The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister has given the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procuring a GSAT 7B satellite, along with equipment like Night Sight (image intensifier), etc. Launched in 2013, the GSAT 7 series satellites are advanced satellites developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). They were developed to meet the communication needs of the defence services, which includes low bit voice rate to high bit rate data facilities, including multi-band communications. This satellite has a footprint ...
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About the Report The World Air Quality Report is prepared by Swiss organization IQAir. The report is based on 5 air quality data from 6,475 cities in 117 countries, regions and territories around the world. IQAir endeavors to engage, educate, and inspire governments, researchers, NGOs, companies, and citizens to work together to improve air quality and create healthier communities and cities. Key Findings No country met the latest WHO air quality guideline for PM2.5 in 2021. The WHO recommends that average annual ...
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India aspires to have a permanent presence with more research and satellite ground stations in the Arctic region, suggests a perusal of its Arctic Policy document. About Arctic Arctic region, the enormous area around the North Pole spreading over one-sixth of the earth’s landmass While the attraction of Arctic oil and gas reserves, unexploited marine living resources and shorter shipping routes connecting the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans is undeniable, the adversarial impact of melting Arctic Ice cap on the ...
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Aimed at providing accessible, standardized and affordable generic medicines, the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) Kendras, which currently offer a product basket of 1,451 drugs and 240 surgical instruments, have added nutraceuticals products, including  protein powder and bar, malt-based food supplements and immunity bar for its customers. Under the PMBJP being implemented by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, a medicine is priced on the principle of a maximum of 50% of average price of the top three brands of the ...
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Under the National Perspective Plan of the Sagarmala Programme, fourteen Coastal Economic Zones (CEZ) have been envisaged including three in the state of Tamil Nadu. About the Programme The Sagarmala project seeks to develop a string of ports around India’s coast. The objective of this initiative is to promote “Port-led development” along India’s 7500 km long coastline. It aims to develop access to new development regions and enhance connectivity with main economic centres and beyond through expansion of rail, inland water, coastal ...
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In 2020,the RBI included all food & agro- processing activities as eligible under Priority Sector Lending (PSL). The list of eligible activities under PSL has been published recently. Priority Sector means those sectors which the Government of India and Reserve Bank of India consider as important for the development of the basic needs of the country and are to be given priority over other sectors. The banks are mandated to encourage the growth of such sectors with adequate and timely credit. Priority ...
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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister, has approved the setting up of the National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC). National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC) will be set up as a wholly owned Government of India company with an initial authorized share capital of Rs 5000 crore and paid-up share capital of Rs 150 crore. NLMC will be set up and administered by the Department of Public Enterprise, Ministry of Finance. NLMC will undertake monetization of surplus land and building assetsof Central ...
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) analysing and reviewing the evidence on the present and future man-made impacts of climate change has a message that is predictably terrible. IPCC reports The objective of the IPCC is to provide governments at all levels with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies. It was created in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Assessment Reports, the first of which had come out in ...
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The U.S., Europe and several other western nations are moving to exclude Russia from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), an international network for banks to facilitate smooth money transactions globally.  This could be the strongest economic sanction against Russia over its military moves in Ukraine, as it will potentially cut off the country from receiving international payments. SWIFT SWIFT is a messaging network used by banks and financial institutions globally for quick and faultless exchange of information pertaining to ...
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The controversy surrounding the amendment to the Lokayukta Act of Kerala through an ordinance has raised the political temperature in the State. Background The term Lokpal-Lokayukta was first used in a report of the Administrative Reforms Commission headed by Morarji Desai as far back as in 1966. The first Bill on Lokpal was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 1968 which lapsed with the dissolution of the House. Anna Hazare’s movement and the active involvement of civil society generated a ...
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