ü What
is Oil bond?
An oil bond is an
IOU, or a promissory note issued by the government to the OMCs
A promissory
note is a debt instrument that contains a written promise by one party (the
note's issuer or maker) to pay another party (the note's payee) a definite sum
of money, either on-demand or at a specified future date.
Does it
qualify as SLR?
Oil bonds do not
qualify as Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) securities, making them less liquid
when compared to other government securities.
ü Oil
classification based on the sources:
Brent crude oil
is one of the major classifications of crude oil done on the basis of
geographical location of the source. Brent crude oil is sourced from the North
Sea. Other major types of crude oil on the basis of geography are West Texas
Intermediate (USA) and Dubai/Oman (Persian Gulf).
2. World bank report on south Asia
Recently, the World
Bank in its report South Asia Economic Focus (Bi- Annual) cut its
economic growth forecast for India and the whole South Asian region.
ü Remember the concept about GDP and
GVA: (as it is always confusing for many people):
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any
nation represents the sum total of gross value added (GVA) in all the
sectors of that economy during the said year after adjusting for taxes and
subsidies.
ü Remember:
Ø
GVA is for a particular sector
Ø
∑GVA is for the economy
Ø
GDP is for the economy
Gross value added (GVA) is defined
as the value of output less the value of intermediate consumption. It is used
to measure the output or contribution of a particular sector. When such GVAs
from all sectors (∑ GVA) are added together and adding taxes (product) and
reducing subsidies (product), we can get the GDP (at market price).
GVA thus shows
the production contribution of a particular sector.
ü Technically,
GDP at Market Prices = ∑ GVA at basic
prices + product taxes – product subsidies.
ü How
GVA helps government?
A sector-wise breakdown provided by the
GVA measure can better help the policymakers to decide which sectors need
incentives/stimulus or vice versa.
ü Finally lets summarise the
difference between GVA and GDP:
While GVA gives a picture of the state of
economic activity from the producers’ side or supply side, the GDP gives the
picture from the consumers’ side or demand perspective.
3. Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet is indeed the
largest icy comet
Recently, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Hubble Space
Telescope has confirmed that the huge Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet
is indeed the largest icy comet nucleus ever seen by astronomers.
You should know the difference between an Asteroids and Comets for exam:
The main
difference between asteroids and comets is their composition, as in, what
they are made of. Asteroids are made up of metals and rocky material, while
comets are made up of ice, dust and rocky material.
4. e-DAR portal launched
Recently, the Ministry
of Roads, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) developed the portal named
‘e-DAR’ (e-Detailed Accident Report).
The portal
provides instant information on road accidents and helps accelerate accident
compensation claims, bringing relief to victims’ families.
ü International steps for road
safety:
Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015):
5. 3rd positive indigenisation list
released
ü What is the positive
indigenisation list?
Introduced in
August 2020, the list essentially means that the Armed Forces—Army, Navy and
Air Force—will only procure such items from domestic manufacturers.
The manufacturers
could be private sector players or Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
ü Other steps for to promote
domestic procurement by Defence sector:
SRIJAN Portal: To provide access to
the vendors to take up items for indigenization.
6. Migration Tracking System (MTS) application
by Maharashtra government
Recently, the
Maharashtra government has developed a Migration Tracking System (MTS)
application to map the movement of migrant workers to maintain the
continuity of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
A quick revision about important
on going health related initiatives by government:
ü National
Health Mission (NHM):
Launched in 2013,
it subsumed the National Rural Health Mission and the National Urban Health
Mission
ü
POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition
Mission) was launched by the government on March 8, 2018.
ü National
Council on Nutrition (NCN).
Set up under the
Poshan Abhiyaan, the Council is also known as National Council on Nutrition
(NCN).
The NCN is
headed by the Vice-Chairman of the NITI Aayog.
The target of the
mission is to bring down stunting among children in the age group 0-6 years
from 38.4% to 25% by 2022.
7. Black sea in news
Ukraine
claimed that it has damaged the Russian Black Sea Fleet Flagship ‘Moskva’
Black sea is bordered by which countries:
The Black Sea is
bordered by Ukraine to the north and northwest, Russia and Georgia
to the east, Turkey to the south, and Bulgaria and Romania
to the west.
Why it is
important for Ukraine:
ü
It links to the Sea of Marmara through
the Bosphorus Strait and then to the Aegean Sea through the
Dardanelles strait
ü
The Rhine-Main-Danube canal connects the
Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean and the port of Odessa serves as a vital link
between Ukraine and the outside world.
Important Question
for Exam:
.
1.
Which countries border Black Sea?
a.
Ukraine
b.
Russia
c.
Georgia
d.
Romania
e.
All of the above/None of the above.
2.
When was the Poshan abhiyan Launched?
a.
2014
b.
2017
c.
2018
d.
2019
3.
Who is the head of the National Nutrition
coucnil?
a.
Minister of Agriculture
b.
NITI Aayog chairman
c.
ICAR Chairman
d.
Health Secretary
4.
What is the difference between GDP vs
GVA?
a. GDP is for for industry specific, while GVA is for whole economy.
b. GDP is for whole economy, while GVA is for industry specific.
