Why in news?

• Report examines the full challenges of scaling up wind energy in an increasingly interconnected world, like supply chain geopolitics, social impacts, disinformation, cybersecurity and cryptocurrencies.
  • Global Wind Energy Council is the international trade association for the wind power industry.

Key highlights of the Report

• In 2021, Global wind industry added 94 GW of capacity globally, trailing behind the 2020’s record growth by only 1.8%.
• The onshore wind market added 72.5 GW worldwide. That is 18% lower than the previous year due to a slowdown in China and the US, the world’s two largest wind markets.
• Need to scale up annual wind energy installations by four times by 2030 to get on-track for a 1.5°C world.

About India’s Wind Energy Sector

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has estimated 140 GW wind energy capacity (30 GW offshore wind target) is needed by 2030.
• Globally, India ranks 4^th in installed wind capacity with 40.1 GW as of January 2022. Wind currently accounts for 10.2% of renewable generation capacity.
• World Bank has mapped 174 GW of fixed and floating offshore wind potential off India’s coastline; the strongest resource is found off Tamil Nadu, while good resource is also available off Gujarat.
• Innovative financing mechanisms such as blended finance and Green/ Masala Bonds are likely to boost availability of finance for renewable energy projects.

Why in news?

• CCEA has approved the supply of fortified rice in government-run food schemes by 2024 in a phased manner with an aim to combat nutrition deficiency in all states and UTs.
• Supply of fortified rice through Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) will be done under National Food Security Act (NFSA), In tegrated Child Development Services (ICDS), PM POSHAN, and other welfare schemes (OWS).
• Entire cost of rice fortification would be borne by Centre.
• Three phases are envisaged for full implementation
  • Phase-I: Covering ICDS and PM POSHAN in India all over by March, 2022 which is under implementation.
  • Phase-II: Phase I above plus TPDS and OWS in all Aspirational and High Burden Districts i; on stunting (total 291 districts) by March 2023.
  • Phase-III: Phase II above plus covering the remaining districts of the country by March 2024.
• Rice fortification is a process of adding micronutrients, commonly iron, Vitamin B12 and folic acid, to regular rice to improve the dietary requirement.
• Benefits of rice fortification
  • Provide nutritional boost to undernourished and vulnerable populations.
  • Combat anaemia.
  • Cost-effective.
  • Helpful in pregnancy for growth of the baby.

About Extrusion technology

• In India, rice is fortified using extrusion technology.
• In this technology, milled rice is pulverized and mixed with a premix containing vitamins and minerals.
• Fortified rice kernels (FRK) are produced from this mixture using an extruder machine.
• FRK is added to traditional rice in ratio ranging from 1:50 to 1: 200 resulting in fortified rice nearly identical to traditional rice in aroma, taste, and texture.

Why in news?

• In the history of the International Booker Prize, the novel ‘Tomb of Sand’, authored by Geetanjali Shree, has become the first Hindi language work of fiction to be shortlisted for the prestigious literary prize.
• The novel has been translated into English by Daisy Rockwell.
• The book Tomb of Sand will compete with five other novels from around the world.
• The literary prize comes with a cash award of 50,000 pounds, which is split equally between the author and translator.

Why in news?

• The Airport Authority of India (AAI)has launched an initiative “AVSAR” to encourage the talent of women, artisans and craftsmen and provide them with the right opportunities. AVSAR stands for ‘Airport as Venue for Skilled Artisans Of The Region’.
• Under “AVSAR” (Airport as Venue for Skilled Artisans of the Region), which is an initiative of AAI, an opportunity to help the indigent to mobilize their households into functionally effective self-earned groups for self-reliance and self-dependence, has been provided.

Under this scheme:

• An area of 100-200 square feet has been earmarked at each AAI operated airport. The space is being allotted to the self-help groups, turn on a turn basis, for a duration of 15 days.
• Few outlets have already been commissioned at Chennai, Agartala, Dehradun, Kushinagar, Udaipur & Amritsar Airport wherein SHGs operated by local women, are showcasing and marketing their homemade local products like Puffed Rice, Packaged Papad, Pickles, Bamboo based Ladies Bag/Bottle/Lamp Sets, local artefacts, traditional craft, natural dyes, embroidery and indigenous weaves with contemporary design to the air travellers.
• The initiative to strengthen SHGs by allotting space at AAI Airports will provide huge visibility to these small groups and prepare them to promote/market their products to the wider spectrum, reaching out to the larger population.

Why in news?

