Daily Current Capsules
08th and 9th December 2022

Cyclone Mandous

What's the NEWS

• Tamil Nadu is bracing for heavy rain as the severe cyclonic storm 'Mandous' over Bay of Bengal, predicted to weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm, is expected to cross near the Chennai coast
• An orange alert has been issued for the north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts and NDRF teams have been put on alert.
• The name 'Cyclone Mandous' was given by the United Arab Emirates, which means "treasure box" in Arabic.
• It will be the second tropical storm to rise in Bay of Bengal post-monsoon this year after Cyclone Sitrang, which hit the Bangladesh coast in October

Know! about the process of naming of cyclones

 

 

• There are five regional bodies for monitoring and predicting tropical cyclones over its respective region.
• The Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC), Tropical Cyclones, New Delhi, gives a tropical cyclone formed over Indian Ocean an identification name from a given list.
• A latest list of tropical cyclone names was adopted by the World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (WMO/ESCAP) panel countries in April 2020 for naming of tropical cyclones over north Indian Ocean, including Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
• The 13 panel countries - Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen - have submitted a list of 13 names each.
• India's Meteorological Department issued a list of 169 likely tropical storm names in 2020 after negotiations with 13 World Meteorological Organization member nations. Each country was given the opportunity to submit 13 names.
• According to Indian Meteorological Department sources, the name of a tropical cyclone from south China Sea that crosses Thailand and emerges into the Bay of Bengal as a tropical cyclone will not be changed. Similarly, the names of tropical cyclones will not be repeated here.

 

The NMML has become a part of the INFLIBNET Centre of the University Grants Commission

 

What's the NEWS

• Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) maintains a library of international repute with more than 3 lakh books, almost 380 journals and rare papers.
• With its vast collection of photographs, maps, stamps and E-resources in the form of microfilms, CD-ROMs, etc. the library is an invaluable knowledge resource for research on modern and contemporary India.
• In a major boost to its digital resources, the library has just become a part of the INFLIBNET Centre of the University Grants Commission.
• The N-LIST (National Library and Information Services Infrastructure for Scholarly Content) project of INFLIBNET provides access to more than 6000 e-journals and 2 lakh e-books to students, researchers and faculties through server(s) installed at the INFLIBNET Centre.
• The Library users can now access e-resources and download articles required by them directly from the publisher's website at the INFLIBNET Centre of NMML.

 

INFLIBNET Centre (Information and Library Network Centre)

• It is an Inter-University Centre of the University Grants Commission (India) under the Ministry of Education (India).
• The organisation promotes and facilitates libraries and information resources for Indian further education.
• Its premises are in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Shodhganga, the digital repository of theses and dissertations submitted to universities in India is maintained by INFLIBNET Centre.
• INFLIBNET also performed an important role as an online learning resources by Education Ministry during COVID-19 lockdown in India.

 

Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML)

 

• It is a museum and library in New Delhi, India, which aims to preserve and reconstruct the history of the Indian independence movement.
• It is an autonomous institution under the Indian Ministry of Culture, and was founded in 1964 after the death of India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
• It aims to foster academic research on modern and contemporary history.

 

Know! about N-LIST

 

• The Project entitled "National Library and Information Services Infrastructure for Scholarly Content (N-LIST)", being jointly executed by the e-ShodhSindhu Consortium, INFLIBNET Centre and the INDEST-AICTE Consortium, IIT Delhi
• The N-LIST project provides access to e-resources to students, researchers and faculty from colleges and other beneficiary institutions through server(s) installed at the INFLIBNET Centre.
• The authorized users from colleges can now access e-resources and download articles required by them directly from the publisher's website once they are duly authenticated as authorized users through servers deployed at the INFLIBNET Centre.

 

 

e-ShodhSindhu

 

• Based on the recommendation of an Expert Committee, the Ministry of HRD (now renamed as Ministry of Education) has formed e-ShodhSindhu merging three consortia initiatives, namely UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium, NLIST and INDEST-AICTE Consortium.
• The e-ShodhSindhu will continue to provide current as well as archival access to more than 10,000 core and peer-reviewed journals and a number of bibliographic, citation and factual databases in different disciplines from a large number of publishers and aggregators to its member institutions including centrally-funded technical institutions, universities and colleges that are covered under 12(B) and 2(f) Sections of the UGC Act.
• The main objective of the e-ShodhSindu: Consortia for Higher Education E-Resources is to provide access to qualitative electronic resources including full-text, bibliographic and factual databases to academic institutions at a lower rates of subscription.

 

 

9th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo 2022

 

What's the NEWS

• 9th World Ayurveda Congress & Arogya Expo 2022 is being organized in Goa from 8 to 11 December with an objective of providing a global platform for all the stakeholders
• The 9th WAC aims to showcase the efficacy and strength of the AYUSH systems of medicine at the Global level.

