Geophysical phenomena
Cyclone YAAS

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Cyclone YAAS) + Mains ( GS I Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.

What's the NEWS

• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that a cyclonic storm, to be named Yaas when it is formed, is likely to hit the eastern coast of India by May 26-27.
• According to the IMD predictions, a low-pressure area is expected to be formed over the north Andaman Sea and adjoining the east-central Bay of Bengal by May 22 which is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by May 24.
• The cyclonic storm is very likely to move northwestwards and hit the eastern coast near the Odisha-West Bengal border region by May 26-27.
• The IMD has predicted Cyclone Yaas is expected to be as severe as Cyclone Amphan, the storm which had hit Odisha and West Bengal in May 2020.

Know! more about Yaas

• This is the second cyclone to hit India in the month of May after Cyclone Tauktae (named by Myanmar) formed over the Arabian Sea which hit the western coast on May 17 and caused massive damage in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• The present cyclone Yaas has been named by Oman. Yaas refers to a tree that has a good fragrance and in English, the word is similar to Jasmine.

Know! about tropical cyclone

• A tropical cyclone is an intense circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans and is characterised by low atmospheric pressure, strong winds followed by heavy rainfall.
• Tropical cyclones always have an eye, a central region of clear skies and warm temperatures.
• Cyclones are fueled by available heat in the water bodies and the conducive temperature for the intensification of the cyclone is 28 degrees Celsius and above.
• The Bay of Bengal is usually warmer than the Arabian Sea, it results in more cyclones being formed over it.

Know! about the naming of cyclone

• The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) maintains rotating lists of names, which are appropriate for each tropical cyclone basin. If a cyclone is particularly deadly or costly, then its name is retired and replaced by another.
• Generally, the name list is proposed by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) of the WMO members of a specific region and approved by the respective tropical cyclone regional bodies at their annual or biennial sessions.
• Worldwide there are six regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) mandated for issuing advisories and naming tropical cyclones.
• The India Meteorological Department is one of the six RSMCs mandated to provide tropical cyclone advisories to 13 member countries including Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
• RSMC, New Delhi is also mandated to name the Tropical Cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean (NIO) including the Bay of Bengal (BoB) and the Arabian Sea (AS).
• The IMD has released a new set of names for tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean.
• According to the IMD press release, during WMO's 45th Session held at Muscat, Oman in September 2018 it was decided to prepare a fresh list of names of tropical cyclones including representation from five new member countries including Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
• The new list of tropical cyclone names was adopted by WMO/ESCAP Panel Member Countries in April 2020 for the naming of tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
• The current list has a total of 169 names. The next in line is Cyclone Gulab, pronounced "Gul-aab" from Pakistan.
• Last year, India had witnessed two cyclones by May, Amphan in the Bay of Bengal and Nisarga in the Arabian Sea. Amphan was from the previous list. From the fresh list, Bangladesh named the next cyclone Nisarga.

Governance
e-Courts Services Mobile App
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about e-Courts Services Mobile app) + Mains ( GS II governance)

What's the NEWS

• E-Committee, Supreme Court of India has released Manual for its top citizen-centric service- free "e-Courts Services Mobile app" in 14 languages

Know! about e- Courts Services Mobile app

• "e-Courts Services Mobile app" already released by e-Committee, Supreme Court of India for the benefit of the Litigants, Citizens, Lawyers, Law firms, Police, Government Agencies and other Institutional Litigants has so far crossed 57 lakh downloads.
• The mobile app and its manuals in English & regional languages can be freely downloaded from the official website of the e-Committee, Supreme Court of India https://ecommitteesci.gov.in/service/ecourts-services-mobile-application/ .

Know! about Electronic Case Management Tools for the Advocates.

• As an integral part of this multidimensional initiative, the e Courts Services Mobile App has been widely hailed as an effective Electronic Case Management Tool (ECMT).
• ECMT tool enables a lawyer to efficiently manage case information, document assembly, calendaring, time-tracking of case status, accessing judicial decisions, compliance requirements etc.
• To cap it, ECMT is of immense convenience being available 24 x 7 with no geographical boundaries and easy access on no-cost basis.

