1) Land Port Authority of India (LPAI): It is established under the Land Ports Authority of India Act, 2010 under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- LPAI is mandated to develop, sanitize and manage the facilities for the cross-border movement of passengers and goods at designated points along the international borders of India.
- The chairperson and Members are appointed by Central Government.
- There are currently ten Land Ports operational in India at Attari, Agartala, Dawki, Petrapole, Raxaul, Jogbani, Moreh, Sutarkandi, Srimantapur and PTB at Dera Baba Nanak
2) Bharatkosh Portal: The Bharatkosh aims to provide 24X7 year round electronic services to deposit the money into Government Account using internet based payment technologies to the users at the door step through the web based portal.
- It serves as a one stop services to deposit any fees/fine/other money into the Government Account.
- It is initiative of Controller General of Accounts, Ministry of Finance.
- It converges all the Civil Ministries/Departments of Government of India.
3) String-based technology to produce lithium: Usually, lithium extraction involves evaporation from ponds that concentrate lithium from saltwater reservoirs, and salt flats of underground aquifers.
- String method uses strings of porous fibers engineered to have a hydrophilic (substance that has water affinity) core and water-repelling surface.
- On dip in saltwater solution, it uses capillary action and subsequent evaporation of water to concentrate salt ions like sodium and lithium.
- Significance: Reduce the amount of land and time needed for production
4) Biohacking: Biohacking is a term used to describe various methods employed for enhancing the body’s ability to function at peak performance – and maybe even extend ones lifespan.
- It can include lifestyle changes such as meditation, exercise; biologics; technology adoption such as electromagnetic stimulators, hyperbaric chambers, etc.
- Emerging areas of biohacking: reducing one’s age, enabling motor functions, genetic modifications and improving functioning of the brain etc
Places in News:
1) Pir Panjal region: Pir Panjal Range is a group of mountains in the Inner Himalayan region.
- Location: from east-southeast (ESE) to west-northwest (WNW) across Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
- Separates the Jammu hills from the Kashmir Valley.
- Hill station- Gulmarg is located in this range.
- Major passes: Pir Panjal Pass (west of Srinagar), Banihal Pass, Sinthan Pass (link Jammu and Kashmir), Rohtang La (link Kullu to Lahual).
- The Atal tunnel is constructed in the Pir Panjal ranges
2) Narmada river: Flooding in Narmada displaced thousands in Gujarat.
- It is the largest west flowing river, rises near the Amarkantak range of mountains in Madhya Pradesh.
- It is the fifth-largest river in the country.
- It traverses Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat and meets the Gulf of Cambay.
- Tributaries are the Burhner, Halon, Heran, Banjar, Dudhi, Tawa, Barna, Kolar, Beda, Goi, and Orsang
- Flows between the Vindhya Range and Satpura Range.
- Dams in Narmada Basin: Sardar Sarovar dam, Rani Avanti Bai Sagar (Bargi) Dam, Maheshwar Dam etc
3) Chausath Yogini temple: It is believed that the design of the old Parliament building was inspired from Chausath Yogini temple located in Mitaoli village in Madhya Pradesh.
- Old Parliament building was designed by architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.
- The grand Chausath Yogini temple is circular, with 64 chambers dedicated to the 64 yoginis, and a central shrine dedicated to Shiva.
- The 64 yoginis are believed to be powerful warriors and sorceresses.
- It was built around 1323 by King Devapala of the Kachchhapaghata dynasty
