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Concept of Product Graduation in EU's Generalized System of Preferences Product graduation is a concept that applies when average imports of a product from a beneficiary country exceed 17.5% of EU-GSP imports of the same product from all beneficiary countries over 3 years. India’s exports such as textiles, inorganic and organic chemicals, gems and jewellery, iron, steel and their articles, base metals and automotives are out of the ambit of EU-GSP benefits now.

Manas National Park

Manas National Park Manas national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve. It is located in the Himalayan foothills in Assam. It is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan. The name of the park is originated from the Manas River. Significance: The park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog. It

Simlipal Biosphere Reserve

Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Simlipal National Park is a national park and a tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. It is part of Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve popularly known as Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve. Simlipal National Park derives its name from the abundance of semul (red silk cotton trees) that bloom here. It was the second largest national park in India. Its reserve is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserv

Search of Stromatolites on Jezero Crater in Mars

The search of Stromatolites on Jezero Crater in Mars Fossil stromatolites are the oldest evidence for life on Earth. They first appeared 3.7 billion years ago. The drone Ingenuity will search the surface of Martian crater Jezero to look for signs of this microbe trapped in its atmosphere.

Ease of Living Index 2020

Ease of Living Index 2020 The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs released the final rankings of the Ease of Living Index (EoLI) 2020. The Index categorises the cities into, Million+ populated cities (Population of more than a million) - Bengaluru (Top), Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, etc., Less than Million populated cites (Population of less than a million) - Shimla (Top), Bhubaneshwar, Silvassa, etc., All the cities under the Smart Cities Program. EoLI is an assessmen

Municipal Performance Index 2020

Municipal Performance Index 2020 The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs released the final rankings of the Municipal Performance Index 2020. The MPI has classified municipalities based on their population as- Million+ category (Municipalities having over a million population) - Indore (Top), Surat, Bhopal. Less than Million Population category (Municipalities with a population of less than a million) - New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) (Top), Tirupati and Gandhinagar.

Draft UGC Regulations

Draft UGC Regulations Draft UGC (Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Education Institutions to offer Joint Degree, Dual Degree and Twinning Programmes) Regulations, 2021 was put for public review. It may effectively implement the Higher Education Institutions (HEI) aspect of National Education Policy, 2020. Joint Degree programme - The curriculum shall be designed jointly by the collaborating Indian and foreign HEIs. The degree shall be awarded by both the instit

CSIR Floriculture Mission

CSIR Floriculture Mission Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Floriculture Mission will be implemented in 21 States and Union Territories of India. Efforts are being made to take the agro-technologies, new varieties and value addition technologies with the CSIR institutions to the farmers and entrepreneurs. It is being implemented in collaboration with Directorate of Floriculture (ICAR); KVIC; APEDA; TRIFED; Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), a

Red Rice in Assam

Red Rice in Assam Boosting India’s rice export potential, the first consignment of ‘red rice’ was flagged off to the USA. This rice variety is called ‘Bao-dhaan’ - An integral part of Assamese food. ‘Red rice’ is grown in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, without the use of any chemical fertilizer. It is rich in iron. The agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been promoting rice exports thro

SAARC Summit

SAARC Summit It is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of nations in South Asia. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are its members. Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. It launched the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) in 2006. States with observer status include Australia, China, European Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea and United States. Pakistan was to host the Summi