Jan 2023 PIB Compilation - PDF Upsc

PIB
Compilation
January 2023
Important topics
covered:
India-US Trade Policy Forum
All India Survey on Higher
Education (AISHE) 2020-2021
Solitary Waves
JANUARY 2023 – PIB COMPILATION
GS2:
Polity & Constitution International Relations
Pg- 01 Pg- 17
1 National Commission for 1 International North-South
Women Transport Corridor (INSTC)
2 Fundamental duties 2 India-US Trade Policy
3 National Commission for Forum
Protection of Child Rights
Social Justice & GS-3

Governance Pg- 05
1 Womaniya initiative Agriculture Pg- 20
2 PM Garib Kalyan Anna 1 Honey Mission programme
Yojana
3 eSanjeevani
4 e-NAM
Science & Technology
5 National Green Hydrogen
Pg- 21
Mission
6 SMART Program 1 Solitary Waves
7 Lumpy skin disease 2 Nickel alloy coating
8 All India Survey on Higher
Education (AISHE) 2020- Environment & Ecology
2021 Pg- 23
9 National Girl Child Day
1 Graded Response Action
10 Prime Minister Plan
Employment Generation 2 Ken-Betwa Link Project
Program (PMEGP)
11 Hakku Patra distribution
drive Internal Security
12 Atal Bhujal Yojana Challenges Pg- 169
13 Annual Status of Education 1 Exercise Varuna
Report (ASER)
2 Exercise Cyclone-I
14 Lymphatic Filariasis
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JANUARY 2023 – PIB COMPILATION
PRELIMS SPECIAL*
PRELIMS Pg-28
1 Veer Guardian-2023
2 National Single Window
System
3 Kala-Azar
4 Asian Pacific Postal Union
5 Exercise AMPHEX 2023
6 Exercise TROPEX-23 -
Indian Navy's Largest War
Game
7 Geospatial Hackathon
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GS-II: Polity & Constitution: Jan ‘23 PIB
National Commission for Women
Focus: GS II: Polity and Governance
Why in News?
The Hon’ble President of India will address the 31st Foundation Day of the National Commission for Women in
Delhi.
 The theme of the programme is ‘Sashakt Nari Sashakt Bharat’ aimed at acknowledging and
celebrating the stories of women who have excelled and paved their journey to leave a mark.
About the National Commission for Women (NCW)

 The National Commission for Women (NCW) is the statutory body of the Government of India –
Established under provisions of the 1990 National Commission for Women Act.
 NCW is generally concerned with advising the government on all policy matters affecting women.
 The objective of the NCW is to represent the rights of women in India and to provide a voice for
their issues and concerns.
 The subjects of their campaigns have included dowry, politics, religion, equal representation for
women in jobs, and the exploitation of women for labour.
 They have also discussed police abuses against women.
 The commission regularly publishes a monthly newsletter, Rashtra Mahila, in both Hindi and
English.
Violence against women in India

 The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data show that 24% of women faced domestic violence
in 2015-16 not seeing any reduction since 2005-06.
 Compared to the survey results, the actual reports of domestic violence to the police are negligible
at 58.8/ one lakh women.
 The disparity between the crimes reported in a survey and registered with the police highlights
how women are unlikely to seek help.
 The more telling statistic from the NFHS data is perhaps that 52% of the surveyed women and 42%
of the surveyed men think there is at least one valid reason for wife-beating.
 This attitude highlights how ingrained and normalised the idea is such that an abused woman
should not expect support from others.
 The NFHS data also highlight how the proportion of women reporting violence is increasing among
families with lower wealth.
 The lockdown due to the pandemic is leading to a substantial negative income shock for everyone.
 In our interviews with unorganised sector workers, we often heard that women suffered domestic
violence coupled with the husband’s alcoholism.
 The NFHS data also show a high correlation between alcohol intake and domestic violence. Keeping
in mind that access to alcohol may be limited in these times, frustration could also lead to abuse.
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Email: legacyiasacademy@gmail.com
Constitutional Safeguards and Legislations

 Fundamental Rights: It guarantees all Indian women equality (Article 14), no discrimination by
the State on the basis of gender (Article 15(1)) and special provisions to be made by the State in
favour of women (Article 15(3)).
 Directive Principles of State Policies (DPSP): It ensures equal pay for equal work (Article 39
(d)).
 Fundamental Duties: It ensures that practices derogatory to the dignity of women are prohibited
under Article 51 (A).
 Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005: It provides victims of domestic violence
with a means for practical remedy through prosecution.
 The Dowry Prohibition Act 1961: It prohibits the request, payment or acceptance of a dowry.
 The sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and redressal) Act,
2013: This legislative act seeks to protect women from sexual harassment at their place of work.
Fundamental duties
Focus: GS II- Polity (Indian Constitution)
Why in News?
The Vice President called upon the youth to  practise and follow Fundamental Duties in the Constitution, while
exercising their Fundamental Rights.
How were the fundamental duties incorporated in the Constitution?

 The fundamental duties were incorporated in Part IV-A of the Constitution by The Constitution
(42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, during Indira Gandhi’s Emergency.
 Article 51(A) describes 11 fundamental duties — 10 came with the 42nd Amendment; the 11th
was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister.
 These duties are not enforceable by law.
 However, a court may take them into account while adjudicating on a matter.
 They were made a part of the Constitution to emphasise the obligation of the citizen in return for
the fundamental rights that he or she enjoys.
What are the fundamental duties of the citizen?

Article 51(A) says it shall be the duty of every citizen of India:
 to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the
National Anthem;
 to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
 to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
 to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
 to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India
transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices
derogatory to the dignity of women;
 to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
 to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to
have compassion for living creatures;
 to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
 to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
 to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation
constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement;
 who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may
be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.
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The last subsection, (k), on the education of children, was added in 2002 by The Constitution (86th
Amendment) Act. The same amendment also introduced Article 21A in the Constitution: “The State shall
provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the
State may, by law, determine.”
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
Focus: GS II: Polity and Governance
Why in News?
Recently, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has celebrated its 18th Foundation Day. 
About NCPCR
 It is an Indian statutory body that was established in 2007 under an Act of Parliament – the
Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 – and works under the auspices of the Union
Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD).
 Its mandate is to ensure that all laws, policies, programmes, and administrative systems conform to
the vision of children’s rights (ages 0 to 18 years) as enunciated in the Indian Constitution and the
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
 The Commission envisions a rights-based approach that pervades national-state-local policies and
programmes.
 As a result, the Commission envisions the state playing an indispensable role in ensuring o Children
and their well-being, o Strong institution-building processes, o Respect for local bodies and
decentralisation at the community level, and greater social concern in this direction.
Composition of NCPCR
 The commission consists of the following members:
o A Chairperson
o Six other members
Functions the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR):

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) carries out the following functions:
Safeguards:
 Examines and reviews safeguards provided by or under any law and recommends measures for
their effective implementation.
 Reports on the operation of those safeguards to the Central Government on an annual basis and at
any other times deemed appropriate.
Investigation and Study:

 Investigates child rights violations and suggests legal action when necessary.
 Studies treaties and other international instruments and reviews existing policies, programs, and
provides recommendations on child rights.
 Promotes research in the field of child rights.
Public Education and Advocacy:

 Educates the public about children’s rights and raises knowledge of the safeguards that can be used
to defend these rights through publications, the media, and other available channels.
 Promotes, respects, and gives children’s opinions significant attention in its work and in the work of
other government departments and organizations working with children.
 Creates and distributes information on children’s rights.
 Compiles and examines child data.
 Encourages the inclusion of child rights in the school curriculum, teacher preparation programs,
and training for other professionals who work with children.
 Examines all barriers preventing children from exercising their rights in the wake of terrorism,
intergroup conflict, riots, natural disasters, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, maltreatment,
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torture, and exploitation, as well as pornography and prostitution, and recommends appropriate
corrective measures.
Complaints and Suo Moto Actions:

