“Tiger of Drass: Capt. Anuj Nayyar, 23, Kargil Hero” authored by Meena Nayyar & Himmat Singh Shekhawat
Meena Nayyar, Mother of Captain Anuj Nayyar and Himmat Singh Shekhawat, a part of Rashtriya Riders, a biking group that pays homage to martyrs and their families has authored a new book titled “Tiger of Drass: Capt. Anuj Nayyar, 23, Kargil Hero”, published by HarperCollins Publishers India.
The book features the story of Capt. Anuj Nayyar (23 years old), who martyred during the 1999 Kargil War while fighting to secure the Drass sector which was critical to the success of Operation Vijay and India’s victory in Kargil. Captain Anuj Nayyar was honoured with the Maha Vir Chakra (posthumously), the second-highest gallantry award in 2000.
PNB implements Positive Pay System compulsory for cheque payments worth Rs 10 lakh
Punjab National Bank has implemented the Positive Pay System (PPS) being compulsory for cheque payments worth Rs 10 lakh and above. This is being done as a move to protect its over 180 million customers from any security threats. The bank had announced to make the Positive Pay System mandatory last month, and the same has been implemented today. Under the new system, high-value cheques worth Rs 10 lakh and above will be cleared using the PPS, after reconfirmation with the issuer of the cheque.
About the Positive Pay System (PPS):
- As per the Positive Pay System (PPS) developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), a customer issuing a high-value cheque has to reconfirm some essential details. The details are then cross-checked while presenting the cheque in clearing before payment.
- Positive Pay System will be available for all account holders issuing cheques for amounts of Rs 50000 and above. Availing of this facility will be at the discretion of the account holder.
- However, only those cheques which are compliant with instructions of the Positive Pay System shall be accepted under the dispute resolution mechanism at the (Cheque Truncation System) CTS grids, PNB had said in a statement last year. The PPS had come into effect in January last year for PNB.
- These details are to be shared with the bank at least 24 working hours before the cheque is presented for clearing. Customers can share the details through its internet banking, mobile banking, SMS banking or in their home branch in the prescribed format.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Punjab National Bank Founded: 1894;
- Punjab National Bank Headquarters: New Delhi;
- Punjab National Bank MD & CEO: Atul Kumar Goel;
- Punjab National Bank Tagline: The Name You Can Bank Upon.
Grammys 2022: Indian-American Singer Falguni Shah, Winner Of Best Children’s Music Album
Indian-American singer Falguni Shah won a Grammy Award for A Colorful World in the Best Children’s Album category. Falguni Shah has even performed and collaborated with music maestro AR Rahman and she is the only Indian-origin woman to be nominated in the Best Children’s Music Album category at the Grammys twice. Falguni Shah was earlier nominated for a Grammy in the same category for her 2018 album Falu’s Bazaar.
The other nominees in the category were ‘Actívate’ by 123 Andrés, ‘All One Tribe’ by 1 Tribe Collective, ‘Black To The Future’ by Pierce Freelon, and ‘Crayon Kids’ by Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band. Born in Mumbai and now based out of New York, Falu was even nominated in the same category in 2019 for her previous album called ‘Falu’s Bazaar’.
RBI Monetary Policy 2022: key rates unchanged
The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to keep the repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent. MPC committee keeps the reverse repo rate unchanged at 3.35 per cent as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine added to a rise in inflation. The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee headed by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das kept the repo rate unchanged for the 11th consecutive time. The repo rate or the short-term lending rate was the last cut on May 22, 2020. Since then, the rate remains at a historic low of 4 per cent.
The Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and bank rates remain unchanged:
- Policy Repo Rate: 4.00%
- Reverse Repo Rate: 3.35%
- Marginal Standing Facility Rate: 4.25%
- Bank Rate: 4.25%
- CRR: 4%
- SLR: 18.00%
Key Points:
- The GDP growth forecast has been lowered to 7.2 per cent, owing to inflationary pressures due to the ongoing Russia Ukraine War. Earlier, the central bank had kept the GDP growth rate at 7.8 per cent.
- RBI announced that now people can withdraw money from ATMs without a card in all banks across the nation. This has been done to give a push to Digital India.
