Two New Heritage Sites in Spain

The notable Paseo del Prado avenue and Retiro Park of Madrid, in Spain, has been allowed the situation with UNESCO World Legacy Locales. The wide tree-lined Paseo del Prado, in the focal point of the Spanish capital, is home to conspicuous structures like the Prado Historical center. The notorious Retiro Park, simply connecting with Paseo del Prado, is a 125-hectare green space, and quite possibly the most visited attractions in Madrid’s set of experiences.

Indian DGCA and EU aviation agency to collaborate on unmanned aerial vehicles

India is quickly moving to take its success in the area of drones to the next logical steps like using air taxis for urban mobility. Aviation authorities are tying up with international agencies to make the framework of rules to safely implement them same by devising air traffic management solutions; develop certification standards and putting in place the required infra.

TheDirectorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) has signed aMoUwith theEuropean Union Aviation Safety Agency(EASA) for cooperation in unmanned aircraft systems and innovative air mobility. This comes on heels of the two civil aviation authorities signing a letter of intent (LoI) on these two issues during the EU-India Aviation Summit held in New Delhi this April.

The MoU will also ensure regular information sharing between the two authorities on the technological developments and research in this area and also their respective strategies for outreach to relevant stakeholders. Further, the MoU will result in collaboration in conducting conferences, workshops, training programmers by DGCA and EASA in this area. The signing of this MoU is expected to result in harmonised standards and accelerated growth of Indian unmanned aviation sector.

Chandrayaan-3 integrated with launch vehicle

In a major milestone,Isro said it has integrated the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft with the launch vehicle GSLV-Mk3or LVM3.

The space agency is looking at a mid-July launch (between July 12 and 19) window for India’s third lunar mission, and a second attempt at soft-landing equipment on Moon.

While the mission will carry a lander (Vikram) and rover (Pragna), it won’t carry an orbiter, which has been replaced by a propulsion module.
After its failed landing attempt in September 2019, Isro has carried out several changes on the lander.

At Rs 97,000, Gujarat ranks ninth in deposits per capita

Gujarat is among the top 10 states in India in deposits per capita, according to data from theReserve Bank of India.

The states deposits per capita is Rs 97,000, ninth highest among the major states of India as of March 31, 2023. While the per capita deposits of several smaller states and Union territories are higher, among the major states, Gujarat stands ninth.

Gujarat is behind Delhi (Rs 3.94 lakh), Goa (Rs 3.92 lakh), Haryana (Rs 1.64 lakh),Punjab(Rs 1.51 lakh), Karnataka (Rs 1.26 lakh), Uttarakhand (Rs 1.24 lakh), Maharashtra (Rs 1.24 lakh) andKerala(Rs 1.02 lakh) on this parameter.

According to the latest report from the Gujarat state-level bankers committee (SLBC), aggregate deposits at banks in the state including scheduled commercial banks, cooperative and small finance banks, stood at Rs 10.76 lakh crore.

India Can Surpass US e-com Market by 2034

India is poised to surpass the US as the second largest e-commerce market by 2034, says a study by Shiprocket.

The global retail e-commerce stood at $3.35 trillion in 2019 and is expected to grow to $7.38 trillion by 2025. China e-commerce market was valued at $2779 billion in 2021. The US e-commerce market was the second largest market with $843 billion, followed by the UK, Japan, South Korea, Germany and France. India stood eighth with $67.53 billion.

According to the study, India may surpass the US by 2034 and be the second largest e-commerce market. India has the highest growth in e-commerce followed by China. Countries like the US and the UK have been growing much slower.

India is also ranked 9th in cross-border e-commerce. Cross-border accounts for 20 per cent of global e-commerce. Indian products like fashion jewellery, textiles, ethnic wear and womens clothing have the potential to grow cross-border e-commerce.

Nineteenth Trancheof Electoral Bonds

On December 31, 2021, the central government approved the issuance of the 19th tranche of electoral bonds, down that route of assembly polls in five states.

Highlights:

Electoral bonds will be available for purchase from January 1 to October 10, 2022.

The bonds will be issued and encashed by the State Bank of India (SBI) through its 29 Authorized Branches.

Five states, namely Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Goa, will hold assembly elections.

Electoral Bond

Electoral Bonds are a type of financial instrument that can be used to donate to political parties.

These bonds are available in denominations of 1000, 10000, 1 lakh, 10 lakh, and 1 crore rupees, with no upper limit.

Energy Transition Advisory Committee

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas established the Energy Transition Advisory Committee. Tarun Kapoor, the former Secretary of the Petroleum Ministry, is in charge.

Highlights:

It will concentrate on increasing the proportion of clean energy sources in the country’s energy mix, such as hydrogen, biofuel, nuclear, geothermal, and tidal.

To assist India in meeting its 2070 net-zero emissions goal. Creating a road map for the energy transition (within 6 months).

To develop a step-by-step plan for transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

India announced its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 during the Leaders Summit on Climate Change.

To accomplish this, oil companies were told to develop plans aimed at increasing their clean energy portfolio.

These plans will be reviewed by the committee. It will also make recommendations. In addition, the committee will make recommendations for the plans’ development.

Microwave Absorber 5G

Subodh G, an assistant professor at Kerala University, and Vidhya Lalan, a research scholar, have created fifth-generation microwave absorbers.

Highlights:

The development of 5G microwave absorbers could be used as a shield against electromagnetic radiation.

Because of the worldwide quest for smarter and advanced electronic devices, the threat of electromagnetic pollution and radiation is unavoidable.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) has an impact on high-end devices and is harmful to live organisms’ health.

In this age of 5G technological advances of Things, the problems caused by EMI require immediate attention (IoT).

One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency

As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, PowerGrid Corporation Limited commemorated the achievement of “One Nation One Grid.”

Highlights:

On this occasion, Free health check-ups and medical camps were organized across 70 locations.

India’s total multi-transmission capacity is currently around 1,12,250 MW. By 2022, it is expected to increase to around 1,18,740 MW.

By transferring power from resource-centric regions to load-centric regions, synchronization of all provincial grids will aid in the most efficient use of natural resources.

It will also result in the establishment of a thriving electricity market in India, which will facilitate power trading.

Largest Rhino Transfer

Onboard a Boeing 747 charter flight, 30 white rhinos were recently transported from South Africa to Rwanda.

Highlights:

They were relocated due to the growing danger of illegal poaching. It was the world’s largest single white rhino transfer.

Ceratotherium simum is the scientific name for white rhinoceros, also known as square-lipped rhinoceros.

They are the world’s largest rhinoceros species.

They have a large mouth that they use to graze with. Among all rhino species, they are thought to be the most social.