Whats behind the pre-monsoon floods and landslides in Assam- ✓Despite the monsoon yet to be arrived, the state of Assam is facing a very devastating flood and a series of landslide episodes ✓The recent floods and landslides that have left 15 people dead and more than 7 lakh affected. ...

ADITYA : INDIA'S FIRST SOCIAL FERRY. ✓India’s first solar-powered ferry, Aditya, is among 12 such ferries that have been shortlisted for the Gustave Trouvé Award. It is the sole entrant from Asia. ✓Aditya, largest solar-powered boat in India, operates between Vaikkom and Thavanakkadavu, ...

PM DAKSH ✓Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched ‘PM-DAKSH’ (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi) Portal and ‘PM-DAKSH’ Mobile App to make the skill development schemes accessible to the target groups - Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Safai Karamcharis. ...

Recent Dispute and International Ruling ✓In 2013, the Philippines commenced a case against China under the provisions of UNCLOS, to the Permanent court of Arbitration in the Hague. Although a long-standing party to the Convention, China declined to participate in the establishment of the ...

ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) ✓the twenty-seven-member multilateral grouping was developed to facilitate cooperation on political and security issues to contribute to regional confidence-building and preventive diplomacy. ✓First meeting Held at Bangkok, Thailand, in 1994.  ✓It includes ...

BULK DRUG PARK. ◇ Himachal Pradesh is vying for the allotment of a bulk drug park under a central government scheme announced earlier this year. ◇ A bulk drug, also called an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), is key ingredient of a drug or medicine, which lends it the desired ...

The South China Sea Disputes ✓Since the 1970s, the South China Sea has been a nest of competing sovereignty claims over the island features and ocean spaces by a number of adjacent countries.  ✓The South China dispute is over territory, sovereignty and maritime rights and entitlement, ...

SUN'S CORONAL HEATING. ◇ Scientists have recently discovered tiny flashes of radio light emanating from all over the Sun,which they say could help in explaining the long-pending coronal heating problem. ◇ These radio lights or signals result from beams of electrons accelerated in the ...

RCEP Negotiations: From Trade to Economic Partnership ✓While the India-ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement was inked and enforced from January 1,2010, India’s goods trade deficit with ASEAN widened from $4.98 billion in 2010-11 to $14.75 billion in 2015-16, and then narrowed to $9.56 billion in ...

SEED VILLAGE PROGRAMME     ✓This program aims at upgrading the quality of farm-saved seeds. ✓Under this, financial assistance is available for up to one acre per farmer for distribution of foundation/certified seeds at: •50% of seed cost for cereal crops •60% for ...

ICZM Project-Integrated Coastal Zone Management) project. ✓ICZM aims to improve livelihood of coastal communities and conserve the coastal ecosystem. ✓It is a World Bank assisted project. ✓The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai, will provide scientific and ...

CeNS: LOW COST CATALYST FOR HYDROGEN GENERATION. The scientists and researchers at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences operating under Department of Science and Technology have invented a low cost effective way to generate hydrogen from water using Molybdenum dioxide. □ KEY ...