Context: Mr. Amit Shah called upon BBSSL to pursue its focus on the collection and conservation of India’s traditional seeds and to prepare a 10-year roadmap for this endeavor. He also asked BBSSL to evaluate the nutritional value of indigenous and hybrid seeds and boost the production of both pulses and oilseeds. Key Highlights: Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL)
Guava Seed to Biofuel production
Context: Guava seeds, which are usually discarded as waste, are being used to produce biodiesel and biomass by Coimbatore-based start-up Buyofuel. Key Highlights:
The Role of Solar Energy in Vertical Farming
Vertical Farming
Reforms by Dr. Manmohan Singh
Treasury Bills
Context: Govt. plan to borrow ₹3.9 trillion through treasury bills in the fourth quarter of the current financial year. Treasury bills, or T-bills Treasury bills, or T-bills, are short-term debt instruments issued by the government to raise money for short-term needs.
SEBI Issued a Directive on Transfer of Shareholdings
Context: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) issued clarifications on the transfer of shareholding among immediate relatives and the transmission of shareholding of investment advisers, research analysts, and KYC registration agencies (KRAs). Key Highlights: KYC (Know Your Customer) Registration Agencies (KRAs) KYC (Know Your Customer) Registration Agencies (KRAs) are entities that maintains KYC records in the securities market. They are registered under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) under the KYC Regulations, 2011.
India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves
Context: India’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $8.4 billion to $644 billion in the week ended December 20, latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed. India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves
RBI Permits UPI Transactions via PPI Wallets
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to allow prepaid instrument holders (PPIs) to make/receive UPI payments through third-party mobile applications. Key Highlights: Prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) Prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) are financial tools which allows user to load funds in advance to purchase goods and services. PPIs are also known as prepaid cards or stored value cards. e.g. gift cards, metro rail cards and digital wallets. Third-Party Application Provider It is an entity that provides the UPI compliant app(s) to the end-user customers to facilitate UPI-based payment transactions. Some examples include mobile wallets, merchant apps, or any other platform that utilises UPI for payments. UPI: Revolutionizing
Current Account Deficit
Context: The current account deficit of India in Q2 2024-25 declined to $11.2 billion, 1.2% of GDP. Key Highlights: Current Account Deficit If an economy is running a current account deficit, it is absorbing (absorption = domestic consumption + investment + government spending) more than that it is producing. This situation can arise if some other economies are lending their savings to it (in the form of debt to or direct/ portfolio investment in the economy) Trade Deficit Merchandise Export Falls
Over 40 batches of drugs are ‘not of standard’: CDSCO
Context: More than 40 batches of drugs being sold in the market have been found to be not-of-standard quality (NSQ) by the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) in latest survey. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) of India for drugs and cosmetics. It is basically responsible for ensuring the safety, quality, and efficacy of medical products within the country. Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) drugs Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) drugs refer to drugs that fail to meet quality standards or specifications. The term ‘standards of quality’ is primarily defined in the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, which means that the drug complies with the standards set out in the Second Schedule of the said Act.
