• NTRO recently informed about an information-stealing malware, known as Raccoon Stealer to eight central government entities.
• It is usually delivered through email, and retrieves sensitive data from infected machines.

About National Technical Research Organisation

• NTRO was established in 2004, post Kargil war as a dedicated technical intelligence agency, on the recommendations of Girish Chanda Saxena
• It is a technical intelligence agency under National Security Adviser in Prime Minister’s Office, India.
• It also includes the National Institute of Cryptology Research and Development (NICRD).
• It has the right to lawfully intercept and monitor communications
• It has been brought under The Intelligence Organisations (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1985.
  • The Act prevents employees of a notified agency from forming unions/associations, puts restrictions on the employee’s freedom of speech, bars any communication with the press, or publishing a book or other document without the permission of the head of the intelligence organisation.

• Kerala High court has ordered translocation of rogue tusker Arikompan to Parambikulam reserve.
• PTR is located in Palakkad district of Kerala.
• It lies between Nelliampathy Hills of Kerala and Anamalai Range of Tamil Nadu within a cluster of Protected Areas.
• It was declared as Tiger Reserve during 2008-09.
• The reserve is credited with the first scientifically managed teak plantation in the world which was later merged with the forest land.
• It has the one of the world’s largest and oldest teak tree named “Kannimara“.
• Flora: Evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous, dry deciduous, and shola forests.
• Fauna: Tiger, leopard, dhole, sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr gaur, elephant, sambar, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, the Peninsular Bay Owl, the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, the Black-capped Kingfisher, the Great Black Woodpecker and the Lesser Grey-headed Fish Eagle.

• The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of The World Bank, has said it will not support investments in new coal projects.
• Earlier, in 2020, IFC had unveiled a policy requiring clients to reduce their exposure to coal projects by half by 2025, and to zero by 2030, but did not prevent new investments.
• The IFC funds banks and other financial institutions that in turn lend to infrastructure and energy projects. The IFC has reportedly lent close to $5 billion to almost 88 financial institutions in India.

About International Finance Corporation (IFC)

• Established in the 1950s, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) headquartered in the United States of America.
• It is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector in developing countries.

 WORLD BANK GROUP comprises of 5 institutions

Collectively, all 5 institutions are known as the “World Bank Group”

1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Financing for middle-income developing countries
2. International Development Association-Financing for low-income developing countries

Together IBRD and IDA are known as the “World Bank”

3. International Finance Corporation- Investments and advisory services to encourage private-sector development.
4. Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency- Political risk insurance and credit enhancement guarantees.
5. International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) – International arbitration of investment disputes. (India is not a member)

• Stand up India Scheme recently completed 7 years.
• It was launched by Ministry of Finance in 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at grassroot level focusing on economic empowerment and job creation.
• This scheme has been extended up to year 2025.
• Objective –
  • Promote entrepreneurship amongst women, SC & ST category.
  • Provide loans for only greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services or trading sector and activities allied to agriculture.
  • Facilitate bank loans between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch of Scheduled Commercial Banks.
  • However, Government does not allocate funds for loans under Stand-Up India Scheme.
• Success
  • More than 1.8 lakh women and SC/ST entrepreneurs have been sanctioned loans for more than Rs. 40,700 crores.
  • 8 percent rise in borrowers from SC/ST communities between 2021 and 2023.
• Other initiatives regarding it
  • Submission of online applications by potential borrowers through standupmitra portal.
  • Intensive publicity campaigns, simplified loan application form, convergence with State and Central government Schemes, etc.

• The Pre-International Paragliding Accuracy World Cup Championship was inaugurated in Palampur.
• A total of 103 pilots representing more than one dozen countries took off from Billing in the championship that will conclude on April 9.
• The Bir Billing Paragliding Association (BPA) is the organiser of the event, while the HP State Tourism Department is the title sponsor.
• In the five-day championship top ranking pilots from India, the USA, Nepal, Spain and the Netherlands are participating.
• Ten pilots from Indian Army, one each from Navy and Air Force and five from the paramilitary are also participating.

• On April 6, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is celebrated to acknowledge the significance of sports and physical activity in our personal lives and communities worldwide.
• The 2023 global theme for the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is “Scoring for People and the Planet.”

• The 10th edition of India Sri Lanka annual bilateral maritime Exercise SLINEX-23 is underway  at Colombo .
• The Indian Navy is represented by INS Kiltan, an indigenous Kamorta class ASW corvette and INS Savitri, an Offshore Patrol Vessel.
• SLINEX aims at enhancing interoperability, improving mutual understanding and exchanging best practices while jointly undertaking multi-faceted maritime operations.

• Sanjita Chanu, a weightlifter from India who has won the Commonwealth Games twice, has been banned for four years by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) of India after she tested positive for banned drugs.
• The testing took place during the National Games held in Gujarat in September-October 2022, and the results showed the presence of drostanolone, an anabolic-androgenic steroid prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

• Recently, The Prime Minister of India, participated in the Combined Commanders’ Conference in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh for three days.
• The theme of the conference was ‘Ready, Resurgent, Relevant’.
• Combined Commanders’ Conference is a biennial event where the country’s top military brass come together to brainstorm on military matters and national security.
• The Military Commanders discussed a wide range of issues related to national security, including jointness and theaterisation in the Armed Forces.

• As per the report India is going to sign a weapons deal worth Rs. 2400 crore with the United States that includes Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedoes.
• These will be used to upgrade MH 60 ‘Romeo’ helicopters, the most advanced multi-role helicopters currently in service with the Indian Navy.
• MK 54 lightweight torpedoes are used by US surface ships, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters, and are their primary anti-submarine warfare weapon.
• It can operate in shallow waters and in the presence of countermeasures.
• It is powered by a reciprocating external combustion engine.
• It can track, classify, and attack underwater targets.