About build-operate-transfer (BOT) Model

• It is a type of agreement often used in infrastructure projects, particularly in the construction and operation of public facilities or utilities.
• It is a conventional public-private partnership (PPP) model in which a private entity (usually a company or consortium) is granted the rights and responsibilities to design, finance, construct, operate, and maintain a specific project or facility for a defined period of time.
• The private entity, known as the "concessionaire" or "developer," bears the financial and operational risks associated with the project during the contract period.
• The typical lifecycle of a BOT contract involves three phases:
  • Build: The concessionaire is responsible for financing, designing, and constructing the infrastructure project. This phase usually includes obtaining the necessary permits and approvals.
  • Operate: After the construction is completed, the concessionaire operates and maintains the facility for a specified duration. This can involve providing services, managing operations, and generating revenue from the facility (e.g., tolls, fees, or user charges).
  • Transfer: At the end of the contract period, the ownership and control of the facility are transferred back to the government or public authority, which may have been the original owner. The transfer is often accompanied by a predetermined valuation or compensation mechanism.
• The private company gains revenue during the concession period, while the government benefits from infrastructure development without upfront investment.
• However, the specifics of the financial arrangements and incentives vary depending on the individual BOT contract.
• BOT is particularly well-suited for greenfield projects (new projects without prior work) and large-scale, capital-intensive projects. 

Key Facts about National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)

• NHAI is India’s premier highway infrastructure creator, entrusted with developing, maintaining, and managing National Highways.
• It is a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• It was constituted under the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1998, and made operational in February 1995.
• Composition: It consists of a full-time Chairman, and not more than five full time Members and four part-time members who are appointed by the Central Government.
• NHAI has technical, Finance, Administrative and Vigilance Wings at its Headquarters.

Q1) What is a consortium?

A consortium is a group made up of two or more individuals, companies, or governments that work together to achieve a common objective. Entities that participate in a consortium pool resources but are otherwise only responsible for the obligations that are set out in the consortium's agreement. Every entity that is under the consortium, therefore, remains independent with regard to their normal business operations and has no say over another member's operations that are not related to the consortium.

Source: EXPLAINER: Will the new BoT model bring back private developers?

About Zircon Missile

• The 3M22 Zircon, or SS-N-33, is a scramjet-powered maneuvering anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile developed in Russia.
• Features:
  • The missile is reportedly capable of flying with speeds up to Mach 9 and a range of 1000 km.
  • It’s a two-stage missile that uses solid fuel in the first stage and a scramjet motor in the second stage. 
  • Zircon cruise missiles use cooled supersonic combustion ramjet engines, which power combustion by compressing air flowing at supersonic speeds due to the missile’s forward motion.
• This is in contrast to other hypersonic weapons like the China-made DF-17 or the Russian-made Avangard, which use a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV), which rely on the initial momentum provided by multi-stage rocket boosters like those used on a ballistic missile to accelerate them to hypersonic speeds.
  • Guidance System: Active and Passive Radar Seeker.
  • Another valuable aspect of the missile is its plasma cloud. During flight, the missile is completely covered by a plasma cloud that absorbs any rays of radio frequencies and makes the missile invisible to radars. 

Q1) What are cruise missiles?

Cruise missiles are unmanned vehicles that are propelled by jet engines, much like an airplane. They can be launched from ground, air, or sea platforms. Cruise missiles remain within the atmosphere for the duration of their flight and can fly as low as a few meters off the ground. Flying low to the surface of the earth expends more fuel but makes a cruise missile very difficult to detect. 

Source: Russia’s ‘Ship Launched’ Zircon Hypersonic Missile Strikes Ukraine For The 1st Time, Report Claims; Experts Uncertain

About Gomti River

• It is a tributary of the Ganges River. 
• Course:
  • Origin: It is an alluvial river that originates from the Gomat Taal, otherwise called Fulhaar Jheel, found near the Madho Tanda in Pilibhit district in Uttar Pradesh, India. 
  • After flowing through an incised valley southwards through the districts of Sitapur, Lucknow, Barabanki, Sultanpur, and Jaunpur, it joins River Ganga near Varanasi.
  • The river extends to about 900 km. 
• The total drainage area of the river is 30,437 sq. km.
• The characteristic of the river is perennial. The river is characterized by sluggish flow throughout the year, except during the monsoon season, when heavy rainfall causes a manifold increase in the runoff.
• Major Cities: There are various cities that are situated on the banks of the River Gomti, such as Sultanpur, Lucknow, Jaunpur, and Lakhimpur Kheri.
• Tributaries: Kathina, Bhainsi, Sarayan, Gon, Reth, Sai, Pili, and Kalyani.

Q1) Which are the major tributaries of the Ganges River?

Tributaries of Ganga include Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi and Mahananda from the left bank and Yamuna, Tamsa, Son and Punpun from the right bank.

