ASTROSAT Recently AstroSat, India's multi-wavelength space telescope, had measured the X-ray polarisation of the Crab pulsar (star) in the Taurus constellation. The telescope measured the variations of polarisation as the magnetised object (pulsar) spins 30 times per second. Taurus is the second astrological sign in the present zodiac. It spans the 30-60th degree of the zodiac. Astrosat Astrosat is India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory. It was launched on a ... Read More...
Ramayana and Krishna Circuits Ramayana Circuit and Krishna Circuit are among the thirteen thematic circuits identified for development under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Ministry of Tourism had initially identified fifteen destinations for development under the Ramayana Circuit theme namely Ayodhya, Nandigram, Shringverpur & Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh), Sitamarhi, Buxar & Darbhanga (Bihar), Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh), Mahendragiri (Odisha), Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh), Nashik & Nagpur (Maharashtra), Bhadrachalam (Telangana), Hampi (Karnataka) and Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu). Similarly, twelve destinations... Read More...
Minister of Communications has launched a Pan India scholarship program for school children called Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana to increase the reach of Philately. Under the scheme of SPARSH (Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude & Research in Stamps as a Hobby), it is proposed to award annual scholarships to children of Standard VI to IX having good academic record and also pursuing Philately as a hobby through a competitive selection process in all postal circles. Under the scheme, it is proposed to award 920 scholarships to students pursuing Philately as a hobby. Every Postal Circle will select a maximum of 40 scholarships representing 10 students e... Read More...
Goods and Services Tax Question 1. What is GST? How does it work? Answer: GST is one indirect tax for the whole nation, which will make India one unified common market. GST is a single tax on the supply of goods and services, right from the manufacturer to the consumer. Credits of input taxes paid at each stage will be available in the subsequent stage of value addition, which makes GST essentially a tax only on value addition at each stage. The fina... Read More...
Boreal forest The boreal forest is the world's largest land-based biome. The forest spreads over several continents and covers many countries. The boreal plays a significant role in the planet's biodiversity and even its climate. Some of the important facts about the Boreal forest are as follows: Origin: The boreal forest is named after Boreas, the Greek god of the North wind. Boreal and Taiga: The biome is known as boreal in Canada, but is also known as taiga. Taiga is most commonly used to refe... Read More...
National Testing Agency (NTA) The Union Cabinet has approved creation of National Testing Agency (NTA) as a Society registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860, and as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions. Features: The NTA would initially conduct those entrance examinations which are currently being conducted by the CBSE. Other examinations will be taken up gradually after NTA is fully geared up. Read More...
India Youth Development Index and Report 2017 Ministry Youth Affairs and Sports has released the India Youth Development Index and Report 2017. The objective of constructing the India Youth Development Index (YDI) 2017 is to track the trends in Youth Development across the States. The Index enables recognizing the high and low performing states, identifies the weak domains and informs the policy makers the priority areas of intervention for youth development in the states. The Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD), Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, an Institute of National Importance has come out... Read More...
System of Rice Intensification The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a methodology aimed at increasing the yield of rice produced in farming. It is a low water, labor-intensive, method that uses younger seedlings singly spaced and typically hand weeded with special tools. It was developed in 1983 by the French Jesuit Father Henri de Laulanié in Madagascar. The central principles of SRI are: Rice field soils should be kept moist rather than continuously saturated, minimizing anaerobic conditions, as this improves root growth and supports the ... Read More...
Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) is a globally bench marked International Financial Service Centre (IFSC) developed by Government of Gujarat through a joint venture Company. It houses India's first and only International Financial Services Centre. GIFT is planned as a financial Central Business District (CBD) between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar as a greenfield development. The city's master plan reflects a sophisticated planning approach that integrates the intended program into the existing context of both the site and the region. More particularly,... Read More...
Electoral bonds Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties. These are issued by Scheduled Commercial banks upon authorisation from the Central Government to intending donors, but only against cheque and digital payments (it cannot be purchased by paying cash). These bonds shall be redeemable in the designated account of a registered political party within the prescribed time limit from issuance of bond. Electoral bond was announced in the Union Budget 2017-18. The electoral bonds with a life of only 15 days can be encashed only through a designated bank account of the receiver. ... Read More...