 Inquires into complaints or takes suo moto notice of matters related to deprivation and violation of
child rights, non-implementation of laws providing for the protection and development of children,
non-compliance with decisions, instructions, or policies intended to lessen hardships for children,
ensure their wellbeing, and offer relief to such children, or takes up the issues arising out of such
matters with appropriate authorities.
Power of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR):

The commission has all the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 while inquiring into
any matter that falls under the CPCR Act, 2005.
 The commission is authorized to exercise the following powers:
 Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person.
 Discovery and production of any document.
 Receiving evidence on affidavits.
 Requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office.
 Issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.
The Commission is authorized to forward any case to a Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the same.
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GS-II: Social Justice & Governance: Jan ’23 PIB
Womaniya initiative
Focus: GS II: Government Policies and Interventions
Why in News?
GeM holds event to commemorate success of Women entrepreneurs on GeM
“Womaniya” initiative:
 The "Womaniya" initiative was launched in 2019 to encourage the participation of women
entrepreneurs and self-help groups (SHG) from the informal sector on the GeM portal and facilitate
the sale of their products directly to various Government buyers, sans intermediaries.
 Generic product categories were created for listing of handicrafts and handloom, accessories, jute
and coir products, bamboo products, organic foods, spices, home décor and office furnishings to
facilitate ease-in product catalogue listing and procurement from women entrepreneurs.
Success of the Initiative:

 Presently, 1.44 lakh+ Udyam-verified women micro, small enterprises (MSE) known as “Womaniya”
are registered as sellers and service-providers on the GeM portal and have fulfilled 14.76 lakh+
orders worth INR 21,265 Crore in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV).
 The ratio of the order value is 74 percent (%) in products to 26 percent (%) in Service categories.
Objectives:
 The objective of “Womaniya” is to develop women entrepreneurship on the margins of society who
face challenges in accessing public procurement markets, and work towards achieving gender
inclusive economic growth of under-served seller groups such as women-owned and led MSEs,
tribal entrepreneurs, Divyangjan, Startups, SHGs, artisan and weavers.
 The initiative aligns with the Government’s initiative to set aside a target of three (3) percent (%) in
public procurement for women-owned and led MSEs.
Addressing Challenges:
 The “Womaniya” initiative seeks to address the triple challenge of “access to markets”, “access to
finance” and “access to value-addition” faced by women entrepreneurs and strives to align the
untapped entrepreneurial energy of last-mile producers and service-providers in India with local
Government buyers.
 This will spur hyper-local procurement thereby integrating local value-chains through “Vocal for
Local” and “Make in India” initiatives of the Government, thereby furthering the aim of ensuring a
self-reliant “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
About Government e-Marketplace (GeM)

Nodal: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
 The Government e Marketplace (GeM) was launched on August 9, 2016.
 To create an open and transparent procurement platform for Government buyers.
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 A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) by the name of Government e- Marketplace (GeM SPV) was set up
as the National Public Procurement Portal
 It has been developed by Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (Ministry of Commerce and
Industry) with technical support of National e-governance Division (Ministry of Electronic and
Information Technology).
 It is a completely paperless, cashless and system driven e-market place that enables procurement of
common use goods and services with minimal human interface.
 At present, the platform is open for procurement by all government buyers: central and state
ministries, departments, public sector enterprises, autonomous institutions, local bodies, etc.
 As per existing mandate, GeM is not available for use by private sector buyers.
 Suppliers (sellers) can be from across all segments: government or private.
The following are the objectives of the online platform:

 Easier availability of various goods and services for the government buyers.
 Create transparency in public procurement.
 Cost saving on government expenditure.
 Achieve and promote cashless transactions.
PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
Focus: GS II: Government schemes
Why in News?
The Centre has named its new free foodgrain scheme under the National Food Security Act, 2013, as ‘Pradhan
Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)’.
PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

 PM has approved a new integrated food security scheme to provide free foodgrains for a year
starting January 1, 2023 to beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA)
o Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
o Primary Household (PHH)
Differences from previous scheme:

 Under the previous scheme, 81 crore NFSA beneficiaries were entitled to 5 kg of foodgrain per
person per month at no cost, in addition to their monthly entitlements.
 However, they were required to pay a subsidized rate (Rs 3 per kg rice, Rs 2 per kg wheat and Rs 1
per kg coarse grains) to purchase the quantity for which they were entitled – 35 kg per Antyoday
Anna Yojana Household and 5kg per person to a Priority Household in a month.
 In the new scheme, the government has done away with the subsided prices and is providing
foodgrains free of cost for a year.
 The additional quantity provided during the Covid pandemic will not be provided to these
beneficiaries.
 They will receive the quantity of foodgrains to which they are entitled under the NFSA.
Implementation strategy
 To effectively and uniformly implement the NFSA 2013, PMGKAY will subsume the two subsidy
schemes of Department of Food & Public Distribution:
 Food Subsidy to FCI
 Food Subsidy for decentralized procurement states dealing with procurement, allocation, and
delivery of free foodgrains to the states under NFSA.
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eSanjeevani
Focus: GS III- Health
Why in News?
Union Government's free telemedicine service, e-Sanjeevani, has recently crossed another milestone by
touching nine crore teleconsultations mark.
What is E-Sanjeevani?
 Ministry eevani AB-HWC) in the hub and spoke model and patient to doctor (eSanjeevani OPD).
 E-Sanjeevani OPD (out-patient department) is a telemedicine variant for the public to seek health
services remotely; it was rolled out on 13th of April 2020 during the first lockdown in the country.
 e-Sanjeevani OPD is a Govt of India flagship telemedicine platform developed by the Centre for
Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC), Mohali under the aegis of MoHFW, Govt of India.
 It provides free consultations to any Indian citizen.
 However, with covid cases surging, the demand for doctors is up while the supply has reduced due
to doctors being pulled out for covid ward duties. 
 It enables virtual meetings between the patients and doctors & specialists from geographically
dispersed locations, through video conferencing that occurs in real-time.
 At the end of these remote consultations, eSanjeevani generates electronic prescriptions which can
be used for sourcing medicines.
 Andhra Pradesh was the first state to roll out eSanjeevani AB-HWC services in November 2019.
Benefits of telemedicine
 Transportation: Patients can avoid spending gas money or wasting time in traffic with video
consultations.
 No missing work: Today, individuals can schedule a consultation during a work break or even after
work hours.
 Childcare/Eldercare Challenges: Those who struggle to find care options can use telemedicine
e-NAM
solutions.
Why in News?
e-NAM, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,  has won the Platinum Award in
the Digital Empowerment of Citizens Category in Digital India Awards 2022 held in New Delhi 
e-NAM
e-NAM was an innovative initiative in agricultural marketing to enhance farmers accessibility

digitally to multiple number of markets & buyers and to bring transparency in trade transactions
with the intent to improve price discovery mechanism, quality commensurate price realization and
also to develop the concept of One Nation One Market for agriculture produce.
 Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) is the lead agency forimplementing eNAM under
the aegis of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India.
 e-NAM networks the existing APMC mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural
commodities with a vision to promote uniformity in agriculture marketing by streamlining of
procedures across the integrated markets, removing information asymmetry between buyers and
sellers and promoting real time price discovery based on actual demand and supply.
 This online platform will prove to be a giant leap in reforming the agriculture market in India.
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 Farmers are free to register on e-NAM portal and they are uploading their produce for sale online to
the traders across all e-NAM mandis and traders can bid for the lots available for sale on e-NAM
from any location.
 We have more than 1.66 crore farmers and 1.28 Lakh traders registered on e-NAM platform.
Benefits of e-NAM
 e-NAM would help traders to find and arrange timely movement of produces from mandi to various
other locations.
 With this interface, Traders would be able to access more than 7.76 lakh trucks through eNAM
Platform.
 This intervention brings immense benefits to our farmers in augmenting their incomes by enabling
them to realize competitive & remunerative prices in a transparent manner without incurring
additional costs.
 Quality assaying testing facilities is being provided in e-NAM mandis which helps famers in getting
prices commensurate with quality of their produce.
 Electronic weighing scales have been provided to accurately weigh the commodities of farmers
after bidding on e-NAM platform to bring transparency in weighing, Payment to farmers by traders
now can be done through mobile phone using BHIM payment facility.
Digital India Awards

 The Digital India Awards (DIA) is an annual award program organized by the Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology (MeitY) in India.
 The goal of the awards is to recognize innovative digital solutions and initiatives in the field of
digital governance by government entities and startups.
 The awards are given in several categories, including Digital Empowerment of Citizens, Public
Digital Platforms, Digital Initiatives in Collaboration with Start-ups, Digital Initiative for ease of
doing business, Data sharing and use for socio-economic development, Digital Initiatives at the
grassroots level, and Best Web & Mobile initiatives.
 Winners are recognized with Platinum, Gold, and Silver awards.
National Green Hydrogen Mission
Why in News?
Recently, The Union Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
What is the National Green Hydrogen Mission?

