New Earthquake Resistant Building Technology (SC-URBM)

Paper 3 – Science and Technology

Why You Should Know?

Recently, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, have found a solution to retrofitting old non-earthquake-resistant buildings with a technology that can prevent major damage to such buildings without compromising their potential from earthquakes.

In detail –

• This technique has been named semi-confined unrestricted brick masonry or reinforced brick masonry (SC-URBM).
• This semi-limited technique can solve the problem of increasing settlement spread  in earthquake prone areas
• It is worth mentioning that buildings in seismic zones are constructed without following the earthquake prevention building code.
• Historically,  most buildings that were not built using modern building methods have been  called technically unreinforced masonry (URM).
• Thus they are more likely to be damaged or demolished during an earthquake.
• URM buildings have traditionally been widely adopted worldwide due to inexpensive and locally available building materials.
• Uninsured brick masonry (URBM) is common in urban, semi-urban and rural areas of India,  similar to most earthquake-prone developing countries.
• Given that major parts of India are seismic zones – three or more and most URBM buildings are older and structurally less robust,  strengthening OF URBM buildings located in earthquake prone areas  becomes extremely important.
• Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology,  Kanpur have explored the extent to which retrofitting of old buildings with unreinforced brick masonry-(SC-URBM) technology can solve such a problem.
• They found that SC-URBM could significantly increase the energy dissipation capacity and flexibility of a retrofitted building without compromising its capacity.
• Therefore, the capacity performance of such  buildings during earthquakes will be better than that of URBM buildings.

Concept

• The concept of this technology evolved from the confined masonry of that one earthquake-resistant construction system in which masonry walls are first built, and only then are concrete columns and beams inserted to surround (confine) the wall.
• SC-URBM technology has a similar concept but does not need to be applied at the initial stage of construction.
• This involves the simultaneous addition of reinforced concrete (RC) bands through partial thickness of the wall and can be recombined or retrofitted into older buildings.

Significance

• This technology is not only architecturally attractive to strengthen the existing URBM buildings but can also be easily adopted by the locally available working manpower.

Earthquake Zones in India

• According to the risk of earthquake, the country has been divided into four parts-
• Zone-2
• Zone-3
• Zone-4 
• Zone-5
• It is noteworthy that the lowest danger zone is Zone-2, and the most dangerous zone is -5.

Zone-1

• Western Madhya Pradesh, Eastern Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa are parts.
• There is the lowest risk of earthquakes here.

Zone-2

• Parts of Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Haryana.
• There is a possibility of earthquakes here.

Zone-3

• Kerala, Bihar, Punjab, Maharashtra, western Rajasthan, eastern Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Madhya Pradesh fall.
• Earthquake tremors keep coming in this zone.

Zone-4

• Metropolitan cities like Mumbai,  Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, western Gujarat, Uttaranchal, hilly areas of Uttar Pradesh and areas along the Bihar-Nepal border are included.
• The risk of earthquakes remains constant here and there are intermittent earthquakes.

Zone-5

• This is the most dangerous area in terms of earthquakes.
• This includes the Kutch region of Gujarat, a part of Uttaranchal and most of the northeastern states.

Source –PIB

Use of Plastics in Road Construction

Paper 3 – Science and Technology

Why You Should Know?

Recently, the Border Roads Organisation used small pieces of plastic in road construction during the Special Campaign on Cleanliness 2.0

In detail –

• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is providing technical impetus to the cleanliness campaign 2.0 being run across the country.
• The organisation has conducted trials to use small pieces of large-scale cut plastic in the construction of a road from bituminous in India as well as Bhutan.
• BRO is making efforts to make maximum use of small pieces of cut plastic for construction and reconstruction of the upper layer of roads.

Used in these projects –

BRO has used this technology in resurfacing the following projects during Special Operations 2.0:

• 4.5 km on Fuentsholing-Thimphu road under Dantak project
• 2.5 km on Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road under Project Vartak
• 1.0 km on Roing-Koronu-Paya road under Project Udayak in Arunachal Pradesh
• 2.0 km on Hapoli-Sarli-Huri road under Arunank project  in Arunachal Pradesh itself
• 5.22 km on Hanthial-Sangou-Saiha road under Pushpak project in Mizoram

About Special Campaign 2.0

• The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched in 2014 under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a fitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi for bringing about a change in people’s behaviour.
• Gandhiji had advocated the adoption of cleanliness as an important habit in life. Later, a special drive was launched in government departments and ministries in 2021 on completion of pending works and disposal for sanitation.
• Following the success of the special drive during the previous year,   it has been decided to conduct Special Campaign 2.0 on cleanliness in central government ministries/departments, attached/subordinate offices from October 2 to October 31, 2022.

