Daily Prelims Notes 26 January 2023

January 26, 2023
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Daily Prelims Notes

26 January 2023

Table Of Contents

1. January 26 – Republic Day

Subject: History

Concept :

Republic Day (74rd) is celebrated every year on 26th January to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution, which came into effect on this day in 1950.
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and citizens are expected to abide by it.
26 January was chosen as the date for this occasion because this was the day in 1930 when the Indian National Congress had demanded Complete Independence or Purna Swaraj, as opposed to the Dominion Status.
On this day, every year, the grand Republic Day Parade is held at the national capital New Delhi at the Rajpath. The parade showcases India’s military might, defence forces and cultural heritage. The salute is taken by the President of the country, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
The parade starts from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President’s (formerly the Viceroy’s) official residence.

Background:

India became an independent nation on 15th August, 1947 — a date thrust upon by Lord Louis Mountbatten, as it marked the second anniversary of Japan’s submission to allied powers after World War II.
After India became independent, it did not have its own constitution. The laws were based on a common law system and a modified version of the “Government of India Act, 1935”, which was brought in by the British government.
Approximately two weeks later, a Drafting Committee was appointed to draft the Indian Constitution with Dr BR Ambedkar as the chairman. The Indian Constitution was finally ready and adopted on 26th November, 1949 (Constitution Day).
The Constitution came into effect after two months, on 26th January, 1950.
The Indian National Congress, on 19th December, 1929, passed a historic resolution of “Purna Swaraj” or complete self-rule at its Lahore session.
It was declared by the Congress party that 26th January, 1930, will be celebrated as “Independence Day” by the Indians.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was the President of Congress party, hoisted the tricolor on the banks of the Ravi river in Lahore. This day was celebrated as Poorna Swaraj day for the next 17 years.
Thus, when the Constitution of India was adopted on 26th November, 1949, many considered it necessary to celebrate and enforce the document on a day associated with national pride, which was – 26th January.

2. Why republic day is celebrated?

Context – 26^th January is celebrated as Republic Day

Concept –

The Preamble to the Constitution declares that India is a ‘Republic’.
The primary collective intent behind a republic is anti-monarchical. The Greeks defined monarchy as the ‘rule of one (mono)’, a form of government where one person rules and all others obey; one is sovereign, all others his subjects.
- Monarchy entails surrender to the arbitrary power of another person, allowing whimsical intrusion in our choices, living at the mercy of the master. It breeds slavery.
The English word ‘republic’ is derived from the Latin ‘Res publica’ — the public thing. This translates in the political domain into decision-making in the open, in full view of all.
- A republic then is associated with what we today call the ‘public sphere’, an open space where people put forward claims about what is good for the community, what is in collective interest.
- After discussing, debating and deliberating upon them, they reach decisions about which laws to have and what course of action to take.
- A republic is ‘government by free and open discussion’.
To have a republic is to have a free people. This is why Gandhi’s swaraj is an important republican idea.
And also why the republican tradition emphasises the importance of citizenship. After all, to be a citizen is to belong to a political community where one can express oneself and act freely. Citizens alone have political liberty. Without it, we are mere subjects.
For republic-lovers, political liberty means not unbridled freedom to do whatever one pleases (negative liberty), but to live by laws made by citizens themselves, that are a product of their own will, not the arbitrary will of others. This explains why republics have a constitution generated by a deliberative body of citizens which provides the basic law of the land, the fundamental framework of governance.

‘Republic’ and ‘democratic’

In French republican tradition, the two terms are used interchangeably.
The idea of the republic conveys that decisions shall be made not by a single individual but by citizens after due deliberation in an open forum. But this is consistent with a narrow criterion of who counts as a citizen.
What the term ‘democratic’ brings to our Constitution is that citizenship be available to everyone, regardless of their wealth, education, gender, perceived social ranking, religion, race, or ideological beliefs. The word ‘democracy’ makes the republic inclusive. No one is excluded from citizenship.
A republic must, at the very least, have perpetually vigilant citizens who act as watchdogs, monitor their representatives, and retain the right to contest any law or policy made on their behalf. By going beyond mere counting of heads, the term ‘republic’ brings free public discussion to our democratic constitution. It gives depth to our democracy.
- It is mandatory that decisions taken by the representatives of the people be properly deliberated, remain open to scrutiny, and be publicly, legally contested even after they have been made.
When the farmers came out on the streets to peacefully challenge the three farm laws made by the current government, they exercised not only their democratic rights but also exhibited the highest of republican virtues. It is to celebrate such political acts of citizens that we have the Republic Day.

