Daily Current Affairs Date-26th May 2021
Topics
- NASA’s New Earth System Observatory
- Panel set up on Mekedatu Dam Construction
- India-Israel signs 3-year program for Cooperation in Agriculture
- ‘One Stop Center scheme’ implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
- Govt to set up National Mission on use of Biomass
- Merger of District Central Co-operative Banks (DCCBs) with State Cooperative Banks (StCBs)
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Questions-
What are the functions of NASA new earth system observatory ?
a)Tracking Subtle Changes in earth surfaces
b)Spotting warning signs of imminent Volcanic Eruptions
c)Helping to monitor groundwater supplies
d)Tracking the rate at which ice sheets are melting
Options-
1) a, b, c, d 2) a,b 3) a only 4)all of the above
NASA’s New Earth System Observatory
NASA has set up a new Earth System Observatory which will help in mitigating climate change, forest fires and hurricanes. It will also support real-time agriculture.
- Purpose of New Earth System Observatory
- Each satellite in the observatory will be designed uniquely and will complement the others. Each will work in tandem to produce holistic 3-dimensional view of Earth, from bedrock to atmosphere. Observatory will study clouds & weather, aerosols, water supply, and surface & ecosystems of Earth.
- Status of the observatory
- Currently, NASA has initiated formulation phase for First integrated part of the observatory. In first integrated parts, two different radar systems will be bought by NASA in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Radar systems can measure changes in surface of Earth, less than a half-inch.
- What is Earth System Observatory?
- It is a program by US Space Agency, NASA consisting of series of artificial satellite missions and scientific instruments in Earth orbit. It is designed for long-term global observations biosphere, land surface, atmosphere, and oceans. Satellite component of this program was launched in 199
Questions
Which is not the primary objective of Mekedatu Project ?
a)To provide Drinking water to Bangalore city
b)Generate Electricity
c)Provide Water to Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
d)Distribution of Water Property
Panel set up on Mekedatu Dam Construction
- A committee was set up by National Green Tribunal (NGT) to submit report on alleged violation of norms in construction of a reservoir across Cauvery river at Mekedatu in Karnataka.
- NGT bench consisting of Justice K Ramakrishnan took suo motu cognizance of newspaper report regarding the dam.
- Report states Karnataka proposes to construct a dam across Cauvery river even though proposal was deferred by Cauvery Water Management Authority twice in past because of opposition from Tamil Nadu government.
- About Committee
- Senior members of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited; Integrated Regional Office of MoEF, Bangalore and Cauvery Water Management Authority are members of the committee.
- NGT has directed the committee to ask whether construction activity as alleged in newspaper report has been started before obtaining necessary clearance from Forest Department and MoEF under Forest Conservation Act and EIA Notification, 2006.
- Mekedatu Project
- The project was approved by Karnataka in 2017. Rs 9,000 crore worth project started was with the aim of storing and supplying drinking water for Bengaluru city. It will also generate 400 megawatts of power. It is undertaken at deep gorge situated at the confluence of river Cauvery and its tributary Arkavathi.
- Why Tamil Nadu is opposing the project?
- Tamil Nadu opposes any proposed project in upper riparian unless it is approved by Supreme Court. Further, Karnataka started the project without the consent and clearance which goes against the final order of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT). In the order, SC held- “no state can claim exclusive ownership to deprive other states of waters of inter-state rivers”.
Questions-
What are the India-Israel 3- year program for cooperation in agriculture which are signed recently ?
a)Creation Of Centres of Excellence (COCE) to make Farmers aware of Israeli farming and Water technology
b)A model ecosystem in Agriculture called villages of excellence in all states
c)New programme for increase the income of farmer
d)Transform the traditional farming into modern day farming
OPTIONS –
1) a&b 2) a,b&c 3)a,c,d 4)all
India-Israel signs 3-year program for Cooperation in Agriculture
- India and Israel have inked a three-year joint work programme which will continue till 2023. Joint work programme was initiated with the aim of enhancing cooperation in agriculture..
- India and Israel have completed four similar joint work programmes successfully.
- About New Work Programme
- Under new work programme, 13 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) were set up to make Indian farmers aware of Israeli farm and water technologies.
- A model ecosystem in agriculture called Villages of Excellence (VoE) will also be created across eight states within 75 villages.
- New programme will promote increase of net income and enhance livelihood of individual farmer.
- It will also transform traditional farms into modern-intensive farms on the basis of IIAP standards.
- It will also strengthen the bilateral relations and mutual cooperation between both the countries in agriculture to benefit farming community.
- India Israel Agricultural relation
- “India and Israel started the bilateral relations in agriculture sector in 1993. So, new programme is 5th Indo-Israel Agriculture Action Plan (IIAP).
- Significance of Indo-Israel Agriculture Action Plan
- These action plans are playing a significant role in doubling farmers’ income. It has improved productivity and quality of horticulture which boost farmer’s income.
Questions
What are the service provided in the one step centre for woman
a)Emergency response and resume service
b)Medical assistance
- c) Social support and counseling
- d) Shelter
Options-
1) a,b,c 2)a,b,c,d 3)a,b 4) all of the above
Questions
Nirbhaya fund which provides assistance to one stop centres are under which ministry
A)Wocd
B)Mohome
C)Mohealth
D)Finance minister
‘One Stop Center scheme’ implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
- The scheme is implemented by State Governments and Union Territory (UT) administrations.
Objectives: To provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence and in distress, both in private and public spaces, under one roof, and to facilitate immediate, emergency, and non-emergency access to a range of services such as police, medical, legal aid, and counselling, as well as psychological support, in order to combat all forms of violence against women.
So far, 701 OSCs have been operationalized in 35 states/UT. - Ministry of Women and Child Development
- It is an apex body for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to womenand child development in India
- The Department of Women and Child Development was set up in the year 1985 as a part of the Ministry of Human Resource Development to give the much needed impetus to the holistic development of women and children
- As a nodal Ministry for the advancement of women and children, the Ministry formulates plans, policies and programmes; enacts/ amends legislation, guides and coordinates the efforts of both governmental and non-governmental organisations working in the field of Women and Child Development. Besides, playing its nodal role, the Ministry implements certain innovative programmes for women and children.
Questions
What is the main objective of National Mission on use of Biomass?
a)To eradicate the the CO2 and CO from the environment completely
b)to sell to the biofuels to other countries
- c) completely eliminating the use of convention fuel
- d) reduce the air polution due to farm stubble burning and to reduce carbon footprints of thermal power generator
Questions
The term co firing which.is one of the objective of National mission on use of biomass is –
a)Burning of all stubble at same time so the reduction in the air pollutants
b) It is a low cost option for efficiency and cleanly converting biomass to produce electricity
c)It don’t use as a partial substitute fuel in high efficient boiler
d)none of the above
Govt to set up National Mission on use of Biomass
Union Ministry of Power has announced to set up a ‘National Mission on use of Biomass’ in coal based thermal power plants. This decision was taken to address issue of air pollution caused due to farm stubble-burning.
- National Mission on use of Biomass
- Mission will reduce carbon footprints of thermal power generation.
- It will also help in energy transition across the country and help in fulfilling the aim of establishing cleaner energy sources.
- Level of co-firing from present five percent to higher levels will also be increased in order to get higher carbon-neutral power generation from thermal power plants.
- Mission will facilitate platform to overcome constraints in supply chain of biomass pellets and agro- residue including its transportation to power plants.
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- It will consider regulatory issues in biomass co-firing.
- Mission will also contribute in National Clean Air Programme
- Steering Committee
- Mission will be administered by Steering Committee which is headed by Power Secretary consisting of all stakeholders, representatives from Petroleum and New & Renewable Energy Ministries.
- National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
- NCAP was launched by government to tackle air pollution problem across India in a comprehensive manner. It seeks to achieve 20% to 30% reduction in Particulate Matter concentrations by 2024. It has kept 2017 as base year to compare concentration.
Merger of District Central Co-operative Banks (DCCBs) with State Cooperative Banks (StCBs)
- RBI has notified the guidelines for merging DCCBs with StCBs as two-tier Short-term Co-operative Credit Structure (STCCS). Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2020 has also been notified in effect from April 1, 2021 for these banks.
- Merger of such banks will be finally be sanctioned by Reserve Bank of India..
- As per the guidelines, RBI will consider proposals of merger “when state government will make it” after studying detailed legal framework.
- Guideline mention, there should be an additional capital infusion strategy and assurance with respect to financial support.
- Business model should be projected with clear profitability.
- It also proposed governance model for merging bank.
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- Who will approve the merger-Scheme of amalgamation will be approved by requisite majority of shareholders. NABARD in association with RBI will also examine and recommend proposals made by state government.
- Stages of approval-Approval will be given in two-stages:
1.First Stage: ‘In-principle’ approval will be given after completing certain conditions. Later, processes for amalgamation will be initiated.
2.Second Stage: NABARD and RBI will be approached for final approval along with compliance report.
Also Read: Daily Current Affairs Date-25th May 2021
- District Co-operative Central Bank (DCCB)
- It is a cooperative bankoperating at the district level in various parts of India.
- It was established to provide banking to the rural hinterland for the agricultural sector with the branches primarily established in rural and semi-urban areas.
State Cooperative Banks (StCBs)
- It is distinct from commercial banks.
- They are broadly classified into Urban and Rural co-operative banksbased on their region of operation.
- They are registered under theCo-operative Societies Act of the State concernedor under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.
