Daily Current Capsules

WePOWER SAR100

A group of 25 enthusiastic mid-career women professionals from the Indian power sector called on the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable in New Delhi
The women had come as part of WePOWER SAR100, a series of trainings for 100 women professionals from Southeast Asian Region in the energy sector.
Out of the 100 women, 25 are from Bangladesh, 15 from Sri Lanka, 15 from Pakistan, 10 from Maldives and 32 are from various parts of India, most of them working in central or state government power sector PSUs

Know! about SAR 100

The World Bank is leading the SAR 100, together with national counterparts from seven countries represented in the Regional Working Group (RWG). National Power Training Institute (NPTI) is a part of RWG and is functioning as a national focal point for India.
100 mid-career women professionals from the South Asian Region (SAR), namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, are participating in this training series.
The objective of SAR-100 is to create a gender-diverse pool of experts for planning, developing, and operating regionally integrated grid, regional power systems, and power markets.

Know! about We Power

WePower is a vibrant voluntary women’s professional network in the energy and power sector in South Asia that supports women’s participation in energy projects and institutions and promotes a change in norms regarding participation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
WePower has a partnership of approximately 38 South Asian energy organisations.

National Generic Document Registration System

Recently, the Department of Land Resources rolled out the National Generic Document Registration System (NDGRS) launch of Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) seeding of geo-referenced Cadastral Maps.

Know! about National Generic Document Registration System

The Department of Land Resources has developed the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) as part of the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP).
It is a project initiated by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, GoI.
It is a common, generic application developed for registration departments across the country under the One Nation One Software initiative.

Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP)

The DILRMP was launched by the Government of India in August 2008.
It is to modernize the management of land records, minimize the scope of land/property disputes, and enhance transparency in the land records maintenance system.
It facilitates moving eventually towards guaranteed conclusive titles to immovable properties.
The Department of Land Resources is implementing the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) with effect from 01.04.2016 as a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding by the Government of India.

Features of NGDRS

Citizen’s registration to request access permission of the system
Facility for online document entry for citizens
Online valuation module with stamp duty calculation
Role-based access to citizens and department users
SMS facility to send alerts to citizens and departmental users
E KYC – UID-based authentication with the help of biometric or iris at the time of admission
Hierarchy-based maker/ checker facility
Email-enabled alerts to citizens and users
Linking with land records system
Linking with stamp inventory software to avoid duplicate usage of used stamp paper
Storage of copy of registered documents using scanning technology
Facility to view & download scanned documents and generate certified copy of authorized user
Registration can be done anywhere within concurrent jurisdiction
Unicode-based local language support
Single login credentials for all modules

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

Former US President Donald Trump has once again attacked NATO with respect to member nation’s lack of funding to the organisation.

Know! about NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, was conceived to provide collective security against the erstwhile Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
Launched in 1949, with the passage of the Washington Treaty.
Its Headquarters has been situated in Brussels, Belgium since 1967.
It aims to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.
Currently, there are 31 members (most European nations, the US and Canada).
It is open to any other European state that accepts this Treaty and accepts to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.
The newest member is Finland in 2023.
Sweden has applied but is waiting for Hungary to ratify its application as the final major step before membership.

NATO’s Funding Mechanism

It has some common funds, to which all members contribute.
But it majorly depends on members’ national defence spending to maintain forces and buy arms that can also be used by NATO.
Its Funding commitment is to spend at least 2% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year on defence.

Electoral Bond Scheme

The Supreme Court of India has declared the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional.
This scheme was introduced by the central government
in 2018 as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties to enhance transparency in political funding.
The amendment to Section 182 of the Companies Act, which allows for blanket corporate political funding, has been deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has held that citizens have the right to hold the government accountable, and information about the funding of political parties is crucial for electoral choices.

Know! about the Electoral Bond Scheme:

The Electoral Bonds Scheme was introduced in 2017 through a Finance bill and implemented in 2018.
The scheme allows individuals and groups to contribute to registered political parties while keeping their identities confidential. This maintains donor anonymity while making donations.
The scheme stated that only political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 which secured at least 1% of valid votes polled in the previous elections of the Lok Sabha or a state legislative assembly are eligible to receive electoral bonds.
The Electoral Bonds are Promissory Notes and are Bearer in nature, meaning they do not carry the buyer’s or payee’s name.
They are available in five denominations – Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1,00,000, Rs. 10,00,000, and Rs. 1,00,00,000.
The validity period of the Electoral Bonds is 15 calendar days from the date of issuance. If the Electoral Bond is deposited at the Authorized SBI Branches after the validity period expires, no payment will be made to any payee Political Party.
The issuing branch will provide the Electoral Bonds to the applicant if all the requirements are fulfilled.
The information the purchaser provides will be confidentially treated by the State Bank of India and will not be disclosed to any authority except when demanded by a Competent Court or upon registration of a Criminal Case by any Law Enforcement Agency.
A non-KYC-compliant application that does not meet the requirements, such as citizenship, KYC norms, etc., will be rejected. The Electoral Bonds will be issued to the purchaser on a non-refundable basis.

