Daily Current Capsules
22nd and 23rd December 2022

AMRUT Scheme

 

Know! about AMRUT Scheme

• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) was launched on 25th June 2015 in selected 500 cities and towns across the country.
• The Mission focuses on development of basic infrastructure, in the selected cities and towns, in the sectors of water supply; sewerage and septage management; storm water drainage; green spaces and parks; and non-motorized urban transport.
• A set of Urban Reforms and Capacity Building have been included in the Mission.
• Implementing Ministry - Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

 

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 scheme

 

• Launched on 01 October, 2021 for the period of 05 years i.e. from the financial year 2021-22 to the financial year 2025-26
• It is designed to provide universal coverage of water supply through functional taps to all households in all the statutory towns in the country and coverage of sewerage/septage management in 500 cities covered in first phase of the AMRUT scheme.
• AMRUT 2.0 will promote circular economy of water through development of City Water Balance Plan (CWBP) for each city focusing on recycle/reuse of treated sewage, rejuvenation of water bodies and water conservation.
• Mission also has a reform agenda on ease of living of citizens through reduction of non-revenue water, recycle of treated used water, rejuvenation of water bodies, augmenting double entry accounting system, urban planning, strengthening urban finance etc.

 

Urban-20 (U20) event

 

What's the NEWS

• Under the G20 presidency of India from December 01, 2022 to November 30, 2023, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is organizing Urban 20 event.
• It is a city diplomacy initiative launched on December 12, 2017, at the One Planet Summit in Paris.
• Urban-20 (U20), one of the Engagement Groups of G20, provides a platform for cities from G20 countries to facilitate discussions on various important issues of urban development including climate change, social inclusion, sustainable mobility, affordable housing, and financing of urban infrastructure and propose collective solutions.
• Under the G20 presidency of India, Ahmedabad, a UNESCO World Heritage city, will host the U20 cycle.
• Along with C40 (Climate 40) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Ahmedabad will organize various events including City Sherpas' inception meeting on 9-10 February 2023, and side events on urban development issues culminating with U20 Mayors' Summit in July 2023.
• C40 Cities (C40) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) convene the U20 under the leadership of a Chair city that rotates annually, based in the G20 host country.
• It may be recalled that Ahmedabad became a member of the C40 on 30 June 2022 and has been a member of other global alliances like Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).

 

International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA)

What's the NEWS

 

• Recently IFSCA and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU between these two organisations will help mutual assistance and cooperation in the area of sustainable finance.

 

Know! about IFSCA

 

• It is a statutory authority established under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019 ("IFSCA Act").
• IFSCA develops and regulates the financial products, financial services, and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centres (‘IFSC').
• The IFSCA aims to develop a strong global connection and focus on the needs of the Indian economy as well as to serve as an international financial platform for the entire region.
• Before the establishment of IFSCA, the domestic financial regulators, namely, RBI, SEBI, PFRDA and IRDAI regulated the business in IFSC.
• GIFT-IFSC is the maiden IFSC in India.
• The International Financial Services Centres Authority consist of nine members, appointed by the central government.
• They will include the chairperson of the authority, a member each from the RBI, SEBI, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority.
• Two members from the Ministry of Finance. In addition, two other members will be appointed on the recommendation of a Selection Committee.
• All members of the IFSC Authority will have a term of three years, subject to reappointment.

 

SAMARTH Scheme

 

What's the NEWS

 

• Recently, the Central government stated that under SAMARTH scheme, more than 13,235 artisans have been trained in the last three years.

 

Know! about SAMARTH Scheme:

 

• Government of India launched the "Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SCBTS)" which is called SAMARTH, for the entire value chain of textiles except Spinning and Weaving in the organized sector, for a period of three years from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
• The scheme provides demand-driven, placement-oriented National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) compliant skilling programmes to incentivize and supplement the efforts of the industry in creating jobs in the organized textile and related sectors, covering the entire value chain of textile, excluding Spinning and Weaving.
• To promote skilling and skill upgradation in the traditional sectors of handlooms, handicrafts, sericulture and jute.
• To enable the provision of sustainable livelihood either by wage or self-employment to all sections of the society across the country.

 

Stellar discoveries of the 40-inch telescope at the Vainu Bappu Observatory

 

What's the NEWS

• The several stellar discoveries of the 40-inch telescope at the Vainu Bappu Observatory in Kavalur, Tamil Nadu, were highlighted at the celebration of its 50 years of operation
• The telescope set up by Professor Vainu Bappu has played a significant role in astronomy with major discoveries like the presence of rings around the planet Uranus, a new satellite of Uranus, the presence of an atmosphere around Ganymede which is a satellite of Jupiter.
• Other important research conducted with this telescope includes the discovery and study of many 'Be stars', Lithium depletion in giant stars, optical variability in Blazars, the dynamics of the famous supernova SN 1987A and so on.

Know! about Vainu Bappu Observatory

 

 

• The 40-inch telescope was installed in 1972 and started producing important astronomical discoveries soon after. More than a generation of astronomers were trained at this telescope as well.
• The telescope in the observatory is under the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST)

 

Know! about Vainu Bappu

 

• He was an Indian astronomer who helped to establish several astronomical institutions in India including the Vainu Bappu Observatory which is named after him.
• He has played a significant role in astronomy with major discoveries like the presence of rings around the planet Uranus, a new satellite of Uranus, and the presence of an atmosphere around Ganymede which is a satellite of Jupiter.

 

PM2 elephant acclimatising to new habitat in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

 

What's the NEWS

 

• Almost two weeks since his capture and relocation to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), the elephant, PM2, is acclimatising to his new habitat and has exhibited key behavioural changes.

 

Know! about Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

 

• It is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu.
• It is at the tri-junction of three states, viz, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and it plays an unique role by forming part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.
• Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve is the first Biosphere Reserve in India, declared during 1986.
• It has a common boundary with Wyanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) on the West, Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) on the North, and the Nilgiris North Division on the South and East and Gudalur Forest Division on the South West, together forming a large conservation landscape for flagship species such as Tiger and Asian Elephant.
• The name Mudumalai means " the ancient hill range". Indeed, it is as old as 65 million years when Western Ghats were formed.
• The Reserve has tall grasses, commonly referred to as "Elephant Grass", Bamboo of the giant variety, valuable timber species like Teak, Rosewood, etc.

 

Samudrayaan Mission

What's the NEWS

 

• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences recently said that Samudrayaan Mission is aimed at sending three personnel to 6000-metre depth in a vehicle called ‘MATSYA 6000'.

 

Know! about Samudrayaan Mission

 

• Samudrayaan Mission is aimed to develop a self-propelled manned submersible to carry three human beings to a water depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean with a suite of scientific sensors and tools for deep ocean exploration.
• The experts will be sent in a manned submersible vehicle called 'MATSYA 6000'.
• This vehicle is being designed and developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• It has an endurance of 12 hours under normal operation and 96 hours in case of emergency for human safety.
• Manned submersible provides a feel of direct physical presence for researchers and has better intervention capability.
• With the launch of 'Samudrayaan' in October 2021, India joined the elite club of nations such as the US, Russia, Japan, France, and China to have niche technology and vehicles to carry out subsea activities.

 

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