November 2015 First Week Facts for UPSC Prelims Examination

Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, 2015

UPSC had asked a prelims question in 2015 on this award. This time, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been chosen for 2015 award for its Immense contributions in assisting millions of refugees in their rehabilitation and resettlement, and working under difficult circumstances to bring about changes in order to reduce the flow of refugees.

Dabaa

Russia has signed two agreements with Egypt to finance and build its first nuclear power plant at Dabaa on the Mediterranean coast in the northwest of the country.

TOPS Scheme

Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) is a scheme of India’s Sports & Youth Affairs. Recently, former world long jump champion Anju Bobby George was appointed its Chairperson. The scheme is implemented under the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) with an objective of identifying and supporting potential medal prospects sportspersons for 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games. The focused disciplines under this scheme are Boxing, Athletics, Badminton, Archery, Wrestling and Shooting.

SATYAM programme

The Ministry of Science and Technology has launched SATYAM (Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation) programme. The main objective of the programme is to strengthen research in the areas of yoga and meditation. The programme will harness knowledge obtained in academic institutions and other related agencies for finding Science and Technology -led solutions to the growing stress and strain problems in the society.

World Energy Outlook

The World Energy Outlook report is published annually by International Energy Agency (IEA). The International Energy Agency (IEA) was established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1974. It acts as a policy adviser to its member states. The World Energy Outlook 2015, points that the global energy use is set to grow by one-third over the next 25 years, driven mostly by emerging economies.

Project ASMAN

In an initiative to reduce infant, neonatal and maternal mortality in India, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MSD India, Reliance Foundation, Tata Trusts and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) formed an alliance to launch Project ASMAN.

Financial Infrastructure Development Network (FIDN)

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies have formally launched an initiative to make financial services accessible to more micro, small and medium-enterprises (MSMEs). The Financial Infrastructure Development Network (FIDN) is a network that brought together experts from the public and private sectors, including international organizations and industry associations, to support APEC economies in undertaking financial infrastructure reforms

Maareech

Recently, Union Defence Minister has handed over Maareech – Advanced Torpedo Defence System developed by DRDO to the Indian Navy. Maareech is a joint project of Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi and Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Vishakhapatnam. It is a state-of-the-art indigenous system for torpedo detection and countermeasures.

Doyang Lake

The Doyand Lake in Nagaland is set to develop as an eco-tourism spot for bird-watchers. Amur falcons come to roost at Doyang Lake in Wokha district of Nagaland every year, during their flight from Mongolia to Africa. The falcons travel almost 22,000km every year and come to Doyang every year in millions. They spend nearly a month in Doyang on the bank of the water reservoir of the Doyang hydroelectric project.

India’s first mega silk cluster

India’s first mega silk cluster will come up at Belavadi, on the outskirts of Mysuru in Karnataka state. The silk cluster is a first of its kind initiative, aimed at creating state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities for silk weaving and processing in the region. Initially, the Government of India will contribute Rs. 30 crore towards the project and a special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be constituted for raising the remaining cost from stakeholders. The facility is expected to be completed in 2016.

Global Gender Gap Index

World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2015 has ranked India at 108 out of 145 countries. Last year India’s rank was 114. India has moved up six spots. The Index is constructed on the basis of the gap between men and women in each country across four sub-indices, namely, economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Iceland, Norway and Finland ranked the first, the second and the third respectively.