Author: Explains

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1:  [pib] Special AYUSH Clinics for the Elderly

National AYUSH Mission

1. Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has launched National AYUSH Mission (NAM) during 12th Plan for im­plementing through States/UTs.
2. The basic objective of NAM is:

• to promote AYUSH medical systems through cost-effective AYUSH services,
• strengthening of educational systems,
• facilitate the enforcement of quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani & Homoeopathy (ASU &H) drugs and sustainable availability of ASU & H raw-materials.

3. It envisages flexibility of implementation of the programmes which will lead to a substantial participation of the State Governments/UT.
4. The NAM contemplates the establishment of a National Mission as well as corresponding Missions in the State level.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Prahaar

Defence Forces : Army

Module Type : Missiles

Brief Intro : Prahaar is a solid-fuelled Surface-to-surface guided short-range tactical ballistic missile that would be equipped with omni-directional warheads and could be used for hitting both tactical and strategic targets

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: [pib] Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 2.0

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan

1. This is an HRD Ministry initiative launched in 2014 with the two-fold aim to provide rural India with professional resource support from institutes of higher education in the field of STEM
2. And Building institutional capacity in Institutes of higher education in research & training relevant to the needs of rural India
3. This programme will be launched in collaboration with the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISERs) and the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) throughout the country
4. Each IIT/NIT/IISER will identify 10 villages in its neighbourhood and work out technologies to solve the most pressing issues of the region
5. Various teams from these institutes will visit the villages, identify problems and then aim to find financially-viable schemes.

B2B #2:  NCTE amendment Bill passed

National Council for Teacher Education

1. National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) is a statutory body of Indian government set up under the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 in 1995
2. It has been established to formally oversee standards, procedures and processes in the Indian education system
3. This council functions for the central as well as state governments on all matter with regard to the Teacher Education
4. Functions

• undertake surveys and studies pertaining to all aspects of the teacher education and publish the corresponding results
• For the preparation of suitable plans and programmes regarding the field of teacher education, it makes recommendations to both the state and central governments, universities, University Grants Commission (UGC), and other recognised institutions.
• it coordinates and monitors the teacher education system throughout the country.
• it lays down the guideline for the minimum qualifications need for an individual to be a teacher in schools and recognised institutions.
• it lays downs guidelines for the provision of physical and infrastructural facilities, staffing pattern etc. for the compliance by recognised institutions.
• it lays down standards with respect to examinations, the major criteria for such admission as well as schemes for courses or training.
• it promotes and conducts research and innovation in schools and recognised institutions and then disseminates the results thereof.
• it examines its own laid-down guidelines, norms and standards for the improvement.
• it identifies the recognised institutions and set up new institutions for the developmental programmes of teacher education system.
• it takes up necessary steps for the prevention of the commercialisation of teacher education.
• it also performs other function that is entrusted to it by the central government

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : BIOFIN

Objective : UNDP in October 2012 launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN

Category : Environment

Reading News for UPSC is utmost important and rising number of questions year on year in UPSC Prelims is a testimony of this

We are starting a daily series where we will analyze news covered in The Hindu, Indian Express and other newspapers which are important from exam perspective and which are not

Important news would have been covered in our daily news coverage in form of newscards.

Unimportant ones will be mentioned here and a short description regarding why it is not relevant for the exam

Click on news headlines to read the full news

High relevance news

India to expand polar research to Arctic as well

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/india-to-expand-polar-research-to-arctic-as-well/

After China’s stride on poles to search for hydrocarbons and other resources, it was inevitable for India to follow the suit. Arctic research has been in focus in India and a question related to it was asked in Prelims 2015. Read more and make notes.

[op-ed snap] Why private hospitals should join AB-NHPM

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-why-private-hospitals-should-join-ab-nhpm/

NHPM is a very ambitious scheme for the turnaround of the health sector. Participation of private hospitals will surely help in achieving its objectives. Note important points from editorial to quote in mains answers.

[op-ed snap] Who’s responsible for modernizing a 150-year-old law?

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-whos-responsible-for-modernizing-a-150-year-old-law/

A very nice editorial tracing the history of section 377 as well its judicial discourse. Must read for Mains

Low Relevance News

Centre mulls changes in IPC to deal with mob lynching

The Centre is considering the possibility of amending the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to define ‘mob lynching’ as a penal offence. If the IPC is amended, the government will not have to bring a stand-alone law on mob lynching.