 The intent of the mission is to incentivise the commercial production of green hydrogen and make
India a net exporter of the fuel.
 The mission has laid out a target to develop green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT
(Million Metric Tonne) per annum.
 This is alongside adding renewable energy capacity of about 125 GW (gigawatt) in the country.
o This will entail the decarbonisation of the industrial, mobility and energy sectors;
reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock; developing indigenous
manufacturing capabilities; creating employment opportunities; and developing new
technologies such as efficient fuel cells.
 By 2030, the Centre hopes its investments will bring in investments worth �8 trillion and create
over six lakh jobs. Moreover, about 50 MMT per annum of CO2 emissions are expected to be averted
by 2030.
 As per its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement,
India has committed to reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030, from 2005 levels.
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Advantages:
 The National Green Hydrogen Mission will make India a leading producer and supplier of Green
Hydrogen in the world.
 It would result in attractive investment and business opportunities for the industry.
 Will contribute significantly to India’s efforts for decarbonization and energy independence.
 Will create opportunities for employment and economic development.
 The Mission will drive the development of the Green Hydrogen ecosystem in the country.
  The targeted production capacity will bring over �8 lakh crore in total investments and will result
in creation of over 6 lakh clean jobs.
 The Mission will support pilot projects in other hard-to-abate sectors.
  The Mission will also support R&D projects.
What is green hydrogen?

 A colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic and highly combustible gaseous substance, hydrogen is
the lightest, simplest and most abundant member of the family of chemical elements in the
universe.
 But a colour — green — prefixed to it makes hydrogen the “fuel of the future”.
 The ‘green’ depends on how the electricity is generated to obtain the hydrogen, which does not emit
greenhouse gas when burned.
 Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis using renewable sources of energy such as solar,
wind or hydel power.
 Hydrogen can be ‘grey’ and ‘blue’ too.
o Grey hydrogen is generated through fossil fuels such as coal and gas and currently
accounts for 95% of the total production in South Asia.
o Blue hydrogen, too, is produced using electricity generated by burning fossil fuels but
with technologies to prevent the carbon released in the process from entering the
atmosphere.
Green Hydrogen Importance

 Hydrogen is being used across the United States, Russia, China, France and Germany. Countries like
Japan desire to become a hydrogen economy in future.
 Green hydrogen can in future be used for
o Electricity and drinking water generation, energy storage, transportation etc. 
o Green hydrogen can be used to provide water to the crew members in space stations.
o Energy storage- Compressed hydrogen tanks can store the energy longer and are easier
to handle than lithium-ion batteries as they are lighter.
o Transport and mobility- Hydrogen can be used in heavy transport, aviation and
maritime transport.
SMART Program
Why in News?
Recently, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for Research
in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the two prominent institutions under the Ministry of Ayush, have launched
‘SMART’ program.
About SMART Program

 Through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals, the SMART (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda
Research in Teaching Professionals) programme seeks to advance scientific research.
 The vast community of Ayurveda instructors' research potential has been found to be mostly
untapped.
 Thus, the "SMART" programme will greatly benefit the country and have a profound, long-lasting
renewing effect on ayurvedic research.
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 It seeks to recognise, encourage, and support cutting-edge research proposals in the fields of
osteoarthritis, iron deficiency anaemia, chronic bronchitis, dyslipidemia, rheumatoid arthritis,
obesity, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis, generalised anxiety disorder, and non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease (NAFLD).
 The programme will inspire teachers to undertake research projects in specific fields of healthcare
and build a sizable database.
Lumpy skin disease
Focus: GS II: Health
Why in News?
Recently, An MoU for production of Goat Pox vaccine and "Lumpi-ProVac" vaccine was signed in Nagpur. The
indigenously developed vaccine is going to be a game changer in ongoing effort of government to control and
eradicate the Lumpy Skin Disease.
What is the lumpy skin disease?

 Lumpy skin disease is caused by the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), which belongs to the genus
capripoxvirus, a part of the poxviridae family (smallpox and monkeypox viruses are also a part of
the same family).
 The LSDV shares antigenic similarities with the sheeppox virus (SPPV) and the goatpox virus
(GTPV) or is similar in the immune response to those viruses.
 It is not a zoonotic virus, meaning the disease cannot spread to humans.
How does it spread?

 It is a contagious vector-borne disease spread by vectors like mosquitoes, some biting flies, and
ticks and usually affects host animals like cows and water buffaloes.
 According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), infected animals
shed the virus through oral and nasal secretions which may contaminate common feeding and
water troughs.
o Thus, the disease can either spread through direct contact with the vectors or through
contaminated fodder and water. Studies have also shown that it can spread through
animal semen during artificial insemination.
Symptoms:
 LSD affects the lymph nodes of the infected animal, causing the nodes to enlarge and appear like
lumps on the skin, which is where it derives its name from.
 The cutaneous nodules, 2–5 cm in diameter, appear on the infected cattle’s head, neck, limbs, udder,
genitalia, and perineum.
 The nodules may later turn into ulcers and eventually develop scabs over the skin.
 The other symptoms include high fever, sharp drop in milk yield, discharge from the eyes and nose,
salivation, loss of appetite, depression, damaged hides, emaciation (thinness or weakness) of
animals, infertility and abortions.
 The incubation period or the time between infection and symptoms is about 28 days according to
the FAO, and 4 to 14 days according to some other estimates.
 The morbidity of the disease varies between two to 45% and mortality or rate of date is less than
10%, however, the reported mortality of the current outbreak in India is up to 15%, particularly in
cases being reported in the western part (Rajasthan) of the country.
What is the geographical distribution and how did it spread to India?

 The disease was first observed in Zambia in 1929, subsequently spreading to most African
countries extensively, followed by West Asia, Southeastern Europe, and Central Asia, and more
recently spreading to South Asia and China in 2019.
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 As per the FAO, the LSD disease is currently endemic in several countries across Africa, parts of the
West Asia (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic), and Turkey.
 The spread in South Asia first affected Bangladesh in July 2019 and then reached India in August
that year, with initial cases being detected in Odisha and West Bengal.
Is it safe to consume the milk of affected cattle?

 Studies say that it has not been possible to ascertain the presence of viable and infectious LSDV
virus in milk derived from the infected animal.
o However, that a large portion of the milk in Asia is processed after collection and is
either pasteurised or boiled or dried in order to make milk powder.
o This process ensures that the virus is inactivated or destroyed.
What are the economic implications?

