Defence
Successful Maiden Flight Test of Akash Prime Missile

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Akash Prime)
What's the NEWS

• A new version of the Akash Missile - ‘Akash Prime' has been successfully flight tested from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha
• The missile intercepted and destroyed an unmanned aerial target mimicking enemy aircrafts, in its maiden flight test after improvements.

Know! about Akash Prime

• In comparison to the existing Akash System, Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy.
• Other improvements also ensure more reliable performance under low temperature environments at higher altitudes.
• Modified ground system of the existing Akash weapon system has been used for the current flight test.
• The range stations of ITR comprising Radars, Electro Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and Telemetry stations monitored the missile trajectory and flight parameters.
• The Akash Prime system will further boost the confidence of the users (Indian Army and Indian Air Force) as the Akash system is already inducted and now getting improved with more lethal missiles.
• The DRDO earlier in March developed the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology which will give technological advantage in developing long-range air-to-air missiles.

Know! about Akash

• It is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
• The Akash missile system can target aircraft up to 50-80 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m
• It has the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles.
• It is in operational service with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

Some Major Defence Deals Of India
Indian Air Force to procure 56 C-295 transport aircraft

• India has sealed a Rs 21,000 crore deal with Airbus Defence and Space to procure 56 C-295 transport aircraft to replace the ageing AVRO-748 planes of the Indian Air Force (IAF) under a project that entails manufacturing of military aircraft in India for the first time by a private company.
• Under the agreement, Airbus is set to deliver the first batch of 16 aircraft in 'Fly-Away' condition after final assembly in Spain within a stipulated period of four years.
• Subsequently, 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by TATA Advanced Systems in India as part of a partnership between the two entities. The final delivery will be made by 2031.
• The Aircraft is capable of operating from semi-prepared strips and provide a major boost to the tactical airlift capability of IAF.

Battle tanks- Arjun

• Ministry of Defence has sealed a contract with Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Avadi, Chennai to procure 118 main battle tanks- Arjun for the Indian Army at a cost of Rs 7,523 crore and set to enhance the combat capabilities.
• The MBT MK-1A is a new variant of the Arjun tank designed to boost firepower and usage, mobility, survivability, infused with 72 latest features and more content from the MK-1 variant.

ICBM AGNI-V ballistic missile

• ICBM AGNI-V has demonstrated a strike range of 5000 km.
• It has been developed by the indigenous defence mammoth, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the missile will be tested at a defence facility off the Odisha coast undertaken by the Strategic Forces Command of the Indian Army.
• AGNI has a range of 5000-8000 km (notably, Shanghai is well within the 4000 km range).

Predator B deal for high-powered drones

• The Predator deal first took root in the erstwhile Trump administration in 2017 during PM Modi's visit to the US.
• Referred to as MQ-9 Repeater by the US Air Force and Royal Air Force, the Predator B is a remotely piloted aircraft.
• These drones are known during long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions spread in a wide area.

Agriculture
PM to dedicate to the Nation 35 crop varieties with special traits
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about crop varieties with special traits + Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985) + Mains ( GS III farmers welfare)
What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister will dedicate 35 crop varieties with special traits to the Nation on 28th September in a pan India programme organised at all ICAR Institutes, State and Central Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs).
• On the occasion, the Prime Minister will distribute Green Campus Award to Agricultural Universities

Know! about bout crop varieties with special traits

• The crop varieties with special traits have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to address the twin challenges of climate change and malnutrition.
• Thirty-five such crop varieties with special traits like climate resilience and higher nutrient content have been developed in the year 2021.
• These include a drought tolerant variety of chickpea, wilt and sterility mosaic resistant pigeonpea, early maturing variety of soybean, disease resistant varieties of rice and biofortified varieties of wheat, pearl millet, maize and chickpea, quinoa, buckwheat, winged bean and faba bean.

Know! about National Institute of Biotic Stress Management

• The National Institute of Biotic Stress Management at Raipur has been established to take up the basic and strategic research in biotic stresses, develop human resources and provide policy support.

