O F F I C E R S ' P U L S E Issue no. 37 | 7th February to 13th February, 2021

C O V E R A G E . The Hindu The Indian Express PIB Rajya Sabha TV All India Radio

A T A G L A N C E & I N D E P T H .

Polity and Social Issues Economy International Relations Environment Science and Tech Culture

CURRENT AFFAIRS WEEKLY THE PULSE OF UPSC AT YOUR FINGER TIPS 1

News @ a glance POLITY ...... 3 5) Alcohol and DNA ...... 18 1) Privilege Motion ...... 3 DEFENCE ...... 20 2) FSSAI slashes limit for trans fat levels in 1) INS Viraat...... 20 foods ...... 4 2) Ka-226T utility chopper ...... 20 3) KIRAN Mental Health Rehabilitation ART & CULTURE ...... 21 Helpline...... 4 1) Red Fort ...... 21 4) RTI & Lokpal ...... 5 2) Padmanabhaswamy Temple ...... 21 ENVIRONMENT ...... 8 3) Tholpavakoothu ...... 22 1) Water scarcity likely in the Himalayan PIB ANALYSIS...... 24 catchment if warming continues ...... 8 1) Janani Suraksha Yojana ...... 24 2) Brookesia nana ...... 8 2) Formation and Promotion of Farmer 3) Punjab releases 23 captive-bred gharials in Producer Organizations (FPOs)...... 24 Beas reserve ...... 9 3) Soil Health Card ...... 25 4) TN gets its fifth tiger reserve in 4) Special Economic Zones Act,2005 ...... 25 Srivilliputhur - Megamalai ...... 9 5) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban ECONOMY ...... 11 Transformation (AMRUT) ...... 26 1) Over one crore MSMEs registered in 6) SANKALP ...... 27 country over period of 5 years ...... 11 7) World Sustainable Development Summit 2) Currency swap facility...... 12 2021 ...... 27 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ...... 14 8) FASTag ...... 28 1) UN Human Rights Council ...... 14 9) National Monsoon Mission ...... 28 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ...... 15 10) Swadhar Greh Scheme ...... 29 1) Tumour Models...... 15 11) CARINGS Portal ...... 30 2) Hope Probe...... 15 12) Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav ...... 30 3) Cloud solutions ...... 15 4) Glaciers and Glacial lakes ...... 16

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News in Depth AIR NEWS ...... 31 5) Fine-tuning the State-of-the app 1) National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) ..... 31 technology ...... 38 2) Kisan Credit Card scheme ...... 31 6) Denying women the right over their bodies39 3) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana ...... 32 INDIAN EXPRESS EXPLAINED...... 41 4) Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya 1) In the oceans, the volume is rising like Bharat Abhiyan) ...... 32 never before ...... 41 THE HINDU EDITORIALS ...... 34 2) What is Einsteinium, the mysterious 1) The cost of Internet shutdowns ...... 34 element named after Albert Einstein? ...... 41 2) The long and the short of India’s 3) Move to privatise banks: Why the Naypyitaw dilemma ...... 35 proposal? What are the concerns? ...... 42 3) Troubled mountains ...... 36 4) The Farakka ‘lock’ and hilsa, why there is 4) A Budget not for the environment ...... 37 both hope and apprehension ...... 42

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News @ a glance POLITY

1) Privilege Motion . It is a breach of privilege and contempt of What are Parliamentary privileges? the House to make speeches or to print . Parliamentary privileges are certain rights or publish false information reflecting on and immunities enjoyed by members of the character or proceedings of the House, Parliament, individually and collectively, so or its Committees, or on any member of the that they can “effectively discharge their House for or relating to his character or functions”. When any of these rights and conduct as a legislator. immunities are disregarded, the offence is Procedure to be followed called a breach of privilege and is . The Legislative Assembly Speaker or punishable under law of Parliament. Legislative Council Chairman constitutes a . It should be noted that the parliamentary Privileges Committee consisting of 15 privileges do not extend to the President members in the Assembly and 10 members who is also an integral part of the in the Council. Parliament . The members to the committee are Constitutional provisions nominated based on the party strength in . The powers, privileges and immunities the Houses. of either House of the Indian Parliament . The Speaker or Chairman first decides on and of its Members and committees are the motions. If the privilege and contempt laid down in Article 105 of the are found prima facie, then the Speaker or Constitution. Chairman will forward it to the Privileges . Article 194 deals with the powers, Committee by following the due procedure. privileges and immunities of the State . The Committee, which has quasi-judicial Legislatures, their Members and their powers, will seek an explanation from all committees. the concerned, will conduct an inquiry and What constitutes a breach of this privilege? will make a recommendation based on the . While the Constitution has accorded findings to the state legislature for its special privileges and powers to consideration. parliamentarians and legislators to Punishment maintain the dignity and authority of the . If the Committee finds the offender guilty Houses, these powers and privileges are of breach of privilege and contempt, it can not codified. recommend the punishment. The . Thus, there are no clear, notified rules to punishment can include communicating decide what constitutes a breach of the displeasure of the state legislature to privilege, and the punishment it the offender, summoning the offender attracts. before the House and giving a warning, and . Any act that obstructs or impedes either even sending the offender to jail. House of the state legislature in . In the case of the media, press facilities of performing its functions, or which the state legislature may be withdrawn, obstructs or impedes any Member or and a public apology may be sought. officer of such House in the discharge of his Why in News? duty, or has a tendency, directly or . The Bharatiya Janata Party has moved a indirectly, to produce such results is privilege notice against Trinamool treated as breach of privilege. Congress MP Mahua Moitra, days after her comments against a former chief justice of India in Lok Sabha.

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. In December 2020, FSSAI (Food Safety and 2) FSSAI slashes limit for trans fat Standards Authority of India) capped the levels in foods amount of trans fatty acids in oils and fats to 3% for 2021 and 2% by 2022 from the Natural fats current permissible limit of 5% through an . All natural fats and oils are a combination amendment to the Food Safety and of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on saturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids Sales) Regulations. (TFA). . The revised regulation applies to edible . Our body needs the first two categories refined oils, vanaspati (partially of ‘healthy’ fats as apart from being a hydrogenated oils), margarine, bakery major source of energy, they help absorb shortenings, and other mediums of cooking some vitamins and minerals and build cell such as vegetable fat spreads and mixed fat membranes and the sheaths surrounding spreads. nerves. . Why in News? . These fats are free-flowing, unlike . The FSSAI has restricted the permissible saturated fatty acids or trans fats, which amount of industrial Trans Fatty Acid are considered harmful as they clog (TFA) in food products to 2 per cent from arteries and result in hypertension, heart 2022, just weeks after it tightened the attacks, and other cardiovascular issues. norms for oils and fats. What are trans fats? and why are they . The permissible limit for trans fats in food harmful? products in 2021 is 3 per cent, cut down . There are two broad types of trans fats from the previous limit of 5 per cent. found in foods: naturally-occurring and . Food products that incorporate edible oils artificial trans fats. and fats as ingredients, including edible . Artificial trans fats, which are considered refined oils, vanaspati/partially harmful, are created in an industrial hydrogenated oils, margarine, vegetable fat process that adds hydrogen to liquid spreads, mixed fat spreads, bakery vegetable oils (a method known as shortenings, fall under the ambit of the hydrogenation) to make them more solid, newly issued Food Safety and Standards increase their shelf life, and for use as an (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) adulterant as they are cheap. They are Regulations, 2021. present in baked and fried foods as well as . The 2% cap is considered to be a move adulterated ghee, which becomes solid at towards elimination of trans fatty acids, room temperature. which will be achieved by 2022, a year . They are the most harmful form of fats as sooner than the WHO deadline. they clog arteries and cause hypertension, About FSSAI heart attacks and other cardiovascular . FSSAI is an autonomous statutory body diseases. established under the Food Safety and . The WHO estimates that over 5 lakh people Standards Act, 2006. with cardiovascular issues die globally . The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare every year due to the consumption of is the administrative Ministry of FSSAI. industrially produced TFAs. As per FSSAI, . FSSAI is responsible for protecting and about 77,000 deaths take place annually in promoting public health through the India due to TFAs. regulation and supervision of food safety. Elimination of TFAs

. In 2018, the WHO called for elimination of industrially produced TFAs by 2023, 3) KIRAN Mental Health and brought out a step-by step guide called Rehabilitation Helpline ‘REPLACE’ to help countries frame About policies. This prompted accelerated action . Citing the prevalence of mental health by member states and other stakeholders. issues and the unprecedented nature of the Recent changes COVID-19 crisis, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched a

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24x7 Toll-Free Mental Health . This may include information in the form Rehabilitation Helpline KIRAN (1800-599- of documents, files, or electronic 0019). records under the control of the Public . Launched in September 2020, the helpline Authority. The intent behind the is available in 13 languages to provide enactment of the Act is to promote relief and support to persons with Mental transparency and accountability in the Illness. working of Public Authorities. . This Toll Free Helpline is operational 24 Who is included in the ambit of ‘Public hours a day, seven days a week with the Authorities’? Technical Coordination of BSNL. . The RTI Act defines “public authorities” in . It targets to resolve issues of people across Section 2(h). the country experiencing stress, anxiety, . A “public authority” means any authority depression, panic attack, adjustment or body or institution of self- government disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, established or constituted substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, 1. By or under the Constitution; pandemic-induced psychological issues 2. By any other law made by Parliament; and mental health emergencies. 3. By any other law made by State Why in News? Legislature; . According to an internal report of the 4. By notification issued or order made by the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, appropriate Government, and includes any seventy per cent of callers to the KIRAN – helpline were men. 5. Body owned, controlled or substantially . September 16, 2020 to January 15, the financed; helpline received 13,550 new calls, of 6. Non-Government organization which 70.5% were from males and 29.5% substantially financed, directly or from females. indirectly by funds provided by the . The majority of callers (75.5%) were in the appropriate Government. age group of 15 to 40 years, while 18.1% How is the right to information enforced were older, in the 41 to 60 age group. under the Act? . Majorly the challenges faced by the callers . The Act has established a three tier were related to anxiety (28.5%) and structure for enforcing the right to depression (25.5%); while few others information guaranteed under the Act. included pandemic-related challenges . The first request for information goes to (7.8%), suicidal tendency (2.8%), the Central/State Assistant Public substance abuse (3.4%) and others Information Officer and Central/State miscellaneous (32%). Public Information Officer, designated by the Public Authorities. These Officers are 4) RTI & Lokpal required to provide information to an RTI About RTI Act, 2005 applicant within 30 days of the request. . Under the RTI Act, 2005, Public . Appeals from their decisions go to an Authorities are required to make Appellate Authority. disclosures on various aspects of their . Appeals against the order of the Appellate structure and functioning. Authority go to the State Information . This includes: (i) disclosure on their Commission or the Central Information organisation, functions, and structure, (ii) Commission. These Information powers and duties of its officers and Commissions consist of a Chief employees, and (iii) financial information. Information Commissioner, and up to . The intent of such suo moto disclosures is 10 Information Commissioners. that the public should need minimum Right to Information (Amendment) Act, recourse through the Act to obtain such 2019 information. If such information is not . The Act amended Sections 13 and 16 of the made available, citizens have the right to RTI Act, 2005. request for it from the Authorities. . Section 13 of the original Act sets the term of the central Chief Information

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Commissioner and Information 50% of the Members will be from SC/ Commissioners at five years (or until the ST/ OBC/ Minorities and women. age of 65, whichever is earlier). The . The judicial member of the Lokpal shall amendment changed that the appointment either be a former Judge of the Supreme will be for such term as may be prescribed Court or a former Chief Justice of a High by the Central Government. Court. . According to the amendment act, the . The term of office for Lokpal Chairman and salaries, allowances and other terms of Members is 5 years or till the age of 70 service of the Chief Information years. Commissioner and Information . The members are appointed by the Commissioners shall be such as may be President on the recommendation of a prescribed by the Central Government. Selection Committee. Previously it was equivalent to that of the o The five-member Lokpal selection Chief Election Commissioner and Election committee includes the Prime Minister, the Commissioners respectively. Speaker and the Chief Justice of India, . The government said that the amendment along with the Leader of Opposition and an was required because the election eminent jurist selected by other members. commission is a Constitutional body while Jurisdiction the information commission, formed under . The Lokpal has jurisdiction to inquire into the Right to Information Act, is a statutory allegations of corruption against anyone one. 1. Who is or has been Prime Minister, Why in News? 2. A Minister in the Union government, . Responding to a RTI request, the Centre 3. A Member of Parliament, has refused to disclose the minutes of the 4. Officials of the Union government under Lokpal selection committee’s meetings, Groups A, B, C and D, and its decision has now been upheld by 5. Chairpersons, members, officers and the Central Information Commission (CIC). directors of any board, corporation, About Lokpal society, trust or autonomous body either . The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 established by an Act of Parliament or provided for the establishment of Lokpal wholly or partly funded by the Centre, for the Union and Lokayukta for States. 6. Any society or trust or body that receives . These institutions are statutory bodies foreign contribution above ₹10 lakh. without any constitutional status. They . It should be noted that the Lokpal cannot perform the function of an "ombudsman” inquire into any corruption charge and inquire into allegations of corruption against the Prime Minister if the against certain public functionaries and allegations are related to international for related matters. relations, external and internal security, Members public order, atomic energy and space, . Lokpal is a multi-member body, that unless a full Bench of the Lokpal, consists of one chairperson and a consisting of its chair and all members, maximum of 8 members. considers the initiation of a probe, and . Chairperson of the Lokpal should be at least two-thirds of the members either the former Chief Justice of India or approve it. the former Judge of Supreme Court or an . Such a hearing should be held in camera, eminent person with impeccable integrity and if the complaint is dismissed, the and outstanding ability, having special records shall not be published or made knowledge and expertise of minimum 25 available to anyone. years in the matters relating to anti- How can a complaint be made and what corruption policy, public administration, happens next? vigilance, finance including insurance and . A complaint under the Lokpal Act should banking, law and management. be in the prescribed form and must pertain . Out of the maximum eight members, half to an offence under the Prevention of will be judicial members and minimum Corruption Act against a public servant.