 The spread of the disease can lead to “substantial” and “severe” economic losses.
 The disease leads to reduced milk production as the animal becomes weak and also loses appetite
due to mouth ulceration.
 The income losses can also be due to poor growth, reduced draught power capacity and
reproductive problems associated with abortions, infertility and lack of semen for artificial
insemination.
 Movement and trade bans after infection also put an economic strain on the whole value chain.
 A risk assessment study conducted by the FAO based on information available from 2019 to October
2020 revealed that the economic impact of LSD for South, East and Southeast Asian countries “was
estimated to be up to $1.45 billion in direct losses of livestock and production”.
India's Scenario:
 The current outbreak in India has emerged as a challenge for the dairy sector.
 India is the world’s largest milk producer at about 210 million tonnes annually.
 India also has the largest headcount of cattle and buffalo worldwide.
 In Rajasthan, which is witnessing the worst impact of LSD , it has led to reduced milk production,
which lessened by about three to six lakh litres a day.
 Reports indicate that milk production has also gone down in Punjab owing to the spread of the
disease.
 According to FAO, the disease threatens the livelihoods of smaller poultry farmers significantly.
 Notably, farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab have incurred losses due to cattle deaths and are
seeking compensation from their State governments.
All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-2021
Focus: GS II: Education
Why in News?
Ministry of Education recently released All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-2021
All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) Overview

 Conducted by: Ministry of Education
 Start Year: 2011
 Coverage: All higher educational institutions in India imparting higher education.
 Objectives:
o To identify and include all institutions of higher learning in India.
o To collect data from higher education institutions on various aspects of higher
education.
 Data Collected: Detailed information on various parameters such as student enrollment, teacher
data, infrastructure, and financial information.
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Highlights of AISHE 2020-2021:

 First time filled data online using Web Data Capture Format developed by Department of Higher
Education through the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
 Total number of Universities: 1,113
 Total number of Colleges: 43,796
o Number of Universities has increased by 70, number of Colleges has increased by 1,453,
in 2020-21 over 2019-20.
 Total number of Standalone Institutions: 11,296
 Total enrollment in higher education: 4.14 crore, up 7.5% from 2019-20
 Female enrollment: 2 crore, up 13 lakh from 2019-20
 Gross Enrolment Ratio improved for all social groups
 Enrollment in Distance Education up 7% from 2019-20
 Gender Parity Index increased from 1 to 1.05 from 2017-18 to 2020-21
 Total number of faculty/teachers increased by 47,914 from 2019-20
National Girl Child Day

Focus: GS II- Vulnerable sections.
Why in News?
Nation Celebrates National Girl Child Day every year on 24th of January.
About National Girl Child Day:

 National Girl Child Day is celebrated in the country on January 24 every year
 It was first initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
 Gender discrimination is a major problem that girls or women face throughout their life.
Objective:
 To provide support and opportunities to the girls of India.
 To support the girl child of the nation and remove gender-based biases.
 To promote awareness about the inequalities that a girl child faces and educate people about girl’s
education.
 The main Focus is on changing society’s attitude towards girls, decrease female feticide and create
awareness about the decreasing sex ratio.
Aim:
 To promote awareness about the rights of the girl child
 To increase awareness on the importance of girl education, and their health and nutrition
Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP)
Focus: Government Policies and Interventions
Why in News?
KVIC Chairman Releases margin money subsidy to 5046 Beneficiaries under PMEGP.
Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP)

 The Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) the result of the merger of two
schemes – Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) and The Rural Employment Generation
Programme (REGP).
 PMEGP is a credit-linked subsidy scheme which promotes self-employment through setting up of
micro-enterprises, where subsidy up to 35% is provided by the Government through Ministry of
MSME for loans up to �25 lakhs in manufacturing and �10 lakhs in the service sector.
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 PMEGP was established for generation of employment opportunities through establishment of

micro enterprises in rural as well as urban areas.
 PMEGP is a central sector scheme administered by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MoMSME).
 At the national level, the Scheme is being implemented by Khadi and Village Industries Commission
(KVIC), a statutory organization under the administrative control of the Ministry of MSME as the
single nodal agency.
 At the State level, the Scheme will be implemented through State KVIC Directorates, State Khadi and
Village Industries Boards (KVIBs) and District Industries Centres (DICs) and banks.
Objectives of PMEGP
 To generate continuous and sustainable employment opportunities in Rural and Urban areas of the
country
 To provide continuous and sustainable employment to a large segment of traditional and
prospective artisans, rural and urban unemployed youth in the country through setting up of micro
enterprises.
 To facilitate participation of financial institutions for higher credit flow to micro sector.
Eligibility to avail this scheme:

 Individuals above 18 years of age
 VIII Std. pass required for project above Rs.10.00 lakhs in manufacturing and above Rs. 5.00 lakhs
for Service Sector
 Self Help Groups and Charitable Trusts
 Institutions Registered under Societies Registration Act- 1860
 Production based Co-operative Societies
In addition, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is also implementing the following
programmes to provide self employment opportunities in rural and backward areas:
 Honey Mission: Under this programme, bee boxes with bee colonies, tool kits and training are
provided to supplement the income of farmers, adivasis and rural youth as beekeepers.
 Kumhar Sashaktikaran Programme: Under this programme, rural potters have been provided
with training and new energy efficient equipment like Electric Pottery Wheels, Blungers, etc.
 Agarbatti Industry: Under this initiative, pedal operated machines are being distributed to the
artisans for making agarbattis through maximum utilization of bamboo.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

 The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body formed in 1957 by the
Government of India, under ‘Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956’.
 It is an apex organisation under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with regard
to khadi and village industries within India
Aim of KVIC is: plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of khadi and
village industries in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in rural development
wherever necessary
Hakku Patra distribution drive
Why in News?
The Prime Minister recently launched the 'Hakku Patra' (land title deed) distribution drive by distributing title
deeds (hakku patra) to about fifty thousand beneficiaries of newly declared revenue villages in Kalaburagi,
Karnataka.
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Hakku Patra Distribution Drive:

 It is a part of the Ambedkar Rural Housing Scheme of Karnataka.
 The government offers free registration of Hakku Patra land in the beneficiary's name.
 Any house built on the Hakku Patra land should be used as the beneficiary’s house and not for
rental purposes.
What is Hakku Patra:

 Hakku means “the right” and Patra means “paper” or “document”.
 It is a legal document that confirms an individual's rightful inheritance of a property.
 It is issued to the nation's underprivileged section, including scheduled castes, scheduled tribes,
urban slum dwellers, handicapped, and other disadvantaged populations.
 In most cases, the land on which the Hakku Patra is issued is government-owned with specific
conditions attached.
Benefits of Hakku Patra:

 Confirms an individual as the legitimate owner of the land or property.
 State-guaranteed document.
 Can be used to avail bank loans.
 Resolves disputes over ownership or rights to the land.
 Helps prevent trespassing or encroachments on the property.
Atal Bhujal Yojana
Focus: GS II- Government policies and Interventions
Why in News?
Recently, The third meeting of the National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) of the Atal Bhujal Yojana was held
at New Delhi
About Atal Bhujal Yojana:

 The Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY) is a central sector scheme worth Rs.6,000 crore for sustainable
management of groundwater with community participation.
 It envisages people's participation through the formation of ‘Water User Associations’, water
budgeting, preparation & implementation of Gram-panchayat-wise water security plans, etc.
 It is being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti 
 The scheme is being funded by the Government of India and the World Bank on 50:50 basis.
 The identified over-exploited and water-stressed areas for the implementation of the scheme are
Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
 The States have been selected according to the degree of groundwater exploitation and degradation,
established legal and regulatory instruments, institutional readiness, and experience in
implementing initiatives related to groundwater management.
Significance of the scheme

 Ground water contributes to nearly 65% of total irrigated area of the country
 Groundwater contributes to nearly 85% of the rural drinking water supply.
 Increasing demands of growing population, urbanization and industrialization, deteriorating
quality, intensive and unregulated pumping are a major threat to the Ground Water resources.
 81.67% of rural households are yet to have household water tap connections.
Aims of the scheme:

