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
Articles Sources
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
Articles Sources
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