Weekly PIB Analysis | PIB News Analysis 1st to 10th July’ 2022 – Free PDF Download

 

Ashadhi Bij

• Context: PM greets everyone on Ashadhi Bij.

About Ashadhi Bij:

• Ashadhi Bij is an auspicious day for the farming communities in northern India especially Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and some other places.
• The festival falls on the second day of the Shukla Paksha of the Ashadha month of the Hindu calendar.
• The festival is associated with the beginning of rains in the Kutch region of Gujarat and is celebrated as the Kutchi New Year.
• On this festival, farmers, astrologers and others predict the monsoon to assess which crop would be best in the coming season.

India’s largest floating solar power project commissioned

• Context: India’s largest floating Solar Power Project, the Ramagundam Floating Solar PV Project at Ramagundam, Telangana, is now fully operational.

Advantages of Floating Solar Power Projects:

• Floating solar power projects deploy photovoltaic panels on the surface of water bodies.
• They are a viable alternative to solar installations on land since they offer many advantages such as:
  • No land acquisition issues
  • Freeing up the land for agriculture
  • The cooling effect of water proximity enhances the performance of the photo voltaic cells by 5-10%
• Less grid interconnection costs
• Less water evaporation
• Improvement in water quality
• Decrease in algal blooming

Examples of other floating solar power projects in India:

• Omkareshwar Reservoir, Madhya Pradesh
• Kayamkulam Project, Kerala
• Getalsud Dam Project, Jharkhand
• Rihand Dam, Uttar Pradesh

International Day of Cooperatives

• Context: 100th International Day of Cooperatives
• International Co-operative Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in July annually since 1923 by the International Co-operative Alliance.
• International Cooperative Day is a celebration of the cooperative movement.
• Since 1995 the United Nations’ International Day of Co-operatives has been jointly celebrated alongside International Co-operative Day.
• 100th International Day of Cooperatives was celebrated on 02 July 2022.
• It is popularly known as #CoopsDay and the slogan for 2022 is “Cooperatives Build a Better World”.

Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign

• Context: Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign would be launched to celebrate International Coastal Cleanup Day.

Background

• India has a coastline of more than 7,500 km 
  • India has a rich marine history, with marine activities dating back to the age of Rig Veda.
• Further, the Indian Ocean is the only ocean named after a country.
• However, the plastic litter mainly due to land-based activities, tourism and fishing has been polluting the coasts, seas and ocean, which is posing a serious threat to the marine ecosystem.

Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign

• The Union Government along with various voluntary organizations will run a cleanliness campaign “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” along the coastline of the country.
• The campaign will start on  17th September 2022 on account of “International Coastal Clean Up Day” which is celebrated every year on the third Saturday of September.
• This campaign will involve the Ministries of Earth Sciences (MoES) and Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Indian Coast Guard, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other social organizations and educational institutions.
• It will be the first-of-its-kind and longest-running coastal cleanup campaign in the world with the highest number of people participating in it.
• The coastal cleanup drive will be carried out at 75 beaches across the country as a part of  Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Operation NARCOS

• Context: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched Operation “NARCOS” in the month of June-2022.
• RPF has been empowered to conduct search, seizure and arrest under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) since April 2019 and has been actively participating in restricting illegal trade.
• Under this operation, RPF has performed extremely well against the transporters of narcotics products through Indian Railways.
• In the month of June 2022, RPF recovered various narcotics products worth Rs. 7,40,77,126/ and has helped arrest over 160 individuals.

Mahuli group of temples

• Context: The National Monument Authority (NMA) to submit a report on the comprehensive development of Mahuli group of temples to the Ministry of Culture.
• This group of temples is also famously known as Dakshin Kashi and are found in Mahuli, Maharashtra.
• It comprise of five temples belonging to 11th and 12th CE
• The temples are built in Hemadpanthi style of architecture
  • This style of Architecture is associated with Hemadpant who was minister in YadavaEmpire.
• Mahuli is situated at the confluence of rivers Krishna and Venna.  

Ranking of States’ Exercise 2021

• Context: Results of Ranking of States’ Exercise 2021 on support to Start-up Ecosystems declared.

Background:

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has been conducting the States’ Start-up Ranking Exercise since 2018 to facilitate the ease of building a start-up and doing business across the country.
• The State Start-up Ranking Exercise aims to support states and union territories in developing their start-up ecosystem and learn from the best practices in each state and union territory.

Ranking of States’ Exercise 2021 Details:

• The current edition ranks states and UTs based on data from the time period 1st October 2019 to 31st July 2021.
• The 31 participating states and UTs were evaluated across 7 broad Reform Areas consisting of 26 Action Points ranging from Institutional Support, Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Access to Market, Incubation support, Funding Support, Mentorship Support to Capacity Building of Enablers.
• The exercise plays a crucial role in easing the business environment for start-ups in the country.

Result Highlights:

• Best Performers:

• • • States category – Gujarat, Karnataka
    • UT & NE states category – Meghalaya

• Top Performers:

• • • States category – Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Telangana
    • UT & NE states category – Jammu & Kashmir

Make in India

• Context: Make in India yields positive results for the toy sector.

