November 2024
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Defence
BRO working on a 200-ft bailey bridge at deluge affected Chamoli area in Uttarakhand to re-establish connectivity with Niti border
Relevance IN - Prelims ( places in NEWS - Nanda Devi glacier, Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda rivers, Rishi Ganga Hydel project, Tapovan Hydel project, Niti border)
What's the NEWS
- A portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on February 07, 2021, triggering an avalanche and deluge in the Alaknanda river system that washed away hydroelectric stations and trapped many workers.
- The sudden flood in the middle of the day in the Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda rivers, all intricately linked tributaries of the Ganga, triggered widespread panic and large-scale devastation in the high mountain areas.
- The flash flood also washed away a 90-metre span RCC bridge on Joshimath-Malari road located just downstream of the Rishi Ganga Hydel project and approximately two kilometres upstream of the Tapovan Hydel project, which was the only link to Niti border.
- Washing away of the bridge has stranded more than 13 border villages in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
- Border Roads Orgnisation (BRO) has quickly swung into action for rescue and rehabilitation work Several BRO teams part of Project Shivalik are deployed in the area for relief operations.
- Almost 200 personnel of 21 BRTF of Project Shivalik have been deployed for rescue and rehabilitation purposes.
- The BRO is working round the clock to re-establish connectivity at the earliest by launching a bailey bridge of 200 feet.
- The BRO is also assisting Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) & National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in rescue operations, several BRO teams part of Project Shivalik are deployed in the area for relief operations.
Niti Valley
- It is a remote valley located in the northernmost region of Uttarakhand, India at a height of 3, 600 m
- It is close to the Chinese border and Niti is the last village in the valley before the border with south Tibet.
- The Niti Pass was an ancient trade route between India and Tibet, and it was sealed after the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Since then, the border has remained sealed.
- The villages in the valley include Lata, Kaga, Dronagiri, Garpak, Malari, Bampa, Gamshali and Niti.
- They are mostly inhabited by Bhotiyas or Chamoli's Marchas, a community of Mongoloid origin, or Tolcchas.
- The language spoken is a mix of Tibetan and Garhwali or Rongpo.
- Various medicinal plants and herbs grow in the valley that have been mentioned in the Charak Samhita, an ancient treatise on Ayurveda.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- It is India's primary border patrol organization with its border with China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
- It is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of India, raised on 24 October 1962, under the CRPF Act, in the wake of the Sino-Indian War of 1962.
- Ministry Involved - Ministry of Home Affairs
- In September 1996, the Parliament of India enacted the "Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992" to "provide for the constitution and regulation" of the ITBP "for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith
Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
- Ministry Involved - Ministry of Defence
- It is a road construction executive force in India that provides support to and is a part of the Indian Armed Forces.
- BRO develops and maintains road networks in India's border areas and friendly neighboring countries.
- This includes infrastructure operations in 19 states and three union territories (including Andaman and Nicobar Islands) and neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
- It is an Indian specialized force constituted "for the purpose of special response to a threatening disaster situation or disaster" under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
- Ministry Involved - Ministry of Home Affairs
- The "Apex Body for Disaster Management"[citation needed] in India is the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
- The Chairman of the NDMA is the Prime Minister.
- The responsibility of managing disasters in India is that of the State Government.
- The ‘Nodal Ministry' in the central government for management of natural disasters is the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is under the National Disaster Management Authority.
Science and Technology
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about International Day of Women and Girls in Science) + Mains (GS III science and technology - steps taken by the government to encourage Women & Young Girls in Science)
What's the NEWS
- On the International Day of Women & Young Girls in Science, Ministry of Women & Child Development in association with Ministry of Education and MyGov, Ministry of Electronics and Information technology launched an online campaign to celebrate women who have carved a niche for themselves in the field of STEM and also encourage young girls who aspire to excel in STEM and contribute towards nation building.
- The campaign honours our young girls from across the country who have performed well in the subjects of Maths and Science & encourage these STEM STARS
- This initiative is as per the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "Seeding the powers of idea and innovation in schoolchildren will broaden the base of our innovation pyramid."
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
- The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is the 11th day of February, by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on 22 December 2015.
- The day recognises the critical role women and girls play in science and technology.
- The day's purpose is to promote full and equal access to participation in science for women and girls.