3. Posthumous Padma Vibhushan for SP founder, ORS pioneer

Content:

Dilip Mahalanabis

Oral Rehydration Therapy, which saves millions of infants from the clutches of death every year, not just in India, but across the globe, is a treatment for diarrhoea that was developed as an easy to-use treatment procedure by an Indian doctor, Dilip Mahalanabis, who was working to prevent and treat dehydration among refugees of the Bangladesh war in 1971.Based on the treatment methods adopted by Dr Mahalanabis, WHO launched in 1978 the global diarrhoeal disease control programme, with ORS as the main strategy.

Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is a type of fluid replacement used to prevent and treat dehydration, especially due to diarrhea. It involves drinking water with modest amounts of sugar and salts, specifically sodium and potassium.

About Padma Award

The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.
Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, is announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day except for brief interruption(s) during the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.
The Awards are given in three categories:
- Padma Vibhushan – for exceptional and distinguished service),
- Padma Bhushan – distinguished service of higher order) and
- Padma Shri – distinguished service.
The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
The nomination process is open to the public. Even self-nomination can be made.
All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards.
- However, Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these Awards.
The award is normally not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously.
A higher category of Padma award can be conferred on a person only where a period of at least five years has elapsed since conferment of the earlier Padma award. However, in highly deserving cases, a relaxation can be made by the Awards Committee.
The awards are presented by the President of India usually in the month of March/April every year where the awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
The recipients are also given a small replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial/State functions etc., if the awardees so desire. The names of the awardees are published in the Gazette of India on the day of the presentation ceremony.
The total number of awards to be given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and to NRI/foreigners/OCIs) should not be more than 120.
The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.

Who decides?

All nominations received for Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members.
The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.

Bharat Ratna

Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the country.
It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.
It is treated on a different footing from Padma Award. The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India.
The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.

4. Similipal National Park a poacher’s paradise

Subject: Environment

Section : Places in news

Context: On January 22, carcass of a male elephant, whose population is already on a decline, was found.

More on the news:

Similipal has turned out to be the haven for hunters and poachers as the region has witnessed several killings of elephants, tigers and leopards.
The last elephant census of 2017 in the state recorded 344 males out of a total of 1,976.
About 20 adult breeding male elephants die each year, mostly to unnatural causes like poaching and electrocution. The dwindling breeding male population and the isolated populations due to fragmented forests is weakening the gene pool due to mating among immature individuals and inbreeding.

About Similipal National Park:

Simlipal is a tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district in the Indian state of Odisha
It is part of the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which includes three protected areas -Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary.
Simlipal National Park derives its name from the abundance of red silk cotton trees growing in the area.
The vast terrain of Similipal with wide altitudinal, climatic and topographic variations, criss-crossed by large number of perennial streams, harbours a unique blend of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats and Sub-Himalayan plant species.
The floristic composition indicates a connecting link between South Indian and North Eastern Sub-Himalayan Specie
Forest is predominantly moist mixed deciduous forest with tropical semi-evergreen forest in areas with suitable microclimatic conditions and sporadic patches of dry deciduous forests and grasslands. It forms the largest watershed of northern Odisha.
It holds the highest tiger population in Odisha, and harbours the only population of melanistic tigers in the world.
Other carnivores found here are leopard, leopard cat, fishing cat, jungle cat and wolf. The active management of mugger has revived its population on the banks of the rivers Khairi and Deo.
Similipal Tiger Reserve is also home to the largest population of elephants in Odisha.
This protected area is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2009.

About Elephants:

India is the natural home of the largest population of Asian elephants.It is also found in Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Asian Elephant- Endangered
Convention of the Migratory species (CMS): Appendix I
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

To know more about Elephant Conservation https://optimizeias.com/elephant-conservation-2/

5. Carbon dioxide removal

Subject: Environment

Section : Climate change

Context: Innovation in CDR is growing; so is the gap between CDR decided by IPCC and efforts to attain them

About Carbon dioxide removal

CDR is defined as “Anthropogenic activities removing CO2 from the atmosphere and durably storing it in geological, terrestrial, or ocean reservoirs, or in products. It includes existing and potential anthropogenic enhancement of biological or geochemical sinks and direct air capture and storage, but excludes natural CO2 uptake not directly caused by human activities.”
CDR is also known as negative CO2 emissions.
In the context of net zero greenhouse gas emissions targets, CDR is increasingly integrated into climate policy, as a new element of mitigation strategies.
CDR methods include afforestation, agricultural practices that sequester carbon in soils, bio-energy with carbon capture and storage, ocean fertilization, enhanced weathering, and direct air capture when combined with storage.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in its latest report, included 541 pathways that can limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celcius or 2°C. Almost all of these pathways involve some degree of CDR.