 To facilitate the Jal Jeevan Mission's (JJM) aim provide Functional Household Tap Connection
(FHTC) to every rural household by 2024.
 To improve ground water management through community participation in identified priority
areas in Seven States.
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 To promote panchayat led ground water management and behavioural change with primary Focus
on demand side management.
Implementation of the scheme:

 The scheme is to be implemented in the identified priority areas of the 7 states of Gujarat, Haryana,
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
 The scheme is to be implemented over a period of 5 years (2020-21 to 2024-25).
Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)
Focus: GS II: Education
Why in News?
The ASER Report 2022 released recently revealed that almost all (98.4%) students in the age bracket of 6-14
years are now enrolled in schools.
ASER Survey:
 A citizen-led household survey that provides estimates of the enrolment status and basic reading
and arithmetic levels of children aged 3-16 at the national, state, and district level.
 Conducted by NGO Pratham every year since 2005.
 Reaches children in the age group of 3-16 in almost all rural districts of India.
 Uses household rather than school-based sampling.
Highlights of ASER 2022:

 In ASER 2022 Survey, 7 lakh candidates from 19,060 schools in 616 districts were surveyed to
calculate the learning outcomes post-pandemic on school children.
 Enrollment has gone from 97.2 per cent in 2018 to 98.4 per cent in 2022.
 As many as 72.9 per cent of the surveyed students go to government schools.
 In only three states, the number of girls not going to school is above 10% – Madhya Pradesh (17%),
Uttar Pradesh (15%), and Chhattisgarh (11.2%).
 Nationally, children’s basic reading ability has dropped to pre-2012 levels, reversing the slow
improvement achieved in the intervening years.
 In both government and private schools, only 20.5% students of Class 3 can read, compared to
27.3% in 2018.
 The proportion of Class 5 students who can read has dropped to 42.8% in 2022, compared to 50.5%
in 2018.
Lymphatic Filariasis
Focus: GS II: Health
Why in News?
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare chairs National Symposium on India’s Roadmap to Eliminate
Lymphatic Filariasis (LF)
About Lymphatic Filariasis

 LF, also known as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that is considered the second
most disabling disease after mental health.
 It affects the lymphatic system, leading to abnormal enlargement of body parts, causing pain, severe
disability, and social stigma.
 The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and specialized tissues essential for maintaining
overall fluid balance and health of organs and limbs and is a major component of the body's immune
defense system.
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 Lymphatic filariasis is a vector-borne disease caused by infection with nematode (roundworm)

parasites of the family Filarioidea, with three main types of thread-like filarial worms: Wuchereria
Bancrofti (90% of cases), Brugia Malayi (most of the remainder of cases), and Brugia Timori.
Drug Treatment:
 To accelerate the global elimination of lymphatic filariasis, the World Health Organization (WHO)
recommends a treatment plan known as IDA, which involves administering a combination of
ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine citrate, and albendazole for two consecutive years.
 This is because the adult worm's life span is only four years, so administering the drugs for two
consecutive years will ensure that the worms die naturally without causing any harm to the person.
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GS-II: International Relations: Jan ‘23 PIB
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
Focus: GS II: International Relations
Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in association with India Ports Global Ltd, conducted a
workshop on the ‘Linking Chabahar Port with INSTC’ in Mumbai.
What is INSTC?
 India, Iran, and Russia initially agreed to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
project in 2000 in St. Petersburg; ten additional central Asian and west Asian nations have since
joined as observers: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine,
Belarus, Oman, Syria, and Bulgaria.
 Although they are not signatories to the INSTC agreement, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan
are interested in using the transport corridor.
 It aims to cut the cost of freight transportation between India and Russia by around 30% and to cut
the transit time from 40 days by more than half. It proposes a 7,200 km multi-mode network
comprising ship, rail, and road lines.
 The route largely comprises transporting cargo from Russia, India, Iran, and Azerbaijan.
 It would be provided as a viable and fairer alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
 Further, it will enhance regional connectivity.
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Objective:
The objective of the corridor is to increase trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai, Moscow,
Tehran, Baku, Astrakhan, etc.
About Chabahar Port

 The Chabahar Port is Located on the Gulf of Oman and is the only oceanic port of the country.
 With this, India can bypass Pakistan in transporting goods to Afghanistan.
 It will also boost India’s access to Iran, the key gateway to the International North-South Transport
Corridor that has sea, rail and road routes between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia.
 It also helps India counter Chinese presence in the Arabian Seawhich China is trying to ensure by
helping Pakistan develop the Gwadar port. Gwadar port is less than 400 km from Chabahar by road
and 100 km by sea.
 With Chabahar port being developed and operated by India, Iran also becomes a military ally to
India. Chabahar could be used in case China decides to flex its navy muscles by stationing ships in
Gwadar port to reckon its upper hand in the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and Middle East.
 Trade benefits: With Chabahar port becoming functional, there will be a significant boost in the
import of iron ore, sugar and rice to India. The import cost of oil to India will also see a considerable
decline. India has already increased its crude purchase from Iran since the West imposed ban on
Iran was lifted.
 From a diplomatic perspective, Chabahar port could be used as a point from where humanitarian
operations could be coordinated.
India-US Trade Policy Forum
Focus: GS II: International Relations
Why in News?
Recently, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry of India and the US Trade Representative Ambassador
co-chaired the 13th Ministerial-level meeting of India – US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) in Washington D.C.
India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF)

 Objectives: To activate working groups in agriculture, non-agriculture goods, services, investment,
and intellectual property to address issues of mutual concern in a mutually beneficial manner.
 Purpose: To deliver tangible benefits to both countries by resolving outstanding market access
issues.
Highlights of the Meeting

 Recognition of the rise in bilateral trade in goods and services (which reached ~160 billion USD in
2021), but recognition that significant potential remains unfulfilled.
 US welcomed India’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).
 Both countries have similar views about the efficiency of IPEF for continued growth, peace, and
prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
 Welcome the finalization of the Turtle Excluder Device (TED) design with the technical support of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
 TED will help minimize the impact of fishing on sea-turtle populations.
New TPF Working Group on Resilient Trade

 Launched to deepen bilateral dialogue on a range of issues.
 Focus on trade facilitation, promotion of labour rights and workforce development and circular
economy; role of trade in environment protection.
 Will Focus on these topics until the next TPF Ministerial meeting.
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Asian Development Bank
Focus: GS II- Inter Groupings
Why in News?
Recently,The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $350 million loan to
improve the connectivity of key economic areas in the state of Maharashtra.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB):

 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank established on 19 December
1966 to promote social and economic development in Asia.
 It is headquartered in the city of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines.
 The ADB was modelled closely on the World Bank and an official United Nations Observer.
 Japan holds the largest proportion of shares in ADB followed by the USA, and it has a weighted
voting system where votes are distributed in proportion with members’ capital subscriptions (just
like the World Bank).
 The bank admits the members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific (UNESCAP, formerly the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East or ECAFE) and
non-regional developed countries.
 ADB defines itself as a social development organization that is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia
and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and
regional integration.
 ADB aids in reducing poverty through investments in the form of loans, grants and information
sharing (in infrastructure, health care services, financial and public administration systems),
helping nations prepare for the impact of climate change or better manage their natural resources,
as well as other areas.
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GS-III: Agriculture: Jan ‘23 PIB
Honey Mission programme
Focus: GS III: Agriculture
Why in News?
Chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Government of India Manoj Kumar said that beekeeping
is the medium of sweet revolution, more income can be earned by joining this work and distributed boxes to
beekeepers under Honey Mission in village Devra.
Honey Mission
 The Honey Mission was launched by KVIC in 2017 which aimed at creating employment for the
Adivasis, farmers, unemployed youth, and women by roping them in beekeeping while also
increasing India’s honey production.
 Western Uttar Pradesh has been chosen as one of the most favourable markets for honey
production as the entire region has an abundance of flora that also includes a variety of crops.
 KVIC acts liaison as an income-generating tool for the beekeepers and beekeeping.
 KVIC ensures better food and medicine with the value of honey production and other hive products
and supports cross-pollination that pays the way for agriculture crops.
 KVIC would provide loans for setting up processing units, packaging units and labelling units for
honey.
 The significance of the mission lies in the fact that Production of healthy honey and wax, and bee-
keeping would open many job opportunities for unemployed youths and also for aspiring young
entrepreneurs.
National Bee Board (NBB)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmer’s Welfare established the
National Bee Board (NBB) in the year 2000.
Though the main motto of the board is to improve pollination and crop productivity through beekeeping, it
attributes the following:
1. Research and Development of honey processing units
2. To sketch schemes and establish training through research institutions
3. Production of quality honey: The innovation of Phyto-Sanitary standards in terms of Bee-Product
quality
4. Migration of honeybee colonies: Enabling the longer and safe migration of honeybees
5. Creating awareness and organising training: Research and training on the disease-prone and its
medication.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

