Space Awareness
India, Japan space agencies review cooperation

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the space projects between India -Japan) + Mains (GS III awareness in the field of space)
What's the NEWS

• Indian and Japanese space agencies reviewed cooperation in earth observation, lunar cooperation and satellite navigation, and also agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in "space situational awareness and professional exchange programme
• This was agreed during a bilateral meeting between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) held virtually.

Know! more about the meeting highlights

• Both agencies signed an Implementing Arrangement for collaborative activities on rice crop area and air quality monitoring using satellite data
• India and Japan are already working on a joint lunar polar exploration (LUPEX) mission and the two space agencies have been working on the mission that aims to send a lander and rover to the Moon's south pole around 2024.
• India and Italy decided to explore opportunities in earth observation, space science and robotic and human exploration.
• Last month, India and Australia signed an amendment to the MoU which will build on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• Both countries are also in discussions for Australia to host vital tracking infrastructure to support the Gaganyaan manned space flight mission.

Infrastructure Development
Rural Circuit
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Swadesh Darshan Scheme + SPMRA + thematic circuits) + Mains ( GS II government policies and interventions for the development of various sectors)
What's the NEWS

• The Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for Integrated Development of theme-based Tourist Circuits for development of tourism infrastructure including last mile connectivity in the country.
• Recognizing the potential of Village tourism in the country, the Ministry has identified Rural Circuit as one of fifteen thematic circuits identified for development under this scheme.
• Ministry of Rural Development provides a list of leading sub districts to each State for selection of Non-Tribal clusters under SPMRM, within which the clusters could be identified
• One of the parameters in the selection of these sub districts by the Ministry of Rural Development is Presence of places of Tourism and Pilgrimage significance.

Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM)

• One of the rural development schemes being implemented is Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) under Ministry of Rural Development.
• SPMRM is a program focused on integrated development of Rural clusters by stimulating local economic development, enhancing basic services, and creating well planned Rurban clusters.
• SPMRM follows the vision of "Development of a cluster of villages that preserve and nurture the essence of rural community life with focus on equity and inclusiveness without compromising with the facilities perceived to be essentially urban in nature, thus creating a cluster of "Rurban Villages".
• Under SPMRM, 300 clusters are developed across 28 States and6 Union Territories.
• Tourism is one of the themes of Rurban cluster development.
• Tourism related activities/ projects are among the 21 component categories under SPMRM and suitable works are undertaken in clusters with tourism potential.
• Under SPMRM, there are 105 clusters in 30 States/ UTs where tourism related activities have been proposed.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

• Ministry of Tourism (MoT) launched the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (Central Sector Scheme)- for integrated development of theme based tourist circuits in the country in 2014-15.
• The themes are unique and specific to the area which includes beaches, culture, heritage, wildlife etc.
• Such theme based tourist circuits should be developed in a manner that supports communities, provides employment and fosters social integration without comprising upon the environmental concerns and provides unique experiences to the tourists.
• These thematic circuits will boost development in the region.
• This project is a part of Swadesh Darshan scheme and will be worked upon in a planned and prioritized manner,

15 thematic circuits

• IN ORDER to boost tourism in India, the Ministry of Tourism, under the Swadesh Darshan scheme has decided to develop 15 thematic circuits in the country
• Under the scheme, the identified circuits for development are: North-East Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Heritage Circuit, Sufi Circuit, and Tirthankara Circuit.
• The projects under the scheme are identified for development in consultation with the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable Detailed Project Reports, adherence to scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier.
• The union ministry of tourism has taken several steps for development of tourism in the country such as Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD Schemes for development of tourism infrastructure in the country, development and promotion of ‘Niche Tourism' products to attract tourist with specific interest and to ensure repeat visits for the unique products in which India has a comparative advantage, Revamp of Incredible India Website etc.

Government Schemes
Implementation of ‘Stand Up India' Scheme

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Stand Up India Scheme ) + Mains ( GS II government policies and interventions)
What's the NEWS

• The ‘Stand Up India Scheme' was launched by the Prime Minister on 5thApril, 2016 and has been extended upto the year 2025 as informed by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance.

Stand Up India Scheme

• The objective of the Stand Up India Scheme is to facilitate loans from Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) of value between Rs. 10 lakh and Rs.1 Crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise in manufacturing, services or trading sector.
• Pursuant to an announcement made in the Finance Minister's Budget Speech for F.Y. 2021-22, the margin money requirement for loans under this has been reduced from 'upto 25%' to 'upto 15%' and activities allied to agriculture have been included in the Scheme.
• Government does not allocate funds for loans under the Stand Up lndia Scheme.
• Loans under the Scheme are extended by SCBs as per commercial parameters, Board approved policies of respective banks and extant RBI guidelines.
• An amount of Rs. 500 crore each was however released by Government in FY 2016-17 and FY 2017-18 and Rs. 100 crore in FY 2O2O-21 towards the corpus of the Credit Guarantee Fund for Stand Up India (CGFSI).

Defence
Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) System
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) System
What's the NEWS

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has achieved an important milestone in the development of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) System by proving the land-based prototype
• The plant was operated in endurance mode and max power mode as per the user requirements.
• The system is being developed by Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) of DRDO.

Know! about AIP

• AIP has a force multiplier effect on lethality of a diesel electric submarine as it enhances the submerged endurance of the boat, several folds.
• Fuel cell-based AIP has merits in performance compared to other technologies
• While there are different types of AIP systems being pursued internationally, fuel cell-based AIP of NMRL is unique as the hydrogen is generated onboard.
• The technology has been successfully developed with the support of industry partners L&T and Thermax. It has now reached the stage of maturity for fitment into target vessels.

