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Disaster Management Act invoked for liquid oxygen Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Disaster management In news Invoking the Disaster Management Act, the Centre ordered States that all liquid oxygen, including the existing stock with private plants, should be made available to the government and will be used for medical purposes only. Important value additions Liquid oxygen is abbreviated LOx, LOX or Lox in the aerospace, submarine and gas industries It is the liquid form of molecular oxygen It has a pale blue color It is strongly paramagnetic- it can be suspended between the poles of a powerful horseshoe magnet. Because of its cryogenic nature, it can cause the materials it touches to become extremely brittle. Liquid oxygen is also a very powerful oxidizing agent: organic materials will burn rapidly and energetically in liquid oxygen. It was used as the oxidizer in the first liquid-fueled rocket invented in 1926 by Robert H. Goddard, an application which has continued to the present. In commerce, it is classified as an industrial gas and is widely used for industrial and medical purposes. It is obtained from the oxygen found naturally in air by fractional distillation in a cryogenic air separation plant. It is the most common cryogenic liquid oxidizer propellant for spacecraft rocket applications, usually in combination with liquid hydrogen, kerosene or methane. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report on Arms imports Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III Defence and security In news Report from Swedish think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on arms imports was released. According to it, Arms imports decreased by 33% between 2011–15 and 2016–20. India continues to remain the second largest arms importer after Saudi Arabia. Key takeaways The overall drop in arms imports between 2011–15 and 2016–20 was due to complex and lengthy procurement processes, combined with attempts to reduce its dependence on Russian arms by diversifying its network of arms suppliers. Russia was the largest arms supplier in both years Russia’s deliveries have dropped by 53% between the two periods and its share of Indian arms imports fell from 70 to 49%. France and Israel were the second and third largest arms suppliers in 2016–20. India’s arms imports from France increased by 70% while those from Israel rose by 82%. The U.S. was the fourth largest supplier in 2016–20. India accounted for 9.5% of the total global arms imports during 2016-2020 Combat aircraft and associated missiles made up more than 50% of arms imports. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Sudarshan Sen Committee by RBI Part of: GS Prelims and GS – I – Social issues In news The RBI set up a committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the working of asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) in the financial sector ecosystem and recommend suitable measures for enabling them to meet the growing requirements. Key takeaways The six-member committee will be headed by Sudarshan Sen, former executive director, RBI. The panel will review the existing legal and regulatory framework applicable to ARCs and recommend measures to improve efficacy of ARCs. It will also review the role of ARCs in the resolution of stressed assets, including under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), and give suggestions for improving liquidity in and trading of security receipts. Besides, it has also been asked to review the business models of ARCs. The committee will submit its report within three months from the date of its first meeting. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

