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■ PM SWANIDHI SCHEME :- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched a micro-credit facility for street vendors under the Swanidhi Scheme. □ ABOUT :- ◇ The Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi Scheme is aimed at benefiting over 50 lakh vendors who had their businesses operational on or before March 24. ◇ The scheme was announced by Finance Minister as a part of the economic package for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. □ BENEFICIARIES ◇ This loan will be given to those who run shops on the roadside, handcart or streetcar. ◇ Fruit-vegetable, laundry, saloon and paan shops are also included in this category. □ FACILITIES PROVIDED :- ◇ The vendors will be able to apply for a working capital loan of up to ₹10,000, which is repayable in monthly installments within a year. ◇ On timely/early repayment of the loan, an interest subsidy of 7% per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries.

 ■ CREW 2 MISSION:- □ INTRODUCTION ◇ Four astronauts were launched to the International Space Station (ISS) from Florida as part of a collaboration between NASA and SpaceX under the Commercial Crew Program. ◇ The mission is called Crew-2 and is the second crew rotation of the SpaceX Crew Dragon and the first with international partners. □ OBJECTIVES :-  ◇ Members of mission conduct microgravity studies, investigate food physiology meant to study the effects of dietary improvements on immune function and the gut microbiome and how those improvements can help crews adapt to spaceflight. ◇ Their central focus during this time will be to continue a series of Tissue Chips in Space studies.  □ COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM ◇ The main objective of this program is to make access to space easier in terms of its cost, so that cargo and crew can be easily transported to and from the ISS enabling greater scientific research.

 ■ THE HOT WET EQUITORIAL CLIMATE :- □ DISTRIBUTION ◇ This type of climate is found between 5° and 10° North and South of equator. □ TEMPERATURE ◇ Uniformity of temperature throughout the year. ◇ Mean monthly temperature - 80°F ◇ No Winter. ◇ Cloudiness and heavy precipitation helps in moderate the daily temperature. □ PRECIPITATION ◇ Precipitation heavy between 60 inches and 100 inches and well distributed throughout the layer. ◇ Highest rainfall in April and October just after Equinoxes. □ VEGETATION. ◇ A great variety of Vegetation. ◇ A distinct layer arrangement from air forest appear like a thick canopy of foliage. ◇ Multiple species in Particular areas

 ■ GIANT LEATHERBACK TURTLE :- There is concern that at least three key nesting beaches — two on Little Andaman Island and one on Great Nicobar Island — are under threat due to mega “development” plans announced in recent months. ◇ Largest of the seven species of sea turtles. ◇  Leatherbacks are found in all oceans except the Arctic and the Antarctic. ◇ Within the Indian Ocean, they nest only in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the A&N Islands. □ CONSERVATION STATUS :- ◇ IUCN status: Vulnerable ◇ Also listed in Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, according it the highest legal protection.