ANSWER: C

• Jawaharlal Nehru Port has become the first 100 per cent Landlord Major Port of India having all berths being operated on PPP model.
• According to Sarbananda Sonowal, Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister, this project will improve the utilization in crane and berth productivity of the terminal.
• The total handling of JNPT will increase to 1.8 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) from the present handling capacity of 1.5 million TEUs in 2020-21.
• The terminal will also be handling Ro-Ro vessels which will not only lower the logistics cost and reduce transit time but will also contribute in reducing congestion on roads and promoting towards clean environment.

ANSWER: A

• The 13th Petersberg Climate Dialogue held in Berlin. This informal ministerial meet is being chaired by Germany and Egypt, hosts of this year’s annual climate meet (COP-27).
• The informal ministerial meet proposes to build consensus and provide political direction to resolve divergences aimed at improving implementation of climate action, the core goal of COP-27.
• According to media reports, during the dialogue, ministers and delegations from several countries recalled the urgency to move to the implementation of all the previous resolutions made during the last meeting in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• As per the previous resolution, the fight against climate change requires the preservation of the Congo Basin forests, which alone absorb 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon globally per year.
• The Petersberg Climate Dialogue will pave the way for a successful global climate conference in Egypt in November.
• Since its inception in 2010, the Petersberg Dialogue has served as a forum for ministers to build political consensus that help resolve differences on issues holding up progress in negotiations.

ANSWER: C

• According to the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Bishweswar Tudu, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, has resulted in enhancing the income basket of the beneficiaries.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has provided funds to various State Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) to conduct studies on post implementation of the FRA Act, 2006.
• According to the study report, the income basket of the beneficiaries has increased due to the provisions of rights under FRA.
• This has resulted in improving the quality of life. Furthermore, the Act has empowered tribal women and also helped Gram Sabhas in managing and conserving their forest resources.
• It has enabled the need for capacity building of Gram Sabha members for their empowerment for forest governance, preparation of micro plans for the sustainable management of forest resources, improving livelihood opportunities, assessment of the biomass stock, and biodiversity conservation.

Forest Rights Act

• The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 also known as the Forest Rights Act, recognizes the rights of forest-dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers to forest resources. These communities are dependent on a variety of needs, including livelihood, habitation, and other socio-cultural needs.
• The Act provides certain individual rights such as Rights of Self-cultivation and Habitation and community rights such as grazing, fishing, and access to water bodies in forests, community right to intellectual property and traditional knowledge etc.
• Moreover, it empowers the forest dwellers to access and use the forest resources in the manner that they were traditionally accustomed to, to protect, conserve and manage forests, protect forest dwellers from unlawful evictions, and also provides for basic development facilities for the community of forest dwellers to access facilities of education, health, nutrition, infrastructure, etc.
• As per Forest Rights Act, 2006 and rules made thereunder, the responsibility for implementation of the Act lies with State Governments/UT Administrations.

ANSWER: C

• Chaprah, an indigenous food delicacy found in the tribal regions of the country is looking to make it to the GI list of food items. Chaprah or a chutney made from red weaver ant is popular among the tribal population who consume it for its nutritious value. Also known as ‘The Kai’ in Odisha, the food delicacy is trying for GI tag which will further help preserve the cultural value associated with it and also promote the food.
• In Odisha, scientists through their research are trying for the geographical indications (GI) registry of Kai Chutney. Applied under the food category, the GI tag would help develop a structured hygiene protocol in the preparation of Kai Chutney for standard wider use.

The Kai Chutney

• Kai Chutney, a savoury food item, is rich in valuable proteins, calcium, zinc, vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, fiber, and 18 amino acids, known to boost the immune system and keep diseases at bay.
• Found abundantly in Mayurbhanj throughout the year, weaver ants construct nests with the leaves of host trees. The larval and adult stages of the ants are preferred and are either eaten raw or turned into “chutney” by mixing them with spicy ingredients.
• The chutney is prepared by mixing and grinding salt, ginger, garlic, and chilly. The tribals also make a living by selling these in the rural markets.

Benefits of Chaprah/ Kai

• Weaver ants are consumed as a cure for many illnesses, boosting the immune system and keeping diseases away. The dishes made from weaver ants including Kai chutney and soup help get rid of flu, common cold, and whooping cough.
• It is also useful in increasing the appetite, enhancing vision and eyesight naturally without corrective eyewear, and treating joint pain, and stomach diseases. Weaver ants are also good for the development of a healthy brain and the nervous system.
• The tribal healers also prepare medicinal oil by dipping the collected Kais in pure mustard oil. This oil when ready after 30 days, is used as baby oil and used to cure rheumatism, gout, ringworm, and other skin diseases. So it is the only panacea for the tribes.
• Kais are also used as insecticides. These bio-control agents prey on most arthropods entering their territory. Due to their predatory habit, Kais are recognized as biological control agents in tropical crops as they can protect a variety of crops against many different insect pests.
• The GI tag will not only enhance the reputation and value of local products but also support local businesses. Chaprah is consumed as a delicacy in Indian states like Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand.

ANSWER: A

• India’s largest public sector lender, State Bank of India has launched its WhatsApp Banking services to make banking easier for its customers.
• Now, SBI customers can avail certain banking services using WhatsApp, which may come in handy for many as they do not have to download the app or go to the ATM anymore.
• SBI customers can get their Account Balance and view Mini Statement on WhatsApp.
• SBI WhatsApp Banking services will be available to customers when they send a message saying ‘Hi’ on the number 919022690226.
• State Bank of India will also offers WhatsApp-based services to its credit card holders through the platform under the name of SBI Card WhatsApp connect.
• Through this, SBI credit card customers can check their account summary, reward points, outstanding balance and make card payments.

