Daily Prelims Notes 16 September 2022

Daily Prelims Notes

16 September 2022

Table Of Contents

1. Jharkhand’s Domicile bill
2. UNEP Digital Platform for sustainable tourism
3. Hungary no longer a full democracy
4. Big Cats of India
5. Financial Stability and Development Council
6. Climate risk discussion paper by the Reserve Bank of India
7. The Eastern Economic Forum and India’s balancing act
8. Supreme Court’s hearing on Hijab row
9. New industry standards and battery norms for Electric Vehicles
10. Global ‘Stilling’: If you feel the wind is coming to a halt, climate change may be behind it
11. Citizenship Amendment Act 2019
12. Historic agreement to end crisis between adivasis and tea gardeners
13. ANGAN 2.0
14. Ramakrishna Mission’s ‘Awakening’ Programme
15. ‘E-Baal Nidan’ portal
16. The Water Scarcity Clock

1. Jharkhand’s Domicile bill

Subject: Polity

Context: Jharkhand Cabinet approves draft Bill with 1932 as the cut-off year for domicile.

Concept :

• The Jharkhand Cabinet approved the draft ‘Local Resident of Jharkhand Bill’ of 2022, keeping 1932 as the cut-off year for “proof of land records” for defining a local.
• The second draft legislative proposal approved by the Cabinet seeks to increase reservation from the current 50% to 67% in Jharkhand.
• As per the Bill, reservation for STs will be increased to 28%, for OBCs to 27%, and STs to 12%.
• Bills will be introduced in the Assembly and, after the passage of both, the state government will send them to the Centre (apart from the Governor), with a proposal seeking an amendment placing the two laws in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution to avoid judicial scrutiny.

Ninth Schedule

• The Schedule contains a list of central and state laws which cannot be challenged in courts and was added by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951.
• The first Amendment added 13 laws to the Schedule. Subsequent amendments in various years have taken the number of protected laws to 284 currently.
• It was created by the new Article 31B, which along with Article 31A was brought in by the government to protect laws related to agrarian reform and for abolishing the Zamindari system.
• While Article 31A extends protection to ‘classes’ of laws, Article 31B shields specific laws or enactments.
• While most of the laws protected under the Schedule concern agriculture/land issues, the list includes other subjects.
• Article 31B also has a retrospective operation which means that if laws are inserted in the Ninth Schedule after they are declared unconstitutional, they are considered to have been in the Schedule since their commencement, and thus valid.
• Although Article 31B excludes judicial review, the apex court has said in the past that even laws under the Ninth Schedule would be open to scrutiny if they violated Fundamental Rights or the basic structure of the Constitution.

2. UNEP Digital Platform for sustainable tourism

Subject : Environment

Context : UNEP launches a new worldwide digital platform to encourage sustainable marine tourism.

Concept :

• The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), along with UK-based charity Reef-World Foundation, recently launched the Green Fins Hub, a global digital platform they said would give sustainable marine tourism a ‘major boost’.
• The platform will help diving and snorkelling operators worldwide to make simple, cost-efficient changes to their daily practices by utilising tried and tested solutions.
• Green Fins Hub will host two types of membership. One would be digital membership available for diving, snorkelling and live aboard operations globally.
• Green Fins Certified Members will continue to be assessed annually and trained in person at their operation.

UNEP- Background:

• In 1972, the UNGA passed what is formally known as UN-Resolution 2997.It would be the last step in the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – an organisation conceived to spearhead a global effort to minimize humanity’s footprint on the planet.
• Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.
• Governing Body: UNEA (formed in 2012) – meets once in two years.
• Major Functions: It hosts various Conventions like Minamata Convention, UNCBD, CITES, Basel Convention, Stockholm Convention, Rotterdam Convention, Montreal Protocol, Vienna Convention, CMS, Carpathian, Bamako, Tehran Convention.
• Main activities: are related to Climate Change, Disasters and Conflicts, Ecosystem management, Environmental Governance, Chemicals and waste, Resource Efficiency.
• Important Treaties signed under UNEP: IPCC, Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Multilateral Fund for the implementation of Montreal Protocol.
• In 2021, member states approved UNEP’s new Medium-Term Strategy (MTS)for 2022- 25that outlines UNEP’s contribution to the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ and the Programme for Work 2022-23.
• Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN) was initiated in 2021 by Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland and comprises of 21 countries that assess the performance (2016-20)of the major multilateral organizations they fund.

