MAJOR PORTS AUTHORITY BILL, 2020
Why in news? The Cabinet has given its nod to Major Ports Authority Bill that will replace a 1963 law governing country’s 12 major ports. Background: At present the ports are governed by a ports law of 1963. The major port sector has not seen the required level of fixed assets creation to pare the country’s high logistic costs owing […]
CRIME MULTI AGENCY CENTRE AND NATIONAL CYBERCRIME TRAINING CENTRE LAUNCHED
Why in news? National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) celebrated its 35thInception Day, on March 12, 2020 Crime Multi Agency Centre (Cri-MAC): for sharing of information on heinous crime and other issues related to inter-state coordination. National Cybercrime Training Centre (NCTC): for professional quality eLearning services on cyber crime investigation on large scale to police officers, […]
SAGARMALA PROGRAMME
What is Sagarmala Programme? The Sagarmala programme is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Shipping to promote port-led development in the country through harnessing India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes. Aims of Sagarmala Programme The main vision of the Sagarmala […]
ARI SCIENTISTS STUDY METHANE-OXIDIZING BACTERIA (METHANOTROPH)
Why in news? Scientists at Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, have isolated 45 different strains of methanotrophic bacteria which have been found to be capable of reducing methane emissions from rice plants. Details Methanotrophs metabolise and convert methane into carbon-di-oxide. They can effectively reduce the […]
TARGETS OF NH CONSTRUCTION AND PPP MODELS
Why in news? Development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs) is a continuous process. NH projects are identified annually as per available budgetary outlay, inter se priority, requirement of connectivity and traffic density. Government has fixed a target of 11000 Km for construction in the country for the current fiscal year. Salient features of the […]
MINORITY SCHEMES FOR JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Why in news? The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs implements programmes/schemes for the six (6)centrally notified minority communities namely, Buddhists, Christians, Jains, Muslims, Parsis and Sikhs as under:- Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme – For educational empowerment of students. Maulana Azad National Fellowship Scheme – Provide fellowships in the form […]
MINERAL LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL 2020
Why in news? The Parliament has passed Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill 2020 that will amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957 and Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act 2015. Under the Bill: Allocation of coal/lignite blocks for composite prospecting licence cum mining lease has been provided. o Currently, separate licenses are provided for prospecting and mining of […]
DEVELOPMENT OF NOMADIC TRIBES
Why in news? The Nomadic Tribes have been identified by the survey done by erstwhile National Commission for De-Notified and Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes. However, population of Nomadic tribes has not been maintained by the Government. DWBDNC For all-round development of Nomadic tribes a Development and Welfare Board for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) […]
ARI-516: HYBRID VARIETY OF GRAPES
Why in news? Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, have developed a hybrid variety of grapes which is resistant to fungal diseases, high yielding and has excellent juice quality. ARI-516: The hybrid variety ARI-516 has been developed by interbreeding of two species from the same genus — Catawba variety of Vitis […]
FULLY FUNCTIONAL LOKPAL
Why in news? Almost a year after the Lokpal became functional, the Department of Personnel and Training has issued a notification providing the rules and prescribed format for filing complaints with the anti-corruption ombudsman. The notification, under Section 59 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, lays down the rules called the Lokpal (Complaint) Rules, 2020. […]