Explanation: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday inducted the first batch of four Chinook CH-47F(I) heavy-lift helicopters, which will significantly improve airlift to high-altitude areas.The service ceiling of 20,000 feet would redefine heavy lift not just in operations, inter-valley transport and artillery transport but also in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts in far-flung areas, he said.These helicopters will be deployed in the northern and eastern regions, the IAF said in a statement. Besides Chandigarh, another unit will be created at Dinjan in Assam. India finalised a contract for 15 Boeing Chinook helicopters in September 2015. The first batch arrived at the Mundra Port in Gujarat in February this year. All helicopters will be delivered by March next year.The first batch of 12 pilots and as many flight engineers underwent training in the U.S. in October 2018.The Chinook can carry a maximum payload of 11 tonnes and 54 combat-ready troops or 24 stretcher patients. The Army’s recently inducted M-777 Ultra-Light Howitzers can be carried under slung to forward areas.

Link: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/iaf-inducts-4-combat-ready-chinook-helicopters/article26632144.ece

Explanation: The UN specialized agencies are autonomous organizations working with the United Nations. All were brought into relationship with the UN through negotiated agreements. Some existed before the First World War. Some were associated with the League of Nations. Others were created almost simultaneously with the UN. Others were created by the UN to meet emerging needs.
FAO: TheFood and Agriculture Organization leads international efforts to fight hunger. It is both a forum for negotiating agreements between developing and developed countries and a source of technical knowledge and information to aid development.
ICAO: The International Civil Aviation Organization develops standards for global air transport and assists its 192 Member States in sharing the world’s skies to their socio-economic benefit.
IFAD
The International Fund for Agricultural Development, since it was created in 1977, has focused exclusively on rural poverty reduction, working with poor rural populations in developing countries to eliminate poverty, hunger and malnutrition; raise their productivity and incomes; and improve the quality of their lives.
ILO
The International Labor Organization promotes international labor rights by formulating international standards on the freedom to associate, collective bargaining, the abolition of forced labor, and equality of opportunity and treatment.
IMF
The International Monetary Fund fosters economic growth and employment by providing temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease balance of payments adjustment and technical assistance. The IMF currently has $28 billion in outstanding loans to 74 nations.
IMO
The International Maritime Organization has created a comprehensive shipping regulatory framework, addressing safety and environmental concerns, legal matters, technical cooperation, security, and efficiency.
ITU
The International Telecommunication Union is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies. It is committed to connecting all the world’s people – wherever they live and whatever their means. Through our work, we protect and support everyone’s fundamental right to communicate

Link: http://www.un.org/en/sections/about-un/funds-programmes-specialized-agencies-and-others/index.html

Explanation: World Food Programme runs under United Nations aims to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. It is the world’s largest humanitarian agency.
Every year, the programme feeds almost 80 million people in around 75 countries.
Its headquarters are situated in Rome, Italy.

Link: https://www1.wfp.org

https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/japan-gives-un-world-food-programme-69m-119032200018_1.html

Explanation: The GRAPES-3 experiment located at Ooty in India started as a collaboration of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India and the Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan. At present many institutions from India and Japan are in collaboration.
GRAPES-3 (Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV Energie Sphase-3) is designed to study cosmic rays with an array of air shower detectors and a large area muon detector. It aims to probe acceleration of cosmic rays in the following four astrophysical settings.

Link: http://grapes-3.tifr.res.in

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/220319/ooty-cosmic-ray-lab-breaks-new-ground-with-muon-telescope.html

Explanation: India’s deepest shaft cave discovered in Meghalaya
The discovery was made during the 28th edition of the annual ‘Caving in the Abode of the Clouds Expedition’ that took place between February 3 and 28.
It began with a recce by a five-member team of cavers of the Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association (MAA) at Laitsohum village, which focussed on completing survey of Krem Puri.
In the process, Krem Um Ladaw that has the deepest shaft in the country was discovered.

Link: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-s-deepest-shaft-cave-discovered-in-meghalaya/story-Rq3CvusaKJXHXFe6BRZnzM.html