Dvorak technique

• The Dvorak technique is a cloud pattern recognition technique based on a concept model of the development and decay of the tropical cyclone.
• Through this statistical technique, scientists measure the cyclone’s convective cloud pattern curved bands, eye and central dense or cold region and shear.
• It is the Dvorak technique which gives the best estimates of the cyclone intensity, a vital component while issuing weather warnings.
• This tool, cannot help make any predictions, measure wind or pressure or any other meteorological parameters associated with the cyclone.
• But it is a guide to estimate the storm’s intensity and possible intensification which is crucial for local administration in planning evacuation measures of coastal or other nearby residents.

Yield Curve Control (YCC)

• Yield curve control (YCC) involves targeting a longer-term interest rate by a central bank, then buying or selling as many bonds as necessary to hit that rate target.
• This approach could help prevent a recession or lessen the impact of a downturn.
• Yield Control Curve may be needed for economic stimulus as short-term rates near zero.
• Yield control curve, also referred as interest rate caps, aims to control interest rates along with some portion of the yield curve.

Hybrid motor

• It is developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
• The hybrid motor is more efficient, greener and safer to handle and paves the way for new propulsion technologies for future missions.
• The technology demonstration paves the way for hybrid propulsion-based sounding rockets and an exciting platform for vertical landing experiments for spent-stage recovery.
• It is a hybrid motor which is a combination of solid fuel and liquid oxidizer.
• The motor used Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) as fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer.

SPARSH initiative

• SPARSH is a web-based system for processing the pension claims and crediting the pension directly into the bank accounts of defense pensioners without any external intermediary.  
• It has been designed to give Defense Pensioners a transparent view of their pension account, through an online portal.
• This system is administered by the Defense Accounts Department through the Principal Controller of Defense Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj and caters to all the three Services and allied organization.
• The system on roll-out is initially catering to the new retirees and subsequently is being extended to cover the existing defense pensioners.

Puneet Sagar Abhiyan

• National Cadet Corps and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to tackle the issue of plastic pollution and achieve the universal goal of clean water bodies through ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’
• The National Cadet Corps (NCC) had in 2021, launched ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’.
• It is a nationwide flagship campaign, initially for one month, to clean sea shores of plastic & other waste material, while raising awareness about the importance of cleanliness.
• It was subsequently extended as a Pan-India round-the-year campaign to cover rivers and other water bodies as well.
• Since the launch of ‘Puneet Sagar Abhiyan’, over 100 tons of plastic waste have been collected from nearly 1,900 locations by more than 12 lakh NCC cadets.
• Of the approximately 100 tons of collected plastic waste, more than 60 tons have been handed over for recycling.