Current Affairs 18 August 2022

CONTENTS

1. Arctic amplification
2. Findings of the Hayabusa-2 probe
3. New Elephant Reserve in Tamil Nadu
4. Emergency Credit Line Guarantee
5. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)

 Arctic Amplification

Context:

Recently, Finnish Meteorological Institute researchers published their study in the Communications Earth & Environment journal, concluding that the Arctic is heating four times faster than the rest of the planet.

• The warming is more concentrated in the Eurasian part of the Arctic, where the Barents Sea north of Russia and Norway is warming at an alarming rate — seven times faster than the global average.

Relevance:

GS III: Environment and Ecology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What is Arctic amplification?
2. What are the consequences of Arctic warming?
3. What is the impact on India?

Click Here To Read More: Arctic Amplification

Findings of the Hayabusa-2 Probe

Context:

Recently, In an article published in the journal Nature Astronomy, scientists from Japan suggest that water and organic materials might have been brought to our planet from the outer edges of the solar system.

• The scientists made the hypothesis after analysing samples from the asteroid Ryugu, collected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Hayabusa-2 probe, which had brought 5.4 grams of rocks and dust from the asteroid to Earth in December 2020.

Relevance:

GS III: Science and Technology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Hayabusa-2 mission
2. What were the findings of the study?
3. What is an asteroid?
4. Why do scientists study asteroids?

Click Here To Read More: Findings of the Hayabusa-2 Probe

New Elephant Reserve in Tamil Nadu

Context:

Recently, the Government of India has announced the notification of one more Elephant Reserve (ER) Agasthiyamalai in Tamil Nadu during a programme in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.

• This will be the 32nd Elephant Reserve in the country after Singphan ER in Nagaland was notified in 2018.
• Agasthiyamalai is Tamil Nadu’s 5th Elephant Reserve and also a Bioshphere Reserve.

Relevance:

GS II- Environment and Ecology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Asian Elephants
2. African Elephants
3. Threats
4. What is Project Elephant?
5. Way Forwards to prevent Man – Animal Conflicts

Click Here To Read More: New Elephant Reserve in Tamil Nadu

Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme

Context:

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the enhancement in the limit of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) by Rs 50,000 crore from Rs. 4.5 Lakh crore to Rs. 5 Lakh crore, with the additional amount being earmarked exclusively for enterprises in hospitality and related sectors. 

• The increase has been done on account of the severe disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic on hospitality and related enterprises.

Relevance:

GS III-Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)
2. Aims and objectives of ECLGS
3. Benefits of the ECLGS

Click Here To Read More: Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme

Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)

Context:

The Union Cabinet has decided to restore the interest subvention on short-term agriculture loans to 1.5% for all financial institutions, including cooperative banks.

• Thus, Interest Subvention of 1.5% will be provided to lending institutions for the financial year 2022-23 to 2024-25 for lending short term agri-loans upto Rs 3 lakh to the farmers.

Relevance:

GS II: Government policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What is MISS?
2. Features of MISS
3. Benefits of MISS

Click Here To Read More: Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)