- Net worth requirement for Bharat Bill Payments System Operating Units lowered from Rs 100 crore to Rs 25 crore.
- Rationalisation of risk weights for individual housing loans to be extended till March 31, 2023.
- RBI sees the Current account deficit at sustainable levels and forex reserves at $606.5 billion.
- Inflation is now projected at 5.7% in 2022-23 with Q1 at 6.3%, Q2 at 5%, Q3 at 5.4% and Q4 at 5.1%.
- India’s 10-year bond yield rises to 7%, the highest since 2019.
The composition of the Monetary Policy Committee is as follows:
- Governor of the Reserve Bank of India – Chairperson, ex officio: Shri Shaktikanta Das.
- Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, in charge of Monetary Policy– Member, ex officio: Dr Michael Debabrata Patra.
- One officer of the Reserve Bank of India to be nominated by the Central Board – Member, ex officio: Dr Mridul K. Saggar.
- A professor at the Mumbai-based Indira Gandhi Institute of Developmental Research: Prof. Ashima Goyal.
- A professor of finance at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad: Prof. Jayanth R Varma.
- An agricultural economist and a senior adviser with the National Council of Applied Economic Research in New Delhi: Dr Shashanka Bhide.
Some important instruments of Monetary Policy:
The RBI’s Monetary Policy has several direct and indirect instruments which are used for implementing the monetary policy. Some important instruments of Monetary Policy are as follows:
Repo Rate: It is the (fixed) interest rate at which banks can borrow overnight liquidity from the Reserve Bank of India against the collateral of government and other approved securities under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF).
Reverse Repo Rate: It is the (fixed) interest rate at which the Reserve Bank of India can absorb liquidity from banks on an overnight basis, against the collateral of eligible government securities under the LAF.
Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF): The LAF has overnight as well as term repo auctions under it. The term repo helps in the development of the inter-bank term money market. This market sets the benchmarks for the pricing of loans and deposits. This helps in improving the transmission of monetary policy. As per the evolving market conditions, the Reserve Bank of India also conducts variable interest rate reverse repo auctions.
Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): MSF is a provision that enables the scheduled commercial banks to borrow an additional amount of overnight money from the Reserve Bank of India. Bank can do this by dipping into their Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) portfolio up to a limit at a penal rate of interest. This helps the banks to sustain the unanticipated liquidity shocks faced by them.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikanta Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.
Karnataka establishes cooperative bank for milk producers
Karnataka Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai Establishing the ‘Nandini Ksheera Samridhi Cooperative Bank’ is a revolutionary initiative, which will provide greater financial strength for the milk producers. Karnataka is the only state in the country to set up an exclusive bank for milk producers. Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the logo of “Nandini Ksheera Samurdhi Sahakar Bank”.
About the ‘Nandini Ksheera Samridhi Cooperative Bank’:
- The Milk Producers cooperatives have a turnover of about Rs 20,000 crore in various banks every day.
- It will bring a second wave of White Revolution in the dairy sector.
- The state government has provided Rs 100 crore as its share capital and the Milk
- Federation and Cooperatives would contribute Rs 260 crore as their share of capital for the proposed cooperative bank which would stimulate huge economic activity in rural hinterland.
- The state government has decided to computerise all the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru;
- Karnataka Chief Minister: Basavaraj S Bommai;
- Karnataka Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot.
Amazon signed contract with three firms to launch its satellite internet
The tech firm has secured up to 83 launches over a five-year period, which the company claims is the greatest commercial launch vehicle procurement in history. Arianespace, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) have agreed to deploy the majority of Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites, which aim to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband to a wide variety of clients around the world.
Key Points:
- The tech firm has secured up to 83 launches over a five-year period, which the company claims is the greatest commercial launch vehicle procurement in history.
- The contracts call for 18 launches on Arianespace’s Ariane 6 rockets, 12 launches on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin’s New Glenn, with options for up to 15 more launches, and 38 flights on ULA’s newest heavy-lift launch vehicle, the Vulcan Centaur.
- The announcement brings Amazon’s satellite internet constellation one step closer to reality, as Elon Musk’s SpaceX continues to launch more Starlink satellites, bringing the total number of Starlink satellites launched to about 2300, and increasing Starlink’s global subscriber base to about 2.5 lakh.
