The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas clarified that the fears about 20% ethanol blending in petrol are not supported by evidence.

About E20 Fuel:

• It is an 80:20 mix of petrol and ethanol.
• The National Policy on Biofuels, 2018(amended in 2022): Advanced the target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol to Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26 from 2030.

Benefits:

• Improves fuel performance,Contributes to lower life cycle emissions.
• Strengthens energy security and provides Economic benefits to farmers and the rural sector.

Possible Concerns: 

• Reduced fuel efficiency in some vehicles, corrosion or damage to older vehicles, and may result in higher maintenance costs due to the need for engine modifications

NMPB signed 2 strategic MoUs to conserve germplasm of threatened medicinal plants and establish National Medicinal Plants Garden at AIIMS, New Delhi.

About NMPB

• Established in 2000, working as a section of the Ministry of AYUSH.
• Objective: Development of medicinal plants sector through coordination between departments for policy implementation. 
• Functions:
  • In-situ & ex-situ conservation
  • augmenting local medicinal plants and aromatic species of medical significance,
  • promote research & development and raise awareness E.g. Home/School herbal gardens,
  • support quality assurance and standardization e.g. Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACPs), 
  • Enable certification of quality of raw drugs, seeds and planting material.

A South African university launched Rhisotope Project in Waterberg Biosphere Reserve which adopts isotope tagging to prevent poaching of Rhinos. 

How Isotope tagging works?

• Radioactive isotopes or radioisotopes: Unstable form of an element that emits radiation to transform into a more stable form.
  • The radiation can be traced, and typically causes changes in the substance it falls upon.
• Isotope tagging: Through a non-invasive procedure, rhino horns are injected with low doses of radioactive isotopes, 
  • Easy detection of tagged horns by radiation portal monitors (RPMs) deployed at borders, ports, and airports worldwide to identify unauthorized nuclear materials.

The Asian Giant Tortoise has been reintroduced into the Zeliang Community Reserve in Nagaland.

About Asian Giant Tortoise

• Habitat: Tropical and subtropical mountainous evergreen forests of Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore (extirpated), and Thailand.
• Key Features: Largest tortoise in mainland Asia, a keystone species, only species of tortoise that make a nest above ground instead of in a hole.
• Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN), Schedule I (Wildlife Protection Act, 1972).
• Threats: Habitat destruction; collection for local consumption, etc. 

Ministry of Women and Child Development extended the special registration drive for the PMMVY. 

About PMMVY

• Type: Centrally sponsored scheme under Mission Shakti’s sub-scheme 'Samarthya'.
• Aim: Financial assistance through DBT to support nutritious diets and improve health seeking behaviour amongst the Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers (PW&LM) and partially compensate for wage loss.
  • It is in line with Section 4 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. 
• Cash Incentive: ₹5,000  is provided in 2 instalments for the first child, and ₹6,000  is provided in one instalment post-birth for the second girl child. 

Bank of Baroda study showed that the Government has saved Rs 560 crore in interest costs through Bond switching amid rising debt maturity.

About Bond Switching

• Meaning: Mechanism through which the government replaces existing shorter duration sovereign bonds with long-duration papers depending upon its debt obligations. 
  • E.g., Bonds maturing in FY27, FY28 and FY29, being replaced with bonds maturing after FY32 having lesser repayment pressure.
• Done either with market participants or directly with Reserve Bank of India. 
• Objective: Smoothen the government's liability profile while ensuring market development.

Joint Expedition Team successfully summited Mt Merag-III & Mt kangju Kangri, the highest peaks in Pangong Tso region, Ladakh. 

• Pangong range is subsidiary of the Ladakh range and takes its name from the Pangong Tso (Lake). 

About Pangong Tso (Lake)

• Altitude: 4,350 m. 
  • World’s highest saltwater lake. 
  • one-third lies in India and remaining two-thirds in China. 
• Characteristics: Changes color appearing blue, grey-green, and red at varied points in time.
  • Freezes completely during winters despite being saline water.
• Breeding Ground: For different types of birds during the summer. E.g., Bar-headed geese, Brahminy ducks, black necked cranes and seagulls. 

Income Tax (IT) Department has awarded the contract for PAN 2.0 project to a technology company. 

About PAN 2.0 Project (2024)

• Aim: Streamline and modernise the process of issuing and managing PAN and TAN. 
  • PAN, introduced in 1972, is a unique 10-digit alphanumeric identifier, linking an individual or entity's financial transactions (e.g. income returns) to the IT Department.
  • TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number) is a 10-digit alphanumeric code issued by the IT Department for entities responsible for TDS/TCS.
• Features: Single portal, paperless processing, enhanced security measures (E.g. PAN Data Vault) etc.