Infrastructure Development
6^th Anniversary of Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT and PMAY-U

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the three transformative schemes) + about NIUA + Mains ( GS III infrastructure development + GS II governance)
What's the NEWS

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) organised an online event to commemorate 6 years of the launch of three transformative Urban Missions vis. Smart Cities Mission (SCM), AMRUT and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), which were launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on 25th June, 2015.
• The three schemes were part of a visionary agenda for urban rejuvenation and were designed as part of a multi-layer strategy to meet the aspirations of 40% of India's population living in cities.
• The focus on the urban sector during the last 6 years can be gauged by the infusion of overall investments to the tune of Rs. 12 lakh crore, as compared to Rs. 1.5 lakh crore in the period between 2004-2014.
• The projects implemented under these three Missions have started to bring about perceptible change in the lives of India's urban residents.
• The Missions have not only led to the development of urban infrastructure, whether be it better water supply, sanitation, housing for all but also have pioneered the use of data, technology and innovation in the planning and management of our cities.
• These Missions played an important role during the Covid-19 pandemic bringing succour to the lives of people faced with the vagaries of the pandemic.
• The date also marks 45 years of establishment of National Institute of Urban Affairs, an autonomous body of MoHUA, tasked to bridge the gap between research and practice on issues related to urbanization.

PRADHAN MANTRI AWAS YOJNA - URBAN

• PMAY-U, under the aegis of ‘Housing for All', addresses urban housing shortage among the EWS/LIG and MIG categories including the slum dwellers by ensuring a ‘pucca' house to all eligible urban households by the year 2022, when the nation completes 75 years of its Independence.
• A total of 1.12 crore houses have been sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (U), of which 82.5 lakh houses have been grounded and around 48 lakh have been completed.
• At the event to mark the anniversary, a short movie contest on PMAY-U will be declared open for students, youths, non-governmental organizations, institutions, and individual/groups in the run up to India's 75th year of Independence.
• Fortnight-long workshops on Awas Par Samvad (Townhall) are planned to be initiated for Schools/Colleges/Institutions in 75 cities.

AMRUT Mission

• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) was launched to address the issues of Water Supply, Sewerage and septage management, Storm Water Drainage to reduce flooding, Non-motorized Urban Transport and creating green space/parks in 500 cities with more than 1 lakh population.

The achievements of the mission are highlighted as under:

• Total tap connections: 105 lakh+ water tap connections against target of 139 lakh.
• Sewerage and Septage connections: 78+ lakhs against target of 145 lakh.
• Treatment capacity developed: 1240 MLD and 4960 MLD capacity of STPs under progress.
• 1,840 water logging points have been eliminated.
• Green spaces and parks: 1850 parks and 3770 acres of area of green spaces developed.
• Municipal Bonds: 10 cities have raised Municipal bonds of Rs. 3,840 crore.
• Online Building Permission System has been implemented in 2,465 towns
• Streetlights: 88 lakhs streetlights have been replaced resulting in 192 crore units of energy saving per year and reductions of Carbon emissions by 15 lakh tons.

SMART CITIES MISSION

• Smart Cities Mission is a transformational Mission aimed to bring about a paradigm shift in the practice of urban development in the country
• Projects developed under the Smart Cities Mission are multi-sectoral and mirror the aspirations of the local population. As on date, 69 Smart cities have developed and operationalised their Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) in the country.
• These operational ICCCs functioned as war-rooms for COVID management, and along with other smart infrastructure developed under the mission, helped cities in fighting the pandemic through information dissemination, improving communication, predictive analysis and supporting effective management.

Other highlights

• During the 6^th Anniversary event, MoHUA will be announcing the results of the India Smart Cities Awards Contest (ISAC) 2020.
• The much-awaited results under the Data Maturity Assessment Framework (DMAF) and Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) will also be released during the event.
• The event will also feature release of, inter alia, India Smart Cities Fellowship Report, the TULIP annual report, and knowledge products developed by National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).

The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)

• It is an institute for research, training and information dissemination in urban development and management in New Delhi, India.
• It was established in 1976 as an autonomous body under the Societies Registration Act.
• The Institute is supported by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, State Governments, urban and regional development authorities and other agencies concerned with urban issues
• The Institute's policies and directions are determined by the Governing Council consisting of a President, who is appointed by the Government of India, two Vice-Presidents, three members of the Government of India in their ex officio capacity, twelve other members, and the Director, the Chief Executive of the Institute, as the member-secretary.

Prelims Factoids
Day Of The Seafarer 2021
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Day of the Seafarer + about M.T. Swarna Krishan)
What's the NEWS

• Each year, June 25 is observed as the "Day of the Seafarer."
• On this day, people pay respect to Seafarers and recognize the invaluable contribution they make to international trade and the world economy.

