Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB)
- FSIB has recommended Sanjay Shukla for post of managing director of National Housing Bank.
- About FSIB
- Constituted in 2022 under Department of Financial Services (Ministry of Finance), by Central Government replacing Bank Board Bureau.
- Secretariat of Bureau currently comprises of Secretary and five officers.
- Purpose
- Recommending persons for appointment as whole-time directors and non-executive chairpersons on Boards of financial services institutions like Public Sector Banks, Public Sector Financial Institutions, and Public Sector Insurance Companies.
- Advising on certain other matters relating to personnel management in these institutions.
- Tags :
- Financial Services Institutions Bureau
- FSIB Purpose
Senkaku Islands
- Joint statement issued by Japan and USA recently opposed any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo of the Senkaku Islands by China.
- Japan and China have long-running dispute over these islands.
- About Senkaku Island:
- Also known as Diaoyu in Chinese.
- Senkaku Islands are located in the East China Sea approximately 410 km west of Okinawa Island.
- Largest island: Uotsuri Island.
- Tags :
- Disputed Islands
- Japan
- China
- East China Sea
Baobab Tree
- Global Society for Preservation of Baobabs and Mangroves has initiated a mission to rejuvenate baobab trees.
- About Baobab Tree (Genus: Adansonia)
- Long-lived deciduous, small to large trees from 20 to 100 ft tall with broad trunks and compact tops.
- Grows in Africa, Madagascar and Australia.
- Also found in Mandu, in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh.
- Also known as upside-down tree, because in dry season they are devoid of leaves, and their bare grey and gnarled branches resemble roots.
- Fiber from bark is used to make rope, cloth, musical instrument strings etc.
- Tags :
- Baobab Tree
- Upside- down tree
Eurasian Otter
- For the first time in India, Eurasian otter was radio-tagged in Satpura tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh).
- Other two otter species found in India – Smooth-coated otter and Asian small-clawed otter.
- About Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Near threatened
- Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix I
- Distribution:
- Found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
- In India, found in northern, northeast, and southern regions.
- Characteristics: Brown Fur, adapted for aquatic lifestyle with webbed feet and ability to close small ears and nose under water.
- Conservation Status:
- Tags :
- Schedule I WPA
- Appendix I CITES
- Near Threatened
- Otter
Cluster Development Programme (CDP) - SURAKSHA
- Several states are using SURAKSHA platform for disbursing subsidies to horticulture farmers under the CDP.
- CDP is a component of the central sector scheme of National Horticulture Board (NHB).
- About CDP-SURAKSHA
- SURAKSHA stands for ‘System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture Assistance’.
- It allows an instant disbursal of subsidies to farmers in their bank account by utilising the e-RUPI voucher from the NPCI.
- Its key features are database integration with PM-KISAN, UIDAI validation, geotagging, geo-fencing etc.
- CDP-SURAKSHA allows access to farmers, vendors, Implementing Agencies, Cluster Development Agencies etc.
- Tags :
- Horticulture
- Suraksha
- Cluster Development
S&T – PRISM
- Fresh proposals under S&T-PRISM program have been invited by Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre, Nagpur.
- About Promotion of Research and Innovation in Start-ups and MSMEs in mining, mineral processing, metallurgy, and recycling sector (S&T PRISM):
- Ministry: Ministry of Mines (MoM).
- Objective: To promote ecosystem for research, design, development, IPR creation, pilot project and manufacturing in Mining, Mineral Processing, Metallurgy and Recycling.
- Implementing Agency: JNARDDC, autonomous body under MoM.
- Sub-components: Startup funding with grant upto Rs. 2 crore and Setting up of incubation centres with grant upto Rs. 10 crore.
- Tags :
- Mining
- PRISM
- Recycling
- Ministry of Mines
Web 3
- India’s share of global pool of Web3 developers has increased from 3% in 2018 to 12% in 2023.
- About Web 3
- It is the third generation of World Wide Web. It enables peer-to-peer transactions and interactions without intermediaries.
- Web3 provides a version of web where users have a financial stake and more control over web.
- Enables people to control their own data.
- Includes cryptocurrencies, Non-Fungible Tokens etc.
- In web3 world, there can be blockchain based social networks.
- Operated by users collectively rather than a corporation.
- Tags :
- Blockchain
- Web 3
Mercenary Spyware
- Apple has issued warnings to users in India and other countries of potential "mercenary spyware" attacks.
- About Mercenary Spywares:
- Mercenary spywares are designed to remotely infiltrate and compromise smartphones and other devices without the knowledge or consent of the users.
- These targets specific individuals and can be used to monitor movements, communications and steal private data.
- Some of mercenary spywares include Pegasus, FinSpy and Galileo.
- Spyware:
- It is malicious software or malware that is installed on a computing device without end user’s knowledge and monitors or steals sensitive information.
- Tags :
- Spyware
- Cyberattack
- Pegasus