Potential for climate change mitigation:

There are two ways to remove carbon dioxide: The conventional method involving land management, primarily via afforestation and reforestation and ‘novel CDR methods’
Currently, over two billion tonnes of CO2 (GtCO2) per year are being removed globally, according to the report.
The current CDR of two GtCO2 per year (99.9 per cent) comes from conventional sources. And only 0.002 GtCO2 (0.1 per cent) is from novel CDR methods such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, biochar and direct air capture with carbon capture and storage, the document stated.
Using existing CDR methods at scales that can be safely and economically deployed, there is potential to remove and sequester up to 10 gigatons of carbon dioxide per year. This would offset greenhouse gas emissions at about a fifth of the rate at which they are being produced.
Innovation in CDR is growing significantly. Governments are investing in public research and development.

CDR Vs Carbon capture and storage (CCS):

CDR can be confused with carbon capture and storage (CCS), a process in which carbon dioxide is collected from point-sources such as gas-fired power plants, whose smokestacks emit CO2 in a concentrated stream. The CO2 is then compressed and sequestered or utilized.
When used to sequester the carbon from a gas-fired power plant, CCS reduces emissions from continued use of the point source, but does not reduce the amount of carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere.

More about Carbon Capture https://optimizeias.com/carbon-capture-and-global-warming/

6. Lake Victoria

Subject: Environment

Section : Places in news

Context: One of the largest lakes in the world, Lake Victoria, has been suffering from a variety of unsustainable human activities over the last five decades. Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment and National Environment Management Council (NEMC), Tanzania have jointly released a report on managing its water quality.

Findings of the report:

Mwanza city as a hotspot, contributing a substantial pollution load in the form of industrial effluents, domestic sewage and dumping of solid waste.
It also recognised two rivers, the Mirongo and the Nyashishi as the major water bodies carrying domestic and industrial pollution loads, respectively.
The results showed substantial pollutant load in the rivers, which may be getting discharged in the lake.

About Lake Victoria:

Lake Victoria is the world’s second largest freshwater lake by surface area.
Its catchment area includes parts of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.
Also referred to as “Darwin’s Dreampond”, the lake is known for its high levels of unique biodiversity.
In terms of volume, Lake Victoria is the world’s ninth-largest continental lake and occupies a shallow depression in Africa.
Threats:
- IUCN report assessed the global extinction risk of 651 freshwater species, including fishes, molluscs, dragonflies, crabs, shrimps and aquatic plants native to the Lake Victoria Basin, in East Africa.
- African Lungfish was declining in the lake basin largely due to overfishing, poor fishing practices and environmental degradation as wetlands were being converted to agricultural land.
- The purple flowered Water Hyacinth was accidentally introduced to Lake Victoria from South America in the 1980s, and at its peak covered close to 10 per cent of the lake surface. It reduces the oxygen and nutrient availability in the water column, which negatively affects native biodiversity.
Tanzania has announced that it will establish a Lake Victoria Fisheries Trust Fund (LVTF) to conserve biological diversity and ensure socio-economic welfare of communities that depend on the lake for their livelihood.

7. APEDA to use river names as brand to export agri products

Context : As part of its promotion strategy for agri exports, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) proposes to use river names as tag line and branding for Indian agri products.

APEDA is identifying agri products that can be sourced from the Gangetic, Brahmaputra, Cauvery and Godavari river basins, among others, across the country.

Concept : According to APEDA GI tagged agri products have been well received in overseas market.

What is a Geographical Indication?

It is an indication
It originates from a definite geographical territory.
It is used to identify agricultural, natural or manufactured goods
It is an insignia on products having a unique geographical origin and evolution over centuries with regard to its special quality or reputed attributes.
It is a mark of authenticity and ensures that registered authorized users or at least those residing inside the geographic territory are allowed to use the popular product names.
GI tag in India is governed by Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. It is issued by the Geographical Indications Registry (Chennai).

What is the benefit of registration of geographical indications?

