Daily Prelims Notes 6 January 2021

January 6, 2021
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes 6 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. G-TAM

Subject: Economy

Context: In December, 90 million units of electricity were sold in G-TAM (Green Term Ahead Market) of India’s Biggest Energy Exchange, the IEX.

Concept:

G-TAM

Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) in electricity launched as a first step towards greening the Indian short term power market.
It is an alternative new model introduced for selling off the power by the renewable developers in the open market on daily and short term basis without getting into long term PPAs.(Power Purchase Agreements).

Features of G-TAM:

Transactions through GTAM will be bilateral in nature with clear identification of corresponding buyers and sellers, there will not be any difficulty in accounting for RPO.
GTAM contracts will be segregated into Solar RPO & Non-Solar RPO as RPO targets are also segregated.
Further, within the two segments, GTAM contracts will have Green Intraday, Day Ahead Contingency, Daily and Weekly Contracts
Green Intraday Contract & Day Ahead Contingency Contract – Bidding will take place on a 15-minute time-block wise MW basis.
Daily & Weekly Contracts – Bidding will take place on an MWh basis.
Price discovery will take place on a continuous basis i.e. price-time priority basis. Subsequently, looking at the market conditions open auction can be introduced for daily & weekly contracts.
Energy scheduled through GTAM contract shall be considered as deemed Renewable Purchase Obligations(RPO) compliance of the buyer.

Significance

The introduction of GTAM platform would lessen the burden on RE-rich States and incentivize them to develop RE capacity beyond their own RPO.
This would promote RE merchant capacity addition and help in achieving RE capacity addition targets of the country.
GTAM platform will also lead to increase in number of participants in renewable energy sector.
It will benefit buyers of RE through competitive prices and transparent and flexible procurement.

2. WOMEN SCIENTIST PROGRAMME

Subject: Government Schemes

Context : Vice President said that while India produces the highest percentage of women STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Management) graduates in the world — about 40 percent but their share in jobs these categories in the country is very low — 14 per cent.

He also lauded the Centre’s ‘Women Scientists’ programme that encourages women to take up careers in science and maths.

Concept:

About the Scheme:

Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched “Women Scientists Scheme (WOS).
Under this scheme, women scientists are being encouraged to pursue research in frontier areas of science and engineering, on problems of societal relevance and to take up S&T-based internship followed by self-employment
This initiative primarily aimed at providing opportunities to women scientists and technologists between the age group of 27-57 years who had a break in their career and not having regular employment, to explore possibility of re-entry into the profession..
Following three categories of fellowships, with research grants, are available for India citizen:
Women Scientist Scheme-A(WOS-A): Research in Basic/Applied Science
Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B): S&T interventions for Societal Benefit
Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C): Internship in Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) for the Self-Employment.

Qualifications:

Minimum Post Graduate degree, equivalent to M.Sc. in Basic or Applied Sciences or B.Tech. or MBBS or other equivalent professional qualifications
Phil/M.Tech/M.Pharm/M.VSc or equivalent qualifications
D. in Basic or Applied Sciences.

3. RASHTRIYA KAMDHENU AAYOG

Subject: Government Schemes

Context: The examination – Kamdhenu Gau-VigyanPrachar-PrasarPareeksha – will be held on February 25, Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) chairman VallabhbhaiKathiria said.

Concept:

The exam will be conducted in four categories: primary level (up to class VIII); for students between classes IX and XII; a third category for college and university students; and the fourth will be open to all, in which not only Indian citizens but anyone can appear.
The exam will be conducted by Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog(RKA)under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

About RKA:

RKA has been constituted by the Government of India for the conservation, preservation, protection and development of cows and their progenies and for giving directions for the cattle development programmes.

Functions:

The Aayog will work in collaboration with Veterinary, Animal Sciences or Agriculture University or departments or organizations of the Central/State Government engaged in the task of research in the field of breeding and rearing of cow, organic manure, biogas etc.
It will take up scientific activities for genetic upgradation and increasing productivity of cows.
It will provide the policy framework and direction to the cow conservation and development programmes in the country and for ensuring proper implementation of laws with respect to the welfare of cows.

4. AEPS AND ABPS

Subject: Economy

Concept:

Aadhaar Enabled Payment system (AEPS)

Aadhaar Enabled Payment System is a payment service empowering a bank customer to use Aadhaar as his/her identity to access his/ her respective Aadhaar enabled bank account and perform basic banking transactions.
This initiative has been taken up by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which is an umbrella organization for all retail payments system in India and was started by joint efforts of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
Under AEPS currently following services are present:

Balance Enquiry

Aadhaar to Aadhaar Fund Transfer

Cash Withdrawal

Cash Deposit

Best finger detection.

Benefits of AEPS :

Aadhaar enabled Payment system is easy to use, safe and secure payment platform to avail benefits by using Aadhaar number & finger prints.
Aadhaar enabled Payment System facilitate disbursements of Government entitlements like NREGA, Social Security pension, Handicapped Old Age Pension etc. of any Central or State Government bodies, using Aadhaar authentication.
Aadhaar enabled Payment System facilitates inter-operability across banks in a safe and secured manner – Reaching the unreached.
The model enable banks to extend financial services to the unreached clients beyond their branch network as beneficiaries of the BCs are mostly located at unbanked and underbanked areas.