Know! about Green Campus Awards

• The Green Campus Awards has been initiated to motivate the State and Central Agricultural Universities to develop or adopt such practices that will render their campuses more green and clean, and motivate students to get involved in ‘Swachh Bharat Mission', ‘Waste to Wealth Mission' and community connect as per the National Education Policy-2020.

Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985

• The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has developed the country's first-ever non-GM (genetically modified) herbicide-tolerant rice varieties that can be directly seeded and significantly save water and labour compared to conventional transplanting.
• The varieties - Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985 - contain a mutated acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene making it possible for farmers to spray Imazethapyr, a broad-spectrum herbicide, to control weeds.
• The new varieties simply replace water with Imazethapyr and there's no need for nursery, puddling, transplanting and flooding of fields. You can sow paddy directly, just like wheat
• Imazethapyr, effective against a range of broadleaf, grassy and sedge weeds, can't be used on normal paddy, as the chemical does not distinguish between the crop and the invasive plants.
• The ALS gene in rice codes for an enzyme (protein) that synthesises amino acids for crop growth and development.
• The herbicide sprayed on normal rice plants binds itself to the ALS enzymes, inhibiting their production of amino acids.
• The new basmati varieties contain an ALS gene whose DNA sequence has been altered using ethyl methanesulfonate, a chemical mutant.
• As a result, the ALS enzymes no longer have binding sites for Imazethapyr and amino acid synthesis isn't inhibited.
• The plants can also now "tolerate" application of the herbicide, and hence it kills only the weeds.
• This is herbicide-tolerance through mutation breeding, not GM. There isn't any foreign gene here
• Both Pusa Basmati 1979 and 1985 have been bred by crossing existing popular varieties - Pusa 1121 and Pusa 1509, respectively - with ‘Robin'.
• The latter is a mutant line derived from Nagina 22, an upland drought-tolerant rice variety.
• The mutant was identified for Imazethapyr-tolerance by S Robin, a rice breeder from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore.

Direct seeding of rice (DSR)

• Farmers in Punjab and Haryana are already adopting direct seeding of rice (DSR)
• DSR cultivation is currently based on two herbicides, Pendimethalin (applied within 72 hours of sowing) and Bispyribac-sodium (after 18-20 days).
• These are costlier than Imazethapyr (Rs 1,500 versus Rs 300/acre)
• Imazethapyr, moreover, has a wider weed-control range and is safer, as the ALS gene isn't present in humans and mammals.
• Even in the herbicide-tolerant rice, the chemical will target only the weeds.

Genetically Modified Seeds

• Genetic Modification is a technology that involves inserting DNA into the genome of an organism.
• In GMO, genetic material (DNA) is altered or artificially introduced using genetic engineering techniques.
• Genetic modification involves the mutation, insertion, or deletion of genes.
• Inserted genes usually come from a different organism (e.g. In Bt cotton, Bt genes from bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis are induced).
• Genetic modification is done to induce a desirable new trait which does not occur naturally in the species.
• Herbicide Tolerant on the other hand is derived with the insertion of an additional gene, from another soil bacterium, which allows the plant to resist the common herbicide

Prelims Factoids
White Shipping Information
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about White Shipping Information)
What's the NEWS

• Royal Navy of Oman (CRNO) and Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Indian Navy signed an MoU for exchange of White Shipping Information
• The MoU was signed at Maritime Security Center (MSC), Muscat during the ongoing visit of the CNS to Oman.
• The signing of the MoU between Royal Navy of Oman and Indian Navy would facilitate information exchange on merchant shipping traffic, through IFC-IOR, India and MSC, Oman and contribute to enhanced maritime safety and security in the region.