What is BRO?

• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is a civil engineering institute of the Army whose job is to provide engineering services to the army in war and peacetime.
• On May 7, 1960, the BRO was set up with the objective of early construction and development of roads in the border areas of the northern and northeastern region.
• Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is the only road construction body which undertakes road construction and repair work even in adverse and difficult conditions and very bad weather.
• The organization has covered 53000 km in difficult and remote areas of the country. Road, 607 major permanent bridges and 19 operational airfields have been constructed so far.
• This includes one-lane to two-laning of roads for coal mines in Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha.
• Bridges have also been constructed with e-technology. At present, BRO has 22803 km. The construction of roads and 253 bridges is underway. The Border Roads Organisation has also worked to make 129302-metre temporary bridges permanent.
• Apart from this, the work of removing snow is a unique task which is carried out by BRO personnel. The jawans work day and night in temperatures below zero.
• The premature opening of  Zojila, Rohtang, Baralchalala and Tanglangla passes is a testimony to bro’s relentless effort.
• It is the result of bro’s hard work that ladakh, Kashmir valley and inaccessible areas of the northeast are connected to the rest of the country.

Sources – PIB

Stubble Management

Paper 3 – Environment

Why You Should Know?

Recently, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) held review meetings to tackle stubble burning

In detail –

• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas has issued statutory directions for implementation of state specific action plan.
• This has been done in view of the increasing incidents of stubble burning in Punjab this year.
• According to satellite remote sensing data, only 39 per cent of the sown area in Punjab was harvested till 24/10/2022 and as such the increasing number of stubble burning incidents is a matter of concern.
• As per the standard protocol developed by ISRO for CAQM  , the total incidents of paddy stubble burning in Punjab in the period september 15, 2022 to October 26, 2022 have been 7,036 as  compared to 6,463 in the same period last year.
• Nearly 70 per cent of farm stubble burning during the current paddy harvesting season has been reported from six districts of Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Patiala and Tarn Taran alone.
• Against a total of 7,036 such incidents in Punjab, the number has been 4,899 in these districts alone.
• These traditional six hotspot districts accounted for 65 per cent of the total stubble burning cases reported in the same period last year.
• Of the total 7,036 cases reported, 4,315 stubble burning incidents took place in the last six days alone, or about 61 per cent.
• Haryana recorded a  total of 1,495 farm fire incidents during the period September 15,  2022 to October 26, 2022 as against 2,010 in the same period last year.
• The incidents of paddy residue burning in Haryana have come down by about 26 per cent so far during the current year.

Comprehensive Action Plan-

• The Commission said that it has been working closely with the Punjab government from February 2022, much before the paddy sowing season of 2022, to sensitize the state administration’s machinery to its preparedness to prevent and control the incidents of stubble burning.
• For effective implementation of the action plan, the Commission also held consultative meetings with key departments of the Punjab government such as agriculture and farmers welfare, environment, power and Punjab Pollution Control Board.
• Based on a comprehensive framework developed by the Commission and learnings from the last paddy harvesting season, a comprehensive action plan with the following key pillars of action was prepared by the State Government of Punjab:
• diversification towards other crops, diversification towards low straw-producing and early-ripening paddy varieties;
• In-situ crop residue management including use of bio-decomposers;
• in-situ crop residue management;
• IEC activities;
• Monitoring and effective enforcement.

