Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS

Daily Current Affair - UPSC/KAS Exams - 17th August 2021

What is in news : The struggle for independence in coastal Karnataka , especially Peasant uprisings which was referred to as KOOTS by britishers was remembered in the eve of independence

Details :

• Peasant uprisings, which the British called “Koots”, that broke out against the East India Company in the coastal belt during 1830-31, reached the stage of an armed struggle in 1837.
• The revolt by peasants was not related to the freedom movement, though, but against the high land revenue (tax) assessment and the absence of a lucrative market for farm produce. But it did motivate people to join the freedom movement after 1850
• Political consciousness of the peasants had to be shaped from the intelligentsia, which  acted as a catalyst in bringing radical ideas to them
• The peasants were mainly agitated over the company for introducing a system that mandated that taxes should be paid only in cash and not in kind
• Revolutionaries lowered the British flag at Bavutagudda, now in the heart of Mangaluru, on April 5, 1837, and hoisted their own flag. It had made the then Collector in Mangalore, Lurve, summon British soldiers from Bombay, Dharwad, Belgaum, and Harihara to suppress the revolt, which was short-lived. Some leaders captured by the British soldiers were later hanged, a few were put under life imprisonment, and some deported.
• The peasants had captured Mangalore for 13 days. They had ransacked the administrative offices under the Company in Mangaluru, Puttur, and Sullia.
• The impact of the first freedom struggle in 1857 even reflected in the coastal belt, with some people who revolted against the British in 1858 making Darshani Gudda, in Supa taluk of Uttara Kannada (which was part of the then Canara District), a centre of their activity or launch pad.
• The British divided the Canara District, which was under the Bombay Presidency, on April 16, 1862, as North Canara and South Canara, retaining North Canara under Bombay Presidency and bringing South Canara under the Madras Presidency. Some historians believe that it was to curb the continued revolts against the Company, especially in the North Canara region. (Udupi district was carved out of Dakshina Kannada on August 25, 1997).
• Salt Satyagraha of 1930-It took place in Ankola, Mangalore, Padubidri, Kundapura, Malpe, Mulki, and Kasaragod.
• Amass procession at Ankola on April 13, 1930, had attracted people from the princely Mysore area, Hubli, Belgaum, Mangalore and the like. Many volunteers came by foot. The coastal belt actively took part in the freedom struggle later in the 1940 individual civil disobedience movement, the Quit India Movement in 1941, and in the celebration of Independence on Nehru Maidan in 1947

POLITY & GOVERNANCE

What is in news : Assam Assembly passed the “Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021”

About the bill

• Prohibits the sale and purchase of beef in areas inhabited by non-beef-eating communities.
• Prohibits the sale and purchase of beef within a radius of 5 km of a temple or a satra (Vaishnavite monastery).
• Repeal the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950.
• Prohibits inter-state transport of cattle to/from and through Assam without any valid documents.
• Anybody who are found to be guilty will be jailed for a minimum term of three years which can be extended for eight years. Provision of Rs 3 lakh is also there, which can be extended up to Rs 5 lakh.
• For repeat offenders, punishment will be doubled. However, law will not be applied to “religious occasions”. On such occasion, slaughter of cattle excluding cow, heifer and calf, is allowed.

SOCIAL ISSUES

What is in news : Odisha government announced that his government will provide smart health cards under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.

About :

• Beneficiaries of national & state food security schemes and Annapurna and Antyodaya initiatives will be provided these cards
• Women can avail treatment up to Rs 10 lakh per year.
• Other family members will get the benefit of up to Rs 5 lakh each.
• Odisha is the first state in India to provide such smart health cards.
• Health card beneficiaries can avail health services across 200 hospital chains in India including in Odisha. This will strengthen the health security for the people.
• This initiative was launched in the backdrop of people selling land and valuables or dropping their children out of schools to arrange the treatment costs. Under it, people will get distress free and hassle-free treatment to at best available health care facilities.
• Under it, a cashless healthcare assistance will be provided. It will provide an annual health coverage of Rs 5 lakhs to every family and 7 lakhs per women members of every family.