Aadhaar Payment Bridge System

APBS is a gateway created by National Payments Corporation of India to enable departments and agencies administering government schemes to transfer funds to Aadhaar-enabled bank accounts of beneficiaries.
It acts on the principle that a person’s Aadhaar number becomes their financial address.
Instead of providing multiple account details to receive a bank transfer, one only has to provide their Aadhaar number which significantly eases out the entire process.
Induction of a bank account into APBS involves two distinct steps, both of which are meant to be based on informed consent. First, the account must be linked or ‘Seeded’ with the customer’s Aadhaar number.
Second, it must be connected to the NPCI mapper, which serves as a repository of Aadhaar numbers linked with particular bank and used for the purpose of routing the Aadhaar based payment transactions to the destination banks. This step is known as “mapping”.
In cases of multiple accounts for the same person, the APBS automatically sends money to the latest-mapped account.

Benefits of APBS

It sub-serves the goal of financial inclusion and provides an opportunity to the government to attempt financial re-engineering of its subsidy management program.
The implementation of ABP System has also led to electronification of a large number of retail payment transaction which were predominantly either in cash or cheque.
It eliminates inordinate delays, multiple channels & paper-work involved in the existing system making the process less cumbersome and eco-friendly and transfers benefits & subsidies in a seamless & timely manner and directly into the Aadhaar Enabled Bank Account.

5. CABINET COMMITTEE ON PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

Subject : Polity

Context : The Budget Session of Parliament is likely to begin on January 29 and the Union Budget will be presented on February 1.

The more than two-month-long session with a recess of 20 days is expected to be held along with a number of precautions and curbs in view of Covid-19, sources said.

Concept :

Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) decided to hold the first part of the session from January 29 to February 15, to be followed by another month-long session from March 8.
The government is expected to reach out to opposition leaders before the announcement.

About CCPA :

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs draws the schedule for Parliament sessions and monitors the progress of government business in Parliament.
It is the only Cabinet Committee headed by Union Home Minister where all other are headed by PM.
It scrutinises non-government business and decides which official Bills and resolutions are to be presented.

Cabinet Committees

The Cabinet Committees are extra-constitutional in emergence.
In other words, they are not mentioned in the Constitution. However, the Rules of Business provide for their establishment.
The executive in India works under the Government of India Transaction of Business Rules, 1961.
These Rules emerge out of Article 77(3) of the Constitution, which states: “The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business.”
The Prime Minister constitutes Standing Committees of the Cabinet and sets out the specific functions assigned to them. He can add or reduce the number of committees.

6. STATE DISASTER

Subject : Disaster Management

Context : The avian flu outbreak has been classified as a ‘state disaster’ in Kerala after the Centre notified the outbreak of H5N8 subset of Influenza A in the two districts.

Concept :

State Disaster :

A State Government may use up to 10 percent of the funds available under the SDRF for providing immediate relief to the victims of natural disasters that they consider to be ‘disasters’ within the local context in the State
It should not be included in the notified list of disasters of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
is subject to the condition that the State Government has listed the State specific natural disasters and notified clear and transparent norms and guidelines for such disasters with the approval of the State Authority, i.e., the State Executive Authority (SEC).

Influenza A(H5N8) virus:

Influenza A viruses are classified into subtypes based on two surface proteins, Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA).
H5N8 avian influenza is a disease of birds, caused by Type “A” influenza viruses, which can affect several species of domestic poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, ducks, as well as pet birds, wild migratory birds and water fowl.
There are no known cases of H5N8 in human beings. Risk to general public is very low.
There is also no evidence that consumption of poultry meat or eggs could transmit the virus to humans.
But necessary precautions are required while handling sick/dead birds and contaminated material during control and containment operations .

7. GLOBAL ECONOMIC PROSPECTUS REPORT

Subject : International Report

Context : Global economic output is projected to grow by 4% in 2021 assuming widespread roll-out of a COVID-19 vaccine throughout the year, as per the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report.

Concept :

This projection is still 5% below pre-pandemic levels. India is expected to grow at 5.4% in fiscal year 2021-22 and 5.2% in fiscal 2022-23 after an expected contraction of 9.6% in fiscal 2020-21.

About the Report

The World Bank produces the GEP twice a year, in January and June, as part of its in-depth analysis of key global macroeconomic developments and their impact on member countries.
The GEP provides intelligence in support of achieving development goals and is a trusted resource for member countries, stakeholders, civil organizations and researchers.

8. ASIAN WATER BIRD CENSUS

Subject : Environment

Context : The two-day Asian Waterbird Census-2020 commenced in Andhra Pradesh under the aegis of experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), covering at least two dozen sites, including Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Kolleru Lake and Krishna Sanctuary.

Concept :

Asian Waterbird Census:

The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) is an international programme that focuses on monitoring the status of water birds and wetlands. It also aims to increase public awareness on issues related to wetland and water bird conservation.
In India, the AWC is annually coordinated by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Wetlands International.
Asian Waterbird Census is a part of the global project ‘International Waterbird Census Programme’ and is carried out every year in January.
The data collected each year is shared by Wetlands International with global conservation organisations such as IUCN and Ramsar Convention, while state coordinators share data with local wildlife departments to ensure conservation and sustainable management of wetlands in the region.

Bombay Natural History Society:

BNHS is a non government Organisation (NGO) founded in the year 1883, and is engaged in conservation and biodiversity research.
BNHS is the partner of Bird Life International in India. It has been designated as a ‘Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’ by the Department of Science and Technology.