- Amazon’s current agreement with ULA comes in addition to a previous agreement with the space launch company to acquire nine Atlas V vehicles, which was revealed in April of last year.
- In addition, Project Kuiper hopes to fly two test missions aboard ABL Space Systems’ RS1 rocket later this year.
- According to Amazon, the two prototype satellites – KuiperSat-1 and 2 – will incorporate most of the technology and subsystems that will power the company’s production satellite design, and are an essential step in the development process.
- The US Federal Communications Commission approved Amazon’s Project Kuiper in July 2020, with a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).
- The corporation unveiled Project Kuiper’s low-cost consumer terminal, which could deliver rates of up to 400 Mbps.
- The Seattle-based firm said it is designing and building the complete system in-house, which will include a constellation of advanced LEO satellites, compact, affordable consumer terminals, and a secure, robust ground-based communications network.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Amazon CEO: Andrew R. Jassy;
- Amazon Founded: 5 July 1994.
Gujarat Govt to receive Rs 7,500 Cr Loan from World Bank, AIIB
The World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) stated that the Gujarat government’s Mission School of Excellence project, which aims to improve education quality in the state, will receive a loan worth Rs 7,500 crore. The state government will spend Rs 10,000 crore over the next five years on the Mission School of Excellence initiative, which would cover all 35,133 government and 5,847 grant-in-aid schools in the state.
Key Points:
- In the state’s 41,000 government and grant-in-aid schools, the monies will be used to develop 50,000 new classrooms, 1.5 lakh smart classrooms, 20,000 new computer labs, and 5,000 tinkering labs.
- In the next few years, it is expected that almost one crore school pupils will directly benefit from this ambitious effort.
- The World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank have authorised a Rs 7,500 crore credit for the mammoth project.
- The World Bank sent a group to Gandhinagar to look at the School of Excellence project.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- World Bank Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States.
- World Bank Formation: July 1944.
- World Bank President: David Malpass.
- AIIB Headquarters: Beijing, China;
- AIIB Membership: 105 Members;
- AIIB Formation: 16 January 2016;
- AIIB Head: Jin Liqun.
World Largest Freshwater lake: 10 largest Freshwater lakes in the world
Freshwater lakes hold the majority of the world’s drinkable water. Although freshwater appears to be insignificant in comparison to saltwater, there is still a lot of it on the planet. We’ll look at the 10 largest freshwater lakes in the world to help you better grasp the importance of freshwater in the world. These are the largest non-brackish or saline bodies of water.
Lakes that contain freshwater that are neither brackish nor saline are known as freshwater lakes. While we’re on the subject, we have to wonder, what exactly is a lake? A lake is a large body of water with the following characteristics:
- Lakes are deeper than ponds, typically reaching a depth of at least 20 feet.
- Lakes are oval in shape, whereas ponds are round.
- Freshwater lakes are the most common, but they can also be brackish or saline. Ponds are entirely made up of freshwater.
- Lakes have an open outlet that allows them to draw water from other bodies of water.
- Lakes are usually greater than 0.3 square miles in size.
Lakes are distinguished from ponds in that they are larger, have an open exit, and a specific depth.
Here are the top 10 lakes of the world:
Caspian Sea (371,000 km2)
The Caspian Sea, despite its deceptive name, is actually a lake because it is fully landlocked — in fact, it is the world’s biggest lake or body of water. This inland sea is surrounded by Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan, and is located between the continents of Europe and Asia.
The lake isn’t entirely fresh; it’s partially salty, though only a third as salty as seawater, because it was formerly part of the old Paratethys Sea. Today, the sea is known for its delicious caviar and thriving oil sector.
Lake Superior (82,100 km2)
Lake Superior is the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area, the third-largest by volume, and the largest, deepest, and coldest of the Great Lakes of North America. It is also Canada’s largest lake, bordering Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan in the United States.
The Great Lakes Waterway passes across Lake Superior, which means “Big Sea Water,” and ferries commodities and supplies over the water. It is, nevertheless, one of the most dangerous lakes to swim in on the planet, as it can reach depths of more than 400 metres in some areas and is prone to riptides.
