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#MainsFodder #PT2021
Institution of Eminence Tag
News: Recently, the OP Jindal Global University officially got an ‘Institution of Eminence (IoE) tag.
The university was selected by the UGC, along with 13 other higher education institutions, for IoE status in 2019.
Started in 2018, the Empowered Expert Committee (EEC) chaired by former Chief Election Commissioner, N. Gopalasamy.
Aim: to establish 20 world class institutes in the country to provide support and prepare them to become world-class institutions
To get the status, the institutions should be among:
1. Top 50 in the National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF).
2.Top 500 in internationally recognised rankings.
Institution of Eminence Tag
News: Recently, the OP Jindal Global University officially got an ‘Institution of Eminence (IoE) tag.
The university was selected by the UGC, along with 13 other higher education institutions, for IoE status in 2019.
Started in 2018, the Empowered Expert Committee (EEC) chaired by former Chief Election Commissioner, N. Gopalasamy.
Aim: to establish 20 world class institutes in the country to provide support and prepare them to become world-class institutions
To get the status, the institutions should be among:
1. Top 50 in the National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF).
2.Top 500 in internationally recognised rankings.
#MainsFodder #PT2021
Typhoon Molave
News: Recently, Vietnam has been hit by one of its biggest storms in two decades - Typhoon Molave.
It is a tropical cyclone.
It caused large amount of landslides.
Vietnam is prone to natural disasters in the rainy season between June and November
Scientists say that global warming is fueling more frequent and more catastrophic storms and flooding across the world.
The name ‘Molave’ is contributed by the Philippines.
Typhoon Molave
News: Recently, Vietnam has been hit by one of its biggest storms in two decades - Typhoon Molave.
It is a tropical cyclone.
It caused large amount of landslides.
Vietnam is prone to natural disasters in the rainy season between June and November
Scientists say that global warming is fueling more frequent and more catastrophic storms and flooding across the world.
The name ‘Molave’ is contributed by the Philippines.
#MainsFodder #PT2021 #govt_initiative
SERB-POWER Scheme
News: Recently, the Union Minister for Science and Technology has launched SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research) Scheme
The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), is a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Objectives
- For women scientists to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering research and development
- It empower women scientists and cultivate a women-friendly culture
Fellowship
- Women researchers in 35-55 years of age.
- Up-to 25 Fellowships per year and not more than 75 at any point in time.
- Fellowship of Rs. 15,000/- per month in addition to regular income.
- Research grant of Rs. 10 lakh per annum.
- Overhead of Rs. 90,000/- per annum.
- Three years, without the possibility of extension. Once in a career.
SERB-POWER Scheme
News: Recently, the Union Minister for Science and Technology has launched SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research) Scheme
The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), is a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Objectives
- For women scientists to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering research and development
- It empower women scientists and cultivate a women-friendly culture
Fellowship
- Women researchers in 35-55 years of age.
- Up-to 25 Fellowships per year and not more than 75 at any point in time.
- Fellowship of Rs. 15,000/- per month in addition to regular income.
- Research grant of Rs. 10 lakh per annum.
- Overhead of Rs. 90,000/- per annum.
- Three years, without the possibility of extension. Once in a career.
#MainsFodder #PT2021
Mission SAGAR II
Background:
Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)
It was launched in 2015.
It is India’s strategic vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
News: (Under Mission Sagar-II) Indian Naval Ship Airavat will deliver food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea.
Aim: providing assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries to overcome natural calamities and Covid-19 pandemic.
Significance:
facilitate a navy’s continuous presence along key international shipping routes
Navy can patrol and secure Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) during peace times
Can cut off an adversary’s communications during times of conflict.
Mission SAGAR II
Background:
Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)
It was launched in 2015.
It is India’s strategic vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
News: (Under Mission Sagar-II) Indian Naval Ship Airavat will deliver food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea.
Aim: providing assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries to overcome natural calamities and Covid-19 pandemic.
