Swachh Survekshan Awards 2022

Paper 3 – Environment

Why Should You Know?

Recently The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2022 at a function held in New Delhi on October 1, 2022.

In details –

• Swachh Survekshan Puraskars are given to recognize the good work done by cities/cities, states and union territories for cleanliness (cleanliness, health and sanitation).
• Swachh Survekshan awards-2022 were given away by President Draupadi Murmu as part of the Azadi@75 Swachh Survekshan 2022, hosted as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission. She also formally released the Swachh Survekshan 2022 dashboard.
• The President released an audio-visual song that captured the journey of SBM and the road ahead. The theme of the song was Garv (pride) and featured various celebrity ambassadors of the Mission, such as P V Sindhu and Mithali Raj.
• Notebly Swachh Survekshan- 2022 was participated by more than 4355 cities, Whose survey was done.

Results

• Indore has been adjudged the cleanest city of India for the sixth year in a row, while Madhya Pradesh is the cleanest state in the country.
• Surat is the second cleanest city and Navi Mumbai comes a close third in the category of cities with a population more than a lakh.
• In the population category of less than one lakh, Panchgani and Karad from Maharashtra bagged the first and third positions respectively, while Patan from Chhattisgarh bagged the second position.
• Tirupati received the best city award in Safai Mitra Suraksha category, while Haridwar in Uttarakhand received the award for the best Ganga town in more than one lakh population cities. Shivamogga in Karnataka received the fast mover city award.
• The State awards saw Madhya Pradesh emerge as the Cleanest State in the category of “more than 100 Urban Local Bodies”, relegating Chhattisgarh, the cleanest State of the previous three years, to second place. Maharashtra emerged as third cleanest State.
• Similarly, Tripura got the cleanest State award in the “less than 100 urban local bodies category”, dislodging Jharkhand, which had won in the past two consecutive years. Jharkhand and Uttarakhand received the second and third spots respectively.
• India’s ‘cleanest mega city’ – with a population of over 40 lakhs – is Ahmedabad in Gujarat. At the same time, Rajkot of the state has won the award for being a “self-reliant city”.

Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP)

Paper 3 – Economy

Why Should You Know?

Recently Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) receives tremendous response as 13 organisations sign Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to access data on ULIP, lets know about it

In details

• Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, as part of the ‘National Logistics Policy (NLP)’ on September 17, 2022 is the promising initiative in the logistics sector that aims to bring ease of doing business in the logistics sector by simplifying the logistics processes, improving its efficiency, bringing in transparency and visibility, and reducing logistics cost & time.
• The Platform is receiving tremendous response from the industry. Till date, 13 organisations – MapMyIndia, CargoExchange, Freight Fox, Conmove, Intugine, Eikonatech, Yes Bank, Superprocure, CargoShakti, CloudStrats, Shyplite, APSEZL, and AITWA have signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to access data on ULIP.
• NDAs with 11 more organisations like Instavans & Trucks, Bosch India, Portlinks, Shiprocket, etc. are in the process.
• The startups are gearing-up to showcase their innovative ideas for creating new solutions for the sector whereas large enterprises are mulling to integrate with ULIP for simplifying complex logistics processes, verifying the documents of vendors as well as to get visibility of cargo movement.
• The ULIP platform will enable the industry players to get secure access to the  information related to logistics and resources available with various Ministries.
• At present 30 systems from seven ministries are integrated through more than 100 APIs covering more than 1600 data fields for usage by the stakeholders.

What is ULIP?

• ULIP has a dedicated portal that makes the process of data request simpler, faster, and transparent.
• A dedicated support team is working round the clock to provide support to the industry players for registration on the portal.
• After the registration, users need to submit their use-cases, which will then be reviewed based on the proposed usage of the requested data.
• After the successful review, users requesting for data will have to sign a ‘Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)’. With signing of the NDAs, industry players can develop APIs for integration with ULIP.
• After the system security check and thorough testing of the integration, the users can fetch authentic data through ULIP from various government sources.
• ULIP will give direct and indirect benefits to all logistics stakeholders like verification of drivers and vehicles details in a single click, tracking & tracing of consignment, Route Optimization Planning, timely update on the destination of the consignment, reduce paper works, empty carrier & container visibility, inventory management etc.
• By reducing regulatory, documentary and other delays, ULIP will enable structured planning by helping in decision making on optimum use of modes of logistics thereby saving cost and time.
• With democratisation of the information, ULIP aims to enable the industry players for creating a market for revenue generation as well as abolition of monopoly and un-levelled advantage.
• Achieving positive results at granular and individual level will have a tremendous constructive impact on the overall logistics sector of India along with Logistics Cost percentage of GDP and enhancement in the global logistics indices of India.

