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.