Lake Victoria (68,870 km2)
Lake Victoria, one of Africa’s Great Lakes, is the continent’s largest freshwater lake, spanning Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. It’s also the world’s largest tropical lake and the second-largest freshwater lake in terms of surface area, trailing only Lake Superior.
Lake Victoria, the Nile River’s major reservoir, is home to over 200 different species of fish, including Tilapia, which provide a source of income for thousands of people who live along and around its shores.
Lake Huron (59,600 km2)
Lake Huron is the world’s fourth biggest lake, connected to Lake Michigan by the Mackinac Straits. It is also the second-largest by surface area and third-largest by volume among North America’s five Great Lakes.
The shoreline, which stretches over 3,800 miles and includes over 30,000 islands, is the longest of all the Great Lakes.
The many shipwrecks in Lake Michigan are well-known. Thousands of battered ships have sunk off the coasts of the United States; Fathom Five National Marine Park alone has 22 wreck sites.
Lake Michigan (58,000 km2)
Lake Michigan is one of North America’s five Great Lakes, and its name means “Great Water.” It’s the second-largest in terms of volume and third-largest in terms of surface area. It is the only Great Lake that is entirely within the United States’ boundaries, stretching from east to west through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. It reaches a maximum depth of 280 meters.
For a variety of reasons, swimming in Lake Wisconsin is dangerous. Its beachfront is not only vulnerable to deadly rip currents, but the bottom is also uneven, with holes and deep drop-offs, and there are few lifeguards on the beach.
Lake Tanganyika (32,600 km2)
Lake Tanganyika, another of Africa’s Big Lakes, is the world’s longest, second-oldest, and second-deepest freshwater lake, with a name that means “great lake spreading out like a plain.” It is also the second-largest lake in terms of surface area.
Lake Tanganyika flows across Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia, eventually emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Swimming in the lake, which is one of the Rift Valley’s lakes, is not suggested because Nile crocodiles are known to lurk beneath the surface in some areas.
Lake Baikal (31,500 km2)
When it comes to volume, Russia’s Lake Baikal is the world’s largest. With a depth of 1,632 meters, it is the world’s deepest and oldest lake, with some suggesting that it should be classified as a sea.
This is supported by the fact that it is one of the few lakes in the world with enough oxygenated water to support life at its deepest depths. Around 1,700 plant and animal species can be found in the lake.
Lake Baikal in Russia is the world’s largest in terms of volume. It is the world’s deepest and oldest lake, with a depth of 1,632 metres, prompting some to argue that it should be regarded as a sea.
The fact that it is one of the few lakes in the world with enough oxygenated water to support life at its greatest depths bolsters this claim. The lake is home to over 1,700 plant and animal species.
Great Bear Lake (31,000 km2)
The Great Bear Lake is the world’s eighth biggest lake, located in Canada’s Northwest Territories near the Arctic Circle. It is also the fourth largest freshwater lake in North America and the largest freshwater lake wholly within Canada’s boundaries.
The lake, which reaches a depth of over 440 metres at its deepest point and is surrounded by boreal forest and tundra, is noted for its crystal-clear water. While the lake is home to speckled trout and other marine life, it has the smallest number of fish species of all the Great Lakes in Canada.
Lake Malawi (29,500 km2)
Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa, is Africa’s third largest lake, stretching across Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique along Africa’s East Coast. Lake Malawi, one of Africa’s Great Lakes, has a long and illustrious history.
It is the world’s fourth largest lake by volume, the ninth largest by area, and Africa’s second deepest lake. Lake Malawi is unique not only because of its vastness, but also because of the life it supports.
Lake Malawi has more fish species than any other lake on the planet, including hundreds of cichlids. While fishing is permitted in some areas, marine reserves have been established in others to safeguard these creatures.
Great Slave Lake (27,000 km2)
Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa, is Africa’s third largest lake, running along Africa’s East Coast via Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique. One of Africa’s Great Lakes, Lake Malawi, has a long and rich history.
It is the fourth largest lake in the world in terms of volume, ninth largest in terms of area, and Africa’s second deepest lake. Lake Malawi is remarkable not only for its size, but also for the diversity of life it sustains.
