Today in History (August 21st, 1972)
On this day, in 1972, The Wild Life (Protection) Act was passed to protect wild animals, including lions and tigers, from extinction.
Summary of Today’s News
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED)
NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd) is India’s apex body for agricultural produce cooperatives, established in 1958. It oversees price stabilization via “Operation Greens,” ensuring year-round supply and price control of Tomato, Onion, and Potato (TOP) crops. Under the Price Support Scheme, NAFED also collaborates with FCI for oilseeds, pulses, and copra procurement. With headquarters in New Delhi and regional offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, NAFED plays a crucial role in enhancing farmers’ income and stabilizing essential crop markets.
Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has initiated a pilot program to explore the feasibility of a “Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit.” This platform aims to enable seamless digital credit delivery by consolidating data from various sources, including central and state governments, banks, credit information companies, and more. It is designed to simplify the credit appraisal process, making it easier to assess borrowers’ creditworthiness and streamline loan disbursement. RBI’s wholly-owned subsidiary, the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), will develop the public platform.
Acoustic Side Channel Attacks (ASCA)
Acoustic Side Channel Attacks (ASCA) exploit keyboard sounds to interpret typed information, and modern AI and deep learning models have amplified their accuracy. Users can mitigate risks by changing typing habits, using touch-based typing, employing stronger passwords, altering typing styles, and avoiding predictable phrases.
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) was established as a Cell within the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in January 1978, following the Pande Committee’s recommendations prompted by the hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight in 1976. It became an independent department under the Ministry of Civil Aviation on April 1, 1987. BCAS aims to protect civil aviation operations from unlawful interference and sets security standards for international and domestic airports in India. As the authority for civil aviation security in India, it is headed by a Commissioner of Security and has Regional Offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. BCAS functions encompass establishing security standards, monitoring their implementation, ensuring trained personnel, coordinating aviation security, conducting surprise checks, and executing mock exercises to test contingency plans and readiness.