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. When a complaint is received, the Lokpal complaints to the Central Vigilance may order a preliminary inquiry by its Commission (CVC). Inquiry Wing, or refer it for investigation . Lokpal has powers of confiscation of by any agency, including the CBI, if there assets, proceeds, receipts and benefits is a prima facie case. arisen or procured by means of corruption . The Lokpal, with respect to Central in special circumstances. government servants, may refer the For doubts and queries email us at: [email protected]

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ENVIRONMENT

1) Water scarcity likely in the water stress in the Himalayan Himalayan catchment if catchment areas. . The results show that the glacier-melt warming continues increases about 15% to 70% in a warmer Himalayan catchment environment with its present volume, but then decreases to 3%–38% substantially when the glacier volumes shrink. . Snowpacks and glaciers are two important water storage units in the Himalaya. Though snow is lower density and will melt easily in a warming climate, the reduced snowfall will in turn reduce the amount of snow-melt. . Though glacier melt will increase initially, they will shrink in size quickly and the amount of glacier melt will also decline in the latter end of the century. . The research team emphasis on proper water-management and governance in the Himalayan catchment area. They also suggest further study of the effect of Indian Summer Monsoon and Western Disturbances on the Himalayan catchment . A catchment is an area of land where water area. collects when it rains, often bounded by hills. As the water flows over the landscape it finds its way into streams and down into 2) Brookesia nana the soil, eventually feeding the river. Some About the species of this water stays underground and continues to slowly feed the river in times of low rainfall. . The Himalayas are an important source of water for about a billion people who live in the basins of the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. . India, Nepal, Pakistan and China hugely depend on these Himalayan rivers for their daily needs and energy production. . Snowpacks and glaciers act as storage houses of the freshwater, which melt to form rivers. Why in the news? . A new study called ‘Components of . Brookesia nana is a chameleon found in Himalayan River Flows in a Changing Madagascar. Climate’ has tried to understand how . A group of German and Madagascar rainfall-runoff, snow-melt and glacier-melt scientists found this chameleon in 2012. are affecting the Himalayan rivers. The adult male measures around 21.6 mm . The study finds that if drier and warmer when the tail is included and the female is scenarios continue in the near future slightly longer at 28.9 mm. (2031–2050), we are more likely to face

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. Till now only 2 adults of this species have when the gharial vocalizes. It is also a been found. They are camouflaged and visual signal for females, helping males move slowly. attract a mate. . Why in the news? . The International Union for Conservation . There is debate going on now to declare of Nature (IUCN) classifies the species as Brookesia nana as the smallest reptile. critically endangered. The biggest threats But confirming Brookesia nana as the it faces are related to human activities. smallest reptile species will require finding . Gharial populations have declined as much more of them, which might take several as 98 percent since the 1940s due to years. human activities like hunting for . Presently Brookesia micra has the title of traditional medicine and dam-making. smallest reptile. . Once found from Pakistan to Myanmar, the . The Brookesia nana is under threat due to Gharial’s range has shrunk to two habitat degradation and deforestation. If countries: India, along the Chambal, proper measures are not adopted in time, Girwa, and Son Rivers; and Nepal, along the species may go extinct. the Narayani River. . It is listed in schedule 1 of Wildlife 3) Punjab releases 23 captive- Protection Act and covered under bred gharials in Beas reserve Appendix I of the CITES. Beas Conservation Reserve . The Beas Conservation Reserve is a 185- kilometre stretch of the Beas River located primarily in the north-west of the State of Punjab. . The River meanders down from the Himalayan foothills to the Harike Headworks, where its course is diverted into a number of channels. . The Reserve also hosts the only known population in India of the endangered Indus river dolphin. . It is a Ramsar Site. Why in the news? . Punjab, under the Gharial reintroduction programme, has released 23 captive-bred About Gharial juveniles in the Beas conservation reserve. . Gharials, sometimes called gavials, are a . These gharials were brought from Morena type of Asian crocodilian distinguished by in Madhya Pradesh where their captive their long, thin snouts. breeding was done. . Gharials exhibit sexual dimorphism — or . The ambitious scheme of the Punjab differences in characteristics between government aspires to establish a breeding males and females of the same species — population of these critically endangered in both size and appearance which are gharials in the rivers of Punjab. absent in other crocodile species. . Adult gharials primarily eat fish, while 4) TN gets its fifth tiger reserve in juveniles also feed on insects, crustaceans Srivilliputhur - Megamalai and frogs. About Tiger Reserves . Adult males develop a bulbous growth at . Tiger reserves have been set under the tip of their snout, called a "ghara" after Project Tiger since 1973 to save the the Indian pot it resembles. The ghara has endangered species of tiger in the country. several functions. It partially covers the . There are 51 Tiger Reserves covering crocodile's nostrils and acts as a vocal approximately 71000 sq km. resonator, creating a loud, buzzing sound . Project Tiger's main aims are to:

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. Reduce factors that lead to the depletion of . The sanctioned SM tiger reserve will tiger habitats and to mitigate them by encompass the Srivilliputhur Grizzled suitable management. The damages done Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary and the to the habitat shall be rectified to facilitate Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary and act as a the recovery of the ecosystem to the buffer zone between Periyar Tiger maximum possible extent. Reserve of Kerala and Anamalai Tiger . Ensure a viable tiger population for Reserve in Tamil Nadu. economic, scientific, cultural, aesthetic and . With SM Tiger tiger reserve established, ecological values. Tigers from these two reserves can find . The various tiger reserves were created in significant habitats and breeding and home the country based on the 'core-buffer' ranges in the undisturbed terrains of strategy: Srivilliputhur and Megamalai hilly tracts. . Core area: the core areas are free of all . Conservationists say that with the human activities. It has the legal status of declaration of this tiger reserve, Vaigai a national park or wildlife sanctuary. It is river which is in its brink of depletion, will kept free of biotic disturbances and flourish. Vaigai is the main source of water forestry operations like collection of minor for farmers in the southern districts of forest produce, grazing, and other human Tamil Nadu. disturbances are not allowed within. Other Tiger Reserves of Tamil Nadu . Buffer areas: the buffer areas are subjected to 'conservation-oriented land use'. They comprise forest and non-forest land. It is a multi-purpose use area with twin objectives of providing habitat supplement to spillover population of wild animals from core conservation units and to provide site specific co- developmental inputs to surrounding villages for relieving their impact on core area. Why in the news? . Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam, Annamalai . The Centre has approved Srivilliputhur- and Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Megamalai tiger reserve which will be the Reserves are other tiger reserves in Tamil 5th Tiger reserve in Tamil Nadu. Nadu. Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve For doubts and queries email us at (SM tiger reserve) and its benefits [email protected]

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ECONOMY

1) Over one crore MSMEs Rationale for the move registered in country over . It has been a long-standing demand from industry to hike the investment limits, as period of 5 years with inflation, units often cross the What’s in the news? threshold that will bring them benefits. To . Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises prevent this, they either run their Ministry has informed that more than one operations at a reduced level or crore two lakh MSMEs were registered in incorporate multiple units so that turnover the country within five years. is distributed in a way that they remain Significance of MSMEs within the threshold that will give them . In developing countries like India, where the benefits. the majority of the population resides in . With the revised definitions of MSMEs, the rural areas, Micro, Small and Medium they will not have to worry about Enterprises (MSMEs) are crucial - socially growing their size and can still avail and economically. Because these benefits. enterprises are widely dispersed across . The new definition also excluded exports rural areas, they are extremely important from counting of turnover which will for rural economic development and they encourage the MSMEs to export more and have the ability to absorb a significant more without fearing to lose the benefits of number of workers. a MSME unit. . Further, these enterprises play a key role Programmes for the growth and as a place for entrepreneurship and development of the MSME sector business skill development, especially in Prime Minister's Employment Generation rural areas due to their easy accessibility. Programme . The MSME sector contributes about 45% . This is a credit-linked subsidy programme of India’s manufacturing sector output aimed at generating self-employment and 40 % of the nation's exports. opportunities through establishment of . In the emerging markets, most formal micro-enterprises in the non-farm jobs are generated by Small and sector by helping traditional artisans and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which unemployed youth. create seven out of 10 jobs. . At the national level, the Scheme is being . New Definition of MSMEs implemented by Khadi and Village . Last year, the government changed the Industries Commission (KVIC), a basic definition of MSME and also end the statutory organization under the difference between the manufacturing administrative control of the Ministry of and services sector. MSME. . Till now, MSMEs are categorised based . Under the scheme, loans are being only on the investment in machinery or provided by all Public Sector Banks, equipment. The new classification has selected Private Sector Banks and Co- raised the investment limit and included operative Banks with margin money annual turnover as an additional criteria. subsidy being given by the Ministry of 1. Accordingly, units having investment less MSME through KVIC. than Rs 1 crore and turnover less than Rs 5 . Scope crore will be called Micro units. . The scheme is applicable to all viable 2. Investment between Rs 1 and Rs 10 crore projects in rural as well as urban areas, and turnover of Rs 5 crore to Rs 50 crore under the Micro enterprises sector. will be categorised as Small Enterprises. . The maximum cost of the project 3. Units having investment between Rs 10 admissible under the manufacturing sector crore but up to Rs 50 crore and turnover is Rs.25 lakhs and the business/services between Rs 50 crore and Rs 250 crore will sector is Rs.10 lakhs. now be known as Medium Enterprises.

