ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 10th August. Click Here for more information.
News: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a mobile app called MANI’ (Mobile Aided Note Identifier)
Facts:
About MANI’ (Mobile Aided Note Identifier)
- It seeks to aid visually impaired persons in identifying denomination of currency notes.
- It can scan currency notes using the camera of the mobile phone and gives audio output in Hindi and English. It can work in offline mode too.
- However, the app cannot authenticate a currency note as being genuine or counterfeit.
PM dedicates 5 DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories to the Nation
News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated 5 DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSLs) to the nation.
Facts:
About DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSLs)
- The DYSLs are located in five cities: Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
- These labs will work on a key advanced technology of importance to the development of futuristic defence systems. This includes Artificial intelligence, Quantum technologies, Cognitive technologies, Asymmetric technologies and Smart materials.
Additional Information:
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- DRDO is India’s premier organization for research related to defence technology.
- It is under administrative control of Department of Defence Research and Development, Ministry of Defence.
- It was established in 1958 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
Assam state zoo first to breed endangered Hargila
News: The Assam State Zoo and Aaranyak has jointly bred a pair of Greater Adjutant (Hargila) chicks in an artificial platform within the zoo enclosure. It is a first ever experiment of this kind.
Facts:
About Greater Adjutant Stork (Hargila):
- It is found in a few isolated pockets in Assam and Bihar in India and PrekToal in Cambodia.
- It is listed as Endangered under the IUCN Red List.
- It is listed under schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife
News: The WHO has designated as the “Year of the Nurse and midwife”, in honour of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.
Facts:
- Year of the Nurse and midwife highlights the importance of nurses and midwives in achieving universal health coverage.
- It also advocates for increased investments in the nursing and midwifery workforce.
Additional Information:
Universal Health Coverage (UHC): It is defined as ensuring that all people have access to needed health services of sufficient quality without suffering financial hardship.
UHC and Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 3.8 calls for achieving universal health coverage.
Nursing Now! Campaign:
- It is a three-year global campaign (2018-2020) to improve health globally by raising the status of nursing.
- WHO runs the campaign in collaboration with International Council of Nurses.
- It is based on the Triple Impact Report (2016) which states how developing nursing will improve health (SDG 3), promote gender equality (SDG 5) and support economic growth (SDG 8).
Florence Nightingale: She was an English social reformer and is regarded as the founder of modern nursing.
Palau is first country to ban ‘reef toxic’ sun cream
News: Palau has become the first country to ban sun cream that is harmful to corals and sea life.
Facts:
- The ban covers chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate used in sunscreen
- These chemicals are toxic to wildlife species such as corals, fish, and macroalgae. They can cause:
- corals to become more susceptible to coral bleaching,
- damage the DNA of coral, and
- deform and kill juvenile corals
Additional Information:
Palau
- It is an island country located in the western Pacific Ocean.
- Rock Islands Southern Lagoon of Palau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Palau created world’s first shark sanctuary in 2009.
News: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas signed contracts for 7 blocks, awarded under Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) Bid Round – IV.
Facts:
Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP):
- Launched in 2016, OALP, is a part of Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP).
- It is aimed at enabling faster survey and assessment of areas with oil and gas potential.
- It enables companies apply for particular areas they deem to be attractive to invest in, and the Centre then put those areas up for bids.
Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP):
- Introduced in 2016, it is a contractual and fiscal model for award of hydrocarbon acreages towards exploration and production (E&P).
Major Characteristic Features:
- Single License for both conventional and unconventional Hydrocarbons
- Transition from Cost Recovery mechanism to Revenue Sharing mechanism.
- Full Marketing & Pricing Freedom
- Low regulatory burden
- Fiscal incentives provided to investors
Implementing Agency: Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Additional Information:
National Data Repository: It is an integrated data repository of Exploration and Production (E&P) data of Indian sedimentary basins.
News: The Election Commission has launched Political Parties Registration Tracking Management System (PPRTMS).
Facts:
Political Parties Registration Tracking Management System (PPRTMS):
- It is an online system that will allow political parties to track their applications for registration with the ECI on a real-time basis.
Registration of Political Parties
- Registration of political parties in India is governed by the section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
- An association seeking registration has to submit an application to the ECI within a period of 30 days from the date of its formation.
Northeast monsoon ends, country records 30 per cent surplus rain
News: Northeast monsoon ended with an overall surplus
About North east monsoon season
- It is a season of winter rainfall experienced in south-eastern peninsular India.
- Time for NE Monsoon: October to December
- Regions: Tamil Nadu (including Puducherry), Kerala, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and South Interior Karnataka.
- Mechanism:
- The northeast trade winds prevail over India during winters. They blow from land to sea and hence are dry and does not bring rainfall.
- A part of the NE trade winds blow over the Bay Bengal which gathers moisture from the sea and bring rainfall over the Tamil Nadu coast.
- Significance:
- It contributes only 11% to India’s annual rainfall of 1,187 mm.
- However, it is particularly important for Tamil Nadu, which receives almost half its annual rainfall from this season.