Important Initiatives undertaken by UNEP so far:

• Regional Seas Programme, 1974
• Clean up the world Campaign, 1993
• TUNZA, 2003
• Billion Tree Campaign, 2006
• Faith for Earth Initiative, 2008
• World Environment Day (June 5th)
• Earth Hour
• Not all animals migrate by choice campaign, 2019

Reports of UNEP:

• Emission Gap Report
• Adaptation Gap Report
• Frontiers
• Global Environment Outlook
• Invest in a Healthy Planet

Coral reefs: https://optimizeias.com/coral-reefs-3/

3. Hungary no longer a full democracy

Subject : Polity/International Relations

Context : Hungary is no longer a “full democracy” and the European Union needs to do everything to bring it back into line with European values, the European Parliament said.

Concept :

• EU Legislators voted in favour to now describe Hungary (ruled by populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who maintains close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin) “a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy” in “serious breach” of EU democratic norms.
• The vote was largely symbolic and does not change the course of the Union’s decision-making, which requires unanimity of all 27 member states — including Hungary — to adopt major issues, such as sanctions on Russia.
• The European Union is a group of 27 countries that operate as a cohesive economic and political block.
• 19 of these countries use EURO as their official currency. 8 EU members (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden) do not use the euro.

European Parliament

• It is the only parliamentary institution of the European Union (EU) that is directly elected by EU citizens aged 18 years or older. Together with the Council of the European Union (also known as the ‘Council’), it exercises the legislative function of the EU.
• European Parliament does not possess as much legislative power as its member countries’ parliaments do.

Council of the European Union:

• It is part of the essentially bicameral EU legislature (the other legislative body being the European Parliament) and represents the executive governments (Minister) of the EU’s member states.
• In the Council, government ministers from each EU country meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws, and coordinate policies. The ministers have the authority to commit their governments to the actions agreed on in the meetings.

4. Big Cats of India

Subject : Environment

Concept:

• The cheetah, which is being re-introduced to India from Africa, is not to be confused with the leopard, which too has spots that look somewhat similar. Here’s a list of members of the ‘cat’ genus Panthera, Puma, and Acinonyx.

5. Financial Stability and Development Council

Subject: economy

26th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) held under the Chairpersonship of Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.

Details:

• It underscored the need for continuous monitoring of risks in the financial sector and also deliberated on:
  • improving the efficiency of the existing financial and credit information systems
  • issues of governance and management in systemically important financial institutions
  • strengthening cyber security framework in the financial sector
  • common KYC for all financial Services
  • issues relating to the financing of the power sector
  • the strategic role the GIFT international financial services centre can play

Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)

• It is a non-statutory apex council under the Ministry of Finance constituted by the Executive Order in 2010. 
• It is established as an autonomous body dealing with macroprudential and financial regularities in the entire financial sector of India. 
  • The Raghuram Rajan Committee (2008) on financial sector reforms first proposed the creation of FSDC.
• Composition of FSDC:
  • Chairperson: The Union Finance Minister of India.
  • Members of FSDC include Heads of the Financial Sector Regulators listed below:
    • Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
    • Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA)
    • Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
    • Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)
  • Other members are Finance Secretary, Secretary of Department of Financial Services (DFS), and Chief Economic Adviser.
  • The government reconstituted the FSDC to include the following Members in the Council: 
    • Minister of State responsible for the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA),
    • Secretary of Department of Electronics and Information Technology,
    • Chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) and
    • The Revenue Secretary.
  • FSDC sub-committee is headed by the Governor of RBI.
  • The Council can invite experts to its meeting if required.
• Aims and Objectives: 
  • To strengthen and institutionalise the mechanism of maintaining financial and macroeconomic stability.
  • To enhance inter-regulatory coordination and promote financial sector development.
  • It also focuses on financial literacy and financial inclusion.
  • Coordinating India’s international interface with financial sector bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Financial Stability Board (FSB).
• Functions:
  • To strengthen and institutionalize the mechanism for maintaining financial stability, enhancing inter-regulatory coordination and promoting financial sector development.
  • To monitor macro-prudential supervision of the economy. It assesses the functioning of the large financial conglomerates.

6. Climate risk discussion paper by the Reserve Bank of India

Subject :Economy

RBI’s paper on climate action has suggestions worthy of adoption.