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. Only one person from a family is eligible The Hub is situated in New Delhi in the for obtaining financial assistance under the Secretary MSME’s office. The spokes will scheme. be in the States in various offices and . Assistance under the Scheme is available institutions of the Ministry. only for new projects. . The system which utilises modern ICT Eligible Entrepreneurs / Borrowers tools including Artificial Intelligence, Data . Any individual, above 18 years of age Analytics and Machine Learning aims at . The beneficiaries should have passed at assisting Indian MSMEs march into the least VIII standard, for setting up of project big league as National and Global costing above Rs.10 lacs in the Champions. Manufacturing Sector and above Rs. 5 lacs Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and in the business /Service Sector, Small Enterprises (CGMSE) . Self Help Groups . Of all the problems faced by the MSMEs, . Institutions registered under Societies non-availability of timely and adequate Registration Act, 1860 credit at a reasonable interest rate is one of . Production Co-operative Societies the most important. . Charitable Trusts . CGMSE, launched in 2000, facilitates credit Solar Charkha Mission to the MSE units by covering collateral- . Launched in 2018 by the Ministry of free credit facility (term loan and/or MSME, it aims to ensure inclusive growth working capital) extended by eligible by generation of employment, especially lending institutions to new and existing for women and youth, and sustainable micro and small enterprises. development through establishing solar . The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium charkha clusters in rural areas. Enterprises and Small Industries . Each spinner will be given two charkhas of Development Bank of India (SIDBI), 10 spindles each. On an average, it is established a Trust named Credit considered that such clusters will have Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and about 1000 charkhas. A cluster with full Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to capacity will provide direct employment to implement the scheme. 2042 artisans. . These solar charkhas are to be operated 2) Currency swap facility using solar power which will help in What are currency swap arrangements? development of Green Economy and . In the swap arrangement, generally a generate sustainable employment for the country provides dollars to a foreign artisans. central bank, which, at the same time, . The scheme also aims to boost rural provides the equivalent funds in its economy and help in arresting migration currency to the former, based on the from rural to urban areas. It is envisaged to market exchange rate at the time of the generate direct employment for nearly one transaction. lakh persons in the approved 50 clusters . The parties agree to swap back these across the country. quantities of their two currencies at a . The Khadi and Village Industries specified date in the future, which could be Commission (KVIC) is implementing the the next day or even two years later, using programme. the same exchange rate as in the first CHAMPIONS portal transaction. . The CHAMPIONS stands for Creation and Why in News? Harmonious Application of Modern . The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Processes for Increasing the Output and settled a $ 400 million currency swap National Strength. The portal is basically facility from the Reserve Bank (RBI) of for making the smaller units big by solving India, meeting the terms that the two their grievances, encouraging, supporting, countries had agreed upon. helping and handholding. . The CBSL obtained the swap facility on July . As part of the system a network of control 31, 2020, for an initial period of three rooms is created in a Hub & Spoke Model.

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months, to cope with the severe economic . India also has a $75 billion bilateral impact of the pandemic. Subsequently, the currency swap line with Japan, which has RBI provided a three-month rollover at the second highest dollar reserves after CBSL’s request, until February 1, 2021. China. Similar arrangements Advantages of such arrangements . The RBI also offers similar swap lines to . These swap operations usually carry no central banks in the SAARC region within exchange rate risk, as transaction terms a total corpus of $2 billion. are set in advance. The absence of an . This facility originally came into operation exchange rate risk is one of the major on November 15, 2012 to provide a benefits of such a facility. backstop line of funding for short-term . This facility provides the country, which is foreign exchange liquidity requirements or getting the dollars, with the flexibility to balance of payment crises until longer use these reserves at any time in order term arrangements were made. to maintain an appropriate level of balance . Under the facility, RBI offers swaps of of payments or short-term liquidity. varying sizes in US Dollars, Euro or Indian For doubts and queries email us at: Rupee to each SAARC member country [email protected] depending on their two months import requirement.

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1) UN Human Rights Council immediate re-election after serving two About the council consecutive terms. . The Human Rights Council is an inter- Why in News? governmental body within the United . The Biden administration is set to Nations system. announce that it will reengage with the . The Council’s mandate is to promote U.N. Human Rights Council that former “universal respect for the protection of all President Donald Trump withdrew from human rights and fundamental freedoms almost three years ago. for all” and “address situations of . The decision reverses another Trump-era violations of human rights, including gross move away from multilateral organizations and systematic violations, and make and agreements. recommendations thereon.” . Mr Trump pulled out of the human rights . It has the ability to discuss all thematic agency in 2018 due to its disproportionate human rights issues and situations that focus on Israel, which has received by far require its attention throughout the year. the largest number of critical council . The Council was created by the United resolutions against any country. Nations General Assembly in 2006. It . In addition to the council’s persistent focus replaced the former United Nations on Israel, the Trump administration took Commission on Human Rights. issue with the body’s membership, which . The headquarters of UNHRC is in Geneva, currently includes China, Cuba, Eritrea, Switzerland. Russia and Venezuela, all of which have Membership been accused of human rights abuses. . The Council is made of 47 Member States, . The U.N. General Assembly makes the final which are elected by the majority of choice in a vote that generally takes place members of the General Assembly of the in October every year to fill vacancies in United Nations through direct and secret three-year terms at the 47-member-state ballot. council. . The Council's Membership is based on For doubts and queries email us at: equitable geographical distribution. [email protected] . Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for

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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1) Tumour Models Why in News? Tumour . The interplanetary mission- HOPE- . Tumours are groups of abnormal cells successfully reached Mars' orbit to unravel that form lumps or growths. They can start the secrets of weather on the Red Planet. in any one of the trillions of cells in our About the programme bodies. . The unmanned probe — named "Al- . Tumours grow and behave differently, Amal", Arabic for "Hope" — was launched depending on whether they are by the United Arab Emirates in 2020 cancerous (malignant), non-cancerous from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center. (benign) or precancerous. . It is the first interplanetary mission for Why in News? the Arab World. . Improving on techniques for testing cancer . It carries three instruments: an infrared drugs, researchers from IIT Guwahati have spectrometer, an ultraviolet come up with silk-protein–based tumour spectrometer and a camera. models. . The spectrometer is to measure the How is the new model different? lower atmosphere and analyse the . An alternative to testing cancer drugs temperature structure. using patient-derived cell lines or . The high-resolution imager that will animal models, the silk protein based provide information about ozone levels. models involve fabrication of a bio-active . The ultraviolet spectrometer is to composite of silk proteins from two measure oxygen and hydrogen levels species of silk moths and building a from a distance of up to 43,000 kilometres scaffolding that provides a three- from the surface. dimensional base for growing . Unlike the other two Mars ventures, the tumouroids. Tianwen-1 from China and Mars 2020 . Normally, cancer drugs are tested using from the United States, the UAE's probe patient-derived primary cancer cells, on will not land on the Red Planet. tumours induced in animal models or on . Advantages of this programme genetically modified organisms. However, . It will give planetary scientists their first these models are insufficient to global view of Martian weather at all reproduce the three-dimensional times of day. morphology and physiology of human . Over its two-year mission, it will tumours and hence show inaccuracies in investigate how dust storms and other drug screening. weather phenomena near the Martian . Though animal models are better at this, surface speed or slow the loss of the they can show a variation depending on planet’s atmosphere into space. the species used. Moreover, animal models are expensive to maintain and 3) Cloud solutions can increase the cost of drug Why in News? development. In this context, the silk- . Microsoft has launched a new hybrid cloud protein–based tumour models developed solution in India for organisations to build by the group come as a useful intervention. and run cloud-native applications with Advantage seamless access to on-premise cloud . As an alternative to existing cancer models, services with existing tools, processes, and this tissue-engineered 3D silk-based skill sets. tumour model imitates native tumour What is Cloud Solutions? microenvironment, complex tumour . A cloud based solution refers to on- physiology and metastasis, thus demand services, computer networks, improving drug screening efficacy. storage, applications or resources accessed 2) Hope Probe via the internet and through another

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provider’s shared cloud computing development and deployment of eGov infrastructure. applications. . The benefits of cloud based solutions to 2. It is an initiative of the Ministry of end users and businesses include Electronics and Information Technology increased capacity, scalability, (MeitY). functionality, and reduced maintenance . eGov App Store: The eGov App store is a and cost for computer infrastructure or in- common platform to host and run house staff. applications (developed by govt agencies . Cloud Computing services are divided into or private players) at Meghraj. 3 categories . Digital MSME Scheme – It provides cloud- 1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) based services for MSMEs to reduce their 2. Platform as a Service (PaaS) cost by avoiding the building of in-house IT 3. Software as a Service (SaaS) infrastructure. . Cloud-based solutions can enable . RailCloud – The Indian railways has companies to focus on revenue driving launched RailCloud, a cloud-based service initiatives rather than time-consuming, that will enable faster connectivity at a non-core business tasks. minimal cost. . Cloud computer pricing models are . Nivaran-Grievance portal – It is the first categorized by servers in the cloud, IT application on the RailCloud. It is a sites/applications in the cloud, and storage platform for resolution of service related in the cloud and the majority of cloud grievances of both serving and former providers tend to offer “pay-as-you-go” railway employees. subscription based models which enable . E-health vision of the government aims at companies to closely manage costs as well incorporating the Health Information as scale up and down as needed. Exchange (HIE) mechanism through a . The role of hybrid cloud has transformed cloud platform. An electronic HIE enables from being integrator of data centres with stakeholders to correctly assess and the public cloud to enabler of day-to-day securely share a patient’s medical business functions. information electronically. . It will enable organisations to be adaptive, . Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been agile, efficient, and responsive across working towards achieving 100% locations, optimising operations and IT financial inclusion with the help of cost efficiency in an increasingly remote technology. The RBI has been utilising work environment today. cloud-based solutions, especially for Advantages cooperative banks to extend the banking . Less capital expenditure services across India via core banking . Improved disaster recovery solutions. Indian Banking Community . Environmentally friendly Cloud (IBCC) is the first community cloud Disadvantages initiative for the banking sector in India. . Internet connectivity . Maintenance costs 4) Glaciers and Glacial lakes Additional Information Why in News? Initiatives started by India . A break on a Himalayan glacier upstream . In order to utilise and harness the benefits has triggered floods which slammed two of Cloud Computing, the Government of hydroelectric plants and caused damages India has embarked upon an ambitious in several villages in Uttarakhand. initiative - "GI Cloud" which has been How glaciers and glacial lakes form? named as 'MeghRaj'. The focus of this . A glacier is a large, perennial initiative is to accelerate delivery of e- accumulation of crystalline ice, snow, services in the country while optimizing rock, sediment, and often liquid water ICT spending of the Government. that originates on land and moves down 1. This will ensure optimum utilization of the slope under the influence of its own weight infrastructure and speed up the and gravity. Glaciers are found on every

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continent except Australia and some are dramatically due to climate change and hundreds of thousands of years old. A large global warming. cluster of glaciers are in the Himalayas. . According to National Disaster . Glaciers are made of layers of Management Authority (NDMA), glacial compressed snow that move or “flow” retreat due to climate change occurring in due to gravity and the softness of ice most parts of the Hindu Kush Himalayas relative to rock. has given rise to the formation of . A glacier's “tongue” can extend hundreds numerous new glacial lakes, which is a of kilometers from its high-altitude origins, major cause. and the end, or “snout," can advance or Prediction of these disasters retreat based on snow accumulating or . The remote locations of glaciers and a lack melting. of monitoring means that currently we . Ice may flow down mountain valleys, fan don't have a clear understanding of how out across plains, or in some locations, often they occur and if they are increasing. spread out onto the sea. . There are many glaciers and glacial . Proglacial lakes, formed after glaciers dammed lakes across the Himalayas, but retreat, are often bound by sediment and most are unmonitored. boulder formations. Additional water or . Given the overall pattern of warming, pressure, or structural weakness, can glacier retreat, and increase in cause both natural and manmade dams to infrastructure projects, though, it seems burst, sending a mass of floodwater natural to hypothesize that these events surging down the rivers and streams fed will occur more frequently and will by the glacier. become overall more destructive if . There has been a rapid increase in the measures are not taken to mitigate these number of glacial lakes due to a retreat risks. in the glaciers caused by global warming. . A 2010 information page published by the Types of Glacial Lakes International Centre for Integrated . Lakes form when meltwater ponds, and Mountain Development called for more this can happen on the ice surface glacier monitoring in the Hindu Kush (supraglacial lakes), in front of the ice Himalayas to better understand “the real (proglacial lakes), or even underneath the degree of glacial lake instability.” ice (subglacial lakes). NDMA’s role Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) . In October 2020, the National Disaster . It is the flooding that occurs when the Management Authority issued guidelines water dammed by a glacier or a moraine on how to reduce and confront if such (accumulations of dirt and rocks fallen disasters happen. onto the glacier surface) is released . The guidelines suggest risk reduction by suddenly. identifying and mapping potentially . When glaciers melt, the water in glacial dangerous lakes, taking structural lakes accumulates behind loose, natural measures to prevent their sudden breach, “glacial/moraine dams” made of ice, sand, and establishing mechanisms to save lives pebbles and ice residue. and property in times of a breach. Why do glaciers burst? What are the guidelines? . Seismic activity and a buildup of water . Identifying Potentially Dangerous pressure can cause glaciers to burst, but Lakes: Through field observations, records one particular concern is climate change. of past events, geomorphologic and . High temperatures coupled with less geotechnical characteristics of the snowfall can accelerate melting, which lake/dam and surroundings, and other causes water to rise to potentially physical conditions. dangerous levels. . Use of Technology:- Promoting use of . Most mountain glaciers around the world Synthetic-Aperture Radar imagery (a were much larger in the past and have form of radar that is used to create two- been melting and shrinking dimensional images) to automatically detect changes in water bodies, including

