Prelim Bits 26-06-2018

Suryashakti Kisan Yojana (SKY)

• Gujarat government has recently launched “Suryashakti Kisan Yojana”, a solar power scheme for farmers.
• It enables farmers to generate electricity for their captive consumption as well as sell the surplus power to the grid and earn an extra income.
• This is the first such scheme in the country.
• As per the scheme, farmers having existing electricity connection will be given solar panels as per their load requirements.
• The State and Central governments will give 60 per cent subsidy on the cost of project.
• The scheme duration is 25 years, which is split between 7-year period and 18-year period.
• The scheme envisages setting up of separate feeders for agricultural solar energy consumption.

Van Dhan Scheme

• The scheme is under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Van Dhan Mission is an initiative for targeting livelihood generation for tribals by harnessing non-timber forest produce.
• Under the scheme, 10 Self Help Groups of 30 Tribal gatherers are being trained and provided with working capital to add value to the products, which they collect from the Jungle. 
• It also aims at build upon the traditional knowledge & skill sets of tribals by adding technology & IT for value addition.
• It also focussed on setting-up of tribal community owned Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in predominantly forested tribal districts.

TB Vaccine for Diabetes

• A recent study has revealed that the tuberculosis vaccine called BCG (Bacillus Calmette–Guérin) might lower blood sugar in diabetes (Type 1) patients several years after they get the shot.
• Type 1 diabetes arises when the body’s immune system kills the insulin-producing beta cells.  Without insulin, cells cannot absorb sugar (glucose), which they need to produce energy.
• There is no patent for BCG, thus it promises a safe and inexpensive treatment for type-1 diabetes.
• BCG also protects against leprosy, sepsis among babies, and leishmaniasis.
• It is also the first approved immunotherapy against bladder cancer.

Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

• OPEC ministers recently announced a deal that will increase oil supplies from the producer group.
• OPEC is an intergovernmental organization of 13 nations with headquarters in Vienna.

• Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela are its members.
• Russia is not a member.
• The 13 countries accounted for an estimated 42% of global oil production and 73% of the world's "proven" oil reserves.
• Its mission is to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its member countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets.
• It focusses on regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers, and a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry.
• Two-thirds of OPEC's oil production and reserves are in its six Middle Eastern countries that surround the oil-rich Persian Gulf.
•  The OPEC Conference ordinarily meets at least twice a year and in additional extraordinary sessions when necessary. 
• Since 2007, OPEC has published the "World Oil Outlook" (WOO) annually, in which it presents a comprehensive analysis of the global oil industry including medium- and long-term projections for supply and demand.

Country in News – Seychelles

• Seychelles island republic is in the western Indian Ocean, situated between latitudes 4° and 11° S and longitudes 46° and 56° E.
• It is composed of 2 main island groups such as Mahe group (mountainous granitic islands) and a second group of coralline islands.
• The major islands of Seychelles are located about 1,600 km east of Kenya and 1,100 km northeast of Madagascar.
• The capital, Victoria, is situated on the island of Mahe.
• The climate is tropical oceanic, with little temperature variation during the year.
• The highest point in Seychelles, Morne Seychellois (905 metres), situated on Mahe.
• Assumption Island is one of the 115 islands constituting Seychelles archipelago.
• India signed a pact to develop Assumption Island in 2015 and proposed to operate a naval base and air strip by the Indian navy.
• However, in recent times, the idea of developing naval base by Indian Navy was met with opposition in Seychelles.

Source: The Hindu.