Stubble management

• Crop residues or stubble are those parts of the plant that are left in the field after harvesting and threshing of the crop,  for example straw, stem, stalk, leaves and peels etc. China, India and the United States top crop residue burning.
• In India,  it is most burnt in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. If we talk about statistics, at present, even in agriculturally developed states like Haryana and Punjab, only 10 percent of the farmers are managing crop residue.
• Our country produces 154.59 MT/year, paddy residue annually. Burning it is  causing a loss of 0.236 tonnes of nitrogen, 0.009 tonnes of phosphorus and 0.200 tonnes/year of potash.
• If we talk about the reasons for this, then the crop  residue  is being burnt by ignorant  even after lack of proper technology and some farmers are aware. Due to lack of proper crop management, it is becoming a serious problem in our country.
• In the absence of information, farmers do not use it as organic matter in the soil, but most of the part is burnt and destroyed or used in other household purposes.
• According to a study, only 22 per cent of crop residue is used, the rest is burnt.
• Crop residue is an important part of the diet of livestock in India. A considerable amount of crop residue is burnt in the fields due to time constraints and cost burden at the farmers’ level.

Side effects

• Burning crop residue increases the organization of gaseous pollutants  such as  carbon monoxide, methane, nitrosoxide and hydrocarbons  in the troposphere.
• By burning one ton of straw, 3 kg. Particulate matter (PM), 60 kg. Carbon monoxide, 1,460 kg. Carbon dioxide, 199 kg. ash and 2 kg. Sulfur dioxide is released. Due to these gases, the general air quality decreases.
• Crop residue burning of paddy is an important source of aerosol particles especially coarse particles such as coarse particles (PM10) and fine particles (PM2.5).
• Various studies have found that fine particles released due to burning of agricultural residue easily enter the lungs, causing heart problems.
• By setting the crop residue on fire in the field, there is a decrease in soil moisture and an increase in soil temperature, which reduces the fertility of the field as well as adversely affects the physical, chemical and biological condition of the soil.
• In the field where the stubble is burnt, the animals and insects which called friends of the farmers also die in the grip of the fire.
• When the residues of crops are burnt,  the beneficial nutrients stored in their roots, stems and leaves are destroyed by burning.
• Burning paddy straw in the field causes a loss of almost all the amount of nitrogen present in the straw, about 25 percent of phosphorus, 20 percent of potassium, and 5 to 50 percent of sulfur.
• After harvesting, there is a possibility of fire in the surrounding fields, barns and populated areas if the paddy crop residue is burnt.
• Along with this, due to increasing pollution in India, there is fear in the minds of foreign tourists. In such a situation, he comes to India and starts avoiding playing with his health.

Efforts of GOI for crop residue management

• The Government of India is implementing various schemes for the management of crop residue in view of the damage caused by burning of crop residue and environmental protection.
• Under this, along with the availability of agricultural machinery for farmers by including Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Indian Council of Agricultural Research Institutes, State Agricultural Institutions,  Agricultural Universities etc., work is being done to organize knowledge sharing, awareness campaigns and various dimensions of capacity development.
• Central Sector Scheme on ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the State of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh & NCT of Delhi ‘ is being operated in select states of the country.
• Efforts are also being made to benefit farmers, especially small and marginal farmers, by promoting agricultural mechanization through CHCs, private entrepreneurs and farmers’ organisations.
• Farmers are also being provided grants on crop residue management agricultural machinery individually. Subsidy up to 50 and 80 percent is being provided on agricultural machinery at individual farmers and custom hiring centers for crop residue management  .
• Under the   crop residue management scheme,  nine types of agricultural implements such as Super Straw Management System (SMS), Happy Seeder, Paddy Straw Chopper/ Shredder/ Mulcher, Sorb Master / Rotary Slasher, Hydraulic Reversible MB Plow, Jiro Till Seed Drill, Tractor, Reaper Binder (Tractor, Self-Propelled, Three Wheel and Four Wheel),  Grants are being given on Super Seeder, Baler.
• Pusa Decomposer – This is a small capsule made by scientists of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute,  Pusa, which converts crop residue into profitable agricultural waste manure.  A capsule costs Sirpf  Rs 4-5 and only 4 capsules are required to convert the residue of an acre of farm into useful manure  .

Source – PIB

Avian influenza rises in Kerala

Paper 2 –  Health

Why You Should Know?

Recently, the  central government deployed a high-level team in Kerala to investigate the increasing outbreak of avian influenza in Kerala.

