- Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) portal: It was launched in July, 2023 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to leverage advanced weather data analytics to give stakeholders actionable insight to make informed weather decisions on agriculture. Crucial weather-related information and data will be available to the farmers through WINDS. The portal also shares the ministry’s parametric crop insurance scheme, along with non-scheme parametric insurance industry. programmes for crop risk mitigation and disaster risk reduction and mitigation being run by the insurance industry. The WINDS initiative is laying emphasis on setting up a strong network of weather stations. Through this initiative, the target is to establish a wide network of weather stations at the block and gram panchayat level. This extensive network of weather stations will enable accurate monitoring of weather patterns, effective planning, risk assessment and timely response to meteorological challenges.
The goal is to bridge the gap in weather information availability and empower decision makers, farmers and stakeholders at the grassroots level.
- Dhruvastra Missile: It is a helicopter-launched anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system.
It is a short-range air-to-surface missile.It was indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).Dhruvastra is the Air Force’s version of Helina (Helicopter-launched Nag missile) ATGM.It is equipped with Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker and operates in “lock on before launch” mode.The fire and forget missile has a minimum range of 500 metres and a maximum range of 7 kilometres.It can be launched from an altitude of up to 4 kilometres and can hit targets moving at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour.The missile can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as top attack mode.
It works in all kinds of weather, during the day or night, and in various types of terrain, such as deserts, plains, hills and forests.
- Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS): It was set up in March, 1982 with a view to assisting outstanding Sportspersons of yesteryear, living in indigent circumstances, who had brought glory to the Country in sports.
The scheme as revised in May, 2016 to provide for lump sum ex-gratia assistance to outstanding Sportspersons of yesteryears. It extends to the whole of India. The scheme can be administered to active sportspersons individually or collectively as a group.
circumstances. The applicant must be a Serving or Retired Sportsperson (including sports doctors, sports psychologists, sports mentors, physiotherapists, masseurs, coaches, support personnel, umpires, referees, and match officials). The applicant must have represented India at a National or International Level sports competition. The Annual income of self/family of the applicant (from all sources) must be less than Rs. 4 LPA. The applicant must qualify as one of the following.
- Injured during the period of their training for competitions and also during the competitions.
- Disabled as an after-effect of their strenuous training or otherwise.
- Living in indigent circumstances.
- Dependent of a deceased sportsperson.
