Neutrino Project

• India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project has hit a roadblock since the site is within the tiger corridor in Tamil Nadu.
• The project was put outside of the eco-sensitive zone by Environment Ministry. This had allowed it to go ahead without needing clearance from National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
• Neutrinos-The proton, neutron, and electron are tiny particles that makeup atoms.The neutrino is a tiny elementary particle that isn’t part of the atom and interacts with other matter particles very weakly.

Project SAGE

• The Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment virtually launched the SAGE (Senior care Aging Growth Engine) initiative and SAGE portal for elderly persons.
• The SAGE portal will be one-stop access to elderly care products and services by credible start-ups.
• There is an urgent need to create a more robust eldercare ecosystem in India, especially in the post-COVID phase.

Launch of Seed Minikits Programme

• The Seed Minikit Programme was launched recently was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture.
• Seed Minikits consisting of higher-yielding varieties of seeds of Pulses and oilseeds were distributed to farmers.
• It is wholly funded by the Government of India through the National Food Security Mission.

Dagmara Hydro-Electric Project

• NHPC Limited and Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (BSHPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Dagmara Hydro-Electric Project.
• Dagmara Hydro-Electric Project spans the Kosi River. The project lies near the hamlet of Dagmara on the Kosi River.
• It has a total capacity of 130 MW of energy generation and the construction cost is to be Rs. 2478.24 crore.
• The project’s implementation would promote the area’s socio-economic and infrastructure development.

Beed Model

• The Maharashtra government has requested that the crop insurance program Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojna’s (PMFBY) “Beed model” be implemented throughout the state.
• The insurance firm gives a cover of 110% of the premium received under this approach and the state government would pay if the compensation sum exceeded 110%.
• If the compensation will be less than the premium paid, the insurance firm would take 20% as processing fees.

About PMFBY

• The flagship PMFBY, which was launched in 2016, guarantees agricultural losses against bad weather.
• For Kharif crops, the required premium is 2%, for Rabi crops, it is 1.5 %, and for commercial and horticultural crops it is 5%. Enrollment in the program is entirely voluntary for all farmers.