In detail –

• Avian influenza  is also known as bird flu, whose outbreak is most commonly seen in wild birds.
• Its infection can also spread to humans who come in contact with birds.
• Now in view of the seriousness of the situation, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is going to send a seven-member team to Kerala.
• The team will investigate the rising cases of avian influenza and also review the steps taken by the Kerala government.
• The 7-member team for Kerala includes experts from the National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, New Delhi, The National Centre for Disease Control, New Delhi, the National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
• The team will be led by Dr Rajesh Kedamani, Senior RD, Regional Health and Family Welfare Office, Bengaluru.
• The team will also assist state health departments in terms of public health measures, management guidelines and protocols to manage the rising cases of avian influenza being reported by the state.

What is bird flu or avian influenza?

• Avian influenza is a disease caused by influenza A virus, which affects many species of birds.  It  is also known as bird flu.
• Some forms of avian influenza, such as the highly pathogenic H5N1 and H7N9, can cause severe illness and, in some cases, death in humans.
• It is a dangerous virus that can infect humans and other animals along with birds.
• Avian influenza does not usually infect humans, it is considered a zoonotic virus.
• It can only spread to humans by coming in contact with infected birds. However, no case of human-to-human infection has been reported so far.

Background

• There are many types of influenza A, that were first found in a bird in Italy in 1878.
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), H5N1 was first discovered in 1997.
• At that time, the virus spread from chickens to a person in Hong Kong.
• In 2006, the disease was widespread.
• In India, the virus is mainly found in Assam and West Bengal adjoining Bangladesh and there are reports of its re-detection every six months.

Causes

• This proves fatal to most of the birds. In domestic birds, the most likely cause of infection is exposure to infected wild birds.
• This may be due to exposure to water contaminated by wild birds.

Symptoms

• It is believed that 60 percent of cases die when infected with this virus.
• Symptoms of bird flu can start within two to seven days of infection.
• In most cases, its symptoms are similar to influenza, such as cough, fever, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, difficulty breathing, some people even have vomiting or diarrhea.
• Mild conjunctivitis has also been seen in some people.

Spread of  infection

• People  associated with poultry farming
• On consuming  undercooked poultry or eggs
• On commute to the infected  area
• When coming in contact with infected birds

Protection

• Take care of food and your own hygiene
• Wear a mask while coughing, sneezing
• Stay away from birds for some time
• Cooking food at high temperatures destroys the virus.

Sources – PIB

Sentenced to an MLA

Paper 2 – Polity

Why You Should Know?

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has been sentenced to three years in jail by a Rampur court for hate speech and violation of the model code of conduct.  Let’s know what is the effect on the membership of an MLA if he is punished

In detail –

• Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has been convicted by the court in the 2019 hate speech case.
• The Rampur court has sentenced him to three years in jail in the inflammatory speech case.
• Significantly, the law related to this says that after the sentence of two years or more, the public representative is disqualified from membership.

Legal provisions

•  Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951  bars politicians convicted of offences from contesting elections.
• Section 8(1) and (2) of the Act provides that if a member of legislature (MP or MLA) indulges in the following  offences, he shall be deemed disqualified under this section and disqualified for a period of six years.
• murder, rape, untouchability,
• violations of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act;
•  creating enmity on the basis of religion, language or region,
• insulting the Indian Constitution,
• import or export of banned goods,
• involvement in terrorist activities etc.
• At the same time, Section 8(3) of the Act provides that any member of the legislature convicted for any offence other than the above mentioned offences, if sentenced to imprisonment for more than two years, shall be deemed to be ineligible from the date of conviction.
• Such a person will be considered ineligible to contest elections for six years from the date of completion of sentence.
• In the Representation of the People Act, before 2002, there was a provision that a convicted person was disqualified from contesting elections for six years from the day of sentencing.
• But it was amended. According to this, it was provided in the law that even after completing the sentence, that person will be ineligible to contest elections for six years.
• Under the first law of the 2002 amendment, if a person was sentenced to ten years, he could also contest elections from jail after six years.
• The law has been amended to remove this flaw. The provision was also applicable to persons convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Anti-Terrorism Act and Prevention of Sati Act.

Further process

• MLA Azam Khan will first have to file a bail application for this.
• Also, an application challenging the sentence will also have to be filed in the sessions court.
• If the lower court rejects the application, then the High Court will have to go.
• If this sentence is upheld from there also, they will be declared eligible for assembly membership under the above law.

Source – BS

C-295 Transport Aircraft

Paper 3 – Science and Technology

Why You Should Know?

