About National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM):

• It is a scheme administered by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• It was conceptualized for the purpose of developing a comprehensive data base ofartists, art forms, and other resources gathered from cultural organizations in the Ministry of Culture, other Ministries,and also States on a robust IT-enabled platform.
• The aims and objectives of the Project are as under:
  • To create awareness about the strengths of cultural heritage and its interface with development and cultural identity.
  • Cultural mapping of 6.5 lakh villages along with their geographical, demographic profiles, and creative capitals.
  • Creation of National Registers of Artists and Art practices.
  • Development of a web portal and mobile app to function as a National Cultural Work Place (NCWP).
• The project aims to cover all the inhabited villages of India, which are marked as ‘village’,in the Census List, 2011 published by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
• The databaseof the project is accessible through the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar Web Portal (https://mgmd.gov.in/).
• It can be used effectively by any government ministry or other government organization to safeguard and promote the cultures, traditions, art forms, and other cultural identities of the identified villages.

Q1: What is the Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India?

It is a scheme formulated by the Ministry of Culture with the objective of reinvigorating and revitalizing various institutions, groups, individuals, identified non-MOC institutions, non-Government organizations, researchers and scholars so that they may engage in activities/ projects for strengthening, protecting, preserving and promoting the rich Intangible Cultural Heritage of India. Assistance under the scheme is provided in the form of non-recurring grants, honoraria etc. with a view to address areas critical for the survival and propagation of all forms of Intangible Cultural Heritages (ICH).

Source: Cultural Mapping initiative launched in India under National Mission on Cultural Mapping

About PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana:

• It is a government scheme launched on February 15, 2024, that aims to provide free electricity to households in India.
• Under the scheme, households will be provided with a subsidy to install solar panelson their roofs.
• The subsidy will cover up to 40% of the cost of the solar panels.
• The scheme is expected to benefit 1 crore households across India.
• It is estimated that the scheme will save the government Rs. 75,000 crore per year in electricity costs.
• The scheme has an outlay of Rs 75,021 crore and is to be implemented till FY 2026-27. 
• Eligibility:
  • The household must be an Indian citizen.
  • The household must own a house with a roof that is suitable for installing solar panels.
  • The household must have a valid electricity connection.
  • The household must not have availed any other subsidy for solar panels.
• Under the scheme, DISCOMs are designated as State Implementation Agencies (SIAs) responsible for facilitating various measures, including net meter availability, timely inspection, and commissioning of installations. 
  • DISCOMs will receive incentives based on their achievement in the installation of additional grid-connected rooftop solar capacity beyond a baseline level.
  • The total financial outlay for the ‘Incentives to DISCOMs’ component is Rs 4,950 crore.

Q1: What are solar panels?

Solar panel is a component of a photovoltaic system that is made out of a series of photovoltaic cells arranged to generate electricity using sunlight.

Source: Govt Issues Operational Guidelines For Implementation Of Incentives To DISCOMs Under PM-Surya Ghar- Muft Bijli Yojana

About MSME TEAM Initiative:

• MSME Trade Enablement and Marketing Initiative” (MSME-TEAM Initiative) aims at assisting five lakh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to onboard the Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform, through awareness workshops which will include hand-holding assistance for onboarding onto ONDC.
• It aims to provide financial assistance to micro and small enterprises (MSEs)through Seller Network Participants, for catalogue preparation, account management, logistics, and packaging material and design. 
• Of the total five lakh MSEs to be benefited, two and a half lakhMSEswould be women owned MSEs.
• The objective of MSME-TEAM Initiative is to provide assistance to MSEs all across the country.
• However, awareness workshops will be conducted preferably in Tier 2 and Tier 3 citiesand MSME Clusters, for greater outreach, especially among women and SC/ST owned MSMEs.
• The MSME TEAM Initiative, being a sub-scheme, is for a period of three years upto March 2027.
  • However, MSMEs can continue to onboard onto ONDC, which is an open network.

