Daily Prelims Notes 28 January 2021

January 28, 2021
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Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes 28 January 2021

By

Santosh Sir

All 6 Prelims qualified

4 CSE Mains qualified

If I can do it, you can too

Table Of Contents

1. PRAGATI

Subject: Governance

Context: Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will chair the 32nd interaction through PRAGATI- the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

Concept:

Prime Minister had launched the multi-purpose and multi-modal governance platform PRAGATI on 25th March 2015.
PRAGATI is an integrating and interactive platform, aimed at addressing the common man’s grievances.
PRAGATI also helps in simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India, as well as projects flagged by various State governments.
It is a three-tier system (PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States).
The three objectives of PRAGATI are:

Grievance Redressal

Programme Implementation

Project Monitoring

The PRAGATI platform uniquely bundles three latest technologies: Digital data management, video-conferencing and geo-spatial technology.
It promotes cooperative federalism as it brings on one platform the Secretaries of Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of the States.
It is a robust system for bringing e-transparency and e-accountability with real-time presence and exchange among the key stakeholders.
It is an innovative project in e-governance and good governance.

2. SHAURYA CHAKRA

Subject: Current Events

Context: The National Investigation Agency Wednesday took over the probe into the killing of Shaurya Chakra recipient Balwinder Singh Sandhu in Punjab.

Concept:

The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy.
It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously.
It is third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards and comes after the Ashoka Chakra and the Kirti Chakra. It precedes the Sena Medal.
Order of precedence of these awards is the ParamVir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.
It is the peacetime equivalent of the Vir Chakra. It is generally awarded for Counter-Insurgency operations and actions against the enemy during peace-time.

Following categories of persons are eligible for the Shaurya Chakra:

Officers and men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces.
Nursing officers of military nursing service .
Civilian citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway Protection Force.

3. GLOBAL RISK REPORT

Subject: International Report

Context: Recently the Global Risks Report 2021 was recently released by the World Economic Forum.

Concept:

The global economy has been facing an increased risk of stagnation and climate change is striking harder and more rapidly than expected.
The report provides an open viewpoint which can lead to global economic benefit.
The World Economic Forum has argued since 1970 for the need to consider social well-being alongside economic gains. Unless the global economic system is reformed to be more socially conscious, the twin risks of prolonged slowdown and stronger defiance towards the current economic model will continue to exacerbate each other
As per the report the following can lead to dire consequences and lost opportunities for large parts of the global population:

Risk of job losses

A widening digital divide

Disrupting social interactions

Abrupt shifts in markets.

4. QUANTITATIVE EASING

Subject: Economics

Context: RBI’s calibrated measures will likely be able to address the issue of an increase in demand for funds from both the govt and the private sector in FY22.

Concept:

Quantitative easing (QE) is a form of unconventional monetary policy in which a central bank purchases longer-term securities from the open market in order to increase the money supply and encourage lending and investment.
Buying these securities adds new money to the economy, and also serves to lower interest rates by bidding up fixed-income securities. It also expands the central bank’s balance sheet.
When short-term interest rates are either at or approaching zero, the normal open market operations of a central bank, which target interest rates, are no longer effective.
Instead, a central bank can target specified amounts of assets to purchase.
Quantitative easing increases the money supply by purchasing assets with newly-created bank reserves in order to provide banks with more liquidity.

5. SC COLLEGIUM

Subject: Polity

Context: Expressing concern over the government delaying action on the recommendations of the Collegium to fill up vacancies in the High Courts, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Attorney General K K Venugopal to apprise it of the Centre’s timeline in the matter.

Concept:

The Collegium System is a system under which appointments/elevation of judges/lawyers to Supreme Court and transfers of judges of High Courts and Apex Court are decided by a forum of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.’
There is no mention of the Collegium either in the original Constitution of India or in successive amendments.
The recommendations of the Collegium are binding on the Central Government; if the Collegium sends the names of the judges/lawyers to the government for the second time

How did this come into being?