Know! more about Day of the Seafarer

• The World Maritime Theme for 2021, "Seafarers: at the core of shipping's future" seeks to increase the visibility of seafarers by drawing attention to the invaluable role they play now and will continue to play in the future.
• Seafarers are the indomitable forces behind the uninterrupted supply chain worldwide despite the pandemic.
• This year the campaign for day of Seafarer calls for a "fair future for seafarers." The campaign aims to discuss "issues that will still be relevant to seafarers after the pandemic, such as fair treatment of seafarers, fair working conditions, fair training, fair safety, etc."
• International Maritime Organization (IMO) tries to spread awareness about the work and lives of seafarers on this day.
• Till the present date, global trade depends on ocean transport. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) once stated that almost 90% of the world's traded good were transported via seas, which is why Seafarers and sailors are essential to the functioning of the world.
• Day of the Seafarer celebration was first started in 2010 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Since 2011, this special day has been celebrated.

Day of the Seafarer 2021 (India specific)

• ‘Day of the Seafarer-2021' was celebrated virtually on 25th June 2021 in the presence of a huge number of Maritime personalities, Seafarers and families in India and abroad by remembering the great efforts made by the seafarers to the civil society, giving thanks to them for their contribution to the world economy and appreciating the risks and personal costs they bear while on their jobs.

Steps taken by the Government

• The Minister assured that Advanced Seafarer Wellness Centers will be provided at all the ports.
• Government has planned in Maritime Vision 2030 for raising the number of Seafarers from 2,40,000 to above 5 Lakhs in the next ten years.
• The share of the Women seafarers shall be increased and the Maritime Training Institutes in India shall be prepared to impart the best training to the seafarers considering the new challenges in the shipping sector.
• Government has created a fund of welfare of the seafarers.
• ‘M.T. Swarna Krishan' being the 1st Indian Flag Vessel of Shipping Corporation of India with all Women Officers onboard was awarded in this function and the crew members shared their experience of the voyage on this historic vessel in India.
• The meritorious seafarers were awarded for their excellent academic achievements in the year 2020. The seafarers and their family members presented lovely cultural performances.

Defence
DRDO successfully test fires Enhanced Pinaka Rocket

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Enhanced Pinaka Rockets)
What's the NEWS

• Continuing the development of Artillery Rocket Systems, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired extended range version of indigenously developed Pinaka rocket from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) on 24th and 25th June 2021 at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

Know! about Enhanced Pinaka Rockets

• Twenty-five Enhanced Pinaka Rockets were launched in quick succession against targets at different ranges. All the mission objectives were met during the launches. The enhanced range version of Pinaka Rocket System can destroy targets at distances up to 45 kms.
• All the flight articles were tracked by Range instruments including Telemetry, Radar and Electro Optical Tracking System deployed by ITR & Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE).
• The rocket system has been developed jointly by Pune based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) with manufacturing support from M/s Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur.
• The development of Enhanced Pinaka system was taken up to achieve longer range performance.

Defence
DRDO successfully test fires Enhanced Range 122mm Caliber Rocket

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about 122mm Caliber Rocket)
What's the NEWS

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired enhanced range versions of indigenously developed 122mm Caliber Rocket from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) on June 25, 2021 at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

Know! about the 122mm Caliber Rocket

• Four enhanced range version of 122mm rockets were test fired with full instrumentation and they met the complete mission objectives.
• These rockets have been developed for Army applications and can destroy targets up to 40 km.
• All the flight articles were tracked by Range instruments, including Telemetry, Radar and Electro Optical Tracking System deployed by ITR and Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE).
• The rocket systems have been developed jointly by Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) with manufacturing support from M/s Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur.
• This enhanced rocket system would replace the existing 122mm Grad rockets.

Defence
Integrated bilateral exercise of Indian Navy and Indian Air Force with US Navy concludes in Indian Ocean Region

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the integrated bilateral exercise between India and US)
What's the NEWS

• The two-day integrated bilateral exercise between Indian and US Forces in the Indian Ocean Region concluded on June 24, 2021.
• Indian Navy along with Indian Air Force participated with US Navy Carrier Strike Group in the exercise.

Know! about the exercise

• The exercise has been a key enabler in building interoperability and strengthening the defence coordination between the two nations and witnessed high tempo-naval operations at sea.
• These included intense air dominance exercises, advanced air defence exercises, anti-submarine exercises, tactical manoeuvres and cross deck helicopter operations.
• Participation of Indian Navy in the exercise included Guided Missile Stealth Destroyer Kochi, Guided Missile Frigates Teg, maritime air dominance fighter

MiG 29K, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I, Seaking 42B and Kamov AEW helicopters.

• The IAF hardware included Jaguars & Su 30 MKI fighters, AWACS, AEW&C, and Air to Air Refueller aircraft.
• The US side was represented by the Nimitz class aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan with her integral maritime air element comprising F18 fighters, E2D AEW&C aircraft and MH60R ASW helicopters, Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Halsey and Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Shiloh.
• The exercise has been another milestone in strengthening cooperation between the two countries and reinforcing the shared values as partner militaries, in ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.