World Press Freedom Index, 2021 Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Polity and Governance In news The World Press Freedom Index, 2021 has again ranked India at 142nd out of 180 countries. Produced by: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) – a French NGO Key takeaways Also, for a year, on directions from Cabinet Secretary, an index monitoring cell worked to improve the rankings. A meeting was also held between the Indian Ambassador to France and the RSF officials to lobby for a change in the ranking. In 2016, India’s rank was 133, which has steadily climbed down to 142 in 2020. The RSF report says India is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists trying to do their job properly. They are exposed to every kind of attack, even police violence against reporters, ambushes by political activists, and reprisals instigated by criminal groups or corrupt local officials. Top countries: Norway followed by Finland and Denmark. Bottom country: Eritrea China is ranked 177. North Korea at 179 and Turkmenistan at 178. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Meghalay yields India’s first bamboo-dwelling bat Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Environment; Biodiversity In news Meghalaya has yielded India’s first bamboo-dwelling bat with sticky discs. The count of the bats in India has reached now to 130. Key takeaways The disc-footed bat (Eudiscopus denticulus) was recorded near the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary. The extent of adaptation for bamboo habitat in this species is not seen in the others. The flattened skull and sticky pads enabled the bats to roost inside cramped spaces, clinging to smooth surfaces such as bamboo internodes. The disc-footed bat was also found to be genetically very different from all other known bats bearing disc-like pads. Scientists analysed the very high frequency echolocation calls of the disc-footed bat, which was suitable for orientation in a cluttered environment such as inside bamboo groves. It has raised Meghalaya’s bat count to 66, the most for any State in India. It has also helped add a genus and species to the bat fauna of India. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Aditya-L1 Support Centre (ASC) Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Sci & tech; Space In news The Indian programme to study the Sun and the region between the Sun and the Earth from space – Aditya-L1 – is due to be launched next year. Key takeaways It will carry seven payloads which have been developed by various institutions across the country. Once the mission is launched, there will be a need for a ground support centre to monitor and coordinate the work on its various payloads. This role will be played by the ARIES facility (short for Aryabhata Research Institute for observational Sciences), situated near Nainital. The Aditya-L1 Support Centre (ASC) will provide training through regular workshops for the guest users. Apart from this, it will provide ready-to-use Python and Java apps for the satellite data and demos and handouts to facilitate the guest users. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) Galaxy Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Space; Achievements of Indians in Sci & tech In news Scientists from ARIES, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology (DST) studied around 25,000 luminous Active galactic nuclei (AGN) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), a major optical imaging and spectroscopic survey of astronomical objects in-operation for the last 20 years. They found a unique object that emits high-energy gamma rays located at a high redshift. They identified it as a gamma-ray emitting NLS1 galaxy, which is a rare entity in space. It is identified as the farthest gamma-ray emitting galaxy that has so far been stumbled upon. This active galaxy is called the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxy. It is about 31 billion light-years away. The new gamma-ray emitting NLS1 was formed when the Universe was only about 4.7 billion years old as compared to its current age of about 13.8 billion years 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Launch of e-SANTA Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Economy In news e-SANTA was inaugurated recently. It is an electronic marketplace providing a platform to connect aqua farmers and the buyers. Launched by: Ministry of Commerce and Industry Key takeaways It will enable the farmers to get a better price. It will enable the exporters to directly purchase quality products from the farmers enhancing traceability. The term e-SANTA was coined for the web portal, meaning Electronic Solution for Augmenting NaCSA farmers’ Trade in Aquaculture. National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA) is an extension arm of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Govt. of India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. e-SANTA will ‘RAISE’ the lives & income of farmers by: Reducing Risk Awareness of Products & Markets Increase in Income Shielding Against Wrong Practice Ease of Processes 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Launch of MANAS Part of: GS Prelims and GS – I – Society In news The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India launched the “MANAS” App to promote wellbeing across age groups. Key takeaways It was jointly executed by NIMHANS Bengaluru, AFMC Pune and C-DAC Bengaluru. MANAS which stands for Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System was endorsed as a national program by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). It is a comprehensive, scalable, and national digital wellbeing platform. It is an app developed to augment mental well-being of Indian citizens. It integrates the health and wellness efforts of various government ministries, scientifically validated indigenous tools with gamified interfaces developed/researched by various national bodies and research institutions. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Launch of Poshan Gyan Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Health In news Poshan Gyan was launched recently. It is a national digital repository on health and nutrition. Launched by: NITI Aayog, in partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University, Key takeaways The Poshan Gyan repository is conceptualized as a resource. It shall enable search of communication materials on 14 thematic areas of health and nutrition across diverse languages, media types, target audiences and sources Content for the repository was sourced from the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare and Women and Child Development and developmental organizations It introduces a unique crowdsourcing feature that allows anyone to submit communication material for inclusion on the website, followed by a review by a designated committee. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

1st meeting of National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Economy; Start up In news Minister of Commerce & Industry chaired the first meeting of National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC). Important value additions National Startup Advisory Council Constituted by: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Objective: To advise the Government on measures needed to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country to drive sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities. The council has representations from various stakeholders such as founders of successful startups, veterans who have grown and scaled companies in India, persons capable of representing interest of investors into startups, and representatives from industry associations. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

