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E20 (Ethanol Blended Petrol) | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Posted 05 Aug 2025

8 min read

E20 (Ethanol Blended Petrol)

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas clarified that the fears about 20% ethanol blending in petrol are not supported by evidence.

About E20 Fuel:

  • It is an 80:20 mix of petrol and ethanol.
  • The National Policy on Biofuels, 2018(amended in 2022): Advanced the target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol to Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26 from 2030.

Benefits:

  • Improves fuel performance,Contributes to lower life cycle emissions.
  • Strengthens energy security and provides Economic benefits to farmers and the rural sector.

Possible Concerns: 

  • Reduced fuel efficiency in some vehicles, corrosion or damage to older vehicles, and may result in higher maintenance costs due to the need for engine modifications
  • Tags :
  • EBP
  • E20

National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB)

NMPB signed 2 strategic MoUs to conserve germplasm of threatened medicinal plants and establish National Medicinal Plants Garden at AIIMS, New Delhi.

About NMPB

  • Established in 2000, working as a section of the Ministry of AYUSH.
  • Objective: Development of medicinal plants sector through coordination between departments for policy implementation. 
  • Functions:
    • In-situ & ex-situ conservation
    • augmenting local medicinal plants and aromatic species of medical significance,
    • promote research & development and raise awareness E.g. Home/School herbal gardens,
    • support quality assurance and standardization e.g. Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACPs), 
    • Enable certification of quality of raw drugs, seeds and planting material.
  • Tags :
  • Ministry of AYUSH
  • National Medicinal Plants Board

Isotope Tagging

A South African university launched Rhisotope Project in Waterberg Biosphere Reserve which adopts isotope tagging to prevent poaching of Rhinos. 

How Isotope tagging works?

  • Radioactive isotopes or radioisotopes: Unstable form of an element that emits radiation to transform into a more stable form.
    • The radiation can be traced, and typically causes changes in the substance it falls upon.
  • Isotope tagging: Through a non-invasive procedure, rhino horns are injected with low doses of radioactive isotopes, 
    • Easy detection of tagged horns by radiation portal monitors (RPMs) deployed at borders, ports, and airports worldwide to identify unauthorized nuclear materials.
  • Tags :
  • Isotope
  • radioactive isotope injections

Asian Giant Tortoise

The Asian Giant Tortoise has been reintroduced into the Zeliang Community Reserve in Nagaland.

About Asian Giant Tortoise

  • Habitat: Tropical and subtropical mountainous evergreen forests of Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore (extirpated), and Thailand.
  • Key Features: Largest tortoise in mainland Asia, a keystone species, only species of tortoise that make a nest above ground instead of in a hole.
  • Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN), Schedule I (Wildlife Protection Act, 1972).
  • Threats: Habitat destruction; collection for local consumption, etc. 
  • Tags :
  • Keystone Species
  • Asian Giant Tortoise

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

Ministry of Women and Child Development extended the special registration drive for the PMMVY. 

About PMMVY

  • Type: Centrally sponsored scheme under Mission Shakti’s sub-scheme 'Samarthya'.
  • Aim: Financial assistance through DBT to support nutritious diets and improve health seeking behaviour amongst the Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers (PW&LM) and partially compensate for wage loss.
    • It is in line with Section 4 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. 
  • Cash Incentive: ₹5,000  is provided in 2 instalments for the first child, and ₹6,000  is provided in one instalment post-birth for the second girl child
  • Tags :
  • Mission Shakti
  • PMMVY

Bond Switching

Bank of Baroda study showed that the Government has saved Rs 560 crore in interest costs through Bond switching amid rising debt maturity.

About Bond Switching

  • Meaning: Mechanism through which the government replaces existing shorter duration sovereign bonds with long-duration papers depending upon its debt obligations. 
    • E.g., Bonds maturing in FY27, FY28 and FY29, being replaced with bonds maturing after FY32 having lesser repayment pressure.
  • Done either with market participants or directly with Reserve Bank of India
  • Objective: Smoothen the government's liability profile while ensuring market development.
  • Tags :
  • Bonds
  • Bond Switches

Pangong Tso (Lake)

Joint Expedition Team successfully summited Mt Merag-III & Mt kangju Kangri, the highest peaks in Pangong Tso region, Ladakh. 

  • Pangong range is subsidiary of the Ladakh range and takes its name from the Pangong Tso (Lake). 

About Pangong Tso (Lake)

  • Altitude: 4,350 m. 
    • World’s highest saltwater lake
    • one-third lies in India and remaining two-thirds in China. 
  • Characteristics: Changes color appearing blue, grey-green, and red at varied points in time.
    • Freezes completely during winters despite being saline water.
  • Breeding Ground: For different types of birds during the summer. E.g., Bar-headed geese, Brahminy ducks, black necked cranes and seagulls. 
  • Tags :
  • Ladakh
  • Pangong Tso

PAN (Permanent Account Number) 2.0 Project

Income Tax (IT) Department has awarded the contract for PAN 2.0 project to a technology company. 

About PAN 2.0 Project (2024)

  • Aim: Streamline and modernise the process of issuing and managing PAN and TAN
    • PAN, introduced in 1972, is a unique 10-digit alphanumeric identifier, linking an individual or entity's financial transactions (e.g. income returns) to the IT Department.
    • TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number) is a 10-digit alphanumeric code issued by the IT Department for entities responsible for TDS/TCS.
  • Features: Single portal, paperless processing, enhanced security measures (E.g. PAN Data Vault) etc.
  • Tags :
  • PAN 2.0
  • PAN
  • TAN
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