More fish species exist in Lake Malawi than in any other lake in the earth, including hundreds of cichlids. While fishing is allowed in some locations, marine reserves have been set up in others to protect these animals.
HAL and Israel Aerospace have teamed up to convert civil aeroplanes into mid-air refuellors
In a significant development, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to convert civil passenger aircraft to Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) aircraft in India. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been looking to procure new mid-air refuellers for sometime.
KEY POINTS:
- HAL will convert pre-owned civil (passenger) aircraft into air refuelling aircraft with cargo and transport capabilities under the newly inked agreement.
- HAL stated in a statement that the move will give new capabilities and cost-effective solutions to India’s defence industry.
- According to the MoU, it also covers passenger to cargo aircraft conversions as well as MMTT conversions.
- A Boeing 767 passenger plane, according to a defence official, is likely to be transformed.
BACKGROUND
- The IAF presently has six Russian IL-78 tankers and has been looking to procure six new aircraft for sometime, but the deal has been repeatedly delayed.
- It has been looking to reissue the tender but the financial crunch had made it rethink the acquisition.
- To meet requirements in the interim, it has been looking at leasing some mid-air refuellers, an option introduced in the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.
HAL
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is a state-owned Indian aerospace and defence enterprise based in Bengaluru. HAL was founded on December 23, 1940, and is now one of the world’s oldest and largest aerospace and defence companies.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Founded: 1940;
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka;
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited CMD: R Madhavan.
NCW Launches Anti-Human Trafficking Cell
The National Commission for Women launched an Anti-Human Trafficking Cell to improve effectiveness in tackling cases of human trafficking, raising awareness among women and girls, capacity building and training of Anti Trafficking Units and increasing responsiveness of law enforcement agencies. The Cell has been set up with an aim of increasing awareness among law enforcement officials and facilitating their capacity building.
Benefits of cell :
- The Cell will conduct Gender Sensitization Training and Workshops in combating human trafficking for police officers and for prosecutors at the regional, state and district levels.
- The complaints related to human trafficking received by the Commission will be addressed by this cell.
- The Commission has observed that some of the major issues faced in combating trafficking include lack of rehabilitation for victims and insensitive attitude towards trafficked survivors and their families.
- Therefore, the Cell will improve the monitoring mechanisms and encourage government agencies regarding measures being adopted for the prevention of trafficking and rehabilitation of victims.
- The Cell will also help survivors of trafficking in rebuilding their lives by providing them with need-based training and by organizing capacity building programs for them to prevent the re-traumatization of victims.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- National Commission for Women Formed: 1992;
- National Commission for Women Headquarters: New Delhi;
- National Commission for Women executive: Lalitha Kumaramangalam.
Madhya Pradesh government launched Mukhyamantri Udyam Kranti Yojana
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch the Udyam Kranti Yojana. According to officials, the MP Mukhyamantri Udyam Kranti plan was announced for the first time in November 2021, as per the MSME department’s gazette announcement, but it was never executed. Loans ranging from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh would be offered to youth under this scheme for self-employment.
KEY POINTS:
- The scheme’s unique feature is that the state government would provide a 3% interest subsidy as well as a bank guarantee.
- Udyam Kranti Yojana will be launched by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday. According to officials, the MP Mukhyamantri Udyam Kranti plan was first introduced in November 2021, as per the MSME department’s gazette announcement, but it was never implemented.
- Young people will be able to apply for loans ranging from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh under this plan. The proposal is unique in that the state government will provide a 3% interest subsidy in addition to a bank guarantee.
Mukhyamantri Udyam Kranti Yojana
- This scheme has been started by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan ji.
- The announcement of the launch of this scheme has been made at the inauguration ceremony of Nagrodaya Mission.
- Under the Madhya Pradesh’s Chief Minister Udyam Kranti Yojana, loans will be provided to the youth of Madhya Pradesh to set up their own enterprise.
- The guarantee of the loan provided under this scheme will be provided by the government to the bank.
India’s Agriculture Exports Cross USD 50 Billion Mark for First Time
Exports of agricultural products from India surpassed the USD 50 billion mark for the first time during the financial year 2021-22 (FY22), owing to significant growth in sugar, rice, wheat, and other cereals exports. The Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has released provisional figures stating that agricultural exports rose to USD 50.21 billion in 2021-22, which is 19.92%.