BAPS Swaminarayan Temple

Prime Minister of India to inaugurate the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Swaminarayan temple in Abu Dhabi in UAE, the 1st Hindu temple in the Gulf nation.
It is a traditional 108-foot-high Hindu temple.
It is Built by Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha.
It is a Nagara style type of temple.
Its external facade uses pink sandstone from Rajasthan, while the interior uses Italian marble.

Sallekhna

Renowned Jain seer Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj breathed his last at Chandragiri Teerth in Dongargarh in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon district after undertaking ‘sallekhna’.
Sallekhna is a Jain religious practice involving voluntary fasting unto death for spiritual purification
Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj attained Samadhi through ‘Sallekhna’ at Chandragiri teerth at 2:35 am
Sallekhna is a vow taken for spiritual purification.

Sanjay Agrawal Committee

Recently, Congress backed farmers’ MSP demand which brought back Sanjay Agrawal Committee

Know! about the committee

The committee, which has 26 members, is headed by Sanjay Agrawal, a former agriculture secretary.
It was set up after the withdrawal of the farm laws by the government in July 2022.
The committee, which was set up to promote zero-budget-based farming, changed crop patterns keeping in mind the changing needs of the country.
The committee aimed to deliberate on ways to make Minimum Support Price (MSP) more effective and transparent.

Ahlan Modi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Indian community in the UAE.
The Ahlan Modi is a cultural programme at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, attended, in Abu Dhabi.
It is one of the key events during the Prime Minister’s two-day visit to the Gulf country.

Drishyaa Drone

Haryana Police is the first force to use drones for tear gas.
These drones are made by the Drone Imaging and Information Service of Haryana Limited (DRIISHYA)
The company is located at Karnal.
The drones are designed for surveying infrastructure projects, monitoring agriculture and horticulture crops, and surveillance of sensitive areas for security purposes.

Community Radio in India

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is organising a regional Community Radio Sammelan (South) celebrating 20 years of Community Radio in India.
Community Radio is an important third tier in Radio Broadcasting, distinct from Public Service Radio broadcasting and Commercial Radio.
Community Radio Stations (CRSs) are power Radio Stations, which are meant to be set up and operated by local communities.
The Community Radio provides a platform to air local voices among the local community on issues concerning Health, Nutrition, Education, Agriculture, etc.
February 13 is celebrated as World Radio Day.
The Information and Broadcasting Minister released revised policy guidelines for community radio stations.
They also provide that 50% of the Advisory and Content Committee members will be women.

Green Hydrogen in Transport Sector

The government released scheme guidelines to aid pilot projects using green hydrogen as a fuel for buses, trucks, and four-wheelers.
The scheme will implemented with total budgetary outlay of Rs 496 crore till financial year 2025-26.
The central government has come out with guidelines for undertaking pilot projects for using green hydrogen in the transport sector.

Know! about the Scheme

“Scheme Guidelines for Implementation of Pilot Projects for Use of Green Hydrogen in the Transport Sector” have been issued by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) on February 14, 2024, under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, along with other initiatives, the MNRE will implement pilot projects for replacing fossil fuels in the transport sector with Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.
These pilot projects will be implemented through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and scheme implementing agencies nominated under the scheme.
It will support the development of technologies for the use of green hydrogen as a fuel in buses, trucks, and four-wheelers, based on fuel cell-based propulsion technology / internal combustion engine-based propulsion technology.
The scheme will also seek to support any other innovative use of hydrogen for reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector, such as blending methanol/ethanol based on green hydrogen and other synthetic fuels derived from green hydrogen in automobile fuels.
The use of green hydrogen in the transport sector via proposed pilot projects will lead to the development of necessary infrastructure, including refueling facilities and distribution infrastructure, resulting in the establishment of a green hydrogen ecosystem in the transport sector.