Key Facts about RAMP Scheme:

• It is a World Bank-assisted program that aims to improve the performance of MSMEs in India.
• It is a Central Sector Scheme launched on 30 July, 2022, by the Ministry of MSME.
• The RAMP scheme has a number of objectives, including:
  • Improving access to markets and credit for MSMEs
  • Strengthening institutions and governance at the central and state levels
  • Improving center-state linkages and partnerships
  • Addressing issues of delayed payments
  • Greening of MSMEs
• The National MSME Council has been set up by the Ministry to work as an administrative and functional body of the RAMP Programme.
• Sub schemes under RAMP:
  • MSME GIFT Scheme: MSME Green Investment and Financing for Transformation Scheme intends to help MSMEs adopt green technology with interest subvention and credit guarantee support.
  • MSE SPICE Scheme: The MSE Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy aims to support circular economy projects, which will be done through credit subsidy and will lead to realising the dream of MSME sector towards zero emissions by 2070.
  • MSE ODR Scheme: The MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for Delayed Payments is a first of its kind scheme to synergise legal support with modern IT tools and Artificial Intelligence to address the incidences of delayed payments for Micro and Small Enterprises.

What is ONDC?

• It is a network based on open protocol and will enable local commerce across segments, such as mobility, grocery, food order and delivery, hotel booking, and travel, among others, to be discovered and engaged by any network-enabled application.
• Specifically, ONDC is a set of protocols and specifications that allow different e-commerce platforms to connect and interoperate with each other. 
• The platform aims to create new opportunities, curb digital monopolies, and support MSMEs and small traders by helping them get on online platforms.
• It is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• It seeks to democratise digital or electronic commerce, moving it from a platform-centric model to an open-network.
• It enables sellers and buyers to be digitally visible and transact through an open network, regardless of what platform or application they use.
• Through ONDC, merchants will be able to save their data to build credit history and reach consumers.

Q1: What is the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)?

The DPIIT functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. It is responsible for formulation and implementation of promotional and developmental measures for growth of the industrial sector, keeping in view the national priorities and socio-economic objectives. While individual Administrative Ministries look after the production, distribution, development and planning aspects of specific industries allocated to them, DPIIT is responsible for the overall industrial policy. It is also responsible for facilitating & increasing the foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to the country.

Source: OPEN NETWORK DIGITAL COMMERCE (ONDC)

About DIGIPIN:

• Digital Postal Index Number (DIGIPIN) is an initiative to establish a standardized, geo-coded addressing system in India, for ensuring simplified addressing solutions for citizen-centric delivery of public and private services.
• In this regard, the Department had collaborated with IIT Hyderabad for developing this National Addressing Grid.
• This system will act as a strong and robust pillar of Geospatial Governance, leading to enhancements in public service delivery, faster emergency response and a significant boost to logistics efficiency.
• The DIGIPIN layer will act as the addressing reference system which can be used for logically locating addresses with directional properties built into it due to the logical naming pattern followed in its construction.
• It is proposed to be fully available in the public domain and can be easily accessed by everyone. The DIGIPIN Grid system being an addressing referencing system, can be used as the base layer for other ecosystems, including various service providers and utilities, where addressing is one of the processes in the workflow.
• This system will act as a strong and robust pillar of Geospatial Governance, leading to enhancements in public service delivery, faster emergency response and a significant boost to logistics efficiency.
• The advent of DIGIPIN will mark a revolutionary step in India’s journey towards digital transformation by bridging the crucial gap between physical locations and their digital representation.
• The Department has released a beta version of National Addressing Grid ‘DIGIPIN’ for public feedback.

Q1: What is Geospatial technology?

Geospatial technology provides a way to collect and analyze data. It's an umbrella term for the various modern tools and systems that help us to map the earth's surface, understand societies and conduct spatial analysis.

Source: Department of Posts releases beta version of DIGIPIN for public comments and expert opinion

About International Mathematical Olympiad: 

• It is the World Championship Mathematics Competition for High School students and is held annually in a different country.
• The first IMO was held in 1959 in Romania, with 7 countries participating. It has gradually expanded to over 100 countries from 5 continents.
• The IMO Board ensures that the competition takes place each year and that each host country observes the regulations and traditions of the IMO.
  • The IMO is a self-governing autonomous organization, though it is affiliated to UNESCO. Its Council is elected by participating countries, and is called the IMO Advisory Board.
  • The IMO foundation is a charitable organization which accepts donations from organizations which wish to support the IMO.
• This year it was the 65th IMO held at Bath, United Kingdom.
• India’s performance
• This is the best performance by an Indian in IMO since the country’s debut in 1989 both in terms of number of Gold medals won and rank achieved.
• The Indian contingent of high school students came in fourth rank globally securing four Gold medals, one silver medal and one honourable mention.
• India’s previous best rank achieved until 2024 was rank 7 , at IMO 1998 and IMO 2001. 