About the discussion paper:

The paper highlights gaps in the way climate change as a material risk is treated by India’s banks. It diligently elucidates:

• Physical climate impact risks.
  • It refers to the economic costs and financial losses resulting from the increasing frequency and severity of extreme climate change-related weather events such as acute physical risks and chronic physical risks.
• Transition loss risks
  • The process of transition to reducing carbon emissions may have a significant impact on the economy. It includes:
    • Cost due to changes in climate-related policies and regulations.
    • Investment portfolios or reduction in cash flow due to emergence of newer technologies.
    • Shifting sentiments and behaviour of customers.
  • The consultation paper offers:
  • Broad guidance,
  • Illustrative examples and good practices for regulated entities around governance,
  • Disclosures strategy, processes and the risk management structure to address climate risks, with valuable insights for consideration of boards.
  • It provides more emphasis on the numerous financing opportunities.
    • foreign capital through sustainability-linked loans and bonds.

Initiatives by the RBI in climate change:

• In May 2021, it set up a Sustainable Finance Group within its Department of Regulation
  • It aims to coordinate with other national and international agencies on issues relating to climate change.
• The Reserve Bank released on its website the results of a Survey on Climate Risk and Sustainable Finance undertaken in January 2022.
  • The Sustainable Finance Group (SFG) carried out a survey in January 2022 to assess the status of climate risk and sustainable finance in leading scheduled commercial banks.
  • The survey covered 12 public sector banks, 16 private sector banks and 6 foreign banks in India.
  • It provides useful insights, and the feedback from this exercise will help in shaping the regulatory and supervisory approach of the RBI to climate risk and sustainable finance.
• In a bulletin issued in March 2022, the RBI analysed the impact of the green energy transition on fossil fuel dependent industries.
• The recently released climate risk discussion paper by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), to encourage the country’s financial sector to prioritize green-transition financing and ensure long term systemic stability by addressing the growing threat of climate challenges, is most welcome.

Network for Greening the Financial System

• It is a group of central banks and supervisors willing to share best practices and contribute to the development of environment and climate risk management in the financial sector.
• It was created at the Paris One Planet Summit in December 2017 and its secretariat is hosted by the Banque de France.
• It also seeks to mobilise mainstream finance to support the transition towards a sustainable economy.

7. The Eastern Economic Forum and India’s balancing act

Subject :IR

Context: 

Russia recently hosted the seventh Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) Vladivostok. The four-day forum is a platform for entrepreneurs to expand their businesses into Russia’s Far East (RFE).

About the EEF:

• The EEF was established by the president of the Russian Federation in 2015 to encourage foreign investments in the RFE.
• The EEF displays the economic potential, suitable business conditions and investment opportunities in the region.
• It takes place each year in Vladivostok, a city in Russia.
• The agreements reached in the forum focus on infrastructure, transportation projects, mineral excavations, construction, industry and agriculture.

About RFE:

• The RFE is geographically placed at a strategic location and acts as a gateway into Asia.
• Russia has been strategically developing  the region with the aim of connecting Russia to the Asian trading routes.
• With the fast modernisation of cities like Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita and more, the government aims to attract more investments in the region.

Aims of EEF:

• To increase the Foreign Direct Investments in the RFE.
• The region encompasses one-third of Russia’s territory and is rich with natural resources such as fish, oil, natural gas, wood, diamonds and other minerals.
• The sparse population living in the region is another factor for encouraging people to move and work in the Far East.
• But despite the abundance and availability of materials, procuring and supplying them is an issue due to the unavailability of personnel.

8. Supreme Court’s hearing on Hijab row

Subject : Polity

Context:

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments on a batch of pleas challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict refusing to lift the ban on Hijab in educational institutions of the state.

Background:

• On 5 February, the Karnataka government issued an order stating that uniforms must be worn compulsorily where policies exist and no exception can be made for the wearing of the hijab. Several educational institutions cited this order and denied entry to Muslim girls wearing the hijab.
• The Karnataka High Court upheld the legality of the Karnataka Government’s February 5 order prescribing wearing of uniforms in schools and pre-university colleges under provisions of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983. It declared that Wearing of hijab by Muslim women does not form a part of essential religious practices in Islamic faith and it is not protected under the right to freedom of religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
• The court ruled that prescription of school uniform does not violate either the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1) (a) or the right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution, and the restriction against wearing of hijab in educational institutions is only a reasonable restriction constitutionally permissible, which the students cannot object to.

