• It was launched by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) during Digital Payments Awareness Week (6th to 12th of March) 2023 to encourage digital payments adoption.
• RBI appealed to all stakeholders – banks, payment system operators (PSOs), digital payment users, etc. – to adopt digital payments and teach others about merits of using digital payments.
• RBI also launched ‘75 digital villages programme’ to adopt 75 villages and convert them into digital payment enabled villages.
• PSOs will adopt these villages and conduct awareness camps and onboard merchants for digital payments.

• An Indian Economist Raj Krishna coined the term “Hindu Rate of Growth” in 1982.
• It was then used to refer to the growth rate of period, which was stagnant at 3.5-4% for a long period.
• This rate of growth remained steady through changes in governments, wars, famines, and other crises.

• It is the maiden Joint Military Exercise between Indian Army and French Army to be conducted in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• It is for the first time that the armies of both nations are engaging in this format with each contingent comprising of a Company Group each from the Thiruvananthapuram-based Indian Army troops and French 6th Light Armoured Brigade.
• Objective- enhancing inter-operability, coordination and cooperation between both forces.
• Other military dialogues and regularly held joint exercises include
  • Varuna (navy),
  • Garuda (air force), and
  • Shakti (army).

• Scientists at John Hopkins University have planned research on “organoid intelligence (OI)” to create biocomputers where 3D brain cultures grown in the lab are coupled to real-world sensors and input/output devices.
• The planned research will use brain organoids, i.e., cultures of brain cells, as biological hardware.
  • Organoids are tiny, self-organized three-dimensional cells or tissues derived from stem cells.
• Biocomputers are defined as computers that use components of biological origin (such as molecules of DNA) instead of electrical components.
• Potential Benefits:
  • Greater Energy and Data efficiency; Multitasking via parallel computation; improved AI capabilities; ability to self-organize and self-repair, decode pathology of drug development for neuro-developmental and degenerative diseases etc.

• Bureau of India Standards (BIS) has prohibited the sale of hallmarked gold jewelry or gold artefacts without 6-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification Number (HUID) after 31st March 2023.
• However, Hallmarked jewellery lying with consumers as per old schemes shall remain valid.
• Earlier, the old hallmarked jewelry with 4 marks without HUID was also permitted to be sold by the jewelers along with the 6-digit HUID mark.

Hallmarking

• Hallmarking is the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in precious metal articles.
• Hallmarking scheme for Jewellery was started by BIS in the year 2000.
• In India, at present two precious metals namely gold and silver have been brought under the purview of Hallmarking.
• However, Mandatory Hallmarking has been successfully implemented in 288 districts of the country with effect from 23 June 2021 by Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts Order, 2022.

About HUID

• HUID stands for Hallmark Unique Identification.
• It is a 6-digit alphanumeric code consisting of alphabets and numbers.
• HUID is stamped at the BIS-certified Assaying and Hallmarking Centre.
• For every piece of gold jewellery which is hallmarked by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), a unique HUID code is given to it.
• After introduction of 6-digit HUID in 2021, hallmark consisted of 3 marks viz, BIS logo, purity of the article and six-digit alphanumeric HUID. Each hallmarked article has unique HUID number which is traceable.

• Recently, for the first time, United Nations members have agreed on a unified treaty to protect biodiversity in the high seas.
• The treaty is negotiated under the United Nations Convention on Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982 which governs the rights of countries regarding marine resources.
  • High seas begin at border of countries’ EEZ, which extend up to 370km from coastlines.
  • They comprise more than 60% of world’s oceans and nearly half planet’s surface.
  • But until now only about 1% of these waters have been protected.
• Treaty of High Seas, also known as Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, will create a new body to manage conservation of ocean life and establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in high seas.
• The treaty also establishes ground rules for conducting environmental impact assessments for commercial activities in the oceans.

Importance of High Seas:

• Ninety per cent of global warming occurs in the ocean, deeply affecting Marine life.
• Comprehensive protection of endangered species and habitats is not possible without High Seas.
• Several marine species — including dolphins, whales etc make long annual migrations, crossing national borders and the high seas.
• High seas are the crucial component in global efforts to bring 30% of the world’s land and sea under protection by the end of the decade, a target known as “30 by 30”.

• As per recent news, Moidams in Charaideo in Assam meet UNESCO technical requirements for World Heritage Site status.
  • The ‘Moidams’ were first included in the tentative list of Unesco World Heritage Sites in April 2014.
• Charaideo has more than 90 moidams.
• Moidams (or Maidams) represent late medieval (13th-19th century CE) mound-burial tradition of Tai Ahoms in Assam, which lasted almost 600 years (1228–1826).
• Spread over an acre under the Patkai hills, the burial grounds house 42 tombs of kings and queens.
• Ahom kings used to be buried along with their treasures and articles of their day-to-day use.
• Maidam consists of three major features: A vault or chamber, hemispherical earthen mound, an octagonal boundary wall.

• New Space India Limited (NSIL), under Department of Space and commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is targeting 10 SSLC launches by 2026.
• NSIL is the sole nodal agency responsible for providing end-to-end Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) Launch services for customer satellites.

About Small Satellite Launch Vehicle

• SSLV is a 3 stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid Propulsion Stages and liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage.
• It is 2m in diameter and 34m in length with a lift-off weight of around 120 tonnes.
• It is capable of launching Mini, Micro, or Nanosatellites (10 to 500 kg mass) to a 500 km Low Earth Orbit.
• It aims to cater to emerging market for launch of small satellites into LEOs.
• India’s share in global space economy of $360 billion can be increased to over 10% with SSLV (currently around 2%).
• Advantages of SSLV
  • Reduced turnaround time, cost-effective, and launch on demand.
  • Requires lesser infrastructure and manpower.
  • Unlike PSLV and GSLV, SSLV can be assembled both vertically and horizontally.

• India has proposed to launch a mega global alliance under its leadership to protect big cats and assured support over five years with guaranteed funding of USD 100 million (over Rs 800 crore).
• IBCA aims to protect and conserve the seven major big cats — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah.
• India is the only country in world to have 5 big cats in wild (except pumas and jaguar).
• IUCN Status:
  • Endangered- Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lions;
  • Vulnerable- Snow Leopards, African Cheetahs;
  • Least Concerned- Common Leopard.
• IBCA Membership: Open to 97 “range” countries, which contain natural habitat of these big cats, as well as other interested nations, international organisations, etc.
• IBCA’s governance structure
  • General Assembly consisting of all member countries.
  • Council of at least seven but not more than 15 member countries elected by General Assembly for 5 years term.
  • Upon recommendation of Council, General Assembly will appoint IBCA Secretary General for a specific term.
• Importance
  • Big cats are apex predators whose loss can set off “trophic cascade,” wherein prey populations may explode, resulting in overgrazing and degrading health of landscape.
  • Supports economies through ecotourism.

• The CM announced that a world-class cancer hospital will be set up at Jol Sapper village here, close to the Hamirpur Medical College which is under construction.
• Jol Sapper falls under the Nadaun assembly seat which is represented by the CM.