Government schemes

CURRENT AFFAIRS 30 mar

Doorstep Ration Delivery scheme

Issue
Bhagwant Mann, the Chief Minister of Punjab has announced a doorstep
ration delivery scheme for beneficiaries.

Background
Wheat grains would be packed in bags and delivered at doorsteps under the
Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna.

Details
 Beneficiaries will receive ration under the Atta-Dal Scheme of the state
government. This scheme is a tweaked version of Centre’s Food Security Act.
 It is an optional scheme and people who want to avoid queuing up
outside ration shops can opt for the scheme.

Beneficiaries of the scheme

 The scheme is named after wheat flour and pulses and envisions giving
5 kg wheat to every individual beneficiary per month at Rs 2 per kg.
 Till now, the state government has been unable to give pulses to the
beneficiary due to shortage of funds. Political parties have promised tea
leaves and sugar, which till now has not materialized.

Funding
 Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, the centre funds for
36 lakh families. Punjab has added some more beneficiaries by providing
them blue cards.

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Government schemes
CURRENT AFFAIRS 30 mar

 Centre bears 1700 crore every year and also pays half the bill of
transportation cost. The rest of transportation bill and cost of additional
beneficiaries are borne by state government.

Distribution
 Earlier, the government used to distribute wheat flour to beneficiaries
but later whole wheat was given due to low quality of flour.
 Electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) machines are used for biometric
verification of every beneficiary.

Issues associated
 The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution want
state governments to buy ration separately and provide it to doorstep.
 Distributing the ration to states under the NFSA would be illegal as
there are no provisions for doorstep delivery.

NOTES

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Art & culture
CURRENT AFFAIRS 30 mar

Amarnath Yatra

Issue
The Amarnath Yatra for this year will begin in June 30. It will take place in
Himalayas of South Kashmir.

Background
The Covid-19 pandemic had forced the pilgrimage to be suspended for two
continuous years.

Details
 The Amarnath Yatra is a 56-day pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Lord
Shiva high up in the Himalayas.
 Thousands of pilgrims make the trek up to the shrine each year. It is
one of the most revered pilgrimages in India.

Legend of Amarnath
The legend says that Lord Shiva decided to tell goddess Parvati the secret of
his immortality (Amar Katha) in the ice cave in Amarnath.

Location
 The cave housing the Shiva lingam is located 3,888 metres above sea
level, and can be reached only on foot or by pony.
 Pilgrims can take routes to reach the cave. One is 46km from Pahalgam
and other is 16 km from Baltal through a steep mountainous trek.

Features

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Art & culture
CURRENT AFFAIRS 30 mar

 The lingam is formed by a trickle of water from a cleft in the roof of the
cave, which freezes subsequently to get the shape.
 The Shiva lingam attains full size in the month of May every year and by
the month of August, it is just a few feet in height.

Discovery of cave
 The cave was discovered by a Muslim shepherd named Buta Malik in
1850. He found the cave when he had taken his goats high up in the
mountains for grazing.
 For years together, the Buta Malik family remained the traditional
custodian of the shrine, along with Hindu priests from the Dashnami Akhara
and Purohit Sabha Mattan.
 There are two smaller ice structures beside the Shiva lingam, which
represents goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesh.

Threats to yatra
 The first such attack on the yatra took place in 2000 when Amarnath
yatris were targeted in Pahalgam, which led to death of 17 pilgrims.
 Over the years, many pilgrims were killed in small and big attacks by
separatists and terrorists. The latest such incident took place in 2017 on a
pilgrim bus.
 Since 1990, 53 pilgrims had been killed and 167 injured in various
attacks on Amarnath yatris.
NOTES

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Science & technology
CURRENT AFFAIRS 30 mar

Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles

Issue
A Request For Information (RFI) has been issued by the Indian Army for the
supply of Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles.

Details
Articulated All-Terrain Vehicle is a carrier that is to be used for off road
mobility. It is twin cabined, amphibious and tracked.

Features
 The push mode locomotion in form of two cabins ensures mobility over
varied terrains like snow, desert and slush.
 The ballistic protection cabin allows troops travelling in it safety from
small arms fire.
 They can reach areas where wheeled vehicles cannot due to deep
snow, slush or marshy terrain.
 They are useful for patrolling and rapid deployment in operational
situations.

Deployment
The Indian army plans to deploy them in Bhuj and Ladakh. They are set to be
used for snow-bound areas and in the marshy terrain of the respective
regions.

Requirements for army

 Vehicles should have ability to seat 10 soldiers with full combat load
and should have inbuilt ballistic protection.
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Science & technology
CURRENT AFFAIRS 30 mar

 They should have operating range of not less than 150 kms in cross
country terrain in plains and at an altitude of 15,000 to 18,000 feet in the
mountains.
 The vehicles should be able to serve for at least 15 years.

Companies manufacturing Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles

 The NASU vehicle of Finland is used by armies of US, Finland, Belgium,
France and others for operational use.
 The Bandvagn 206 is manufactured by BAE Systems, Platforms and
Services. They are used by Swedish army, British and also US.
 The DT-30 Vityaz vehicle and GAZ 3344 are used by the Russian army
which is manufactured in the country.
NOTES

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International affairs
CURRENT AFFAIRS 30 mar

Indian power projects in Sri Lanka

Issue
India will be constructing hybrid power projects on three islands off the coast
of Jaffna in Sri Lanka.

Background
The same location was earlier allotted to China for power projects but was
revoked after India raised objections.

Details
 The deal was signed during a meeting between visiting External Affairs
Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and his Sri Lankan counterpart G.L. Peiris.
 This will be the third Indian power project after National Thermal Power
Corporation’s solar venture, and the Adani Group’s renewable energy
projects.

The agreement with China

 Earlier, the renewable energy project was granted to Chinese company
Sinosoar-Etechwin, backed by Asian Development Bank.
 It was to be set up in Nainativu, Delft or Neduntheevu, and Analaitivu
islands, which were located in Palk Bay.

India’s opposition
The proposed location was barely 50km off the Indian coast in Palk Bay. It
threatened India’s maritime security.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS 30 mar

New proposal
 India has proposed a grant to carry out the project whereas the Chinese
project was to be developed through loans.
 The Sri Lankan government had kept the project in suspension, unable
to choose a side for carrying out the project.

NTPC solar project

 NTPC and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will jointly set up a 100 MW
solar power plant in Sampur, in Sri Lanka’s eastern Trincomalee district.
 India has offered $ 100 million Line of Credit to Sri Lanka for
development of solar power projects.

Adani Group’s renewable energy project

 The Adani Group has signed agreement with Sri Lankan government to
develop two renewable energy projects in Mannar and Pooneryn in the
Northern Province.
 It will invest about $500 million and the combined power generation
capacity will be 500MW.
NOTES

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