Know! about the National Green Hydrogen Mission

On January 4, 2022, the Union Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
India plans to achieve energy independence by 2047 and net zero emissions by 2070.
To achieve this goal, India’s Energy Transition emphasizes increasing the use of renewable energy across all economic sectors.
Green hydrogen is a promising alternative for enabling this transition.
Hydrogen can be used for long-term storage of renewable energy, replacing fossil fuels in industries, clean transportation, and potentially decentralized power generation, aviation, and marine transport.

Loan for Brahmaputra River Management

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Government of India have agreed to provide a $200 million loan to bolster flood and riverbank erosion risk management measures along the 650 km long main stem of the Brahmaputra river situated in the state of Assam.

Assam Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Investment Programme:

The project is built upon the success and lessons learned from the Assam Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Investment Programme, which was financed by ADB and implemented during 2010–2020 in Assam, India and similar investments made in Bangladesh.
The objective of the project is to address recurrent flooding and riverbank erosion of the Brahmaputra river using ADB’s cost-effective, adaptive and systematic river stabilization approach.
The project will also improve the capacity of state agencies and affected communities to manage flood and riverbank erosion risks.
The project interventions include stabilizing 60 km of riverbanks, installing 32 km of pro-siltation measures, and building 4 km of climate-resilient flood embankments in five high-priority districts: Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Kamrup Rural, Morigaon, and Tinsukia.
The project will secure living spaces, support livelihoods, create employment opportunities, and ultimately enhance the navigability of the river.

Know! about Brahmaputra River

The Brahmaputra River is one of the major rivers in Asia, known for its significance in the geographical, ecological, and socio-economic landscapes of the regions it traverses.
The Brahmaputra originates from the Chemayungdung glacier, located on the northern side of the Himalayas in Tibet.
It is formed by the confluence of several tributaries, including the Yarlung Tsangpo River.
The river then flows eastward through Tibet, where it is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo, before entering India through the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
It continues its journey through the Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya and later enters Bangladesh, where it merges with the Ganges and Meghna rivers before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021

The Delhi High Court sought the Union Government response on a petition by a couple challenging the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.
The couple approached the court after the State Medical Board refused to issue them the required certificate for the procedure on the ground that the woman had “crossed the upper age limit” under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.
The law allows only women aged between 23 and 50 to go for surrogacy.
The court asked the Central appellate authority to decide the couple’s appeal against the rejection in four weeks.

Know! about Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021

The Act defines surrogacy as a practice where a woman gives birth to a child for an intending couple with the intention to hand it over to them after the birth.
It is permitted only for altruistic purposes or for couples who suffer proven infertility or disease.
Surrogacy is prohibited for commercial purposes including for sale, prostitution or any other forms of exploitation.
Abortion: Abortion of such a fetus is allowed only with the consent of the surrogate mother and the authorities and must adhere to the provisions of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.
Eligibility and Conditions for Couples: A couple should procure certificates of eligibility and essentiality in order to have a child via surrogacy.
The couple is deemed ‘eligible’ if they have been married for five years, the wife is aged between 23-50 years and the husband is between 26-55 years.
The couple must not have any living child (biological, adopted, or surrogate.)
A child with mental or physical disabilities or one suffering from a life-threatening disorder has been exempted from the above criterion.
The couple can get an ‘essential’ certificate if suffering from proven infertility of either partner certified by a District Medical Board.
They must also have insurance coverage for 16 months for the surrogate mother, covering any postpartum complications.
Eligibility to be a surrogate: A surrogate mother has to be a close relative of the couple, a married woman with a child of her own, aged between 25-35 years, who has been a surrogate only once in her life.
She must also possess a certificate of medical and psychological fitness for surrogacy.

INSPIRES program

The Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang, recently launched Sikkim INSPIRES, a collaborative effort between the State Government and the World Bank.
The main objective of this initiative is to promote economic growth and inclusion in the state.
The Sikkim INSPIRES program aims to strengthen the state system to deliver inclusive growth, improve employment linkages for women and youth in priority sectors, and enhance the delivery of enabling services for the economic inclusion of women and youth.
The World Bank is the largest Multilateral Development Bank.
It was established in July 1944 after the successful conclusion of the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, also known as the Bretton Woods Conference.

