1) Hybrid Immunity: It is gained from a previous infection plus vaccines – either the primary doses or both primary and booster doses. A study by Lancet said that a hybrid immunity offers a “higher magnitude and durability” of protection as compared to infection alone, emphasising the need for vaccination.
- Getting a natural infection – best after vaccination so that the risk of death is lower – provides better protection than vaccines alone because it prepares the body against the entire virus, rather than say just the spike protein.
2) National Export Co-operative Society: Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002, it will act as an umbrella organisation for carrying out and promoting exports.
- It will help cooperatives in getting benefits of various export-related schemes and policies of different ministriesin a focussed manner through the ‘Whole of Government Approach’.
- Dividends will be shared with the manufacturer instantly and without any brokerage fee.
- The society will have an authorised share capital of ₹2,000 crore with the area of operation all over the country.It will have its registered office in Delhi.
- Leading cooperatives like IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NAFED, Amul and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) will be the promoters of the Society. They will contribute ₹100 crore each.
3) Chamundi Hills: Located in the city of Mysore, Karnataka.
- The famous Sri Chamundeshwari Temple is situated on top of Chamundi hills.
- In the earlier days, the Hill was identified as ‘Mahabaladri’ in honour of God Shiva who resides in the ‘Mahabaleswara Temple’. This is the oldest temple on the hills.
- These hills have been mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures such as ‘Skanda Purana’.
- Sri Chamundeshwari Temple:It is dedicated to the Goddess Chamundeshwari (Chamundi), deity of the Mysore Royal Family.It is built in the Dravidian style of temple architecture.
- The temple has a quadrangular structure.
- It has an impressive seven-tier tower called ‘gopuram’ or ‘gopura’ and an equally imposing entrance which is known as ‘dwara’.
4) Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme:
- Ministry of Tourism launched the PRASHAD scheme in the year 2014-2015 as a Central Sector Scheme for developing and identifying pilgrimage sites across India for enriching the religious tourism experience.
- For improved sustainability of the project, it also seeks to involve Public Private Partnership (PPP) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as well.
- The projects identified under this scheme shall be implemented through the identified agencies by the respective State/ Union Territory Government.
5) Indian Star Tortoise: A recent study on the Indian star tortoise distributed across South Asia has revealed that the genetic diversity of the species as well as its habitat has suffered major losses because of rampant illegal trade.
- It is found in the central and Southern parts of India, in West Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
- IUCN Status: Vulnerable, CITES: Appendix I, Wild Life Protection Act 1972: Schedule IV
