Daily Prelims Notes 21 August 2020

August 21, 2020
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Table Of Contents

1. Swachh Survekshan 2020

Subject: Government scheme

Context:

The results of the fifth edition of the nationwide annual cleanliness survey, ‘Swachh Survekshan 2020,’ are out and Madhya Pradesh’s Indore has yet again made it as India’s cleanest city.

Concept:

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)has announced the results of Swachh Survekshan 2020
The Swachh Survekshan ranks cites across the country in the categories of cleanliness and sanitation on four parameters — direct observations, citizen feedback, service-level progress and certification with 1,500 marks allotted for each category.
It was launched as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which aimed to make India clean and free of open defecation by 2 October 2019.
The first survey was undertaken in 2016 and covered 73 cities; by 2019 the survey had grown to cover 4237 cities and was said to be the largest cleanliness survey in the world.
The surveys are carried out by the Quality Council of India.

2. Central Water Commission

Subject: Government organisation

Context:

Central Water Commission issues flood warning in Krishna basin in Karnataka

Concept:

Central Water Commission is a premier Technical Organization of India in the field of Water Resources
It is functioning as an attached office of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India.
The Commission is entrusted with the general responsibilities of initiating, coordinating and furthering in consultation of the State Governments concerned, schemes for control, conservation and utilization of water resources throughout the country, for purpose of Flood Control, Irrigation, Navigation, Drinking Water Supply and Water Power Development. It also undertakes the investigations, construction and execution of any such schemes as required.
CWC is headed by a Chairman, with the status of Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government of India.

3. National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19

Subject: Government organisation

Context:

The Ministry of External Affairs has said it will provide inputs and support to the recently set up National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 to help Indian companies that are interested in any candidate vaccines developed worldwide get connected.

Concept:

Government has set up an National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19.
The purpose of the group is to keep India in the forefront of any ongoing effort worldwide to innovate, prepare, produce and launch candidate vaccines to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, for India and for the world.

4. India and Bangladesh

Subject: IR

Context:

The Indian Foreign Secretary called on Bangladeshi Prime Minister. Both sides discussed cooperation on several fronts amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Concept:

India’s developmental assistance in Bangladesh as also the projects in the area of connectivity and power were discussed. Several of these projects, including the Rampal Maitree Power Plant, India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, and rail links between Akhaura-Agartala and Chilahati-Haldibari and Khulna-Mongla rail line are expected to get completed next year.
There were discussions relating to the cooperation in the areas of security, including fencing and joint efforts to prevent trans-border crimes. The issue of safe repatriation of internally displaced persons from the Rakhine state also came up for discussion

5. Breach of privilege

Subject: Polity

Context:

MP Dubey gave a notice of breach of privilege against MP Shashi Tharoor after the office of the chairman of the standing committee sent a letter to Facebook, seeking an explanation on The Wall Street Journal report

Concept:

Parliamentary privilege refers to rights and immunities enjoyed by Parliament as an institution and MPs in their individual capacity, without which they cannot discharge their functions as entrusted upon them by the Constitution
According to the Constitution, the powers, privileges and immunities of Parliament and MP’s are to be defined by Parliament (Article 105). No law has so far been enacted in this respect.
In the absence of any such law, it continues to be governed by British Parliamentary conventions.
A breach of privilege is a violation of any of the privileges of MPs/Parliament. Among other things, any action ‘casting reflections’ on MPs, parliament or its committees; could be considered breach of privilege.
A notice is moved in the form of a motion by any member of either House against those being held guilty of breach of privilege
The Speaker/Chairperson can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament.
If the Speaker/Chair gives consent under Rule 222, the member concerned is given an opportunity to make a short statement.

6. Science and Technology Indicators (STI), 2018

Subject: Reports

Context:

Science and Technology Indicators (STI), 2018, a periodic compendium of the state of scientific research in India was recently released.

Concept:

It is prepared by National Science and Technology Management Information System, a division of the Department of Science Technology.
It is based on data provided by a range of scientific establishments across India.

Findings:

India’s private sector research companies appear to employ a larger proportion of women in core research and development activities than government-funded major scientific agencies
The 2018 indicators reiterate the historic trend of India’s scientists being overwhelmingly men.

7. Prime Minister Employment Generation Program

Subject: Government schemes

Context:

Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) has contributed to a substantial increase in job opportunities since April 2020

Concept:

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is implementing Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), which is a major credit-linked subsidy programme aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector by helping traditional artisans and unemployed youth.
The scheme is being implemented by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), State Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) and District Industries centres (DIC).
Under the scheme, loan is being provided by all Public Sector Banks, selected Private Sector Banks and Co-operative Banks with margin money subsidy being given by Ministry of MSME through KVIC.

8. Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage

Subject: Science and tech

Context:

Researchers interested in translational research on Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) have a major opportunity to accelerate and mature their technology and research activities as solutions to the growing problem of global climate change.

Concept:

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), also referred to as carbon capture, utilization and sequestration, is a process that captures carbon dioxide emissions from sources like coal-fired power plants and either reuses or stores it so it will not enter the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide storage in geologic formations includes oil and gas reservoirs, unmineable coal seams and deep saline reservoirs — structures that have stored crude oil, natural gas, brine and carbon dioxide over millions of years.
CCUS is one of the identified innovation challenges in the Mission Innovation (MI) Programme, a global initiative of 24 countries and the European Union to accelerate the global clean energy innovation in which the Department of Science & Technology (DST) is an active partner.

9. Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana

Subject: Schemes

Context:

Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana has been extended by one more year to June 30, 2021 and Centre announced that workers can directly claim 50 per cent of the average wage as against 25 per cent earlier, payable up to 90 days of joblessness

Concept:

The ESI Corporation has launched a scheme named ‘Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana’ (ABVKY)
It aims to financially support those who lost their jobs or rendered jobless for whatsoever reasons due to changing employment pattern.
Its beneficiaries will be insured persons covered under Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 for period of two years continuously.
It provides relief to the extent of 25% of the average per day earning during the previous four contribution periods to be paid up to maximum 90 days of unemployment once in lifetime of the IP on submission of claim in form of an Affidavit.
The Scheme has been made effective from July 2018.