‘First Judges Case’ (1981) ruled that the “consultation” with the CJI in the matter of appointments must be full and effective. However, the CJI’s opinion should have primacy.
Second Judges Case (1993) introduced the Collegium system, holding that “consultation” really meant “concurrence”. It added that it was not the CJI’s individual opinion, but an institutional opinion formed in consultation with the two senior-most judges in the Supreme Court.
Third Judges Case (1998): SC on President’s reference expanded the Collegium to a five-member body, comprising the CJI and four of his senior-most colleagues.

Procedure followed by the Collegium:

The President of India appoints the CJI and the other SC judges.
For other judges of the top court, the proposal is initiated by the CJI.
The CJI consults the rest of the Collegium members, as well as the senior-most judge of the court hailing from the High Court to which the recommended person belongs.
The consultees must record their opinions in writing and it should form part of the file.
The Collegium sends the recommendation to the Law Minister, who forwards it to the Prime Minister to advise the President.
The Chief Justice of High Courts is appointed as per the policy of having Chief Justices from outside the respective States.
The Collegium takes the call on the elevation.

Appointment of Judges for High Courts:

High Court judges are recommended by a Collegium comprising the CJI and two senior-most judges.
The proposal, however, is initiated by the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned in consultation with two senior-most colleagues.
The recommendation is sent to the Chief Minister, who advises the Governor to send the proposal to the Union Law Minister.

6. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY

Subject: International Organizations

Context: In a significant development that boosts energy security, India is going to enter into a strategic partnership framework with the International Energy Agency (IEA)

Concept:

Established in 1974 as per framework of the OECD, IEA is an autonomous intergovernmental organisation.
Mission – To ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its member countries and beyond. Its mission is guided by four main areas of focus: energy security, economic development, environmental awareness and engagement worldwide Headquarters (Secretariat): Paris, France.

Roles and functions:

Established in the wake of the 1973-1974 oil crisis, to help its members respond to major oil supply disruptions, a role it continues to fulfil today.
IEA’s mandate has expanded over time to include tracking and analyzing global key energy trends, promoting sound energy policy, and fostering multinational energy technology cooperation.

Composition and eligibility:

It has 30 members at present. IEA family also includes eight association countries. A candidate country must be a member country of the OECD. But all OECD members are not IEA members.

Reports:

Global Energy & CO2 Status Report.
World Energy Outlook.
World Energy Statistics.
World Energy Balances.
Energy Technology Perspectives.

7. GRANT TO RLBs

Subject: Polity

Context: The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has released an amount of Rs.12,351.5 crore for providing grants to the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs). This amount is the 2nd instalment of basic grants released in the financial year 2020-21.

Concept:

The grant has been released to 18 States who have provided the Utilisation Certificate for the first instalment and on the recommendation of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
The grants to RLBs are released as per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission to create community assets and improve financial viability of the RLBs.
The grants are provided to all the three tiers of Panchayati Raj – Village, Block and District to enable pooling of resources across villages and blocks.
The 15th Finance Commission has recommended two types of grants to the RLBs – basic and tied grants.
Basic grants are untied and can be used by the local bodies for location specific felt needs except for salary or other establishment expenditure.
Tied grants can be used for the basic services of (a) sanitation and maintenance of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and (b) supply of drinking water, rain water harvesting and water recycling.
The grants are meant to ensure additional funds to RLBs over and above the funds allocated by the Centre and the State for sanitation and drinking water under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes like Swachh Bharat and Jal Jeevan Mission.
The States are required to transfer the grants to the RLBs within 10 working days of receipt from the Union Government. Any delay beyond 10 working days requires the State Governments to release the grants with interest.

8. UDAN

Subject : Government schemes

Context : The first direct flight operations between Nashik (Maharashtra) and Belgaum (Karnataka) started today under the RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme — UdeDeshKaAamNagrik) of the Government of India.

Concept :

Operationalizing of this route expands the aerial connectivity of Belgaum to the 10 destinations across India.
Star Air was awarded the Belgaum-Nashik route during the UDAN 3 bidding process. The airlines are being provided Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under the UDAN scheme to keep the fares affordable & accessible for the common people.
The airline will be operating thrice-weekly flights on the route and will deploy its 50-seater Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft.