Nothing important as this proposal is still in nascent stage. Will become substantial if amendment takes place

Women and Child Development Ministry to move proposal to amend POCSO Act

The Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry is set to move a proposal before the Cabinet for enhanced punishment in cases of sexual assault of male children which the Law Ministry has cleared

Not important now. Will become once the amendment is approved by Cabinet

Govt. Poster for easy recall

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news- [pib] New SAFAR system with Air Quality Early Warning System

System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)

1. Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Govt. of India, has introduced a major national initiative “SAFAR” for greater metropolitan cities of India to provide location-specific information on air quality in near real time and its forecast 1-3 days in advance for the first time in India
2. It was started under the plan scheme “Metropolitan Advisories for Cities for Sports, Tourism (Metropolitan Air Quality and Weather Services)
3. The SAFAR system is developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, along with ESSO partner institutions namely India Meteorological Department (IMD) and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF)
4. The implementation of SAFAR is done with an active collaboration with local municipal corporations and various local educational institutions and governmental agencies in that Metro city.
5. It was started on a Pilot basis in the cities of Pune, Ahmadabad, New Delhi and Mumbai

B2B #2: From news- India to expand polar research to Arctic as well

Indian mission on the Antarctic

1. The Indian Antarctic Program is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional program under the control of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.
2. It was initiated in 1981 with the first Indian expedition to Antarctica.
3. The program gained global acceptance with India’s signing of the Antarctic Treaty and subsequent construction of the Dakshin Gangotri Antarctic research base in 1983, superseded by the Maitri base from 1990.
4. The newest base commissioned in 2015 is Bharati, constructed out of 134 shipping containers.

Indian mission on the Arctic

1. Himadri Station is India’s first Arctic research station located at Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway. It is located at the International Arctic Research base, Ny-Ålesund.
2. It was inaugurated on the 1st of July, 2008 by the Minister of Earth Sciences. It is followed by IndARC.
3. The United States Geological Survey estimates that 22% of the world’s oil and natural gas could be located beneath the Arctic.
4.  ONGC Videsh has signed joint-venture with Russia for oil exploration there.

Arctic Council

1. It is an advisory body that promotes cooperation among member nations and indigenous groups as per the Ottawa Declaration of 1996.
2. Its focus is on sustainable development and environmental protection of the Arctic,
3. The Arctic Council consists of the eight Arctic States: Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States.
4. India and China are one of the observer countries since 2013.

B2B #3: From news- Niti Aayog nod to panel for denotified, semi-nomadic, nomadic tribes

Denotified, Semi-Nomadic and Nomadic Tribes

1. Denotified tribes are those that were labelled as criminals through a legislation by the British government and were denotified post-independence
2. The Nomadic tribes maintain constant geographical mobility
3. Semi-nomads are those who are on the move but return to fixed habitation once a year, mainly for occupational reasons
4. The DNT, NT, SNT communities have been identified as the most marginalised by several commissions set up since Independence
5. From these communities 90 percent or more members are landless

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name of the scheme : Swadhar Grehs

Objectives : Homes for relief and rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances including survivors of rape/assault etc. Provision for food clothing, councelling. training, clinical and legal aid ; long term

Nodal Ministry : Ministry of Women & Child

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : World sustainable Development summit

Brief Intro : WSDS has replaced TERI’s earlier called Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS). The first DSDS was organised in 2005. It underscored need for businesses and private sector to take lead in poverty reduction and to ensure rapid and sustained adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It had brought together Nobel laureates, decision-makers political leaders from around the world to deliberate on issues related to sustainable development.

Objective : The aim of the summit is to provide various stakeholders a single platform in order to provide long-term solutions for the benefit of the global community.

Type : Summit/ Conference

Category : E&B

Year : 2017

Importance (wr. Prelims) : high

Key Terms/ Institutions spinoffs : The summit was organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) with the theme Beyond 2015: People, Planet and Progress.

Name : International Agrobiodiversity Congress

Brief Intro : 1.The first International Agrobiodiversity Congress (IAC) held in New Delhi has adopted New Delhi Declaration on Agrobiodiversity Management 2.In the declaration, 900 participants from 60 countries have urged researchers and policy-makers to strengthen and promote complementary conservation strategies to conserve and use agrobiodiversity.

Type : Declaration

Category : E&B

Year :  2016

Importance (wr. Prelims) : Medium

Place : New Delhi

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Key words related to History : Sarkar

Dynasty/era : Mughal period

Meaning : Comparable to modern day district

Key words related to History : Sondhar

Dynasty/era : Tuglaq period

Meaning : Loans to the peasants by Mohammad Bin tughluq.

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news-Cabinet relaxes NELP, pre-NELP pact rules

New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP)

1. New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) was conceptualized by the Government of India, during 1997-98 to provide an equal platform to both Public and Private sector companies in exploration and production of hydrocarbons.
2. It provided for establishment of Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) as a nodal agency for its implementation.
3. It was introduced to boost the production of oil and natural gas and providing level playing field for both public and private players.
4. India has an estimated sedimentary area of 3.14 million km2. consisting of 26 sedimentary basins, of which, 57% (1.79 million km2.) area is in deepwater and remaining 43% (1.35 million km2.) area is in inland and shallow offshore.
5. At present 1.06 million km2 area is held under Petroleum Exploration Licenses in 18 basins by national oil companies viz. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), OIL India Limited (OIL) and Private/Joint Venture companies.
6. Before implementation of the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) in 1999, a mere 11% of Indian sedimentary basins were under exploration, which has now increased extensively over the years.

Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP)

1. It is a policy adopted by Government of India on 10.03.2016 indicating the new contractual and fiscal model for award of hydrocarbon acreages towards exploration and production (E&P).
2. HELP is applicable for all future contracts to be awarded.
3. HELP replaces the present policy regime for exploration and production of oil and gas, known as New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP), which has been in existence for 18 years.
4. Features of HELP:

• Uniform License: It provides for a uniform licensing system to cover all hydrocarbons such as oil, gas, coal bed methane etc. under a single licensing framework, instead of the present system of issuing separate licenses for each kind of hydrocarbons.
• Open Acreages: It gives the option to a hydrocarbon company to select the exploration blocks throughout the year without waiting for the formal bid round from the Government.
• Revenue Sharing Model: Present fiscal system of production sharing contract (PSC) is replaced by an easy to administer “revenue sharing model”. The earlier contracts were based on the concept of profit sharing where profits are shared between Government and the contractor after recovery of cost.
• Marketing and Pricing Freedom: It has been granted, subject to a ceiling price limit, for new gas production from Deepwater, Ultra Deepwater and High Pressure-High Temperature Areas.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : CASSINI MISSION

Details : Cassini mission to Saturn is ending its journey. It will dive towards the Saturn and burn up in its atmosphere in October.

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news- Centre increases CVs’ load carrying capacity

FASTags

1. FASTag devices employ Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to make toll payments from the prepaid account directly linked with it.
2. The windscreens of the vehicles are fitted with it.
3. It enables the four-wheelers to drive through the toll plazas without having to wait for cash transactions at the toll.
4. A separate lane will be dedicated for such FASTag users.

B2B #2: From news- [pib] Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)

Hague Adoption Convention

1. The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption is an international convention dealing with international adoption, child laundering, and child trafficking.
2. The Convention was developed by the Hague Conference on Private International Law, the preeminent organization in the area of private international law. It was concluded on 29 May 1993 and entered into force on 1 May 1995.
3. It is an effort to protect those involved from the corruption, abuses, and exploitation which sometimes accompanies international adoption.
4. The Convention has been considered crucial because it provides a formal international and intergovernmental recognition of intercountry adoption to ensure that adoptions under the Convention will generally be recognized and given effect in other party countries.
5. 96 countries including India has signed and ratified this convention. Whereas Nepal, South Korea and Russia are yet to ratify it.

B2B #3: From news- Counter-drone strategy for airports ready

BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security)

1. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India
2. BCAS is the regulatory authority for civil aviation security in India. It is headed by an officer of the rank of Director General  of Police  and is designated  as Commissioner of   Security (Civil Aviation)
3. Commissioner of security (CA) is the appropriate authority for implementation of Annexure 17 to Chicago convention of International civil aviation organization (ICAO)
4. Commissioner of security (CA) is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme
5. The main responsibility of BCAS are laying down standards and measures in  respect of security of  civil flights  at International  and  domestic  airports in India

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : INSV Tarini

Defence Forces : Navy

Module Type : Warships

Brief Intro : 1.The Indian Navy’s second ocean going sailboat Tarini was recently inducted. INSV Tarini is a sloop built by M/s Aquarius Shipyard Pvt Ltd at Divar, Goa. 2.The sail boat Tarini is being inducted into the Navy and is slated to be the platform for First Indian All Women Circumnavigation of the Globe expedition of the Indian Navy.

Note4students : Sailboat

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news- BrahMos tested in extreme weather conditions

BrahMos

1. BrahMos is a joint collaboration between India and Russia and is capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against the surface and sea-based targets
2. It has a strike range of around 290 km and is described as the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile.
3. The range of the supersonic missile was initially capped at 290 km as per the obligations of the Missile Technology Control Regime
4. Since India’s entry into the club, the range has been extended to 450 km and the plan is to hit 600km.
5. The Army and the Navy have already inducted the missile, while the air-launched variant is undergoing trials.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : BirdLife International

Recently in News because : Publishes a quarterly magazine – World Birdwatch.

Objective : BirdLife International is the official Red List authority for birds for the International Union for Conservation of Nature It is the world’s largest partnership of conservation organisations, with over 120 partner organisations. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) are sites that contribute to the global persistence of biodiversity, including vital habitat for threatened plant and animal species in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) are KBAs identified for birds using internationally agreed criteria applied locally by BirdLife Partners and experts

Year Founded : 1922

Category : Environment