Source: Over 600 rescued turtles released in Gomti river

About Forever Chemicals

• PFAS (Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances), also known as the Forever Chemicals, are a large chemical family of over 4,700 highly persistent man-made chemicals.
• These were first developed in the 1940s and are now found in a variety of consumer products, including nonstick pans, water-resistant textiles, and fire suppression foams, due to their ability to repel both grease and water.
• PFAS are the most persistent synthetic chemicals to date. They hardly degrade in the natural environment and have been found in the blood of people and animals all over the world, and are present at low levels in a variety of food products.
• The secret to PFAS’s indestructibility lies in its chemical bonds. PFAS contains many carbon-fluorine bonds, which are the strongest bonds in organic chemistry.
• These chemicals also cause pollution at every stage of production. At the PFAS chemical manufacturing facilities and garment factories, they often contaminate the air, water, and soil of the surrounding environment.
• Exposure to PFAS is linked to cancers, weakened immune systems among children, weight gain, and a wide range of other health problems.

Q1) What are chemical bonds?

Chemical bonding is the attraction between two or more atoms that allows them to be able to form a stable chemical compound. The specific nature of a chemical bond can vary, but the most commonly known are covalent and ionic bonds. With these bonds, it provides sufficient energy between atoms when one has less. It’s the force of attraction that holds atoms, allowing the electrons to form a bond together. 

Source: Researchers unveil method to detect 'forever chemicals' in under 3 minutes

About Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana

• It will be implemented as a Central Sector Sub-scheme under the Central Sector Component of the PMMSY.
• Funding: Implemented at an estimated outlay of Rs.6,000 crore consisting of 50% i.e. Rs.3,000 crore public finance including the World Bank and the AFD external financing, and rest 50% i.e.Rs.3,000 crore being the anticipated investment from the beneficiaries/private sector leverage.
• Time period: It will be implemented for 4 years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 across all the States and UTs.
• Intended Beneficiaries:
  • Fishers, Fish (Aquaculture) Farmers, Fish workers, Fish Vendors or such other person directly engaged in fisheries value chain.
  • Micro and Small enterprises in the form of Proprietary Firms, Partnership Firms and Companies registered in India, Societies, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), Cooperatives, Federations, Village Level Organizations like Self Help Groups (SHGs), Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs) and Startups engaged in fisheries and aquaculture value chains.
  • FFPOs also include Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs).
  • Any other beneficiaries that may be included by the Department of Fisheries, Gol as targeted beneficiaries.
• Aims and objectives
  • Gradual Formalization of the unorganized fisheries sector through self registration of fishers, fish farmers and supportive workers under a National Fisheries Sector Digital Platform including creation of work based digital identifies of fish workers for improved service delivery.
  • Facilitating access to institutional financing fisheries sector micro and small enterprises.
  • Providing one-time incentive to beneficiaries for purchasing aquaculture insurance.
  • lncentivizing fisheries and aquaculture microenterprises through performance grants for improving fisheries sector value-chain efficiencies including creation and maintenance of jobs.
  • Incentivising micro and small enterprises through performance grants for adoption and expansion of fish and fishery product safety and quality assurance systems including creation and maintenance of jobs.

Q1) What is a “Farmers Producer Organisation” (FPO)?

It is one type of PO where the members are farmers. Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) is providing support for promotion of FPOs. PO is a generic name for an organization of producers of any produce, e.g., agricultural, non-farm products, artisan products, etc

Source: Cabinet approves "Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)" a Central Sector Sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada for the fisheries sector micro and small enterprises and envisages an investment of over rupees six thousand crore in the next four years

About Flue Gas De-sulphurisation (FGD)

• It is a technology to eliminate sulfur dioxide (SO2) from exhaust emissions.
• Where does Sulfur Dioxide come from?
  • Fossil fuels such as coal and oil often contain high amounts of sulfur, and when these fuels are burned, around 95% or more of the sulfur is converted to sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is emitted as flue gas.
  • Sulfur dioxide in itself is a major air pollutant which impacts all life. It is also a precursor of acid rain, which has significant adverse impacts on forests, freshwaters, and soils, in turn killing insect and aquatic life forms, causing paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and weathering of stone buildings and statues.
  • The removal of sulfur dioxide is critical to establishing a safe and clean environment where toxic emissions are kept to a safe level.
• FGD Process:
  • FGD is done through the addition of absorbents, which can remove up to 95% of the sulphur dioxide from the flue gas.
  • Substances such as ammonia or sodium sulphite are used as absorbents; however, the use of lime or limestone slurry (wet limestone scrubbing) is also widespread. 
  • The uncleaned flue gas is sprayed in a scrubber tower (absorber tower) with a mixture of water and limestone (scrubbing slurry), whereby most of the sulphur dioxide is bonded by chemical reaction.

Q1) What is limestone?

