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ISRO-JAXA Virtual Meeting ISRO and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) held a virtual meeting. Key Takeaways : They have signed an Implementing Arrangement for collaborative activities on rice crop area and air quality monitoring using satellite data. The agencies also reviewed ongoing cooperation to launch a joint lunar polar exploration (LUPEX) mission. About LUPEX Mission: LUPEX is a robotic lunar mission by ISRO and Japan Aerospace Exploration Ag

Lingaraja Temple

Lingaraja Temple Lingaraja Temple is a Hindu temple in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The temple is believed to be built by the kings of the Somavamsi dynasty, with later additions from the Ganga rulers. The temple is a classic example of the Kalinga style of architecture. The temple is built in the Deula style that has four components namely, vimana (structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings), each increasi

Small Finance Banks

Small Finance Banks About Finance Banks: They are niche banks that focus on and serve the needs of a certain demographic segment of the population. The objectives of setting up of small finance banks will be to further financial inclusion by the provision of savings vehicles supply of credit to small business units; small and marginal farmers; micro and small industries; and other unorganised sector entities, through high technology-low cost operations. SFBs was

Agglomeration Effect

Agglomeration Effect Agglomeration Economies: A localized economy in which a large number of companies, services, and industries exist in close proximity to one another and benefit from the cost reductions and gains in efficiency that result from this proximity. If an area specialises in the production of a certain type of good, all firms can benefit from various factors such as: Good supply networks Supply of trained workers Infrastructure built specifically for the indus

Committee for Studying Saraswati River

Committee for Studying Saraswati River The Central Government reconstituted an advisory committee for studying the mythical Saraswati river for the next 2 years. Advisory Committee on Saraswati River: The Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) set up the Advisory Committee for the Study of the River Saraswati in 2017 for 2 years. Aim was to study the mythical Saraswati river and draw up a plan to identify its basin and define its path. The committee, now reconstituted, is

Flowering of Bamboos in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

The flowering of Bamboos in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve The gregarious flowering of bamboo inside the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and the nearby Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Gudalur forest division in Tamil Nadu. The life cycle of bamboo: Bamboo is a monocarpic (flowering occurs only once in the life cycle) plant belonging to the Poaceae family (grass family), and its flowering cycle varies from 40 to 60 years. The Bamboo flowers and die. Regeneration occurs from seeds after gre

Deep Ocean Mission

Deep Ocean Mission The Deep Ocean Mission is proposed as the multi-ministerial multi-disciplinary programme with an emphasis on the development of deep-sea technology, exploration of deep-sea mineral resources and biodiversity, acquisition of a research vessel for exploration, deep sea observations, and capacity building. Ministry of Earth Sciences is the nodal agency for implementing the programme. The Deep Ocean Mission is proposed to be a Central Sector Scheme and no separate allocat

National Institutes of Food Technology Bill, 2019 Passed by Rajya Sabha

National Institutes of Food Technology Bill, 2019 Passed by Rajya Sabha Rajya Sabha passed the National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2019. Provisions: The bill declares two institutes of food technology, entrepreneurship, and management as institutions of national importance. These are: National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Haryana Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology, Tamil Nadu.

Martian Blueberries

Martian Blueberries According to Researchers from Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad the Blueberries in India and “Martian Blueberries” share similar characteristics. What are Martian Blueberries? Martian blueberries are small spherical haematites. The Mars rover “Opportunity” discovered them in 2004 on the planet Mars. Composition of Martian blueberries: Martian Blueberries are made of iron oxide compounds called haematites. The