Telecom Technology Development Fund scheme

Paper 3 – Economy

Why Should You Know?

Recently Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) launched Telecom Technology Development Fund scheme

In details –

• Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), a body under the Department of Telecommunications, officially launched Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme on October 01st, 2022.
• Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) aims to fund R&D in rural-specific communication technology applications and form synergies among academia, start-ups, research institutes, and the industry to build and develop the telecom ecosystem.
• Additionally, the Scheme aims to promote technology ownership and indigenous manufacturing, create a culture of technology co-innovation, reduce imports, boost export opportunities and creation of Intellectual Property.
• Under the scheme, USOF is also targeting to develop standards to meet countrywide requirements and create the ecosystem for research, design, prototyping, use cases, pilots, and proof of concept testing, among others.
• The scheme entails grants to Indian entities to encourage and induct indigenous technologies tailor-made to meet domestic needs.

About Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)

• Apart from the higher capital cost of providing telecom services in rural and remote areas, these areas also generate lower revenue due to lower population density, low income and lack of commercial activity.
• Thus normal market forces alone would not direct the telecom sector to adequately serve backward and rural areas.
• Keeping in mind the inadequacy of the market mechanism to serve rural and inaccessible areas on one hand and the importance of providing vital telecom connectivity on the other, most countries of the world have put in place policies to provide Universal Access and Universal Service to ICT.
• The New Telecom Policy – 1999 (NTP’99) provided that the resources for meeting the Universal Service Obligation (USO) would be raised through a ‘Universal Access Levy (UAL)’, which would be a percentage of the revenue earned by the operators under various licenses.
• The Universal Service Support Policy came into effect from 01.04.2002. The Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003 giving statutory status to the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) was passed by both Houses of Parliament in December 2003.
• The Rules for administration of the Fund known as Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2004 were notified on 26.03.2004.
• As per the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 (as amended in 2003, 2006 and 2008), the Fund is to be utilized exclusively for meeting the Universal Service Obligation.

Defense Ministry launches digital initiatives

Paper 3 – Science & Tech

Why Should You Know?

Recently, on the 275th Annual Day of Defense Accounts Department, Raksha Mantri launched several major digital initiatives including Pay System and Sparsh Mobile App for Agniveers.

In details

• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched several digital initiatives of Defence Accounts Department (DAD) during its 275th Annual Day celebrations in New Delhi on October 01, 2022.
• The initiatives include System for Pension Administration (Raksha) (SPARSH) mobile app; Pay System for Agniveers; International Air Ticket booking module in Defence Travel System (DTS); Defence Accounts Receipts and Payment System (DARPAN); Defence Civilian Pay system and Defence Accounts Human Resource Management System.
• The Raksha Mantri, in his address, commended the DAD for taking forward the ‘Digital India’ vision of the Government, stating that the new initiatives will increase transparency and efficiency in the functioning of the Department.

SPARSH Mobile App

• The app will ensure pensioner access and reach to important functionalities of the SPARSH portal through their mobiles.
• Ministry of Defence implemented the a portal for pensioners of the Armed Forces as well as defence civilians as an integrated system for automation of sanction and disbursement of defence pension.
• It is an end-to-end solution to all pension-related processes, from claim initiation to disbursement. Pensioners can log on to the portal and get their pension-related issues resolved.

Agniveer Pay System

• The system will facilitate efficient pay management for Agniveers, who will soon join the Armed Forces through the Government’s transformational Agnipath scheme.
• The fully automated IT system will be a specialised and secure portal to ensure claim processing and pay-roll management of Agniveers. Shri Rajnath Singh also inaugurated a centralised PAO (Army) for Agniveers at Delhi Cantonment.

Defence Travel System

• The system provides end-to-end solution, from booking of rail and air tickets to claim submission on its portal for Defence Services and Civilians in cashless and paperless environment.
• It will provide facility of booking of air tickets for foreign travel to defence services replacing Air Exchange Warrants.
• It will fill the time gap between GSL receipt and ticket booking and eliminate last hassle for travelling officer.

DARPAN

The Defence Accounts Receipts and Payment System is a unified solution for third party bill payment and accounting.
Its real-time processing will provide comprehensive insights into various accounting and financial performances.