What is food fortification: Food fortification or enrichment is the process of adding micronutrients (essential trace elements and vitamins) to food. It can be carried out by food manufacturers, or by governments as a public health policy which aims to reduce the number of people with dietary deficiencies within a population.

What is in news : While addressing the nation on 75th Independence Day, Prime Minister announced to provide fortified rice to poor under various schemes.

Details :

• This decision was taken in order to address the problem of malnutrition in India.
• Providing nutrition to every poor person India is a priority of the government.
• This decision was taken in the view that, malnutrition and lack of essential nutrients among poor women and poor children is a major hurdle in their development. This, government will provide fortified rice with nutrition them.
• Child Malnutrition is a major threat to the growth and development of children.
• Micronutrient deficiencies or ‘hidden hunger’ also continue to pose significant public health problems in Indian populations.
• This announcement is significant because, government distributes more than 300 lakh tonnes of rice under schemes covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

ENVIRONMENT & GEOGRAPHY

What is in news : The Ministry of Power has circulated the “Draft Electricity (promoting renewable energy through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2021”.

Details :

• Proposed for purchase and consumption of green energy including the energy from Waste-to-Energy plants
• Has following subheads within which details are provided:
  • Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO)
  • Green energy open access
  • Nodal Agencies
  • Procedure for grant of green energy open access
  • Banking
  • Cross subsidy surcharge
• The Tariff for the Green Energy shall be determined by the Appropriate Commission, which may comprise of the average pooled power purchase cost of the renewable energy, cross-subsidy charges (if any) and service charges covering all prudent cost of the distribution licensee for providing the green energy
• “Green hydrogen” is the hydrogen produced using electricity from the renewable sources. The obligated entity including the Industries can also meet their Renewable Purchase Obligation by purchasing green hydrogen.The quantum of green hydrogen would be computed by considering the equivalence to the Green hydrogen produced from one MWh of electricity from the renewable sources or its multiple. The norms shall be notified by the Central Commission.
• The Appropriate Commission shall put in place regulations in accordance with this Rule to provide Green Energy Open Access to consumers who are willing to consume the Green energy. All applications for open access of Green Energy shall be granted within a maximum of 15 days.

DEFENCE

What is in news: Prime Minister during his address on 75th Independence Day celebration, announced that Sainik Schools across India will now be open for female students as well.

About SAINIK SCHOOLS

• Established and managed by Sainik Schools Society(under Ministry of Defence (MoD)).
• Establishment of sainik schools was led by V. K. Krishna Menon in 1961, who was the then Defence Minister of India.
• Established in order to rectify regional and class imbalance amongst Officer cadre of Indian Military

SNIPPETS

• Karnataka government announced a cash prize of Rs 5 crore for any para-athlete from the state winning a gold medal in the Tokyo Paralympics.Silver and bronze medals will ensure a cash prize of Rs 3 Crore and Rs 2 Crore respectively.
• Karmika chikitsa bhagya is a scheme for registered building and other construction workers. They are eligible for financial assistance of upto 2 lakh for treatment of major ailments
• Schools in Andhra Pradesh that remained closed because of the coronavirus pandemic were reopened on Monday, after a gap of about 17 months. The schools, many of them renovated under the ‘Mana Badi Nadu-Nedu scheme, saw thin attendance. schools were all set to reopen in March this year. However, the closure continued as the second wave hit.
• The Prime Minister has greeted the people on the occasion of Parsi New Year, Navroz.
• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) launched door-to-door delivery of ‘High Speed Diesel’ with the objective of meeting the growing demand. Fuelkart helps in enhancing operational efficiency for customers in consistent with the philosophy of ease of doing business.
• Tamil Nadu has become the first state in India to cut the petrol price in fiscal year 2021-22 by Rs 3/litre, providing a major relief to consumers.
• Tamil Nadu legislative assembly presented a separate budget for Agriculture for the first time in the history of the assembly.
• Kaziranga National Park of Assam have become the first national park of India to be equipped with satellite phones.