Governance
itat e-dwar
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) ‘itat e-dwar' + steps taken by the ministry to promote digital India +Mains ( GS II Governance - accountability and transparency)
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Law & Justice, Communications and Electronics & IT, formally launched the e-filing portal of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), ‘itat e-dwar'

Know! more about itat e -dwar

• The newly developed e-Filing Portal would enable the parties to file their Appeals, Miscellaneous Applications, documents, paper books, etc., electronically.
• This initiative of ITAT should be seen as a larger narrative of transformation that the country is undergoing through digital medium.
• It enables innovation and empowerment and opens new avenues for growth.
• On this occasion, a virtual function was organized at the national level which was attended by the functionaries of ITAT from all the 28 stations.
• The launch of e-Filing Portal ‘itat e-dwar' will enhance the accessibility, accountability and transparency in the day to day working of the ITAT.
• It would not only result in economization of the use of paper, savings in costs but also rationalization of the fixation of cases leading to quicker disposal of cases.
• With the combination of digital court room, virtual hearings and Mobile Application providing Judicial Information, paperless courts will soon be a reality in ITAT.

Digital India - achievements so far

• Digital India means empowering an ordinary Indian with the power of technology - To bridge the digital divide between the digital haves and the digital have nots leading to digital inclusion achieved by technology, which is low cost, home grown and developmental.
• Digital India means a framework for transforming India with the power of technology.
• Nearly 129 crore of the Indian population are enrolled for Aadhar which is the digital identity to supplement one's physical identity.
• Nearly 40 crore bank accounts have been opened for the poor and linked to Aadhar.
• Using the power of Digital India about Rs.16.7 lakh crore has been transferred to the account of the poor as Direct Benefit Transfer, saving Rs.1.78 lakh crores which was, otherwise, being siphoned off by middlemen.
• Digital India has positioned our country as a world leader in digital payments.
• It needs to be highlighted that Aadhar, DBT, UPI and the health scheme, Ayushman Bharat, all are ‘made in India'.
• Another milestone achievement of Digital India is the establishment of Common Service Centres, which were only 75,000 in number in 2014, now stand at 4lakh.
• CSCs provide several services that are citizen centric and the Minister suggested that the lawyers must associate themselves in tendering legal advice to the needy through Tele Law programme, through the CSCs.
• Data about more than 18 crore cases are available in the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) and cases of ITAT should also be integrated in the NJDG.
• VC facility has been provided in more than 800 jails so that the undertrials are able to appear before the Courts without the police having to bring them physically to the courts.

NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog convenes the National Convention on Prevention of Maternal, Adolescent and Childhood Obesity

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about National Convention on Prevention of Maternal, Adolescent and Childhood Obesity -highlights) + about NIN
What's the NEWS

• NITI Aayog convened the National Convention on Prevention of Maternal, Adolescent and Childhood Obesity under the chairmanship of Dr. V.K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog and Co-chairmanship of Dr. R Hemalatha, Director, Nutrition Institute of India.

Know! the convention highlights

• NITI Aayog described obesity as a "silent epidemic" .In the National Consultation global experts, representatives from UN bodies, central ministries and national research institutions presented their evidence regarding increasing prevalence of obesity and presented best practices for obesity reduction.
• Arjan de Wagt, Chief Nutrition, UNICEF presented evidence onthe increasing burden of over nutrition in India.
• Professor William Joe, IEG shared valuable data on the current and emerging trends of obesity in certain geographies of India.
• In the convention, Secretaries of Ministry of AYUSH and Department of Youth Affairs placed their suggestions on promoting healthy behaviour.Senior officers of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting echoed the need for introducing behavioural change and a favourable policy landscape.
• All panellists expressed unanimous need to address this issue on a priority basis, with a resounding emphasis on better mass communication around encouraging physical activity, healthy eating and lifestyle.
• A need for a whole of government and a whole of society approach was emphasised in tackling the twin challenge of obesity and under.
• An urgent need for adopting strategies related to fiscal measures, regulating front-of-package labelling, promoting healthy diet, physical activity and lifestyle options emerged as key themes for future deliberations and actions.
• NITI Aayog called for a multi-sectoral approach targeting the adolescents to promote activity and healthy lifestyle.

The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN)

• It is an Indian Public health, Nutrition and Translational research centre located in Hyderabad, India.
• The institute is one of the oldest research centres in India, and the largest centre, under the Indian Council of Medical Research, located in the vicinity of Osmania University.
• The institute has associated clinical and paediatric nutrition research wards at various hospitals such as the Niloufer Hospital for Women and Children, the Government Maternity Hospital, the Gandhi Medical College and the Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad.
• National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) was founded by Sir Robert McCarrison in the year 1918 as ‘Beri-Beri' Enquiry Unit in a single room laboratory at the Pasteur Institute, Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
• Within a short span of seven years, this unit blossomed into a "Deficiency Disease Enquiry" and later in 1928, emerged as full-fledged "Nutrition Research Laboratories" (NRL) with Dr. McCarrison as its first Director.
• It was shifted to Hyderabad in 1958.At the time of its golden jubilee in 1969, it was renamed as National Institute of Nutrition (NIN).

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