World’s First Air Taxi

Dubai has signed agreements at the World Government Summit 2024 held in Dubai, to launch the world’s first air taxi service.
The agreements enable Dubai to lead the way in deploying a city-wide network of electric aerial taxis and vertiports.
The air-taxi initiative is centered around the Joby Aviation S4, an innovative aircraft that can comfortably transport four passengers and a pilot.
It has six propellers and is powered by four battery packs, enabling it to travel up to 161 km and reach a maximum speed of 321 km per hour.
The aircraft’s vertical take-off and landing capabilities make it ideal for urban areas, reducing space requirements and noise pollution compared to helicopters.
The air-taxi network is set to launch in 2026, marking a milestone in Dubai’s efforts to redefine urban mobility.

MILAN Naval Exercise

The 12th Edition of MILAN Naval Exercise will be held in Visakhapatnam.
The “Forging Naval Alliances for a Secure Maritime Future” is the theme of the exercise which aims to facilitate collaboration and idea-sharing among participating navies to enhance security on the high seas.
Its primary objective is to ensure the safety of maritime trade for the benefit of all stakeholders.
MILAN is a biennial multinational naval exercise started in 1995 under India’s ‘Look East policy’.
The exercise is now in its 11th edition and thriving under the Andaman and Nicobar Command’s supervision.
In 1992, Prime Minister Narasimha Rao introduced India’s “Look East Policy” to improve India’s relations with Southeast Asia.

Exploration of Iron Ore in Rajasthan

The Rajasthan Mines Department has found deposits of over 840 million tonnes of iron ore in Khoda, Dadaroli, Todupura, and Liloti near Hindon in Karauli.
The discovery of iron ore in Karauli will boost industrial investment in the state.
Steel and cement industries will get a significant boost, and many industries, including iron ore steel, coal washing, ferroalloy, foundries, ceramic, and cement industries, will get raw materials for years.
Iron ores are natural mineral combinations that are found in deposits on the Earth’s surface.
These ores can be processed with the help of reducing agents such as coke to obtain metallic iron in the presence of heat and other favorable conditions.
Iron ore deposits are usually found in sedimentary rocks that have formed over a long period due to the accumulation of sediments.

Sangam: Digital Twin Initiative

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently unveiled the ‘Sangam: Digital Twin’ initiative.
Digital Twin technology creates virtual replicas of physical assets, constantly updated with real-time data and replicating its behavior.
It allows for real-time monitoring, simulation and analysis for experimental iterations.
It leverages data collected from sensors and other sources to create a real-time representation that reflects the physical counterpart’s state and behavior.

Kosovars Begin Long-Awaited Visa-Free Travel To Schengen Countries

Citizens of Kosovo began visa-free travel within the European Union’s Schengen Area under a new regime that enables Kosovars to travel without a visa within the zone for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Kosovo is facing opposition due to its declaration of independence from Serbia.
It’s an area in the European Union without internal borders, allowing for the free and unrestricted movement of people.
It allows for passport-free travel, work and living in an EU country without special formalities between countries that fall within the European zone.

Schengen Area

It is an area encompassing 27 European countries that have officially abolished border controls at their mutual borders.
Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and justice policy of the European Union (EU), it mostly functions as a single jurisdiction under a common visa policy for international travel purposes.
The area is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement and the 1990 Schengen Convention, both signed in Schengen, Luxembourg.

The Schengen Zone covers most of the EU countries, except Cyprus and Ireland, and it includes few non-EU countries like Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

Jan Bharat Rang

Recently, the National School of Drama (NSD) has invited all performing art groups for participation in Jan Bharat Rang under the banner of Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2024.
It is an initiative by the NSD and is part of their annual theatre festival, Bharat Rang Mahotsav.
It is celebrated on the 25th anniversary of the Bharat Rang Mahotsav.
It is an attempt to create a record with over 2,000 short performances taking place simultaneously across India.
The National School of Drama, New Delhi is one of the foremost theatre training institutions in the world and the only one of its kind in India. It was set up by the Sangeet Natak Akademi as one of its constituent units in 1959.

Terai Arc Landscape

Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) initiative earns UN recognition for ecosystem restoration, boosting hopes despite challenges like infrastructure expansion and human-wildlife conflict.
It is a transboundary biodiversity hotspot launched in 2001.
It aims to conserve critical habitats for tigers, rhinos, elephants, etc., covering ecosystems of the Terai and Churia hills.
Spanning over 900 km from the Bagmati River (Nepal) to the Yamuna River (India), it extends across 5 million hectares and supports over seven million people.
The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) initiative is a pioneering landscape-level ecosystem restoration project in Nepal aimed at creating dispersal space for tigers and reversing ecosystem degradation.
It was launched in 2004 and has restored 66,800 hectares of forest, significantly boosting the Bengal tiger population in the region.
The initiative connects different ecologically critical protected areas in Nepal and India, fostering transboundary conservation efforts.

