Jal Jeevan Mission

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Governance (Important Policies)

Why in News? 

· Government of India is implementing the Har Ghar Jal initiative and providing safe drinking water in the fluoride affected areas under Jal Jeevan Mission

 Jal Jeevan Mission:

· It was launched in the year 2019. 

 · It promotes the supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household.

 · It will be completed by 2024. · It comes under the Ministry of Jal Shakti

· It ensures the use of conserved water, drinking water supply system.

 · It works for grey water treatment and its reuse. 

 Implementation:

 · Paani Samiti plan, implement, manage and maintain village water supply systems.

 · It consists of 10-15 members out of which 50% should be women.

 · Other members should be from Self-Help Groups, Accredited Social and Health Workers etc.

 · The plan should be approved in a Gram Sabha before implementation.

 Funding Pattern:

· It is generally a Centrally sponsored scheme.

 · 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. 

 Har Ghar Jal:

· It was announced by the Ministry of Finance in budget 2019-20.

· It works under the Jal Jeevan Mission which plays a crucial part.

 · Its aim is to implement measures such as rain water harvesting, recharge grey water management, water conservation etc. 

 Important Points:

· The states/UTs which achieved 100% coverage of this mission are: 

1. Gujarat 2. Goa 3. Telangana 4. Haryana 5. Punjab 6. Andaman & Nicobar Islands 7. Daman Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli 8. Puducherry

PM SVANidhi 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Governance (Important Policies) 

 Why in News? 

 A review meeting on the PM SVANidhi has held recently. 

PM SVANidhi:

· It is a Central Sector scheme launched in the year 2020. 

 · It works under the Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs.

 · It provides an affordable loan of Rs. 10,000 to the street vendors whose business was operational on or before March 24. 

 · The 2^nd and 3^rd term loan are extended to 20,000 and 50,000 respectively.

 · Small Industrial Development Bank of India is the implementing agency of this scheme. 

 · Its main objective is to facilitate the working capital loan. 

 · This scheme provides the collateral free working capital loans 

 · The scheme will be ended by 2024.

· The loan amount should be repayable in monthly instalments in a period of one year.

 · Early repayment of the loan will provide a interest subsidy of 7% per annum

 · The interest subsidy will be credited to the beneficiaries bank accounts through the Direct Benefit transfer on quarterly basis. 

 Eligibility: 

 · The vendor must have Certificate of Vendor/Identity card. 

 · The Identity card has to be issued by the urban Local Bodies. 

 Significance: 

 · It encourages entrepreneurship and creates employment opportunities

 · It promotes digital transactions through the cashback incentives.

Nai Manzil Scheme 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Governance (Important Policies)

Why in News? 

 According to the report released by Ministry of tribal affairs, about 98,712 beneficiaries have been trained under this scheme. 

 Nai Manzil: 

· It was launched in the year 2015.

 · It was introduced to benefit the youth belongs to the six notified communities of 17-35 years of age who do not have the formal school leaving certificates. 

 · It helps those who are dropped out from school or educated in the community education including Madarsas.

 · It provides 30% of the beneficiary seats for the girl/women candidates. 

 · It provides 5% of the beneficiary seats for the disabled persons belonging to the minority community. 

 Funding:

 · 50% of funding is approved from the World Bank 

 Eligibility:

· The beneficiary should belong to the Minority company as mentioned under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.

· They should be Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis. 

 Significance: 

· It aims to provide a combination of formal education (Class VIII or X) and also skills.

 · It offers the non-residential integrated education and skill training for 9 to 12 months.

 · Out of which 3 months are dedicated to skill training. 

 · It makes the beneficiaries to seek better employment and livelihood.

PECA

Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Polity

Why in News? 

The Union government has launched a portal to report the violation of ban on e-cigarettes

e-Cigarettes:

 · They are battery powered devices. 

 · They work by heating a liquid into aerosol that the user can exhale and inhale.

