News:Recently,Scientists have mapped the complete genome of two basmati rice varieties. Facts: About the findings: Basmati 334: It comes from Pakistan known to be drought tolerant and resistant to rice-killing bacterial blight. Dom Sufid: It comes from Iran, an aromatic long-grain rice that is one of the most expensive on the market. Further,the most genetic… Continue reading Basmati rice genome sequenced
Author: ForumIAS
Kambala
News:Recently,Srinivas Gowda competing in a kambala event has covered 100m in 9.55 seconds ahead of Jamaican Usain Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds. Facts: About Kambala: Kambala is an annual festival celebrated in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. The festival involves the traditional buffalo race generally held from November to March. The buffaloes are… Continue reading Kambala
Lui-Ngai-Ni Festival
News:The Naga tribes of Manipur celebrated it’s seed sowing festival Lui-Ngai-Ni under the theme Oneness through Culture in Ukhrul, Manipur. Facts: About the festival: Lui Ngai Ni is the seed-sowing festival celebrated by the Naga clans of Manipur India. The celebration is celebrated every year on 14–15 February toward the beginning of the spring season.… Continue reading Lui-Ngai-Ni Festival
Canary Islands
News:Recently,Spanish authorities have rescued a group of 86 migrants that included a baby who was born near the Canary Islands. Facts: About Canary Islands: The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago and the southernmost autonomous community of Spain. The Island is located in the Atlantic Ocean,west of Morocco at the closest point.
Explained:How does India’s Railways’ corporate train model work?
News:Recently, Kashi Mahakal Express has been inaugurated as the country’s third ‘corporate’ train after the two Tejas Express trains between Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Ahmedabad. Facts: About the Corporate Train Model: In this model, the physical infrastructure of the train such as locomotives, coaches, loco pilots among others will remain in the Indian Railways’ hands. However, the… Continue reading Explained:How does India’s Railways’ corporate train model work?
Explained: What is Hope spacecraft?
News:The United Arab Emirates has used a novel approach to build the Hope spacecraft which will be launched in July,2020. Facts: About HOPE: HOPE Spacecraft is also known as the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM).It will be Arab world’s first spacecraft to Mars. Aim:To collect information on Mars and meteorological layers.It also seeks to study the… Continue reading Explained: What is Hope spacecraft?
9 PM Current Affairs Brief – February 15th, 2020
Finance Commission constitutes Group on Defence and Internal Security News: The Fifteenth Finance Commission has constituted a Group on Defence and Internal Security Facts: Composition: representatives of the ministries of Defence, Home Affairs and Finance, chaired by N.K. Singh, Chairman, Fifteenth finance Commission Mandate: examine if India needs a separate mechanism to fund defence and… Continue reading 9 PM Current Affairs Brief – February 15th, 2020
NITI readies social protection framework
News:Government has formed a technical committee headed by NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar to prepare policy prescriptions for an integrated social protection framework. Facts: About Social Protection: Social protection is defined as the set of policies and programmes designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labour markets and enhancing their capacity to… Continue reading NITI readies social protection framework
India, Portugal ink seven pacts
News:Indian and Portugal Prime Ministers have signed seven agreements to boost cooperation in a range of areas. Facts: About the agreements: The pacts provide for cooperation in areas of investment, transport, ports, culture and industrial and intellectual property rights. They have also signed cooperation to promote Maritime Transport between the two countries for better operation… Continue reading India, Portugal ink seven pacts
Union Home minister chairs high-level meet to review status of ‘Bharat Ke Veer’
News:Union Home minister has chaired a high-level meeting to review the status of ‘Bharat Ke Veer’. Facts: About Bharat ke Veer: Launched by the Union Home Ministry in 2017. It is an IT based platform to enable willing donors to contribute towards the family of a braveheart who sacrificed his/her life in line of duty.… Continue reading Union Home minister chairs high-level meet to review status of ‘Bharat Ke Veer’
