1)Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2020 stands passed in Parliament :- This bill will convert (i) Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi, (ii) Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New Delhi, and (iii) Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati into Central Sanskrit Universities.
This is one of the landmark Bills passed by the Parliament which has fulfilled the aspirations and long standing wish of many sanskrit lovers, scholars and Sanskrit speaking people in the country.
2) World Heritage Sites from India :-
WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN INDIA (38)
CULTURAL SITES:
Under Protection of Archaeological Survey of India (22)
| S. No
| Name of Site | State
|
| Agra Fort (1983) | Uttar Pradesh | |
| Ajanta Caves (1983) | Maharashtra | |
| Ellora Caves (1983) | Maharashtra | |
| Taj Mahal (1983) | Uttar Pradesh | |
| Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984) | Tamil Nadu | |
| Sun Temple, Konarak (1984) | Odisha | |
| Churches and Convents of Goa (1986) | Goa | |
| Fatehpur Sikri (1986) | Uttar Pradesh | |
| Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986) | Karnataka | |
| Khajuraho, Group of Temples (1986) | Madhya Pradesh | |
| Elephanta Caves ( 1987) | Maharashtra | |
| Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram (1987 & 2004) | Tamil Nadu | |
| Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987) | Karnataka | |
| Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989) | Madhya Pradesh | |
| Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi (1993) | Delhi | |
| Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993) | Delhi | |
| Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003) | Madhya Pradesh | |
| Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park (2004) | Gujarat | |
| Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007) | Delhi | |
| Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron Forts) (2013) (Amber and Gagron Forts are under protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums) | Rajasthan | |
| Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan (2014) | Gujarat | |
| Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda (2016) | Bihar |
Under Protection of Ministry of Railways (2)
| 23. | Mountain Railways of India ( Darjeeling,1999), Nilgiri (2005), Kalka-Shimla(2008) | West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh |
| 24. | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004) | Maharashtra |
Under Protection of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (1)
| 25 | Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, (2002) | Bihar |
Under Protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums (1)
| 26. | The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010) | Rajasthan |
Under Protection of Chandigarh Administration (1)
| 27. | The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016) | Chandigarh |
Under Protection of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (1)
| 28. | Historic City of Ahmedabad (2017) | Gujarat |
Under Protection of Bombay Municipal Corporation (1)
| 29. | Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai (2018) | Govt of Maharashtra |
Under Protection of Jaipur Municipal Corporation (1)
| 30. | Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019) | Govt of Rajasthan |
NATURAL SITES: (7)
Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes
| 31. | Kaziranga National Park (1985) | Assam |
| 32. | Keoladeo National Park (1985) | Rajasthan |
| 33. | Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985) | Assam |
| 34. | Sunderbans National Park (1987) | West Bengal |
| 35. | Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005) | Uttarakhand |
| 36. | Western Ghats (2012) | Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu |
| 37 | Great Himalayan National Park (2014) | Himachal Pradesh |
MIXED SITE: (1)
Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes
| 38. | Khangchendzonga National Park (2016) | Sikkim
|
3)Eklavya Model Residential Schools:-
The scheme of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) was introduced in the year 1997-98 with an objective to provide quality middle and high-level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas in order to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and get jobs in government and public and private sectors.
4)Start-up India is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, intended to catalyse start-up culture and build a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in India.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) acts as the nodal Department for the Start-up initiative.
5)Ministry of Tribal Affairs through Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) has already developed an e-commerce portal ‘tribesindia.com’ and also using e-marketing channels like Amazon.com, Flipkart.com, Paytm, Snapdeal.com and GeM to market tribal products including promotion of tribal handicrafts.
6)Methanotrophic Bacteria Culture first time in India:- The Agharkar Research Institute of Pune has isolated 45 strains of methanotrophic bacteria. These bacteria are capable of reducing methane emissions in rice plants.
Methanotrophs are environmental organisms that have a major role in cycling of methane. They oxidize methane in the environment. The methanotrophic bacteria oxidize methane through anaerobic metabolism. The methanotrophs are used as bio-inoculants.
Bio-Inoculant are strains of bacteria, algae or fungi. They take in nitrogen from atmosphere and prepare nitrates required for plants.
By this, use of fertilizers are reduced. They also increase zinc and phosphorous availability for plants.
7)Government has included COVID-19 outbreak under notified Disaster:- Under Disaster Management Act, 2005, the SDRF funds shall be used only for cyclone, earthquake, drought, landslide, hailstorm, cloudburst, avalanche, frost, pest attack and cold waves.
Critical Medical conditions or pandemic situations were not under the notified disaster lists.
Therefore, the Central Government has included COVID-19 outbreak under notified Disaster. This will now enable the state government to utilize the funds for treating Corona virus.
SDRF funds are State Disaster Response Funds. The SDRF funds were constituted by Disaster Management Act, 2005. It was recommended by 13th Finance Commission .
The CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) of India audits the funds every year. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal agency that oversees the utilization of these funds.