It confers legal protection to Geographical Indications in India
Prevents unauthorised use of a Registered Geographical Indication by others.
It promotes economic prosperity of producers of goods produced in a geographical territory.

What Indications are not registrable?

For registrability, the indications must fall within the scope of section 2(1)e of GI Act, 1999. Being so, it has to also satisfy the provisions of section 9, which prohibits registration of a Geographical Indication.

the use of which would be likely to deceive or cause confusion; or
the use of which would be contrary to any law for the time being in force; or
which comprises or contains scandalous or obscene matter; or
which comprises or contains any matter likely to hurt the time being in force; religious susceptibilities of any class or section of the citizens of India; or
which would otherwise be dismantled to protection in a court; or
which are determined to be generic names or indications of goods and are, therefore, not or ceased to be protected in their country of origin or which have fallen into disuse in that country; or
which although literally true as to the territory region or locality in which the goods originate, but falsely represent to the persons that the goods originate in another territory, region or locality as the case may be.

How long the registration of Geographical Indication is valid?

The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years
It can be renewed from time to time for further period of 10 years each.

8. Govt to release 30 lt wheat for open sale

Subject : Economy

Section : Msc

Context: A committee of ministers headed by Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the release of 30 lakh tonnes (lt) of wheat from the stocks held by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to control prices in the open market. The process of e-auction of stocks will commence immediately by FCI across the country until March 2023, an official statement said.

Concept :

Open Market Sale Scheme

Under the OMSS policy, the government allows the state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) to sell foodgrains, especially wheat and rice, at pre-determined prices in the open market from time to time to bulk consumers and private traders.

The aim is to enhance the supply of food grains, especially wheat during the lean season and thereby moderate the open market prices especially in the deficit regions.

The FCI conducts a weekly auction to conduct this scheme in the open market using the platform of commodity exchange NCDEX (National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited).For transparency in operations, the Corporation has switched over to e- auction for sale under Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic).

The State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations are also allowed to participate in the e-auction, if they require wheat and rice outside TPDS & OWS.

The present form of OMSS comprises 3 schemes as under:

Sale of wheat to bulk consumers/private traders through e-auction.
Sale of wheat to bulk consumers/private traders through e-auction by dedicated movement.
Sale of Raw Rice Grade ‘A’ to bulk consumers/private traders through e-auction.

9. Project 75 I

Context: Speculation abounds that the Indian Navy could cancel Project75 India (I)class for submarine product

About the Project 75:

This project envisages the indigenous construction of submarines equipped with a state-of-the-art Air Independent Propulsion system at an estimated cost of Rs. 43,000 crores.
Project 75 (I), approved in 2007, is part of the Indian Navy’s 30-year Plan for indigenous submarine construction.
It will be the first under the strategic partnership model which was promulgated in 2017 to boost indigenous defence manufacturing.
The strategic partnership model allows domestic defence manufacturers to join hands with leading foreign defence majors to produce high-end military platforms to reduce import dependence.
Acquisitions under the Strategic Partnership model refer to the participation of private Indian firms along with foreign OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) in ‘Make in India’ in defence.

About 30-year Submarine Plan:

The Cabinet Committee on Security, in June 1999, had approved a 30-year submarine-building plan which included the construction of 24 conventional submarines indigenously by 2030.
- P75I succeeded the P75 under which six diesel-electric attack submarines of the Kalvari class, based on the Scorpene class, were being built at MDL (Mazagon Dock Limited) – the six submarines under the project are: INS Kalavari, INS Khanderi, INS Kharanj, INS Vela, INS Vagir and INS Vagsheer.
- The fifth Diesel-electric attack submarine INS Vagir is commissioned.
Of the total 24 submarines to be built in India, six will be nuclear-powered.
India has only one nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, at the moment.
The INS Arighat, also a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, is to be commissioned soon.
INS Chakra, a nuclear submarine, which is taken on lease from Russia, is believed to be on its way back to the country of origin.

