Recently, Union Government informed the Parliament that under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), over 6 crore trained and over 4.7 crore candidates have been certified.

About PMGDISHA

• Launched: In 2017 for digital literacy in rural India.
• Implementing agency: CSC e-Governance Services India Limited.
• Targeted beneficiaries: One person (age group of 14-60 years) from every eligible rural household.
• Coverage: Applicable only for rural areas with a Gram Panchayat centric approach.
• 20-hour training covering digital devices, internet use, and cashless transactions in 22 scheduled languages and English. 
• Third-party assessment by recognized agencies, with certificates uploaded to trainees' Digi-Locker accounts.

CITES eases export of agarwood from India, move to benefit lakhs of farmers. 

About Agarwood

• Aquilaria Malaccensis (agarwood) is an evergreen tree native to Northeast India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and parts of Southeast Asia, and is considered a precious aromatic plant in the region.
• Economic Utility: aromatic plant’s oil and chips both are highly valued in the market.

Protection

• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
• CITES: Appendix II
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule IV 

Recently, MyGov platform completed 10 years since its launch in July 2014.

About MyGov Platform

• It is a citizen-centric platform that empowers people to connect with the Government & contribute towards good governance.
• It is a part of Digital India Corporation, a Section 8 Company (not-for-profit) under the Union Ministry of Electronics and IT.
• Functions: To engage with citizens for policy formulation and seek the opinion of people on issues/ topics of public interest and welfare.
• It adopted multiple engagement methodologies. E.g. communication via social media, polls, surveys, competitions for crowdsourcing ideas like Logo design for schemes, etc.

Default by Government-owned Rashtriya Ispat Nigam (RINL) forced lenders to seek cover through an Inter Creditor Agreement (ICA).

About ICA

• It describes terms and allocation of collateral between common lenders in the event of a default by borrower.
• It establishes borrower’s rights and positions concerning collateral, payment, and payment priority, as well as the hierarchy between various creditors.
• According to Reserve Bank of India (Prudential Framework for Resolution of Stressed Assets) Directions 2019, any decision agreed by lenders representing 75% by value of total outstanding credit facilities and 60% of lenders by number shall be binding on all lenders.

Brazil recently reported the world’s first death due to Oropouche virus.

About Oropouche virus disease

• It is caused by Oropouche virus (OROV), a segmented single-stranded RNA virus.
• Found to circulate in Central and South America and the Caribbean.
• Transmitted to humans primarily through the Culicoides paraensis midge (found in forested areas and around water bodies), orCulex quinquefasciatus mosquitos. 
• Symptoms: similar to dengue (fever, headache, joint stiffness, pain, nausea etc.)
• To date, there is no evidence of human-to-human OROV transmission.
• There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for Oropouche virus disease. 

Union Government informed the Parliament that one of the four astronauts undergoing training for Gaganyaan mission will travel to International Space Station as part of a collaborative effort with NASA.

About Gaganyaan Mission

• Envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3 days mission and bring them back safely to earth.
• Launch vehicle: Human rated LVM3 (HLVM3)
  • HLVM3 is a re-configured version of LVM3 (consists of solid stage, liquid stage, and cryogenic stage) to meet human rating requirement.
• Successful launch of Gaganyaan will make India only the 4^th country (after the US, Russia, and China) that have launched crewed spacecraft.

New study reveals unique upside-down spawning behaviour.

About Minervarya Charlesdarwini Frog

• It is endemic to Andaman Island. 
• Features
  • Intricate Calls: to attract females
  • Upside down spawning: defensive adaptation to protect the eggs.
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable
• Threats: Habitat Loss

Erratic weather patterns such as a protracted dry spell, heatwaves, etc. have led to saffron farmers of J&K switching to apple and mustard plantations.

 About Saffron

• Fragrant stigmata found in the Crocus flowers.
• One of the most costly spices in the world as 75,000 flowers are needed to make one ounce of pure saffron.
• Contains aromatic essential oil croncin and the colouring principle crocerin (yellow).
• Agronomic conditions required for saffron cultivation:
  • Sub-temperate climate with altitude (1500-2250 meters)
  • Annual rainfall (30-40cm) and remaining covered with snow in winter is conducive.
  • Neutral/slightly alkaline well-drained loamy soil.