06th March, 2024
Status of Leopards in India, 1st tanker – Swarna Sindhu, Ocean Grace, cing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme, World Obesity Day, National Safety Day, World Day of Fight Against Sexual Exploitation
- Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav has released the report on Status of Leopards in India, in New Delhi.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off the 1st tanker – Swarna Sindhu – carrying crude oil produced in state-owned ONGC’s Krishna Godavari deepwater block.
- Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has inaugurated the 60T bollard pull tug named ‘Ocean Grace‘ and the Medical Mobile Unit (MMU).
- Keyi Panyor has become the 26th district of Arunachal Pradesh.
- Reserve Bank of India has approved NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) to launch an interoperable payment system for Internet banking to facilitate quicker settlement of funds for merchants.
- Infibeam Avenues has received the final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a payment aggregator for its payment gateway brand, CCAvenue.
- Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has celebrated the 22nd Foundation Day.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme at DefConnect 2024 in New Delhi.
- Ministry of Defence has signed a tripartite MoU with BEML Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI).
- Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with an Indian firm to upgrade the simulators of the Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
- World Obesity Day
- National Safety Day
- World Day of Fight Against Sexual Exploitation
Table of Content
National News
- Report on Status of Leopards in India.
- What ? Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav has released the report on Status of Leopards in India, in New Delhi.
- Key findings of the report:
- India’s leopard numbers rose by 8% from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022.
- Madhya Pradesh has reported the highest number of leopards, with 3,907 leopards.
- Other states with significant leopard populations include Maharashtra (1,985), Karnataka (1,879), and Tamil Nadu (1,070).
- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and West Bengal collectively saw a 150% rise in leopard numbers to 349 animals.
- Uttarakhand reported a 22% decline in leopard numbers due to poaching and man-animal conflicts in the region.
- Survey covered 20 states of India focusing on about 70% of the animals’ expected habitat, including India’s tiger reserves and protected forest areas.
Source: The Hindu
- PM Narendra Modi flags off first crude oil tanker from ONGC’s KG project.
- What ? Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off the 1st tanker – Swarna Sindhu – carrying crude oil produced in state-owned ONGC’s Krishna Godavari deepwater block.
- Key points:
- KG-DWN 98/2 Deepwater Oil Field M is located in the Krishna Godavari Basin.
- It is developed with an investment of over Rs 41,000 crore.
Source: BS
- 1st-ever Made-in-India ASTDS tug.
- What ? Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has inaugurated the 60T bollard pull tug named ‘Ocean Grace‘ and the Medical Mobile Unit (MMU).
- About Ocean Grace:
- Developed by: Cochin Shipyard Limited
- ASTDS Tug is powered by NIGATA main engines and a Power Z-Peller ZP Propulsion engine.
- The goal of the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) is to convert at least 50% of all tugs into Green Tugs by 2030.The program aims to have Green Tugs operating at all major ports.
- aim is to achieve a remarkable reduction of 50% in emissions by 2030 and 70% by 2047.
- Medical Mobile Unit (MMU):
- It is part of port’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.
Source: PIB
- It is part of port’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.
State News
- Keyi Panyor becomes 26th district of Arunachal Pradesh.
- What ? Keyi Panyor has became the 26th district of Arunachal Pradesh.
- Key points:
- It has been carved out of Lower Subansiri district.
- New district will have its headquarters at Ter Gapin-Sam Sarth.
Source: Indian Express
Banking and Economy
- NPCI to launch interoperable payment system for internet banking.
- What ? Reserve Bank of India has given approval to NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) to launch an interoperable payment system for Internet banking to facilitate quicker settlement of funds for merchants.
- What is interoperability?
- Interoperability is the technical compatibility that enables a payment system to be used in conjunction with other payment systems.
- For example, interoperability allows card / Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) Issuers, Payment System Providers and Payment System Participants in different systems to undertake, clear and settle payment transactions across systems without participating in multiple systems.
- It creates a scenario where regardless of who issues the e-wallet or card, the user can be sure that payments made through these instruments will be valid across payment networks.
Source: moneycontrol, HBL
- RBI’s authorization for payment aggregator license
- What ? Infibeam Avenues has received the final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a payment aggregator for its payment gateway brand, CCAvenue.
Source: BS
- What ? Infibeam Avenues has received the final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a payment aggregator for its payment gateway brand, CCAvenue.
- 22nd Foundation Day of Bureau of Energy Efficiency Celebrated.
- What ? Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has celebrated the 22nd Foundation Day.
- Key points:
- Theme: Energy Transition through Electrification and Decarbonization in India
- Ministry of Power launched the 5th edition of State Energy Efficiency Index(SEEI 2023)
- Key observation of State Energy Efficiency Index:
- SEEI 2023 evaluates 36 states and Union Territories (UTs) using 65 qualitative, quantitative, and outcome-based indicators.
- These indicators are distributed across seven demand sectors: Buildings, Industry, Municipal Services, Transport, Agriculture, Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOMs), and Cross-Sector Initiatives.
- Classification: States and UTs are classified into different categories based on their total scores:
- Front runner (>=60)
- Achiever (50-59.75)
- Contender (30-49.75)
- Aspirant (<30)
- Energy Consumption Groups:
- States and UTs are categorized into four groups based on their Total Final Energy Consumption (TFEC) measured in Million Tonnes of Oil Equivalent (MTOE):
- Group 1 (>15 MTOE)
- Group 2 (5-15 MTOE)
- Group 3 (1-5 MTOE)
- Group 4 (<1 MTOE)
Category | States |
---|---|
Front Runner | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Kerala, Punjab, Telangana |
Achiever | Assam, Uttar Pradesh |
Contender | Goa, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu |
- Release of 1st Edition of India EV Digest:
- India EV Digest has been released by BEE to address the growing significance of electric vehicles (EVs) in India and the necessity to accelerate EV adoption.
- It aims to support India’s goal of achieving a 30% share of EVs in overall vehicle sales by 2030.
Source: PIB
Defence News
- Launch of ADITI scheme to promote innovations in defence technologies.
- What ? Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme at DefConnect 2024 in New Delhi.
- Objectives:
- To nurture the innovation of youth.
- To help the country leap forward in the field of technology, particularly in critical and strategic defence technologies.
- Key points:
- Total budget: 750 crore
- Duration of scheme: 2023-24 to 2025-26
- Start-ups can receive a grant-in-aid of up to Rs 25 crore for their research, development, and innovation endeavors in defence technology.
- It will develop about 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies within its proposed timeframe.
- ADITI envisages creating a ‘Technology Watch Tool.’
- This tool aims to bridge the gap between the expectations and requirements of the modern Armed Forces and the capabilities of the defence innovation ecosystem.
Source: PIB
Memorandum of Understanding
- MoD inks MoU with BEML Limited, BEL & MIDHANI.
- What ? Ministry of Defence has signed a tripartite MoU with BEML Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI).
- Objective:
- To develop an Advanced Fuelling and Control System for Engines for heavy-duty applications.
Source: PIB
- To develop an Advanced Fuelling and Control System for Engines for heavy-duty applications.
- Defence Ministry signs deal with Indian firm to upgrade Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft simulator.
- What ? Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with an Indian firm to upgrade the simulators of the Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
Source: ET
- What ? Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with an Indian firm to upgrade the simulators of the Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
About Anuj Jindal
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Anuj Jindal, the founder, is an ex-manager from SBI, with an M.Com from Delhi School of Economics. He also has a JRF in Commerce & Management and NET in HRM, along with more than 5 years of experience in the field of Education.
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