Previously:
The growth rate is significant since it exceeds the 17.66% growth rate of USD 41.87 billion obtained in 2020–21, and it was achieved despite unprecedented logistical obstacles such as high freight prices, container shortages, and so on.
Key Points:
- The highest ever exports have been achieved for staples like rice (USD 9.65 billion), wheat (USD 2.19 billion), Sugar (USD (4.6 billion) and other cereals (USD 1.08 billion).
- The increase in exports of these products has benefitted farmers in states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- India has captured nearly 50% of the world’s market for rice.
Astronomers detect identical twin of Jupiter
Astronomers have discovered an identical twin of Jupiter dubbed as K2-2016-BLG-0005Lb, Which has a similar mass and is at a similar location (420 million miles away) from its star as Jupiter is from our Sun (462 million miles away). The study has been published as a preprint on ArXiv.org and submitted to the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Key points:
- The exoplanet is about 17,000 light-years from the Earth, and it was first detected by the Kepler space telescope in 2016.
- To spot the planet, scientists used Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and Gravitational Microlensing.
- K2-2016-BLG-0005Lb is “the first bound microlensing exoplanet to be discovered from space-based data.
China successfully launches new satellite Gaofen-3 03 for Earth Observation
China successfully launched a new Earth observation satellite Gaofen-3 03 on April 07, 2022, from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre on board a Long March-4C rocket. The new satellite will become part of its land-sea radar satellite constellation by forming a network with the orbiting Gaofen-3 and Gaofen-3 02 satellites.
About the Satellite:
- They will then capture reliable, stable synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, to help Beijing safeguard its maritime rights and interests.
- The Earth Observation (EO) satellites produce a large number of SAR images every day, which are characterised by all-weather operation, high spatial resolution, among other things.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- China Capital: Beijing;
- China Currency: Renminbi;
- China President: Xi Jinping.
Ministry of Sports releases USD 72,124 to UNESCO Fund for Elimination of Doping
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, has contributed an amount of USD 72,124 towards the UNESCO Fund for Elimination of Doping in Sport 2022. This is double the amount of the minimum agreed value. As per the resolution of 7COP held at Paris between 29-31 September 2019, the State Parties had agreed for contributing 1% of the regular budget of their respective nations to UNESCO towards the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport.
Previously:
In 2021, India contributed USD 28172 towards the UNESCO Fund. The contributed fund will be used to support the implementation of the Fund’s Operational Strategy 2020-2025.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports: Anurag Singh Thakur.
Arya.ag joins United Nations Global Compact Network India
Arya.ag, an integrated grain commerce platform, has joined the United Nations Global Compact India, voluntarily adhering to universal sustainability principles and taking actions to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Key Points:
- The United Nations Global Compact is a developed framework of Corporate Governance-driven sustainability that compels members to conduct business in accordance with ten principles that include human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption.
- In addition, members must take steps to attain the SDGs by 2030.
- There are currently over 550 organisations that are members of the India Network, UN GCNI.
About United Nations Global Compact:
UNGC is the world’s largest corporate responsibility project, with over 16,000 corporations and 3,000 non-business signatories from over 70 local networks in 160 countries.
Khanjar 2022: The 9th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise
The 9th Edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise was held in March-April, 2022 at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh (HP). Special Forces contingents from India and Kyrgyzstan have shared their experience and best practices in terms of tactics, techniques, and procedures for countering present and emerging threats throughout the conflict spectrum. During the Exercise, combat shooting, sniping, mountain survival, hostage rescue drills, and unarmed warfare were all extensively performed.
The collaborative training reinforced the existing link between India and Kyrgyzstan, which has grown over years of mutual respect for strategic autonomy, democratic ideals, and zero tolerance for terrorism.
What is a military Exercise?
A military exercise or war game is the employment of military resources in training for military operations, either exploring the effects of warfare or testing strategies without actual combat. This also serves the purpose of ensuring the combat readiness of garrisoned or deploy-able forces prior to deployment from a home base.
