Daily Prelims 28th October 2023

1) Credit Information Companies (CICs): RBI has directed CICs to introduce a compensation framework for delay in updating or rectification of credit information of borrower.  

• A CIC shall pay compensation to the complainant if the complaint could not be resolved within 30 days.   
• CICs maintain credit information of borrowers which can be accessed by banks and other lenders.   
• They collect information from banks, credit card companies and non-bank financial institutions.  
• Lending institutions refer to CICs credit report to decide borrowers’ creditworthiness.   
• CICs are licensed by RBI. 

2) Reference Fuels: Indian Oil Corporation Limited launched India’s first gasoline and diesel Reference Fuel (RF).  

• Currently, reference fuels are being imported by India.  
• RFs are premium high-value products, used for calibration and testing of vehicles by Auto Original Equipment Manufacturers and organizations involved in testing and certification in automotive field.  
• Specification requirements of RF are more stringent than commercial gasoline and diesel.  
• Indigenous RF meets Automotive Industry Standard specifications and is available at better price with reduced lead time. 

3) National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB): Under ‘Ayurveda for One Health’ campaign, farmers are being sensitized about special techniques used in cultivation of medicinal plants through NMPB.   

• ‘One Health’ is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment.      
• NMPB, setup in 2000 to promote medicinal plants sector, is working as a section of Ministry of AYUSH.  
• It is mandated to develop an appropriate mechanism for coordination between various ministries and implement policies for the overall growth of the medicinal plants sector. 

4) Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR): It is carved out of Tamil Nadu portion of the Anamalais and lies on South of the Palakkad gap in the Western Ghats.  

• It is surrounded by Parambikulum Tiger Reserve on the East, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Eravikulum National Park on the South Western side.  
• The Kariyan shola, Grass hills and Manjampatti of ATR are part of UNESCO world heritage site Western Ghats.   
• It supports 6 indigenous people viz. Malasar, Malai Malasars, Kadars, Eravallars, Pulayars and Muduvars.  
• Flora: Balsam, Orchids and Kurinchi.   
• Fauna: Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephant, Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur etc. 

Places in News:
1) Qatar (Capital: Doha): 

• A court in Qatar sentenced eight former personnels of the Indian Navy to death.   
• Political Boundaries:  
• It is a country in West Asia.   
• It shares its sole land border with Saudi Arabia with rest of territory being surrounded by Persian Gulf.  
• Geographical Features:  
• Situated on the west coast of the Persian Gulf and on Qatar peninsula.  
• It has one of the world’s largest reserves of petroleum and natural gas.  
• Sand dunes and salt flats, or sabkhahs, are the chief topographical features.  
• No permanent bodies of fresh water.  
• Highest point: Abū al-Bawl Hill.