Chilka Lake: The Odisha government has proposed to ban movement of mechanised fishing boats in the Mangalajodi area of the Chilika lake, an important haunt of migratory birds, to provide the winged guests an undisturbed ecosystem for six months every year. Mangalajodi is recognised as globally important for the conservation of birds. Migratory birds arrive there for roosting. Chilika is 64 kilometres long in the north-south direction and 13.5 km wide in the east-west direction. The sea connected with the lake near Satapada through a shallow and narrow channel. Chilika is Asia’s largest and world’s second largest lagoon. It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent and is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals. In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Kalijai Temple – Located on an island in the Chilika Lake.
Corbevax: Corbevax is an indigenous vaccine made by Biological E. Ltd. Unlike other vaccines it is a “recombinant protein sub-unit”. The protein unit used here is SARS-CoV-2- that spike protein coronavirus surface that binds with cells and multiples to cause Covid-19. When the spike protein binds with the cell the virus gets unrestricted entry to the body, but the vaccine contains only the protein unit without the virus and hence cannot cause any harm to the body. Soon the body reacts to the foreign spike protein and starts preparing an immune response. Hence when the real Covid-19 virus affects the body the immune response that can counter the effect of the spike protein comes to function making the person less vulnerable to the infection. This vaccine will be used to vaccinate 12-14 age group.
Q commerce: Q-commerce (‘quick commerce’) – sometimes used interchangeably with ‘on-demand delivery’ and ‘e-grocery’ – is e-commerce in a new, faster form. It combines the merits of traditional e-commerce with innovations in last-mile delivery. The premise is largely the same, with speed of delivery being the main differentiator. Delivery is not in days but minutes – 30 or less, to be competitive. This has in turn expanded the breadth of what individuals can order, with perishable goods – like groceries – being a large niche q-commerce companies speak to. It tends to focus on the micro – smaller quantities of fewer goods.
UPI123: Reserve Bank of India has launched a new Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments solution for feature phone users dubbed ‘UPI123Pay’. UPI ‘123PAY’ is a three-step method to initiate and execute services for users which will work on simple phones. It will allow customers to use feature phones for almost all transactions except scan and pay. It doesn’t need an internet connection for transactions. Customers have to link their bank account with feature phones to use this facility.
National Land Minetisation Corporation: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved setting up National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC) to undertake monetization of surplus land and building assets of central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) and other government agencies. The NLMC will have an initial authorized share capital of Rs 5,000 crore and a paid-up share capital of Rs 150 crore. Members: NLMC will be a lean organization with minimal full-time staff, hired directly from the market on contract. The Board of Directors of NLMC will comprise senior Central Government officers and eminent experts to enable professional operations and management of the company. The Chairman, non-Government Directors of the NLMC will be appointed through a merit-based selection process.
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