‘E-Jagriti’ Portal

The Consumer Affairs Department has integrated artificial intelligence in the ‘e-Jagriti’ portal, aiming to reduce pending cases in consumer courts.
The e-Jagriti portal is an initiative by the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
It aims to streamline consumer dispute resolution. It integrates various consumer grievance platforms and offers features like case filing, online fee payment, and AI-powered smart search.
The portal also includes a Virtual court facility for resolving complaints conveniently.

World Social Forum conference

The 16th World Social Forum conference has started in Kathmandu. The five-day event was held under the banner “Another World is Possible”.
It aims to promote exchange among civil society organizations, social movements, trade unions, and individuals who oppose neoliberal globalization.
Around forty thousand people from 92 countries are expected to participate in the World Social Forum conference.

Know! about World Social Forum

The World Social Forum is an annual gathering of civil society organizations, which was first held in Brazil.
The forum aims to create an alternative future by advocating for counter-hegemonic globalization.
It provides an open platform for a diverse group of participants, including social movements, workers, farmers, civil society members, marginalized communities, and anyone affected directly or indirectly by the impacts of neoliberal capitalism.
The forum serves as a unique space for linking struggles, sharing experiences, and building connections between various movements.
Activists from around the world come to the forum to discuss important issues like climate change, peace, migration, and social justice, especially in a world plagued by capitalism, imperialism, and globalization.
Since its establishment in 2001, the World Social Forum (WSF) has been a hub for social movements, unions, and activists to collaborate, exchange ideas, and develop strategies for change.

Malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)

Several states had flagged the malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls according to documents obtained through the Right to Information.

Know! about Electronic Voting Machine (EVM)

An Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is a simple electronic device used to record votes in place of ballot papers and boxes which were used earlier in conventional voting systems.
The use of EVM started back in the 1982 Kerala Assembly elections. Before this only ballot papers and ballot boxes were allowed.
There are only two Indian PSUs that manufacture EVM machines; Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL).

Know! the working of EVM

EVM has two parts, it consists of a ‘control unit’ and a ‘balloting unit’, connected by a 5-meter cable.
The control unit is with the Election Commission-appointed polling officer and it is the brain of the EVM.
The balloting unit is in the voting compartment into which the voter enters to cast the vote in secret by pressing the button against the name and symbol of the candidate of her choice.
The balloting unit is turned on only after the polling officer presses the ‘Ballot’ button on it.
The EVM runs on a 6-volt single alkaline battery fitted in the control unit, and can even be used in areas that have no electricity.

Artificial Intelligence

Recently, music composer A.R. Rahman used an Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to recreate the voices of singers Bamba Bakya and Shahul Hameed who are now dead.

Know! about Voice cloning

Voice cloning technology employs sophisticated AI algorithms to replicate the intricacies of human speech patterns.
This innovative process hinges on the principle of training neural networks, a fundamental aspect of artificial intelligence, using extensive datasets of recorded speech.
There’s a host of these applications online with popular ones like Murf, Resemble and Speechify.
Recently, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political party used an AI-generated speech from the now-imprisoned leader in an attempt to rally votes.

Applications of Voice cloning

Can keep the voices of loved ones alive for future generations.
Apple introduced a voice cloning feature in iOS 17 intended to help people who may be in danger of losing their voice to a degenerative disease.
Recently, Meta launched SeamlessM4T, which can understand nearly 100 languages from speech or text and generate translations in real-time.
Can offer a voice to those who have lost it or will lose it due to illness or disability.
YouTube took a similar route and announced Dream Track which allows them to create song clips featuring AI vocals with permission from pop stars like Demi Lovato, Sia, and John Legend.
Enhancing storytelling, audio games, and immersive experiences.

India’s Request for Full Membership of IEA

Ministers from the International Energy Agency’s member countries agreed to start discussions with India on the Indian government’s request to become a full IEA member, recognising the country’s ‘strategic importance’ in tackling global energy and climate challenges.
Ministers from the IEA’s 31 member countries made the announcement in a joint communique following the IEA’s 2024 ministerial meeting and 50th anniversary events in Paris on 13-14 February.
India, which joined the IEA as an association country in 2017, sent a formal request for full membership to IEA ministers.
India joined the IEA as an associate member in 2017 and applied for full membership in 2023.

