- Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and is famous for the phumdis floating over it. Phumdis are a series of floating islands, exclusive to the Loktak Lake in Manipur state. They cover a substantial part of the lake area and are heterogeneous masses of vegetation, soil and organic matter, in different stages of decay.
- The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) – The NSAP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with an annual budget of Rs. 9975 crore. It currently covers more than three crore people who are below the poverty line (BPL), including about 80 lakh widows, 10 lakh disabled and 2.2 crore elderly. Those who are older than 80 years are paid Rs. 500 per month, while the rest are given Rs.200 per month. These amounts have not been revised since 2007. State governments add their own contribution, ranging from less than Rs.500 to Rs. 2000 per month.
- The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, mandates that the Centre appoint the CBI Director on the recommendation of a committee chaired by the Prime Minister and comprising the Leader of the Opposition, the CJI or his nominee Supreme Court judge.
- RailWire WiFi at 746 railway stations across the country has emerged as one of the world’s largest public WiFi networks. The network, provided by RailTel, a ‘Mini Ratna’ central PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) under the Ministry of Railways, is not only one of the largest but also one of the fastest public WiFi networks. This facility is being provided in association with Google as the technology partner.
- Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease. According to the WHO, infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. The infection is usually acquired in childhood, causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system. To deal with the disease, in the triple-drug regimen, three drugs – diethylcarbamazine citrate, albendazole and ivermectin have been prescribed.
- Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha are home to Irrawaddy dolphins.
- Pulicat lake is the second largest brackish water ecosystem in the country after the Chilika lake in Odisha.
- Nagaland is protected by the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873, whereby an Inner Line Permit is issued to outsiders for safeguarding the citizenship, rights and privileges of the Nagas, the statement said.
- Carbon-14, or radiocarbon, is a radioactive isotope of carbon with an atomic nucleus containing 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Its presence in organic materials is the basis of the radiocarbon dating method pioneered by Willard Libby and colleagues to date archaeological, geological and hydrogeological samples.
- The 93rd constitutional amendment enabled the provision of 27% reservation for OBCs in both public and private educational institutions, the Central Educational Institutes Amendment Act, 2006, only mandated the implementation of the OBC quota in centrally-funded institutions. Private players in many States don’t implement the OBC quota.
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