Details:

• The import of toys is down by 70% in the last three years.
• Additionally, the exports have jumped by 61.38% over the same period.
• Interventions by the government for the Toy Sector:
  • The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) mandated sample testing of each consignment and no permission for sale unless the quality testing is successful. In case of failure, the consignment is either sent back or destroyed at the cost of the importer.

State Ranking Index for NFSA

• Context: The first edition of the State Ranking Index for NFSA has been released.

About the State Ranking Index for NFSA:

• The ranking was released by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
• The states and UTs were ranked based on three parameters for the year 2022. They are:
  • Coverage of NFSA, rightful targeting, and implementation of all provisions under NFSA
  • Delivery platform while considering the allocation of foodgrains, their movement, and last-mile delivery to Fair Price Shops (FPS)
  • Nutrition initiatives of the department
• The index attempts to document the status and progress of the implementation of NFSA and various reform initiatives across the country, post consultation with states.
• It highlights the reforms undertaken by States and UTs and creates a cross-learning environment and scale-up reform measures by all states and union territories.
• Although currently the index analyses only NFSA distribution, in the future, PMGKAY will also be taken into account.

• Among the Special Category states/UTs, Tripura stood first followed by Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
• Among the 3 UTs where Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) – Cash is operational, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu is the top-ranked UT.

Mangarh hillock

• Context: Mangarh hillock in Rajasthan declared a monument of national importance as a tribute to 1500 Bhil tribal freedom fighters.

Mangarh Hillock:

• Mangarh Hillock is a hillock in the Aravalli range and situated in Banswara District, Rajasthan, near the Rajasthan-Gujarat border.
• On 17 November 1913, a gathering of local Bhils numbering about 1500 were brutally killed by the British army when they refused to disperse.
• The Bhils assembled were followers of social reformer Govind Guru, who led the “Bhagat movement” in the late 19th century among Bhil tribes, which aimed to ‘emancipate’ them by prescribing, among other things, adherence to vegetarianism and abstinence from all kinds of intoxicants.
• The Bhils rose in rebellion against the oppressive policies of the British and forced farm labour imposed by the local princely rulers.

Kharchi Puja

• Context: PM greets people on the start of Kharchi Puja.

About Kharchi Puja:

• It is one of the most popular festivals of Tripura, wherein 14 gods forming the dynasty deity of the Tripuri people are worshipped.
• It is generally held in July or August and is a week-long royal Puja.
• This festival is celebrated at Agartala (Puran Agartala) in the temple premises of the Fourteen gods.
• It attracts thousands of people.
• The Puja is held after 15 days of ‘Ama Pechi’ which refers to the menstruation of Mother Earth.

SVANidhi Mahotsav

• Context: ‘SVANidhi Mahotsav’ – a cultural festival for celebrating the success of the PM SVANidhi Scheme launched.

About SVANidhi Mahotsav:

• This is a cultural festival organised to celebrate the success of the PM SVANidhi Scheme.
• The scheme was launched in January 2020 to facilitate working capital loans to the street vendors to help them restart their businesses which were adversely impacted due to the lockdowns imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mission Vatsalya Scheme

• Context: Ministry of Women and Child Development issues Guidelines for Mission Vatsalya Scheme.

About Mission Vatsalya Scheme:

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Mission Vatsalya” erstwhile Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme, from 2009-10 for the welfare and rehabilitation of children.
• Objectives:
  • To secure a healthy and happy childhood for each and every child in India, ensure opportunities to enable them to discover their full potential and assist them in flourishing in all respects, in a sustained manner,
  • To foster a sensitive, supportive and synchronized ecosystem for the development of children, assist States/UTs in delivering the mandate of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and achieve the SDG goals.
• Mission Vatsalya promotes family-based non-institutional care of children in difficult circumstances based on the principle of institutionalization of children as a measure of last resort.
• Components of the mission:
  • Improve the functioning of statutory bodies
  • Strengthen service delivery structures
  • Upscale institutional care/services
  • Encourage non-institutional community-based care; emergency outreach services
  • Training and capacity building

Cloudbursts

• Context: Cloud burst near Shree Amarnath cave killed around 16 people with many missing.

What are Cloudbursts?

• Cloudbursts are short-duration, intense rainfall events over a small area.
• It is different from normal rainfall only in the amount of rainfall received over a given area.
• According to the IMD, it is a weather phenomenon with unexpected precipitation exceeding 100mm/h over a geographical region of approximately 20-30 sq. km.
• Mountainous regions are more prone to cloudbursts than plain areas, although they also occur in deserts and in interior regions of continental landmasses.
• The Himalayan regions are prone to this because of their topography, geology, propensity for tectonic activity and ecological fragility.
• Cloudbursts are generally associated with thunderstorms.
  • Cloudburst occurs when moisture-rich air travels up a mountainous region, forming a vertical column of clouds known as Cumulonimbus clouds.
  • These clouds usually cause rain, thunder and lightning.
  • This upward movement of clouds is also known as ‘orographic lift’. 
  • Due to these unstable clouds, heavy rainfall may occur over a small area.