Protection of religious freedom under the constitution:

Article 25(1) of the Constitution guarantees the “freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion”.

• Freedom of conscience: Inner freedom of an individual to mould his relation with God or Creatures in whatever way he desires.
• Right to Profess: Declaration of one’s religious beliefs and faith openly and freely.
• Right to Practice: Performance of religious worship, rituals, ceremonies and exhibition of beliefs and ideas.
• Right to Propagate: Transmission and dissemination of one’s religious beliefs to others or exposition of the tenets of one’s religion.

However, like other fundamental rights, the state can restrict the right on grounds of public order, decency, morality, health and other state interests.

9. New industry standards and battery norms for Electric Vehicles

Subject : Science and Tech

Context:

The development comes after a string of EV fires took place in various parts of the country due to faulty batteries over the last few months, prompting the government to formulate expert committees to investigate the fires and also come up with regulatory changes for safer EVs.

India’s battery safety norms:

• The MoRTH had constituted an expert committee which included officials from the Centre for Fire, Explosive & Environment Safety (CFEES), Indian Institute of Science, and IIT-Madras, following the incidents of EVs catching fire.
• In September, the Ministry published amendments to Automotive Industry Standards AIS-156 which provides Specific Requirements for Electric Powertrain of Motor Vehicles with at least four wheels used for carrying goods which may also carry persons in addition to goods.
• These norms, which will kick in from October, include additional safety requirements related to battery cells, battery management system (BMS), on-board charger, design of battery pack, and thermal propagation due to internal cell short circuit leading to fire, among others.
• Additionally, the MoRTH issued a draft notification last month mandating conformity of production (CoP) for traction batteries used in electric powertrain vehicles. This proposed regulation, too, will be applicable with effect from October 1.
• The NITI Aayog is working with the industry and academia to develop an open source BMS to be used in two- and three-wheeler EVs. The system is being designed according to Indian standards and also as a measure to cut dependence on imports.

Thermal runway: https://optimizeias.com/ev-fires/

10. Global ‘Stilling’: If you feel the wind is coming to a halt, climate change may be behind it

Subject: Geography

Context:

• Parts of Europe have reported a ‘wind drought’, as wind speed in many places slowed about 15 per cent below the annual average or even more.
• Researchers suspect a global ‘stilling’ is at play — wind speed slacking as global temperatures go up.

Global ‘Stilling’–

• 2021’s summer fall was one of the least windy periods in the United Kingdom in the past 60 years.
• The recent declines in surface winds over Europe renewed concerns about a ‘global terrestrial stilling’ linked with climate change.
• Annual wind speeds dropped by 5-15 per cent in large parts of Europe, central Asia, eastern Asia and North America, a 2010 study published in Nature journal
• The most pronounced effect was seen across Eurasia.
• Global mean annual wind speed decreased significantly at a rate of 2.3 per cent per decade during the first three decades, beginning from 1978.

What does the study say–

• Winckler was the author of a 2021 study that looked into the behaviour of winds by examining where and how much dust settled on earth during the Pliocene era.
• The era from 33 million to 2.58 million years ago had temperatures and carbon dioxide levels similar to what they are today.
• Her models indicate “that the winds [will be] weaker and stiller.”
• By 2100, wind speeds will decrease over most of the western US and the East Coast, but the central US will increase. Several other studies predict similar variability — both regional and seasonal — worldwide.

Conflicting Data–

• In 2019, though, a group of researchers found that after 2010, global average wind speeds had actually increased — from 7 miles per hour to 4 miles per hour.
• However, it also indicated speedier winds over a nine-year period, contrary to last summer in the UK.
• While stilling has occurred in some parts of the world, the report also noted wind is blowing more fiercely — and more often — than ever before. Earlier this year in central New Mexico, for example, wildland firefighters, ranchers, and others described wind events as unprecedented.
• Despite conflicting data, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forecast slowing winds for the coming decades.
• Average annual wind speeds could drop by up to 10 per cent by 2100, according to IPCC.

Factors responsible for global stilling–

• Along with global warming, another factor behind stilling may be ‘surface roughness’ — an uptick in the number and size of urban buildings that drag on winds.
• The wind has been an overlooked element of climate change studies, which helps explain why the debate over these trends continues.
• It seems likely that the movement of the westerlies towards the poles observed in the modern era will continue with further human-induced warming.
• Westerlies are the prevailing mid-latitude winds that blow from west to east.

