sources for FRBs.
#PT2021 #IR_InNews
Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwar
News: India has criticized Pakistan’s decision to transfer the management of the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara from a Sikh body to a separate trust
Key Points
- Most significant historical and spiritual places for Sikhs.
- Foundations of a Sikh religion.
- The Kartarpur Corridor was thrown open in 2019.
- visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims to Pakistan
- The corridor was built in 2019 to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwar
News: India has criticized Pakistan’s decision to transfer the management of the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara from a Sikh body to a separate trust
Key Points
- Most significant historical and spiritual places for Sikhs.
- Foundations of a Sikh religion.
- The Kartarpur Corridor was thrown open in 2019.
- visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims to Pakistan
- The corridor was built in 2019 to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
#PT2021 #Economy_Current
NBFC- MFIs
NBFC MFI is a non-deposit taking NBFC (other than a company licensed u/s 25 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956) that meets the following conditions:
1. Minimum Net Owned Funds (NOF) of Rs.5 crore. (Rs. 2 crore for the North Eastern Region)
2. At least 85% of its Total Net Assets are in the nature of “Qualifying Assets.”
NBFC- MFIs
NBFC MFI is a non-deposit taking NBFC (other than a company licensed u/s 25 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956) that meets the following conditions:
1. Minimum Net Owned Funds (NOF) of Rs.5 crore. (Rs. 2 crore for the North Eastern Region)
2. At least 85% of its Total Net Assets are in the nature of “Qualifying Assets.”
#PT2021 #MainsFodder
Qualifying Assets
“Net assets” are total assets excluding cash, bank balances, and money market instruments.
“Qualifying assets” are those assets which have a substantial period of time to be ready for its intended use or sale.
Qualifying Assets
“Net assets” are total assets excluding cash, bank balances, and money market instruments.
“Qualifying assets” are those assets which have a substantial period of time to be ready for its intended use or sale.
#MainsFodder #PT2021
National Water Awards:
Second National Water Awards to be conferred in November.
- The awards are given by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, GOI.
- The awards are given in several categories such as ‘Best State’, ‘Best District’, ‘Best School’, ‘Best Newspaper’, ‘Best NGO’, ‘Best Industry’, etc. with sub-categories also.
National Water Awards:
Second National Water Awards to be conferred in November.
- The awards are given by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, GOI.
- The awards are given in several categories such as ‘Best State’, ‘Best District’, ‘Best School’, ‘Best Newspaper’, ‘Best NGO’, ‘Best Industry’, etc. with sub-categories also.
#5MinRead #Mains2020 #Topic07 #GS2 #GS3
Fiscal Council
A fiscal council is a permanent agency with a mandate to assess the government’s fiscal plans and projections against parameters of macroeconomic sustainability.
- It puts out its findings in the public domain.
- It recommended by both 13th and 14th Finance Commission
Significance:
- Raises the level of debate.
- Boost accuracy.
- Greater transparency and accountability.
- Raises the public awareness
- Understand the nature of budgetary constraint.
- More accurate macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts.
Need for Fiscal Council?
- Tax maladministration
- Lack of coordination between GST and Finance Commission
- Overestimated revenue growth and underestimated expenditure growth.
- Limiting on the Center’s borrowing
- Fixing up fiscal deficit
Conclusion
FC ensures the checks and balances in the system for greater good and will help in improving comprehensiveness, transparency and accountability of budgetary data.
Fiscal Council
A fiscal council is a permanent agency with a mandate to assess the government’s fiscal plans and projections against parameters of macroeconomic sustainability.
- It puts out its findings in the public domain.
- It recommended by both 13th and 14th Finance Commission
Significance:
- Raises the level of debate.
- Boost accuracy.
- Greater transparency and accountability.
- Raises the public awareness
- Understand the nature of budgetary constraint.
- More accurate macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts.
Need for Fiscal Council?
- Tax maladministration
- Lack of coordination between GST and Finance Commission
- Overestimated revenue growth and underestimated expenditure growth.