 The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body formed in 1957 by the
Government of India, under ‘Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956’.
 It is an apex organisation under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with regard
to khadi and village industries within India
 Aim of KVIC is: plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development
of khadi and village industries in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in
rural development wherever necessary.
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GS-III: Science & Technology: Jan ‘23 PIB
Solitary Waves
Focus: GS III: Science and Technology
Why in News? 
Recently, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and
Technology (DST) has found evidence of "solitary waves" in the weak magnetic field around Mars for the first
time.
What are Solitary Waves?

 Solitary waves are the distinct electric field fluctuations (bipolar or monopolar) that follow constant
amplitude-phase relations.
 Their shape and size are less affected during their propagation.
Significance:
 Solitary waves have been found to play a significant role in the dynamics of various physical
systems, such as in the Earth's magnetosphere and in the Martian magnetosphere.
 In the Earth's magnetosphere, they are known to be responsible for the energization and transport
of plasma particles, which can affect the behaviour of satellites and other space-borne equipment.
 In the Martian magnetosphere, their significance is not fully understood yet, but it has been
suggested that they may play a role in the loss of atmospheric ions on Mars.
About Mars
 Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, being
larger than only Mercury.
 It is named after the Roman god of war and is often referred to as the "Red Planet" due to the iron
oxide on its surface that gives it a reddish appearance.
 Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere and surface features similar to the impact craters
of the Moon and the valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps of Earth.
 The days and seasons on Mars are similar to those on Earth because the rotational period and tilt of
the rotational axis relative to the ecliptic plane are similar.
 Mars is home to Olympus Mons, the largest volcano and highest known mountain on any planet in
the Solar System, as well as Valles Marineris, one of the largest canyons in the Solar System.
Nickel alloy coating
Focus: GS III: Science and Technology
Why in News?
New technique of corrosion-resistant nickel alloy coatings can replace toxic chrome plating
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GS-III: Science & Technology: Jan ‘23 PIB
About the technique:

 Scientists at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials
(ARCI) have developed a lab-scale process for the deposit of novel nanostructured Nickel alloy
coatings.
 The process can be used as a replacement for environmentally toxic chrome coatings and is suitable
for high-performance materials in engineering applications, specifically in the plastic ware
industry.
Method
 The process uses a pulsed current electroplating, which is environmentally benign with high
production capacity.
 The team used electric current in the form of pulses of a few milliseconds for electroplating
purposes.
 The process consists of an environment-friendly electrolyte consisting of nickel and tungsten ions
that is the source of strengthening elemental tungsten (W) and nickel (Ni).
 The pulsed current is applied between the components to be coated, acting as a cathode and a non-
consumable anode.
Advantages
 The pulsed current effect results in nano-crystalline coatings with high hardness (700-1200 HV)
and wear resistance.
 The coatings are virtually porosity free, crack-free with minimal hydrogen uptake.
 The coatings are extremely corrosion-resistant and can withstand up to 700 hrs of salt spray.
 The coatings can withstand temperatures up to 500°C without thermal softening and can improve
the life of die components by at least two times compared to conventional chrome plating.
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GS-III: Environment & Ecology: Jan ‘23 PIB
Graded Response Action Plan
Focus: GS III: Environment and Ecology
Why in News?
Delhi’s AQI in ‘Very Poor’ category, Stage III of GRAP remains enforced.
What is the Graded Response Action Plan?

 GRAP is a set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality
once it reaches a certain threshold.
 Stage 1 of GRAP is activated when the AQI is in the ‘poor’ category (201 to 300), for
instance, the AQI in Delhi was 211.
 The second, third and fourth stages will be activated three days ahead of the AQI
reaching the ‘very poor’ category (301 to 400), ‘severe’ category (401 to 450) and
‘severe +’ category (above 450) respectively.
 For this, the CAQM is relying on air quality and meteorological forecasts by the Indian Institute of
Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
 Measures being imposed under the previous categories will continue even when the subsequent
category is activated, that is, if measures under Stage-2 are activated, measures under Stage-1 will
continue to remain in place.
Other Details:
 The CAQM revised the Graded Response Action Plan earlier this year.
 The GRAP was first notified in January 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change.
 This was based on a plan that was submitted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in
November 2016. According to the notification, the task of implementing the GRAP fell on the now
dissolved Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for the NCR.
 From 2021 onwards, the GRAP is being implemented by the CAQM.
How is the GRAP different this year?

 In the version of the GRAP that was notified in 2017, measures kicked in after pollution
concentrations reached a certain level.
o This year, measures are pre-emptive and will kick in based on forecasts in an attempt to
prevent the AQI from deteriorating further.
 The older version of the GRAP was enforced based only on the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10.
o This year, GRAP is being enforced based on the AQI, which takes other pollutants also
into account, such as ozone, sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen.
Who will implement and enforce the GRAP?

 The CAQM has constituted a sub-committee for the operationalization of the GRAP.
 This body includes officials from the CAQM, member secretaries of pollution control boards of Uttar
Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, the Central Pollution Control Board, a scientist from the IMD
and one from the IITM, and Health Advisor, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health,
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Maulana Azad Medical College. The sub-committee is required to meet frequently to issue orders to
invoke the GRAP.
 The orders and directions of the CAQM will prevail in case of any conflict between directions issued
by the State governments and the CAQM.
 Measures under the different categories of the plan are to be enforced by the pollution control
boards of the NCR states and the concerned departments and agencies, including the traffic police,
the Transport Department and road owning and construction agencies.
What are the measures that will be enforced?

Stage 1 (AQI ‘Poor’ – 201 to 300)
 Stopping all construction and demolition activities with plot size of 500 square metres or more
which have not been registered on dust mitigation monitoring portals
 Mechanised sweeping, water sprinkling on roads
 Enforcing guidelines on use of anti-smog guns at construction sites
 Enforcing ban on open burning of waste and PUC (pollution under control norms) for vehicles
 DISCOMs to minimise power supply interruptions in NCR
 Encourage offices to start unified commute for employees to reduce traffic
Stage 2 (AQI ‘Very poor’ – 301 to 400)

 Not allowing coal/firewood in tandoors at hotels
 Stopping use of diesel generator sets except for essential and emergency services (hospitals,
railways, metro services, airports, water pumping stations, “projects of national importance”)
 Enhance parking fees to discourage private transport
 Augment CNG/ electric bus and metro services by procuring additional fleet and increasing the
frequency of service
Stage 3 (AQI ‘Severe’ – 401 to 450)

 Ban on construction and demolition activities except railway, metro, hospitals, sanitation projects
etc, linear public projects like highways, roads, flyovers
 Closure of industries that have PNG supply and are not running on approved fuels. In industrial
areas that don’t have PNG supply, industries not running on approved fuels will operate only for
five days a week
 State governments in NCR may impose restrictions on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four wheelers
Stage 4 (AQI ‘Severe +’ – more than 450)