 · The liquid of e-Cigarette contains the substances like nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, flavourings and other chemicals. 

Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act:

 · This Act replaced an Ordinance promulgated in 2019. 

 · It prohibits the production, trade, storage and also advertisement of electronic cigarettes. 

 · It prohibits the e-cigarettes which includes the heat-not-burn products, e-hookahs and other similar devices. 

 · Those who act against the PECA Act will be punishable with the imprisonment of up to one year or fine up to one lakh rupees or both. 

 · Imprisonment of up to 3 years and also fine up to 5 lakh rupees or both will be imposed for the subsequent offence. 

 · The storage of electronic cigarettes will also be punishable with the imprisonment of up to 6 months or up to 50,000 fine or both.

· The authorised officers at the level of sub-inspector or any other officer can seize any record or property connected to the e-cigarettes.

 · He can search any place where trade, storage, production or advertising of e-cigarettes are being undertaken.

BepiColombo

Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Science & Technology 

 Why in News? 

 · BepiColombo spacecraft has collected the data which showed how electrons raining down on the planet’s surface are triggering X-auroras.

 · This is the first time the process of X-ray auroras on the planet are explained · Auroras are nothing but a natural electrical phenomenon.

 · Auroras characterized by the appearance of streamers of reddish or greenish light in the sky.

 · They are mainly seen near the northern or southern magnetic pole. 

 BepiColombo:

· It was launched in the year 2018.

· It is scheduled to begin orbiting Mercury in the year 2025.

 · It is a joint mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). 

 · ESA have the Mercury Planetary Orbiter which studies the planet’s surface and also interior

 · JAXA have the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter which studies the magnetic planets field of Mercury. 

 · This is the first Mercury missions for both the ESA and JAXA but already NASA has sent two other spacecrafts to Mercury. 

 · They are: Mariner 10 and MESSENGER 

 Objectives: 

 · To investigate about the Mercury’s surface and composition 

 · To study the Mercury’s magnetic field and magnetosphere. 

 · To measure the Mercury’s exosphere

Forest Conservation Act, 1980 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Environment & Ecology

Why in News?

· Forest Conservation Amendment Bill, 2023 is among the bills set to be tabled in Parliament. 

 · The proposed amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 have been cleared by the House.

 Forest Conservation Act, 1980:

 · It was introduced to control deforestation and conserve forests and their resources.

 Objectives: 

· It wants to conserve forests and provides sustainable management. 

 · It regulates the diversion of forestland for the non-forestry purposes like mining, industries, infrastructure development etc. 

 Features of the Act: 

 · The Act mandates that the diversion of forest land to the non-forestry purposes can only be done with the prior approval by the central government.

 · So, it helps in balancing the economic development and the environmental conservation. 

 · This Act mandates the payment of compensation for the loss of forest cover because of the diversion of the forestland.

 · The compensation collected under this scheme will be utilized for afforestation and reforestation activities. 

 · An equal area of non-forest land should be afforested or reforested as a compensatory measure. 

 · Before approving the diversion of land, the state governments and tribal communities should be consulted. 

 · It ensures that the views of local people are taken into account.

 · It mentions about the concept deemed forests.

· Deemed forests are those which are not officially forests but have ecologically sensitive and have forest-like characteristics.

 · These areas are also require the central government’s approval for any diversion. 

 · Penalties: 

It includes imprisonment of up to 15 months and fine up to 10,000 rupees or both based on the violation of Act.

Pashmina Shawls 

 Syllabus: Prelims-Art & Culture 

Why in News?

Pashmina shawls are making a comeback in the Sri Nagar.

 Pashmina Shawls: 

 · Pashmina is a Geographical Indication certified wool. 

 · It is originated from the Kashmir region 

 · Initially it was used by the people from Kashmir to make them warm. 

 · The word Pashmina means a weavable fibre in Persian language. 

 · The wool used in making the Pashmina shawl is taken from the Changthangi goats.

