Indian Post Payment Bank (IPPB)
- IPPB completed two years since its pilot launch recently.
- It was setup under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication.
- Government of India owns 100% equity in IPPB.
- It will provide the banking services to urban and rural areas.
- It will enable money transfer, transfer of government benefits, bill payments and other services such as investment and insurance.
- Postmen would deliver these services at the doorstep.
- These services will be offered through multiple channels like counter services, micro-ATM, mobile banking app, SMS etc.
The Future of Rail Report
- It was launched recently by International Energy Agency (IEA).
- It is the first-of-a-kind report that analyses the current and future importance of rail around the world through the perspective of its energy and environmental implications.
- It also explores the key policies that could help to realise an enhanced future rail.
- It stated that the rail sector carries 8% of passengers across the world and 7% of global freight movement.
- However, it utilises 2% of the total transport energy demand, signifying its efficiency.
- So the rail sector can provide substantial benefits for the energy sector, as well as for the environment by diversifying energy sources and providing more efficient mobility.
- IEA is an inter-governmental organization.
- It works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 30 member countries and 8 association countries.
- It also releases the World Energy Outlook.
Kranti Mandir
- Four museums were inaugurated on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Jayanti which were related to India's rich history and culture.
- This complex includes Museums on
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army
- Yaad-e-Jallian Museum ( Jallianwala Bagh and World War 1)
- Museum on 1857- India’s First War of Independence and
- Drishyakala Museum on Indian Art, spanning three centuries with over 450 works of art.
- All 4 museums have been named as Kranti Mandir.
- Kranti Mandir is a tribute to the revolutionary zeal and courage of our great freedom fighters.
- Point to remember: The INA trial was conducted at Red Fort in the id 1940s and it had stirred the whole nation.
Polar Vortex
- The Polar vortex is a large area of low pressure that consistently overlies the North and South poles.
- They are called ‘vortexes’ because of the mass of cold, dense air that spins counter-clockwise like a hurricane.
- The polar vortex can lead to major cold air outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe and Asia.
- Usually this mass of cold polar air remains over the poles - strong and compact.
- Sometimes during winter in the northern hemisphere, , the vortex becomes weak and expands, sending Arctic cold air southward (into the United States, in this case).
- The weakening is partly due to warming temperatures in the stratosphere.
- So, with climate change, these polar vortex intrusions into the southern latitudes could become common.
- It is capable of delivering subzero temperatures in the new areas for several days at a time.
- The 2014 polar vortex was notable because it recurred throughout the winter months.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
- The government has notified changing the name of the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
- The notification has also included four new categories of responsibilities to it.
- It includes
- The promotion of internal trade (including retail trade)
- The welfare of traders and their employees
- Matters relating to facilitating Ease of Doing Business
- Matters relating to start-ups.
- The erstwhile responsibilities include general industrial policy, administration of the Industries Act, 1951, industrial management, productivity in industry, and matters related to e-commerce.
- Internal Trade has so far remained under the domain of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Wildlife Corridor
- A 10-month-old female leopard was run over by a heavy vehicle on Gurgaon-Faridabad road.
- Environmentalists have long been demanding a wildlife corridor, so that animals can cross the area without actually having to go through the vehicles.
- A wildlife corridor is an area of habitat that provides passage for wildlife across artificial obstacles.
- Artificial obstacles can be any dam, road, and railway.
- It is also known as a habitat corridor or a green corridor.
- In addition to connecting wildlife to habitats, wildlife corridors also facilitate the migration, interbreeding, and migration of animals.
- The type or design of these corridors varies depending on the animal species that are intended to use them.
- For instance, amphibian corridors are small tunnels, while fish corridors can be made of artificial torrents.
- Wildlife corridors exist to aide in the survival of animals.
- They provide safe passage and refuge for animals in areas threatened by humans or predators.
Source: PIB, The Hindu, Business Standard
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