Social Issues/GSII/Prelims Factoids
Asia's Largest Tribal Festival, the Medharam Jathara commences

What's the NEWS

• The celebrations of the First Day of the auspicious and much-awaited biennial "Medaram Jathara" commenced on the 16th of February 2022 as the arrival of Saralamma on to the ‘Medaram Gaddhe' (Platform) was undertaken by the Koya Tribe of Telangana.

Know! about Medaram Jatara

• Medaram Jatara is the second-largest fair of India, after the Kumbh Mela, celebrated by the second-largest Tribal Community of Telangana- the Koya tribe for four days.
• As the largest tribal fair in Asia, Medaram Jathara is conducted in honour of the Goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma.
• It is celebrated once in two years in the month of 'Magha' (February) on the full moon day.
• Saralamma was the daughter of Sammakka. Her idol, according to the rituals, is installed in a temple at Kannepalli, a small village near Medaram.
• Several pilgrims of different villages and various Scheduled Tribes assemble there, and crores of pilgrims are visiting the Mulugu District to celebrate the festival with full gusto.
• At present, the Jathara festival is biennially celebrated and organized by the Koyas in collaboration with the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Telangana.
• The villages of Kannepalli performed ‘Aarti' and organized grand farewells to Saralamma.
• Subsequently, the idol of Saralamma is brought to Medaram Gaddhe through ‘Jampanna Vaagu' (a small canal named after Jampanna).
• After arriving on to the ‘Gaddhe' Saralamma is worshipped with special pujas and other rituals.
• More than 3 million devotees visit Saralamma and offer special pujas as a part of the Medaram Jathara.
• This festival aims to generate awareness of tribal cultures, festivals and heritage as well as maintain a harmonious bond between the visitors and the Tribal communities of Telangana.

Science and Technology/GSIII
Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA)


What's the NEWS

• Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India participated in the 10th Foundation Day celebration of GITA.
• The department congratulated Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA) for completing 10 years of nurturing innovation and industrial R&D by fostering bilateral academic industry and government collaborations

10th Foundation Day of GITA highlights

• The GITA Global Technology Development Awards 2021 which were presented to a total of 7 companies on the occasion of celebration of the 10th Foundation Day of GITA, a PPP between Technology Development Board (TDB) of the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
• The day was celebrated on 17th February 2022 on online mode based on the theme-- Collaborate & Create for a Sustainable Future.
• A total of 9 projects funded by DST, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and Department of Heavy Industries that got successfully completed last year were showcased at the event.
• DST announced recommendations for selection of 6 joint projects from the applications received at the 'DST-Vinnova call on smart and sustainable cities and transport systems, clean technologies, IoT and digitization', which was launched on 5th March 2021.
• It also declared that India and Sweden will soon launch a new call on circular economy.
• Two projects to be funded jointly under India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial R&D Programme on Smart Grids were declared selected from joint Research & Innovation Call by the Sweden Energy Agency and DST, GoI.

Know! about GITA

• Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA) is a "not-for-profit" Section-8 Public Private Partnership (PPP) company promoted jointly by the Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
• GITA has created a vision fostering the Indian innovation ecosystem and helped in forging a seamless connection between the Government of India, Indian Industry, and R&D Institutions for sharing of investment risks in industrial R&D and technology
• The Prime Minister's Council on Trade & Industry had, in 2010, recommended incorporation of a Government's arm's length entity under PPP mode to professionally manage the Government's funds for providing flexibility to industry for undertaking R&D along with global partners.

The GITA platform encourages industrial investments in innovative technology solutions by

• Mapping technology gaps,
• Undertaking expert evaluation of technologies available across the globe,
• Facilitating techno-strategic collaborative partnerships appropriate for Indian economy
• Connecting industrial and institutional partners for synergistic matchmaking and
• Providing soft funding for technology development / acquisition / deployment.

Science and Technology/GSIII
Greater Maldive Ridge (GMR)

What's the NEWS

• In a recent study, an Indian researcher traced the tectonic evolution and the nature of the Greater Maldive Ridge (GMR) --- a very crucial geodynamic features in the western Indian Ocean whose origin has been the centre of many a scientific debate.

Know! about the study highlights

• The study can help reconstruct the original Gondwanaland break up and dispersal that led to present-day configuration of continents, continental fragments, and formation of ocean basins in the Indian Ocean.
• The Maldive Ridge is an aseismic ridge that is not associated with earthquake activities.
• This ridge, located in the western Indian Ocean, southwest of India, is not well investigated.
• It is of paramount importance to gain knowledge on the structure and geodynamics of aseismic ridges (as it provides valuable inputs towards understanding the evolution of ocean basins).
• The study by the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Mumbai, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, has chalked the possible geological cross-sections along the GMR for the first time with the help of satellite-derived high-resolution gravity data.
• The researchers postulated that the GMR may be underlain by an oceanic crust.
• The results from their study can provide additional constraints in understanding the plate-tectonic evolution of the Indian Ocean, better.