 

Ayurveda Congress Highlights

 

• Introduction of AYUSH visa for AYUSH treatment is a historic decision.
• The upcoming satellite centre of All India Institute of Ayurveda in Goa will boost Ayurvedic tourism in the state
• The third edition of the ‘Ayushman' comic book series was also released on this occasion.
• A MoU was signed between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and Rosenberg's European Academy of Ayurveda, Germany to facilitate advanced studies in traditional Indian medicine systems.
• The Arogya Expo is set to witness participation of more than 215 companies, leading Ayurveda brands, medicine manufactures and Ayurveda related educational and Research & Development institutions.

 

 

GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation)

What's the NEWS

• The meeting of the consultative committee of Ministry of Civil Aviation was held under the chairmanship of the Union Civil Aviation Minister.
• The subject of discussion was GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation) system which is a Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS), developed jointly by AAI and ISRO.
• GAGAN is a part of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which takes the input from the core GPS (Global Positioning System) constellation and augments navigation data through the GEO stationary satellites for providing better accuracy, integrity and continuity of service for its application in civil aviation.
• National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP-2016) prescribes that new aircraft being registered in India from 1stJanuary 2019 will mandatorily have to be GAGAN enabled.
• DGCA issued a public notice stating that "All aircraft being registered in India from 1st January 2019 will mandatorily have to be GAGAN enabled." (Subsequently revised to 1stJuly 2021)

Benefits of GAGAN

• GAGAN can support operations for all phases of flight including Oceanic, Approach, Terminal, Surface.
• GAGAN system provides lower operational minima on non-ILS runways and supports advanced procedures like curved approaches.
• GAGAN helps in designing more efficient routes which can result in fuel savings.
• It can help in operations in areas with absence of navigation infrastructure.

Parliament Winter Session Highlights

 

Information given by Ministers in the Parliament

SATAT Scheme

What's the NEWS

• Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative launched in October, 2018 envisages setting up of 5000 Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants for production of 15 Million Metric Ton (MMT) per annum of CBG by 2023-24.
• Phase I Umbrella scheme of National Bioenergy Programmes of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy which inter-alia provides subsidy/Central Financial Assistance to all kinds of biogas plants has been extended upto 31.03.2026.
• In order to reduce import dependency of the country in fossil fuels, Government has taken multiple steps / launched various policy initiatives to increase the domestic production of crude oil & natural gas and adopted strategies for promotion of biofuels and gas based economy

 

SATAT has following four objectives

 

• Utilising more than 62 million metric tonnes of waste generated every year in India,
• Cutting down import dependence,
• Supplementing job creation in the country, and
• Reducing vehicular emissions and pollution from burning of agricultural / organic waste.

 

Compressed Bio-Gas

 

• Bio-gas is produced naturally through a process of anaerobic decomposition from waste / bio-mass sources like agriculture residue, cattle dung, sugarcane press mud, municipal solid waste, sewage treatment plant waste, etc.
• After purification, it is compressed and called CBG, which has pure methane content of over 90%.
• Compressed Bio-Gas is exactly similar to the commercially available natural gas in its composition and energy potential.
• CBG can be used as an alternative, renewable automotive fuel.
• CBG has the potential to replace CNG in automotive, industrial and commercial uses in the coming years.

 

 

PM-KUSUM

What's the NEWS

• Under PM-KUSUM Scheme it is targeted to achieve 10000 MW capacity through installation of grid-connected solar power plants each of capacity upto 2 MW under Component A and solarisation of 35 lakh agriculture pumps under Component-B and Component-C.
• PM-KUSUM is a demand driven scheme and capacities are allocated based on demand received from the states.
• As per PM-KUSUM Scheme, the implementation agencies in the States/ UTs have to provide priority to the small and marginal farmers while selecting the beneficiaries.
• Further, separate budgetary allocations are made under the Scheme for the beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes and also those living in the North-Eastern States.

Challenges

• Availability of low-cost financing for farmers and state share of funds is a major challenge in implementation of the PM-KUSUM Scheme.

