Prelim Bits 05-03-2019

National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)

It was launched by the Prime Minister in Ahmadabad, Gujarat.
The first Indigenously Developed Payment Eco-system for transport consists of

Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs brought to the fore the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) to enable seamless travel by different metros and other transport systems.
NCMC enables people to pay multiple kinds of transport charges, including metro services and toll tax, across the country.

It is also known as 'One Nation One Card'.
The inter-operable transport card would allow the holders to pay for their bus travel, toll taxes, parking charges, retail shopping and even withdraw money.
It is a bank-issued card on debit or credit or pre-paid card product platform.
AFC System (gates, readers/validators, backend infrastructure etc.) is the core of any transit operator to automate the fare collection process.

Yuva Vigyani Karyakram (YUVIKA)

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has launched a special program for School Children called “Young Scientist Program” or “YUva VIgyani KAryakram”.
It is primarily aimed at imparting basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications to the younger in order to develop their interest in the emerging areas of Space activities.
The students who have finished 8^th standard and currently studying in 9^th standard will be eligible for the program.

BOLD-QIT

BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) under CIBMS (Comprehensive Integrated Border Management system) on India-Bangladesh border in Assam will be launched soon.
It is the project to install technical systems under the CIBMS.
It enables Border Security Force to equip Indo-Bangladesh borders with different kind of sensors in unfenced riverine area of Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
The area has been covered with data network generated by Microwave communication, day and night surveillance Cameras and intrusion detection system etc.,

Fall Army worm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

Fall Army worm attack poses a threat to food security and livelihoods of millions as it ravages crops in Africa and Asia.
Also the Union government sent an alert to the Odisha agriculture department warning of the Fall Armyworm (FAW) infestation on maize cultivation in some states during Kharif 2018.
It is an insect that is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas.
It mostly affects maize but it also feeds on more than 80 additional species of crops, including rice, sorghum, millet, sugarcane, vegetable crops and cotton.
It was first detected in Central and Western Africa in early 2016 and has quickly spread across virtually all of Sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2018 it was confirmed in India and Yemen.
The trade and the moth's strong flying ability are the reasons for their wide extent.

Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)

USA has decided to withdraw India’s name from Generalized System of Preferences or GSP list.
It is a U.S. trade program designed to promote economic growth in the developing world.
It provides preferential duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products from 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories.
India exported an estimated $5.6 billion worth of goods to the US under this program in 2017.
The reason behind this move is that India has not assured the United States that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets.

EWS in J&K

President issued an order extending the benefits of reservation to economically backward sections in Jammu and Kashmir.
This would pave the way for reserving State government jobs to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir who are from economically weaker sections belonging to any religion or caste.
The Central government’s move came as Jammu and Kashmir is currently under the President’s Rule
It will extend benefits for the EWS in higher educational institutions and government jobs in addition to the reservation for the other categories.
10% reservation to economically weaker sections was introduced in the rest of the country through the 103rd Constitutional Amendment in 2019.

Source: PIB, The Hindu, Times Of India