Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS

Daily Current Affair - UPSC/KAS Exams - 14th April 2022

NEWS

The Union Government has launched the ‘SVANidhi se Samriddhi’ program

DETAILS

• Additional program of PM SVANidhi Scheme
• Launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
• Implemented by Quality Council of India (QCI)

AIM

• Provide social security benefits to street vendors for their holistic development and socio-economic upliftment
• Socio-economic profiling of PM SVANidhi beneficiaries and their families is conducted to assess their eligibility for Eight Government of India’s welfare schemes and facilitate sanctions of eligible schemes

PM SVANIDHI SCHEME

• Micro-credit facility plan to provide affordable loan to street vendors who had their businesses operational on or before 24 March 2020.
• Implemented by Small Industries Development Bank of India

NEWS

A report prepared by JMK Research and Analytics and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis says India will likely miss its 2022 target of installing 100GW of solar power capacity

INDIA’S SOLAR POLICY

• The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), also known as the National Solar Mission (NSM), which commenced in January 2010, marked the first time the government focussed on promoting and developing solar power in India. Under the scheme, the total installed capacity target was set as 20GW by 2022
• In 2015, the target was revised to 100GW and in August 2021, the government set a solar target of 300GW by 2030.
• Since 2011, India’s solar sector has grown at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 59% from 0.5GW in 2011 to 55GW in 2021
• India currently ranks fifth after China, U.S., Japan and Germany in terms of installed solar power capacity
• As of December 2021, the cumulative solar installed capacity of India is 55GW, which is roughly half the renewable energy (RE) capacity (excluding large hydro power) and 14% of the overall power generation capacity of India
• Within the 55GW, grid-connected utility-scale projects contribute 77% and the rest comes from grid-connected rooftop and off-grid projects.

ISSUES AT PRESENT

• A 25GW shortfall in the 40GW rooftop solar target, is expected compared to 1.8GW in the utility-scale solar target by December 2022. Thus, it is in rooftop solar that the challenges of India’s solar-adoption policy stick out.
• The disruption in supply chains due to the pandemic was a key impediment to rooftop solar adoption

HOW CRITICAL IS SOLAR POWER TO INDIA’S COMMITMENT TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE?

• Solar power is a major prong of India’s commitment to address global warming according to the terms of the Paris Agreement, as well as achieving net zero, or no net carbon emissions, by 2070
• To boost the renewable energy installation drive in the long term, the Centre in 2020 set a target of 450GW of RE-based installed capacity to be achieved by 2030, within which the target for solar was 300GW

NEWS

Indian Army has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the Canister Launched Anti-Armour Loiter Ammunition (CALM) System of its mechanised forces

CALM SYSTEM

• Pre-loaded canister with loiter ammunition or a drone
• Mix of a surface-to-surface missile and a drone
• Once fired it can remain aloft for a period of time over the area of operation
• When a target is sighted it can be guided down to destroy the target with the explosive payload that it carries.
• Loiter ammunition carry a camera
• Loiter munitions are smaller, cheaper and less complex systems than combat or armed drones

NEWS

Rongali/Bohag Bihu celebrated in Assam

DETAILS

• Bihu is Assam's most popular harvest festival
• Occurs three times a year: Rongali or Bohag Bihu in April, Kongali or Kati Bihu in October, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu in mid-January
• The traditional dance performed on this day is also called BIHU

BIHU DANCE

• Popular Assamese
• Also known as Bihu Naas
• Bihu folk music is also known as Bihu Geet
• Dancers are clothed in colourful traditional costumes
• The dance form's roots are unknown, but it has long played an important role in the culture of Assam's many ethnic groups, including the Kaivarttas, Deoris, Sonowal Kacharis, Chutias, Boros, Misings, Rabhas, Moran, and Borahis, among others.

NEWS

Prime Minister inaugurated the 'Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya/Museum of Indian prime ministers’ at Teen Murti Bhavan in Delhi

DETAILS

• Integrated with the erstwhile Nehru Museum building
• Nehru Museum is now designated as Block I and has a completely updated, technologically-advanced display on the life and contributions of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the nation’s first prime minister

WHAT WILL THE MUSEUM DISPLAY?

• Many commodities like Important correspondence, some personal items, gifts and memorabilia, honours, medals, commemorative stamps, coins, etc
• There are a total of 43 galleries
• Symbolising a mix of novelty and antiquity, this museum connects the section-I of the former Teen Murti Bhavan with the section-II of the newly constructed building
• Narrates the saga starting from the display of the freedom struggle till the making of the Constitution, how our Prime Ministers gave a new path to the country despite various challenges and ensured the all-round progress of the country.