Q1: What is UNESCO?

UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.It is a specialized agency of the United Nations(UN). The constitution, which entered into force in 1946, called for the promotion of international collaboration in education, science, and culture. The agency’s permanent headquarters are in Paris, France.

Source: Indian bright sparks mark best performance at Maths Olympiad

About International Organisation of Securities Commission:

• It was established in 1983.
• It is the international body that brings together the world's securities regulators and is recognized as the global standard setter for financial markets regulation.
• Objectives
  • Enhance investor protection
  • Ensure markets are fair and efficient
  • Promote financial stability by reducing systemic risk
• Its objectives and Principles of Securities Regulation are endorsed by both the G20 and the Financial Stability Board (FSB).
• Itis a standard setting body with more than 200 members representing 95% of the world’s securities regulators.
• There are three categories of members: ordinary, associate and affiliate.
  • Ordinary members, which include the primary futures markets and securities regulators in a given jurisdiction. Each ordinary member has one vote.
  • Associate members, consisting of additional futures and securities regulators in those jurisdictions that have multiple regulatory bodies. Associate members do not have a vote and aren’t eligible for the Executive Committee, but are members of the Presidents’ Committee.
  • Affiliate members, which include self-regulatory organizations, stock exchanges, and stock market industry associations.
  • These members do not have a vote and are not eligible for either the Executive Committee or the President’s Committee, but may be members of the Self-Regulatory Organizations (SRO) Consultative Committee.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India is a member of this commission.
• Secretariat: Madrid, Spain.

Q1: What is Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)?

The SEBI is a statutory regulatory body established by the Government of India in 1992. It was given statutory powers through the SEBI Act, 1992. It aims to regulate the securities market in India and protect the interests of investors in securities.

Source: The many challenges of BRSR

About Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM):

• It is a European Union (EU) tariffon carbon intensive products.
• Purpose: To put a fair price on the carbon emitted during the production of carbon intensive goods that are entering the EU and to encourage cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries.
• By confirming that a price has been paid for the embedded carbon emissions generated in the production of certain goods imported into the EU, the CBAM will ensure the carbon price of imports is equivalent to the carbon price of domestic production, and that the EU's climate objectives are not undermined.
• If implemented as planned, EU importers will have to buy carbon certificates corresponding to the carbon price that would have been paid in the EU if the goods had been produced locally.
• The price of the certificates would be calculated according to the auction prices in the EU carbon credit market.
• The number of certificates required would be defined yearly by the quantity of goods and the embedded emissions in those goods imported into the EU.
• EU importers will declare the emissions embedded in their imports and surrender the corresponding number of certificates each year.
• If importers can prove that a carbon price has already been paid during the production of the imported goods, the corresponding amount can be deducted.
• Companies in countries with a domestic carbon pricing regime equivalent to the EU’s will be able to export to the EU without buying CBAM certificates.
• CBAM will apply in its definitive regime from 2026, while the current transitional phase lasts between 2023 and 2025. 
  • Only reporting obligations arise during the transitional period, and financial obligations apply from 2026.
• CBAM will initially cover several specific products in some of the most carbon-intensive sectors at risk of "carbon leakage": iron and steel (including some downstream products such as nuts and bolts), cement, fertilizers, aluminium, electricity and hydrogen.

Q1: What is the European Union (EU)?

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states located primarily in Europe. The EU was established by the Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force on November 1, 1993. The main goal of the EU is to promote cooperation and integration among its member states in order to enhance economic and political stability in Europe. The EU has its own currency, the Euro, which is used by 19 of the member states. It has a single market where goods, services, and capital can move freely.