Defence Pay Civilian System

The System envisages disbursement of pay of all defence civilians through a single, centralised and fully automated system.
Both Units and PCDA/CDA offices have been given access to the system and units will be able to check the payment status on the portal itself.

Defence Accounts HR Management System

• With the launch of the application, the department steps into a new paradigm of digitally enabled human resource management.
• The platform has various self-service modules like e-service book, leave management, pay roll generation and promotion details which will be accessible to the employees through a mobile app, anywhere anytime.

PAO-Bharti

• Through the initiative, which was part of the Raksha Mantri Excellence Awards this year, the Armed Forces personnel will be able to get real-time data related to pay & allowances and claims.
• In addition, through its Interactive Voice Response System, the personnel will be able to register their complaints through phone and get the replies within 48 hours.
• The system has been implemented in seven PAOs. The Raksha Mantri hoped that it will soon be implemented in the remaining offices also.

YUVA 2.0 – Prime Minister’s Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors

Paper 2 – Education, Human Resources

Why Should You Know?

Prime Minister’s scheme – Yuva 2.0 – launched recently to guide young writers.

In details

• On October 2, 2022 The Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Educationlaunched YUVA 2.0 – Prime Minister’s Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors, an Author Mentorship programme to train young and budding authors (below 30 years of age) in order to promote reading, writing and book culture in the country, and project India and Indian writings globally.
• In view of the significant impact of the first edition of YUVA with large scale participation from young and budding authors in 22 different Indian languages and English, YUVA 2.0 is now being launched.
• The launch of YUVA 2.0 (Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors) is in tune with the Indian government’s vision to encourage the youth to understand and appreciate India’s democracy.
• YUVA 2.0 is a part of India@75 Project (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav) to bring to the fore the perspectives of the young generation of writers on the THEME : ‘Democracy (institutions, events, people, constitutional values – past, present, future)’ in an innovative and creative manner.
• This scheme will thus help to develop a stream of writers who can write on a spectrum of subjects to promote Indian heritage, culture and knowledge system.
• NEP 2020 has emphasized on the empowerment of the young minds and creating a learning ecosystem that can make the young readers/learners ready for leadership roles in the future world.
• India tops the chart in youth population being 66% of the total, waiting to be tapped for capacity building and thereby nation building.
• With the purpose of mentoring a new generation of young creative writers, there is an imminent requirement to take initiatives at highest level, and in this context, YUVA 2.0 will   go a long way in laying the foundation of the future leaders of the creative world.

Implementing Agency

• The National Book Trust, India, under the Ministry of Education as the Implementing Agency will ensure phase-wise execution of the Scheme under well-defined stages of mentorship.
• The books prepared under this scheme will be published by National Book Trust, India, and will also be translated into other Indian languages ensuring the exchange of culture and literature, thereby promoting ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
• The selected young authors will interact with some of the best authors of the world, participate in literary festivals etc.

Significance

• The scheme will help to develop a stream of writers who can write on various facets of Democracy in India encompassing the past, present and future.
• Besides, it will also provide a window to the aspiring youth to articulate themselves and present a comprehensive outlook of Indian Democratic values at domestic as well as international platforms.
• This scheme has been conceptualized on the premise that the 21st century India needs to groom a generation of young authors to create ambassadors of Indian literature.
• In view of the fact that our country is ranked third in the arena of book publishing and we have a treasure trove of indigenous literature, India must project it at the global stage.

The Schedule of YUVA 2.0

• Announcement of the Scheme 2 October 2022.
• The received proposals would be evaluated from 1 December 2022 – 31 January 2023.
• The winners will be announced on 28 February 2023.
• The young authors will be trained by eminent authors/mentors from 1 March 2023 – 31 August 2023.
• Under the mentorship, the first set of published books will be launched on 2 October 2023.

United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC)

Paper 3- Science & Tech

Why Should You Know?

The 2nd United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) is going to be held in Hyderabad on 10-14 October 2022.

In details

• Briefing the media about the upcoming Second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) scheduled in Hyderabad from October 10-14, 2022, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Second UNWGIC assumes significance as it is in sync with the Digital India initiative of the Government of India to empower society digitally.
• He added that the government’s plan envisages the facilitation of location-based/GIS-based decision-making for planning, e-Governance, and better utilization of resources available.
• The conference will be attended by over 2000 delegates including 700 plus international delegates & participants from about 120 countries.
• Moreover, National Mapping Agencies (NMAs) like the Survey of India, which has a glorious history of 255 years, senior officials, non-governmental organizations, academia, and industry, user, & private sector from across the globe will take part in the Geospatial Congress.
• Convened by the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), the Second UNWGIC 2022 will be organized by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations and hosted by the Department of Science & Technology – Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Theme & Highlights

• During a time when the world is recovering from the socio-economic impact of the COVID 19 pandemic, the core theme of the Second UNWGIC 2022 ‘Geo-Enabling the Global Village: No one should be left behind,’ will reflect on the importance of integrated geospatial information to support sustainable development and the well-being of human kind, address environmental and climate challenges, embrace digital transformation and technological development, and catalyze a vibrant economy.
• Also organised during the AzadiKaAmritMahotsav, the theme is in complete alignment with the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister “SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas”.

Fit India Freedom Run 3.0

Paper 2 – Health

Why Should You Know?

Recently Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur launch ‘Fit India Freedom Run 3.0’ on Gandhi Jayanti.

In details

• The launch of Fit India Freedom Run 3.0 took place at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday (October 2) morning on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
• One of the biggest nationwide movements started by the Government of India during the peak of Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the third edition was jointly launched with a Fit India Plog Run by Union Minister of Law and Justice, Shri Kiren Rijiju and Union Minister of Youth Affairs and SportsShri Anurag Singh Thakur.
• The third edition of the Fit India Freedom Run started off on, October 2 and will go on until October 31.
• Also in attendance on Sunday was former Health Minister of India Shri Harshvardhan Goel, Secretary Sports Smt. Sujata Chaturvedi, Director General, Sports Authority of India Shri Sandip Pradhan, Fit India ambassador Ripu Daman Bevli as well as other officials from the Sports Ministry and SAI along with a large number of participants.
• Reiterating the Prime Minister’s vision, Shri Kiren Rijiju mentioned, “When Shri Narendra Modi launched the Fit India movement in 2019, his vision was to make the entire nation fit.
• This movement over the years has now become such a massive success. Everyone is now interested to join the movement and the Fit India mobile app is also being downloaded with much enthusiasm every single day.”
• Urging for a record number of participation in this edition of the Freedom Run, Shri Anurag Thakur added, “There is no better occasion than to start the third edition of this successful run on Gandhi Jayanti and culminate it on Ekta Divas – the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31.
• Last year, the total participation reached 9 crore 30 lakh and we have to give a lot of strength to Fit Freedom Run 3.0 to double the participation numbers.”
• The Fit India Freedom Run, over the last two years, has seen participation from India Armed forces including the Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Indian Railways, CBSE and ICSE schools as well as the Ministry of Youth Affairs youth wings Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and “National Service Scheme (NSS).

About Fit India Movement

• Fit India Movement is a nation-wide movement in India to encourage people to remain healthy and fit by including physical activities and sports in their daily lives.
• Fit India Movement was launched by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi on 29 August 2019 (National Sports Day). Fit India was founded by Shri Suparno Satpathy in 1993
• Fit India Mission in its endeavour to promote fitness and creating awareness amongst countrymen keeps coming with innovating fitness campaigns to indulge people in fitness activities.

Light Combat Helicopter

Paper 3 – Security

Why Should You Know?

Recently indigenously built Light Combat Helicopter formally inducted into Indian Air Force.

In details

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally inducted the indigenously-developed Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) in the Indian Air Force at a ceremony held at Air Force Station, Jodhpur in Rajasthan.
• LCH would be inducted into the 143 Helicopter Unit. LCH has been named as ‘Prachanda’.
• Addressing the ceremony, Mr. Singh said induction of LCH not only adds to the combat capability of the Air Force but is also a great leap towards the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• He added that the need for a combat helicopter was seriously felt during the Kargil War and LCH is a culmination of two decades of effort to address this need.

About LCH

• LCH has been developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). It is a state-of-the-art modern combat helicopter, primarily designed for deployment in high-altitude regions. LCH is the only attack helicopter in the world which can land and take-off at an altitude of 5,000 m with a considerable load of weapons and fuel.
• This helicopter is powered by two Shakti engines and is equipped with stealth features, all-weather combat capability, armour protection, night attack capability, and crash-worthy landing gear.
• The narrow fuselage with tandem cockpit configuration makes LCH extremely maneuverable and agile. Stealth features like low radar cross section and minimal infrared signature allow it to go behind enemy lines undetected and attack with precision.
• LCH has a range of 550 km and an operational ceiling of 6500 m. It is armed with air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, 70 mm rockets and a 20 mm gun.
• It boasts of a full glass cockpit, Electronic Warfare suite and helmet-mounted display for the flying crew.
• LCH can perform a range of roles, including combat search and rescue, destruction of enemy air defence and counter-insurgency operations in the jungle and urban environments.
• The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the purchase of 15 indigenous LCH helicopters in March this year.
• The induction of LCH in the Indian Air Force is expected to provide further impetus to Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan.
• Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, the government is encouraging indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment in the country to reduce their import.

Swachh Bharat 2022 Campaign

Paper 3 – Environment

Why Should You Know?

On October 1, 2022 Union Minister Shri Anurag Singh Thakur launched a month long nationwide Swachh Bharat 2022 Campaign from Prayagraj.

In details –

• Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Thakur launched month long nationwide campaign Swachh Bharat 2022 from Prayagraj in UP On October 1,2022.
• Shri Thakur participated in cleanliness drive on Sangam beach in Prayagraj with Nehru Yuva Kendra, National Service Scheme volunteers and a large number of other people. The swachhta Pledge was also administrated on this occasion.
• Secretary Department of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Sanjay Kumar and other officers of the Ministry were also present on this occasion.
• Speaking on the occasion, Shri Thakur informed that a similar campaign was organised last year which far exceeded its target of collection and disposal of 75 lakh kg plastic wastes and so this year Department of Youth Affairs has set a target of collecting and disposing of 1 crore kg plastic waste through Swachh Bharat 2022.
• Swachh Bharat 2022 programme is being organised in 6 Lakh villages of 744 districts across the country through the network of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) affiliated Youth Clubs & National Service Scheme Affiliated Institutions.
• The Department of Youth Affairs has set a target of collecting and disposing of 1 crore kg plastic waste through Swachh Bharat 2022.

About the Campaign

• Swachh Bharat 2022 is launched with an aim to raise awareness, mobilize people and ensure their participation in making India clean.
• In this initiative, people from different regions, languages ​​and backgrounds will work together and the waste will be disposed of by these people on a completely voluntary basis.
• Swachh Bharat 2022 is not just a program but a serious attempt to make people realize the importance of cleanliness. This will also contribute to the Happiness Index of the country.
• The Department of Youth Affairs is trying to make this campaign the biggest cleanliness campaign run by the people in the country.

Objective

• The objectives of the Swachh Bharat 2022 programme are to organize cleaning of public spaces and households across all the districts of the country from 01st October to 31st October 2022, involve all segments of society, Government organizations including PRIs and Non- Government Organizations, to instil awareness and feeling of pride among citizens to keep their surroundings clean and waste free.
• Along with this campaign will give mantra of “Swachch Kaal: Amrit Kaal” and make this program a People’s Movement through Jan Bhagidari.

Matadata Junction program

Paper 2 – Governance

Why Should You Know?

Election Commission is going to launch Matadata Junction, a year-long voter awareness program on AIR.

In details

• Election Commission will launch Matadata Junction, a year-long voter awareness program on All India Radio today, October 3.
• 52 episode program of 15-minute duration each will be broadcast every Friday on Vividh Bharati stations, FM Rainbow, FM Gold, and Primary channels of AIR.
• The Matadata Junction program will be broadcast in 23 languages across the country. The launch event of the program will be held at Akashvani Rang Bhavan, New Delhi. 
• Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar will launch the Program in the presence of Election Commissioner of India Anoop Chandra Pandey, CEO Prasar Bharati Mayank Kumar Agrawal.  DG AIR News Vasudha Gupta and Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who is the ECI State icon, will be present on the occasion.
• The weekly program covers all aspects of the Voter ecosystem and shall be broadcast every Friday on the All India Radio network. Each Program will be based on a particular Theme on the Electoral process.
• All the 52 Themes are aimed at encouraging all eligible citizens and especially the young and first time voters to vote and make an informed decision during the elections.
• Quiz, Experts’ interviews, and songs produced by the SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) Team of the ECI shall be carried in every episode. The program includes a Citizen’s Corner where any citizen can ask a query or suggest any aspects of the voting.
• The program shall be produced in 23 languages – Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili & Dogri.
• The program will be carried out by various AIR stations including 42 Vividh Bharati stations, 25 FM Rainbow channels, 4 FM Gold channels, and 159 Primary channels in the country.
• The 15 Minutes program shall go on air between 7- 9 PM based on the channels’ slots. The First episode of the Program will be broadcast on the 7th of October.