Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expected to visit Delhi in Nov.

• Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) is likely to visit India on November 14 to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The visit is likely to last a few hours and both leaders are expected to depart for Bali in Indonesia to attend the G20 summit on November 15 and 16.

About Saudi arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country situated in Southwest Asia, the largest country of Arabia, by the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen.

India’s Relations with Saudi Arabia

• Oil & Gas:
  • Saudi Arabia is currently India’s second-largest supplier of crude oil(Iraq has been India’s top supplier).
    • India imports around 18% of its crude oil requirement and around 22% of its Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) requirement from Saudi Arabia.
  • Saudi Arabia will assist in setting up the world’s largest greenfield refinery at Raigarh in Maharashtraby Saudi Aramco, Adnoc of the United Arab Emirates and Indian public sector oil companies.
• Bilateral Trade:
  • Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth largest trade partner (after the USA, China and UAE).
  • In FY 2021-22, bilateral trade was valued at USD 42.8 billion.
    • India’s imports from Saudi Arabia reached USD 34.01 billion and exports to Saudi Arabia were worth USD 8.76 billion. An increase of 5% over 2021.
    • Total trade with Saudi Arabia accounted for14% of India’s total trade in FY 2021-22.
  • Indian Diaspora:
    • The 6 million-strong Indian community in Saudi Arabia is the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom and is the ‘most preferred community’ due to their expertise, sense of discipline, law-abiding and peace-loving nature.
  • Cultural Linkages:
    • Haj pilgrimage is another important component of bilateral relations between India and Saudi Arabia.
  • Naval Exercise:
    • In 2021, India and Saudi Arabia started their first-ever Naval joint exercise called the Al-Mohed Al-Hindi Exercise.

New species of genus Allmania spotted

• A rather fraillooking Plant spotted on the granite hillocks of Palakkad has been identified as a new species of the genus Allmania.
• Named Allmania multiflora, the species is quite special from both the botanical and conservation points of view, according to researchers.
• An annual herb that grows to a height of about 60 cm, Allmania multiflora is only the second species of this genus identified so far anywhere.
• That is not all: the discovery has come 188 years after the genus and the first species were described by botanists.
• The first species, Allmania nodiflora, was originally published under the genus Celosia as Celosia nodiflora in 1753.
• Specimens found in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) were first described as Allmania nodiflora in 1834.
• Its newfound cousin, Allmania multiflora, is currently known only from a few locations. Given its small population, the researchers have assessed it as critically endangered, applying IUCN Red List criteria.
• The plant was discovered during ongoing studies on Amaranthaceae, the plant family to which the genus Allmania
• Found at heights ranging between 1,000 to 1,250 metres, Allmania multiflora is an annual herb, erect, with branches arising from the base.
• The stem is red to violet at the base and green above.
• Flowering and fruiting occurs from May to September. Allmania multiflora has been so named for having a higher number of florets within an inflorescence.

ISRO’s heaviest rocket with 36 satellites on board lifts off

• The heaviest rocket of the Indian Space Research Organisation, the LVM3M2/OneWeb India1, with 36 satellites on board took off from the second launch pad (SLP) of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR at Sriharikota at 12.07 a.m. on Sunday.
• LVM3M2 is the dedicated commercial satellite mission of NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL), a Central public sector enterprise under the Department of Space.
• With this launch, LVM3 is making its entry into the “global commercial launch service market”. This mission is being undertaken as part of the commercial arrangement entered into between NSIL and Network Access Associates Limited (m/s OneWeb Ltd), a U.K.based company.
• As part of this mission 36 OneWeb Gen1 satellites, meant for global connectivity needs, will be launched into circular low earth orbit of 601 km altitude.
• This mission is the fifth flight of LVM3. And this is the first Indian rocket with a six tonne payload.

NGT stops Corbett tiger safari work till panel submits tree felling report

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Uttarakhand government not to proceed with the Pakhro tiger safari project inside the Corbett Tiger Reserve until a committee submits its final report on the alleged illegal cutting of trees inside the reserve for the project.

About Corbett National Park (first National Park of India)

• It is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 in Corbett National Park (first National Park of India), which is part of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
  • The national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger.
  • It is named after Jim Corbett who played a key role in its establishment.
• The core area forms the Corbett National Park while the buffer contains reserve forests as well as the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological provinces.
• Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain and Kosi are the major rivers flowing through the Reserve.