Source: Proposed EU carbon tax protectionist, says Economic Survey

About Air Breathing Propulsion System: 

• In this system the rocket will carry its fuel, but will not carry an on-board oxidiser.
• Instead, this system will utilise atmospheric oxygen as an oxidiser to burn the fuel. This makes rockets significantly lighter and more efficient.
• However, such air-breathing technologies can be used only within the denser layers of the Earth's atmosphere, where there is an adequate supply of oxygen.
• Such technologies might be feasible in the denser layers of Earth's atmosphere (up to 70kilometres altitude), and thereafter the rocket must switch to another stage that has both fuel and an on-board oxidizer.
• Types of air-breathing propulsion
  • Ramjet: It is an air breathing propulsion engine operating on the principle of supersonic combustion. It has the absence of any rotator and relies solely on the forward motion of the engine to compress incoming air.
  • Scramjet: It is an upgraded version of the Ramjet and generates thrust through supersonic air flow and combustion. It moves at hypersonic speed and performs best at high speeds, greater than Mach 5.
  • In 2023, India became the fourth country to successfully demonstrate the flight testing of a Scramjet Engine.
  • Dual-Mode Ramjet (DMRJ): It is a jet engine where a ramjet transforms into a scramjet over Mach 4-8 range and it can efficiently operate both in subsonic and supersonic combustor modes.

Q1: What is ISRO?

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the space agency of India, responsible for the planning and execution of space-related activities in the country. ISRO is one of the most prominent and successful space agencies in the world, known for its cost-effective and efficient space missions. The primary goal is the development and application of space technology for various national needs.

Source: ISRO conducts experimental flight of Air Breathing Propulsion System

About Kalarippayattu: 

• It is the traditional martial art originated and popularly practiced in Kerala.
• Mythology has it that the warrior sage Parasurama is the promulgator of Kalaripayattu.
• Kalaripayattu is composed of two words, kalari means “place of combat” and payattu means “fighting” in Malayalam.
• The four stages of Payattu are:
  • Maippayattu - Body conditioning exercises
  • Kolthari - Use of wooden weapons
  • Angathari: Use of sharp metallic weapons
  • Verumkai : Bare-handed defense and attack.
• Women also underwent training in Kalaripayattu, and still do so to this day.
• The major ethnic style of Kalaripayattu exists in the three regions of northern Kerala (Malabar): Vattenthirippu Style, Arappukkai Style and Pillathangi Style.
• This martial art stands high and gives trainees incredible strength and stamina, defence techniques, auto reflex, flexibility, confidence, concentration, physical culture and mental discipline etc.
• It can be said that Kalarippayattu is Yoga in action. This is the only Martial art associated with a treatment branch which can be introduced in the field of sports medicine also.

Q1: What is Martial art?

It is any of various fighting sports or skills, mainly of East Asian origin, such as kung fu, judo, karate, and kendō. Martial arts can be divided into the armed and unarmed arts. The former include archery, spearmanship, and swordsmanship; the latter, which originated in China, emphasize striking with the feet and hands or grappling.

Source: Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Recognizes Kalarippayattu Federation of India for Promotion of Kalarippayattu in Country

About S. thermophilus:

• It is a gram-positive, non-motile, and non-sporulating bacterium that can grow underaerobic and anaerobic conditions.
• It is a type of probiotic ("good" bacteria) found in the digestive tract.
• It produces lactic acid in the gut (converting lactose into lactic acid).
• It can help break down food, absorb nutrients, and fight off "bad" organisms that might cause diseases.
• It can help improve lactose digestion in individuals who are lactose intolerant.
• It has also been found to have anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce the risk of inflammatory bowel disease. 
• S. thermophilus is commonly used to produce fermented dairy foods such as yogurt.
• It is also used in probiotic supplements.

What is MCC0200?

• It is a new strain of lactic acid bacteria recently discovered.
• It thrives in the gut, possesses a strong affinity for intestinal surfaces, allowing it to interact with host cells.
• This ability to adhere to mucosal surfaces is a crucial factor in promoting gut health and immune function. 
• In addition, MCC0200 has antioxidant properties, which can help reduce oxidative stress-induced damage.
• MCC0200 has the ability to assimilate cholesterol, which could help to lower serumcholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

MCC0200 could be an excellent probiotic candidate for food and pharmaceutical applications.

Q1: What is lactose?

Lactose is sometimes referred to as “milk sugar” because it is only found naturally in the milk of mammals—including cows, goats and humans. Milk from cows and goats is used to make cheese and yogurt, but not all milk products contain the same amount of lactose. Lactose intolerance is when your body can't break down or digest lactose.

Source: Indian scientists discover new probiotic with potential health benefits