- Limiting on the Center’s borrowing
- Fixing up fiscal deficit
Conclusion
FC ensures the checks and balances in the system for greater good and will help in improving comprehensiveness, transparency and accountability of budgetary data.
#MainsFodder #PT2021
National Legal Services Day
- Celebrated on 9th November annually
Aim: To spread awareness for ensuring reasonable fair and justice procedure for all citizens.
- Started by the Supreme Court of India in 1995
Constitutional provisions:
- Article 39A
- Articles 14 and 22(1)
Objectives:
- Provide free legal aid and advice.
- Spread legal awareness.
- Organise lok adalats.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms.
- Provide compensation to victims of crime.
National Legal Services Day
- Celebrated on 9th November annually
Aim: To spread awareness for ensuring reasonable fair and justice procedure for all citizens.
- Started by the Supreme Court of India in 1995
Constitutional provisions:
- Article 39A
- Articles 14 and 22(1)
Objectives:
- Provide free legal aid and advice.
- Spread legal awareness.
- Organise lok adalats.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms.
- Provide compensation to victims of crime.
#PT2021 #Mains2020
Warli Art
News: Artists in Hyderabad are using traditional Warli art (Maharashtra) form not just to beautify Hyderabad, but also to create awareness on important issues.
Features:
- Traditional art form of Maharashtra.
- Started in the 10th century A.D
- It includes geometric shapes like circles, triangles and squares.
- These geometric shapes stand as a symbol of natural elements in our environment.
- The central theme: scenes portraying hunting, fishing, farming, festival etc.
- It shows daily and social events of the life.
Warli Art
News: Artists in Hyderabad are using traditional Warli art (Maharashtra) form not just to beautify Hyderabad, but also to create awareness on important issues.
Features:
- Traditional art form of Maharashtra.
- Started in the 10th century A.D
- It includes geometric shapes like circles, triangles and squares.
- These geometric shapes stand as a symbol of natural elements in our environment.
- The central theme: scenes portraying hunting, fishing, farming, festival etc.
- It shows daily and social events of the life.
#MainsFodder #PT2021
Dobra-Chanthi Suspension Bridge
News: Recently, the Uttarakhand has inaugurated Dobra-Chanthi suspension bridge in Tehri-Garhwal district.
Features:
- The 440-metre long
- India's longest motorable single lane suspension bridge.
- Built over Tehri Lake
- It will cut travel time between Tehri and Pratapnagar districts from 5 5 to 1.5 hours.
Significance:
1. Better connectivity within the region.
2. Boost tourism potential.
3. Gateway to development in the region.
4. Local employment promotion.
Dobra-Chanthi Suspension Bridge
News: Recently, the Uttarakhand has inaugurated Dobra-Chanthi suspension bridge in Tehri-Garhwal district.
Features:
- The 440-metre long
- India's longest motorable single lane suspension bridge.
- Built over Tehri Lake
- It will cut travel time between Tehri and Pratapnagar districts from 5 5 to 1.5 hours.
Significance:
1. Better connectivity within the region.
2. Boost tourism potential.
3. Gateway to development in the region.
4. Local employment promotion.
#PT2021 #MainsFodder
Hazira-Ghogha Ro-Pax Ferry Service
- Recently launched by PM Modi through video conferencing this
- The Ro-Pax terminal is 100 m long and 40 m
Aim: It will reduce the distance between Ghogha and Hazira from 370 Km to 90 Km.
Significance:
- It will work as a Gateway to South Gujarat and Saurashtra region.
- It will save fuel and time
- Reduction in CO2 emission
- Boost economy and religious tourism
Hazira-Ghogha Ro-Pax Ferry Service
- Recently launched by PM Modi through video conferencing this
- The Ro-Pax terminal is 100 m long and 40 m
Aim: It will reduce the distance between Ghogha and Hazira from 370 Km to 90 Km.
Significance:
- It will work as a Gateway to South Gujarat and Saurashtra region.
- It will save fuel and time
- Reduction in CO2 emission
- Boost economy and religious tourism
#PT2021 #MainsFodder
Academic Freedom Index
- It refers to a freedom to express ideas.
