IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-01

India gets its 40th World Heritage Site.

Source: PIB INDIA

News

  • India’s nomination of Dholavira, the Harappan City in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
  • The site was on the UNESCO’s tentative list since 2014. Dholavira: a Harappan city, is one of the very few well preserved urban settlements in South Asia dating from the 3rd to mid-2nd millennium BCE.
  • With this successful nomination, India has 40 world heritage properties overall, which includes 32 cultural, 7 natural and one mixed property.

Harappan city of Dholavira

  • Dholavira: a Harappan city, is one of the very few well preserved urban settlements in South Asia dating from the 3rd to mid-2nd millennium BCE.
  • Being the 6th largest of more than 1,000 Harappan sites discovered so far, and occupied for over 1,500 years, Dholavira not only witnesses the entire trajectory of the rise and fall of this early civilization of humankind, but also demonstrates its multifaceted achievements in terms of urban planning, construction techniques, water management, social governance and development, art, manufacturing, trading, and belief system.
  • With extremely rich artefacts, the well preserved urban settlement of Dholavira depicts a vivid picture of a regional centre with its distinct characteristics that also contributes significantly to the existing knowledge of Harappan Civilization as a whole.
  • The property comprises two parts: a walled city and a cemetery to the west of the city. The walled city consists of a fortified Castle with attached fortified Bailey and Ceremonial Ground, and a fortified Middle Town and a Lower Town.
  • A series of reservoirs are found to the east and south of the Citadel. The great majority of the burials in the Cemetery are memorial in nature.
  • Dholavira is an exceptional example of a proto-historic Bronze Age urban settlement pertaining to the Harappan Civilization (early, mature and late Harappan phases) and bears evidence of a multi-cultural and stratified society during the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. The earliest evidence can be traced back to 3000 BCE during the early Harappan phase of the Harappan Civilization. This city flourished for nearly 1,500 years, representing a long continuous habitation.
  • The excavated remains clearly indicate the origin of the settlement, its growth, zenith and the subsequent decline in the form of continuous changes in the configuration of the city, architectural elements and various other attributes.
  • Dholavira is an outstanding example of Harappan urban planning, with its preconceived city planning, multilayered fortifications, sophisticated water reservoirs and drainage system, and the extensive use of stone as a building material. These characteristics reflect the unique position Dholavira held in the entire gamut of Harappan Civilization.
  • The expansive water management system designed to store every drop of water available shows the ingenuity of the people to survive against the rapid geo-climatic transformations.

 

IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-02

  • Parliament passes landmark ‘Marine Aids to Navigation Bill 2021’ to repeal and replace the Lighthouse Act 1927.

  • Source: PIB INDIA

News

  • Parliament passed the Marine Aids to Navigation Bill 2021, which aims to replace over 90-year-old Lighthouse Act 1927, to incorporate the global best practices, technological developments and India’s International obligations in the field of Marine Aids to Navigation, to fulfill the vision of the Prime Minister, to make the legislative framework user-friendly and to promote ease of doing business.

Marine Aids to Navigation Bill 2021

  • The administration and management of Lighthouse and Lightships in India is governed by Lighthouse Act 1927 for safe navigation. At the time of enactment of Lighthouse Act 1927, there were only 32 Lighthouses in the then British India spread across six regions viz. Aden, Karachi, Bombay, Madras, Calcutta and Rangoon.
  • Post-Independence, 17 Lighthouses came under the administrative control of India, which have now increased manifold to meet the growing needs of the shipping industry.
  • Presently, there are 195 Lighthouses and number of advanced radio and digital aids to navigation administered under the said Act.
  • Lighthouses have also been globally identified as a major tourist attraction due to scenic location, typical architecture and heritage value.
  • The need for enactment of a new Act is necessitated to provide an appropriate statutory framework which reflects the modern role of marine aids to navigation and to be in compliance with India’s obligations under International Conventions.

The benefits

The new Act will facilitate harmonized and effective functioning of aids to marine navigation and Vessel Traffic Services along the Indian coastline.

    • Improved Legal Framework for Matters related to Aids to Navigation & Vessel Traffic Services and covers the future developments in the field of Marine Navigation.
    • Management of ‘Vessel Traffic Services’ for enhancing the safety and efficiency of shipping and to protect environment.
    • Skill development through Training and Certification for the operators of ‘Aids to Navigation’ and ‘Vessel Traffic Services’ at par with International standards.
    • Auditing and Accreditation of Institutes to cater to the need of Training and Certification at par with global standards.
    • Marking of “Wreck” in general waters to identify sunken / stranded vessels for safe and efficient navigation.
    • Development of Lighthouses for the purpose of education, culture and tourism, which would tap the tourism potential of coastal regions and contribute to their economy.

Need effective mechanism to address global vaccine inequity: India in UNSC

News

  • Underlining the need for an effective mechanism to address the global inequity of COVID-19 vaccines, India has said that vaccination drive is needed to address further mutation and offered to share its CoWin platform as “digital public good to the world”.
  • The UN Security Council, under the French Presidency, held closed consultations on Resolution 2565 on the COVID-19 situation.
  • The overall global Covid-19 caseload has topped 194 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 4.16 million.

IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-03

Unemployment rate for women has comedown from 5.1% in 2018-19 to 4.2% in 2019-20.

Source: PIB INDIA

News

  • As per the results of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation during 2019-20, Labour Force Participation Rate(LFPR) for the persons aged 15 years and above on usual status (principal status + subsidiary status) basis, LFPR for women has increased from 24.5% in 2018-19 to 30.0% in 2019-20 and the unemployment rate for women has come down from 5.1% in 2018-19 to 4.2% in 2019-20. T

Unemployment rate for women

  • Government has taken several initiatives to improve women’s participation in the labour force. In order to encourage employment of women, a number of protective provisions have been incorporated in the labour laws for creating congenial work environment for women workers.
  • These include enhancement in paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, provision for mandatory crèche facility in the establishments having 50 or more employees, permitting women workers in the night shifts with adequate safety measures, etc.
  • Government has taken a decision to allow the employment of women in the aboveground mines including opencast workings between 7 pm and 6 am and in below ground working between 6 am and 7 pm in technical, supervisory and managerial work where continuous presence may not be required.
  • Further, in order to enhance the employability of female workers, the Government is providing training to them through a network of Women Industrial Training institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional Vocational Training Institutes.
  • Government has taken various steps for generating employment in the country like encouraging various projects involving substantial investment and increasing public expenditure on schemes like Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pt. DeenDayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) and Deendayal Antodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).
  • Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojna (ABRY) Scheme has been launched to incentivize creation of new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment. This scheme reduces the financial burden of the employers and encourages them to hire more workers.
  • Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) has been initiated by Government inter alia, for facilitating self-employment. Under PMMY collateral free loans upto Rs. 10 lakh, are extended to micro/small business enterprises and to individuals to enable them to setup or expand their business activities. About 70% of the loans have been given to women entrepreneurs.
  • Government has increased MGNREGA wage to Rs. 202 a day from Rs. 182 to benefit nearly 13.62 crore families. Out of total employment generated (in person days) under MGNREGS, women share has increased from around 145.35 crore person days in FY 2019-20 to around 207 crore person days in the FY 2020-21.

Total Power Generation from non-fossil fuel sources reaches 39% of total installed capacity.

Source: PIB INDIA

News

  • Government of India had set a target of 1,75,000 MW installed capacity from renewable sources by the year 2022 which includes 1,00,000 MW from Solar, 60,000 MW from Wind, 10,000 MW from Biomass and 5000 MW from Small Hydro.  As on 30.06.2021, the total capacity of Renewable Energy installed: under installation and under tied was 96.95 GW.
  • This does not include large Hydro, which is also renewable.  As on 30.06.2021, the total power generation capacity installed from non-fossil fuel sources was 150.06 GW; which is 39% of the total installed capacity.
  • India is well in its way to achieving, and  surpassing  its nationally determined contribution (NDC) target which was 40% capacity by non fossil-fuel sources by 2030.

Steps taken, to promote the renewable energy sources:

  • Waiver of inter-State transmission charges on transmission of the electricity generated from the solar and wind sources, for projects to be commissioned upto 30th June 2025.
  • Green energy corridors have been developed to evacuate power from the Renewable Energy Sources.
  • Renewable Purchase Obligation Trajectory has been notified with the objective of creating renewable power capacity of 175 GW by year 2022.

320 foreign companies registered in India between 2018 and 2021.

Source: PIB INDIA

News

  • A total of 320 foreign companies registered in the country during the last three years.
  • Giving more details, the Minister stated that “Foreign Company” is defined under section 2 (42) of the Companies Act, 2013 (the Act) as any company or body corporate incorporated outside India which (a) has a place of business in India by itself or through an agent, physically or thorough electronic mode and (b) conducts any business activity in India in any other manner.

India’s forex reserves position comfortable for import cover of more than 18 months & provide cushion against unforeseen external shocks.

Source: PIB INDIA

News

  • India’s foreign exchange reserves position is comfortable in terms of import cover of more than 18 months and provides cushion against unforeseen external shocks.

India’s foreign exchange

  • Weather the reserve funds are adequate to meet the international payment obligations, the Minister said that the ratio of forex reserves to total external debt stood at 101.2 per cent and short-term external debt to forex reserves stood at 17.5 per cent as at end-March 2021.
  • The ratio of volatile capital flows (including cumulative portfolio inflows and outstanding short-term debt) to reserves was 67.0 per cent at end-December 2020. India is comfortable in most of the external sector vulnerability indicators.
  • The foreign currency assets, constituting more than 90 per cent of India’s forex reserves, are maintained as a multi-currency portfolio comprising major currencies, such as, US dollar, Euro, Pound sterling, Japanese yen, etc.

FLOOD RELIEF TO BIHAR.

Source: PIB INDIA

News

  • The primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the State Government. The State Government concerned undertakes relief measures in the wake of natural disasters including flood from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) already placed at their disposal in accordance with Government of India’s approved items and norms.
  • Additional assistance is provided from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) as per established  procedure  in case  the disaster is of ‘severe nature’, which includes deputation of Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) for the assessment of damages caused by any notified disaster including flood.

Relief measures

  • During the year 2020-21, 15 IMCTs were deputed to visit floods affected  areas of different States including Bihar. During the current year i.e 2021-22, no request has so far been received from any State including Bihar for deputing an IMCT for flood affected areas.
  • Central Government had released an amount of Rs 1255.27 crore from NDRF to Government of Bihar for flood relief measures during the year 2020-21.
  • Besides, an amount of Rs 1416 crore was also released as Central share of SDRF for 2020-21 to Government of Bihar. In addition, the first installment of Central share of SDRF amounting to Rs. 566.40 crore has been released on 29th April 2021 in advance to Government of Bihar.

Indian astronomers’ part of team spotting first short duration gamma-ray burst from a stellar collapse.

Source: PIB INDIA

News

  • A group of astronomers have detected a very short, powerful burst of high-energy radiation that lasted for about a second and had been racing toward Earth for nearly half the present age of the universe.
  • The burst detected by NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope turned out to be one for the record books – the shortest gamma-ray burst (GRB) caused by the death of a massive star.

Gamma-ray burst

  • GRBs are the most powerful events in the universe, detectable across billions of light-years. Astronomers classify them as long or short based on whether the event lasts for more or less than two seconds.
  • They observe long bursts in association with the demise of massive stars, while short bursts have been linked to a different scenario.
  • When a star much more massive than the Sun runs out of fuel, its core suddenly collapses and forms a black hole. As matter swirls toward the black hole, some of it escapes in the form of two powerful jets that rush outward at almost the speed of light in opposite directions.
  • Astronomers only detect a GRB when one of these jets happens to point almost directly toward Earth.
  • Each jet drills through the star, producing a pulse of gamma rays – the highest-energy form of light – that can last up to minutes.
  • Following the burst, the disrupted star then rapidly expands as a supernova. Short GRBs, on the other hand, form when pairs of compact objects – such as neutron stars, which also form during stellar collapse – spiral inward over billions of years and collide.
  • GRB 200826A was a sharp blast of high-energy emission lasting just 0.65 seconds. After traveling for eons through the expanding universe, the signal had stretched out to about one-second-long when it was detected by Fermi’s Gamma-ray Burst Monitor.

Tripura: 13 injured in ethnic clash in village near Mizoram border

News

  • Tension has gripped Tripura’s Damcherra village after 13 people were injured in a clash between two ethnic communities over a piece of land.

Ethnic clash

  • The land is near Kaskao Bru relief camp, a few kilometres from the Tripura-Mizoram border. The clash erupted between the Halam and Bru communities. The issue had been simmering since the past two weeks.
  • After two decades, over 32,000 Brus from Mizoram were permitted permanent resettlement in Tripura following a quadripartite agreement between the central government, both Tripura and Mizoram governments and Bru leaders in January last year.
  • As per the agreement, the Centre will provide a package of Rs. 600 crore for their resettlement.
  • Since the announcement, some social organisations have protested several times against the resettlement of the Brus.

IMF cuts India’s GDP growth forecast to 9.5 pc for FY22

News

  • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its economic growth forecast for India to 9.5 per cent for the fiscal year to March 31, 2022 as the onset of a severe second Covid-19 wave cut into recovery momentum.

Cut economic growth forecast

  • This forecast for 2021-22 is lower than the 12.5 per cent growth in GDP that IMF had projected in April before the second wave took a grip.
  • For 2022-23, IMF expects economic growth of 8.5 per cent, larger than the 6.9 per cent it had projected in April.
  • India’s economy is gradually recovering from a deep contraction in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 (7.3 per cent) and a subsequent severe second wave of Covid-19.
  • IMF joins a host of global and domestic agencies which have cut India’s growth estimates for the current fiscal. Last month, S&P Global Ratings projected a 9.5 per cent GDP growth in the current fiscal and 7.8 per cent in 2022-23.
  • While World Bank sees GDP growth at 8.3 per cent from April 2021 to March 2022, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) last week downgraded India’s economic growth forecast to 10 per cent from 11 per cent estimated in April.
  • Another US-based rating agency Moody’s has projected India clocking 9.3 per cent growth in the current fiscal ending March 2022. For 2021 calendar year, Moody’s has cut the growth estimate sharply to 9.6 per cent.
  • Overall, the global economy is projected to grow 6 per cent in 2021 and 4.9 per cent in 2022. The 2021 global growth forecast is unchanged from the April 2021 WEO, but with offsetting revisions.

Gandhinagar: To mitigate man-animal conflicts, forest dept to set up three breeding centres

News

  • In an attempt to mitigate the human-animal conflicts in Gujarat and to increase the prey-base for wild animals in its forests, the State Forest Department is planning to set up three breeding centres of ungulates, jungle fowls and hares in Sabarkantha, Dahod and Bhavnagar districts.

Mitigate the human-animal conflicts

  • The initiative is part of a Project for Ecosystem Restoration in Gujarat (PERG) to be funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has sanctioned a soft loan worth Rs 905 crore to the Forest department for the project of nine years’ duration.
  • PERG, expected to begin this year, includes restoration of various ecologically sensitive areas of the state like coastal areas, grasslands, wetlands and degraded forests.
  • The project is planned to address the lion and sloth bear landscapes in the state that will include leopard habitat too in those landscapes.
  • As per forest department officials, major man-animal conflicts in Gujarat are observed due to leopards, Asiatic lions, sloth bears, crocodiles, blue bulls and wild boars.
  • Wild animals, especially lion and leopard, attack and kill large number of domestic livestock and even human beings. And the breeding centers are an attempt to improve the habitat of these wild animals by increasing the prey-base in forests.
  • As per the official figures of the Forest department, in last five years between 2016-17 and 2020-21, different wildlife circles of Gujarat have witnessed total 116 cases of human deaths, 610 cases of human injuries, and 21,273 cases of injuries or deaths of cattle in incidents of man-animal conflicts.
  • In all these cases, the state government has paid ex-gratia amounts to the victims and their families running into crores.
  • As part of initiative to improve habitat of wild animals by setting up the three breeding centres, the forest department is also aiming to create safe corridors for wild animals, raise awareness on man-animal conflicts and improve rescue and improve efficiency of such conflict-related interventions through research.
  • In total, the forest department is planning to spend around Rs 32 lakh to set up the three breeding centres.

BNHS to conduct study on migratory birds at wetlands in Maharashtra

News

  • The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) undertake a five-year study of habitats and migratory routes of birds at six wetlands in Maharashtra Nandur-Madhmeshwar Sanctuary, Gangapur Dam, Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary, Hatnur Dam, Ujjani Reservoir and Visapur Dam.

Study of habitats and migratory routes of birds

  • Wetlands are ecologically important as they stabilise the coastline, control erosion and provide a habitat conducive for plant and animal species. However, due to several development activities and agriculture across the state, these areas are under constant threat.
  • All six sites are part of the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), one of the nine migratory flyways identified under the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS). It covers migratory bird routes across 30 countries with around 80 per cent of routes passing through India.

Hubble finds evidence of water vapour on Jupiter’s moon Ganymede

News

  • By analysing data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, researchers have found the first evidence of water vapour in the atmosphere of Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon.

Evidence of water

  • Previous studies have shown that Ganymede may have more water than Earth, but as it is extremely cold (minus 100 to 180 degrees Celsius), the water on the surface may be frozen.
  • It was speculated that the liquid ocean may lie about 160 kilometres below the surface.
  • This new evidence for a water atmosphere on Ganymede is crucial in our search for extraterrestrial life and habitable worlds.
  • In 1998, the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) of Hubble took the first ultraviolet pictures of Ganymede. By studying the emissions, researchers noted that Ganymede has a permanent magnetic field and some atomic oxygen.

In 2018, Hubble’s Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) instrument was used to measure the amount of this atomic oxygen.