Know! about IEA

Its headquarters is situated in Paris.
It was Founded in 1974.
It is an autonomous intergovernmental organisation to ensure the security of oil supplies.
Its total Membership is 31 countries.
World Energy Outlook is Published every year and provides critical analysis and insights on trends in energy demand and supply.

Digital Services Act

The European Commission recently informed that the Digital Services Act (DSA) has started applying to all online platforms in the European Union.

Know! about Digital Services Act

It is a landmark legislation introduced by the European Union (EU) to regulate online intermediaries and platforms.
It was adopted in 2022 and is now applicable to all EU Member States.
It aims to create a safer and more open digital space, where the rights of users are protected and businesses can freely and fairly compete.
It is designed to ensure that users have access to a wide range of safe products and services online.
It aims to prevent illegal and harmful activities online and curb the spread of disinformation. It seeks to protect user safety, fundamental rights, and create a fair and open online platform environment.

Key Features

Providing greater transparency on their services; adopting procedures for dealing with take-down notices, notifying users in certain circumstances and resolving complaints;
Avoid certain practices, such as profiling, and/or improve controls for users of your service.

India and Digital Services Act

DSA is primarily targeted at the EU, its principles and regulations could influence digital policies worldwide, including in India.
It validates and influences India’s approach to regulating big tech and online intermediaries.
The DSA emphasis on online safety, trust, and accountability resonates with the principles of India’s proposed Digital India Act, 2023 which aims to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the dynamic growth of the internet and emerging technologies.

Farm Sector Growth

Recently, ICRA has indicated that India’s farm sector Gross Value Added (GVA) is likely to see little or no growth in the second half of 2023-24, with the full year clocking about 1% growth.
It cites the weak kharif crop estimates, mixed trends in rabi sowing and concerns regarding crop yields.
The mild growth in the agriculture, forestry and fishing GVA this fiscal, compared with FY23’s 4% uptick, would weigh on rural demand in the near term.
It also added that if the coming monsoon was normal, sectoral GVA growth may recover to 3.4% in 2024-25.

Farm sector growth in India

India is the second-largest producer of farm produce globally, contributing significantly to the national economy and rural livelihoods.
India is the world’s largest producer of milk, pulses and jute, and ranks as the second largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, groundnut, vegetables, fruit and cotton.
Recent years have seen modest growth in the agricultural sector, averaging around 3%.

Government Initiatives

The Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme: Grants-in-aid are released with the goal of supporting State Governments’ efforts to make available the latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in various thematic areas of agriculture and allied sector.
Krishi UDAN: The scheme proposes assistance and incentive for the movement of agri-produce by air transport.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-Kisan): An income support of 6,000/- per year in three equal installments will be provided to all land holding farmer families.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): Aimed at the development of irrigation sources for providing a permanent solution to drought.
FDI: The Government of India has allowed 100% FDI in the marketing of food products and in food product E-commerce under the automatic route.
Kisan Credit Card: Access to institutional credit is being provided through Kisan Credit Card and other channels.
e-NAM initiative: Markets across the nation are now open to farmers, to enable them to get more remunerative prices for their produce.
Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA): Ensures Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers for various Kharif and Rabi crops while also keeping a robust procurement mechanism in place.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY): To increase the level of the food- processing industry and encourage rural entrepreneurship across the country including rural areas.
PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme: Provides financial, technical and business support for setting up/upgradation of 2 Lakh micro food processing enterprises through credit-linked subsidy.

OpenAI’s Sora

OpenAI, the creator of the revolutionary chatbot ChatGPT, has launched a new generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) model “Sora”.
Sora is an AI model that can create realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions.
Sora can generate videos up to a minute long while maintaining visual quality and adherence to the user’s prompt.
Sora is able to generate complex scenes with multiple characters, specific types of motion, and accurate details of the subject and background.
Open AI is building tools to help detect misleading content such as a detection classifier that can tell when a video was generated by Sora.
Open AI will be engaging policymakers, educators, and artists around the world to understand their concerns and to identify positive use cases for this new technology.

Know! about ChatGPT

ChatGPT is an AI language model developed by OpenAI.
It belongs to the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) series of models, specifically based on the GPT-3 architecture.
It is trained on a vast dataset comprising a diverse range of text from the internet, allowing it to generate human-like responses to text prompts.
ChatGPT is designed to understand and generate text conversationally, making it suitable for a wide range of applications such as chatbots, virtual assistants, content generation, and more.
Users can interact with ChatGPT by providing prompts or questions, and it generates responses based on its understanding of the input.

Kazakhstan

Recently, One of the worst methane leaks ever recorded happened in Kazakhstan. It releases an estimated 127,000 tonnes of methane over six months.

Know! about Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a large landlocked country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
It shares borders with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, with access to the Caspian Sea.
Astana is the capital, while Almaty serves as the largest city and main cultural centre.
Kazakhstan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Economically, it dominates Central Asia due to its oil, gas, and mineral resources, boasting the highest Human Development Index in the region.
Despite being a republic, in theory, it operates under an authoritarian regime.
Kazakhstan has the Caspian Sea’s largest recoverable crude oil reserves.
Kazakhstan has pledged to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.

U Tirot Sing

A statue of U Tirot Sing, a freedom fighter from the Khasi Hills who rebelled against British colonialism 200 years ago, was unveiled at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka.
The statue of Tirot Sing, a tribal chief who is known as ‘the Hero of the Khasi Hills’ of Meghalaya, was unveiled by the Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Sniawbhalang Dhar, and Pranay Verma, the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh.
Tirot Sing’s heroic struggle against the British colonizers has made his life story a saga and an inspiration to many.
Tirot Sing attacked the colonial forces on April 8, 1829, sensing their attempts to take over control of the Khasi Hills in road construction connecting Guwahati to Sylhet through Khasi hills.
Tirot Sing was captured and died in Dhaka on July 17, 1835, four years after the end of the Anglo- Khasi War where he fought against the British.

Broom Grass

Recently, the Tribal people have been carrying broom grass at a village in Karbi Anglong district of Assam.
It is also known as Thysanolaena maxima, is a type of grass that is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Karbi Anglong, in Assam, is the largest producer of brooms in India.

Kotravai sculpture

A team of archaeologists discovered an eighth-century Kotravai sculpture near Ulundurpet, in Tamil Nadu dating back to the Pallava period.
The sculpture stands five feet tall and four feet wide, depicting Kotravai with eight hands, characteristic of the eighth century.
The sculpture features various elements such as chakkara, sword, bell, and abhaya mudra in the right hands, and conch, bow, shield, and Uru Mudhra in the left hands, along with bangles.
Kotravai is the Tamil goddess of war and victory. She is also the mother goddess, and the goddess of fertility, agriculture, and hunters. Her name comes from the Tamil word korram, which means victory, success, or bravery.

INDUS-X Summit

A two-day bilateral defence cooperation meeting, called the India-US Defence Accelerator Ecosystem (INDUS-X), kicked off in Delhi marking a significant milestone in collaboration between the two countries in defence innovation.
Launched in June 2023 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US, INDUS-X has driven the expansion of bilateral ties in defence innovation.
Organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and the US Department of Defence (DoD), in conjunction with the US-India Business Council (USIBC) and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), the summit aims to drive strategic technology partnerships and defence industrial cooperation between India and the US.
There is much in common between the INDUS-X and a similar US-India cooperation initiative called the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) that was put in place during the presidencies of George W Bush and Barack Obama.
Like the DTTI, the INDUS-X is breaking information silos, building networks of cooperation and reducing bureaucratic and regulatory friction between the two defence ministries.

IAF CONDUCTS ‘EXERCISE – VAYU SHAKTI-24’ IN RAJASTHAN

Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted ‘Exercise Vayu Shakti-24’ at the Pokhran range near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, presenting a formidable display of its aerial firepower.
The event, attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, marked a significant demonstration of the IAF’s offensive capabilities through a series of meticulously planned aerial manoeuvres and precision strikes.
The Indian Air Force showcased its offensive capabilities through an enthralling and formidable display of its firepower.
In keeping with this year’s theme of the Exercise, ‘Lightning Strike from the Sky’, over 120 aircraft displayed the lAF’s offensive capabilities by day as well as by night.
Vayu Shakti was last held at Pokhran in February 2019 when fighter planes targeted and destroyed simulated enemy sites, demonstrating IAF’s capability to hit hard, hit fast and hit with precision.

GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS

Satellite INSAT-3DS on launch vehicle GSLV-F14, fully funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), was successfully launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
INSAT-3DS will augment the country’s meteorological (weather, climate, and ocean related) services with the presently operational INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR in-orbit satellites.
The newly launched INSAT-3DS satellite aims to enhance the monitoring of Earth’s surface, atmosphere, oceans, and environment, elevate capabilities in data collection and dissemination and satellite-aided search and rescue services.
The initiative will boost India’s weather, climate, and ocean-related observations and services, expanding knowledge and better disaster mitigation and preparedness in the future.

ISRO Announces Young Scientist Programme 2024 (YUVIKA)

To address the curiosity of young minds, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is organising a special programme for School Children called “Young Scientist Programme” “YUva VIgyani KAryakram” (YUVIKA).
The key objective of this initiative is to impart basic knowledge on Space Science, Space Technology and Space Applications to the younger students in emerging trends in space science and technology.
YUVIKA programme is also expected to encourage more students to pursue in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based research and aligned career.

Know! about Young Scientist Programme

YUVIKA was conceived to impart basic knowledge on Space Science, Space Technology and Space
Applications to the younger students with a preference to rural areas of the country.
The programme is thus aimed at creating awareness about the emerging trends in science and technology amongst the school going students.
The programme envisages two weeks’ class room training, practical demonstration of experiments, hands on CANSAT, Robotic kit, Model rocketry interactions with ISRO scientists and field visits.

Who can apply for YUVIKA – 2024?

Students studying in Class 9 as on January 1, 2024, within India are eligible to apply for the ISRO Young Scientist Programme (YUVIKA).

INDIA-JAPAN JOINT EXERCISE ‘DHARMA GUARDIAN’ COMMENCES IN RAJASTHAN

The 5^th edition of Joint Military Exercise ‘DHARMA GUARDIAN’ between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self Defence Force commenced at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
The Exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 25^th February to 9^th March 2024.
Exercise ‘DHARMA GUARDIAN’ is an annual exercise and conducted alternatively in India and Japan.
Aim of the Exercise is to foster Military Cooperation and enhance combined capabilities to execute joint operations in semi-urban environment under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter.
The Exercise would focus on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning, joint tactical drills and basics of special arms skills.

SAMAR (System for Advance Manufacturing Assessment and Rating)

To enhance cooperation and synergy with the industry, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) organised a DRDO-Industry Meet during the Maharashtra MSME Defence Expo 2024 at Pune.
During the meet, DRDO handed over 23 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LATOT) to 22 industries
The technologies transferred cover the domains of electronics, laser technology, armaments, life sciences, materials science, combat vehicles, naval systems and aeronautics.
The DRDO handed over SAMAR (System for Advance Manufacturing Assessment and Rating) assessment certificates to nine Industry Partners.
SAMAR is a benchmark to measure the competency of defence manufacturing enterprises.

Island on the Air (IOTA) expedition

Advocating last mile connectivity and a HAM in every village, alongside the readiness of HAMs to aid in communication failures, a dedicated team of amateur radio operators (HAMs) embarked on a significant journey from the cyclone shelters of Nachugunta Island, Andhra Pradesh, to participate in the Island on the Air (IOTA) expedition.
It aimed at integrating HAM education in primary and secondary schools for widespread adoption and enhanced disaster response across the country.
During the visit, they commended the steadfast dedication of the HAM operators, acknowledging their efforts as a reflection of India’s excellence in communication technology.
At the site, five Amateur High Frequency stations and one Amateur Satellite station were set up using most of the self-designed and locally developed communication equipment, showcasing India’s commitment to the “Make in India” initiative.
Operating from the disaster-prone village of Nachugunta Island (AS-199), located in the West Godavari District within the Vijayawada region of Andhra Pradesh, these operators utilized the cyclone shelters along the Bay of Bengal coastline as their base for communication.

Know! about Amateur Radio (HAM Radio)

Amateur radio is a popular hobby involving the use of radio frequency spectrum for non-commercial purposes. HAM radio operators communicate using designated radio frequencies, engaging in diverse activities like contests, emergency communication support, experimentation, technical learning, and community engagement.

Know! about Islands on the Air (IOTA)

IOTA, or Islands On The Air, is a pioneering programme that connects radio amateurs worldwide with stations on islands. Established in 1964, it’s managed by IOTA Ltd in collaboration with the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), categorizing islands into groups for communication.

Know! about DX

DXing, taken from DX, the telegraphic shorthand for “distance” or “distant”, is the hobby of receiving and identifying distant radio signals, or making two-way radio contact with distant stations in amateur radio bands.

KEEP Learning KEEP Evolving

TEAM CL/GKP

Current Affairs 16-20 Feb 2024