- To further nurture and encourage young girls in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, the government is persistently working towards increasing the percentage of women in these fields, with a focus on encouraging young girls to pursue STEM subjects right from school onwards to higher education.
- As part of the campaign, citizens can congratulate a young STEM Star from their State / district through a personalized card & encourage them to pursue these subjects which are critical for the growth of any Nation. More than 700 such STEM Stars have been featured on MyGov
Miscellaneous
National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)
What's the NEWS
- The government approved the allocation for Rs. 500 crore for National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) for three years (2020-21 to 2022-23).
- The mission was announced as part of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat scheme.
- NBHM aims for the overall promotion & development of scientific beekeeping in the country to achieve the goal of ‘Sweet Revolution' which is being implemented through National Bee Board (NBB).
National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)
- The main objective of NBHM is to promote holistic growth of beekeeping industry for income & employment generation for farm and non-farm households, to enhance agriculture/ horticulture production, developing infrastructural facilities, including setting up of Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre (IBDC)s/CoE, honey testing labs, bee disease diagnostic labs, custom hiring centres, Api-therapy centres, nucleus stock, bee breeders, etc. and empowerment of women through beekeeping.
- The scheme also aims to create awareness about scientific bee keeping under Mini Mission-I, post-harvest management of beekeeping, beehive products, including collection, processing, storage, marketing, value addition, etc. under Mini Mission-II and Research & Technology generation in beekeeping under Mini Mission-III. Rs 150.00 Crores has been allotted to NBHM for 2020-21.
Beekeeping
- Beekeeping is an agro-based activity which is being undertaken by farmers/ landless labourers in rural area as a part of Integrated Farming System (IFS).
- Beekeeping has been useful in pollination of crops, thereby, increasing income of the farmers/beekeepers by way of increasing crop yield and providing honey and other high value beehive products, viz.; bees wax, bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, etc.
- Diversified agro climatic conditions of India provide great potential and opportunities for beekeeping/ honey production and export of Honey.
Prelims Factoids
2nd MARITIME INDIA SUMMIT- 2021
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Maritime India Summit (MIS) 2021
What's the NEWS
- Around 20,000 delegates will participate, 24 partner countries will join and more than 400 Projects are set to be showcased in the 2nd edition of Maritime India Summit (MIS) 2021 to be held virtually from 2nd March to 4th March.
Know! about Maritime India Summit (MIS) 2021
- The event is being organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) jointly with FICCI as Industrial Partner and EY as Knowledge Partner.
- Maritime India Summit (MIS) is going to provide a powerful platform for international collaboration and bring in partner countries for mutual exchange of knowledge and opportunities.
- The MIS 2021 will provide a unique platform which will have physical and virtual presence of prominent shipping and transport ministers/ dignitaries from across the world.
- Maritime States of India will participate in the Summit through dedicated sessions.
- The Summit will also include an exclusive CEOs' forum and various thematic/ breakout sessions.
Infrastructure Development
Industrial Corridor Projects
- Government of India is developing various Industrial Corridor Projects as part of National Industrial Corridor Programme which is aimed at development of greenfield industrial cities in India in order to compete with the best manufacturing and investment destinations in the world.
- National Industrial Corridor Development & Implementation Trust (NICDIT) has been constituted for unified development of Industrial Corridors in the country.
- Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) is the first Industrial Corridor which is being implemented in the country wherein substantial progress has been made.
Four industrial nodes under implementation in Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) are as under
- Dholera Industrial City, Gujarat (22.5 sq. km)
- Shendra Bidkin Industrial Area, Maharashtra (40 sq. km)
- Integrated Industrial Township, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh (745 acres)
- Integrated Industrial Township, Vikram Udyogpuri, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh (1100 acres)
- Further, Government of India has accorded approval for development of 11 Corridors (32 projects) in four Phases as part of National Master Plan for providing multimodal connectivity to economic zones.
Industrial Corridors program
- The Industrial Corridors program is aimed at providing multi modal connectivity with complete "plug and play" infrastructure till the plot level along with building resilient and sustainable future ready cities.
- The development of these corridors is aimed to expand the industrial output, increasing employment opportunities, provide better living and social facilities for the new and growing workforce.
- As part of Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC), State Government of Bihar has identified site at Gamhariya, Dobhi block, Gaya district for establishment of Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) and details are awaited from State Government for initiation of project development activities.
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