Under the Make in India project, C-295 transport aircraft will now be made for the Air Force in Vadodara, Gujarat, for which Tata has signed a deal with European company Airbus.  

In detail –

• In September 2021, India signed an agreement with Airbus Defence and Space for about Rs 21,000 crore to buy C-295 aircraft in place of the old Avro-748.
• Under this agreement, it was agreed to buy 56 aircraft. Of these, 16 aircraft will come from Spain and the remaining 40 will be made in Vadodara in Gujarat.
• This aircraft will not only meet the needs of the country but it will also be exported.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the project in Vadodara on October 30 to promote Make in India and aircraft manufacturing in the country.
• The transport aircraft C-295 MW in India will be manufactured by the Tata consortium, which includes two Tata Group companies.
• This is the first project of its kind. In which a private company will manufacture a military aircraft in India.
• The total cost of the project is Rs 21,935 crore.

Collaboration with Spain

• The aircraft will be manufactured in collaboration with Spain,  but more than 13,400 detail parts, 4,600 sub-assemblies and all seven major component assemblies with  tools, jigs and testers will be manufactured in India.
• Apart from this, aircraft engines, landing gear, avionics, EW suits etc. will be prepared by Airbus Defense and Space and the work of installing them will be done by the Tata Consortium.
• The Tata consortium will also test the aircraft and its flight. The Tata consortium will also deliver it.

Airbus to replace old Avro aircraft

• The C-295 MW transport aircraft is used by the Air Force, which will replace the Indian Air Force’s old Avro aircraft (Avro-748  ).
• As far as the capacity of C-295 MW is concerned, this aircraft is a transport aircraft of 5 to 10 tons capacity with current technology.
• It can also take-off and land from half-finished surfaces, which will add to the IAF’s strength.
• The Defence Ministry says that 16 aircraft being made in collaboration with Spain will be handed over to the Air Force between September 2023 and August 2025. While the indigenously made aircraft will be supplied from 2026 to 2031.

Features of Airbus

• According to Airbus, these aircraft can be of different variants,  in which they can be used to transport water bombers, air tankers, VIPs and help during medical emergencies.
• The aircraft will be able to operate from Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) and even unprepared runways.
• There is a ramp door on the back of it, which is used to unload troops and cargo quickly.
• The aircraft has the longest non-stop cabin which is 12.7 meters or 41 feet 8 inches and can carry 40-45 paratroopers or 70 passengers.
• C-295 is fully certified and operates regularly day and night in combat operations in all seasons, from desert to marine environment, from extremely hot to extremely cold temperatures.
• The C-295 features a glass cockpit with digital avionics, including four large active matrix liquid crystal displays (6 x 8 inches) that are compatible with night vision goggles.

Sources –IE

News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA)

Paper 2 – Governance

Why You Should Know?

Recently, the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has imposed a fine on Hindi TV channel News18 India, let’s know about it.

In detail –

• The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority of India (NBDSA) has taken strict action for allegedly giving a communal colour to a TV debate over the hijab issue.
• Acting on the matter, the NBDSA has imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on private news channel ‘News18 India’.
• The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority says the anchor had not only failed to stop other panelists from crossing the threshold of decency but  was also providing them with a platform to express extremist views, which could adversely affect communal harmony in the country.
• Along with this, NBDSA has also instructed the channel to remove the video of this debate show from its website and all platforms.

What is NBDSA?

• NBDSA is an independent body established by the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA),  which acts as a representative of private television news, current affairs and digital broadcasters.
• It describes itself as the “collective voice of news, current affairs and digital broadcasters in India”.
• Fully funded by its members, the NBDA has 26 news and current affairs broadcasters (including 119 news and current affairs channels) as members.
• Various senior members of Indian media organisations are on its board of directors.
• Apart from introducing a unified front, it ”  carries out activities to promote, preserve and secure interests, including the right to freedom of expression of news broadcasters, digital news media and other related entities.” “

Structure-

• The body consists of a chairperson who is an eminent jurist.
• Apart from this, people like news editor, experienced in the field of law, education, literature,  public administration etc. are nominated by the majority of the board in its members.
• Former Supreme Court judge and jurist AK Sikri is currently serving as the chairman.