Limestone is a sedimentary rock primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the form of mineral calcite or aragonite. It is one of the most common and widely distributed rocks on Earth, with a wide range of uses in various industries and natural settings.

Source: Installation of Flue Gas De-sulphurisation (FGD) equipment in thermal power plants

About Nematodes

• These are any worm of the phylum Nematoda.
• Nematodes are among the most abundant animals on Earth.
• They occur as parasites in animals and plants or as free-living forms in soil, fresh water, marine environments, and even such unusual places as vinegar, beer malts, and water-filled cracks deep within Earth’s crust.
• Features
  • Nematodes are bilaterally symmetrical, elongate, and usually tapered at both ends.
  • Some species possess a pseudocoel, a fluid-filled body cavity between the digestive tract and the body wall.
• Nematodes have been reported from every continent on earth and occur in deserts, swamps, the oceans, the tropics and Antarctica.
• Nematode parasites of animals occur in almost all organs of the body, but the most common sites are in the alimentary, circulatory, and respiratory systems. Some of these worms are known by such common names as hookworm, lungworm, pinworm and threadworm
• They can cause a variety of diseases (such as filariasis, ascariasis, and trichinosis) and parasitize many crop plants and domesticated animals. 
• Significance
  • Most nematodes feed on bacteria, fungi, or other microscopic creatures. As such, they are a major component of soil and sediment ecosystems.

Key facts about Steinernema adamsi

• This new species is a member of a family of nematodes called Steinernema that have long been used in agriculture to control insect parasites without pesticides.
• Steinernema are not harmful to humans or other mammals and were first discovered in the 1920s.
• This new species is part of a special group of nematodes considered beneficial to humans because it can infect and kill insect pests
• It is an entomopathogenic nematode that crawls inside of an insect, defecates highly pathogenic bacteria into its blood and then combines with that bacterium to kill the insect host.

Q1) What is a pest?

It is any living thing—a plant, an animal, or a microorganism—that has a negative effect on humans. It can be an unwanted plant (weed), fungi, nematode, microbe (such as bacteria or virus), insect, spider, mite, bird, fish, rodent, 

Source: Discovery of new nematode species that could protect crops without pesticides

About DigiReady Certification 

• In this initiative, QCI, in conjunction with ONDC, aims to assess and certify digital readiness of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) entities.
• By leveraging this online self-assessment tool, MSMEs can evaluate their preparedness to seamlessly onboard as sellers on the ONDC platform, thereby expanding their digital capabilities and business potential.
• The portal is meticulously designed to facilitate a streamlined seller journey, ensuring that MSMEs and small retailers can integrate seamlessly into existing digitized workflows.
• The certification process evaluates various aspects of digital readiness, including the presence of necessary documentation for online operations, proficiency in using software and technology, integration with existing digitized workflows, and efficient management of orders and catalogue offerings.
• Significance: This initiative presents additional business prospects for sellers, allowing them to become integral to the digital ecosystem.

Key points about Quality Council of India

• It was established in 1997 jointly by the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and the Indian industry.
• It is registered as a non-profit organizationunder the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.
• It is operated through the constituent Boards of QCI, primarily the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), and the National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories (NABL),
• Composition
  • It is governed by a Council of 38 members with equal representations of government, industry and consumers.
  • The Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the industry to the government.

Q1) What is Open Network Digital Commerce?

It is an open-source network set up to enable buyers and sellers to transact with each other irrespective of the e-commerce platform on which either of them are registered.

Source: Quality Council of India and Open Network for Digital Commerce launch DigiReady Certification Portal to empower MSMEs and small retailers 

About Aadi Mahotsav

• It is organized by Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) under the aegis of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, will showcase the rich diversity of India's tribal heritage.
• It is not only a platform to exhibit the extraordinary talent and craftsmanship of tribal artisans but also an opportunity to interact, learn, and contribute to the empowerment of tribal communities.
• The festival will feature an expanded showcase with over 300 stalls, offering varied display of Tribal art, handicrafts, natural produce, and delectable tribal cuisine.

What is TRIFED?

• It is a national-level organisation under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• It is primarily engaged in the development and marketing of tribal handicrafts and natural products.
• It came into existence in 1987 and got registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 (now the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002).
• Mandate: Capability enhancement for Tribals, promotion of tribal products, and creation of marketing opportunities for the Tribals with a view to ensuring remunerative prices for their products and augmenting their income on a sustainable basis.
• It has been entrusted by the Government of India to implement its proposed Minimum Support Price Scheme for Minor Forest Produce.
• Head Office: New Delhi

Q1) What is the function of the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry?

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is entrusted with the welfare, social Justice and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections of the society viz. Scheduled Caste, Backward Classes, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Victims of Drug Abuse etc.

Source: President Smt. Droupadi Murmu to Inaugurate Aadi Mahotsav at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi on 10th February 2024