1) Cloud Facility for the Financial Sector: RBI proposed to establish cloud facility for financial sector data in India.
- Aims to enhance security, integrity and privacy of financial sector data.
- Initially to be operated by Indian Financial Technology & Allied Services (IFTAS), a subsidiary of RBI.
- Later to be transferred to a separate entity owned by financial sector participants.
- Significance
- Banks and financial entities are maintaining large volume of data.
- Cloud technology is known to enhance privacy through its centralised security, and guard against cybercrimes.
2) Koya Tribe: In recent time, Koya Tribe has made an exemplary transition by shedding the use of bison horns to make their traditional Permakore flute.
- Geographical distribution: Hilly and forested regions of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
- Language: Mother tongue is Gondi (Dravidian language), also speak Odia and Telugu languages.
- Livelihood: Traditionally they are pastoralists and shifting cultivators.
- Culture:
- Practices Kommu Koya dance.
- Pendul is commonly practiced form of marriage.
3) Banni Grassland (Gujarat): Central government has approved setting up a cheetah breeding and conservation centre in Banni Grassland.
- Geography: Arid grassland located in Kutch district with an area of over 2500 sq.km.
- Biodiversity: Consisting of two ecosystems in juxtaposition, viz., wetlands and grasslands.
- Flora: Over 190 species of plants like invasive Prosopis juliflora tree.
- Fauna: Mangrove dwelling Kharai camel (swimming camel); domesticated animals like Banni buffalo, Kankrej cow etc.
- Livestock breeders of Banni are called Maldharis.
4) Impatiens karuppusamy: This new plant species was recently discovered by the Botanical Survey of India in Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu.
- Species is named after Dr. S Karuppusamy (Madhura College, Tamil Nadu) for his significant contributions to the taxonomy of south Indian angiosperms.
- Morphology: The species, resembling Impatiens Bicornis, distinguishes itself with small leaves, six to eight-flowered, short scape, and small flowers.
- Distribution: Although widely distributed in tropical Africa, Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, and China, Impatiens are restricted to certain areas and can become extinct due to climate change