10. Pakistan Prime Minister to be invited for SCO summit

Concept :

SCO

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China) by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
It was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism.
The SCO’s main goals are as follows: strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states; promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.
The Heads of State Council (HSC) is the supreme decision-making body in the SCO. It meets once a year and adopts decisions and guidelines on all important matters of the organisation.
The SCO Heads of Government Council (HGC) meets once a year to discuss the organisation’s multilateral cooperation strategy and priority areas, .
The SCO’s official languages are Russian and Chinese.
The organisation has two permanent bodies — the SCO Secretariat based in Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent.
SCO comprises eight member states, namely India, Kazakhstan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russian, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan

11. Centre estimates 8-fold increase in millet procurement

Subject : Governance

Concept :

The Centre has estimated millet procurement in the country to increase from the current 67 lakh tonnes (lt) to 4050 lt over the next few years.
Nine States have launched separate missions with assured procurement and distribution of the nutricereals at subsidised rates.

Millets under NFSA 2013

Currently, the Centre allows procurement of maize, jowar, bajra and ragi under coarse cereals, which was sold at ₹1/kg before the government recently declared free distribution of grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013.
Centre is also considering the inclusion of minor millets ( local varieties ) grown in different states under its MSP Programme.
At present, millets such as jowar, bajra and ragi are procured by nine States with a minimum support price (MSP) announced by the Centre. Minor millets are not procured at the moment.

Minor Millets

Minor millets are high energy, nutritious foods comparable to other cereals and some of them are even better with regard to protein and mineral content.
They are particularly low in phytic acid and rich in dietary fibre, iron, calcium and B vitamins. As the millets are consumed by the poor, they guard them against food and nutritional insecurity imposed by various agronomic, socio economic and political factors.
Minor millets can thus act as a shield against nutritional deficiency disorders and provide nutritional security.
Traditionally, finger, kodo and poroso millets are brewed by tribal in certain parts of India. Popping of finger millet is done on cottage industry level and the popped meal is marketed in polyethylene pouches.

12. Jal Jeevan Mission

Subject :Government Schemes

Context: The Jal Shakti Ministry on Wednesday tweeted that the government had provided 11 crore rural households with a tap water connection

Mission

Jal Jeevan Mission is to assist, empower and facilitate:

States/ UTs in planning of participatory rural water supply strategy for ensuring potable drinking water security on long-term basis to every rural household and public institution, viz. GP building, School, Anganwadi centre, Health centre, wellness centres, etc.
States/ UTs for creation of water supply infrastructure so that every rural household has Functional Tap Connection (FHTC) by 2024 and water in adequate quantity of prescribed quality is made available on regular basis.
States/ UTs to plan for their drinking water security
GPs/ rural communities to plan, implement, manage, own, operate and maintain their own in-village water supply systems
Capacity building of the stakeholders and create awareness in community on significance of water for improvement in quality of life

Objectives

To provide FHTC to every rural household.
To prioritize provision of FHTCs in quality affected areas, villages in drought prone and desert areas, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages, etc.
To provide functional tap connection to Schools, Anganwadi centres, GP buildings, Health centres, wellness centres and community buildings
To monitor functionality of tap connections.
To promote and ensure voluntary ownership among local community by way of contribution in cash, kind and/ or labour and voluntary labour (shramdaan)
To assist in ensuring sustainability of water supply system, i.e. water source, water supply infrastructure, and funds for regular O&M
To empower and develop human resource in the sector such that the demands of construction, plumbing, electrical, water quality management, water treatment, catchment protection, O&M, etc. are taken care of in short and long term
To bring awareness on various aspects and significance of safe drinking water and involvement of stakeholders in manner that make water everyone’s business

Components under JJM

Efforts should be made to source funds from different sources/ programmes and convergence is the key
Development of in-village piped water supply infrastructure to provide tap water connection to every rural household
Development of reliable drinking water sources and/ or augmentation of existing sources to provide long-term sustainability of water supply system
Wherever necessary, bulk water transfer, treatment plants and distribution network to cater to every rural household
Technological interventions for removal of contaminants where water quality is an issue
Retrofitting of completed and ongoing schemes to provide FHTCs at minimum service level of 55 lpcd;
Greywater management
Support activities, i.e. IEC, HRD, training, development of utilities, water quality laboratories, water quality testing & surveillance, R&D, knowledge centre, capacity building of communities, etc.
Any other unforeseen challenges/ issues emerging due to natural disasters/ calamities which affect the goal of FHTC to every household by 2024, as per guidelines of Ministry of Finance on Flexi Funds
Funding Pattern: The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states,and 100% for Union Territories.
For the implementation of JJM, following institutional arrangement has been proposed:
- National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) at the Central level
- State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) at the State level
- District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) at the District level
- Village Water Sanitation Committee (VWSC) at Village level

13. Govt to provide special aid to States for road sector reforms

Subject : Economy

Section : Msc

Concept :

The Union Finance Minister has included road transport under the scheme for providing special assistance to States for capital investment.
Under this, States can get incentives for scrapping old vehicles.
It aims to provide incentives to State governments for scrapping government vehicles that are older than 15 years, waiver of liabilities on old vehicles, and tax concessions to individuals for scrapping old vehicles.

Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2022-23

An amount of ₹1.07 lakh crore has been allocated under the scheme.
It is provided to state governments in the form of 50 year interest free loan for capital projects.
The amount provided to states is over and above the Normal Borrowing Ceiling(NBC).
Financial assistance is provided through centre’s budgetary resources.
The amount will be disbursed in eight parts for various purposes like PM Gati Sakthi, PM Gram Sadak Yojana, incentive for digitalization, scrapping old vehicles, etc.

14. Can India’s BharOS replace Android, iOS?

Subject : Science and technology

Section :Computer related

Concept :

Developed by an IIT Madras-incubated startup, BharOS is being pitched as India’s answer to the Google-owned Android and Apple’s iOS, the two most dominant mobile operating systems in the world.
BharOS is not very distinct from Android and iOS.
Although there is no information publicly available on BharOS and its key features, it appears to be less of an alternative and more of a fork version of Android.

About BharOS

It is an indigenous mobile operating system (OS), like Android or iOS. It is focused on privacy and security.
A mobile operating system is a software that is the core interface on a smartphone like Android by Google and iOS by Apple, which help smartphone users interact with their device and access its features, while ensuring safety.
BharOS is a contribution towards the idea of a self-reliant India or ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by creating a secure OS environment for India-based users.
BharOS Services are currently being provided to organisations that have stringent privacy and security requirements and whose users handle sensitive information that requires confidential communications on restricted apps on mobiles.
Such users require access to private cloud services through private 5G networks.

Fork Version

In the simplest terms, there are two kinds of Forks.
One is compatible, built on the same Android Open Source Project, and also has access to Google’s Play Services because it complies with certain terms and conditions set by the company.
The ‘non-compatible’ ones do not have access to Play Services, including the Google Play Store. Google apps can be sideloaded onto these forks or other variants.

Features of BharOS:

Native Over the Air: BharOS would offer Native Over the Air (NOTA) updates, meaning that security updates and bug fixes will be automatically installed rather than users having to check for updates and implementing them on their own.
No Default Apps: No Default Apps (NDA) setting, means that users do not have to keep or use pre-installed apps in this mobile operating system.
NDA is key as many pre-installed apps that currently ship with other smartphones can slow down the device or take a toll on battery life by acting as bloatware.
Going with an NDA design for BharOS was intentional as it will let users have more control over the apps on their mobile phones based on the user’s trust in the app and the kind of data they store on their phone.
Private App Store Services: It will use a system known as Private App Store Services (PASS), which will examine and curate the apps that are safe for the users.
Users will be able to use other apps, as long as they meet BharOS’ PASS standards.

How BharOS is Different from Google Android?

BharOS is based on Android Open-Source Project (AOSP) and is somewhat similar to Google Android.
However, it does not come preloaded with Google services like in regular Google Android phones. So BharOS users are free to download only those apps that they like or prefer rather than being forced.
Android phone with stock OS usually have Chrome set up as default browser.
BharOS makers are looking to partner with DuckDuck Go for its default browser.
DuckDuck Go is a privacy-focused browser with several privacy-centric features like anonymous browsing mode and Privacy Grade.

15. U.S. and Germany sending tanks to Ukraine

Subject : International Relations

Section :International events

Concept :

The U.S. officially announced it will send American tanks (Abrams Tanks) to Ukraine as part of a coordinated effort with Germany( Leopard tanks), which will also send its tanks.
It’s a shift in U.S. policy and one of the most significant weapons upgrades that Ukraine has been asking for.

M1 Abrams tank

The M1 Abrams tank is among the most powerful ground weapons in the U.S. arsenal, able to close in on enemy tanks, troop positions and other targets, blast them with its cannon and machine guns, and then speed away.
The M1 Abrams entered service in 1980 and serves as the main battle tank of the United States Army and formerly of the United States Marine Corps (USMC).
The export version is used by the armies of Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Iraq.
There are three main operational Abrams versions, the M1, M1A1, and M1A2, with each new iteration seeing improvements in armament, protection, and electronics.
Extensive improvements have been implemented to the latest formerly designated M1A2 System Enhancement Package version 3 or SEPv3 and M1A2 SEPv4, respectively versions such as improved composite armor, better optics, digital systems and ammunition.
Use in battles
The Abrams was first used in combat in the Persian Gulf War and has seen combat in both the War in Afghanistan and Iraq War under U.S. service, while Iraqi Abrams tanks have seen action in the war against Islamic State and have seen use by Saudi Arabia during the Yemeni Civil War.