 Stop entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for essentials, CNG and electric trucks)
 Ban on plying of Delhi registered diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles in Delhi, except for
essentials
 Ban on plying of 4-wheeler diesel vehicles in Delhi and districts of NCR bordering Delhi, except BS-
VI vehicles and vehicles used for essential or emergency services
 State Governments may consider additional emergency measures like closure of schools, plying of
vehicles on odd-even basis
 NCR State governments to decide on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work on 50%
strength and the rest to work from home
 Ban C&D activities in linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers
Ken-Betwa Link Project
Focus: GS III- Environment
Why in News?
Recently, The Third Meeting of Steering Committee of Ken-Betwa Link Project (SC-KBLP) was held at Vigyan
Bhawan, New Delhi.
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Interlinking of Rivers
 In 1858, Arthur Cotton (British general and irrigation Engineer) came up with even more ambitious
proposals such as connecting all major rivers of India, and interlinking of canals and rivers. He
suggested drought-relief measures for Odisha.
 The National River Linking Project (NRLP) formally known as the National Perspective Plan,
envisages the transfer of water from water ‘surplus’ basins where there is flooding, to water ‘deficit’
basins where there is drought/scarcity, through inter-basin water transfer projects.
 The interlinking of river project is a Civil Engineering project, which aims to connect Indian rivers
through reservoirs and canals.
 The farmers will not have to depend on the monsoon for cultivation and also the excess or lack of
water can be overcome during flood or drought.
 Since the 1980s, the interlinking project has been managed by India’s National Water Development
Agency (NWDA) under the Ministry of Water Resources.
 It has been split into three parts as follows:
o A northern Himalayan river interlink component.
o A southern peninsular component.
o An Intra-State river linking component.
As of now, six ILR projects have been under examination of the authorities:
 Ken-Betwa,
 Damanganga- Pinjal,
 Par-Tapi-Narmada,
 Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga,
 Mahanadi-Godavari and
 Godavari-Cauvery (Grand Anicut)
 With regard to the peninsular rivers, the Centre has chosen to Focus on the Godavari-Cauvery link.
 
What is the Ken-Betwa Link Project?
 The Ken-Betwa Link Project is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking
of rivers.
 KBRIL is a river-interlinking project that aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken river in
Madhya Pradesh to Betwa in Uttar Pradesh to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
 Both Ken and Betwa are the tributaries of the Yamuna.
 The Ken-Betwa Link Canal will be 221 km long, including a 2-km long tunnel.
 
A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the project
 According to the statement, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Ken-Betwa Link Project
Authority (KBLPA) will be set up to implement the project.
 In fact, the Centre has set in motion the process of creation of National Interlinking of Rivers
Authority (NIRA), an independent autonomous body for planning, investigation, financing and
implementation of the interlinking of river (ILR) projects in the country.
 The NIRA will have powers to set up SPV for individual link projects.
 
Which regions will benefit from the Ken-Betwa Link Project?
 The project lies in Bundelkhand, a drought-prone region, which spreads across 13 districts of Uttar
Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
 According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, the project will be of immense benefit to the water-starved
region, especially the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha,
Shivpuri and Raisen of Madhya Pradesh, and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh.
 “It will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects to ensure that scarcity of water do
inhibitor for development in the country,” the Ministry said in a statement.
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GS-III: Internal Security: Jan ‘23 PIB
Exercise Varuna
Focus: GS III: Security challenegs
Why in News?
The 21st edition of the bilateral naval exercise between India and France, "Exercise Varuna," began on January
16, 2023.
Exercise Details
 The exercise is a hallmark of the India-France strategic bilateral relationship, having been initiated
in 1993 and named "Varuna" in 2001.
 It will include advanced air defense exercises, tactical maneuvers, surface firings, underway
replenishment, and other maritime operations.
 The goal is for units of both navies to hone their war-fighting skills, increase interoperability, and
demonstrate the ability to promote peace, security, and stability in the region.
Significance
 The exercise has grown in scope and complexity over the years, providing an opportunity for both
navies to learn from each other's best practices.
 It facilitates operational level interaction between the two navies to foster mutual cooperation for
good order at sea and underscores the shared commitment of both nations to security, safety, and
freedom of the global maritime commons.
Exercise Cyclone-I
Focus: GS III: Security challenges
Why in News?
The first joint exercise between the special forces of the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army is taking place in
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan since 14 January 2023.
About Exercise Cyclone-I

 The exercise aims to bolster defence cooperation between the two nations and Focus on sharing
professional skills and interoperability of special forces in desert terrain.
 Counter terrorism, reconnaissance, raids and other special operations will be the Focus of the
exercise.
Purpose of the Exercise

 The 14 days long exercise will bring the special forces of both the nations on a common platform.
 Participants will advance special forces skills such as sniping, combat free fall, reconnaissance,
surveillance & target designation, sharing of information on weapons, equipment, innovations,
tactics, techniques & procedures.
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GS-III: Internal Security: Jan ‘23 PIB
 Joint planning and drills for special forces operations in a mechanised warfare setting and surgical
strikes on terrorist camps/ hideouts will also be undertaken with sniping of high value targets.
Benefits of the Exercise

 The joint exercise will provide an insight into the culture and ethos of both armies thereby fostering
military cooperation and interoperability to further strengthen the diplomatic relations between
India and Egypt.
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Prelims: Jan ‘23 PIB
Veer Guardian-2023
Focus: Facts for prelims
Why in News?
India and Japan are all set to hold the joint Air Exercise, 'Veer Guardian-2023' involving the Indian Air Force
and Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan.
About 'Veer Guardian-2023’:

 The Joint Exercise which will continue till 26th January aims at promoting Air Defence cooperation
between the countries.
 The Indian contingent participating in the air exercise will include four Su-30 MKI, two C-17 and
one IL-78 aircraft, while the JASDF will be participating with four F-2 and four F-15 aircraft.
 It will include the conduct of various aerial combat drills between the two Air Forces.
 They will undertake multi-domain air combat missions in a complex environment and will exchange
best practices.
 Exercise 'Veer Guardian' will fortify the long-standing bond of friendship and enhance the avenues
of defence cooperation between the two Air Forces.
National Single Window System
Why in News?
National Single Window System, NSWS Portal for various Central, State, and UT clearances has hit a new
milestone by crossing 75 thousand approvals.
What is the National Single Window System (NSWS)?

 The NSWS is a digital platform that helps businesses identify and apply for approvals from various
government departments and agencies.
 The portal offers applications for approvals from 26 Central Departments and 19 State
Governments, which can be accessed through the NSWS.
 The NSWS provides a single interface for businesses to apply for all "G2B" clearances from various
Ministries and Departments and helps to eliminate duplication of work by automatically filling out
form fields based on a single investor profile.
 The platform is intended to serve as an advisory tool to identify approvals based on user input and
should be used for guidance purposes only.
Additional Information
 The NSWS initiative represents a "Whole of Government" approach, with different Central
Ministries, Departments, states, and Union Territories coming together to provide investor-related
clearances on a single portal with transparency and accountability, improving the ease of doing
business.
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Kala-Azar
Focus: GS III- Health, Prelims
Why in News?
Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare chairs a high-level meeting with State Governments to review
elimination of Kala-Azar from the country by 2023
About Kala Azar

 Kala-azar is a slow progressing indigenous disease caused by a protozoan parasite of genus
Leishmania.
 In India Leishmania donovani is the only parasite causing this disease.
 The Kala-azar is endemic to the Indian subcontinent in 119 districts in four countries (Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India and Nepal).
 This disease is the second-largest parasitic killer in the world. Elimination is defined as reducing the
annual incidence of Kala Azar (KA) to less than 1 case per 10,000 people at the sub-district level.
 It is a neglected tropical disease affecting almost 100 countries.
 Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical
and subtropical conditions in 149 countries.
There are three types of leishmaniasis

 Visceral leishmaniasis, which affects multiple organs and is the most serious form of the disease.
 Cutaneous leishmaniasis, which causes skin sores and is the most common form.
 Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, which causes skin and mucosal lesions.
The Visceral leishmaniasis, which is commonly known as Kala-azar in India, is fatal in over 95% of the cases, if
left untreated.
Symptoms of Kala azar

 It is associated with fever, loss of appetite (anorexia), fatigue, enlargement of the liver, spleen and
nodes and suppression of the bone marrow.
 It also increases the risk of other secondary infections.
Diagnosing Kala azar

 The first oral drug found to be effective for treating kala-azar is miltefosine.
 The most common method of diagnosing kala azar is by dipstick testing. However, this method is
highly problematic.
Where has kala-azar been detected in India?

