Why in news?

• PACER scheme has been approved for continuation during 2021-2026.

About PACER scheme

• Comprises the Antarctic program, Indian Arctic program, Southern Ocean program and Cryosphere and Climate program.
• Implemented through National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Achievements:
• Executed 39th & 40th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (41st ongoing).
• Automatic Weather Station (AWS) systems installed at Baralacha La, in the Spiti region.
• IndARC mooring system was deployed in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard.
• Executed 11th Indian Southern Ocean Expedition.

Why in news?

• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) achieved annual procurement of Rs. 1 lakh crore in Financial Year 2021-22

About GeM:

• One stop portal to facilitate online procurement of common use Goods & Services required by various Government Departments / Organizations / PSUs.
• Launch Year: 2016
• Hosted by: Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D) under Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Benefits: Transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement.

Why in news?

• It has been inaugurated in Bengaluru.
• Set up as a Section 8 company under Companies Act, 2013, with an initial capital contribution of Rs 100 crores.
• RBIH aims to encourage and nurture financial innovation in a sustainable manner through an institutional set-up.
• It creates an ecosystem that focuses on promoting access to financial services and products for the low-income population in the country.
• Hub would bring convergence among various stakeholders (BFSI Sector, Start-up ecosystem, Regulators and Academia) in the financial innovation space.

Why in news?

• The government is set to give a renewed thrust to use of geographical indications (GI) tag for promotion of unique agricultural products with high commercial potential in the global markets. One of selected product is Assam Kaji Nemu.
• Also known as the Assam Lemon, it is a sour citrus fruit and is exclusively used for appetizing, drinks, industries and medicinal uses.
• It is comparatively larger than the regular lemon.
• Produced all-round the year, it is cultivated on Loamy and fertile soil.
• Other significant GI of Assam – Joha Rice, Chokuwa rice.

Why in news?

• Recently, Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati felicitated 75 trained candidates of Project UNNATI under MGNREGA.

About Project UNNATI

• A Skilling project to upgrade the skill base of the MGNREGA beneficiaries, enabling them to move from the current partial employment to full-time employment and reduce their dependence on MGNREGS.
• Provides training for one adult member (age 18-45 years) of a household who has completed 100 days of work under MGNREGA.

Why in news?

• Solomon has signed an agreement with China which could allow Chinese soldiers and police to be deployed in the Pacific nation.

About Solomon Islands

• It is an archipelagic state in Melanesia, located in southwest Pacific Ocean. It is geographically positioned in the Southern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth.
• Neighborhood: Located to the southeast of Papua New Guinea and to the northwest of Vanuatu.
• Geographical Features: A wide-spread archipelago of mountainous, heavily forested volcanic islands (some active) and a few low-lying coral atolls.
• The highest point in the Solomon Islands is Mount Popomanaseu and lowest point is the Pacific Ocean.

Why in news?

• The Nurpur Blood Donors Club (NBDC) has received the International Life Saver Award for collecting 353 blood units at a camp on March 23 2021.
• The Club has also been felicitated with the World Book of Records London by the National Forum of Artists and Activists (NIFAA).

Why in news?

• A 10-day Saras Mela, in which self-help groups (SHGs) from across the Kangra district would showcase and sell their products, started at the police ground.
• Himachal’s Kangra paintings and ‘Chamba rumal’ was being appreciated all over the country, along with many other products, and every effort was being made to promote them.
• With Rural Skill Development and Rural Livelihood Mission, financial help was also being provided to the self-help groups by the Government.

Why in news?

• Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur inaugurated the 10-day Kullu carnival .
• He visited the craft market and cuisine stalls at Rath Maidan, Exhibition Ground and Dasehra Ground.
• He also witnessed the fashion show in which, apart from traditional attire of the district, costumes of other parts of the state and country were also displayed.
• A cultural programme was presented in the evening by various artistes at the Atal Sadan.

About KULLU

• Kullu is a municipal council town that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
• It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about 10 kilometres north of the airport at Bhuntar. Kullu was ruled by Koli rulers of Badani dynasty

Why in news?

• It will monitor ambient air quality parameters, like particulate matter (2.5 and 10), nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, ammonia, carbon monoxide, benzene.
• It will be monitored on a real-time basis now with the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) having installed the state’s first continuous ambient air quantity monitoring station at Baddi.
• The station has been set up at a cost of Rs 1.75 crore, of which Rs 96.70 lakh was provided by the National Clean Air Programme