About National Test House:

• It is a premier scientific organization of the Government of India.
• It was established in 1912 under the then Railway Board.
• Mandate: It is India’s largest multi-location multidisciplinary industrial central government’s testing laboratory dealing with almost all sorts of testing, calibration and quality evaluation related to industry, commerce, trade etc. as per international and national standards.
• Functions
  • Technical Role: It offers technical consultancy, testing, calibration, and quality evaluation across various sectors, adhering to both national and international standards.
  • Accreditation Role: It is also actively involved in supporting the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and BIS by providing technical assistance in the accreditation and standard formation activities, respectively.
  • Drone certification: It is the pioneering governmental entity in India for drone certification.
  • Other Functions: Testing, Electric Vehicle (EV) Battery Testing, Organic Food Testing and other advanced technological areas.
• Its branches are established at Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Ghaziabad, Jaipur, Guwahati, and Varanasi.
• Nodal Ministry: It is functioning under the administrative control of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

About Sesame:

• Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is the oldest indigenous oilseed crop in India.
• It is a primordial oilseed crop since the remnants of sesame seeds were discovered at Harappa and Mohenjodaro.
• Required Climate Conditions:
  • It can be cultivated up to the latitude of 1600m (India 1200 m).
  • Temperature: Normally the optimum temperature required during its life cycle is between 25-35 degrees celsius.
  • If the temperature is more than 40 degrees Celsius with hot winds the oil content reduces.
  • Soil: Sesame can be grown on a wide range of soils, however well drained light to medium textured soils are preferred. It does best on sandy loams with adequate moisture.
  • Climate: It thrives in the semi-arid climate of Western India, Central, Eastern and Southern part of India including lower Himalayas.
  • Season: It is cultivated during Kharif in arid and semi-arid tropics and rabi/summer in cooler areas.
• The crop is grown in almost all parts of the country. More than 85% production of sesame comes from West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• Uses: Sesame oil is excellent from a medicinal point of view. It contains antioxidants, and it is perfect for heart patients.

About Pusa DST Rice 1:

• It is derived from MTU1010, which is suitable for rabi season in southern states.
• It is developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.
• Properties: The edit in its genome targets the Drought and Salt Tolerance (DST) gene, with the aim of improving the plant’s ability to cope with drought and salt-affected soils.
• It is expected to be grown in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

About DRR Dhan 100:

• It is also called Kamala variety.
• It was developed by ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, from the popular Samba Mahsuri (BPT 5204) variety.
• Scientists edited a gene involved in cytokinin metabolism, with the aim of increasing the number of grains produced by each panicle.
• Properties: The resulting variety is said to mature about 20 days earlier than Samba Mahsuri, in around 130 days, and has a stronger stalk that is less prone to lodging, or falling over.

About Sree Narayana Guru:

• Sree Narayan Guru was a saint, philosopher, spiritual leader, and social reformer from Kerala.
• The Guru was born into an Ezhava family.
• He was one of the most successful social reformers to revolt against the caste system in India. 
• He demonstrated a path to social emancipation without invoking the dualism of the oppressed and the oppressor.
• Gurudevan, as he was known among his followers, led a reform movement in Kerala, revolted against the caste system.
• Philosophy: “Oru Jathi, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam, Manushyanu” translates to “One Caste, One Religion, One God for Mankind” and is a core message advocated by Shri Narayana Guru.
• Works of Sree Narayana Guru:
  • Aruvippuram Movement (1888): Sree Narayana Guru consecrated a Shiva idol at Aruvippuram, a village in present-day Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, symbolising resistance against social injustice, particularly the caste-based restrictions that barred lower castes from temple entry. 
  • Established SNDP: 
    • Under the Indian Companies Act, the Sri Narayana Guru Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) was established in 1903. 
    • Narayana Guru served as its permanent chairman, while Kumaran Asan, a renowned poet and disciple of Guru, became its general secretary.
    • The Ezhava’s right to attend public schools, access to government services, and political representation were all addressed by the SNDP.
  • The Guru also led the ‘Vaikom Satyagraha’ protest movement against caste discrimination, untouchability, and inequality. 
  • The Sivagiri foundation was established in 1924 by the Guru to promote virtues of cleanliness, education, devotion, agriculture, handicrafts, and trade.
  • The Sivagiri pilgrimage (Sivagiri Theerthadanam), initiated by his followers, promotes values of purity, education, and organization.
  • Literary Contributions: He authored several important works, including Advaitha Deepika, Atmavilasam, Daiva Dasakam, and Brahmavidya Panchakam.

