Great Barrier Reef Context: Recently, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has recommended that the Australia’s Great Barrier Reef should be added to a list of “in danger” World heritage sites. Placement on the ‘‘in-danger list’’ is not considered a sanction. Some nations have their sites added to gain international attention and help to save them. About: Reason behind this...
Black Softshell Turtle Context: Recently, the Assam forest department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and adopted a Vision Document to raise at least 1,000 black softshell turtles by 2030. About: Black Softshell Turtle: (Scientific Name: Nilssonia nigricans) Features: They look almost the same as the Indian peacock softshell turtle (Nilssonia...
Integrated Power Development Scheme Context: A 50 kWp Solar rooftop in Solan, Himachal Pradesh was inaugurated under Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) of the MInistry of Power. The project further reinforces the ‘Go Green’ Initiative of the government envisaged in the Urban Distribution scheme. Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS): Launch: December 2014. Nodal Agency: Power Finance...
Power Sector Reforms Context: Amid the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the government of India announced a rescue package for the power sector under the Atmanirbhar Bharat plan. This rescue package was arranged to prevent the entire power sector chain from suffering because of the discoms’ inability...
Biotech-KISAN Programme Context: The Ministry of Science and Technology has issued a Special Call for the NorthEast Region as a part of its Mission Programme “Biotech-Krishi Innovation Science Application Network (Biotech-KISAN)”. Biotech-KISAN Programme It is a scientist-farmer partnership scheme launched in 2017. It is a pan-India program, following a hub-and-spoke model and stimulates entrepreneurship and innovation in...
Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Bt Cotton Context: The illegal cultivation of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Bt cotton has seen a huge jump as the sale of illegal seed packets has more than doubled from 30 lakh in 2020 to 75 lakh in 2021. About: Bt Cotton: Bt cotton is the only transgenic crop that has been approved by...
Integrated Tri-service Theatre Commands Context: Recently, a high-level committee has been formed for the consultations on the creation of integrated tri-service theatre commands. The committee will examine all issues and find a way forward before a formal note on their creation is sent to the Cabinet Committee...
Cyber Security Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs has operationalized the national Helpline 155260 and Reporting Platform for preventing financial loss due to cyber fraud. The helpline was soft-launched on 1st April. The National Helpline and Reporting Platform provides a mechanism for persons cheated in cyber frauds to...
Corporatization of Ordnance Factory Board Context: Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a plan to corporatise the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). About: Ordnance Factory Board (OFB): It is an umbrella body for the ordnance factories and related institutions, and is currently a subordinate office of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The...
Deep Ocean Mission Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM). The blueprint of the DOM to explore the deep recesses of the ocean was unveiled in 2018. Earlier, MoES...