 NEWS

Mahavir Jayanti celebrated on 14 April 2022

DETAILS

MAHAVIR JAYANTI

• Most auspicious festivals in the Jain community
• Marks the birth of Vardhamana Mahavira
• 13th day of the bright half of the moon in the month of Chaitra
• Usually celebrated during the month of March or April.
• A procession is called with the idol of Lord Mahavira called the Rath Yatra.
• Reciting stavans or Jain prayers, statues of the lord are given a ceremonial bath called abhisheka

LORD MAHAVIRA

• Born in 540 BC in the Vajji kingdom(Vaishali in Bihar)
• Father was Siddhartha of Kundagrama and Mother Queen Trishala, a Lichchhavi princess
• Belonged to the Ikshvaku dynasty.
• Was named Vardhamana, which means “one who grows”.
• Abandoned worldly life at the age of 30 and attained ‘kaivalya’ or omniscience at the age of 42.
• Taught ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity) and aparigraha (non-attachment) to his disciples and his teachings were called Jain Agamas.
• Ordinary people were able to understand the teachings of Mahavira and his followers because they used Prakrit.
• It is believed that the Mahavira passed away and attained moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) at the age of 72 in 468 BC at a place called Pavapuri near modern Rajgir in Bihar.

NEWS

Birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar celebrated as Ambedkar Jayanti

 ABOUT DR AMBEDKAR

• Popularly known as Baba Saheb / ‘Father of the Indian Constitution’
• Jurist and an economist
• Born into a caste that was considered untouchable
• Faced many injustices and discrimination in society
• Born in Mhow in the Central Provinces (modern-day Madhya Pradesh) to a Marathi family with roots in the Ambadawe town of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra on 14 April
• Brilliant student and had doctoral degrees in economics from Columbia University and the London School of Economics.
• Against the caste-based discriminations in society and advocated for the Dalits to organise and demand their rights.
• Promoted the education of Dalits and made representations to the government in various capacities in this regard.
• Part of the Bombay Presidency Committee that worked with the Simon Commission in 1925.
• Established the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha to promote education and socio-economic improvements among the Dalits.
• Started magazines like Mooknayak, Equality Janta and Bahishkrit Bharat.
• In 1927 - launched active agitation against untouchability
• Organised and agitated for the right of Dalits to enter temples and to draw water from public water resources
• Condemned Hindu scriptures that he thought propagated caste discrimination.
• Advocated separate electorates for the ‘Depressed Classes’, the term with which Dalits were called at that time
• In disagreement with Mahatma Gandhi at that time since Gandhi was against any sort of reservation in the electorates.
• When the British government announced the ‘Communal Award’ in 1932, Gandhi went on a fast in Yerwada Jail. An agreement was signed between Gandhi and Ambedkar in the jail whereby it was agreed to give reserved seats to the depressed classes within the general electorate. This was called the Poona Pact.
• Founded the Independent Labour Party (later transformed into the Scheduled Castes Federation) in 1936 and contested in 1937 from Bombay to the Central Legislative Assembly. He also contested from Bombay (north-central) after independence in the country’s first general elections. But he lost both times.
• Worked as Minister of Labour in the Viceroy’s Executive Council. After independence, Ambedkar became the first Law Minister in 1947 under the Congress-led government. Resigned due to differences with Jawaharlal Nehru on the Hindu Code Bill.
• Appointed to the Rajya Sabha in 1952 and remained a member till his death.
• Advocated a free economy with a stable Rupee
• Mooted birth control for economic development
• Emphasised equal rights for women.
• A few months before he died, he converted to Buddhism in a public ceremony in Nagpur and with him, lakhs of Dalits converted to Buddhism.
• Books - The Annihilation of Caste, Pakistan or the Partition of India, The Buddha and his Dhamma, The Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India, Administration and Finance of the East India Company, etc.
• Died of ill health in 1956 in Delhi
• Was cremated according to Buddhist rites in Dadar and a memorial is constructed there. The place is called Chaitya Bhoomi.

• The AVSAR- ‘Connect to Opportunities Initiative’ has been launched by Jammu & Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. It is a dedicated portal that will be used to connect job aspirants of the Union Territory with the industry.