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new lake formations, during the monsoon researchers at National Institute of Mental months. Methods and protocols could also Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS). be developed to allow remote monitoring . About the study of lake bodies from space. . Alcohol (ethanol) is rapidly metabolised . Channeling Potential Floods: NDMA in the body, and its two carbon atoms recommends reducing the volume of water (CH3CH2 or ethyl) are converted into with methods such as controlled single atoms (CH3 or methyl), that can breaching, pumping or siphoning out react with many other chemicals, water, and making a tunnel through the including DNA. moraine barrier or under an ice dam. . This change (methylation) can modify the . Uniform Codes for Construction expression of many genes, or even have Activity: Developing a broad framework toxic consequences. for infrastructure development, . Researchers analysed the chemistry of the construction and excavation in vulnerable DNA of individuals who had been drinking zones. There is a need to accept heavily for 10 years, on an average of 10 procedures for land use planning in the drinks/day. GLOF prone areas. . The effects of alcohol were more . Enhancing Early Warning Systems pronounced in those who had started (EWS): The number of implemented and drinking at an early age. This suggests operational GLOF EWS is very small, even that starting to drink early may physically at the global scale. In the Himalayan alter many genes, including those of the region, there are at three reported brain. This may have a significant effect on instances (two in Nepal and one in China) brain development and maturation, that of implementation of sensor- and may persist to later adult life. monitoring-based technical systems for Alcoholism in India GLOF early warning. . Alcohol is the most abused substance in . Training Local Manpower: Apart from India. the National Disaster Response Force . 11% of Indians are binge drinkers (NDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) according to WHO. This is against a global and the Army, NDMA has emphasised the average of 16%. need for trained local manpower. Over . A major cause of concern is that more than 80% of search and rescue is carried out by half of alcohol consumed in the country is the local community before the ‘unrecorded alcohol’ according to WHO. intervention of the state machinery and 1/3rd of consumers drink cheap local specialised search and rescue teams. The brews– often adulterated and resulting in local teams could also assist in planning tragedies. and setting up emergency shelters, . Highest percentage of children who are distributing relief packages, identifying addicted to alcohol are in Punjab followed missing people, and addressing the needs by West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. for food, healthcare, water supply etc. . Acts/Initiatives involved . Comprehensive Alarm Systems: Besides . Article 47 of the Directive Principle in classical alarming infrastructure consisting the Constitution of India states that “The of acoustic alarms by sirens, modern state shall undertake rules to bring about communication technology using cell and prohibition of the consumption except for smartphones can complement or even medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks replace traditional alarming infrastructure. and of drugs which are injurious to health.” . Government launched its Action Plan for 5) Alcohol and DNA 2020-21 known as Nasha Mukt Bharat to Why in News? combine efforts of Narcotics. . Excessive alcohol consumption can cause . India is a signatory to the UN Single irreversible changes to the DNA and Convention on Narcotics Drugs 1961, the changes may persist even when alcohol is Convention on Psychotropic Substances, no longer consumed, revealed a study by 1971 and the Convention on Illicit Traffic

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in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988. For doubts and queries email us at: [email protected]

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DEFENCE

1) INS Viraat . The Supreme Court ordered a status quo About INS Viraat on the dismantling of the Navy’s decommissioned aircraft carrier, INS Viraat.

2) Ka-226T utility chopper Why in News? . Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said that the total indigenous content of the Ka- 226T utility helicopters, to be jointly manufactured locally by India and Russia . INS Viraat served in the British Navy as with Transfer of Technology (ToT), is HMS Hermes for 25 years. It was between 27%-33%. commissioned into the Indian Navy in About Ka-226T utility chopper 1987 after refurbishment. o An aircraft carrier is a warship with a full- length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft, that serves as a seagoing airbase. . Viraat played a major role in Operation Jupiter in 1989 during the Sri Lankan Peacekeeping operation and also during Operation Parakram in 2001-2002 after the terrorist attack on Parliament. . The Ship also played a key role in . In 2015, India and Russia had concluded Operation Vijay by creating blockade an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) against Pakistan during Kargil War in for at least 200 Ka-226T twin engine 1999. utility helicopters estimated to cost over . The ship which was the centerpiece of the $1 billion Navy, housed the fighters Sea Harriers of . The Ka-226T is meant to replace the INAS 300, popularly called “White Tigers”, ageing and obsolete Cheetah and Chetak Anti Submarine aircraft Sea king Mk 42B - fleet of the Army and Air Force. also known as “Harpoons” - Sea King Mk . It is a light helicopter, with a maximum 42 C and the SAR helicopter Chetak as an take-off weight of over 3.5 tonnes and can integral flight. carry a payload of up to 1 tonne. . INS Viraat holds the Guinness World . The Ka-226T uses coaxial rotors, that is, it Record for being the longest serving has two sets of rotors mounted one on top warship of the world. of the other and typically no tail rotor. . It was decommissioned in March 2017 Coaxial rotors give a helicopter and is set to be scrapped at a ship breaking improvements in lift and payload capacity yard at Alang in Gujarat soon. over conventional choppers. This is . Several attempts by the Navy to preserve advantageous in high-altitude the carrier, by converting it into a museum environments. or by other means, failed. For doubts and queries email us at: Why in News? [email protected]

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ART & CULTURE

1) Red Fort the recess behind the platform are fine . About Red Fort examples of Italian Pietra-Dura work. . Pietra-Dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished colored stones to create images. It is considered a decorative art. . The piece de resistance of the fort, the Diwan-e-Khas was the hall of private audience. The most highly ornamented of all Shah Jahan's buildings, Diwan-e-Khas is a pavilion of white marble supported by intricately carved pillars. So enamoured was the emperor by the beauty of this pavilion that he engraved on it the following words: "If there is paradise on . The Red Fort Complex was built as the the face of this earth, it is this, it is this." palace fort of Shahjahanabad – the new . Richly decorated with flowers of inlaid capital of the fifth Mughal Emperor of mosaic work of cornelian and other stones, India, Shah Jahan. the Diwan-e-Khas once housed the . Shah Jahan, after ruling from Agra for famous Peacock Throne, which when it eleven years, decided to shift to Delhi was plundered by Nadir Shah in 1739. and laid the foundation stone of the Red . Significance of the fort Fort in 1618. . It was from here that the British deposed . For its inauguration in 1647, the main halls the last Mughal ruler, Bahadur Shah of the palace were draped in rich tapestry Zafar, marking the end of the three century and covered with silk from China and long Mughal rule. velvet from Turkey. . It was also from its ramparts that the first . With a circumference of almost one and a Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawharlal half miles, the fort is an irregular octagon Nehru, announced to the nation that and has two entrances, the Lahore and India was free from colonial rule. Delhi Gates. . Every year on India's Independence Day . Named for its massive enclosing walls of (15 August), the Prime Minister hoists red sandstone, it is adjacent to an older the Indian tricolour flag at the fort's main fort, the Salimgarh, built by Islam Shah gate and delivers a nationally broadcast Suri in 1546, with which it forms the Red speech from its ramparts. Fort Complex. Why in News? . The private apartments consist of a row of . Punjabi actor-activist Deep Sidhu, who was pavilions connected by a continuous wanted in the Red Fort violence case, was water channel, known as the Nahr-i- arrested by the Delhi Police. Behisht (Stream of Paradise). . The planning of the palace is based on 2) Padmanabhaswamy Temple Islamic prototypes, but each pavilion . About the temple reveals architectural elements typical of Mughal building, reflecting a fusion of Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions. Specific elements of the Red Fort . The Diwan-e-Aam is the Red Fort's hall of public audience. The Mughal emperors would hold court here and meet dignitaries and foreign emissaries. In

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. The Supreme Court held that the erstwhile Travancore royal family is the “human ministrant” or the shebait (manager) of the properties belonging to Sri Padmanabha, chief deity of the temple. . Why in News? . The administrators of Kerala's Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple, one of the richest in India, informed the Supreme Court that the closure of the temple during

. Sree PadmanabhaSwamy Temple, is the pandemic resulted in a financial located inside the East Fort in crunch. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. . The temple is built in an intricate fusion of 3) Tholpavakoothu the Chera style and the Dravidian style About Tholpavakkoothu of architecture, featuring high walls, and a 16th-century gopura. . The history of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple dates back to the 8th century. . The principal deity Padmanabhaswamy (Vishnu) is enshrined in the “Anantha Shayana” posture, the eternal yogic sleep on the serpent Adi Shesha. . It is one of the 108 sacred Vishnu temples or Divya Desams in India. Divya Desams are the holiest abodes of Lord Vishnu that are mentioned in the works of the Tamil Azhwars.

. Azhwars or Alvars are the Vaishnavite . Tholpavakoothu is a traditional temple poet saints who lived between 5th and art form of shadow puppetry in Kerala 10th Century CE . The azhwars are twelve having its roots in Palakkad and in number: 11 men and 1 woman, and neighbouring regions. they belonged to various castes, by birth. . It is believed to have originated in the They rendered great service to the Bhakti ninth century AD and uses Kamba Movement writing, composing and singing Ramayana as its basic text. the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham (4000 . It used to be performed in the divine verses) in Tamil. Bhadrakali temples of Palakkad, telling . Marthanda Varma, noted among tales from the Ramayana. It is also known Travancore kings, did a major renovation as Nizhalkkoothu and Olakkoothu. to the temple in the 18th century and it . This art is confined largely to Pulavar resulted in the present day structure of the families from Shoranur region of Palakkad temple. district. . Recently, the Supreme Court of India . The performance language uses Tamil, upheld the right of the Travancore royal Sanskrit and Malayalam words. family to manage the property of deity at . According to legend, Tholpavakoothu was Sri PadmanabhaSwamy Temple in performed at the request of the goddess Thiruvananthapuram. The Supreme Court Bhadrakali who could not witness (SC) reversed the 2011 Kerala High Court Ravana's killing as she was fighting the decision. The High Court earlier ruled that demon Darika. the successor to the erstwhile royals could Why in News? not claim to be in control of the Sree . Kerala Minister for Museums Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Kadannappally Ramachandran inaugurated the first robotic leather

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puppet at the Palakkad District Heritage For doubts and queries email us at: Museum. [email protected] . The robotic puppet will exhibit the famous Tholpavakkoothu and tell stories of the epic Ramayana with the help of robots.

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PIB ANALYSIS

1) Janani Suraksha Yojana during the period from April to December, About the Yojana 2019 is 1.54 Crore in comparison to 1.33 . Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe Crore for the corresponding period for the motherhood intervention under the current year i.e. from April to December, National Health Mission launched by the 2020 as reported in Health Management Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Information System (HMIS). in 2005. . Objective: It is being implemented with 2) Formation and Promotion of the objective of reducing maternal and Farmer Producer neonatal mortality by promoting Organizations (FPOs) institutional delivery among poor pregnant What is a Farmer Producer Organization? women. JSY integrates cash assistance . A Producer Organisation (PO) is a legal with delivery and post-delivery care. entity formed by primary producers, . The scheme is under implementation in all viz. farmers, milk producers, fishermen, states and Union Territories (UTs), with weavers, rural artisans, craftsmen. a special focus on Low Performing States . A PO can be a producer company, a (LPS). cooperative society or any other legal form . Cash assistance: Under the JSY, eligible which provides for sharing of pregnant women are entitled for cash profits/benefits among the members. assistance irrespective of the age of . In some forms like producer companies, mother and number of children for institutions of primary producers can also giving birth in a government or accredited become members of PO. private health facility. BPL pregnant . FPO is one type of PO where the women, who prefer to deliver at home, are members are farmers. entitled to a cash assistance of Rs 500 per . Small Farmers’ Agribusiness delivery regardless of age of women and Consortium (SFAC) is providing support the number of children. for the promotion of FPOs. . Focus: The scheme focuses on the poor Why in News? pregnant woman with special . Government of India has launched a new dispensation for States having low Central Sector Scheme titled "Formation institutional delivery rates namely the and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Produce States of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Bihar, Organizations (FPOs)" with a clear strategy Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and committed resources to form and Assam, Rajasthan, Orissa and Jammu and promote 10,000 new FPOs in the country Kashmir. While these States have been with budgetary provision of Rs 6865 crore. named as Low Performing States (LPS), the About the Scheme remaining States have been named as High . Formation and Promotion of Farmer performing States (HPS). Producer Organizations (FPOs) would be a . The Yojana enables the States/UTs to hire new Central Sector Scheme under the the services of a private specialist to Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers conduct Caesarean Section or for the Welfare to form and promote 10,000 new management of Obstetric complications, in FPOs. the Public Health facilities, where . Initially there will be three implementing Government specialists are not in place. Agencies to form and promote FPOs, . States are encouraged to accredit private namely Small Farmers Agri-business health facilities for increasing the choice Consortium (SFAC), National Cooperative of delivery care institutions. Development Corporation (NCDC) and Why in the news? National Bank for Agriculture and Rural . Institutional deliveries reported by the Development (NABARD). States/UTs under Janani Suraksha Yojana

