• Information on traces of palaeochannels found in parts of the Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh have been generated as part of various studies carried out by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM)

• It envisages mapping of aquifers (water bearing formations), their characterization and development of Aquifer Management Plans to facilitate sustainable management of Ground Water Resources.
• Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is implementing National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM) in the country
• Further, CGWB also takes up various studies with respect to palaeochannels as part of the same program as per requirement.
• Water being a State subject, initiatives on water management including study and recharge of Palaeo-channels in the Country is primarily States’ responsibility.

• Kandla SEZ (KASEZ) was awarded IGBC Platinum Rating recently.
• It is the First Green SEZ to achieve the IGBC Green Cities Platinum Rating for Existing Cities.
• IGBC Platinum rating has been awarded for ‘Green master planning, policy initiatives and implementation of green infrastructure’ by CII’s Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
• The recognition is set to pave way for all the other SEZs in the country to emulate the green initiative and efforts of Kandla SEZ.

• As per National Mineral Inventory data, the total reserves/resources of gold ore (primary) in the country have been estimated at 501.83 million tonnes.
• In India, largest resources of gold ore (primary) are located in Bihar (44%) followed by Rajasthan (25%), Karnataka (21%), West Bengal (3%), Andhra Pradesh (3% ), Jharkhand (2 %).
• The remaining 2% resources of ore are located in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

• The Uttarakhand government announced that it will initiate valuation of its natural resources in the form of ‘Gross Environment Product’ (GEP), said to be along the lines of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• Uttarakhand is the first State in India to introduce the Gross Environment Product (GEP).

Gross Environment Product (GEP)

• Gross Environment Product (GEP) is an assessment system to measure the ecosystem services of any area.
• It reflects the aggregated annual value of goods and services provided by ecosystems (forests, water bodies, oceans, etc.) to people in a given region, such as at district levels, state, and country.
• It entails the establishment of a natural capital accounting framework by integrating ecological benefits into common measures of economic growth such as GDP.
• It summarizes the value of ecosystem services in a single monetary metric.

• The World Bank-supported Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) Phase-III - started by the Ministry of Education in 2017 - is going to conclude on 30th September 2021.

Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme-III

• TEQIP Phase-III aims to improve the quality of engineering education.
• Rs 10 crore has been provided for Multidisciplinary Education Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) in the budget 2021-22 to start preparatory works.

The measures under TEQIPPhase-III include,

1. Institution-based - Accreditation of the courses through NBA, governance reforms, improving the processes, digital initiatives, securing autonomy for the colleges.
2. Student-based - Improving the quality of teaching, teacher training, equipping the class rooms, revision of syllabus, etc.,

• The focus is on the most backward states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, North-East, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, etc.
  • The Government of India has been making continuous efforts to ensure that the focus State Governments prepare a sustainability plan for the TEQIP-III to avoid any academic standstill beyond the project period.

Special Economic Zones

• An SEZ is a territory within a country that is typically duty-free (Fiscal Concession) and has different business and commercial laws chiefly to encourage investment and create employment.
• The Special Economic Zones Act was passed in 2005, It into force along with the SEZ Rules in 2006.
• SEZs are created also to better administer these areas, thereby increasing the ease of doing business.
• Asia’s first EPZ (Export Processing Zones) was established in 1965 at Kandla, Gujarat.

Dying Declaration

• The Section 32 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 deals with cases in which statement of relevant fact is made by a person who is dead or cannot be found.
• The general rule under Section 60 of the Act is that all oral evidence must be direct i.e. he heard it, saw it or perceived it.
• Dying declarations can be recorded by

1. Anyone can record the dying declaration of the deceased as per law.
2. The law does not compulsorily require the presence of a Judicial or Executive Magistrate to record a dying declaration.
3. A dying declaration cannot be relied upon as the solitary piece of evidence unless recorded by a Judicial or Executive Magistrate.
4. A dying declaration recorded by a Judicial or Executive Magistrate will muster additional strength to the prosecution case though.
5. A dying declaration may in several cases be the primary piece of evidence to prove the genesis of occurrence.
6. The person who records the dying declaration must be satisfied that the victim is in a fit state of mind.

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

• The more organic matter there is (e.g., in sewage and polluted bodies of water), the greater is the BOD.
• Greater BOD, the lower the amount of dissolved oxygen available for higher animals such as fishes.
• The quality of water increases with an increase in Dissolved Oxygen levels, A DO level of 5 mg/l or above is the recommended level for bathing in a river.
• One of the main reasons for treating wastewater prior to its discharge into a water resource is to lower its BOD i.e. to reduce its need of oxygen and thereby lessen its demand from the streams, lakes, rivers, or estuaries into which it is released.

Gatekeeper Model

• National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) issued guidelines on the management of mental health issues of the prisoners and prison staff.
• It recommended the gatekeeper model where selected inmates trained to identify prisoners at risk of suicide, would refer them to treatment or supportive service.

Kakatiya Ramappa Temple

• It was built during the rule of Kakatiya dynasty, located in the State of Telangana, declared as UNESCO’s World Heritage site.
• It is the main Shiva temple in a walled complex built during the Kakatiyan period (1123–1323 CE) under rulers Rudradeva and Recharla Rudra.
• Its sculptures of high artistic quality illustrate regional dance customs and Kakatiyan culture.
• It is nominated under UNESCO’s Criterion i (Masterpiece of human creative genius) and Criterion iii (bearing a unique or at least an exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition, which is living or which has disappeared).