Dam safety conferences are organized as an annual event under the Dam Safety Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) project being run by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR,RD & GR) in the seven states of Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand. It was launched in the year 2012 with a financial outlay of Rs. 2100 Crores. This World Bank aided project aims at the rehabilitation of old dams in the country that may be experiencing distress and are in need of attention for ensuring their structural safety and operational efficiency. The proj... Read More...
New science schemes Ministry for Science & Technology has announced four schemes to promote young scientists and researchers in the country. The scheme primarily aims at early recognition and reward to young talent in the field of science. The schemes focus on youth to empower, recognize and motivate them. Teacher Associateship for Research Excellence (TARE) scheme Teacher Associateship for Research Excellence (TARE) scheme aims to tap the potential of trained faculty in Universities, colleges and private academic institutions. 500 teachers will be assisted under the Teacher As... Read More...
Rapid Reporting System for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has launched Rapid Reporting System (RRS) for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls - a web based on line monitoring for the Scheme for Adolescent Girls. The RRS will facilitate the monitoring of the scheme and taking corrective measures by ensuring faster flow of information, accurate targeting of the beneficiaries and reduction of leakages. This Portal has been developed in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC). Need The scheme is based on the realization of the multi-dim... Read More...
Global Centre for Cybersecurity World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced a new Global Centre for Cybersecurity, in a bid to safeguard the world from hackers and growing data breaches — especially from nation-states. — the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Wednesday announced a new Global Centre for Cybersecurity. The centre has its headquarter in Geneva. Global Centre for Cybersecurity offers first platform for governments, companies and international organizations to diminish the impact of malicious activities on web. The aim of the centre is to establish the first global platform for governments, busines... Read More...
PADMA AWARDS The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved. The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The nomination process is open to ... Read More...
Zero Budget Natural Farming Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), which is a set of farming methods, and also a grassroots peasant movement, has spread to various states in India. It has attained wide success in southern India, especially the southern Indian state of Karnataka where it first evolved. ZBNF inspires a spirit of volunteerism among its peasant farmer members, who are the main protagonists of the movement. The four pillars of ZNBF: Microbial culture: It provides nutrients, but most importantly, acts as a catalytic agent that promotes the activi... Read More...
Khelo India Programme Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched Pledge for Khelo India at Khelo India School Games Carnival in Delhi. The pledge resonates with vision of Khelo India programme and is aimed at inspiring youngsters to build mass participation and excellence in sports. Some of the salient features of the Programme include: • an unprecedented Pan Indian Sports Scholarship scheme, which would cover 1,000 most talented young athletes each year across select sports disciplines. • Each athlete selected under the scheme shall receive an annual scholarship ... Read More...
Measles-Rubella campaign India, along with ten other WHO South East Asia Region member countries, have resolved to eliminate measles and control rubella/congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) by 2020. In this direction, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has initiated measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the age group of 9 months to less than 15 years in a phased manner across the nation. The campaign aims to cover approximately 41 crore children. The Measles-Rubella campaign is a part of global efforts to reduce illness and deaths due to measles and rubella/CRS in the country. Measles immunization directly co... Read More...
Jal Marg Vikas Project The Government is developing National Waterway-1 (NW-1) under the Jal Marg Vikas Project, with assistance from the World Bank. NW-1 refers to 1620 km Haldia-Allahabad stretch of River Ganga. The project would be completed over a period of six years at an estimated cost of Rs. 4,200 crore. Phase-I of the project covers the Haldia-Varanasi stretch. The project includes development of fairway, multi-modal terminals, strengthening of open river navigation technique, conservancy works, modern River Information System (RIS), Digital Global Positioning System (DGPS), night navigation facilities, modern... Read More...
Harvest Festivals Of India 1. Makar Sankranti Where? Pan India in different ways but mainly in the north Celebrated all over the country, Makar Sankranti is the oldest and the most colorful harvest festival in India. As per Hindu mythology, this festival marks the end of an unfavorable phase and the beginning of a holy phase. Particularly in villages of Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Himachal, West Bengal, and Punjab, people celebrate the harvest of new crops with bonfire, carnivals, songs, da... Read More...