Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS

Daily Current Affair - UPSC/KAS Exams - 16th July 2021

What is in news : Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission recently submitted its report

Head of the comittee : T M Vijayabhaskar

Recomendations :

• Transformation of Atalji Jana Snehi Kendras (AJSKs) as the single-window agency for citizens for nearly 800 online services of all departments
• Abolition of all four offices of Regional Commissioner
• Option for citizens to go to any RTO in Bengaluru for availing services
• Karnataka Mobile One app should be redeveloped using the latest technology for providing all e-services of government of Karnataka through mobile phones
• Tatkal service provision should be made for all services for faster delivery for a higher fee
• City Corporation, City Municipal Council, Town Municipal, Town Panchayats can be authorised to issue certain revenue services
• 15 popular certificates can be auto generated by AJSK and sent to the digi-locker of the person concerned without any application

Additional information :

• KARC-2 was constituted on January 7, 2021
• Commission decided to focus on improving ease of living for citizens by examining citizen centric services so as to identify how ease of delivery, work processes and e-delivery of these services could be improved.

About :

• Aspirational competition for India’s youngsters with the objective of helping them find the balance between sport and education
• Largest ever competition held at the university level in India
• First ever tournament was launched in Odisha on February 22, 2020

What is in news : The second edition of 'Khelo India' University-level sports will be held at the Kanteerava Stadium from March 5, 2022

MAHITI FOR PRELIMS

About Khelo India:

• Introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports played in our country
• Implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
• Talented players identified in priority sports disciplines at various levels (by the High-Powered Committee) will be provided annual financial assistance of INR 5 lakh per annum for 8 years.

Details :

1.Incentives for Oxygen Manufacturing and Associated Enterprises in the State. They include capital subsidy of 25 per cent of the value of fixed assets subjected to minimum investment of Rs 10 crore, 100 per cent exemption from electricity duty for three years after commencement of commercial production, additional power tariff subsidy of Rs 1,000 per metric tonne

2.Approval for establishing Goshalas in all the districts of the state  in the first phase to supplement the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020.

3.Implementation of crop survey project during 2022 kharif season, with the help of a mobile app, in which farmers will themselves share the information

4.Considering the Karnataka State Job Oriented Courses (JOC) as equivalent to PUC (pre- university course)

5.Bring the Karnataka Prison Development Board Bill 2021 before the legislature

What is in news: Central Government has directed all states and Union Territories to ask police stations under their jurisdiction to withdraw FIRs registered under Section 66 of Information Technology Act, 2000.

Section 66 A :

• Gave authorities the power to arrest anyone accused of posting content on social media that could be deemed ‘offensive’.
• A person could be convicted if proved on the charges of sending any ‘information that is grossly offensive or has menacing character’
• Penalty prescribed for the above was up to three years’ imprisonment with fine

NOTE : SC had struck down section 66A on March 24, 2015 after noting it as “vague and arbitrary” (Shreya Singhal v. Union of India)

SOCIAL ISSUES

What is in news : Prime Minister inaugurated various development projects in Varanasi which includes Tourist Facilitation Centre under the Project “Development of Varanasi Under PRASHAD Scheme – Phase II” and operation of Cruise Boat from Assi Ghat to RajGhat under the Project “Development of River Cruise in Varanasi under PRASHAD Scheme”.

PRASHAD SCHEME

• Full form : The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive’ (PRASHAD)
• Central Sector Scheme
• Fully financed by the Government of India
• Launched : 2014-15
• By : Ministry of Tourism
• Objective : Integrated development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations.

Additional Info:

• The project “Development of Varanasi Under PRASHAD Scheme – Phase II” was approved by the Ministry of Tourism in Feb. 2018.  The components viz. ‘Panchkoshi Path’, ‘Pilgrim Facilitation Center’, ‘Rameshwar’, ‘Road Development’ and ‘Signages’ have been successfully completed and dedicated to the nation.
• The project “Development of River Cruise in Varanasi under PRASHAD Scheme” has the following  components viz. ‘Passenger Cum Cruise Vehicle’, ‘Modular Jetty’, ‘Audio Visual Interventions’, and ‘CCTV Surveillane’ have been successfully completed and dedicated to the nation.