Monuments associated with Dr. BR Ambedkar

• Context: National Monuments Authority recommends two sites associated with Dr. Ambedkar to be declared as Monuments of National Importance.

Which are the sites?

• Sankalp Bhumi Banyan tree campus in Vadodara – This is where Dr. Ambedkar had taken a resolve to eradicate untouchability on 23rd September 1917.
• Pratap Rao Bhosle High School – the school in Satara, Maharashtra where Dr. Ambedkar received his primary education. Currently, the school is in a dilapidated condition and is under the Zila Parishad.
• The recommendations have been made before the Minister of State for Culture by the National Monuments Authority.

National Monuments Authority (NMA):

• NMA has been set up as per provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains AMASR (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010.
• It is under the Ministry of Culture, GOI and its chief function is the protection and preservation of monuments and sites through the management of the prohibited and regulated area around the centrally protected monuments.
• Another function is to consider the grant of permissions to applicants for construction-related activity in the prohibited and regulated area.
• NMA is situated in New Delhi.

PARIMAN

• Context: The Geo-Portal for NCR, PARIMAN, made public.

About PARIMAN:

• For the purpose of effective utilization of Remote Sensing and GIS technology, a web geo-portal has been developed through the National Informatics Centre (NIC), initially for use by NCR Participating states and the Office of National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB).
• This Geo-Portal will help to improve decentralized planning and management in the NCR region.
• Although PARIMAN was launched in 2021, it is being made public now.

30th meeting of Northern Zonal Council

• Context: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah presided over the 30th meeting of the Northern Zonal Council in Jaipur.

Details:

• The meeting was attended by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, the Chief Minister of Haryana, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, the Administrator of Chandigarh, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Finance Minister of Punjab and senior ministers of member States.
• One of the major issues of discussion was cyber crime where in preventing financial frauds and cyber crimes committed through social media was discussed. One of the main strategies to prevent cyber crimes would be to conduct cyber awareness campaigns through various mediums.
• Training police officers, public prosecutors and concerned agencies including telecom companies, with new technology and advanced skills to tackle cyber crime also remains a top priority.
• The complex problems of sharing river water among the member states were also discussed in the meeting.

Significance of zonal councils:

• Zonal Councils provide an important forum for discussions regarding cordial relations between the Center and the States, amicable settlement of inter-State issues, enhancing regional cooperation between States and on issues of common national importance to be implemented across the country
• Resolving issues between the States in the Northern region and between the Center and States is very important for the development of the country and to strengthen the federal structure

National Fish Farmers Day

Context:

• National Fisheries Development Board, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India would be celebrating the National Fish Farmers Day on 10th July 2022.
• The National fish farmers day is celebrated to commemorate Professor Hiralal Chaudhury and his colleague Alikunhi for their contribution in achieving the successful induced breeding of major carps on 10th July, 1957.

Details:

• Domestic Fish production and consumption and sustainable production shall be major themes of discussion apart from disease prevention and nutrient management in fishes.

Government initiatives in the fisheries sector:

• Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Blue Revolution” – Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries launched in 2016, is the most important initiative in the fisheries sector.
• The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) launched in 2020 aims to achieve fish production of 22 MMT by 2024-25 and create an additional employment opportunity to about 55 lakh people through this sector.
• The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) scheme was started in 2018-19. This fund will focus on creation of fisheries infrastructure facilities.

Natural Farming

• Context: The Indian Prime Minister addressed a Natural Farming Conclave organised in Surat, Gujarat.

Details:

• Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister highlighted the Surat model of natural farming.
• The local bodies in Surat had selected 75 farmers from every panchayat and hand-holded them with training and other resources related to natural farming. Consequent to this effort, more than 40 thousand farmers in 550 panchayats have become involved in natural farming.

Significance of Natural farming:

Sustainability:

• Natural farming makes use of naturally available ingredients as fertilizers and insecticides. The avoidance of chemical inputs in the case of natural farming will help protect the quality of the soil and its productivity.

Healthy food option:

• Chemical free produce will be available for consumption.

Economic prosperity:

• The cost incurred in natural farming is lower for the farmers. Also given the fact that products of natural farming get higher prices in the market, the farmers will have higher
  incomes from agricultural activities.

Measures taken in the realm of natural farming:

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Scheme
• Namami Gange project
• Quality assurance system for certification of produce of natural farming

Regional Conference on “Bringing Citizens, Entrepreneurs and
Government Closer for Good Governance”

• Context: A two-day Regional Conference on the theme “Bringing Citizens, Entrepreneurs and Government Closer for Good Governance” is scheduled to be held at Bengaluru.

Details:

• The Regional Conference is being organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.
• The conference aims to bring about various administrative reforms at centre, state and district level.
• The major aims include Government process Re-Engineering, enhanced use of digital technology, Universal access to e-services, excellence in adopting emerging technologies and use of ICT Management with the overall objective of “Maximum Governance, Minimum Government”.

 

 

 

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