Science and Technology/GSIII
Non-Structural 1 protein, a potential diagnostic biomarker for Japanese encephalitis virus


What's the NEWS

• Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne encephalitis in South-East Asia and Western Pacific and is often misdiagnosed as Dengue.
• JEV belongs to the family Flaviviridae and genus Flavivirus and exists in a zoonotic cycle.
• Since there is no cure available for JEV, early detection is essential to mitigate a breakout.
• National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad developed Fluorine Doped Tin Oxide (FTO) electrode fabricated with reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) for as an electrochemical based immunosensor for the rapid, sensitive and specific detection of the Non-Structural 1 (NS1) secretory protein, which is suitable biomarker for JEV found circulating in the blood and has been reported to elicit an immune response.
• Since the conventional methods for JEV diagnosis are expensive, more hazardous and time-consuming diagnostic techniques and requires an elaborate laboratory set up and trained expertise, the developed biosensor may be able to overcome these limitations.
• Detection of the NS1 instead of antibody has an added advantage since the antigen is present from day 1 of the infection and hence facilitates early detection.

Diagnostic biomarker

• A diagnostic biomarker refers to a biological parameter that aids the diagnosis of a disease and may serve in determining disease progression and/or success of treatment.
• It may be a laboratory, radiological, genetic, anatomical, physiological or other finding that helps to differentiate one disease from others.

Environment/Infrastructure Development/GSIII
Ministry of Power notifies Green Hydrogen/ Green Ammonia Policy

What's the NEWS

• Hon'ble Prime Minister launched the National Hydrogen Mission on India's 75th Independence Day (i.e. 15th August, 2021).
• The Mission aims to aid the government in meeting its climate targets and making India a green hydrogen hub.
• This will help in meeting the target of production of 5 million tonnes of Green hydrogen by 2030 and the related development of renewable energy capacity.
• Hydrogen and Ammonia are envisaged to be the future fuels to replace fossil fuels.
• Government of India is taking various measures to facilitate the transition from fossil fuel / fossil fuel based feed stocks to green hydrogen / green ammonia.

The policy provides as follows :

• Green Hydrogen / Ammonia manufacturers may purchase renewable power from the power exchange or set up renewable energy capacity themselves or through any other, developer, anywhere.
• Open access will be granted within 15 days of receipt of application.
• The Green Hydrogen / Ammonia manufacturer can bank his unconsumed renewable power, up to 30 days, with distribution company and take it back when required.
• Distribution licensees can also procure and supply Renewable Energy to the manufacturers of Green Hydrogen / Green Ammonia in their States at concessional prices which will only include the cost of procurement, wheeling charges and a small margin as determined by the State Commission.
• Waiver of inter-state transmission charges for a period of 25 years will be allowed to the manufacturers of Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia for the projects commissioned before 30th June 2025.
• The manufacturers of Green Hydrogen / Ammonia and the renewable energy plant shall be given connectivity to the grid on priority basis to avoid any procedural delays.
• The benefit of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) will be granted incentive to the hydrogen/Ammonia manufacturer and the Distribution licensee for consumption of renewable power.
• To ensure ease of doing business a single portal for carrying out all the activities including statutory clearances in a time bound manner will be set up by MNRE.
• Connectivity, at the generation end and the Green Hydrogen / Green Ammonia manufacturing end, to the ISTS for Renewable Energy capacity set up for the purpose of manufacturing Green Hydrogen / Green Ammonia shall be granted on priority.
• Manufacturers of Green Hydrogen / Green Ammonia shall be allowed to set up bunkers near Ports for storage of Green Ammonia for export / use by shipping. The implementation of this Policy will provide clean fuel to the common people

Environment Conservation/GSIII
Government notifies Guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility on plastic packaging under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

What's the NEWS

• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility on plastic packaging under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
• The guidelines on extended producer responsibility coupled with prohibition of identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, with effect from 1^st July 2022, are important steps for reducing pollution caused due to littered plastic waste in the country.

EPR guidelines and benefits

• The Guidelines provide framework to strengthen circular economy of plastic packaging waste, promote development of new alternatives to plastics and provide further next steps for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging by businesses.
• Reuse of rigid plastic packaging material has been mandated in the guidelines to reduce the use of fresh plastic material for packaging.
• The enforceable prescription of minimum level of recycling of plastic packaging waste collected under EPR along with use of recycled plastic content will further reduce plastic consumption and support recycling of plastic packaging waste.
• The EPR guidelines will give a boost for formalization and further development of plastic waste management sector.
• In a significant first, the guidelines allow for sale and purchase of surplus extended producer responsibility certificates, thus setting up a market mechanism for plastic waste management.
• The implementation of EPR will be done through a customized online platform which will act as digital backbone of the system.
• The online platform will allow tracking and monitoring of EPR obligation and will reduce the compliance burden for companies through online registration and filing of annual returns.
• In order to ensure monitoring on fulfilment of EPR obligations, the guidelines have prescribed a system of verification and audit of enterprises.
• The Guidelines prescribe a framework for levy of environmental compensation based upon polluter pays principle, with respect to non-fulfilment of extended producer responsibility targets by producers, importers & brand owners, for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing, controlling and abating environment pollution.
• The funds collected shall be utilized for collection, recycling and end of life disposal of uncollected plastic waste in an environmentally sound manner.
• Under these producers, importers & brand owners, may operate schemes such as deposit refund system or buy back or any other model, in order to prevent mixing of plastic packaging waste with solid waste.

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