- Published by Global Public Policy Institute
Aim: It compares levels of academic freedom worldwide and enhances the understanding of its curtailments.
The AFI used 8 components to evaluate the scores are:
- Freedom to research and teach,
- Freedom of academic exchange and dissemination,
- Institutional autonomy,
- Campus integrity,
- Freedom of academic and cultural expression,
- Constitutional protection of academic freedom,
- International legal commitment to academic freedom
- Social and Cultural Rights, and existence of universities.
Academic Freedom Index
- It refers to a freedom to express ideas.
- Published by Global Public Policy Institute
Aim: It compares levels of academic freedom worldwide and enhances the understanding of its curtailments.
The AFI used 8 components to evaluate the scores are:
- Freedom to research and teach,
- Freedom of academic exchange and dissemination,
- Institutional autonomy,
- Campus integrity,
- Freedom of academic and cultural expression,
- Constitutional protection of academic freedom,
- International legal commitment to academic freedom
- Social and Cultural Rights, and existence of universities.
#PT2021 #MainsFodder
Height and Body Mass Index (BMI) Trends
- BMI is measured as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters.
- A recent study published in Lancet.
Key Findings:
- Both height and BMI have increased from 1985 to 2019.
- The height and BMI of age and time of school-aged children are highly variable.
- India ranks third and fifth from the bottom in low BMI.
- The mean BMI of 19-year-old boys is 20.1 in India
- The mean BMI for 19-year-old Indian girls is 20.1.
- Indian adolescents’ girls and boys have lower overweight and obesity.
Height and Body Mass Index (BMI) Trends
- BMI is measured as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters.
- A recent study published in Lancet.
Key Findings:
- Both height and BMI have increased from 1985 to 2019.
- The height and BMI of age and time of school-aged children are highly variable.
- India ranks third and fifth from the bottom in low BMI.
- The mean BMI of 19-year-old boys is 20.1 in India
- The mean BMI for 19-year-old Indian girls is 20.1.
- Indian adolescents’ girls and boys have lower overweight and obesity.
#PT2021 #MainsFodder
Chabahar-Zahedan Railway Line
News: Recently, Iran has conveyed to India a request for locomotives and signalling equipment for the Chabahar-Zahedan railway line.
Started In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan signed the trilateral agreement.
Agencies: State-owned Indian Railways Construction Ltd. (IRCON) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Iranian Rail Ministry.
Significance
The port can also act as a counter to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, which is being developed with Chinese investment.
Chabahar project and the International North South Transport Corridor will complement each other by optimising Indian connectivity with Russia and Eurasia.
A gateway to golden opportunities for trade by the three countries with other Central Asian countries.
Chabahar-Zahedan Railway Line
News: Recently, Iran has conveyed to India a request for locomotives and signalling equipment for the Chabahar-Zahedan railway line.
Started In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan signed the trilateral agreement.
Agencies: State-owned Indian Railways Construction Ltd. (IRCON) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Iranian Rail Ministry.
Significance
The port can also act as a counter to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, which is being developed with Chinese investment.
Chabahar project and the International North South Transport Corridor will complement each other by optimising Indian connectivity with Russia and Eurasia.
A gateway to golden opportunities for trade by the three countries with other Central Asian countries.
#MainsFodder #PT2021
Saffron Cultivation in Sikkim
News: Yangyang village of Sikkim produced its first crop of saffron recently.
- Implemented by the Northeast Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR), under Union ministry of science and technology
Purpose of the project
- Ending the monopoly of J&K on saffron cultivation
- Reduce prices of saffron
- Provide livelihood options to farmers and entrepreneurs in the Northeast.
- Reduce in import of saffron
- This region also has similar climatic conditions as J&K.
- Next project will be on hills of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya.
Saffron Cultivation in Sikkim
News: Yangyang village of Sikkim produced its first crop of saffron recently.
- Implemented by the Northeast Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR), under Union ministry of science and technology
Purpose of the project
- Ending the monopoly of J&K on saffron cultivation
- Reduce prices of saffron
- Provide livelihood options to farmers and entrepreneurs in the Northeast.
