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Posted 13 Aug 2024
8 min read
Housing Finance Companies (HFCs)
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday tightened norms related to public deposit acceptance by HFCs.
- Ceiling for quantum of public deposits has been reduced from 3 times to 1.5 times of HFC’s net owned fund (NoF).
About HFCs:
- They are corporate entities incorporated under Companies Act, 1956.
- Aim: providing housing loans and finance in a streamlined manner.
- Regulation: Regulated by the RBI. (earlier regulated by National Housing Bank (NHB))
- Types: Deposit-taking HFCs and Non-deposit taking HFCs
- There are 97 HFCs in the country.
- Advantages: Flexible loan approval compared to banks, consideration of lower credit scores.
- Tags :
- Housing Finance Companies
- NBFCs
Mission Karmayogi
Recently, Amrit Gyan Kosh portal and Faculty Development portal were launched under Mission Karmayogi.
- Amrit Gyan Kosh portal: A shared learning resources knowledge bank for access to India-centric case studies.
- Faculty Development portal: Training of Practitioners and faculties for better delivery of knowledge to civil servants.
National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (Mission Karmayogi):
- Launched in 2020, it aims to create a competent civil service rooted in Indian ethos.
- It has six key pillars including Policy Framework, Institutional Framework, Competency Framework, Digital Learning Framework (iGOT-Karmayogi), the electronic Human Resource Management System (e-HRMS) and the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
- Tags :
- Civil Services
- Mission Karmayogi
Articles Sources
Silicosis
Researchers claim that present limits of daily exposure to silica dust can pose serious risks of developing silicosis.
- Permissible Exposure Limit for silica dust in India is set at 0.15 mg/m3, which is high.
About silicosis:
- It is a long-term lung disease, caused by prolonged inhaling of crystalline silica dust.
- It causes hardening of lungs, shortness of breath and can be fatal.
- Silicosis is a progressive disease and has no cure.
About Silica:
- Silica is naturally found in various types of rocks like quartz, soil etc.
- Industries associated: Construction, mining, oil and gas extraction, pottery and sculpting, glass manufacturing etc.
- Tags :
- Silicosis
- silica
Spintronics
Researchers developed a transparent conducting interface between two insulating materials using spintronics.
- This breakthrough can significantly speed up data transfer between different parts of electronic devices and increase amount of data that can be stored in quantum devices.
About Spintronics
- It is a technology that utilizes both the intrinsic spin of an electron as well as its charge in transport devices.
- Spintronic systems are of particular interest in field of quantum computing, nano-electronic devices and modern electronic storage devices.
- Tags :
- Electronics Design
- Spintronics
Articles Sources
Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre)
Researchers have discovered anti-diabetic medicinal herb Gurmar on Gaya’s Brahmayoni Hill.
About Gurmar
- It is a slow-growing, perennial, woody climber found in central and southern India and tropical Africa.
- Pharmacological Properties:
- Gymnemic acid an active component isolated from leaves of G. sylvestre has antiobesity and antidiabetic properties;
- It causes decrease in body weight and inhibits glucose absorption.
- Gymnemic acid an active component isolated from leaves of G. sylvestre has antiobesity and antidiabetic properties;
- Applications:
- Used in dietary supplements for reducing body weight, blood cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) utilized Gurmar to develop anti-diabetic drug BGR-34.
- Earlier, first diabetes drug Metformin was also derived from a medicinal plant, Galega.
- Tags :
- Gurmar
- Medicinal Plant
- Antidiabetic Herb
NIRF Ranking 2024
Ministry of Education released the 9th edition of National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024
About NIRF
- Launched in 2015
- It outlines a methodology to rank educational institutions across the country.
- Five parameters: Teaching, Learning and Resources, Research and Professional Practices, Graduation Outcomes, Outreach and Inclusivity, and Perception.
- Implementing Agency: National Board of Accreditation (NBA) in collaboration with the INFLIBNET Centre in Gandhinagar
- New addition for ranking: Open Universities, State Public Universities and Skill Universities
- IIT Madras is best education institution in country for sixth time(Since 2019), followed by IISC Bangalore.
- Tags :
- Higher education Institution
- NIRF Ranking
Technological doping
Recently some experts have raised concern of Technological doping.
About Technological doping:
- Technology doping is the practice of gaining a competitive advantage using sports equipment.
- E.g. Speedo LZR Racer swimsuits of 2008 Olympic (Later banned)
- Regulation: World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) considers prohibiting technologies if they are “performance-enhancing” or “being against the spirit of the sport”.
- Tags :
- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
- Doping
Geneva Conventions of 1949
Geneva Conventions of 1949, the cornerstone of international humanitarian law, completed 75 years of their adoption.
- Four Geneva conventions and their additional protocols contain most important rules limiting the barbarity of war. Four Conventions protects:
- Wounded and sick soldiers on land.
- Wounded, sick and shipwrecked military personnel at sea.
- Prisoners of war.
- Civilians, including those in occupied territory.
- Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005 supplement the conventions.
- India has ratified all four Geneva conventions 1949.
- Tags :
- War
- Geneva Conventions
- International Humanitarian Law
News Today (Aug 13, 2024)