• Flora:
  • According to the botanical survey of India, Corbett has 600 species of plants – trees, shrubs, ferns, grass, climbers, herbs and bamboos. Sal, Khair and Sissoo are the most visible trees found in Corbett.
• Fauna:
  • Apart from tigers, Corbett also has leopards. Other mammals such as jungle cats, barking deer, spotted deer, sambar deer, sloth are also found there.
• Other Major Protected Areas of Uttarakhand:
  • Nanda Devi National Park.
  • Valley of Flowers National Park.
    • Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi National Park together are a NESCO World Heritage Site.
    • Rajaji National Park.
    • Gangotri National Park.
    • Govind National Park.

About National Tiger Conservation Authority

• It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• It was established in 2005following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.
• It was constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it.

About NGT

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a specialized body that was formed under the NGT Act, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases that are related to the protection and conservation of the environment, forests, and other natural resources.
• India has become the third country in the world after Australia and New Zealand, for setting up a specialized environmental tribunal and also the first developing country to do so.
• The National Green Tribunal has a total of five places of sittings namely: Bhopal, Pune, New Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai, amongst which, New Delhi is the Principal place of sitting.

Objectives of National Green Tribunal (NGT)

Some of the major objectives of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) are as follows:

• Effective and expeditious disposal of cases that are related to the protection and conservation of the environment, forests, and other natural resources.
• To give relief and compensations for any damages caused to persons and properties.
• To handle various environmental disputes that involve multi-disciplinary issues.

Structure of NGT

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) comprises three major bodies namely:

1. The Chairperson
2. The Judicial Members, and
3. The Expert Members.

Also, there should be a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 fulltime Judicial as well as Expert members in the NGT.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III has been launched in Himachal Pradesh

About Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

• Launched on:25^th December, 2000.
• Objective: To provide connectivity, by way of an all-weather road to unconnected habitations.
• Eligibility: Unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-Eastern States, Himalayan States, Deserts and Tribal Areas as per 2001 census) in the core network for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural population.
  • An Unconnected Habitation is one with a population of designated size located at a distance of at least 500 metres or more (1.5 km of path distance in case of Hills) from an All-weather road or a connected Habitation.
  • Core Network: It is that minimal Network of roads (routes) that is essential to provide Basic access to essential social and economic services to all eligible habitations in the selected areas through at least single all-weather road connectivity.
• Latest Funding Pattern: The fund allocation to states has been made in subsequent years commensurate with the value of projects sanctioned to states.
  • The Union Government bears 90% of the project cost in respect of projects sanctioned under the scheme in North-Eastern and Himalayan States, whereas for other states the Union Government bears 60% of the cost.
• Construction of Rural Roads: The Rural Roads constructed under the PMGSY will be in accordance with the provision of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC).
  • IRC is the Apex Body of Highway Engineers in the country.
  • The IRC was set up in

Asia’s largest Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plant has been recently inaugurated in Punjab

About Compressed natural gas (CNG)

• It is a fuel gas mainly composed of methane (CH₄), compressed to less than 1% of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure.
• It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure of 20–25 megapascals (2,900–3,600 psi),  usually in cylindrical  or spherical  shapes.
• CNG is used in traditional petrol/internal combustion engine vehicles that have been modified, or in vehicles specifically manufactured for CNG use: either alone (dedicated), with a segregated liquid fuel system to extend range (dual fuel), or in conjunction with another fuel (bi-fuel). It can be used in place of petrol (gasoline), diesel fuel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
• CNG combustion produces fewer undesirable gases than the aforementioned fuels. In comparison to other fuels, natural gas poses less of a threat in the event of a spill, because it is lighter than air and disperses quickly when released.
• Biomethane – refined biogas from anaerobi digestion or landfills – can be used.

 Shiv Nadar replaced Azim Prem ji to become Most Generous Indian

• Nadar’s donations to philanthropic causes totalled ₹1,161 crore, or ₹3 crore a day, Premji clocked ₹484 crore.
• Asia’s richest man, Gautam Adani, came in seventh with a donation of ₹190 crore, while Mukesh Ambani took the third spot with ₹411 crore donations.

India Gate Basamati rice brand has been recognized as World no 1 Basamati rice brand

Puneet Rajkumar will be posthumously Honoured with Karnataka ratna award

Dubai to host 22^nd World Blockchain Summit

‘Tazuni’ mascot unveiled for 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Source : THE HINDU