Government Schemes
SAUBHAGYA completes FOUR years of successful implementation

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about SAUBHAGYA + Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) + Mains ( GS III infrastructure development)
What's the NEWS

• SAUBHAGYA is one of the largest household electrification drives in the world.
• SAUBHAGYA was announced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 25th September 2017.
• 2.82 crore households have been electrified since the launch of SAUBHAGYA.
• The total financial implications of the project was Rs. 16,320 crore while the Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) was Rs. 12,320 crore.
• The Government of India largely provided funds for the Scheme to all States/UTs.

Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana-"Saubhagya"

• Under Saubhagya, free electricity connections to all households (both APL and poor families) in rural areas and poor families in urban areas were provided.
• REC Limited (then known as Rural Electrification Corporation) had been designated as the nodal agency for the Saubhagya scheme.

Scope of the Scheme:

• Providing last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all un-electrified households in rural areas.
• Providing Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) based standalone system for un-electrified households located in remote and inaccessible villages/habitations, where grid extension is not feasible or cost-effective.
• Providing last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all remaining economically poor un-electrified households in urban areas. Non-poor urban households are excluded from this scheme.

Salient Features of Saubhagya are:

• All DISCOMs including Private Sector DISCOMs, State Power Departments and RE Cooperative Societies shall be eligible for financial assistance under the scheme in line with DDUGJY.
• The prospective beneficiary households for free electricity connections under the scheme would be identified using SECC 2011 data. However, un-electrified households not covered under SECC data would also be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs. 500 which shall be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 installments through electricity bill.
• The electricity connections to un-electrified households include provision of service line cable, energy meter including pre-paid/smart meter, single point wiring. LED lamps and associated accessories in line with technical specifications and construction standard.
• In case of un-electrified households located in remote and inaccessible areas, power packs of 200 to 300 Wp(with battery bank) with a maximum of 5 LED lights, 1 DC Fan, 1 DC power plug etc. may be provided along with the provision of Repair and Maintenance (R&M) for 5 years.
• The details of consumers viz, Name and Aadhar number/ Mobile number/ Bank account/ Driving License/Voter ID etc., as available would be collected by the DISCOMs.
• The defaulters whose connections have been disconnected should not be given benefit of the scheme. However, the utilities may consider settlement of old dues and reconnection as per norms.

Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)

• The journey started with Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) which envisaged the creation of basic electricity infrastructure in villages.
• The focus of the scheme was on strengthening & augmentation the existing infrastructure and metering of existing feeders/distribution transformers to improve the quality and reliability of power supply in rural areas.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana

• It is a Government of India scheme designed to provide continuous electricity supply to rural India.
• The government plans to invest ₹756 billion (US$11 billion) for rural electrification under this scheme.
• The scheme replaced the existing Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana.
• It focuses on feeder separation (rural households & agricultural) and strengthening of sub-transmission & distribution infrastructure including metering at all levels in rural areas.
• The Ministry of Power has launched a new app, GARV-II app to provide real-time data of all six lakh villages of the country.
• The app is envisaged to ensure transparency in the implementation of rural electrification programme.
• The new app will also enable the citizens to participate in the developmental works and can give their feedback and inputs related to the rural electrification programme.

Social Issues
e-Shram Cards
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about e- shram cards +Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana) + Mains ( GS II Social issues -welfare schemes for the vulnerable section)
What's the NEWS

• Labour Minister distributes e-Shram Cards and approval letters for Relief Schemes to unorganized workers in Mumbai
• The Union Minister also distributed approval letters for Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna Relief scheme, to 10 workers in the unorganized sector.

Know! about e-Shram Portal

• The e-Shram portal was inaugurated on 26th August 2021 by the Union Labour Minister
• The portal is the first-ever national database of unorganised workers including migrant workers, construction workers, gig and platform workers.
• It facilitates extending benefits of social sector schemes to the workers in the unorganized sector.
• The portal is seeded with Aadhaar and will have details of name, occupation, address, educational qualification, skill types and family details etc. of the registered workers.
• This will thus enable optimum realization of their employability and enable them to avail benefits of government schemes.
• Any worker who is working in unorganized sector and aged between 16-59, is eligible to register on the e-Shram portal.
• Migrant workers, gig workers, platform workers, agricultural workers, MGNREGA workers, fishermen, milkmen, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, street vendors, domestic workers, rickshaw pullers and other workers engaged in similar other occupations in the unorganised sector are all eligible.

Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana

• Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) is a scheme launched by ESI Corporation.
• Under this, if the Insured Person (IP) loses his/her job, he/she is given a relief amounting to 25% of the average per day earning during the previous four contribution periods (total earning during the four contribution periods/730).
• The relief will be paid up to a maximum of 90 days of unemployment, as a once-in-lifetime measure.
• The Relief under ABVKY shall be paid/ payable by Branch Office to IPs directly in their bank account only, upon submission of the claim.

Prelims Factoids
Meenakari

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Meenakari)
What's the NEWS

• PM Modi gifted US Vice President Harris a gulabi meenakari chess set.
• The exquisite craft of Gulabi Meenakari is closely associated with Kashi, one of the oldest cities of the world.

Know! about Meenakari

• Meenakari is the process of painting and colouring the surfaces of metals and ceramic tiles through enameling originating in Safavid Iran.
• It is practiced as an art form and commercially produced mainly in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (the term Kundan is more widely used in India).
• Minakari art usually involves intricate designs (mainly using geometric shapes and designs) and is applied as a decorative feature to serving dishes, containers, vases, frames, display ornaments and jewellery
• The Mughals introduced it into India and perfected the technique making the design applied on objects more intricate.
• In India Rajasthan and Gujarat are most famous for their Meenakari artifacts and jewellery.

Government Schemes
Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS)
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about SEIS scheme)
What's the NEWS

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has proposed a cap of Rs 5 crore per exporter on aggregate entitlement under the Services Exports Scheme (SEIS) from India for shipments made in 2019-20 (FY20).
• The move is expected to benefit small businesses in the service sector.

Service Export from India Scheme

• Objective: To promote export of services from India by providing duty scrip credit for eligible 'exports' under the scheme.
• Under the SEIS scheme, service providers based in India will be rewarded for all eligible exports of services from India.
• SEIS was earlier called Saved from India Scheme (SFIS).
• Service providers of notified services located in India are eligible for Services Export from India Scheme.
• To be eligible, a service provider (Company/LLP/Partnership Firm) must have a minimum net free foreign exchange earnings of US$15000 in the preceding financial year to be eligible for duty credit scrip.
• For proprietorships or individual service providers, a minimum net foreign exchange income of US$10,000 in the previous financial year is required to be eligible for the scheme
• The service provider must have an active Import Export Code (IE Code) while providing such services.

Environment
Climate change assessment in the Indian region

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about 'Assessment of Climate Change in the Indian Region' report highlights) + Mains ( GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• Recently, the 'Assessment of Climate Change in the Indian Region' report of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has been released.
• According to the report, India was 0.7 degree Celsius hotter in the period 1901-2018.

Major findings of the report

• The decade 2010-2019 was the warmest with an average temperature of 0.36°C above average.
• Heatwaves continued to increase with no signs of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
• India may experience a temperature increase of 4.4°C by the end of this century.
• Rainfall is expected to increase by 6% and temperature by 1.6°C by 2050.
• Between 1990-2016, India lost about 235 square kilometers in coastal erosion due to climate change-induced sea level rise, land erosion and natural disasters such as tropical cyclones.
• India's internally displaced population (IDP) is increasing due to harmful climate events.

India's Efforts and Status

• India signed International Solar Alliance (ISA) with France at COP21 in 2015
• India ranked in the top 10 for the second consecutive year in the 2020 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI).
• India has submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in line with COP21 by signing the Paris Agreement to limit global warming.
• The decision set a target to reduce the emission intensity of GDP by 33%-35% and increase green energy resources (non-fossil-oil based) to 40% of installed electric capacity by 2030.

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