Significance:
facilitate a navy’s continuous presence along key international shipping routes
Navy can patrol and secure Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) during peace times
Can cut off an adversary’s communications during times of conflict.
#MainsFodder #PT2021 #Culture
Ganga Utsav 2020
News: Recently, the Ganga Utsav 2020 has begun which celebrates the glory of the National River Ganga.
Celebrated by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) annually.
Three-day festival
Aim: to promote stakeholder engagement and ensure public participation.
It includes: mystical and cultural river Ganga through storytelling, folklores, and dialogues with eminent personalities etc.
Ganga Utsav 2020
News: Recently, the Ganga Utsav 2020 has begun which celebrates the glory of the National River Ganga.
Celebrated by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) annually.
Three-day festival
Aim: to promote stakeholder engagement and ensure public participation.
It includes: mystical and cultural river Ganga through storytelling, folklores, and dialogues with eminent personalities etc.
#5MinRead #Mains2020 #Topic06
Role of Parliamentary Committee
In the Indian Parliament, a Parliamentary Standing committee is a committee consisting of Members of Parliament.
Features:
It is a permanent or temporary regular committee which is constituted from time to time
Committees draw their authority from Article 105 and Article 118
Role of committees
- Executive Accountability
- Support Parliament’s work.
- Examine ministerial budgets
- Examine Bills
- Consideration of Annual Reports.
Significance
- Help in obtaining public feedback
- building political consensus on contentious issues
- develop expertise in subjects
- detailed scrutiny of bills
- Increase the efficiency and expertise of Parliament.
Measures to strengthencommittee
- Linking Financial departments to Outcomes
- Establishing Parliamentary Budget Office(PBO)
- Strengthening Public Accounts Committee
- Strengthening Estimates Committee
- Scrutiny of Supplementary Demands for Grants
Although parliamentary and cabinet committees are not a part of the Constitution, they ensure healthy democracy and governance through scrutiny and better policies.
Role of Parliamentary Committee
In the Indian Parliament, a Parliamentary Standing committee is a committee consisting of Members of Parliament.
Features:
It is a permanent or temporary regular committee which is constituted from time to time
Committees draw their authority from Article 105 and Article 118
Role of committees
- Executive Accountability
- Support Parliament’s work.
- Examine ministerial budgets
- Examine Bills
- Consideration of Annual Reports.
Significance
- Help in obtaining public feedback
- building political consensus on contentious issues
- develop expertise in subjects
- detailed scrutiny of bills
- Increase the efficiency and expertise of Parliament.
Measures to strengthencommittee
- Linking Financial departments to Outcomes
- Establishing Parliamentary Budget Office(PBO)
- Strengthening Public Accounts Committee
- Strengthening Estimates Committee
- Scrutiny of Supplementary Demands for Grants
Although parliamentary and cabinet committees are not a part of the Constitution, they ensure healthy democracy and governance through scrutiny and better policies.
#PT2021 #MainsFodder
Pinaka Mark-1 Missile
News: An enhanced version of this missile was successfully flight-tested from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
Developed by DRDO laboratories - Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).
Features:
- Multi-barrel rocket-launcher (MBRL) system
- It consists of six launch vehicles
- Its battery can neutralize an area of 1 km by 1 km.
Pinaka Mark-1 Missile
News: An enhanced version of this missile was successfully flight-tested from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
Developed by DRDO laboratories - Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).
Features:
- Multi-barrel rocket-launcher (MBRL) system
- It consists of six launch vehicles
- Its battery can neutralize an area of 1 km by 1 km.
#MainsFodder #PT2021
Covid-19 Shri Shakti Challenge
News: Six women led startups have won Covid-19 Shri Shakti Challenge organized by MyGov in collaboration with UN WOMEN.
Objective: Help in the fight against Covid-19.
MyGov is an innovative platform to build a partnership between Citizens and Government with the help of technology for growth and development of India.
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Covid-19 Shri Shakti Challenge
News: Six women led startups have won Covid-19 Shri Shakti Challenge organized by MyGov in collaboration with UN WOMEN.
Objective: Help in the fight against Covid-19.
MyGov is an innovative platform to build a partnership between Citizens and Government with the help of technology for growth and development of India.
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
#PT2021 #MainsFodder #SnT_Currents
Metro Neo
- It is an urban rail transit system targeted at tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
It provides
- low-cost, energy-efficient and eco-friendly
- It will not run on track but on road.
- Suitable for 8000 passengers
- Lighter and smaller than Metro
- Feeder system to high capacity Metro.
Nashik will introduce first
Metro Neo
- It is an urban rail transit system targeted at tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
It provides
- low-cost, energy-efficient and eco-friendly
- It will not run on track but on road.
- Suitable for 8000 passengers
- Lighter and smaller than Metro
- Feeder system to high capacity Metro.
Nashik will introduce first
#MainsFodder #PT2021 #SnT_Currents
Gandhian Young Technological Innovation (GYTI) Awards
Aim: encourage technology students to move towards setting up biotechnology and other start-ups.
Two categories of awards:
Students Innovations for Advancement of Research Exploration
- life sciences
- biotechnology
- agriculture
- Medical devices etc
Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technological Innovations
- Engineering disciplines
Gandhian Young Technological Innovation (GYTI) Awards
Aim: encourage technology students to move towards setting up biotechnology and other start-ups.
Two categories of awards:
Students Innovations for Advancement of Research Exploration
- life sciences
- biotechnology
- agriculture
- Medical devices etc
Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technological Innovations
- Engineering disciplines
#MainsFodder #PT2021 #SnT_Currents
The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)
- It is an autonomous society
- Launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- Established in 1991.
Objective: encouraging, promoting and boosting the export of software from India.
Significance:
- provide statutory and other promotional services to the exporters
- promote micro, small and medium entrepreneurs
- Creating conducive environment for entrepreneurship in the field of IT/ITES.
- Establish and manage infrastructure resources such as Datacom facilities etc
The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)
- It is an autonomous society
- Launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- Established in 1991.
Objective: encouraging, promoting and boosting the export of software from India.
Significance:
- provide statutory and other promotional services to the exporters
- promote micro, small and medium entrepreneurs
- Creating conducive environment for entrepreneurship in the field of IT/ITES.
- Establish and manage infrastructure resources such as Datacom facilities etc
#PT2021 #SnT_Currents
Fast Radio Burst in Milky Way
News: Recently NASA has spotted fast Radio Burst for the first time in the Milky Way
FRB is bright bursts of radio waves whose durations lie in the millisecond-scale.
It was first discovered in 2007.
NASA observed a mix of X-ray and radio signals.
The findings confirm that magnetars could be sources for FRBs.
Fast Radio Burst in Milky Way
News: Recently NASA has spotted fast Radio Burst for the first time in the Milky Way
FRB is bright bursts of radio waves whose durations lie in the millisecond-scale.
It was first discovered in 2007.
NASA observed a mix of X-ray and radio signals.
The findings confirm that magnetars could be sources for FRBs.
#PT2021 #IR_InNews
Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwar
News: India has criticized Pakistan’s decision to transfer the management of the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara from a Sikh body to a separate trust
Key Points
- Most significant historical and spiritual places for Sikhs.
- Foundations of a Sikh religion.
- The Kartarpur Corridor was thrown open in 2019.
- visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims to Pakistan
- The corridor was built in 2019 to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwar
News: India has criticized Pakistan’s decision to transfer the management of the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara from a Sikh body to a separate trust
Key Points
- Most significant historical and spiritual places for Sikhs.
- Foundations of a Sikh religion.
- The Kartarpur Corridor was thrown open in 2019.
- visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims to Pakistan
- The corridor was built in 2019 to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
#PT2021 #Economy_Current
NBFC- MFIs
NBFC MFI is a non-deposit taking NBFC (other than a company licensed u/s 25 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956) that meets the following conditions:
1. Minimum Net Owned Funds (NOF) of Rs.5 crore. (Rs. 2 crore for the North Eastern Region)
2. At least 85% of its Total Net Assets are in the nature of “Qualifying Assets.”
NBFC- MFIs
NBFC MFI is a non-deposit taking NBFC (other than a company licensed u/s 25 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956) that meets the following conditions:
1. Minimum Net Owned Funds (NOF) of Rs.5 crore. (Rs. 2 crore for the North Eastern Region)
2. At least 85% of its Total Net Assets are in the nature of “Qualifying Assets.”
#PT2021 #MainsFodder
Qualifying Assets
“Net assets” are total assets excluding cash, bank balances, and money market instruments.
“Qualifying assets” are those assets which have a substantial period of time to be ready for its intended use or sale.
Qualifying Assets
“Net assets” are total assets excluding cash, bank balances, and money market instruments.
“Qualifying assets” are those assets which have a substantial period of time to be ready for its intended use or sale.
#MainsFodder #PT2021
National Water Awards:
Second National Water Awards to be conferred in November.
- The awards are given by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, GOI.
- The awards are given in several categories such as ‘Best State’, ‘Best District’, ‘Best School’, ‘Best Newspaper’, ‘Best NGO’, ‘Best Industry’, etc. with sub-categories also.
National Water Awards:
Second National Water Awards to be conferred in November.
- The awards are given by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, GOI.
- The awards are given in several categories such as ‘Best State’, ‘Best District’, ‘Best School’, ‘Best Newspaper’, ‘Best NGO’, ‘Best Industry’, etc. with sub-categories also.
#5MinRead #Mains2020 #Topic07 #GS2 #GS3
Fiscal Council
A fiscal council is a permanent agency with a mandate to assess the government’s fiscal plans and projections against parameters of macroeconomic sustainability.
- It puts out its findings in the public domain.
- It recommended by both 13th and 14th Finance Commission
Significance:
- Raises the level of debate.
- Boost accuracy.
- Greater transparency and accountability.
- Raises the public awareness
- Understand the nature of budgetary constraint.
- More accurate macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts.
Need for Fiscal Council?
- Tax maladministration
- Lack of coordination between GST and Finance Commission
- Overestimated revenue growth and underestimated expenditure growth.
- Limiting on the Center’s borrowing
- Fixing up fiscal deficit
Conclusion
FC ensures the checks and balances in the system for greater good and will help in improving comprehensiveness, transparency and accountability of budgetary data.
Fiscal Council
A fiscal council is a permanent agency with a mandate to assess the government’s fiscal plans and projections against parameters of macroeconomic sustainability.
- It puts out its findings in the public domain.
- It recommended by both 13th and 14th Finance Commission
Significance:
- Raises the level of debate.
- Boost accuracy.
- Greater transparency and accountability.
- Raises the public awareness
- Understand the nature of budgetary constraint.
- More accurate macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts.
Need for Fiscal Council?
- Tax maladministration
- Lack of coordination between GST and Finance Commission
- Overestimated revenue growth and underestimated expenditure growth.
- Limiting on the Center’s borrowing
- Fixing up fiscal deficit
Conclusion
FC ensures the checks and balances in the system for greater good and will help in improving comprehensiveness, transparency and accountability of budgetary data.
#MainsFodder #PT2021
National Legal Services Day
- Celebrated on 9th November annually
Aim: To spread awareness for ensuring reasonable fair and justice procedure for all citizens.
- Started by the Supreme Court of India in 1995
Constitutional provisions:
- Article 39A
- Articles 14 and 22(1)
Objectives:
- Provide free legal aid and advice.
- Spread legal awareness.
- Organise lok adalats.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms.
- Provide compensation to victims of crime.
National Legal Services Day
- Celebrated on 9th November annually
Aim: To spread awareness for ensuring reasonable fair and justice procedure for all citizens.
- Started by the Supreme Court of India in 1995
Constitutional provisions:
- Article 39A
- Articles 14 and 22(1)
Objectives:
- Provide free legal aid and advice.
- Spread legal awareness.
- Organise lok adalats.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms.
- Provide compensation to victims of crime.