16. Earth’s inner core rotating slower: study

Subject : Geography

Section :Geomorphology

Context: The spin of Earth’s inner core may have slowed, with the heart of the planet now rotating at a slightly more sluggish clip than the layers above,

Concept :

The planet’s solid inner core might rotate at a different rate than the rest of the planet, and that rate might be changing.
The spin of Earth’s inner core may have slowed, with the heart of the planet now rotating at a slightly more sluggish clip than the layers above, new research finds.
The slowdown could change how rapidly the entire planet spins, as well as influence how the core evolves with time.

About the study

For the new study, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, scientists used a database of earthquakes to probe the behavior of Earth’s solid inner core over time.
The inner core sits suspended like a ball bearing in the molten-metal ocean of the outer cor
Because of this liquid cocoon, the “ball bearing” may not spin at the same rate as the rest of the planet.
Over the years, some researchers have found that the core rotates slightly faster than the mantle and crust, a condition called “super rotation.”
But it had been slowing down before coming in sync with Earth’s rotation around 2009, the study said
In the new study, the researchers studied quakes from 1995 to 2021, with a focus on doublets or repeating quakes with similar waveforms detected at the same location. By analysing changes in the time and propagation of these signals, they could estimate the rotation of the inner core, which is believed to move independently from the mantle and rest of the planet.
They found that the inner core’s super-rotation (faster rotation relative to the rotation of the mantle) stopped around the year 2009. They said these changes were observed from different parts of the Earth and confirmed a planet-wide phenomenon. Subsequently, the inner core began sub-rotation or rotating slower than the mantle

Earth Interior

The Earth’s inner structure consists of four major layers: the outermost crust, the viscous but solid mantle below it, the liquid iron-nickel outer core, and the solid iron inner core.
The inner core is a solid ball that is about 3/4th the size of the moon. It was discovered in 1936 when seismologists noticed patterns in how seismic waves caused by earthquakes travelled through the interior of the planet. Changes in the speed and direction of these waves showed that the inner core must be solid.
This solid ball is encased in the liquid outer core and thus spins freely. The liquid core essentially decouples the inner core from the rest of the planet, allowing it to rotate faster or slower.
The rotation of the outer liquid core produces the magnetic field around the Earth and the rotation of the inner core subsequently occurs due to electromagnetic forces.
When there are variations in the structure of the mantle and outer core, gravitational anomalies drive up or down the speed of the rotation of the inner core.

Core of the earth :

It is the innermost layer surrounding the earth’s centre.
The core is separated from the mantle by Guttenberg’s Discontinuity.
It is composed mainly of iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni) and hence it is also called as
The core constitutes nearly 15% of earth’s volume and 32.5% of earth’s mass.
The core is the densest layer of the earth with its density ranges between 9.5-14.5g/cm3.
The Core consists of two sub-layers: the inner core and the outer core.
The inner core is in solid state and the outer core is in the liquid state (or semi-liquid).
The discontinuity between the upper core and the lower core is called as Lehmann Discontinuity.
Barysphere is sometimes used to refer the core of the earth or sometimes the whole interior.

17. Monument Mitra Scheme

Subject : Schemes

Concept :

The government will hand over around 1,000 monuments under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India to the private sector for their upkeep under the Monument Mitra Scheme, announced Govind Mohan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Culture on Wednesday.
Corporate entities will take over these monuments as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
Under the scheme, monument amenities will be revamped by the private sector.
The government has set the target to hand over 500 sites under the revamped Monument Mitra Scheme by the end of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on15 August 2023.

Monument Mitra scheme

The scheme will bring more than a thousand monuments under the private sector. The private sector will revamp the monuments.
They will do this as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
Revamping means improving a structure or changing its appearance.
The monuments will be revamped in terms of amenities. The monuments will get sound and lighting systems. More shops will be opened. Steps to develop tourism will be implemented.
The scheme is to be implemented by the Ministry of Culture.
A thousand monuments selected under the scheme are now under the maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India.