• The first case of the XE variety of the coronavirus illness (Covid-19) in India was reported in Mumbai.
• The city civic authority Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced the results of its 11th genome sequencing, which identified one sample positive for the XE variant and another for the Kappa variant.
• According to BMC officials, the person who tested positive for the XE strain was a fully vaccinated 50-year-old woman who had no co-morbidities and was asymptomatic.
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO),the new subvariant ‘XE’, which is a hybrid strain of two Omicron subvariants, could be the most transmissible coronavirus strain ever discovered.
• INSACOG, which sequenced the case’s genome, stated that the sample did not indicate the presence of the variation.
• XE is a hybrid or recombinant of Omicron’s two sub-variants (BA.1 and BA.2). The BA.2 sub-lineage has been linked to COVID-19 instances in the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.
• Early research suggested the variant had a 10% growth rate advantage over 2,one of the most contagious types, according to the World health organization.

Why in news?

• Recently, QS Quacquarelli Symonds released the 12th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
• Indian Institute of Technology(IIT)-Bombay ranked 65th and Indian Institute of Technology(IIT)- Delhi ranked 72nd, are the only Indian institutes to be featured among the top 100 ranks under the Engineering and Technology category.
• IIT Bombay has scored 79.9 and IIT Delhi has scored 78.9.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology has topped the list with a score of 96.5 followed by the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford.
• Top 3 QS World University Rankings 2022:
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),
  • University of Oxford,
  • Stanford University & University of Cambridge.

About QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022:

• The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022 cover a total of 51 disciplines, grouped into five broad subject areas.
  • Arts & Humanities • Engineering and Technology • Life Sciences & Medicine • Natural Sciences • Social Sciences & Management
• The QS World University Rankings by Subject are compiled annually to help prospective students identify the leading universities in a particular subject.
• Methodology: The rankings are based on research quality and accomplishments, academic reputation, and graduate employment.

Top institutes under each category:

           Category                                 Top Institute(Rank 1)

• Arts and Humanities                                University of Oxford(United Kingdom – UK)
• Engineering and Technology                 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) USA
• Life Sciences & Medicine                        Harvard University(USA)
• Natural Sciences                                       Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MM(USA)
• Social Sciences &  Management            Harvard University(USA)

Why in news?

• The 9th Edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise was held in March-April, 2022 at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh (HP). Special Forces contingents from India and Kyrgyzstan have shared their experience and best practices in terms of tactics, techniques, and procedures for countering present and emerging threats throughout the conflict spectrum.
• During the Exercise, combat shooting, sniping, mountain survival, hostage rescue drills, and unarmed warfare were all extensively performed.
• The collaborative training reinforced the existing link between India and Kyrgyzstan, which has grown over years of mutual respect for strategic autonomy, democratic ideals, and zero tolerance for terrorism.

Why in news?

• Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched the Udyam Kranti Yojana.
• According to officials, the MP Mukhyamantri Udyam Kranti plan was announced for the first time in November 2021, as per the MSME department’s gazette announcement, but it was never executed.
• Loans ranging from  1 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh would be offered to youth under this scheme for self-employment.
• The scheme’s unique feature is that the state government would provide a 3% interest subsidy as well as a bank guarantee.
• Young people will be able to apply for loans ranging from  1 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh under this plan. The proposal is unique in that the state government will provide a 3% interest subsidy in addition to a bank guarantee.
• The announcement of the launch of this scheme has been made at the inauguration ceremony of Nagrodaya Mission.
• The guarantee of the loan provided under this scheme will be provided by the government to the bank.

Why in news?

• Karnataka Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai Establishing the ‘Nandini Ksheera Samridhi Cooperative Bank’ is a revolutionary initiative, which will provide greater financial strength for the milk producers.
• Karnataka is the only state in the country to set up an exclusive bank for milk producers.

About the ‘Nandini Ksheera Samridhi Cooperative Bank’:

• The Milk Producers cooperatives have a turnover of about Rs 20,000 crore in various banks every day.
• It will bring a second wave of White Revolution in the dairy sector.
• The state government has provided Rs 100 crore as its share capital and the Milk
• Federation and Cooperatives would contribute Rs 260 crore as their share of capital for the proposed cooperative bank which would stimulate huge economic activity in rural hinterland.
• The state government has decided to computerise all the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).

Why in news?

• The Lingaraj Temple Ordinance of 2020 was introduced by the Odisha government to manage the rituals and other activities of the temple and eight other associated temples.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs contended that since the ordinance covers 12 centrally protected monuments including the Lingaraj temple and three tanks, it was outside the legislative competence of the state legislature as it violates the provisions of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.
  • The AMASR Act provides for preservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance.
• The ordinance also provides for repair and construction of new buildings while the centre contended that constructions can only be allowed by the National Monuments Authority.
• Lingaraj Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of oldest in Bhubaneswar, was constructed by King Jajati Keshari in 10th Century and completed by King Lalatendu Keshari in 11th Century.
• Built in red stone and is a classic example of Kalinga style of architecture.
• It is divided into four sections – Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum), Yajna Shala (hall for prayers), Bhoga Mandap (hall of offering) and Natya Shala (hall of dance).