SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking) Mission

Prime Minister of India recently lauded Indian space startup Digantara at the success of Mission SCOT.

• SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking) mission is an initiative of Indian space startup Digantara.
• It was launched by the SpaceX.
• Mission SCOT is the world's first commercial Space Situational Awareness (SSA) satellite.
• It will monitor Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with improved efficiency.
• Backed by Aditya Birla Ventures and SIDBI, it aims to support national security and space operations.
• It will ensure surveillance of objects as small as 5cm orbiting the Earth to ensure safer space operations.

Lakshadweep

• India’s smallest Union Territory, Lakshadweep is an archipelago consisting of 36 islands.
• It is a uni-district Union Territory and comprises of 12 atolls, three reefs, five submerged banks and ten inhabited islands.
• The Union Territory was formed in 1956 and it was named Lakshadweep in 1973.
• Minicoy Thundi Beach and Kadmat Beach are the two blue flag beaches in Lakshadweep. (Statement 2 is incorrect)
• All Islands are 220 to 440 km away from the coastal city of Kochi in Kerala, in the emerald Arabian Sea. 
• Only BSNL and Airtel provides telecommunication services to Lakshadweep Islands.

Upper Karnali Hydropower Project

• Upper Karnali Hydro-electric Project in Nepal is a strategic initiative that aims to strengthen regional energy security and accelerate renewable energy growth.
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has finalized a Joint Venture Agreement with SJVN Ltd., GMR Energy Ltd., and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) for the project.
• The joint venture agreement lays out a comprehensive framework under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer model, with 25-years project term from the Commercial Operation Date (CoD).

Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND) 

• Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND) was set by the Government of India on November 2004.
• It serves as the central national agency responsible for receiving, processing, analyzing and disseminating information relating to suspect financial transactions.
• FIU-IND is also responsible for coordinating and strengthening efforts of national and international intelligence, investigation and enforcement agencies in pursuing the global efforts against money laundering and financing of terrorism.
• FIU-IND is an independent body reporting directly to the Economic Intelligence Council (EIC) headed by the Finance Minister.
• The main function of FIU-IND is to receive cash/suspicious transaction reports, analyse them and, as appropriate, disseminate valuable financial information to intelligence/enforcement agencies and regulatory authorities.
• FIU-IND is a multi disciplinary body with a sanctioned strength of 75 personnel.
• The 75 personnel are being inducted from different organizations that includes:
  • Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT),
  • Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC),
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI),
  • Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI),
  • Department of Legal Affairs and Intelligence agencies.

PRABHAAV Factbook (Powering a Resilient and Agile Bharat for the Advancement of Visionary Startups)

• PRABHAAV Factbook is the ultimate guide to India’s thriving startup ecosystem and its growth story from 2016-2024.
• PRABHAAV captures the achievements of every region.
• It was launched by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. (Statement 2 is incorrect)