Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Akademik Lomonosov )
What's the NEWS

• Russia's floating nuclear power station Akademik Lomonosov expected to change the Arctic, warn environmentalists
• The reactor's trip is expected to last between four and six weeks, depending on the weather conditions and the amount of ice on the way

• Russia will launch the world's first floating nuclear reactor and send it on an epic journey across the Arctic, despite environmentalists warning of serious risks to the region.
• Loaded with nuclear fuel, the Akademik Lomonosov will leave the Arctic port of Murmansk to begin its 5,000 kilometre voyage to North eastern Siberia.
• Nuclear agency Rosatom says the reactor is a simpler alternative to building a conventional plant on ground that is frozen all year round, and it intends to sell such reactors abroad.
• The reactor's trip is expected to last between four and six weeks, depending on the weather conditions and the amount of ice on the way. Work began on the 144-metre Akademik Lomonosov in Saint Petersburg in 2006.
• The vessel weighs 21,000 tons and has two reactors with a capacity of 35 megawatts each, close to that of those used by nuclear icebreakers. It has a crew of 69 and travels at a speed of 3.5 to 4.5 knots.
• It was launched and loaded with nuclear fuel from Arctic port of Murmansk for its 5,000 kilometre voyage to Pevek in northeastern Siberia. On arriving in Pevek, it will replace local nuclear plant and closed coal plant. It will go in full operations by end 2019 and it will mainly serve region's oil platforms in Arctic.

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about COP 14 and about the genesis of UNCCD) + Mains ( GS III environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• India will be hosting the 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) from 2-13 September 2019

• Desertification is a worldwide problem directly affecting 250 million people and a third of the earth's land surface.
• To fight this menace, India will convert degraded land of nearly 50 lakh hectares to fertile land in next 10 years; it will implement provisions of New Delhi Declaration which is to be adopted at the end of conference and a Centre for Excellence will be established at Dehradun

• Delegates from 196 countries comprising of scientists and representatives of national and local governments, global business leaders, NGOs, gender-based organisations, youth groups, journalists, and faith and community groups will present and share their expertise and give an overview to achieve their goals at the 12-day Conference .
• The Convention entered into force in December 1996. It is one of the three Rio Conventions along with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• India became a signatory to UNCCD on 14th October 1994 and ratified it on 17th December 1996.
• The main objective of the convention is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, involving long-term integrated strategies that focus simultaneously, in affected areas, on improved productivity of land, and the rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable management of land and water resources, leading to improved living conditions, in particular at the community level.
• The Convention's 197 parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.
• The UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation.

• Degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas (Not the natural expansion of existing deserts)
• Land Degradation: Deterioration in the quality of land (its topsoil caused by excessive or inappropriate exploitation)
• Causes of desertification are - overexploitation, overgrazing, deforestation and poor irrigation practices. Some of the solutions are - prevention of soil erosion, water resource management and sustainable practices.

• Union Ministry for Chemicals and Fertilizers, launched a mobile application "Janaushadhi Sugam" and had announced that "Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkin" will now be available at only One Rupee per pad.

• "Janaushadhi Sugam" will enable people to search Janaushadhi generic medicines and the stores at the tip of their fingers.
• About 28 million girls are reported to be leaving education because of lack of availability of good quality Sanitary Napkin" pads at reasonable cost.
• Pharmaceuticals is determined to provide affordable healthcare to all Indians through ever-increasing network of PMBJP Kendras across countryand this had already led to substantial savings to poor on medicines.
• The Government of India launched "Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkin" at Rs 2.50 per pad on the eve of the World Environment Day 4^th June 2018.
• Jan Aushadhi Suvidha comes with a special additive, which makes it biodegradable when it comes in contact with oxygen after being discarded. Till 31st July 2019, over 1.30 crore pads were sold at Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras.
• This step taken by the Department of Pharmaceuticals will ensure the achievement of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of "Affordable and Quality Healthcare" for all.
• It will also help in fulfilling the Prime Minister's dream of "Clean India & Green India" as these pads are oxo-biodegradable and environment friendly. Jan Aushadhi Suvidha is beingmade available for sale in more than 5500 PMBJP Kendras across the country.

• This APP would have user-friendly options like- to locate nearby Janaushadhikendra, direction guidance for location of the Janaushadhikendra through Google Map, search Janaushadhi generic medicines, analyse product comparison of Generic vs Branded medicine in form of MRP & overall Savings, etc.

• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana Kendra (PMBJP) is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India, to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses through special kendras known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra.
• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana Kendra (PMBJPK) have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
• BPPI (Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India) has been established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India, with the support of all the CPSUs for co-coordinating procurement, supply and marketing of generic drugs through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra
  

Culture/e-governance
Integrated NOC online Application Processing System for National Monuments Authority (NMA)
Integrated NOAPS single window clearing system
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about integrated online application process system and about integrated NOAPS) + ( GS II important aspects of e-governance transparency and accountability)
What's the NEWS

• The Cultural Ministry launched an integrated NOC online Application Processing System for National Monuments Authority (NMA) for 517 local bodies of six states.
• This will help in online processing of applications requesting NOC for construction related work in prohibited and regulated area of ASI protected monuments.

Know! more about the newly inaugurated integrated online approval system

• With the increase of urbanization, development, growth and increasing population pressure, there is growing pressure on land including the land around centrally protected monuments.
• As this often affects the monument/site adversely it is important that such growth around the centrally protected monuments is properly regulated, balancing the needs of individuals and growth and development on the one hand and the requirements of preservation and protection of these monuments on the other.
• This website will help common people substantially in line with the vision and Objectives of Digital India &Ease of Doing Business.
• Six New States will be part of this Integrated Online Application Portal with Urban Local Bodies Count.
• Earlier this system was available only for five urban local bodies of Delhi and one urban local body of Mumbai.

Know! about Smart ‘Smarac' Mobile App

• The Portal has integration with the Smart ‘Smarac' Mobile App of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), through which the applicant traverses his plot and the geo coordinates of his plot along with the images get uploaded into the NIC portal along with the proximity and the approval status.

National Monuments Authority (NMA)

• National Monuments Authority (NMA) under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India Sites and Remains AMASR (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010".
• In order to automate the process of grant of NO Objection Certificate(NOC) for construction related work in the prohibited and regulated area, NMA had decided to Design, Develop and Implement a web enabled Software (S/w) application named NOC online Application Processing System (NOAPS) and launched it in the public domain over the URL: http://nmanoc.nic.in/ .
• With the objective of introducing transparency, "NOAPS Non Single window system" was launched on 29th September 2015. Further, "NOAPS Single window system" was officially launched on Ist May 2016.
• The applicant needs to fill up a single form which is being sent to the concerned agencies by the Urban Local Body, from whom No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required.
• NMA on its part will communicate its decision to the local body within 15-30 working days, bringing down the time limit from ninety days, as prescribed in Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act.
• By this integration, the National Monuments Authority has made a humble effort towards the Mantra of "Reform, Perform and Transform" given by the incumbent government

Know! about AMASR Act

• The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (or AMASR Act) is an act of parliament of the government of India that provides for the preservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance, for the regulation of archaeological excavations and for the protection of sculptures, carvings and other like objects. It was passed in 1958.
• The Archaeological Survey of India functions under the provisions of this act.
• The rules stipulate that area in the vicinity of the monument, within 100 metres is prohibited area.
• The area within 200 meters of the monument is regulated category. Any repair or modifications of buildings in this area requires prior permission
  
  

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