UPSC ENGLISH QUIZ

Explanation

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) service in Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth also joined virtually.
• Unified Payment Interface (UPI) is now available in Sri Lanka and Mauritius. People of Mauritius will also be able to use it.
• On the occasion of the launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called India's UPI as Uniting Partners with India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also launched RuPay card service along with UPI service in Mauritius.
• Through this, Mauritius bank RuPay Will be able to issue cards based on the mechanism. With this, people of both the countries will benefit from the services of these cards at each other's places.
• Earlier, UPI service was also started in France on February 2, 2024. Singapore, UAE, Nepal And UPI services are already being used in Bhutan.

Explanation:

• Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj inaugurated the ‘Smart Gram Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram Panchayat’ Project at Paprour Gram Panchayat of Begusarai District, Bihar signalling a significant leap towards digital empowerment in rural India.

Smart Gram Panchayat Project

• The project aims to extend the PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) Service to Gram Panchayats in Begusarai, marking a paradigm shift in rural connectivity.
• Begusarai leads the digital transformation in Bihar by equipping all Gram Panchayats with Wi-Fi services under the PM-WANI Scheme.
• It is funded under the revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), the project targets 455 Gram Panchayats across 37 Blocks in Begusarai and Rohtas Districts in Bihar. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj implements it.

Explanation

• Scientists discovered a new nematode species named Steinernema adamsi, a tiny worm about half the width of a human hair that kills insects by injecting them with bacteria.
• It thrives in warm, humid climates where other beneficial nematodes struggle.Scientists at the University of California have identified Steinernema adamsi, a tiny nematode species capable of infecting and eradicating insects.
• This discovery holds immense potential for transforming crop pest control methods, particularly in warm and humid regions.Steinernema adamsi, belonging to the Steinernema family, offers a pesticide-free solution for managing insect parasites in agriculture.
• With its ability to target and kill insects, this nematode species presents a promising alternative for sustainable crop protection practices.

Explanation:

• The Defense Minister of India unveiled a life-size statue of the country's first Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), late General Bipin Rawat (1958-2021), at Tonsbridge School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• Bipin Rawat was born on 16 March 1958 in Pauri, Uttarakhand.
• He is an alumnus of the National Defense Academy (Indian Military Academy - NDA) and the Indian Military Academy (IMA).
• Served in various positions including General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-C) of Southern Command and General Staff Officer Grade 2 in the Directorate of Military Operations.
• Commanded a multinational brigade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force.
• Became Vice-Chief of the Army Staff before assuming the role of Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

Explanation:

• Union Minister Parshottam Rupala launched the realigned AHIDF Scheme and released the Radio Jingle on AHIDF in New Delhi.
• The scheme has been realigned and will be implemented for another 3 years till 2025-26. FPOs, dairy cooperatives and industries will benefit from this scheme.
• In the realigned scheme, the Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund has been subsumed.
• The Dairy Cooperative will also get Credit Guarantee support under the Credit Guarantee Fund of AHIDF.
• Now, Dairy Cooperatives will get the benefit of interest subvention of 3% under AHIDF instead of 2.5%.
• This scheme will help the Dairy Cooperatives to upgrade their processing infrastructure.

Under the realigned scheme, the benefits will be as follows

• The credit guarantee will cover 25% of the term loan.
• Interest Subvention of 3% payable up to 8 years.
• The loan will be provided up to 90% of the estimated/actual project cost.The Chairman and members of the cell will be nominated by the head of the higher education institution.