 · They are usually domesticated in Ladakh. 

 · The Pashmina shawls are very costly because of its fine quality wool and also for the hard work in making the shawl. 

 · To complete one shawl, it generally takes 72 hours of time. 

 · The raw Pashm is generally harvested by the Changpa tribes. 

 · Changpa tribes herd the Changthangi goats. 

 · The weavers of Kashmir buy the raw pashm from the middle men. 

 Reasons for G.I. Certification: 

 · The shawl is made from 100% pure Pashm. 

 · It is handwoven by the local artisans of Kashmir. 

 · The yarn is spun only by the hand 

 Concerns:

 · Due to the limited availability and also for the high prices the adulteration of Pashmina with wool is a common practice by the manufacturer in the Kashmiri valley.

Gomti River

Syllabus: Prelims-Important Rivers 

Why in News?

The three-year-old government order issued by the Irrigation department of the Uttar Pradesh government which declares Gomti as the non-perennial river has drawn a flak from experts and river rights activists. 

 Gomti River: 

· It is a tributary of the River Ganga

· It is an alluvial river of the Ganga Plain

· According to some beliefs, Gomti river is the daughter of Rishi Vashishtha. 

 Origin: 

 · It originates near Manikot, in the Pilibhit town of Uttar Pradesh. 

 · It flows through Sitapur, Lucknow, Sultanpur, Jaunpur etc and ends at Ghazipur district.

Length:

· Its length is about 960 kilometers

Importance: 

 · It supplies around 450 million litres per day to Lucknow. 

 · It supports the rich biodiversity. 

 · It provides habitat for various aquatic species such as fish, turtle, waterfowl etc. 

 · It plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance.

 · It provides excellent agricultural opportunities for the surrounding communities.

 · It contributes significantly to the food security.

Questions

1.Consider the following statements regarding Jal Jeevan Mission: 

 Statement-I: It was introduced in the year 2019 

 Statement-II: It will be completed by 2025. 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

2.Consider the following statements regarding PM SVANidhi:

 1. It is a centrally sponsored scheme

 2. It works under the Ministry of Finance 

 3. The scheme will be ended by 2025 

 How many of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only One

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None

3.Consider the following statements regarding Nai Manzil scheme:

 1. It was introduced in the year 2017

 2. It was introduced to benefit the youth belongs to the six notified communities of 14-30 years of age who do not have the formal school leaving certificates.

 3. It offers the non-residential integrated education and skill training for 2 years 

 How many of the above statements are incorrect? 

 a) Only One 

 b) Only two

 c) Only three

 d) None

4.Consider the following statements regarding PECA Act: 

 Statement-I: It prohibits the production, trade, storage and also advertisement of electronic cigarettes 

 Statement-II: Those who act against the PECA Act will be punishable with the imprisonment of up to one year or fine up to one lakh rupees or both. 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

5.Consider the following statements regarding BepiColombo:

 Statement-I: It is scheduled to begin orbiting Mercury in the year 2026 

 Statement-II: It is a joint mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

6.Consider the following statements regarding Forest Conservation Act, 1980 

 1. The Act mandates that the diversion of forest land to the non-forestry purposes can only be done with the prior approval by the central government 

 2. Deemed forests are those which are not officially forests but have ecologically sensitive and have forest-like characteristics. 

 3. Deemed forests require the state government’s approval for any diversion

 How many of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only One

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None

7.Consider the following statements regarding Pashmina Shawls: 

 1. Pashmina is a Geographical Indication certified wool. 

 2. To complete one shawl, it generally takes 48 hours of time 

 3. The raw Pashm is generally harvested by the Changpa tribes 

 How many of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only One 

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three 

 d) None

8.Consider the following statements regarding Gomti River: 

 Statement-I: It is one of the tributaries of the River Ganga 

 Statement-II: It is originated in the state of Madhya Pradesh

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.