Functions/power

• The authority may initiate proceedings on its own and issue notices or take action in respect of any matter which falls under its rules.
• It can also be through complaints sent by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting or any other government body or any other person to the authority through its website.
• Complaints cannot be made against cases that  have already been taken to court.
• Within 14 days from the date of receipt of the complaint, the authority will issue a notice to the broadcaster concerned giving reasons as to why action should not be taken under the rules. An investigation is carried out in which evidence, documents and people can be called by the authority.
• If the complainant or respondent does not go back to the authority, the complaint can be quashed.
• NBDSA may, for reasons to be recorded in writing,  express warning, censure, disapproval and/or impose a fine on the broadcaster.
• It may also recommend to the concerned authority for suspension/cancellation of licence of such broadcaster.
• The penalty imposed by the authority shall not exceed Rs 1 lakh and such penalty shall be recovered from the concerned broadcaster.

Source – TH

Floating Trash Barrier

Paper 3 – Environment

Why You Should Know?

Recently, the floating trash barrier developed by the Bengaluru firm emerged as the winner in the Clean Waterbody Challenge

In detail –

• Floating Trash Barriers (FTBs)  developed by a Bengaluru-based firm and deployed in eight cities across India to trap waste in water bodies have won the cleaning and restoration challenge of India’s water bodies organised by the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA).
• The  challenge was conducted by the Waste to Wealth Mission – Swachh Bharat Unnat Bharat Mission under the office of PSA during November 27, 2020 and February 17, 2021.
• On October 18, it was announced that the Bengaluru firm, AlphaMERS Ltd.  FTB was chosen as one of the winners of the challenge.
• Ftb’s performance was evaluated by a jury panel comprising experts from academia, industry, and government.
• The panel observed that floating garbage barriers can address the serious environmental issue of floating solid waste pollution in India’s water bodies

About Floating Trash Barrier

• The FTB uses the natural flow of water to bring the waste to the riverbank where it is deployed and the waste is removed manually or mechanically from there.
• The FTB has been deployed in eight cities – Bengaluru, Chennai, Puducherry, Hyderabad, Mysore, Thanjavur, Tuticorin and Coimbatore.
• The FTB has been successful in cleaning the Cooum in Chennai and Musi in Hyderabad. In Bengaluru,  it has been deployed in some storm water drains, and Nagawara and Dasarahalli lakes.
• “There were many participants in the challenge but their technologies were not working while our technology was working. We adopted a mesh approach where water flows but garbage stops, while other participants were using fabric booms that are originally used to disperse oil,” said DC Shekhar, director, Alphamers.

Cleaning and restoration challenge of India’s water bodies

• The Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on Science, Technology and Innovation (PM-STIAC) through the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India has set up the West to Wealth – Swachh Bharat Unnat Bharat Mission to identify science and technology solutions to India’s waste challenges.
• It announces the challenge of cleaning and restoring India’s water bodies.
• Under this,  companies and entrepreneurs from India and around the world are invited to apply with existing technology solutions addressing the following:  
• Urban drain (a flow collection and transportation system responsible for removing stormwater flow coming from urban areas so that floods do not occur)
• Techniques for desilting drains, removing waste sludge and solid waste
• Treatment/treatment of sludge and solid waste (including plastic, metal, animal dung, small industrial waste, clothing, animal carcasses etc.) extracted from drains. Technologies for reuse
• Customised desilting machines are required for cleaning under culverts as drains are filled with waste
• Low-cost technologies for water treatment
•  Water bodies/lakes/ponds/reservoirs in rural and urban areas
• Technologies for desilting of water bodies/lakes, removal of waste sludge and solid waste
• Technologies for treatment/reuse of sludge and solid waste (including plastic, industrial waste, sewage, weeds, animal carcasses etc.)  removed from water bodies/lakes
• Low-cost technologies for water treatment
• Technologies applied at different scales, sizes and levels of pollution of water bodies are invited

Sources – TH

Saka Panja Sahib

Paper 1 – History

Why You Should Know?

This year , the centenary of Saka Panja Sahib (martyrdom massacre)is being celebrated, let’s know what is Saka Panja Sahib

In detail –

• ‘Panja Sahib’ is one of the most important places related to Sikh history.
• The name of this place has been ‘Hasan Abadal’.
• It is now in Pakistan and is close to Rawalpindi (about 35-40 km away).

Why is it called ‘Panja Sahib’?