International
First ever Quad summit
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Quadrilateral Framework or ‘Quad' ) + Mains ( GS II regional and global grouping)
What's the NEWS

• The first ever summit of the leaders of the Quadrilateral Framework or ‘Quad' will take place virtually on March 12
• The first virtual summit of the leaders of India, Australia, Japan and the US was announced by the external affairs ministry

Know! more about the summit

• It will be held about a year-and-half after the Quad was upgraded to the level of foreign ministers in September 2019, and reflects the desire of the group to present a united front to key challenges, including China's belligerence across the region.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and US President Joe Biden in the "first Leaders' Summit of the Quadrilateral Framework, being held virtually"
• Besides discussing regional and global issues of shared interest, the leaders will "exchange views on practical areas of cooperation towards maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific".
• The Quad Summit will be an opportunity to exchange views on "contemporary challenges such as resilient supply chains, emerging and critical technologies, maritime security, and climate change

Prelims Factoids
Public Service delivery monitoring framework
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about new public service delivery monitoring framework)
What's the NEWS

• The Congress government in Rajasthan has formulated a new public service delivery monitoring framework with the indicators for 17 departments to ensure transparency in public works.
• The framework is expected to lead to good governance in various sectors.

Know! about the framework

• The framework's provisions for grading and ranking would help the common people in getting their grievances resolved and facilitate monitoring of works.
• It will bring transparency in the functioning of departments and ensure accountability of public servants at the grassroots
• The online data of various departments would be obtained for their grading and ranking on the basis of 100 indicators.
• The primary schemes for development at the grassroots would get the highest attention in the framework

Prelims Factoids
India's biggest floating solar power plant in final stages

Relevance IN - Prelims ( location based questions)
What's the NEWS

• The country's biggest floating solar power plant till date, by generation capacity, which is being developed by the NTPC in the reservoir of its thermal plant at Ramagundam in Peddapalli district, Telangana, is set to be commissioned by May-June next.
• Work on the 100 megawatt plant is in the final stages of completion.
• This will be one of the renewable (solar) energy plants being developed by the NTPC with an installed capacity of 447 MW in the southern region and the entire capacity will be commissioned by March 2023.

Know! more about renewable energy plants

• The renewable energy plants that are likely to be commissioned in the next three months are 25 MW floating solar plant at Simhadri thermal power plant near Visakhapatnam and 92 MW floating solar plant at Kayamkulam in Kerala, besides the 100 MW plant at Ramagundam.
• As all the thermal plants would have reservoirs, establishing floating solar plants in them was the immediate available opportunity without going for any land acquisition

Floating solar plants (benefits)

• It is an opportunity to generate power with low cost as land acquisition of at least 5 acres per megawatt of capacity involves huge fixed cost.
• Since there are a large number of major reservoirs in the Southern Region including in Telangana, it would be a huge opportunity to go for renewable energy in the floating solar method

Other environmental protection steps taken by NTPC in the southern region
Flu gas de-sulpherization (FGD)

• On complying with the environmental protection norms by setting flu gas de-sulpherization (FGD) plants at all thermal power plants
• Work on the FGDs was in progress at all plans in the Southern Region and it would be completed by December 2022 deadline.

geo-polymer aggregate and nano-concrete aggregate

• NTPC had developed a geo-polymer aggregate using fly ash at NTPC Ramagundam as a replacement to natural coarse aggregates and could be used as a substitute in building construction.
• The National Council for Cement and Building Materials had tested the 1.45 km road laid with geo-polymer aggregate inside the NTPC complex and tests proved it as a useful material.
• Besides, they had also developed a nano-concrete aggregate with fly ash at NTPC Simhadri and a model building was constructed with it as demo.

Flue-gas desulfurization (FGD)

• It is a set of technologies used to remove sulphur dioxide (SO2) from exhaust flue gases of fossil-fuel power plants, and from the emissions of other sulphur oxide emitting processes such as waste incineration
• Since stringent environmental regulations limiting SO2 emissions have been enacted in many countries, SO2 is being removed from flue gases by a variety of methods.

Common methods used:

• Wet scrubbing using a slurry of alkaline sorbent, usually limestone or lime, or seawater to scrub gases;
• Spray-dry scrubbing using similar sorbent slurries;
• Wet sulfuric acid process recovering sulphur in the form of commercial quality sulfuric acid;
• SNOX Flue gas desulfurization removes sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates from flue gases;
• Dry sorbent injection systems that introduce powdered hydrated lime (or other sorbent material) into exhaust ducts to eliminate SO2 and SO3 from process emissions.

For a typical coal-fired power station, flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) may remove 90 percent or more of the SO2 in the flue gases

Government Schemes
Mid-day meal scheme
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Mid- day Meal scheme)
What's the NEWS

• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education has recommended that all government schools start providing free breakfast in the coming academic year as part of an expansion of the mid-day meal scheme envisaged by the National Education Policy.
• In its submission to the panel, the Department said it had proposed two new components to the mid-day meal scheme during 2021-22 - an expansion of coverage from the current Class 1-8 students to include pre-primary students as well, and the provision of breakfast.

The Mid-day Meal Scheme

• It is a school meal programme of the Government of India designed to better the nutritional standing of school-age children nationwide.
• The programme supplies free lunches on working days for children in primary and upper primary classes in government, government aided, local body, Education Guarantee Scheme, and alternate innovative education centres, Madarsa and Maqtabs supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and National Child Labour Project schools run by the ministry of labour.
• Under article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which India is a party, India has committed to yielding "adequate nutritious food" for children.
• The programme has undergone many changes since its launch in 1995. The Midday Meal Scheme is covered by the National Food Security Act, 2013.
• The legal backing to the Indian school meal programme is akin to the legal backing provided in the US through the National School Lunch Act.

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