Core Sector
- Combined ICI increased by 6.7% (provisional) in February 2024 as compared to the Index of February 2023.
- The ICI measures the combined and individual performance of production of eight core industries.
- Eight core industries are Fertilizers, Cement, Natural Gas, Crude Oil, Coal, Electricity, Steel, and Petroleum Refinery Products.
- They comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
- ICI is released by the Office of the Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
- Eight core industries are Fertilizers, Cement, Natural Gas, Crude Oil, Coal, Electricity, Steel, and Petroleum Refinery Products.
- Tags :
- Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI)
- Office of the Economic Adviser
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) - South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC)
- ISARC will develop rice varieties with low methane emissions and enhance productivity of premium quality nutritious rice.
- To achieve this, ISARC is promoting adoption of best agronomic and management practices like Dry Seeded Rice and Alternate Wet and Drying.
- About ISARC
- Established in 2018 through MoU between India’s Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and IRRI.
- Located at Varanasi, Utter Pradesh.
- Dedicated to strengthening rice-based agri-food system in South Asia region by developing climate-resilient, bio-fortified rice varieties for farmers and consumers.
- About IRRI (HQ: Philippines)
- Dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; etc.
- Tags :
- IRRI
- IRRI - South Asia Regional Centre
Tiger Triumph 2024
- Harbour Phase of the exercise Tiger Triumph is being conducted at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh.
- Tiger Triumph is a Bilateral Tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Amphibious Exercise between India and the US.
- Tags :
- Tiger Triumph 2024
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
Gyps vulture (Indian Vulture)
- Moyar valley located in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is the only region with largest nesting colony of Gyps vultures in wild.
- About Gyps Indicus
- Characteristics
- Possess whitish feathers on a dark head and neck, and a pale collar.
- Colonial nesters and often seen in flocks.
- Population is declining.
- Habitat
- Habitat Specialization: Open Grassland.
- Found in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan.
- Protection Status
- IUCN: Critically Endangered
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
- Conservation Measures
- Banning of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like diclofenac, Ketoprofen for veterinary use.
- Vulture Action Plan 2020-25.
- Characteristics
- Tags :
- Gyps vulture