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. States may also, if so desire, nominate their . Based on this, the SHC will also indicate Implementing Agency in consultation with fertilizer recommendations and soil Department of Agriculture, Co-operation amendment required for the farm. and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW). Periodical Assessment . DAC&FW will allocate Cluster/States to . It will be made available once in a cycle of Implementing Agencies which in turn will 3 years, which will indicate the status of form the Cluster-Based Business soil health of a farmer’s holding for that Organization in the States. particular period. Benefits . The SHC given in the next cycle of 3 years . Small and marginal farmers do not have will be able to record the changes in the the economic strength to apply production soil health for that subsequent period. technology, services and marketing Benefits of Soil Health Card Scheme: including value addition. . The scheme will monitor the soil of the . Through the formation of FPOs, farmers farmers well and will give them a will have better collective strength for formatted report. So, they can decide well better access to quality input, technology, which crops they should cultivate and credit and better marketing access through which ones they should skip. economies of scale for better realization of . The authorities will monitor the soil on a income. regular basis. So, farmers need not worry if the nature of the soil changes due to 3) Soil Health Card certain factors and also they will always About the scheme have updated data about their soil. . Launched in 2015, Soil Health Card (SHC) . Apart from listing down measures is a Government of India’s scheme required to improve the quality of the soil, promoted by the Department of experts are also employed to help farmers Agriculture & Cooperation under the in carrying out the corrective measures. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Why in the news? Welfare. . A study by National Productivity Council . It is being implemented through the (NPC) on ‘Soil Testing Infrastructure for Department of Agriculture of all the State Faster Delivery of Soil Health Card in and Union Territory Governments. India’ found that . The Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme . Application of fertilizer and micronutrients provides information to farmers on based on Soil Health Card (SHC) nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations resulted in 8-10 % of recommendations on appropriate dosage savings. of nutrients to be applied for improving . Overall increase in the yield of crops to soil health and its fertility. the tune of 5-6% reported by adopting the Constituents of a Soil Health Card SHC recommendations. . SHC is a printed report that a farmer will . An impact study carried out on Soil Health be handed over for each of his holdings. Card scheme found that overall, paddy . It will contain the status of his soil with farmers reduced use of urea by 9% but respect to 12 parameters, namely N, P, K increased use of Potassium by 20% which (Macronutrients); S (Secondary- nutrient); is a healthy sign of moving towards Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo (Micronutrients); and balanced use of fertilizers. pH, EC, OC (Physical parameters). 4) Special Economic Zones . N - Nitrogen , P - Phosphorus, K - Act,2005 Potassium, S - Sulphur, Zn - Zinc, Fe - Background Iron, . With a view to attract larger foreign . Cu - Copper, Mn - Manganese, Bo - investments in India, the Special Economic Boron, EC- Electrical Conductivity, OC- Zones (SEZs) Policy was announced in Organic Carbon. 2000. The Special Economic Zones Act

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was enacted in 2005 and the SEZ Rules . It seeks to lay a foundation to enable came into effect in 2006. cities and towns to eventually grow into Salient features of the SEZ Scheme smart cities. . SEZ is a specifically delineated duty-free . AMRUT adopts a project approach to enclave and deemed to be foreign ensure basic infrastructure services territory for the purposes of trade relating to water supply, sewerage, septage operations and duties and tariffs. management, storm water drains, . SEZs’ economic laws are more liberal than transport and development of green a country's typical economic laws. In an spaces and parks with special provision for SEZ, meeting the needs of children. . No licence required for import; Coverage . Manufacturing or service activities . This Mission will be implemented in 500 allowed; cities and towns each with a population of . No routine examination by customs one lakh and above, some cities situated on authorities of export/import cargo; stems of main rivers, a few capital cities . SEZ Developers /Co-Developers and Units and important cities located in hilly areas, enjoy tax benefits as prescribed in the SEZs islands and tourist areas. Act, 2005; Approach . India’s SEZ policy offers various fiscal and . Implementation of this Mission will be regulatory incentives to the developers linked to promotion of urban reforms within the zone like exemption from such as customs duties, central excise duties. . e-governance, . The idea was to create a level playing field . constitution of professional municipal to the domestic enterprises and cadre, manufacturers to be competitive globally. . devolving funds and functions to urban . Domestic sales from an SEZ is subject to local bodies, full customs duty and import policy in . review of Building bye-laws, force. . improvement in assessment and collection Objectives of municipal taxes, The main objectives of the SEZ Act are: . credit rating of urban local bodies, . Generation of additional economic activity . energy and water audit and . Promotion of exports of goods and . citizen-centric urban planning. services. Funding . To develop backward regions. . Central assistance will be to the extent of . Contribute towards exchange rate 50 percent of project cost for cities and stability. towns with a population of up to 10 lakh . Promotion of investment from domestic and one-third of the project cost for those and foreign sources with a population of above 10 lakh. . Creation of employment opportunities . Central assistance will be released in three . Development of infrastructure facilities instalments in the ratio of 20:40:40 Why in News? based on achievement of milestones . This information was given by the Minister indicated in State Annual Action Plans. of State in the Ministry of Commerce and AMRUT and Cooperative Federalism Industry in a written reply in the Lok . Under AMRUT, work of selection, Sabha recently. appraisal, approval and implementation of projects in cities have been delegated to 5) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation States/UTs and concerned Urban Local Bodies. and Urban Transformation . At Central level, only State Annual Action (AMRUT) Plans (SAAPs) submitted by the States are About AMRUT considered for approval. . AMRUT was launched in 2015 as a . AMRUT makes States equal partners in Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the planning and implementation of projects, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

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thus actualizing the spirit of cooperative . Started in 2001, the Summit has become a federalism. focal point for leaders and stakeholders . Random citizen survey and feedback across the world to bridge thought and about the services is an integral part of the action for sustainable development. Mission. . It provides a platform for global leaders . Why in the news? and practitioners to discuss and . This information was given in a written deliberate over climatic issues of reply by the Minister of State, Housing & universal importance. Urban Affairs, in Lok Sabha recently. . Post the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and the signing of the Paris Agreement, the World Sustainable 6) SANKALP Development Summit aims to provide About the programme long-term solutions for the benefit of the . The Skills Acquisition and Knowledge global community by assembling the Awareness for Livelihood (SANKALP) is an various stakeholders on a single platform outcome-oriented centrally sponsored and initiating a step in the direction of programme of the Ministry of Skill achieving constructive action in Development & Entrepreneurship combating issues pertinent to the future of (MSDE) financially supported by the humanity World Bank. . It is continuing the legacy of Delhi . It focuses on the overall skilling Sustainable Development Summit ecosystem covering both Central & State (DSDS) which was initiated in 2001 with agencies and also strengthens the district the aim of making ‘sustainable skill administration and the District Skill development’ a globally shared goal. Committees (DSCs). It focuses on Why in the news? decentralised planning and quality . Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently improvement. inaugurated the World Sustainable . SANKALP aims to implement the mandate Development Summit 2021 via video of the National Skill Development conferencing. Mission (NSDM). . The theme of the 2021 Summit is . Under SANKALP four key result areas have ‘Redefining our common future: Safe been identified viz: and secure environment for all’. . Institutional Strengthening (at National, About The Energy and Resources Institute State & District level); (TERI) . Quality Assurance Quality Assurance of . TERI is a leading think tank that conducts skill development programs; research work in the fields of energy, . Inclusion of marginalised population in environment and sustainable skill development; and development . Expanding Skills through Public Private . Established in 1974 as Tata Energy Partnerships (PPPs). Research Institute and was renamed The Why in the news? Energy and Resources Institute in 2003. . The Union Minister of Skill Development . It aims to focus on formulating local and and Entrepreneurship recently reviewed national level strategies for shaping the SANKALP initiative. global solutions to critical issues. . Its key focus lies in promoting clean 7) World Sustainable energy, water management, pollution Development Summit 2021 management, sustainable agriculture and About the summit climate resilience. . It is the annual flagship event of The . Objectives Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). . Enhancing conservation, utilization of and . It is the sole summit on global issues access to water, including watershed taking place in the developing world. management . Enabling the planning and governance of environmentally sustainable cities

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through green buildings and through . FASTag uses RFID technology that management of solid waste, sewage, provides users a smooth and effortless sanitation, mobility and air quality cross-over at Toll plazas without . Building resilience to adverse impacts waiting/halting. of climate change due to cyclones and . The payment is made digitally through the variations in hydrology and temperature FASTag linked to the bank wallet. . Enhancing ecosystem services especially . As social distancing has become the new in forestry and biodiversity norm, commuters are increasingly looking . Enabling sustainable food production and at FASTag as a toll payment option as it nutritional security through quality nullifies the chances of any human planting material, bio-based agricultural contact between the drivers and the toll inputs and crop diversification operators. . Being an inclusive technological tool for 8) FASTag toll collection on highways, FASTag is About FASTag amore practical and beneficial option. . National Electronic Toll Collection . Implementation of FASTag is one step in (FASTag) programme, is the flagship the direction of providing safe, smooth and initiative of the Ministry of Road seamless journeys to commuters on Transport & Highways (MoRT&H) and National Highways. National Highways Authority of India Why in the news? (NHAI) launched in 2016. . The Ministry of Road Transport & . A FASTag is a reloadable tag that Highways has made FASTags mandatory automatically deducts toll charges and from February 15 midnight and any allows a vehicle to pass through a toll gate vehicle not fitted with it will be charged without stopping for the payment. double at toll plazas across the country. . It uses radio frequency identification . The ministry has clarified that this has (RFID) technology to make cashless been done to further promote digital payments through a prepaid account payments through digital mode, reduce linked to it. waiting time and fuel consumption. . The tag is fixed to the windscreen of a vehicle and an RFID antenna in the canopy 9) National Monsoon Mission of the toll gate scans the QR code and the About the mission tag identification number, following which . The National Monsoon Mission was the boom barrier lifts to allow a vehicle to launched by the Ministry of Earth pass through. Sciences in 2012. . The tag, which is valid for five years, . Aim: It aims to develop a state-of-the-art, comes in seven different colours — dynamic monsoon prediction system for violet, orange, yellow, green, pink, blue, short, medium, and long-range forecasts. black. Each colour is assigned to a . Objective: The overall objective of NMM is particular category of vehicles. to improve the monsoon prediction . FASTag is vehicle specific and once it is over India on all time scales and hence it affixed to a vehicle, it cannot be is implemented for the whole country. transferred to another vehicle. So it avoids . The short range to medium range (1-10 duplication. days), extended range (10days to 30 days) . It has been implemented on pan India and seasonal (up to one season) models basis in order to remove bottlenecks and developed under the National Monsoon ensure seamless movement of traffic and Mission (NMM) have shown very high skill collection of user fee as per the notified in predicting important weather events on rates. different time scales during the last 3years. . FASTag has been made mandatory for all . The targets of Monsoon Mission are as vehicles in the country. follows: Benefits of FASTag . Development of a seamless prediction system using monsoon mission model, on

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different time scales, like Seasonal (for Swadhar Greh Scheme which targets the whole Monsoon season), Extended range women victims of difficult (up-to 4 weeks), Short range prediction circumstances who are in need of (up-to 5days). institutional support for rehabilitation so . Initiate and coordinate working that they could lead their life with dignity. partnership between Indian and foreign . The scheme covers women who are institutes to develop a system for deserted and without any social and prediction of extremes and climate economic support, women victims of applications domestic violence, family tension and . Develop and implement systems for natural disaster. climate applications having social Objectives impacts (such as agriculture, flood . Under the Scheme , Swadhar Greh will be forecast, extreme events forecast, wind set up in every district with capacity of 30 energy,etc.) women with the following objectives: . Advanced data assimilation system for . To cater to the primary need of shelter, preparing high quality data for model food, clothing, medical treatment and care predictions. of the women in distress and who are About ACROSS Scheme without any social and economic support. . "Atmosphere & Climate Research- . To enable them to regain their emotional Modelling Observing Systems & strength that gets hampered due to their Services (ACROSS)" is an umbrella encounter with unfortunate circumstances. scheme subsuming 9 sub-schemes . To provide them with legal aid and launched by the Ministry of Earth guidance to enable them to take steps for Sciences. their readjustment in family/society. . Objective . To rehabilitate them economically and . The objective of the ACROSS scheme is to emotionally provide a reliable weather and climate . To act as a support system that forecast for betterment of society. understands and meets various . To conduct R & D for improving forecast requirements of women in distress. of weather, climate and other hazardous . To enable them to start their life afresh events in real-time for delivery of a reliable with dignity and conviction. weather and climate service. This requires . For big cities and other districts having . Augmentation of observations and their more than 40 lakh population or those assimilation into weather and climate districts where there is a need for models additional support to the women, more . Understanding the physical processes than one Swadhar Greh could be through field campaigns established. . Developing and running of high resolution . The Ministry of Women and Child models for giving forecast in allscales Development also reviews the functioning . Translating science to service and it of the Swadhar Greh at regular intervals delivery to society with the State Governments/UT . Improving and acquiring the required administrations. infrastructure . The Swadhar Greh Scheme initially Why in the news? introduced as a central sector scheme has . This information was given by the Minister been revised in 2016 as a sub-scheme of of Science & Technology; Earth Science and the Centrally Sponsored Umbrella Health & Family Welfare in the Rajya Scheme “Protection and Empowerment Sabha recently. of Women”. . Funds are released through the States, 10) Swadhar Greh Scheme with a cost sharing ratio of 60:40 between About the scheme the Centre and the States excepting for the . The Ministry of Women and Child North Eastern and Himalayan States where Development is implementing the it shall be 90:10 and for UTs it is 100%. Why in the news?

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. This information was given by the Union irregular, premature or ill-prepared Minister of Women and Child adoptions abroad. Developmentin a written reply in the Rajya . It is an effort to protect those involved Sabha recently. from the corruption, abuses, and exploitation which sometimes 11) CARINGS Portal accompanies international adoption. About the portal . Why in the news? . Child Adoption Resource Information and . This information was given by the Union Guidance System (CARINGS), is an Minister of Women and Child Development centralized Online Portal of Central in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) to recently. facilitate adoption in the Country. . It functions under the Ministry of Women 12) Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav and Child Development. About About CARA . Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is the . Central Adoption Resource Authority flagship festival of the Ministry of Culture (CARA) has been set up as an organized since 2015. autonomous and statutory body of the . It is organised with the active participation Ministry of Women and Child of Seven Zonal Culture Centres and has Development. been playing a pivotal role to take the . It functions as a nodal body for adoption of vibrant culture of India out to the masses. Indian children and is mandated to . It has been instrumental in showcasing monitor and regulate in-country and folk and tribal art, dance, music, cuisines & inter-country adoption. culture of one state in other states . CARA is designated as the Central reinforcing the cherished goal of “Ek Authority to deal with inter-country Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”. adoptions in accordance with the . It provides an effective platform to the provisions of the Hague Conventions on artists and artisans to support their Inter-Country Adoptions, 1993, ratified livelihood. by the Government of India in 2003. . The RSM will reconnect the people- . CARA interacts with State Governments especially the youth- with their indigenous and UT Administrations through regular culture, its multifaceted nature, training and orientation programmes as magnificence, opulence and historical well as meetings, consultations and visits importance in the context of India as a to the States/UTs. Nation over the millennia. About Hague Convention on Intercountry Why in the news? Adoption, 1993 . The eleventh edition of Rashtriya Sanskriti . The Hague Convention 1993 on Protection Mahotsav is being held between 14th to of Children and Co-operation in Respect of 28th February, 2021 in West Bengal. Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption For doubts and queries email us at Convention) protects children and their [email protected] families against the risks of illegal,

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News in Depth AIR NEWS

1) National Clean Air Programme . Air quality of cities is monitored by State (NCAP) Pollution Control Boards which publishes their results from time to time. About the Programme Why in News? . NCAP is a pollution control initiative that . Union Environment Minister Prakash was launched by the Ministry of Javadekar informed about the National Environment, Forest and Climate Clean Air Programme in Rajya Sabha Change in 2019. This is the first ever effort recently. in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target. 2) Kisan Credit Card scheme About the Scheme . It aims to reduce particulate matter (PM2.5 . The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was and PM10) pollution by 20-30% in 122 cities by 2024, with 2017 as the base year introduced in 1998 with the aim of for comparison. providing adequate and timely credit . The Central Pollution Control Board support from the banking system under a (CPCB) will execute this nation-wide single window with flexible and simplified programme. procedure to the farmers for their Implementation cultivation and other needs as indicated . Under NCAP, 122 non-attainment cities below: have been identified across the country 1. To meet the short term credit based on the Air Quality data from 2014- requirements for cultivation of crops; 2018. 2. Post-harvest expenses; . Apart from experts from the industry and 3. Produce marketing loan; academia, the programme is a 4. Consumption requirements of farmer collaboration between the Ministry of household; Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of 5. Working capital for maintenance of farm Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of assets and activities allied to agriculture; New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of 6. Investment credit requirement for Heavy Industry, Ministry of Housing and agriculture and allied activities. Urban Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, . Note: The aggregate of components ‘a’ to Ministry of Health, NITI Aayog, and Central ‘e’ above will form the short term credit Pollution Control Board. limit portion and the aggregate of . City specific action plans have been components under ‘f’ will form the long prepared which include measures for term credit limit portion. strengthening the monitoring network, . Under the KCC Scheme, a flexible limit of reducing vehicular/industrial emissions, Rs.10,000 to Rs.50,000 has been provided increasing public awareness etc. to marginal farmers (as Flexi KCC) based . Implementation of the city specific action on the land holding and crops grown. plans are regularly monitored by . The beneficiaries under the scheme will be Committees at Central and State level issued with a Smart card/ Debit card. namely Steering Committee, Monitoring . It enables farmers to purchase agricultural Committee and Implementation inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, Committee.

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etc. and draw cash to satisfy their weather connectivity would not be eligible agricultural and consumption needs. even if the present condition of the road is . The Scheme is implemented by bad. Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance . The unit for this Programme is a Banks and Cooperatives. Habitation and not a Revenue village or a Eligibility Panchayat. A Habitation is a cluster of . Farmers - individual/joint borrowers who population, living in an area, the location of are owner cultivators; which does not change over time. . Tenant farmers, oral lessees & . The PMGSY shall cover only the rural sharecroppers; areas. Urban roads are excluded from the . Self Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability purview of this Programme. Groups (JLGs) of farmers including tenant Funding pattern farmers, sharecroppers etc. . The Union Government bears 90% of the . In 2019, KCC was extended to farmers project cost in respect of projects who are involved in activities related to sanctioned under the scheme in North- animal husbandry and fisheries. Eastern and Himalayan States, whereas for Why in News? other states the Union Government bears . More than 187 lakh Kisan Credit Cards 60% of the cost. with credit limit of one lakh 76 thousand Initiatives related to PMGSY crore rupees have been sanctioned to . Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing farmers across the country during the last Extremism affected Areas (RCPLWEA): one year. It was launched in 2016 as a separate . A special drive to cover farmers under the vertical under PMGSY to provide all- Kisan Credit Card is going on from weather road connectivity with necessary February, 2020. culverts and cross-drainage structures in 44 districts (35 are worst LWE affected 3) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak districts and 09 are adjoining districts), Yojana which are critical from security and communication point of view. About PMGSY . Meri Sadak mobile app: It was launched . The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana to enable citizens to register complaints (PMGSY), was launched in 2000 as regarding the quality and pace of centrally sponsored scheme to provide construction of PMGSY roads. connectivity to unconnected habitations of Why in News? designated population size (500+ in . In the Union Territory of Jammu and plain areas and 250+ in North-East, hill, Kashmir, District Development tribal and desert areas as per Census, Commissioner Rajouri, Rajesh K Shavan 2001) as part of a poverty reduction has discussed the modalities for strategy. the formulation of Block and District Rural . The Ministry of Rural Development Road plans under PMGSY Phase-III in a along with state governments is meeting. responsible for the implementation of PMGSY. . Phase III of PMGSY was approved by the 4) Accessible India Campaign Union Cabinet in 2019. It involves the (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) consolidation of Through Routes and About the Campaign Major Rural Links connecting habitations . It was launched in 2015 by the to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Department of Empowerment of Persons Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. with Disabilities (DEPwD) as a nation-wide Guiding Principles of PMGSY Campaign for achieving universal . The spirit and the objective of the scheme accessibility for Persons with Disabilities is to provide good all-weather road (PwDs). It aims at providing equal connectivity to unconnected Habitations. A opportunity to PwDs to participate in all habitation which was earlier provided all- the aspects of life and live independently.

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. The Accessible India Campaign comprises Disabilities from participating equally in of the following three components: the socio-cultural and economic activities. 1. Built Environment Accessibility: It aims A barrier-free environment facilitates to provide an accessible physical equal participation in all the activities and environment for everyone. To achieve this, promotes an independent and dignified measures need to be undertaken to way of life. eliminate obstacles and barriers to indoor . The campaign has the vision to build an and outdoor facilities including schools, inclusive society in which equal medical facilities, and workplaces. opportunities are provided for the growth 2. Transportation System Accessibility: It and development of Persons with focuses on providing persons with Disabilities (PwDs) so that they can lead disabilities an equal right to travel and use productive, safe and dignified lives. public and private transportation Why in News? infrastructure with dignity and . According to data from the Social Justice independence. and Empowerment Ministry’s Department 3. Information and Communication Eco- of Empowerment of Persons with System Accessibility: Access to Disabilities (DEPwD), less than 7% of information refers to all information. This public buses in the country were fully can range from actions such as being able accessible to wheelchair users as of to read price tags, to physically enter a hall, December 2020, with the target of 25% of to participate in an event, to read a buses being accessible by June 2022 under pamphlet with healthcare information, to the Accessible India Campaign getting understand a train timetable, or to view close. webpages. . When the Accessible India Campaign was Objectives launched in 2015, the deadline for making . The campaign is based on the principles of at least 25% of public buses fully the Social Model of Disability, that accessible was March 2018. However, the disability is caused by the way society is deadline had been pushed back to June organised, and not the person’s limitations 2022. and impairments. For doubts and queries email us at . The physical, social, structural and [email protected] attitudinal barriers prevent People with

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THE HINDU EDITORIALS

1) The cost of Internet shutdowns found themselves completely left out of all GS-2 CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS social and economic systems. CONTEXT . Blanket bans on digital connectivity during . In recent times, movement led by farmers the COVID-19 crisis may breed deep- against the Central government’s rooted societal difficulties. agricultural laws has become a part of our . The most vulnerable among us may be national and international discourse. cut off from health and welfare alerts. Besides the contentious legislation, the . There could be breaks in vital digital manner in which the Centre introduced the services, including those currently being Bills and its actions towards countering the used by hospitals to monitor the well- movement also has raised plenty of being of their patients at risk of infection, concerns. including the elderly, and pregnant PRINCIPAL CONCERN women. . Among all, the major concern has been the . Students may lose access to avenues of recurrent shutdowns of Internet learning as classes shift online. services around many border areas of the . Journalists may find it impossible to do National Capital Region (NCR) ordered by ground-reporting from already volatile the Ministry of Home Affairs. areas. . In recent years, India has witnessed . The economic activity in affected areas internet blockages so frequently that it has may freeze and cause large-scale topped the chart of number of shutdowns disruptions in economic output, today among all other democracies in the world. almost all whitecollar employment sectors, The past four years have seen over 400 including IT, financial and consulting such shutdowns. services, are encouraging their employees . Jammu and Kashmir saw the longest to work from home. Internet shutdown across the world since . India is estimated to have lost over the abrogation of Article 370 in the ₹20,000 crore in 2020 because of Internet erstwhile State. shutdowns. . It was only after a long period of 223 days, SUPREME COURT VIEW ON SHUTDOWN when digital services were partially . In 2020, the Supreme Court had declared restored. that the Right to Access the Internet is Concerns one of our fundamental rights alongside . Many, including UN rights groups, have the freedom to carry on any trade, termed the internet shutdowns as a form business or occupation over the medium of of collective punishment for people and an the Internet, under Article 19 of the overreach of governments on citizens’ Constitution. rights and liberties. WAY FORWARD . Currently, Indian laws have vague . Despite the costs and inconveniences provisions for suspending involved, the shutdowns, on very rare telecommunication services, including occasions, do become necessary evils. the Internet, during times of public However, it is hard to classify the ones emergencies, or, if required, for protecting initiated by the Central government in the public interest. recent years under those categories. IMPACT OF INTERNET SHUTDOWNS . As the pace of globalisation, digitisation . During pandemic, the impact becomes and connectivity accelerate, balancing civil more pronounced. The ones with good liberties with security concerns will connectivity and know-how of digital tools become an increasingly difficult task. were able to carry on with their lives with Governments must find a way other than relatively fewer disruptions, while others digital curbs to balance civil liberties and without digital literacy or connectivity security.

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. Internet bans should be a last resort and diminished today, the international must be enforced following well- community may not have any alternatives formulated protocols. when it comes to pursuing the restoration . Emergency response and relief systems for of democracy in the country. the vulnerable have to then work in . Consequently, those who are batting for parallel. Suu Kyi in the international community in . Upgrading cyber divisions of law order to build to rebuild the charisma of enforcement agencies with new-age the fallen messiah, may have to condone innovations may offer several alternatives. her government’s past actions against . The use of some of these technologies, the Rohingya in order to highlight her including mass surveillance systems and suitability to be the saviour of democracy communication interceptors, also presents in Myanmar once again. its own ethical dilemmas. . Hence, there is the possibility that the case . Therefore, governments will have to create against Myanmar’s conduct during her modern, independent institutions that government’s tenure at the International have the authority and expertise to create Court of Justice (ICJ) will most likely be put frameworks that meet these challenges, on the backburner and the plight of the without falling back on measures that helpless Rohingya will take a backseat or result in state overreach. be conveniently forgotten. . Put differently, increasing global support 2) The long and the short of for Ms. Suu Kyi could potentially spell doom for the persecuted Rohingya. India’s Naypyitaw dilemma THE CHINA FACTOR GS-2 India and its neighborhood- relations. . This is a coup that seems to suit no one CONTEXT except the Tatmadaw, the armed forces of . After the February military coup, the Myanmar. future of Myanmar’s democracy is . In the short run, the coup stands to hurt uncertain, but the country, sandwiched the interests of China, India and even the between two powerful states competing rest of the international community, all of for power and influence, is certain to be a whom were able to do business with key piece in the region’s geopolitics. Myanmar in their own unique ways. . As the coup has undone the comfortable . However, even though international space New Delhi’s Myanmar policy sanctions are unlikely to have a major occupied for close to a decade, New Delhi impact on the country’s largely inward would need to be nimble-footed and looking junta, it is likely that the creative in its responses with well- international community’s sharp thought-out strategic choices taking reactions will force the Tatmadaw to precedence over knee-jerk reactions. turn to China. COUP, POLITICS, GEOPOLITICS AND . It is to be noted that the coup has ROHINGYAS complicated even China’s larger regional . If Myanmar’s democracy prior to the economic plans in Myanmar, for the time February 2021 coup was inadequate and being. intolerant towards minorities, its political . Beijing has recently been cultivating Ms. future will be a lot more complicated, Suu Kyi, who was keen on a strong making the choices of outside powers far relationship with China given the growing more constrained. criticism she was facing from the West. But . Adding to it strong reactions and the the junta’s jailing her could complicate threat of sanctions from the United Beijing’s plans for the country. States and the West in the wake of the . While on the positive side for Beijing, recent coup could lead to unique political decisive western sanctions will force the realignments in Myanmar. military to get closer to China. . As a result, even though the democratic . For Beijing, given that it does not come credentials of the former State Counsellor, with the ‘baggage’ of democratic norms, it Aung San Suu Kyi, remain deeply may simply be a matter of rejigging its

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schedule in Myanmar and getting used to . Coordinated action and intelligence the new scheme of things there. sharing between the two forces have in . To that extent, China will be its biggest the recent past been instrumental in beneficiary of the February coup by beating back the insurgent groups in the default. northeast. NEW DELHI’S DILEMMA . Second, the issue of providing succour to . While China’s choices are straightforward, the Rohingya in the wake of the military it is far more complicated for others, coup in Myanmar. Unless the military especially India. New Delhi faces the most decides to engage in a peace process, the challenging dilemma on how to respond to Rohingya question is likely to be pushed the military coup in Myanmar. aside with the campaign against them . The dual power centres of the military and continuing relentlessly, perhaps with even the civilian government that existed in more ferocity. Naypyitaw until recently, suited New Delhi . The inability of the states in the region to quite well as it did not have to worry about address the legitimate concerns of the hurting the international community’s Rohingya or increased violations of their normative concerns or sacrificing its rights could potentially lead to a rise of national interests while engaging them extremism within the community, which in both. the longer run would not be in India’s . The February coup has undone that interests. comfortable space New Delhi’s Myanmar . New Delhi is currently left with very few policy occupied for close to a decade. While clear policy options. It must continue to India’s national interests, under the new maintain relations with the government circumstances, would clearly lie in dealing in power in Myanmar while discreetly with whoever is in power in Myanmar, pushing for political reconciliation in India would find it difficult to openly the country. In the meantime, the focus support the junta given the strong must be on improving trade, western and American stance. connectivity, and security links between . On the other hand, it can ill-afford to the two sides. offend the junta by actively seeking a restoration of democracy. Being a close 3) Troubled mountains neighbour with clear strategic interests in GS-3 Environment Myanmar, offending the junta would be NEWS counter-productive. . The staggering collapse of part of a glacier . Although the Ministry of External Affairs in Uttarakhand’s Nanda Devi mountain and statement — “We believe that the rule of the ensuing floods that have claimed many law and the democratic process must be lives come as a deadly reminder that this upheld. We are monitoring the situation fragile, geologically dynamic region can closely” — is definitely in favour of never be taken for granted. restoring democracy, but its past support BACKGROUND for the pro democracy movement in . According to some satellite images, a Myanmar is unlikely to return as the significant slice of the glacier, dislodged by nature of the regional geopolitics has a landslide , produced roaring torrents in changed with the arrival of China on the the Rishiganga and Dhauliganga rivers in scene. Chamoli district. . New Delhi’s new Myanmar policy will . Number of people are still missing in the therefore be a function of interests rather region, as the wave of water, silt and debris than norms. swamped the rivers and filled tunnels in OTHER CHALLENGES FOR INDIA the Tapovan power project. . One, Myanmar’s military played a helpful CONCERNS role in helping New Delhi contain the . The increasing frailty of the state in the North-eastern insurgencies by allowing face of environmental shocks, is the major Indian military to pursue insurgents across cause of concern, which cannot be ignored. the border into Myanmar.

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. Despite the concerns raised by several CONCERNS HOVERING ENVIRONMENTAL environmentalists like Sunderlal POLICY MAKING Bahuguna, Gaura Devi, the State’s deep . Steadily increasing levels of pollution, gorges and canyons have attracted many biodiversity loss, decline in forest health hydroelectric projects and dams, with and destruction of wetlands are testimony little concern for earthquake risk. to the dismal gap between governmental . Red flags have been raised repeatedly, rhetoric and the environment, regardless particularly after the moderate quake in of the party in power. 1991 in the region where the Tehri dam . It is argued that the governments have not was built and the 2013 floods that put in the substantial new financial devastated Kedarnath, pointing to the resources raised through rapid growth into threat from seismicity, dam-induced environmental protection. microseismicity, landslides and floods . Even when there are increased allocations, from a variety of causes, including such as for cleaning up the Ganga, their unstable glacial lakes and climate change. usage is ridden with such design flaws, FAULT LINES IN POLICY MAKING inefficiencies and corruption that the . India is heavily invested in dam environment is no better off than before. development and growth of BUDGET 2021 hydropower, largely in the Himalaya . The 2021 Budget is no different, as the region — especially to cut carbon budgetary allocations for the Ministry emissions. of Environment, Forest and Climate . By one estimate, if the national plan to Change (MoEFCC) have consistently construct dams in 28 river valleys in the fallen as a percentage of total allocations. hills is realised in a few decades, the Indian . This includes MoEFCC crucial institutions Himalayas will have one dam for every 32 such as the Wildlife Institute of India and km, among the world’s highest densities. the Indian Council of Forestry Research . Researchers say that this can be the and Education. miscalculation for the reasons, including ANALYSING ALLOCATIONS FOR potential earthquake impacts, monsoonal ENVIRONMENT SECTOR aberrations that could repeat a Kedarnath- . The government could argue that while like flood, severe biodiversity loss and, direct allocations to environment related importantly, extreme danger to institutions and schemes may not have communities downstream. risen significantly, there are substantial . Also there is evidence that the life of dams allocations to sectors that have a positive is often exaggerated, and siltation, which environmental impact. reduces it, is grossly underestimated: in . For instance, the 2021 Budget has the Bhakra dam in Himachal Pradesh, for allocated ₹3,500 crore for wind and solar instance, siltation was higher by 140% energy, ₹4,000 crore for a ‘Deep Ocean than calculated. Mission’, and ₹50,011 crore for urban WAYFORWARD drinking water. All of these have positive . The need is to rigorously study the impact ecological potential, but let’s examine them of policy on the Himalayas and confine a bit more closely. hydro projects to those with the least . Renewable energy (RE): There is no impact, while relying more on low impact intention to phase out fossil fuels; on the runoff the river power projects that need contrary, coal mining and thermal power no destructive large dams and reservoirs. are being promoted under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat package. And large 4) A Budget not for the hydropower is being promoted as RE, though its massive ecological and social environment impacts are well documented. GS- Environment, GS-2 Government . Even much of the solar and wind energy is policies and interventions for coming in the form of massive energy development parks that take up huge areas of land, displacing people and wildlife.

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. There is no indication in the Budget that for people and the environment if it helps the RE push would be predominantly to reduce private vehicle density in cities. decentralised, community managed, and . But if much of this is allocated to the metro with full environmental impact rather than to buses and other such earthy assessments (currently not required for RE alternatives (including last mile projects). connectivity, incentives for walking and . Nor does the Budget have anything on cycling), the picture becomes murky. curtailing wasteful and luxury . As the experience with the metro so far in consumption of energy or other products India’s cities is one of significant and services by the rich. environmental impact, but also lacks . Without controlling demand, even a affordability for the poor. complete shift to RE will be unsustainable; OTHER WORRYING ALLOCATIONS after all, silica has to be mined somewhere. . There is the worrying issue of allocations Drinking Water: to non environmental sectors that have a . In principle any scheme for urban drinking negative impact on the environment. water is positive. But with the continuation . For instance, the Budget proposes 11,000 of a highly centralised approach to all km more of national highway corridors, such schemes, there is a ‘one size fits all’ when in the last few years, massive road approach, heavily focused on expensive and dam construction has fragmented infrastructure like big reservoirs and fragile ecosystems and disrupted local pipelines. community life in the Himalaya, Western . Instead, a decentralised approach that uses Ghats, northeast India and elsewhere. a mix of local rooftop and backyard . It is not only the road itself but what it harvesting, restoration and conservation of brings with it that results in opening up urban wetlands, and regenerating previously intact ecosystems. groundwater could achieve much better WAY FORWARD results. . Leaving aside the fallacy of believing that . And as in energy, there is no focus on all ecological damage can be compensated incentivising responsible consumption, (a rainforest drowned under a dam can’t restraining luxury uses, and redistributing be recreated, however much money you water more equitably, without which no pour into it). amount of infrastructure will be enough. . It is time to think climbing into a green, Deep Ocean Mission: nature-and-land based livelihoods . It is being projected as a programme for recovery that could create tens of millions conservation of biodiversity in the depths of jobs and also regenerate India’s of our marine areas, the serious neglect of depleted environment. our oceanic areas. . Need to come out of the logic of neoliberal . The institutions that are given ‘development’ planning, with a blind trust responsibility under this include the in growth as the panacea for all ills, to treat Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Indian nature as a commodity for exploitation, or Space Research Organisation, the Defence a ‘sink’ into which to dump waste. Research and Development Organisation, the Department of Atomic Energy, the 5) Fine-tuning the State-of-the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Department of app technology Biotechnology, and the Indian Navy. None GS-2 Government policies and of these institutions have expertise in interventions for development in or even significant focus on marine various sectors and issues arising out of conservation. Instead, this could become their design and implementation; a project for deep sea mining, for which GS-3 Challenges to internal security already explorations are going on. through communication networks, role . Public Transport: Potentially, an of media and social networking sites in allocation of ₹18,000 crore for public internal security challenges, basics of transport could have significant benefits cyber security

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CONTEXT create better awareness, as seen in the . Keener scrutiny of the technology case of Aadhaar and Aarogya Setu. platforms of India’s States can lead to . The governments should continue to set up improved public services and user functional helplines, auto-diallers, SMS confidence. text messages, and other channels to TECHNOLOGICAL PLATFORMS AND COVID- ensure that the digitally restricted have 19 access to the same information as the . The issue of privacy is crucial for digitally empowered, more so during crises government technology platforms and such as the pandemic. services as governments typically have a . The mobile applications developed must monopoly in providing public services, proactively follow established principles unlike the private sector. of privacy by design, such as minimal data . For eg., since the announcement of the first collection and end-to-end data security. lockdown, at least 35 mobile apps that . Data requests must always meet the two specifically address COVID-19 were commonly accepted principles of data developed by 25 States and Union privacy — necessity and proportionality Territories of India. . The adoption of an API-based micro CHALLENGES services architecture and federated . Digital exclusion- The development of database structure with an appropriate COVID-19 mobile apps was well-received governance framework could address and perceived as a strong proactive issues such as inconsistency in data, risk of initiative, especially by sections of the data breach. Also it will be capable of population that were digitally empowered. providing state-specific customised However, more than 40% of mobile phone services or sub-applications such as subscribers in India lack access to information on hospital beds and grocery Internet services, and this could be more shops, among others. than 50% for digitally excluded. . Given the presence of structured audits . Lacks consistency- An analysis shows that continuously put the spotlight on that the various mobile apps on COVID-19 Government of India-backed technologies, operated by the different State extending the same level of scrutiny to governments lack consistency in terms of technology platforms developed by the the features, functionalities, and frequency States brings the opportunity of improved of information updates they offer. Thus, public services overall, and the public leads to multiple sources of truth. confidence needed to encourage wider . Privacy issues- Most of these mobile apps adoption. differ significantly on the data privacy they provide, depending on the information or 6) Denying women the right over permissions they request from the user. It their bodies is observed that most of these apps request GS-2 Government Policies & Interventions; access to location services, device ID and Issues Arising Out of Design & call information, camera, contact Implementation of Policies; Issues information etc. Related to Women . Risk of data breach- Several mobile apps NEWS of the State governments employ a . Argentina’s Congress have legalized centralised approach. This approach has a abortions up to the 14th week of higher risk of data leak as unlike multiple pregnancy. systems used in a decentralised database, CONTEXT the data in the centralised system resides . The Indian Parliament too will consider an in a common system, which is easier to amendment to our abortion laws this breach. Budget Session but unlike the Argentina WAY FORWARD law which is touted as being historic, the . There is the need for examination of Medical Termination of Pregnancy government technological platforms to (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (MTP Bill), will

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not translate into greater autonomy for . The proposed amendment still requires women over their own bodies. one doctor to sign off on termination of HISTORY OF THE LAW pregnancies up to 20 weeks old, and two . The MTP Act of 1971 was framed in the doctors for pregnancies between 20 and context of reducing the maternal mortality 24 weeks old. ratio due to unsafe abortions. PERSONAL BELIEFS . It allows an unwanted pregnancy to be . The Bill also mandates the government to terminated up to 20 weeks of pregnancy set up a medical board in every State and requires a second doctor’s approval if and UT. the pregnancy is beyond 12 weeks. . Medical boards can rely on the facts of the . Further, it allows termination only when case but personal beliefs could impact the there is a grave risk to the physical or medical board’s opinion, which is one of mental health of the woman or if the the biggest challenges in having a third- pregnancy results from a sex crime such as party opinion on a decision which is rape or intercourse with a mentally very personal. challenged woman. . While the current Bill provides that safe DENIAL OF WOMEN’S RIGHT OVER HER abortions can be performed at any stage of OWN BODY the pregnancy in case of foetal . It seems law is framed not to respect a “abnormalities,” it fails to consider any woman’s right over her own body but other reason such as personal choice, a makes it easier for the state to stake its sudden change in circumstances due to control over her body through legal and separation from or death of a partner, and medical debates. domestic violence. . For example, suppose a woman has had . Also, the proposed amendment uses the voluntary sex and she decides, for personal word “women” throughout, denying access reasons, to end her pregnancy. If she is 24 to safe abortion to transgender, intersex weeks pregnant, then this would be a and gender diverse persons. criminal offence. So, she moves the court . Abortion rights are central to a woman’s under the condition that the pregnancy autonomy to determine her life’s course. was affecting her mental health. However, Neither the state nor doctors have any here the court can refuse her despite the right to deny a woman a safe abortion. woman’s choice to end it. Doing so means that women are not being . In such circumstances, women usually treated properly as adults who are resort to unsafe methods of abortion. responsible for their own choices. Unsafe abortions are the third largest For doubts and queries email us at cause of maternal deaths in India. [email protected] . The amendment too continues this legacy of hetero-patriarchal population control, which does not give women control over their own bodies.

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INDIAN EXPRESS EXPLAINED

1) In the oceans, the volume is . Scientists are conducting research to find rising like never before some properties of element Einsteinium. About Einsteinium Why in the news? . Einsteinium is a chemical element, named . In a report published in Science journal, it after Albert Einstein, has the atomic was found that Sound generated by number 99. That means an Einsteinium Humans is affecting marine species. atom has 99 protons and 99 electrons. It is . Noise from vessels, sonar, seismic surveys a synthetic element, so all isotopes are and construction is damaging marine radioactive (property exhibited by certain animals' hearing, changing their behaviors types of matter of emitting energy and and, in some cases, threatening their subatomic particles spontaneously). ability to survive. . Isotopes can be defined as the variants of . How important is sound for marine life? chemical elements that possess the same . Sound is an important medium of number of protons and electrons, but a communication in the oceans. The different number of neutrons. visibility disappears after 10-20 meters, . Einsteinium-254 is one of the more stable chemical detention lasts for a few hundred isotopes of the element that has a half-life yards but sound on the other hand can of 276 days. The most common isotope of travel thousands of miles. the element, einsteinium 253 has a half-life . Most of the marine species have evolved to of 20 days. detect and emit sounds for survival. For . Half-life is the interval of time required for example, Whales sing and corals groan. one-half of the atomic nuclei of a What is changing? radioactive sample to decay. . Evidence shows that the noises from . It was found for the first time in 1952 by shipping traffic, fossil fuel exploration and Albert Ghiorso and his team of scientists in weapon testing is harming marine animals. the debris of the first hydrogen bomb . For example, CLOWN fish which rely on explosion, and identified as an element at sounds to guide them back to the coral the University of California, Berkeley. reefs where they were born, after drifting . Till now there has been no practical use on the open ocean as larvae. But human- discovered for this element. caused noise can now reduce the sound of Difficulty in managing with this element cracking and snapping of coral, forcing . As it is not found in nature, scientists some clownfish to drift forever without have to make this element. listening to corals. . Because of its high radioactivity and short What must be done? half-life of all einsteinium isotopes, . Scientists say that after climate change and the manufacturing process is very precise plastic pollution, sound is a major issue, and intense. It is made in isotope reactors need to be addressed. and produced in small quantities. . Slowing down of shipping vessels, moving . The element is also not visible to the within the shipping lane, avoiding naked eye and after it was discovered, it sensitive areas and changing propellers took over nine years to manufacture can help to reduce the noise pollution. enough of it so that it could be seen with . Management of noise pollution is the naked eye. important to achieve the 14th SDG goal What are scientists set to study further? which focuses on ocean life. . Scientists are set to examine how it bonds

with atoms. By studying this atomic 2) What is Einsteinium, the arrangement, scientists can find out mysterious element named interesting chemical properties of other after Albert Einstein? elements and isotopes that may be useful Why in the news?

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for nuclear power production and valuations in stock markets — HDFC Bank radio-pharmaceuticals. (set up in 1994) has a market capitalisation of Rs 8.80 lakh crore while 3) Move to privatise banks: Why SBI commands just Rs 3.50 lakh crore. the proposal? What are the . But there are many issues persisting within the private banks, especially on concerns? governance issues. For Example: Why in the news? . ICICI Bank MD and CEO Chanda Kochhar . The government in the budget announced was sacked for allegedly extending that it will be privatising 2 public sector dubious loans. banks. . Yes Bank CEO Rana Kapoor was not given . It also announced a strategic extension by the RBI and now faces sale/disinvestment policy for four investigations by various agencies. strategic sectors — including banking, . Lakshmi Vilas Bank faced operational insurance and financial services — in issues and was recently merged with DBS which the government will have a “bare Bank of Singapore. minimum presence”. . RBI has found under reporting of NPAs . Let us understand issues around the among private banks. privatisation of banks. . With these in mind, the government No. of public sector and private sector should take proper precautions before the banks in India privatisation of banks. . India has 12 state-owned banks and 22 How will be privatisation of Public sector private banks and 10 small finance banks. banks done? Issues with Public-sector banks . The two banks which are to be privatised, . Compared with private banks, Public will be selected through a process in which sector banks have high non-performing NITI Aayog will make recommendations, assets (NPAs) and stressed assets. which will be considered by a core group . In the RBI’s recent Financial Stability of secretaries on disinvestment and then Report, gross NPA ratio of all commercial the Alternative Mechanism (or Group of banks may increase from 7.5% in Ministers). September 2020 to 13.5% by September 2021 under the baseline scenario (from 4) The Farakka ‘lock’ and hilsa, 9.7% to 16.2% for public sector banks; from 4.6% to 7.9% for private banks) due why there is both hope and to COVID 19 pandemic. apprehension . Government in the last 3 years has given Why in the news? 2.56 lakh crores to Public sector banks to . The fish passes which were sanctioned at keep them healthy but now due to the Farakka barrage are set to open this pandemic the government wants to year. privatise them to shed their burden. . Let us understand the phenomenon and . The idea of government is to keep only 2 about the project. to 4 Public sector banks. Farakka Barrage Are Private banks perfect in all . The Farakka Barrage was created by India hemispheres? in 1975 to divert water from the Ganges . The competition between private and River to the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river public banks started in the 1990s when system. The barrage diverts water from RBI allowed more private banks in India. one of the most populated basins in the . Today Private banks’ market share in world, the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna loans has risen to 36% in 2020 from basin. 21.26% in 2015, while public sector banks’ share has fallen to 59.8% from 74.28%. . They have expanded the market share through new products, technology, and better services, and also attracted better

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fish navigate the obstacle posed by the Farakka barrage. . In 2019, navigation locks at farakka barrage were modified at a cost of Rs 360 crores to develop fish ladders for hisla. What are fish passes? . Fish passes — also known as fish ladders or fish ways — aim to assist fish in crossing obstacles presented by dams and barrages. . They usually consist of small steps with a regulated flow of water, that allow the fish to climb over the obstacles and enable them to reach the open waters on the other side.

Hilsa Fish and their journey

Are fish ladders effective? . The hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) is an . A 2013 study led by the American anadromous fish. That is, it lives most of ecologist J Jed Brown noted that “state-of- its life in the ocean, but during the rainy the-art fish passage facilities have been season, when it is time to spawn (or lay unsuccessful. Some migratory species, eggs), the hilsa moves towards the estuary, such as sturgeons, do not pass through at where the rivers of India and Bangladesh all. But even the species that do make it meet the Bay of Bengal. through do so in numbers far less than . Earlier, hilsa used to move upstream into stated targets”. Ganga sailing till Agra and Delhi to lay . The remodification at Farakka is to create eggs. But since the existence of Farakka just an 8 meter fish ladder. Many experts Barrage, which has a navigation lock, they believe that it is just miniscule to the size are not able to move breaching Farakka. of ganga, Hilsa may turn out in very less What are the steps taken? number. . On August 4, 2016, then Union Water For doubts and queries email us at Resources Minister Uma Bharti told Lok [email protected] Sabha about plans to create “fish ladders” (also known as Fish passes) to help the

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