Know! more about e Courts Services Mobile App

• The eCourts Services Mobile App with its digital diary features has thus evolved into a must-have tool for lawyers to promote their professional efficiency.
• Publication of this Manual on eCourts Services Mobile App is yet another laudable step by the eCommittee of the Supreme Court to create large scale awareness of this ECMT and in bringing its benefits to the doorstep of the lawyers' community."
• Using the eCourts services mobile application , one can get various citizen-centric services like search for cases with case numbers, CNR numbers, filing numbers, party names, FIR number, advocate details, Acts, etc. case type.
• Various search types like CNR Search, Case Status Search, Cause List Search also available. One can get the complete case history of the case from the filing until disposal, including the date wise case diary.
• One can access Orders/ Judgment, Transfer details of the case, interim application status from the mobile app.
• Through the e-Courts services mobile app- one can get the case status/ case details of both High Courts and District Courts.
• The Advocate /Litigant/organization can maintain a digital diary of all cases under "My Cases", which is the most used and attractive feature for Advocates & Litigants.
• It can be customized using the My cases option available in it is equivalent to a digital diary for an advocate/ litigant.
• All the e-Courts services are also interlinked with the e-Courts mobile app.
• The e-Courts Services mobile App is the personalized digital case diary for litigants/ common citizen/advocates/organization/government department with all the case details available in their hands(set) 24 *7 free of cost.
• So During the pandemic, anyone can access the case status, court orders, cause list 24*7 and free of cost through their mobile phone with the e-Courts services mobile app without physically going to the concerned court complex !

Governance
NMMS app and Area officer monitoring App launched

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NMMS and Area officer monitoring App) + Mains ( GS II government policies and initiatives + governance)
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister of Rural Development launched National Mobile Monitoring Software (NMMS) app and Area officer monitoring App

Know! about the apps and its benefits

• The NMMS App permits taking real time attendance of workers at Mahatma Gandhi NREGS worksites along with geotagged photograph, which will increase citizen oversight of the programme besides potentially enabling processing payments faster.
• Area Officer Monitoring App facilitates them to record their findings online along with time stamped and go-coordinate tagged photograph for all the schemes of Deptt of Rural Development- Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, PMAYG, PMGSY.
• This would also enable not only better record keeping of inspections by field and supervisory officials but also facilitate analysis of the findings for better programme implementation.
• This will bring transparency and accountability to the execution of the Rural Development Programmes and stated that these two Apps will be big steps towards bringing in transparency and effective monitoring of schemes.
• The Ministry is making 99% wage payment directly into the bank account of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers by way of DBT through NeFMS.
• This is a big step towards transparency and accountability.
• The successful implementation of Geo-MGNREGA , a provision for geo-tagging of assets , through well-coordinated efforts of all the Governments, has helped in refuting the charge of ghost assets being financed through the Scheme.
• It has further helped in winning the trust of citizens about the programme.

International Organisations
BRICS Astronomy Working Group (BAWG)
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about BAWG and meeting highlights)
What's the NEWS

• The BRICS Astronomy Working Group has recommended networking of telescopes in member countries and creating a regional data network.
• Under the science, technology and innovation track of the BRICS 2021 calendar, India hosted the seventh meeting of BRICS Astronomy Working Group (BAWG) on online mode from May 19 and 20.

Know! BAWG meeting highlights.

• In the BAWG meeting, the delegates agreed to develop a flagship project in this area.
• It witnessed participation from all five BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - with more than 50 participants, including researchers, academicians and government officials. Also present were astronomers from these countries.
• The members of the working group also indicated future directions of research in this area such as building a network of intelligent telescopes and data, study of transient astronomical phenomena in the universe, big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning applications to process the voluminous data generated by the enhanced multi-wavelength telescope observatory.
• The delegates deliberated on strategic and operational matters and recommended the networking of existing telescopes in BRICS countries and creating regional data network.
• They agreed to develop a flagship project in this area, according to a statement by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. From the Indian side, the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, and the DST coordinated the meeting.

Know! about BAWG

• The BAWG, which provides a platform for BRICS member countries to collaborate in the field of astronomy, recommended that each country should present the scientific results of the work being carried out in their country.
• This will help seek funding support to realise the flagship project whenever funding opportunities were announced by BRICS funding agencies.
• The BAWG noted the importance of enhancing collaboration among astronomers from the BRICS countries.
• India assumed the BRICS Presidency from January 2021. About 100 events, including ministerial level meetings, senior official meetings, and sectorial meetings or conferences, stand to be organised in 2021.
  
  

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