- Reduce in import of saffron
- This region also has similar climatic conditions as J&K.
- Next project will be on hills of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya.
#MainsFodder #PT2021
20th SCO Summit
News: The 20th summit of SCO Council of Heads of State was held recently via Video Conferencing.
Key points:
- Meeting was chaired by Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin.
- 1st SCO Summit held in Virtual Format
- Tajikistan’s chairmanship of SCO for 2021-22.
Topics of summit:
- Infrastructure& Connectivity development
- Responsible Global Governance
- Reformed Multiculturalism
- Organised crimes etc.
20th SCO Summit
News: The 20th summit of SCO Council of Heads of State was held recently via Video Conferencing.
Key points:
- Meeting was chaired by Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin.
- 1st SCO Summit held in Virtual Format
- Tajikistan’s chairmanship of SCO for 2021-22.
Topics of summit:
- Infrastructure& Connectivity development
- Responsible Global Governance
- Reformed Multiculturalism
- Organised crimes etc.
#MainsFodder #PT2021
Panna Biosphere Reserve(PBR)
News: UNESCO has included the PBR in its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).
Key points about PBR:
- Established in 1981
- Situated in Vindhya mountain range
- Famous for tigers &diamond mining
- Recognitions to PBR:
- 1994-22nd tiger reserve of India
- 2011- Notified as a Biosphere Reserve
- 2018-Increased in tigers numbers
Panna Biosphere Reserve(PBR)
News: UNESCO has included the PBR in its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).
Key points about PBR:
- Established in 1981
- Situated in Vindhya mountain range
- Famous for tigers &diamond mining
- Recognitions to PBR:
- 1994-22nd tiger reserve of India
- 2011- Notified as a Biosphere Reserve
- 2018-Increased in tigers numbers
#MainsFodder #PT2021
Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile System
- Launched by DRDO
- Conducted at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off Odisha coast
- Canister-based system
Aim: Capable of detecting and tracking targets on the move
Functioning:
- Fully automated command and control system.
- 2 radars & one launcher
- Both radars have 360-degree coverage
- Single stage solid propelled missile
Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile System
- Launched by DRDO
- Conducted at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off Odisha coast
- Canister-based system
Aim: Capable of detecting and tracking targets on the move
Functioning:
- Fully automated command and control system.
- 2 radars & one launcher
- Both radars have 360-degree coverage
- Single stage solid propelled missile
#MainsFodder #PT2021
New Ramsar Sites
News: Lonar lake of Maharashtra and the Soor Sarovar of Agra have been declared Ramsar sites.
Lonar Lake:
- Meteor lake
- Highly saline and alkaline water
Soor Sarovar Lake:
- Situated in Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary
- Alongside Yamuna river
Benefits:
- International prestige.
- Financial aid
- Expert advice on national and site-related problems.
New Ramsar Sites
News: Lonar lake of Maharashtra and the Soor Sarovar of Agra have been declared Ramsar sites.
Lonar Lake:
- Meteor lake
- Highly saline and alkaline water
Soor Sarovar Lake:
- Situated in Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary
- Alongside Yamuna river
Benefits:
- International prestige.
- Financial aid
- Expert advice on national and site-related problems.
#MainsFodder #PT2021
Geopark for Vishakhapatnam
- Effort by The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage for recognition of geopark.
- Erra Matti Dibbalu valuable assets of Vishakhapatnam.
Background: First reported by William King, deputy superintendent of Geological Survey of India in the year 1886.
Significance:
- Red Sand Dunes are invaluable inheritance
- Tourism
Note: India does not have any UNESCO Global geopark.
Geopark for Vishakhapatnam
- Effort by The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage for recognition of geopark.
- Erra Matti Dibbalu valuable assets of Vishakhapatnam.
Background: First reported by William King, deputy superintendent of Geological Survey of India in the year 1886.
Significance:
- Red Sand Dunes are invaluable inheritance
- Tourism
Note: India does not have any UNESCO Global geopark.