 

Other initiatives
• Presently, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing two major schemes for decentralised solar power production.
• PM-KUSUM scheme targeted to achieve 10000 MW capacity through installation of grid-connected solar power plants each of capacity upto 2 MW under Component A and solarisation of 35 lakh agriculture pumps under Component- B and Component-C
• Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II targeted to achieve 40 GW rooftop solar capacity in the country.
• The timeline of both the schemes have been extended till 31.3.2026

EXTENSION OF PM SVANIDHI SCHEME

What's the NEWS
The Government of India has extended the PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme beyond March, 2022 with the following provisions:

1. Extension of lending period till December 2024;
2. Introduction of 3rd loan of upto ₹50,000 in addition to 1st & 2nd loans of ₹10,000 and ₹20,000 respectively.
3. To extend ‘SVANidhi Se Samriddhi' component for all beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi scheme across the country;

 

Scheme Highlights

• As on November 30, 2022, 31.73 lakh Street Vendors have availed benefits
• The subject matter relating to creation of vending zone falls under the ambit of Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, which is being implemented through respective State/UT
• 42 lakh street vendors are to be provided benefits under PM SVANidhi Scheme by December, 2024.

Know! about PM SVANidhi scheme

• The PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on June 01, 2020 for providing affordable Working Capital loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoodsthat have been adversely affected due to Covid-19 lockdown.
• The duration of the scheme initially was until March 2022.
• It has been extended till December 2024, with focus on enhanced collateral free affordable loan corpus, increased adoption of digital transactions and holistic socio-economic development of the Street Vendors and their families.
• Vendors can avail a working capital loan of up to Rs. 10,000, which is repayable in monthly instalments in the tenure of one year.
• On timely/ early repayment of the loan, an interest subsidy @ 7% per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer on quarterly basis.
• Implementation agency - Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

 

 

Spatial Data Infrastructure geoportal ‘Geo-Ladakh' for UT-Ladakh"

What's the NEWS

• Union Minister of Science & Technology informed that Government of UT - Ladakh has approached the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), a unit of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for developing "Spatial Data Infrastructure geoportal ‘Geo-Ladakh' for UT-Ladakh".

Know! about the project

• The project encompasses spatial database generation (water resources, vegetation and energy potential) using remote sensing, geospatial techniques and the development of a Geo-portal for hosting this database.
• The project also aims towards training of UT-Ladakh officials on Geospatial techniques and applications.
• Portal provides geospatial data visualization and analytics for UT-Ladakh, consisting of Spatial viewer, Carbon Neutrality, Geospatial utlility mapping and Geo-Tourism.
• An MoU was also signed between IIRS (ISRO) and UT-Ladakh Administration on January 1, 2022 towards carrying out the above work.
• The potential of space technology could be used for generating the spatial database on time series snow cover, fresh water availability, sites for renewable energy potential (solar and wind), availability of alpine pastures/grazing lands for natural resource management and change assessment at periodic interval.

 

Museum Grant Scheme (MGS) and Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS)

What's the NEWS

• Ministry of Culture operates two schemes namely Museum Grant Scheme (MGS) and Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS), one of the components of which is development/modification of existing museums and modernization/upgradation of existing Science Cities/Science Centers/Innovation Hubs respectively.
• These schemes aim to provide financial assistance to modernize/upgrade and create a congenial spatial setting for diverse exhibitions, galleries and visitors amenities in the existing Museums and Science Cities/Science Centers/Innovation Hubs.
• One of the components under Museum Grant Scheme is Digitization of Museum Collections which primarily focuses on digitization of museum collection.
• During the last two years (2020-21 and 2021-22), 8 museums have been funded under Museum Grant Scheme for development/modernization of existing museums.
• Similarly, 13 Science Cities/Science Centers/Innovation Hubs have been funded under Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science for modernization, renovation and improvement of existing facilities.

 

9 Greenfield airports have been operationalized

What's the NEWS

• Development of a Greenfield airport is governed under the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008.
• As per the Policy, a State Government or an Airport Developer, willing to establish an airport, is required to send a proposal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) for 2-stage approval i.e. 'Site-Clearance' followed by 'In-Principle' approval.
• Such proposals are considered by MoCA as per the procedure stipulated in the GFA Policy.
• The responsibility of implementation of airport projects including funding of the projects rests with the concerned airport developer including the respective State Government (in case the State Government is the project proponent).
• Government of India (GoI) has accorded 'In-Principle' approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports namely, Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Hassan and Shivamogga in Karnataka, Dabra (Gwalior) in Madhya Pradesh, Kushinagar and Noida (Jewar) in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera and Hirasar in Gujarat, Karaikal in Puducherry, Dagadarthi, Bhogapuram and Oravakal (Kurnool) in Andhra Pradesh, Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong in Sikkim, Kannur in Kerala and Donyi Polo, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh across the country.
• Out of these, 9 Greenfield airports viz. Durgapur, Shirdi, Kannur, Pakyong, Kalaburagi, Orvakal (Kurnool), Sindhudurg, Kushinagar and Donyi Polo, Itanagar have been operationalized.
• GoI has granted 'In-Principle' approval to State Government of Gujarat for development of two Greenfield Airports at Hirasar (Rajkot) and Dholera (Ahmedabad).

 

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