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Land Pooling Policy in India

Land Pooling Policy in India: A New Approach to Urban Development

India’s swift urbanization necessitates sustainable, inclusive, and efficient city planning strategies. Traditional land acquisition methods have frequently resulted in legal conflicts, displacement, and social unrest. To address these issues, the Land Pooling Policy (LPP) has emerged as a forward-thinking alternative, particularly in metropolitan areas like Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat. This policy fosters a collaborative and participatory approach to urban development, transforming landowners into active stakeholders rather than passive victims.

What is Land Pooling Policy?

Land Pooling is a strategic policy that allows a group of landowners to voluntarily combine their land parcels for organized urban development. Rather than selling their land outright to the government or private developers, these landowners contribute their properties to a development authority, such as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

Once the necessary infrastructure—such as roads, sewage systems, parks, and public facilities—is established, the land is returned to the original owners in a smaller but more valuable and serviced form. For example, if a farmer contributes 1 hectare of land, they might receive back 0.6 hectares after development. The remaining land is utilized by the government for public infrastructure and to recoup development costs through sales or commercial use. Read More

Technology

Interceptor Drones: The Future of Aerial Threat Neutralization

In an era where drone technology has become both a boon and a threat, the rise of interceptor drones marks a significant milestone in modern defence and surveillance. Designed to detect, track, and neutralize unauthorized or hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), interceptor drones are rapidly becoming a crucial asset in military, homeland security, and critical infrastructure protection domains.

What Are Interceptor Drones?

As a type of UAV, interceptor drones are designed for the specific purpose of locating and neutralizing other drones. Unlike other combat or surveillance drones which operate independently to gather information or deliver payloads, interceptor drones are employed with the singular mission of neutralizing drone threats. These defensive drones are designed to protect airspace from unauthorized drone incursions, whether for espionage, contraband, or terrorist activities.

They are fitted with sensors, high-speed motors, and various other systems for interception, including nets, kinetic projectiles, jammers, or even kamikaze-style self-detonation. Some models are equipped with AI to make independent decisions while pursuing and tracking targets.

The Growing Need for Drone Interceptors

As the commercial and recreational use of drones becomes increasingly common, incidents involving rogue or weaponized drones are on the rise. Unauthorized drone flights over airports and public events, as well as drones used for smuggling contraband into prisons or by insurgents in conflict zones, pose significant and growing threats.

Several notable incidents underscore the urgency of addressing this issue:

Gatwick Airport Disruption: A series of drone sightings near the runway led to a 36-hour shutdown of the UK’s second-busiest airport, affecting over 1,000 flights.
Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Both sides have extensively utilized drones, including interceptor drones, marking a significant shift towards large-scale drone warfare.

These incidents reveal the limitations of traditional defense systems in detecting and countering small, fast-moving UAVs. As a result, there is a growing global demand for specialized counter-UAV technologies, particularly interceptor drones. Read More

Health

Hantavirus: A Rising Concern in Global Health

Hantavirus: An Overview

Hantavirus is a family of viruses transmitted to humans through contact with rodents, primarily their droppings, urine, or saliva. The virus can lead to serious diseases, including Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS). While these diseases are relatively rare, they are very serious, and the conditions caused by the virus can be fatal without proper treatment.

Transmission and Risk Factors

Hantavirus is primarily transmitted to humans by inhaling dust or aerosols contaminated with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. The virus can also be contracted through direct contact with infected rodents or their secretions.

People who are most at risk include those who:

Work in occupations that involve exposure to rodent habitats (e.g., farming, construction, and pest control).
Live in rural or forested areas where rodents are common.
Spend time in areas with high rodent populations.

Hantavirus is not spread through human-to-human contact, which makes it different from some other viral infections like the flu or COVID-19.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

HPS is the most common form of hantavirus infection in the Americas, especially in the United States. It is often severe and can be fatal. The symptoms of HPS typically begin with:

Fever
Muscle aches
Fatigue
Headaches

Within a few days, the virus can cause shortness of breath, dizziness, and coughing as the lungs fill with fluid, leading to difficulty breathing. In severe cases, the disease can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), where the lungs stop functioning properly, and death can occur within days.

Computer Accessories & Peripherals

Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers-2024 (Mid-Range)

Music is the heart and soul of every generation people. The trend of listening music is so high that people wants to listen music wherever they move. Seeing the lust of people for music, most of the speaker making companies started making Portable Bluetooth speakers which acts as easiest, most affordable way to spread the sound from our phone or tablet across a room, backyard, or beach blanket. Some of the best Portable Bluetooth Speakers in India are as under(Mid-Range):

Echo Dot (3rd Gen) – New and improved smart speaker with Alexa :

Smart Speaker with 360 Degree Sound
Voice Control Smart Home
Stream millions of songs from Amazon Prime Music, JioSaavn, Gaana, Apple music
Play Songs in different popular languages of India
Alexa is always ready to help in both English & Hindi

JBL Go 2 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker with Mic:

Wireless Bluetooth Streaming
5 Hours of Playtime under optimum audio settings
IPX7 Waterproof design
Built-in Noise-cancelling Speakerphone
Audio cable input

Education & Banking

RBI Retail Direct Scheme

RBI – Retail Direct Scheme

The Reserve Bank announces the activation of the RBI Retail Direct Scheme with effect from 12^th November 2021. The Scheme was launched in virtual mode by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.

