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Prelim Bits 05-03-2019

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March 05, 2019

National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)

  • It was launched by the Prime Minister in Ahmadabad, Gujarat.
  • The first Indigenously Developed Payment Eco-system for transport consists of
  1. NCMC Card
  2. SWEEKAR (Swachalit Kiraya: Automatic Fare Collection System (AFC))
  3. SWAGAT (Swachalit Gate).
  • Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs brought to the fore the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) to enable seamless travel by different metros and other transport systems.
  • NCMC enables people to pay multiple kinds of transport charges, including metro services and toll tax, across the country.
  • It is also known as 'One Nation One Card'.
  • The inter-operable transport card would allow the holders to pay for their bus travel, toll taxes, parking charges, retail shopping and even withdraw money.
  • It is a bank-issued card on debit or credit or pre-paid card product platform.
  • AFC System (gates, readers/validators, backend infrastructure etc.) is the core of any transit operator to automate the fare collection process.

Yuva Vigyani Karyakram (YUVIKA)

  • Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has launched a special program for School Children called “Young Scientist Program” or “YUva VIgyani KAryakram”.
  • It is primarily aimed at imparting basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications to the younger in order to develop their interest in the emerging areas of Space activities.
  • The students who have finished 8th standard and currently studying in 9th  standard will be eligible for the program.

BOLD-QIT

  • BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) under CIBMS (Comprehensive Integrated Border Management system) on India-Bangladesh border in Assam will be launched soon.
  • It is the project to install technical systems under the CIBMS.
  • It enables Border Security Force to equip Indo-Bangladesh borders with different kind of sensors in unfenced riverine area of Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
  • The area has been covered with data network generated by Microwave communication, day and night surveillance Cameras and intrusion detection system etc.,

Fall Army worm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

  • Fall Army worm attack poses a threat to food security and livelihoods of millions as it ravages crops in Africa and Asia.
  • Also the Union government sent an alert to the Odisha agriculture department warning of the Fall Armyworm (FAW) infestation on maize cultivation in some states during Kharif 2018.
  • It is an insect that is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas.
  • It mostly affects maize but it also feeds on more than 80 additional species of crops, including rice, sorghum, millet, sugarcane, vegetable crops and cotton.
  • It was first detected in Central and Western Africa in early 2016 and has quickly spread across virtually all of Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • In 2018 it was confirmed in India and Yemen.
  • The trade and the moth's strong flying ability are the reasons for their wide extent.

Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)

  • USA has decided to withdraw India’s name from Generalized System of Preferences or GSP list.
  • It is a U.S. trade program designed to promote economic growth in the developing world.
  • It provides preferential duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products from 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories.
  • India exported an estimated $5.6 billion worth of goods to the US under this program in 2017.
  • The reason behind this move is that India has not assured the United States that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets.

EWS in J&K

  • President issued an order extending the benefits of reservation to economically backward sections in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • This would pave the way for reserving State government jobs to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir who are from economically weaker sections belonging to any religion or caste.
  • The Central government’s move came as Jammu and Kashmir is currently under the President’s Rule
  • It will extend benefits for the EWS in higher educational institutions and government jobs in addition to the reservation for the other categories.
  • 10% reservation to economically weaker sections was introduced in the rest of the country through the 103rd Constitutional Amendment in 2019.

 

Source: PIB, The Hindu, Times Of India

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