Effects on power generation–

• Wind farms produced 18 per cent of the UK’s power in September of 2020, but in September of 2021, that percentage plummeted to only two per cent.
• The UK was forced to restart two non-operational coal plants to make up the energy gap.
• Europe is all in on wind power as an alternative to coal and other fossil fuels.
• About a fourth of the UK’s energy is from offshore wind turbines and the European Union gets about 15 per cent of its electricity from wind.
• Wind farms provide nearly 10 per cent of utility-scale electricity generation in the United States.
• By 2050 the amount of power produced is projected to nearly quadruple.
• But if wind speeds diminish, it could be harder to reach that goal.

Conclusion–

• The recent wind drought is a clear reminder of how variable this form of generation can be.
• It cannot be the sole investment for a reliable future energy grid.

11. Citizenship Amendment Act 2019

Subject :Polity

Objective is to grant Indian Citizenship to persecuted minorities : Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Christians, Parsi and Buddhist from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who entered India on or before 31st December, 2014.

It exempts the members of the six communities from any criminal case under the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Passport Act, 1920.

Issues regarding it:

• Violates basic tenets of constitution by distinguishing illegal immigrants on basis of religion
• Violative of Article 14 ( equality before law & equal protection of law)
• Naturalizes citizenship of illegal immigrants in region

Exemptions provided under the Act:

• Not apply to the areas under 6th schedule ( Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram)
• Not cover those areas that fall under Inner Line Permit under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873

Act and Article 14

First, any differentiation between groups of persons must be founded on “intelligible differentia”; and second, “that differentia must have a rational nexus to the object sought to be achieved by the Act”.

12. Historic agreement to end crisis between adivasis and tea gardeners

Subject : government schemes

Context: Union Minister of Home Affairs & Minister of Cooperation, Sh. Amit Shah presided over the signing of historic agreement between Government of India, Government of Assam and representatives of eight Adivasi Groups in New Delhi today.

Concept:

• The historic agreement is  between Government of India, Government of Assam and representatives of eight Adivasi Groups .
• Objective: The agreement was signed to end decades old crisis of Adivasis and tea garden workers in Assam.This agreement is in the direction of making North-East extremism free by 2025.

Features of the agreement:  

• The agreement also provides for the establishment of a Tribal Welfare and Development Council with a view to ensure speedy and focused development of tea gardens.
• The agreement provides for setting up of an Adivasi Welfare & Development Council by the Govt. of Assam with the objective of fulfilling the political, economic and educational aspirations; protecting, preserving and promoting social, cultural, linguistic and ethnic identities; and ensuring accelerated and focused development of the Adivasi inhabited villages/ areas as well as tea gardens all over the State.
• A special development package of 1000 crore (Rs.500 crore each by Government of India and Government of Assam) will be provided over a period of five years for infrastructure development in villages/areas with tribal population.
• The agreement also provides for rehabilitation and re-settlement of armed cadres and measures for welfare of the tea garden workers.

13. ANGAN 2.0

Subject : government schemes

Context: A three-day international conference ANGAN 2022 (Augmenting Nature by Green Affordable New-habitat), second edition, titled “Making the Zero-Carbon Transition in Buildings” began on 14th September, 2022.

Concept:

ANGAN 2.0, is being organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, in collaboration with Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC) under the Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP).

Theme: The conference witnessed deliberation on critical issues like “Unlocking Finance for Low-Carbon Buildings, “Thermal Comfort and Climate Resilience in Residential buildings”. The Conference had special sessions on “Women in the Resource Efficiency Conversation”.

The objective of this conference: It is to promote a healthy ecosystem which was mentioned at COP 26 in Glasgow by on LiFE (Lifestyle And Environment) and Panchamrit,and aiming to make India Net Zero by 2070.

Features:

• This conference also hosts an exhibition of various low carbon products, technologies and innovations applicable in the building sector.
• The conference is for offering innovative technologies and solutions for energy-efficient and low-carbon buildings addressed the conference and around 20 companies showcased their products and services which included, low-carbon building materials, external movable shading systems, energy-efficient space cooling technologies in the exhibition accompanying the conference.