ROPAX Jetty Project, Odisha Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Infrastructure In news Rs. 110 crore ROPAX Jetty Project shall be constructed on river Dhamra in Odisha. Key takeaways Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) has accorded administrative approval for developing all-weather ROPAX (Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger) Jetty and allied Infrastructure. It shall connect Kaninali in Bhadrak district & Talachua in Kendrapara district, Odisha under the Sagarmala initiative. This project will reduce travel time for passengers from 6 hours by road to 1 hour by waterway. Kaninali in Bhadrak district and Talachua in Kendrapada district, are located on the northern and southern banks of River Dhamra respectively. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

India – Seychelles Relations Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International Relations In news Indian PM and Seychelles President jointly inaugurated several Indian projects in Seychelles. Key takeaways Seychelles is central to India’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ – ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’. During times of need, India was able to supply essential medicines and 50,000 doses of Made in India vaccines to Seychelles. Seychelles was the First African country to receive the Made in India COVID-19 vaccines. India has contributed towards the construction of the new Magistrates’ Court Building in Seychelles. For strengthening the maritime security of Seychelles, India has handed over a Made-in-India Fast Patrol Vessel to the Seychelles Coast Guard. India handed over a One Mega Watt solar power plant in the Seychelles built with India’s assistance. The virtual Summit between the two sides also saw the handing over of 10 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) implemented by the High Commission of India in collaboration with local bodies, educational and vocational institutions. Do you know? Present President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan is a Person of Indian origin (PIO) with his roots in Gopalganj, Bihar. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

World Energy Transitions Outlook: 1.5°C Pathway Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Climate change In news The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released the World Energy Transitions Outlook report. Key highlights of the report: The report proposes energy transition solutions for the narrow pathway available to contain the rise of temperature to 1.5 degree Celsius. The COVID-19 crisis offers an unexpected opportunity for countries to decouple their economies from fossil fuels and accelerate the shift to renewable energy sources. It estimated that by 2050, 90% of total electricity needs would be supplied by renewables, followed by 6% from natural gas and the remaining from nuclear. The agency has identified 30 innovations for the integration of wind and solar PV in power systems. Important value additions The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) It is an intergovernmental Organisation. Mandate: To facilitate cooperation and promote the adoption and sustainable use of renewable energy. Founded in: 2009 Its statute entered into force in 2010. Headquarter: Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. IRENA is an official United Nations observer. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

BIMSTEC- https://youtu.be/UVU_5SpAFQY

17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International Relations In news 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting was held virtually. India remains committed to further building the momentum of regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC framework. Key takeaways BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organized Crime and illicit Drug Trafficking has come into force in March 2021. Also, BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters has been finalized for signing at the fifth BIMSTEC Summit. These Conventions will provide a robust legal basis to further strengthen our cooperation in this sector. BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate, being hosted in India, is fully functional with state of the art facilities to provide Disaster Early Warning. Important value additions The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) It is a regional organization comprising seven Member States lying in the areas of the Bay of Bengal. This organization came into being in 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration. Member States: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

World Cities Culture Forum Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International The World Cities Culture Forum is a network of local governments and cultural sector leaders from 40 world cities. The World Cities Culture Forum was established in London in 2012 with eight cities (London, New York City, Tokyo, Shanghai, Paris, Istanbul, Sydney and Johannesburg) convened by the Mayor of London. The WCCF enables the policy makers of member cities to share research and intelligence, while exploring the vital role of culture in prosperity. Forum members collaborate via a program of events including themed symposia, regional summits and workshops. The World Cities Culture report is published by the forum every three years, with data and details on innovative projects from cities across the world. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

H-1B Visa Rule to expire Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International Relations In news USA President Joe Biden has allowed the H-1B visa rule to expire. Key takeaways In June 2020, former USA President Donald Trump halted the issuance of non-immigrant work visas of several types, including the skilled worker visa, or H-1B. It was valid until March 31, 2021. Its expiry order shall bring relief to a large number of Indian nationals, especially IT workers. Do you know? Until now, the U.S. issued 85,000 H-1B visas annually, of which 20,000 went to graduate students and 65,000 to private sector applicants, and Indian nationals would garner approximately 70% of these. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom