PRAVAHINI (Weekly Periodical March 2023) Set 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• NATIONAL AFFAIRS ………………….………………………….

• INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS……………………………………..

• ECONOMIC AFFAIRS……………………………………………….

• AWARDS & HONOUR………………………………………………..

• SPORTS…………………………………………………………………..

• Important days & DATES…………………………………

• Reports and indexes………………………………………..

• SCIENCE & TECH…………………………………………………….

• MISCELLANEOUS……………………………………………………

 

 

 

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

 

PM AYUSHMAN BHARAT HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE MISSION

 

• The PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission was launched in October 2021 with an aim to strengthen healthcare infrastructure across India.

• With a budget of Rs.64,180 crore, the mission has three aspects: strengthening public health institutions, building an IT-enabled disease surveillance system, and expanding research on infectious diseases.

• Why is PMABHIM in the news?

• The World Bank has announced the extension of 2 complementary loans of 500 million USD each to India to support the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission.

• One of these loans will prioritize healthcare services in 7 states – Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

• The Public Health Systems for Pandemic Preparedness Program, with $500 million, is to support the government’s efforts to improve epidemic surveillance, ensure timely response and prevent the emergence of novel pathogens.

 

• Who started PMABHIM?

• Union Minister of Health Dr MAnsukh Mandaviya. It was launched in Varanasi by PM Modi. It was launched in 2021 with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crores. The aim was to make the health infrastructure of the country more resilient.

 

WHAT IS DIBANG HYDROPOWER PROJECT?

• Dibang Hydropower Project, which was approved by the Central Government recently, is India’s largest-ever hydropower project.

• This multipurpose project is being set up close to China’s border on the Dibang River, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Dibang Valley District. Notably, it is being developed in a mountainous region.

• This project will be developed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited. The estimated cost of this 2,880-megawatt hydropower project is 319 billion INR. It is expected to take 9 years to be completed.

• It involves the construction of a 278-meter-high Concrete Gravity Dam and various horseshoe-shaped head race tunnels, horseshoe-shaped tailrace tunnels and an underground Power House.

• What is the Dibang Multipurpose Project?

• The project will generate 2,880 MW of hydropower. The main purpose of the project is flood control and also water storage. The Government of Arunachal Pradesh will receive 1346.76 MU of water after completion.

 

UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY OF INDIA

• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has recently launched a new security mechanism for Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication. Its aim is to ensure a fast-paced detection of spoofing attempts by making use of artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.

• The new mechanism uses a combination of both finger minutiae and finger image to check the liveliness of the captured fingerprint. This will introduce a two-factor/layer authentication, further boosting the system’s security.

• The UDAI is a statutory body that was established by the Indian Government in January 2009.

• It comes under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It functions based on the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, benefits and services) Act, 2016.

 

WHAT IS YAMUNOTRI DHAM?

• Yamunotri Dham is part of Char Dham – the four famous Hindu pilgrimages in the Himalayas. The other famous Hindu pilgrimages in the Himalayas are Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

 

• Yamunotri Dham is the starting point of the annual pilgrimage that is held from May to October. It is situated close to River Yamuna’s source.

• The state government of Uttarakhand has inked a contract to construct a38 km ropeway from Janki Chatti in Kharsali to Yamunotri Dham. The ropeway will bring down the travel time to just 20 minutes from the current 2 to 3 hours.

• It is estimated to cost Rs. 166.82 crore. This ropeway is to be built at a height of 10,797 feet, based on Mono-Cable Detachable Gondola system technology.

 

HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF GREAT NICOBAR ISLANDS

• The Holistic Development of the Great Nicobar Island Project is being criticized for its adverse impact on the island’s ecology and indigenous tribes.

• This 10 sq. km project involves the construction of an airport, a township, a container transhipment terminal, and a power plant. The project requires the diversion of 130 sq km of forest land and the logging of 8.5 lakh trees.

• Recently, the Home Ministry asked for 8.45 sq. km. The airport component is kept confidential, citing strategic imperatives.

• The Environment Ministry has withheld all discussions on forest clearance for the entire project recommended by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC). The FAC authorizes the diversion of forest land for projects, and there is no information on when it cleared the proposal for this project.

 

• What is the Great Nicobar Island Project?

• The project is to be implemented in the Great Nicobar Island at a cost of Rs 75,000 crores, that is, 9.4 billion USD. It was prepared by NITI Aayog and to be implemented by ANIIDC (Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation).

• It mainly aims at developing coastal tourism, logistics, defense, coastal regulation zone, and commerce and industries. There are four main components in the plan.

• They are Galathea Bay International Container Transhipment Terminal, Great Nicobar International Airport, Great Nicobar Gas and Solar Power Plant, and the two coastal cities.

 

 

WHAT IS SAMARTH SCHEME?

• The SAMARTH (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector) scheme is a demand-driven and placement-oriented umbrella skilling initiative that aims to provide incentives and create jobs in the organized textile industry and related sectors, covering the entire value chain of textiles, except spinning and weaving.

 

• It is implemented via Implementing Partners like state government agencies, Textile Industry/ Industry Associations and sectoral organizations of the textile ministry, like the Central Silk Board. It will be implemented until March 2024.

• Why is the SAMARTH Scheme in News?

• The Indian Government is now planning to rope in more industry partners to boost skill development under the SAMARTH scheme.

• This initiative is part of the steps taken by the government to make the textile sector worth 250 billion USD by the end of this decade from the present 150-155 billion USD.

 

KEY POINTS RELATED TO INS TRIKAND

• INS Trikand is participating in the International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23) being held in the Gulf region from 26 Feb to 16 Mar 2023.

• Exercises will be held with participants from over 50 nations and international maritime agencies with the common aim of enhancing maritime security and keeping sea lanes in the region safe for maritime commerce.

• IMX/CE-23 is one of the largest multinational maritime exercises in the world. While this is the Indian Navy’s maiden IMX participation, it also marks the second occasion where an Indian Naval ship is participating in an exercise conducted by the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

• On November 22, INS Trikand had participated in the CMF-led Operation Sea Sword 2 in the Northwest Arabian Sea.

 

WHAT IS SWAMIH INVESTMENT FUND?

• The SWAMIH Investment Fund is a social impact fund designed to provide debt financing for completing stalled, brownfield, and RERA-registered residential projects.

• Managed by SBICAP Ventures Ltd., a State Bank Group company, the Fund is sponsored by the Union Ministry of Finance. It was launched in 2019.

• SWAMIH is regarded as the lender of last resort for distressed projects, including those with litigation issues or troubled histories.

• The Fund has provided final approval to nearly 130 projects worth around Rs 12,000 crore and has raised Rs 15,530 crore to date. It has completed 20,557 homes and aims to complete over 81,000 homes in the next three years across 30 tier 1 and 2 cities.

• One of the biggest projects completed using SWAMIH is the Rivali Park residential project in Mumbai. The Fund has contributed to the growth of ancillary industries in the real estate and infrastructure sectors by unlocking liquidity of over Rs. 35,000 crores.

• The established developers with stalled projects and non-performing assets are identified. The fund provides financial support to these projects.

 

ONE NATION ONE CHALLAN INITIATIVE

• The One Nation, One Challan initiative aims to integrate all related agencies such as traffic police and Regional Transport Offices (RTO) on a single platform for the seamless collection of traffic fines and data transfer.

• Recently, the state government of Gujarat told the HC during a PIL hearing that it was seeking the setting up of virtual traffic courts and that it is already in the process of establishing these courts under the ‘One Nation One Challan’ initiative.

• What is the One Nation One Challan initiative?

• The One Nation, One Challan initiative, launched by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, seeks to create a system that can detect traffic violations through the CCTV network and generate e-challans with relevant penalty amounts, which are sent to the mobile number linked with the erring vehicle.

• It is to integrate data from apps like VAHAN and SARATHI. It also seeks to create virtual traffic courts that eliminate the presence of litigants in court.

 

NASHA MUKT BHARAT ABHIYAN (NMBA)

• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment flagship program, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), aims to raise awareness about substance abuse among youth in India, with a particular focus on higher education institutes, university campuses, schools, and community engagement.

• Recently, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and Brahma Kumaris inked a Memorandum of Understanding to make NMBA more effective and widespread. Substance abuse means excessive use of drugs and alcohol.

• What is Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan?

• The program, started in 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, was started with a target of 272 of the most vulnerable districts. It has now reached over 9.50 crore people, including 3.10 crore young individuals, in 372 districts across the country, and over 3 lakh educational institutions.

• The NMBA has conducted various activities emphasizing the dangers of drug addiction. The program also prioritizes community involvement to promote a sense of responsibility in tackling substance abuse and promote a healthy, productive society.

 

NATIONAL ASSESSMENT & ACCREDITATION COUNCIL (NAAC)

• Recently, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has been facing allegations of irregularities in its functioning.

• Established in 1994, it is an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission (UGC) responsible for assessing the quality of higher educational institutions in India.

 

• Functions of NAAC: Through a multi-layered assessment process, it awards grades ranging from A++ to C based on parameters such as curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, research and financial well-being.

• Allegations: The former chairperson of NAAC's executive committee resigned after alleging that malpractices were leading to questionable grades being awarded to some institutions.

• An inquiry commissioned found irregularities in the IT system and allocation of assessors. The inquiry also highlighted that nearly 70% of experts from the pool of around 4,000 assessors have not received any opportunity to make site visits.

 

KERALA GOVT. TO ESTABLISH PATTAYA MISSION

• The state government of Kerala is planning to establish a Pattaya Mission by the end of April to tackle land record issues in the state. Under the leadership of MLAs in each district, the mission will work towards providing title deeds for all individuals.

• Why is the Kerala Government launching Pattaya Mission?

• Despite the implementation of the Land Reforms Act five decades ago, land record problems have not been resolved, and the proposed Pattaya Mission will expedite the distribution of title deeds.

• Till now, the government has disbursed 54,535 title deeds. It was announced by Revenue Minister K. Rajan while inaugurating a State-level Pattaya Mela in Wayanad and laying the foundation for a smart village office in Vellamunda.

 

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

 

WHAT IS S-400 TRIUMF SYSTEM?

 

• The S-400 Triumf is a surface-to-air missile system that was developed in Russia in the 1990s as an upgrade to the S-300 family. It is a mobile system that was initially known as the S-300 PMU-3. The system was first put into service in April 2007.

• The S-400 Triumf has advanced features such as a long-range, high-altitude interception capability, and the ability to track multiple targets simultaneously. It can engage enemy targets like fighter jets, UAVs, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, etc. It has a range of up to 400 km.

• Deliveries of 5 regiments of S-400 Triumf are expected to be completed by the end of 2023 or early 2024. The delivery of the third regiment was completed recently. These missile defense systems are delivered as part of the India-Russia 5.43 billion USD deal.

 

• What countries have the S400?

• Belarus, China, India, Turkey, and Russia. Belarus received S400 under the deal signed in 2022. Chin received S400 under the deal signed in 2014. And India received S400 under the deal signed in 2018. Turkey signed the deal in 2017. However, Turkey faced US sanctions for buying the S400 from Russia.

 

INDIA-UK YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SCHEME

• The UK Government recently launched the Young Professionals Scheme. Under the scheme, Indian nationals aged 18 years to 30 years can live and work in Britain for up to two years.

• To avail of the benefits of the scheme, the person should be an Indian citizen, he or should be between 18 to 30 years old, should have at least 2,350 pounds in savings.

• Persons entering through the scheme can set up the company. However, the equipment used in the company should not exceed 5,000 pounds.

• And such people cannot hire employees
• The scheme is not for family members
• People availing of the benefits of the scheme cannot work as sportspersons

 

JAPAN'S ASIA ENERGY TRANSITION INITIATIVE

• Japan looks forward to supporting India’s clean energy transition by including India in the Asia Energy Transition Initiative (AETI).

• Japan’s AETI, launched in 2021, initially supported the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries towards achieving net zero emissions, including financial assistance of USD 10 billion for renewable energy.

• What is the Asia Energy Transition Initiative?

• The Clean Energy Partnership between India and Japan was published in March 2022. It would work on the agenda covered in the India-Japan Energy Dialogue 2007 and will subsequently expand into areas of mutual benefit.

• India and Japan have taken over the presidentship of G20 and G7, respectively. In the context of environmental sustainability, India's Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) is one of the most important priorities during the G20 presidency.

• Also, the Feed-in Premium (FiP) scheme by the government of Japan was implemented in April 2022 and is expected to improve the country's energy transition.

• Japan has set a goal of becoming net-zero by 2050, and the government issued an interim report on Clean Energy Strategy in May 2022. India has also set an ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

• The Indian subcontinent's massive renewable energy potential can boost green hydrogen (GH2) production and immense potential for a GH2 economy.

 

EXERCISE DESERT FLAG VIII

• Exercise Desert Flag VIII is set to be organized from February 27 to March 17 this year. It is a multilateral air exercise involving the participation of UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, the UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, the Republic of Korea, and the US.

• It aims to bring about the interoperability of different fighter engagements and sharing of best practices of various Air Forces. UAE is hosting the exercise.

• The India Air Force Contingent, which is taking part in this exercise, includes 110 Air Warriors along with 5 LCA Tejas and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

• This is the first time that LCA Tejas aircraft is included in an international flying exercise outside India. The Indian contingent recently arrived at the Al Dhafra air base in UAE.

• What is the objective of the Desert Flag Exercise?

• To provide operational exposure to the participating soldiers. And also to train them to undertake operations in a controlled environment. The exercise provides different fighter engagements. Countries share their best practices during the exercise.

 

WHAT IS GREEN STRATEGY PARTNERSHIP?

• The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change expressed that India and Denmark can jointly demonstrate the feasibility of achieving ambitious climate and sustainable energy goals during the 'India-Denmark: Partners for Green and Sustainable Progress Conference' in New Delhi.

• Since the launch of the Green Strategic Partnership in 2020, the bilateral cooperation is focused on promoting green and sustainable development.

• What is a Green Strategy Partnership?

• The Green Strategic Partnership is a mutually beneficial arrangement to advance political cooperation, expand economic relations and green growth, create jobs, and strengthen cooperation on addressing global challenges and opportunities; with a focus on an ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

• Danish companies with niche technologies and expertise have offered to help India in meeting its air pollution control targets, including in the key area of tackling the problem of burning crop stubble.

• Other key points under the partnership include dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and cooperation in water efficiency and water loss.

 

WHAT IS WINDSOR FRAMEWORK?

• The ‘Windsor Framework’ introduces a green lane for goods that will stay in Northern Ireland and a red lane system for goods that will reach the European Union. It also introduces the ‘Stormont Brake’ that allows the lawmakers in Northern Ireland and the UK to veto any EU regulations that may adversely impact the region.

• The veto requires support from 30 members from at least 2 parties in Northern Ireland. The British government is then allowed to veto the legislation.

• No, it has not yet been implemented. It is a post-Brexit agreement. The agreement is launched to address the main issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

• What is the issue with NIP? The issue is around the movement of goods between the UK and the European Union markets.

• What are the changes introduced by Windsor Framework?

• To understand this, we first need to learn about certain political factors. Great Britain is the main island and it includes England, Wales, and Scotland. The United Kingdom includes Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Now, earlier the goods will be checked in Northern Ireland before entering Ireland. Now with the new framework, some goods are receiving exemptions from the checking.

 

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK IN THE UNITED STATES

• Yellowstone National Park in the US, which celebrated its 151st anniversary recently, is considered the first national park in the world. The park, spanning over 9,000 sq km across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, was established by the US Congress in 1872 with the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act.

• Yellowstone National Park is famed for its scenic beauty and diverse wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, and endangered bison and elk. The Old Faithful geyser is one of its most notable geothermal features.

• However, this national park was established after the displacement of Native American communities who had been hunting and gathering in the area for over 11,000 years before the government took over.

 

INTERNATIONAL BIG CAT ALLIANCE

• India has proposed the creation of a new global alliance called the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) to protect seven major big cats, namely- tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah. The IBCA will be open to 97 countries and organizations interested in protecting these animals.

 

• India has committed to providing funding of 100 million USD over 5 years to support the IBCA. After five years, the alliance will be supported by membership fees and money from other organizations.

• The IBCA will share information about protecting these animals. Its governance structure includes a General Assembly and a council.

• The IBCA Secretary-General will be appointed by the General Assembly based on the recommendation of the Council.

• What are the main activities of the International Big Cat Alliance?

• The alliance will create knowledge e-portal, laws, and partnerships, and will work to improve ecotourism and financial capacity. The main objective of the alliance is to rehabilitate the big cats.

 

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

 

WHAT IS E-BILL PROCESSING SYSTEM?

• The Electronic Bill (e-Bill) processing system was launched by the Central Government on the occasion of the 46th Civil Accounts Day in 2022. It was announced during the Union Budget 2022-23.

• It is part of the various measures taken by the Indian Government to promote ‘The Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and Digital India ecosystem.

• All central ministries and departments will be brought on board of the paperless and faceless e-Bill system before March 2024 to eliminate corruption and ensure the timely clearance of bills submitted by their vendors and contractors.

• Currently, 350 departments are on this system. 200 more are to do the same in the next year.

• What is an e-bill system?

• The e-bill system is transacting bills digitally. It was introduced to improve the digital ecosystem of India and the Ease of doing business. The main objective of the system is to increase transparency.

• With the e-bill system, vendors and suppliers can submit their bills online anytime. There are no physical interferences between government officials and suppliers.

 

WHAT IS HAR PAYMENT DIGITAL MISSION?

• At the launch of the ‘Har Payment Digital’ mission during the Digital Payments Awareness Week (DPAW) 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a programme to adopt 75 villages and convert them into digital payment enabled villages in observance of 75 years of independence.

• What is this Initiative?

• Under the initiative, Payment System Operators (PSOs) will adopt these villages across the country and conduct camps in each of these villages with an aim to improve awareness and onboard merchants for digital payments.

• PSOs are entities authorized by RBI to set up and operate a payment system.

• As of February 2023, there are 67 PSOs under various categories such as retail payments organizations, card payment networks, ATM networks, prepaid payment instruments, etc.

 

AWARDS & HONOUR

 

WHAT IS PORTER PRIZE 2023?

• Porter Prize 2023 was conferred recently to the Indian Government’s Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The award recognized the achievements of the ministry in the health sector, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• It recognized India’s successful delivery of more than 2.5 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines and the role of stakeholders like ASHA workers. The Prize is named after Michael E. Porter- an economist and researcher.

• Porter Prize 2023 was announced at “The India Dialog”, which was jointly organized by the Institute for Competitiveness (IFC) and US Asia Technology Management Center (USATMC) at Stanford University from February 23 to 24. The theme of this conference was “The Indian Economy 2023: Innovation, Competitiveness and Social Progress”.

 

SWACHH SUJAL SHAKTI SAMMAN 2023

• The Ministry of Jal Shakti is commemorating International Women’s Day by honoring women who have contributed to various programs of the Ministry through the Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023.

• The award will recognize women for their exceptional contributions to the Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBM-G), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), and National Water Mission (NWM) under various categories.

• The objective of Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman is to emphasize the outstanding efforts of women in the water sector and encourage others to work towards a water-secure future.

• This event will bring the accomplishments of women at the grassroots level to the forefront and provide them with national leadership connections.

 

IMPORTANT DATES & DAYS

 

WORLD WILDLIFE DAY OBSERVED ON MARCH 3RD

• World Wildlife Day is celebrated on March 3 by the United Nations. The main objective of the celebrations is to increase awareness of wild flora and fauna.

• Why is World Wildlife Day celebrated on March 3?

• Because the CITES – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was adopted on March 3, 1973. It is a multilateral treaty.

• The 2023 World Wildlife Day is special because this year CITES is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The main objective of CITES is to protect endangered plants and animals. The members of IUCN passed a resolution to form CITIES in 1963. CITES ensures the prevention of the trade of endangered plants and animals.

• What is the theme of World Wildlife Day 2023?

• Partnerships for wildlife conservation. It is essential that world countries come together in conserving wildlife. Pollution and global warming are the major threats to wildlife apart from habitat destruction.

• Transboundary forests shall be protected only through international cooperation. Water resource depletion in the forest is a major threat to wildlife. This is happening due to a reduction in rainfall.

 

5TH JAN AUSHADHI DIWAS ORGANISED

• The 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas is organized across India based on the theme “Jan Aushadhi – Sasti bhi Achi bhi”. It was organized from March 1 to 2 this year. It kicked off with the Jan Aushadhi Jan Chetna Abhiyan across India. It was organized by the Union Health Ministry in collaboration with the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India and states and union territories.

• The event has witnessed the organization of more than 34 Pratigya Yatras across India, with 8 of them led by Members of Parliament on the first day. Over 5,000 citizens, including doctors, have committed to using generic medicines on the MyGov platform.

• Jan Aushadhi Pratidya Yatra, Pad Yatra was also carried out. The main objective of the divas is to spread awareness of generic medicines and also about PMBJP.

• Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana: The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana was launched in November 2008 by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. There are 9,082 PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras as of January 31, 2023.

 

 

REPORTS & INDEXES

 

CO2 EMISSIONS IN 2022 REPORT

• According to the CO2 Emissions in 2022 Report by the International Energy Agency released on March 2, 2023, global energy-related CO2 emissions increased by less than 1% in 2022.

• This is despite many countries shifting from natural gas to coal as an energy source. This was due to the increased use of clean energy technologies such as solar, wind, EVs, heat pumps, and energy efficiency, which helped to limit the impacts of coal and oil use amid the global energy crisis.

• The report highlights that this rise in emissions was significantly lower than the exceptional increase of over six per cent in 2021. It recommended stronger steps to accelerate the clean energy transition to achieve energy and climate goals.

• Emissions by the EU, US and China

• According to the report, emissions in China decreased in 2022 due to the COVID lockdown. In the European Union, emissions decreased by 2.5%. This was because, with Russia invading Ukraine, many countries stopped importing gas and oil from Russia and moved towards clean energy. In the US, emissions increased by 0.8%.

 

INDIAN STATES ENERGY TRANSITION REPORT

• The “Indian States’ Energy Transition” Report was released recently by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and EMBER.

• The report analyzed 16 states, which make up 90% of India’s annual power requirement, and devised a scoring system called States’ Electricity Transition (SET) to measure performance.

• The report tracks 4 dimensions- decarbonization, the performance of the power system, the readiness of the power ecosystem and policies and political commitment.

• According to this report, Karnataka and Gujarat are leading the way in India’s transition to clean electricity. Karnataka is the only state that scored well across all four dimensions of clean electricity transition and has proactive policies for open access, solar park development and public awareness.

• Meanwhile, Gujarat scored just behind Karnataka in decarbonising its electricity sector. Other states like Haryana and Punjab are also taking major steps in the electricity transition.

 

ACADEMIC FREEDOM INDEX REPORT

• The Academic Freedom Index report evaluates academic freedom in 179 countries by analyzing five indicators, including the freedom to teach and research, academic exchange and dissemination, university autonomy, campus integrity, and academic and cultural expression.

• The report is based on assessments from over 2,197 experts from around the world. The Academic freedom of India is in the bottom 30% of the 179 countries.

• According to the report released on February 2, 2023, India scored 0.38 on a scale of 0 (low) to 1 (high), which is lower than Pakistan’s score of 0.43 and the United States’ score of 0.79.

• It performed poorly in campus integrity, institutional autonomy and academic and cultural expression. It did slightly well in freedom to teach and research and space for academic exchange and dissemination.

• China scored 0.07, putting it in the bottom 10% of the countries. The report noted the pressure on all aspects of academic freedom in the country.

 

SCIENCE & TECH.

 

NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL POLICY 2022

• Government of India notified the National Geospatial Policy 2022 in December last year as a replacement for the National Map Policy, 2005.

• The objective of the 2022 policy is to strengthen the location-centric industry to assist with the information economy. The policy provides a framework for the development of a geospatial ecosystem that will facilitate the growth of the industry.

• The Importance of Geo-referencing

• Geo-referencing involves identifying the exact location of a land parcel, building, or other infrastructure on the earth’s surface.

• This information is crucial for a wide range of applications, including urban planning, disaster management, precision agriculture, and natural resource management. The National Geospatial Policy 2022 recognizes the importance of geo-referencing and aims to accelerate the process by leveraging technology and creating a comprehensive geospatial database.

 

WHAT IS ALMA TELESCOPE?

• Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) is a radio telescope located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. It is set to receive software and hardware upgrades.

• The upgrades will enable ALMA to collect more data and produce sharper images.

• What is ALMA?

• ALMA is a state-of-the-art telescope that studies celestial objects at millimeter and submillimetre wavelengths — they can penetrate through dust clouds and help astronomers examine dim and distant galaxies and stars out there.

• ALMA is an international partnership of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) of Japan, together with NRC (Canada), MOST and ASIAA (Taiwan), and KASI (Republic of Korea), in cooperation with the Republic of Chile.

• The database will include information on land use, ownership, and other relevant details. The government hopes that this will improve the efficiency and transparency of land management and facilitate the development of the real estate sector.

 

1, WORLD'S FIRST 3D-PRINTED ROCKET

• On March 8, Relativity Space, a startup company based in California, made history with the launch of Terran 1, the world’s first 3D-printed rocket. The launch is part of the “Good Luck, Have Fun” (GLHF) mission.

• Terran 1 will be the largest 3D-printed object to attempt an orbital flight, weighing 9,280 kilograms and standing 110 feet tall and 7.5 feet wide. 85% of the rocket was manufactured using 3D-printing technology.

• It is a two-stage satellite, which means the fuel burns in two different stages to give the required escape velocity to the satellite.

• Terran 1 is an expendable launch system, which means it can be launched only once. Satellites like Falcon 9 are reusable and can be launched multiple times. Terran 1 is a small lift launch vehicle, that is, it can carry loads of up to 2000 kg.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

WHAT IS SMART- PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM?

• As per the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, SMART-PDS is an important technologically driven initiative, therefore, all states and union territories should make earnest efforts to implement it at the earliest.

• SMART-PDS is a system where smart ration cards are issued to beneficiaries of the public distribution system, and ration is given through fair price shops on the production of the smart ration card by any member of the beneficiary family.

• Major initiatives are undertaken by the Government of India to strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS) in India which includes the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) implemented from April 2020 to December 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic in coordination with States & UTs and One Nation One Ration Card plan implemented to support migrant population, promoting millets in the PDS is important for strengthening nutrition security in the country.

 

INDIA'S FIRST VACCINE FOR DENGUE

• Researchers at India’s National Centre for Biological Sciences, in collaboration with nine other institutions in India, Africa, and the US, have developed India’s first and only DNA vaccine candidate for dengue fever.

• In preliminary trials on mice, the candidate generated a robust immune response and improved survival rates after exposure to the disease.

• What is DNA Vaccine?

• A DNA vaccine is a type of vaccine that uses a small piece of DNA that codes for a specific antigen (a molecule that triggers an immune response) from a pathogen, such as a virus or bacterium, to stimulate an immune response.

• The DNA is injected directly into the body's cells, where it instructs the cells to produce the antigen. The immune system then recognizes the antigen as foreign and mounts an immune response against it, which helps to develop immunity to the pathogen.
• DNA vaccines are third-generation vaccines.

• The ZyCoV-D is the world's first and India's indigenously developed DNA based vaccine for COVID-19.

 

FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION REGULATION ACT (FCRA)

• Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR).

• CPR (not-for-profit society), along with Oxfam India and the Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation (IPSMF), was surveyed by the Income Tax department earlier.

• What is the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act?

• FCRA was enacted during the Emergency in 1976 amid apprehensions that foreign powers were interfering in India’s affairs by pumping money into the country through independent organizations.

• The law sought to regulate foreign donations to individuals and associations so that they functioned in a manner consistent with the values of a sovereign democratic republic.

• Amendments: An amended FCRA was enacted in 2010 to “consolidate the law” on utilization of foreign funds, and “to prohibit” their use for “any activities detrimental to national interest”. The law was amended again in 2020, giving the government tighter control and scrutiny over the receipt and utilization of foreign funds by NGOs.

 

PROCEDURE FOR COURT MARTIAL

• An Army court has recommended life imprisonment for a Captain involved in the staged killings of three men at Amshipora in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district in 2020. The sentence will be final after it is confirmed by the Northern Army Commander.

• The Captain was court-martialed after a Court of Inquiry (CoI) and subsequent summary of evidence found that troops under his command had exceeded their powers under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

• What is the Process of Court Martial?

• When the Army wants an allegation against its personnel investigated, it first sets up a CoI for the purpose. This stage is similar to the registering of a First Information Report (FIR) by police.

• A Court of Inquiry investigates the complaint but cannot award a punishment. The CoI records the statements of witnesses, which is comparable to the examination of witnesses by a police officer under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

• Based on the findings of the CoI, a tentative charge sheet is drawn up by the commanding officer of the accused officer.

• After this, the hearing of charges takes place (just like the initial summoning of an accused by the magistrate in a case involving civilians). The summary of evidence is then recorded.

• Once this process has been completed, a General Court Martial (GCM) is ordered; similar to the conduct of a trial by a judicial court for civilian matters.