ANSWER: C

• NITI Aayog and the World Food Program released a report “Take Home Ration-Good Practices across the State/Union Territories.” 
• The report outlines a number of beneficial and creative techniques that the States and UTs have used to implement the Take Home Ration value chain.
• In this report, various good practices at the State/UTs level have been identified and are documented which would serve as a guidebook to policymakers and administrators in strengthening their Take-Home Ration system.”

Take Home Rations (THR) programme:

• In line with the government’s persistent efforts to ensure food and nutrition security, India has been implementing the ICDS.
• The Take Home Rations (THR) programme, which is part of the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) under ICDS, offers fortified rations for use at home for children aged 6 to 36 months as well as pregnant and lactating women, with the goal of bridging the nutrition gap among them.
• SNP is provided in two ways: Take-Home Rations and Hot-Cooked Meals at Anganwadi Centers. THR might be given as raw ingredients or in packets that have already been cooked.

ANSWER: C

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is working on developing space tourism capability in a bid to score a chunk of the pie, which is set to become a multi-million-dollar market in the coming years.
• As the country’s premier space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is developing indigenous capabilities towards space tourism through the demonstration of human space flight capability to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) is seeking to promote active participation of private sector in carrying out end-to-end space activities, which includes space tourism as well.
• IN-SPACe, an independent nodal agency under Department of Space (DOS) allows space activities and usage of DOS owned facilities by Non-Government Private Entities (NGPEs) as well as to prioritise the launch manifest.
• Further, the single window agency, IN-SPACe promotes, handholds and authorizes the activities of the private sector in the space domain, including those by young entrepreneurs and students interested in the field of Space Science.
• The centre is also in process of coming up with mechanisms to enable sharing of technical facilities and expertise available across ISRO Centres with private entities.
• According to Science & Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) pursues international cooperation and relations with 61 countries in varied domains of space activities.
• The Department of Space (DOS) is in the process of drafting a comprehensive, integrated Space Policy, which shall provide direction to the activities of the private Indian space industry.

ANSWER: D

• The Indian men’s 25m rapid fire pistol team comprising Anish Bhanwala, Vijayveer Sidhu and Sameer won the silver medal on the last day of the ISSF World Cup Changwon 2022 in South Korea.
• The medal helped India retain the top spot on the medals table with five gold, six silver and four bronze.
• South Korea managed just one bronze on the final day and finished with four golds, five silver and three bronze medals.
• This is the second time this year that the Indian shooters had topped the ISSF World Cup medals table. India finished with four gold medals at the ISSF World Cup in Cairo.

ANSWER: C

• Kullu and Nahan were adjudged the best municipal council of 2021 and 2020, respectively, in the Atal Shresth Shahar Yojna (ASSY).
• Both the councils were awarded a sum of Rs 1 crore during a ceremony organised in the auditorium of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports at Manali.
• Manali and Kullu secured the second and third position, respectively, for the year 2020. Una and Baddi secured these positions, respectively, for the year 2021. Manali and Una were awarded Rs 75 lakh each while Kullu and Baddi got Rs 50 lakh each.
• In the nagar panchayat category for 2020, Chopal, Gagret and Kotkhai were awarded Rs 75 lakh, Rs 50 lakh and Rs 25 lakh, respectively as they got first, second and third position, respectively.
• In the same category for 2021, Arki bagged the first position while Sunni was second and Narkanda came third.
• According to Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, at present there are 61 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the state and new areas were being added to them from time to time.
• The state government has released a grant of Rs 679 crore to the ULBs in the period between 2017 to 2022 under the Fifth State Finance Commission.
• According to the recommendation of the Sixth State Finance Commission, a provision of Rs 184 crore has been made in the current financial year.

Felicitated with cash awards

• Chopal and Arki best nagar panchayats in 2020 and 2021, respectively
• In municipal council category, first, second and third placed towns were awarded Rs 1 crore, Rs 75 lakh and Rs 50 lakh, respectively.
• In nagar panchayat category, first, second and third placed towns were awarded Rs 75 lakh, Rs 50 lakh and Rs 25 lakh respectively.
• The govt has released a grant of Rs 679 crore to the ULBs in the period between 2017 to 2022.

ANSWER: B

• To combat malnutrition, the Una district administration will launch an initiative to provide highly nutritious packaged food at Anganwari centres for children and expecting and lactating mothers.
• The administration has roped in the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, which has developed packaged food products that have high nutritional content, for the initiative.
• According to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Raghav Sharma, the IHBT had come up with products such as spirulina bar, multi-grain energy bar, multi-grain high energy powder and fruit bar.
• Spirulina, which is an algae, is used to develop a super-food that has high content of essential minerals and vitamins.
• Initially, the district administration will enter into a year’s agreement with CSIR-IHBT to procure these food items. The agreement can be subsequently extended on the basis of the result.
• The institute was preparing a detailed project report and the data regarding the number of children and women in the district was being shared with them.
• The district Women and Child Welfare Department has been providing food items like chickpea, biscuits, wheat porridge and powdered milk to the children at Anganwari centres and the same items are being provided to expecting and lactating mothers.