What is in news : To  make the post-pandemic recovery more inclusive and sustainable, financial inclusion would continue to be a policy priority , RBI Governor said at The Economic Times Financial Inclusion Summit on Thursday

FINANCIAL INCLUSION

What : Process of ensuring access to financial services and timely and adequate credit where needed by vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low income groups at an affordable cost

What has government done:

• Jan Dhan-Aadhar-Mobile (JAM) Trinity : The government intends to use these three modes of identification to implement one of the biggest reforms in independent India – direct subsidy transfers to the poor.
• Schemes to promote financial inclusion and provide financial security to empower the poor and unbanked in the country. These include the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Stand-Up India Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, and Atal Pension Yojana.
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) have taken initiatives to promote financial inclusion in rural areas.These include the opening of bank branches in remote areas.
  • Issuing Kisan Credit Cards (KCC)
  • Linkage of self-help groups (SHGs) with banks.
  • Increasing the number of automated teller machines (ATMs)
  • Business correspondents model of Banking, etc.
  • Promotion of Digital Payments
• With the strengthening of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) by NPCI, digital payments have been made secure, compared to the past.(BHIM UPI)
• Enhancing Financial Literacy: The Reserve Bank of India has undertaken a project titled "Project Financial Literacy".
• Pocket Money is Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM’s) flagship programme aimed at increasing financial literacy among school students.

What is in news : Recently, National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) Renewable Energy Ltd (REL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Territory of Ladakh to set up the country’s first Green Hydrogen Mobility project.

Green Hydrogen Mobility Project:

• NTPC REL has planned to ply 5 hydrogen buses, to start with, in the region and the company will be setting up a solar plant and a green hydrogen generation unit in Leh towards this end.
• This is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘carbon neutral’ Ladakh.
• It will help Ladakh develop a carbon free economy based on renewable sources and green hydrogen.

Also in news : NTPC REL will also set up a solar park at Rann of Kutch in Gujarat from where it will also generate green hydrogen on a commercial scale under the Ultra-Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPP) scheme.

Details:

• NTPC REL will set up a 4.75 gigawatt (GW) renewable energy park at Rann of Kutch in Khavada, Gujarat. This will be India’s largest solar park to be built by the largest power producer of the country.

What is in news : Global and regional estimates of Covid-19's impact on routine childhood immunisation indicates unparalleled disruptions in delivery of vaccines against measles (MCV1) and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) (DTP3) — with 2020’s coverage likely falling in some regions to levels not seen in over a decade

 DTP vaccine: DPT vaccine combines diphtheria and tetanus toxoids adsorbed with pertussis vaccine consists of a sterile isotonic sodium chloride solution containing sodium phosphate buffer to control pH.

Will there be side effects : Yes and they can be treated

MAHITI FOR PRELIMS

What is in news : The Ministry of Civil Aviation released the Draft Drone Rules, 2021 which will replace the Unmanned Aircraft System Rules, 2021.

What are the changes :

• Drones other than those used for research and development by entities and educational institutions recognised by the Union government, State governments or Union Territory Administrations, start-ups recognised by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and drone manufacturers having a Goods and Service Tax Identification Number are required to have :
  • Unique identification number
  • Certificate of airworthiness
  • remote pilot licence for the person controlling the drone
  • foreign-owned companies registered in India are not required  to have a principal place of business within India
• The Quality Council of India and certification entities authorised by it will issue airworthiness certificates for drones, instead of the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation.

• The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will hold the Jala Spandana phone-in programme to receive and solve the issues relating to water and sewerage
• For the first time, post-matric students belonging to Scheduled Caste communities will receive ‘e-freeship card’ from the government of Karnataka for the transfer of scholarship from this academic year. The card will act as a government guarantee to educational institutions towards payment of fee and the institutions have been asked not to insist on collecting fee from such students.
• Gira Sarabhai, co-founder of the renowned National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad and a pioneer of design education in India, passed away
• The Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE), under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MORTH), has signed an Agreement with University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia for setting up a Centre for Advanced Transportation Technology and Systems (CATTS) at IAHE, Noida
• Raksha Mantri launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered grievance management application recently , developed by Ministry of Defence with the help of IIT-Kanpur. This is the first AI based system developed to improve grievance redressal in the Government.
• MSME Minister launched new Khadi products – Khadi Babywear & Unique Handmade Paper “Use & Throw” Slippers