Building Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP)

• Building Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) is a bilateral cooperation project between the Ministry of Power, Government of India, and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of the Swiss Confederation. It was started in
• The project’s central focus is to help India mainstream Energy-Efficient and Thermally Comfortable (EETC) Building Design for both commercial and residential buildings.
• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency is BEEP’s implementing agency for the Ministry of Power, while the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation oversees the project for FDFA.
• BEEP works with building industry, policy makers, and building owners to catalyze adoption of EETC building design and technologies.
• BEEP has provided technical support to BEE in the formulation of Eco-Niwas Samhita (energy conservation building code for residential buildings), design of around 50 buildings and trained more than 5000 building sector professionals.

14. Ramakrishna Mission’s ‘Awakening’ Programme

Subject : History

Context: Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched Ramakrishna Mission’s ‘Awakening’ Programme for students of classes I to V.

Concept:

Ramakrishna Mission’s ‘Awakening’ Programme

• Ramakrishna Mission from 2014 onwards has been successfully conducting the Awakened Citizen Program (ACP) for middle school students to enable them to build “ATMASHRADDHA” (Self-esteem) and make responsible choices.
• There has been a demand from educationists for a similar program for Primary school In response to this, a program called ‘Awakening’ 
• Ramakrishna Mission has a legacy of imparting applied education. This unique initiative is a step towards ensuring holistic personality development of a child aligned with the philosophy of NEP 2020.

Ramakrishna Mission (RKM)

• Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Missionare worldwide, non-political, non-sectarian spiritual organizations which have been engaged in various forms of humanitarian, social service activities for more than a century. Inspired by the ideals of renunciation and service, the monks and lay devotees of the Math and Mission serve millions of men, women and children, without any distinction of caste, religion or race, because they see the living God in them
• The organizations were brought into existence by Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886), the great 19th century saint from Bengal who is regarded as the Prophet of the Modern Age, and Sri Ramakrishna’s chief disciple, Swami Vivekananda(1863-1902), one of the foremost thinkers and religious leaders of the present age, who is regarded as ‘one of the main moulders of the modern world’, in the words of an eminent Western scholar A.L. Basham.
• Although Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are legally and financially separate, they are closely inter-related in several ways and are regarded as twin organizations.
• These twin organizations have set in motion a non-sectarian, universal spiritual movement which has been silently working for more than a hundred years to catalyze the spiritual regeneration of humanity.

MOTTO: The motto of the twin organizations is ATMANO MOKSHARTHAM JAGAD HITAYA CHA, “For one’s own salvation and for the welfare of the world”.  It was formulated by Swami Vivekananda.

IDEALS: Work as worship, potential divinity of the soul, and harmony of religions are three of the noteworthy ideals on which these two organizations are based.

HEADQUARTERS: The headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are situated at an area named Belur on the banks of ganga  in the district of Howrah, West Bengal, India.  The entire campus of the headquarters is popularly known as ‘Belur Math’.

Vedanta (also known as Uttara Mīmāṃsā) is one of the six (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy. Literally meaning “end of the Vedas”, Vedanta reflects ideas that emerged from the philosophies contained in the Upanishads.

15. ‘E-Baal Nidan’ portal

Subject : Government scheme

Context: Keeping in view the observations made by the Hon’ble Supreme Court for coordinated working of NCPCR and SCPCRs and Section 13(2) of CPCR Act, 2005, NCPCR will be providing access to all SCPCRs on the “E-Baal Nidan” portal.

Concept:

• The NCPCR to fulfil its mandate and functions under Section 13 of the CPCR Act, 2005 had developed an online complaint mechanism “E-BaalNidan” in 2015.
• It is an online portal wherein any person can register a complaint reporting about any violation committed against a child and after such registration, the complainant will get a complaint registration number.
• The progress of redressal of the complaint in the Commission can be tracked by the complainant.

16. The Water Scarcity Clock

Subject : Science and Tech

Concept: 

Water Scarcity Clock:

The Water Scarcity Clock was created by World Data Lab with funding by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany and in partnership with the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).

What are the features of the Water Scarcity Clock?

• This free webtool visualizes the number of people living in water scarce areas.
• It can explore affected parts of the world through a variety of interactive functionality.
• The Water Scarcity Clock can be used to compare water availability and water use between countries.
• Water availability numbers are also dynamically presented and adjusted to display the percentage of global and local populations living in areas within different thresholds of scarcity.

Why was this tool created?

• The aim of the Water Scarcity Clock is to raise global awareness about the reality of water as a finite resource and provide decision-makers with granular and actionable information to inform action towards global achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6.