A significant milestone in the development of the Government securities (G-sec) market, the Reserve Bank of India-Retail Direct (RBI-RD) Scheme will bring G-secs within easy reach of the common man by simplifying the process of investment. Under the Scheme, retail individual investors will be able to open a Retail Direct Gilt (RDG) Account with the Reserve Bank of India, using an online portal (https://rbiretaildirect.org.in).

What is RBI Retail Direct Scheme?

‘RBI Retail Direct’ is a comprehensive scheme which provides the following facilities to retail investors in government securities market through an online portal (https://rbiretaildirect.org.in):

i) Open and maintain a ‘Retail Direct Gilt Account’ (RDG Account)
ii) Access to primary issuance of Government securities

iii) Access to NDS-OM

Who are eligible for RBI Retail Direct Scheme?

Retail investors, as defined under the scheme, can register under the Scheme and maintain a RDG Account, if they have the following:
i) Rupee savings bank account maintained in India;
ii) Permanent Account Number (PAN) issued by the Income Tax Department;

iii) Any OVD for KYC purpose;

iv) Valid email id; and
v) Registered mobile number.
Non-Resident retail investors eligible to invest in Government Securities under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 are eligible under the scheme.
The RDG account can be opened singly or jointly with another retail investor who meets the eligibility criteria.

Procedure/Process of RBI Retail Direct Scheme?

Registration

Investors can register on the online portal by filling up the online form and use the OTP received on the registered mobile number and email id to authenticate and submit the form.
Instructions issued under RBI-Know Your Customer (KYC) Direction, 2016, updated from time to time, will be adhered to during on boarding the investors. Upon successful registration, ‘Retail Direct Gilt Account’ will be opened and details for accessing the online portal will be conveyed through SMS/e-mail.
RDG Account shall be available for primary market participation as well as secondary market transactions on NDS-OM.

Primary Market Participation

Participation and allotment of securities will be as per the non-competitive scheme for participation in primary auction of government securities and procedural guidelines for SGB issuance.

Only one bid per security is permitted. On submission of the bid, the total amount payable will be displayed.
Payment to the aggregator / receiving office can be made through either of the following ways:

Using the net-banking/UPI facility from the linked bank account, whereby funds will be debited at the time of submission of bids on the portal.
Using the UPI facility, whereby funds in the linked bank account can be blocked at the time of submission of bids on the portal which will be debited from this account on successful allotment in the auction. Similar facility through banks will be made available in due course.
Refund, if any, will be credited to the investor’s bank account as per the timelines specified by the aggregator.

Allotted securities will be issued to the investors by credit to their RDG Account on the day of settlement.

Secondary Market Transaction – NDS – OM

Registered investors can access the secondary market transaction link on the online portal to buy or sell government securities through NDS-OM (odd lot segment/RFQ).

Buy

Payment can be made through either of the following ways:

Before start of trading hours or during the day, the investor should transfer funds to the designated account of CCIL (Clearing corporation of NDS-OM) using net-banking/UPI from the linked bank account. Based on actual transfer/success message, a funding limit (Buying Limit) will be given for placing ‘Buy’ orders. At the end of the trading session, any excess funds lying to the credit of the investor will be refunded.
Using the UPI facility, whereby funds in the linked bank account can be blocked at the time of placing order which will be debited from this account on the day of settlement. Similar facility through banks will be made available in due course.

Securities purchased will be credited to the RDG Account on the day of settlement.

Sell

Securities identified for sale will be blocked at the time of placing order till the settlement of the trade.
Funds from the sale transactions will be credited to the linked bank account on the day of settlement.

Non-Trade transactions – Value Free Transactions (VFT)

Transactions permitted under VFT guidelines issued by RBI on November 16, 2018, as amended from time to time, as applicable to retail investors, will be available under the scheme.
For such purposes, the investors should submit an application on the online portal.

Technology

High Security Registration Plates (HSRP)

Government of India vide their gazette dated 06^th December 2018, passed an order for High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) which shall came into force by 1^st day of April 2019.

What is High Security Registration Plates (HSRP)?

A High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) is an aluminium-made number plate that is fixed onto a vehicle by a minimum of two non-reusable Snap-On locks and has various identifiable features.

What are the features of High Security Registration Plates?

It has aluminium-made number plate that is fixed onto a vehicle by a minimum of two non-reusable Snap-On locks.
To protect against counterfeiting, a chromium-based hologram of the size 20 mm x 20 mm shall be applied by hot stamping on the top left-hand corner of the plate in both front and rear plates. The hologram shall contain CHAKRA in blue colour.
The permanent identification number of minimum 10 digits shall be laser branded into the reflective sheeting on the bottom left-hand side of the registration plate with the letter size being 5 mm
The hot stamping film to be applied on the letters or numerals of the licence number shall bear the inscription “INDIA”.
It also has a third registration plate in the form of a self-destructive type chromium based hologram sticker shall be of the size of 100 mm x 60 mm is to be affixed on the inner side of left hand corner of windshield of the vehicle.
The background colour for the self-destructive type chromium based hologram sticker for the Diesel vehicles shall be Orange and it shall be Light Blue for the Petrol and CNG vehicles. For all other vehicles, the background shall be of grey colour
The unique high security registration plate shall be linked electronically to the vehicle after its affixture on the vehicle on registration.
Retro Reflective Sheet (RRS) is used in HSRP that helps to enhance night-time visibility. HSRP is made using a high-grade RRS that helps in increasing visibility from a distance of over 200 meters.