 In West Bengal, the districts where the maximum number of cases were registered include
Darjeeling, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Kalimpong.
 The districts of Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia, and Murshidabad have also reported a few cases, while
none have been detected in Kolkata yet.
 The disease is endemic in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
 An estimated 165.4 million people are at risk, according to data from the National Centre for Vector
Borne Disease Control Programme (NCVBDC).
 In the country as a whole, there has been a significant decline in cases over the years.
 In 2014, around 9,200 cases were reported while in 2021 the number fell to 1,276 cases.
What does the treatment include?

 Anti-leishmanial medicines are available for treatment.
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 Vector control is also recommended by the WHO, which means reducing or interrupting the
transmission of disease by decreasing the number of sandflies in surroundings through insecticide
spray, use of insecticide-treated nets, etc.
 The government aimed to eliminate the disease in India by 2015, but that deadline was missed.
 However, the number of cases has been brought down significantly through the National Kala-Azar
Elimination Programme.
 Medicines, insecticides and technical support were given by the central government, while state
governments provided for costs involved in implementation.
 The program was implemented through State/District Malaria Control Offices and the primary
health care system.
Asian Pacific Postal Union
Why in News?
India will take over the leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) having its Headquarters in Bangkok,
Thailand from this month.
About Asian Pacific Postal Union:

 Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) is an intergovernmental organization of 32-member countries of
the Asian-Pacific region.
 APPU is the only Restricted Union of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in the region, which is a
specialized agency of the United Nations.
 The goal of APPU is to extend, facilitate and improve postal relations between member countries
and to promote cooperation in the field of postal services.
 As the regional center for various UPU projects, APPU also takes the lead in ensuring that all
technical and operational projects of the UPU are fulfilled in the region so that the region is
integrated into the global postal network in the best possible way.
 Secretary General leads the activities of the Union and is also the Director of the Asian Pacific Postal
College (APPC) which is the largest intergovernmental postal training institute in the region.
Exercise AMPHEX 2023
Focus: Facts for Prelims
Why in News?
Recently, Tri-services Amphibious Exercise, AMPHEX 2023 Concluded.
About Exercise AMPHEX 2023

 The biennial Tri-Services Amphibious Exercise, AMPHEX 2023 was conducted at Kakinada, Andhra
Pradesh from 17 to 22 January 2023.
 AMPHEX 23 is the first time that the exercise was undertaken at Kakinada, and was the largest ever
AMPHEX conducted till date.
Objective:
 Joint training of elements of all three services in various facets of amphibious operations to enhance
interoperability and synergy.
Execution:
 The participating forces undertook complex exercises in all domains of amphibious operations over
five days.
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 The exercise culminated in a successful Amphibious Assault which was reviewed by Vice Adm
Sanjay Vatsayan, AVSM, NM, Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, in the presence of Force
Commanders of the Indian Navy and Indian Army.
 The exercise witnessed the participation of a number of amphibious ships consisting of Large
Platform Dock (LPD), Landing Ships and Landing Crafts, Marine Commandos (MARCOS), helicopters
and aircraft from the Indian Navy. Indian Army participated in the exercise with over 900 troops
which included Special Forces, Artillery and Armoured vehicles. Jaguar fighters and C 130 aircraft
from the IAF also participated in the exercise.
Benefits:
 Successfully demonstrated the amphibious capabilities and validated the excellent coordination
that exists between the three Services to undertake the full spectrum of amphibious operations.
Exercise TROPEX-23 - Indian Navy's Largest War Game
Why in News?
The 2023 edition of Indian Navy’s major maritime exercise TROPEX, is currently underway in the Indian Ocean
Region.
About Exercise TROPEX-23:

 TROPEX is conducted biennially and includes participation from Indian Navy units, Indian Army,
Indian Air Force, and Coast Guard assets.
 The exercise is being conducted over a duration of three months, from January to March.
Objective:
 To validate and refine the Navy's Concept of Operations, including operational logistics and
interoperability with other services.
 To test the combat readiness of the combined Fleets of the Indian Navy to operate in a multi-threat
environment.
Execution:
 All surface combatants of the Indian Navy including Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes as well as
submarines and aircraft are put through complex maritime operational deployments.
 The exercise is being conducted in different phases, both in harbour and at sea, encompassing
various facets of combat operations, including live weapon firings.
Benefits:
 Provides an opportunity to test the combat readiness of the combined Fleets of the Indian Navy to
operate in a multi-threat environment.
 Facilitates operational level interaction with the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and the Coast Guard,
which will further strengthen interoperability and joint operations in a complex environment.
Geospatial Hackathon
Why in News?
Union Minister of Science & Technology recently launched Geospatial Hackathon to promote Innovation and
Start-Ups in India’s Geospatial ecosystem.
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About Geospatial Hackathon:

 The Geospatial Hackathon is an event organized to create interest in geospatial technology and
specifically build solutions leveraging maps and satellite data for solving India’s problems.
 The event is launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in partnership with IIIT
Hyderabad and Microsoft.
Structure of the Hackathon:

The Geospatial Hackathon will be divided into 2 parts:
 Research Challenge: This part of the hackathon is organized by the National Science & Technology
Entrepreneurship Development Board and IIIT Hyderabad, with the goal of promoting the use of
geospatial technologies in solving real-world problems and fostering innovation in the Indian
geospatial ecosystem.
 Startup Challenge: This part of the hackathon is specific to the problem statements given by DST
(Survey of India). The challenge Focuses on fostering the adoption of geospatial technologies and
promoting innovation in India’s Geospatial ecosystem, through Geospatial Data Processing, Solution
development, and Servicing Challenge.
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PIB

Social Justice & GS-3

www.legacyias.com Legacy IAS Academy © +91 96069 00004/05

www.legacyias.com Legacy IAS Academy © +91 96069 00004/05

National Commission for Women

Focus: GS II: Polity and Governance

About the National Commission for Women (NCW)

Violence against women in India

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Constitutional Safeguards and Legislations

Focus: GS II- Polity (Indian Constitution)

How were the fundamental duties incorporated in the Constitution?

What are the fundamental duties of the citizen?

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National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

Focus: GS II: Polity and Governance

Functions the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR):

Investigation and Study:

Public Education and Advocacy:

Complaints and Suo Moto Actions:

Power of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR):

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Focus: GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

Success of the Initiative:

About Government e-Marketplace (GeM)

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The following are the objectives of the online platform:

PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

Focus: GS II: Government schemes

PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

Differences from previous scheme:

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Focus: GS III- Health

Digital India Awards

National Green Hydrogen Mission

Focus: GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

What is the National Green Hydrogen Mission?

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What is green hydrogen?

Green Hydrogen Importance

Focus: GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

About SMART Program

Lumpy skin disease

Focus: GS II: Health

What is the lumpy skin disease?

How does it spread?

What is the geographical distribution and how did it spread to India?

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Is it safe to consume the milk of affected cattle?

What are the economic implications?

All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-2021

Focus: GS II: Education

All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) Overview

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Highlights of AISHE 2020-2021:

National Girl Child Day

About National Girl Child Day:

Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP)

Focus: Government Policies and Interventions

Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP)

 PMEGP was established for generation of employment opportunities through establishment of

Eligibility to avail this scheme:

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

The following are the objectives of the online platform: