President of India recently presented the National Panchayat Awards and inaugurated the National Conference on Incentivisation of Panchayats in New Delhi.   Details – The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj celebrating National Panchayat Awards Week from 17th – 21st April 2023 as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) 2.0 in the run-up to the National Panchayati Raj Day (24th April 2023).   About… Continue reading National Panchayat Awards

Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) put in place a dispute resolution mechanism for Limited Purpose Clearing Corporation (LPCC) to settle disputes and claims arising out of transactions cleared by it.   About Limited Purpose Clearing Corporation – It is an entity established to undertake the activity of clearing and settlement of… Continue reading Limited Purpose Clearing Corporation

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister recently directed officials to make the 100 MW UhlIII hydropower project functional by May next year.   About Uhl–III hydropower project – Location — It is located at the Rana Neri Khad River in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. The Project comprises the diversion of tail water of Uhl Stage-II… Continue reading UhI-III Hydro Power Project

Recently, scientists have warned that the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, which is destroying South American wheat crops, could spread worldwide.   About Wheat Blast – It is a fungal disease in tropical and subtropical wheat production regions caused by Magnaporthe oryzae. The fungus infects wild and cultivated grasses, most notably rice and wheat. It spreads through infected seeds,… Continue reading Wheat Blast

The Union Ministry of Education has written to State governments to procure pulses (chana dal) for the Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition (POSHAN) from NAFED. However, major states like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal has rejected the Union Ministry’s recommendation.   Details – West Bengal government has argued that during the Covid-19 pandemic,… Continue reading Mid-Day Meal Scheme

Recently, a team of scientists from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), analysed data collected by the Induction Coil Magnetometer data, installed at the Indian Antarctic station Maitri to bring out several aspects of the ground observation of the Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) waves.   About Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) waves – These are the… Continue reading Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron

Nanomedicine researchers at Houston Methodist academic medical centre have come up with an implantable nanofluidic device that can directly deliver immunotherapy to pancreatic cancer tumours.   About Nano fluidic Drug-Eluting Seed device – It is an implantable nanofluidic device invented to deliver CD40 monoclonal antibodies. This device is a viable approach to penetrating the pancreatic… Continue reading Nano-fluidic Drug-Eluting Seed Device

Recently, at least one person died and around 100 were confirmed or suspected to be infected by blastomycosis in the United States.   About Blastomycosis – It is an infection caused by a fungus of the genus Blastomyces. It is found in moist soil and decomposing wood and leaves in the mid-western, south-central and south-eastern… Continue reading Blastomycosis

World Haemophilia Day was recently observed to raise awareness about the rare blood disorder and help those suffering from it lead a better life.   Details – Haemophilia Day was first commemorated by the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) in 1989 in remembrance of Frank Schnabel, who was born on April 17, 1942, and spent his… Continue reading Haemophilia

Odisha forest officials have recently sighted 179 mangrove pitta birds in the first ever census conducted of these exotic and colourful birds in the country.   About Mangrove Pitta – It is a species of passerine bird in the Pittidae family native to Southeast Asia and South Asia. Scientific Name — Pitta megarhyncha Distribution — Bangladesh,… Continue reading Mangrove Pitta