About Kuwait:

• It is a country in Western Asia, situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf.
• Bordering Countries: It is bordered by two countries namely Iraq in the north and west, and Saudi Arabia in the south.
• Maritime Border: It is bounded by the Persian Gulf in the east.
• It is a member of Gulf Cooperation Council, Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation & OPEC.
• Capital City: Kuwait City
• Geographical Features of Kuwait:
  • Climate: Kuwait has a hyper-arid desert climate that is highly variable with recurrent extremes.
  • Rivers: There are no perennial lakes or rivers. Instead, there are wadis or transient watercourses that end in inland basins.
  • Most parts of Kuwait are covered by the Arabian Desert.
  • Natural Resources: Natural gas and petroleum are Kuwait's most significant mineral resources.

About PARIVARTAN Scheme:

• PARIVARTAN (Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emissions) scheme was launched by the Central Government.
• It is aimed at facilitating the replacement of older, highly polluting trucks and buses operating in the National Capital Region (NCR) with cleaner Bharat Stage (BS)-VI compliant or electric vehicles.
• Implementing Ministry: It is implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
• Funding: It is funded by the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB)
• States Covered: Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi issued notifications granting Motor Vehicle Tax
• Incentives provided under the Scheme:
  • Motor Vehicle Tax concessions, registration fee waivers
  • 5% interest subvention on vehicle loans
  • A minimum 8% OEM discount on eligible new vehicles
  • Monthly fuel voucher support for eligible diesel and CNG replacement vehicles
  • One-time financial assistance for electric replacement vehicles and Certificate of Deposit (CoD) trading
• It will be implemented through an integrated digital platform that will seamlessly interface with VAHAN, V-Scrap, DigiELV, the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), participating lenders.

About Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma and MedTech Scheme:

• It was launched to transform India into a global powerhouse for R&D in the Pharma MedTech sector.
• It is an initiative of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers in
• The aim of the scheme is to promote industry-academia linkage for R&D in priority areas and to inculcate the culture of quality research and nurture our pool of scientists.
• Initiatives such as MedTech Mitra and Patent Mitra and the online platform under the Scheme will facilitate collaboration and partnership among various stakeholders.
• It focuses on two components:
  • Component A: 
    • Strengthening research infrastructure through establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoE) in the seven existing National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs). 
  • Component B: 
    • Promoting research in pharmaceutical sector by encouraging research in six priority areas wherein financial assistance will be provided for the Industries, MSME, SME, Startups working with government institutes and for both in- house and academic research.
  • Priority Areas: 
    • New Chemical Entity, New Biological Entity, and Phyto-pharmaceuticals 
    • Complex generics and Biosimilars
    • Precision medicine (Targeted innovative therapeutics)
    • Medical devices
    • Orphan Drugs 
    • Drug development for anti-microbial resistance (AMR).

About National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development:

• It is a specialized Development Finance Institution in India.
• It is aimed at supporting the country’s infrastructure sector, which can significantly gain from an enabling credit flow by means of attractive instruments and channelized investment.
• NaBFID was set up under The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Act, 2021.
• Objectives: Addressing the gaps in long-term non-recourse finance for infrastructure development, strengthening the development of bonds and derivatives markets in India, and sustainably boosting the country’s economy.
• Regulated by: It shall be regulated and supervised by RBI as an All-India Financial Institution (AIFI).
• The principal idea behind the setup of NaBFID is to provide a dedicated and specialized institution focused on addressing the long-term financing needs of the infrastructure sector in India.

About Open General Export Licence:

• It was introduced for the first time in 2019, following demands from exporters, to make defence exports easier.
• It is a standing one-time export authorization.
• It enables eligible exporters to self-generate export authorisations for multiple consignments of specified defence items, without seeking a separate authorisation for each consignment.
• OGEL Framework:
  • The government has merged three existing OGEL SOPs covering major platforms and equipment, parts and components, and intra-company transfer of technology into a single framework.
  • Validity: OGEL validity has been increased from two to three years, reducing the frequency of renewals and associated compliance requirements.
  • Countries covered: OGEL coverage has been expanded from 41 to all countries, except negative/sensitive nations and those facing UN Security Council sanctions or arms embargoes.
  • A new provision facilitates Indian companies having long-term contracts or agreements with Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (FOEMs).
  • OGEL may be granted for eligible items and the particular FOEM, with validity aligned with the underlying contract or agreement, subject to prescribed conditions.
  • Expanded Coverage: The range of items covered under OGEL has been expanded, providing greater flexibility to eligible exporters.
    • The revised framework also permits civil-end-use exports of specified parts and components of small-calibre arms and protective equipment, further broadening legitimate international business opportunities.