·      It is the world’s largest dedicated climate fund which was set up at COP 16 held in Cancun in 2010.

·      It is an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

·      It accelerates transformative climate action in developing countries through a country-owned partnership approach and use of flexible financing solutions and climate investment expertise.

·      The GCF is a legally independent institution with a fully independent secretariat headed by an Executive Secretary.

·      The Secretariat, located in Songdo South Korea, began its work in December 2013.

What is the Financing Mitigation and Adaptation Project?

·      It would provide “nearly 10,000 concessional loans to MSMEs”, to promote low-emission, climate-resilient technologies.

·      The FMAP programme is expected to result in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to the tune of 35.3 million tonnes.

·      This is the second GCF-approved project led by SIDBI. The first project is the Avaana Sustainability Fund, which helps startups access climate finance.

·      Bal Gangadhar Tilak, commonly known as Lokmanya Tilak, was a prominent Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, social reformer, and political leader during the Indian independence movement.

·      He was one of the prime architects of modern India and probably the strongest advocate of Swaraj, or Self Rule for India.

·      He is known for his slogan, “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it.”

·      He was born as Keshav Gangadhar Tilak, and his followers bequeathed upon him the title of ‘Lokmanya’, meaning he who is revered by the people.

Extremist:

·      He was considered a radical Nationalist.

·      The British Government termed him the “Father of Indian Unrest”.

Organisations:

·      He joined the Indian National Congress Party in 1890.

·      He also helped found the All India Home Rule League in 1916–18 with G. S. Khaparde and Annie Besant.

·      Tilak started his Home Rule League in Maharashtra, Central Provinces, and Karnataka and Berar region.

·      Besant’s League was active in the rest of India.

·      It aimed to advocate for self-rule and raise public awareness about India’s right to govern itself.

Literary works:

·      Tilak was a prolific writer and journalist.

·      He used his newspaper, “Kesari” (meaning Lion) in Marathi and later “Maratha” in English, to disseminate nationalist ideas.

·      Some of his notable literary works include “The Arctic Home in the Vedas,” where he presented his theory that the Vedas originated in the Arctic region, and “Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Rahasya,” an interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita from a nationalist perspective.

Educationist:

·      Tilak believed in the power of education and established the Deccan Education Society in Pune in 1884.

·      The society founded Fergusson College and the New English School, which played crucial roles in promoting modern education in Maharashtra.

·      Tilak taught mathematics at Fergusson College.

·      Social Reform: Lokmanya Tilak was also an advocate of social reform. He actively supported the eradication of social evils like untouchability and child marriage and promoted education for women.

·      Lal-Bal-Pal: He had popular leaders such as Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Raias his political companions, and the three were popularly known as the ‘Lal-Bal-Pal triumvirate.’

·      Imprisonments: He was arrested for sedition on multiple occasions. His most prolonged incarceration lasted from 1908 to 1914, during which he wrote the famous book “Gita Rahasya” (The Secret of the Bhagavad Gita).

·      In 1916, he concluded the Lucknow Pact with Mohammed Ali Jinnah, which provided for Hindu-Muslim unity in the nationalist struggle.

·      The Scheme is meant for improving the financial and socio-economic status of the old artistes and scholars who have contributed significantly to their specialized fields of arts.

·      The financial assistance to veteran artists aged 60 years and above.

·      The selected artist is provided maximum financial assistance of Rs. 6000 per month.

·      It is an initiative of the Ministry of Culture.

·      The Scheme will be implemented by the Ministry with the support of all Zonal Cultural Centres and SCZCC, Nagpur.

·      Eligibility Criteria for monthly Financial Assistance – Personal income of the applicant (including income of the spouse) must not exceed Rs. 6,000 per month or annual income of Rs.72, 000.

·      The applicant artiste should be a recipient of artist’s pension of at least Rs. 500 per month from the concerned State Government/UT Administration.

·      The applicant artistes should not be getting financial assistance under any other Scheme of the Ministry viz. Repertory Grant and son on.

·      It is the highest award bestowed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for outstanding contributions to the Olympic Movement.

·      It was established in 1975, it replaced the Olympic Diploma of Merit and is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional merit in the cause of sport or rendered significant services to the Olympic Movement.

·      The Olympic Order has three grades: gold, silver, and bronze. The gold order is reserved for heads of state and exceptional circumstances.

·      The Olympic Order is a symbol of recognition for those who have made significant contributions to the Olympic Movement, promoting the ideals of unity, friendship, and fair play that the Olympics embody.

·      It is a testament to the IOC’s commitment to honouring those who have advanced the cause of sport and the Olympic Movement globally.

·      Recently, Abhinav Bindra was bestowed with the Olympic Award by the International Olympic Committee.

·      It is a drug used to treat serious blood clots, and can reduce damage to cells due to spitting cobra venom.

·      It is a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) with antithrombotic properties.

·      It is used for the treatment of deep venous thrombosis, a condition in which harmful blood clots form in the blood vessels of the legs.

Highlights of the research

·      Tanzaparin worked by blocking the interaction between the venom and its receptor in the cell by binding to venom molecules.

·      Snake Venom’s toxicity depended on the biological pathway that synthesised heparan sulphate, artificially stopping this pathway could ameliorate the venom’s toxic effects.

·      One way of doing so is to introduce molecules that closely resemble heparan sulphate. As the body senses an excess of these molecules, it shuts down the pathways responsible for heparan sulphate synthesis. One such molecule is tinzaparin.

·      When the team introduced tinzaparin immediately after subjecting cells to the snake venom, the cells survived.