Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
- It is an attached office of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, formed in 1991. It is involved in the regulation and promotion of foreign trade through regulation. It has been assigned the role of a “facilitator”. The DGFT also issues scrips/authorization to exporters and monitors their corresponding obligations through its network of regional offices.
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushal Yojana (DDU-GKY)
- It is a placement linked skill development program that allows skilling in a PPP mode and assured placements in regular jobs in an organization not owned by the skilled person. DDU-GKY is being undertaken as a PPP Project all over the country through Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) registered with the Ministry of Rural Development.
- Further, Guidelines of the scheme mandate State Governments to take up skill training projects with Corporate Social Responsibility funding.
- DDU-GKY Guidelines provide for setting apart 15% of the funds at for national level beneficiaries from among minority groups.
- Beneficiary Eligibility:
Rural Youth:15 – 35 Yrs
SC/ST/Women/PVTG/PWD: up to 45 Yrs
Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-Dhan Yojana
- It is a voluntary and contribution-based central sector scheme. The government launched the scheme, entailing monthly minimum assured pension of ₹3,000 for the entry age group of 18-40 years after attaining the age of 60 years, with effect from July 22, 2019. Under the scheme, the government makes a matching contribution in the subscribers’ accounts. The scheme is based on self-declaration as no documents are required except bank account and Aadhaar Card.
- Eligibility:
- All small shopkeepers, self-employed persons and retail traders aged between 18-40 years and with Goods and Service Tax (GST) turnover below Rs.1.5 crore can enroll for the pension schemes.
- To be eligible, the applicants should not be covered under the National Pension Scheme, Employees’ State Insurance Scheme, and the Employees’ Provident Fund or be an Income Tax assessee.
- Recently India has nominated ‘Dholavira: A Harappan City’ and ‘Monuments and Forts of Deccan Sultanate’ for inclusion in the World Heritage List.
- Govt. of Madhya Pradesh has submitted the proposal of ‘Group of Monuments at Mandu’ in the year 2019.
- M.P has also proposed Bhedaghat (Narmada Valley) as one of the recommended potential sites subject to criteria set by UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
BEE’s Star Rating Programme
- The Bureau of Energy Efficiency is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power.
- It was created in 2002 under the provisions of the nation’s 2001 Energy Conservation Act.
- The agency’s function is to develop programs that will increase the conservation and efficient use of energy in India.
- The Star Labeling Programme has been formulated by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, as part of its mandate, under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
Protection of Historical Monuments
- The government is planning a review list of monuments protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the ones protected by the State governments.
- At present, 3,691 monuments nationwide are protected by the ASI, with the highest number, 745, in Uttar Pradesh.
- The list of the centrally protected monuments had not seen a substantial increase in many years, and important sites under the State governments could be added to the list.
In-Flight Wi-Fi
- Union government has permitted airlines operating in India to provide in-flight Wi-Fi services to passengers.
- Telecom Commission had given its green signal to in-flight connectivity of the Internet and mobile communications on aircraft in Indian airspace in 2018.
- By this, the pilot of an aircraft may permit the access of Internet services by passengers on board an aircraft in flight, through Wi-Fi on board, when a laptop, smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, e-reader or a point of sale device is used in flight mode or airplane mode.
- Broadly, in-flight connectivity systems use two kinds of technologies.
World Heritage List for the year 2020
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
- Recently India has nominated ‘Dholavira: A Harappan City’ and ‘Monuments and Forts of Deccan Sultanate’ for inclusion in the World Heritage List.
- Govt. of Madhya Pradesh has submitted the proposal of ‘Group of Monuments at Mandu’ in the year 2019.
- M.P has also proposed Bhedaghat (Narmada Valley) as one of the recommended potential sites subject to criteria set by UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
CITES
- It came into force in July 1975 and currently has 183 signatories
- Aim: Ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
- The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP and is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties, it does not take the place of national laws.
Swathi Weapon Locating radar
- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) bags $40mn defense deal from Armenia for supplying four Swathi Weapon Locating Radars (WLR)
- Swathi WLR was indigenously developed by DRDO and manufactured by BEL.
- It is an electronically scanned phased array radar
- It automatically locates hostile artillery, mortars and rocket launchers and tracks friendly fire to locate the impact point of friendly artillery fire to issue necessary corrections.