Here are 2 Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news- [op-ed snap] Protect patents: on revoking Monsanto’s Bollgard-2 patent

Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt)

1. It is a soil-dwelling bacterium, commonly used as a biological pesticide
2. It occurs naturally in the gut of caterpillars of various types of moths and butterflies plant leaves etc.
3. Bt produces insecticidal action when used in the genetic modification of crops
4. Bt cotton was the first genetically modified crop to be approved for cultivation in India in 2002, with the introduction of Monsanto’s GM cotton seeds
5. Other Bt crops used in India: Bt Brinjal, Bt/GM Mustard
6. Issues with Bt modified crops:  Costly seeds, Gene pool contamination,  Increasing incidence of pest resistance, the toxicity of food crops etc

B2B #2: From news- Govt. doubles PMVVY pension investment limit to ₹ 15 lakh; extends scheme by two years

Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY)

1. The government has launched the PMVVY to provide social security during old age and to protect elderly persons aged 60 and above against a future fall in their interest income due to uncertain market conditions
2. The PMVVY is being implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
3. The scheme provides an assured pension based on a guaranteed rate of return of 8 percent per annum for ten years, with an option to opt for the pension on a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual basis
4. The difference between the return generated by LIC and the assured return of 8 percent annually will be borne by the government of as a yearly subsidy

As a part of revision for Prelims 2018, Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name :  Cartosat-2 series

Details :  The launch marks the roll out of the 100th satellite by ISRO. 30 other satellites – 28 foreign and 2 Indian. 2nd time that ISRO has been able to place satellites in 2 different orbits This was done through the “multiple burn technology” under which the rocket’s engine is switched off and then switched on to control its height.

Launch Vehicle :  PSLV C40