• The first Patshah Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji came to this place while returning from Mecca-Medina and Baghdad during his third Udasi. There was a high hill here.
• On the top of this hill lived a fakir Wali Kandhari. Guru Ji took a seat under the hill to rest.
• There was no water anywhere in the entire area. There was just one natural fountain that were on top of the hill and that fountain were occupied by Wali Kandhari.
• Before taking water from that fountain, every man had to first take permission from Wali Kandhari. The extremely angry and arrogant Wali Kandhari did not allow anyone to take water directly.
• On the other hand, Bhai Mardana ji sitting near Guru Ji felt thirsty. He reached the top of that hill for water. The arrogant Wali Kandhari stopped them from taking water.
• Despite repeated requests, there was no effect on him. After losing, Bhai Mardana ji returned to Guru Ji.
• Guru Ji saw Bhai Mardana ji suffering from thirst, then said ‘Sati Kartar’ and asked Bhai Mardana ji to lift a rock lying nearby. As soon as the stone rose, a spring of cold water burst there. Brother Mardana drank water.
• On the other hand, the fountain of Wali Kandhari started drying up. Seeing this, the arrogant Wali Kandhari became very angry and in anger, he rolled a very big stone from the top of the hill towards Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
• Guru Ji stopped that falling rock with a hand paw. Seeing this, Wali Kandhari’s pride was shattered. He ran and came to Guru Ji’s feet and apologized for his audacity.
• This stone with the mark of Guru Ji’s holy claw is still present there. Later, Gurdwara Sahib was built near guru ji’s fountain and the stone which is today called the holy ‘Gurdwara Panja Sahib’.

Saka Panja Sahib

• On October 28, 1922, another such incident took place here, which gave historical importance to ‘Panja Sahib’ for the second time. This incident is called ‘Saka Panja Sahib’.
• The early years of the twentieth century were the years of the gurdwara management reform wave.
• All gurdwara sahibans were in the possession of mahants for a long time. These mahants, who were growing up on the property and offerings of gurdwaras, had become very selfish and corrupt.
• The Sikh Sangat wanted that the entire Gurdwara Sahiban should be managed by the Management Committee elected by the Sikhs and the economic and organizational power gained from the Gurdwaras could be used for the proper development of Sikh society.
• Despite the passage of the Gurdwara Act (1921 AD) by the British government, many mahants were not ready to hand over the Gurdwara Sahiban to the Sikh society. In such a situation, the Sikh society was putting the front and liberating the Gurudhams.
• Under this movement, a front of Gurdwara Guru Ka Bagh was organized in district Sri Amritsar. This holy place is related to Pancham Patshah Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji and Navam Patshah Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
• In this front that lasted from August 22 to November 17, 1922, 5500 Sikhs were arrested and sent to jail.
• One of these Sikh jathas was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail and sent to Attock jail. On October 28, a train carrying the jatha was scheduled to pass through Panja Sahib railway station.
• When the sangat of Panja Sahib received information that hungry and thirsty lions were being taken prisoners by that train, the sangat wanted to give langar to the jatha.
• The sangat of Panja Sahib could not tolerate that the  train carrying the hungry and thirsty Sikh jatha from this holy land, where the first Patshah Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji had quenched the thirst of thirsty Bhai Mardana Ji.
• Sangat reached the station with milk, fruits, water, langar etc. The station master was requested to stop the train for some time so that the jatha could be given langar but this prayer was not accepted.
• The sangat of Panja Sahib, led by Bhai Karam Singh and Bhai Pratap Singh, sat on the railway track by performing ardas. Both were killed by being cut under many trains, including Sikhs.
• Eventually, the train had to be stopped and halted for two hours. The jatha was allowed to go ahead only by laying langar with love.
• This event is famous as ‘Saka Panja Sahib’ in Sikh history.

Present Panja Sahib

• Later in the year 1930-32, a beautiful Gurudham and Sarai was built at this holy place.
• There was a Baisakhi fair here every year. Chaturdashi of Chaitra and Amavasya of Bhadon were also celebrated on a large scale.
• There was also a jod mela from 22 Ashadh to 1st Sawan.
• After the partition of the country, this holy Gurudham remained in Pakistan. Even now, Sikh devotees visit here as jathas during various historical days.  

Sources – IE