UdeDeshKaAamNaagrik

UdeDeshKaAamNaagrik (UDAN) was launched as a regional connectivity scheme under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016.
It is an innovative scheme to develop the regional aviation market.
The objective of scheme is to create affordable yet economically viable and profitable flights on regional routes so that flying becomes affordable to the common man even in small towns.
The scheme envisages providing connectivity to un-served and underserved airports of the country through the revival of existing air-strips and airports.
The scheme is operational for a period of 10 years.
Under-served airports are those which do not have more than one flight a day, while unserved airports are those where there are no operations.

9. SUBASH CHANDRA BOSE AAPDA PRABANDHAN PURASKAR 2021

Subject : Current Events

Context : For the year 2021, (i) Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society and (ii) Dr. Rajendra Kumar Bhandari have been selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose AapdaPrabandhanPuraskar.

Concept :

The Government of India instituted Subhash Chandra Bose AapdaPrabandhanPuraskaar to recognise the excellent work done by the individuals and institutions in the field of disaster management.
Administered By: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA – created by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Disaster Management Act, 2005).

Award:

The awards are announced on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on 23rd January every year.
In addition to a certificate, these awards carry a cash award of Rs. 51 lakhs for an Institution and Rs. 5 lakhs for an Individual.
The Institution has to utilize the cash prize for Disaster Management related activities only.

Eligibility:

Only Indian nationals and Indian institutions can apply for the award.
The nominated individual or institution should have worked in any area of disaster management like Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness, Rescue, Response, Relief, Rehabilitation, Research, Innovation or early warning in India.

10. AYU SAMVAD CAMPAIGN

Subject : Current Events

Concept :

“AYU SAMVAD” (My Health My Responsibility) is one of the largest public awareness campaign program being organised on AYURVEDA and COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
Organized by: All India Institute of Ayurveda New Delhi, as envisioned & supported by Ministry of AYUSH.
More than 5 lac lectures will be organized across the nation by Ayurveda Physicians for citizens of India.
Main objective: To create awareness through Lecture series to make common people aware about the theme “Ayurveda for COVID 19 Pandemic”.

11. DNA BILL

Subject : National Legislations

Context : MPs file dissent notes to Parliamentary Standing Committee’s report on DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2019.

Concept :

The Bill provides for the establishment of a National DNA Data Bank and Regional DNA Data Banks for states.
DNA laboratories are required to share DNA data with the National and Regional DNA Data Banks.
Every Data Bank will be required to maintain indices for the following categories of data-

a crime scene index

a suspects’ or undertrials’ index

an offenders’ index

a missing persons’ index

an unknown deceased persons’ index

It aims to store the unique genetic information for administrative purposes.
It also provides for the establishment of a DNA Regulatory Board, which will supervise the DNA Data Banks and DNA laboratories.
The Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, will be the ex officio Chairperson of the board and the additional members will be-

experts in the field of biological sciences

Director General of the National Investigation Agency

Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The bill also proposes a written consent by individuals be obtained before collection of their DNA samples. However, consent is not required for offences with punishment of more than seven years in jail or death.
It also provides for the removal of DNA profiles of suspects on the filing of a police report or court order, and of undertrials on the basis of a court order. Profiles in the crime scene and missing persons’ index will be removed on a written request.

12. MOUNT MERAPI

Subject : Geography

Context : Indonesia’s most active volcano Mt Merapi erupts again, unleashing river of lava.

Concept :

Merapi (Mountain of Fire) is the most active of Indonesia’s 130 active volcanoes.
It rises to 2,911 metres and has steep slopes with dense vegetation on its lower sides.
It is located near the centre of the island of Java and Indonesia’s cultural capital, Yogyakarta.
Mt Merapi’s last significant eruption was in 2010. At that time, more than 300 people were killed and some 2,80,000 residents were forced to evacuate the surrounding areas.