UPSC GS 2

National Panchayat Awards

• News: The National Panchayat Awards Conferment Ceremony 2024, organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, will take place on 11th December 2024 in New Delhi. 
• Objectives of the Awards:
  • To inspire Panchayats to achieve excellence and set benchmarks for other rural local bodies.
  • To foster ease of living in rural areas through sustainable and inclusive development initiatives.

• Alignment with LSDG Themes: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has aligned the awards with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), grouping them into nine Localized Sustainable Development Goals (LSDG) themes:
  • • Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihoods Panchayat.
    • Healthy Panchayat.
    • Child-Friendly Panchayat.
    • Water-Sufficient Panchayat.
    • Clean and Green Panchayat.
    • Self-Sufficient Infrastructure in Panchayat.
    • Socially Just and Socially Secured Panchayat.
    • Panchayat with Good Governance.
    • Women-Friendly Panchayat.
• Award Categories:
• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP): Recognizes the top three Gram Panchayats or equivalent bodies for exceptional performance under each of the nine LSDG themes.
• Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar: Honors the top three Gram, Block, and District Panchayats for their aggregate achievements across all nine themes of DDUPSVP.
• Special Award Categories:
  • Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Conferred to the top three Gram Panchayats or equivalent bodies for excellence in adopting and utilizing renewable energy sources.
  • Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Awarded to the top three Gram Panchayats or equivalent bodies for significant efforts in promoting carbon neutrality through renewable energy use.
  • Panchayat Kshamta Nirmaan Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar: Presented to three institutions nationwide for their instrumental role in supporting Gram Panchayats to achieve Localized Sustainable Development Goals.

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Pradhan Mantri Poshan Yojana

• News: The government has revised the price of food items given to children under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Yojana. 
• Definition: Previously known as the National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools, this scheme was renamed as the Pradhan Mantri POSHAN Scheme in September 2021.
• Aim: It is a centrally sponsored initiative aimed at providing one hot cooked meal to students from Balvatika (pre-primary) to Class VIII in Government and Government-aided schools on all school days.
• Objectives: The scheme is designed to tackle two major challenges faced by children in India: hunger and access to education.
  • Nutritional Improvement: Enhance the nutritional status of students in Government and Government-aided schools.
  • Boost School Attendance: Motivate children from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend school regularly and focus better on their studies.
  • Support During Adversity: Provide nutritional aid to elementary school children in drought-affected and disaster-hit areas during summer vacations.

• Recent Updates:
  • To address rising costs, the Ministry of Education, based on the inflation index provided by the Labour Bureau, has increased the ‘Material Cost’ under the scheme by 13.70%.
  • The cost for food will be distributed in the ratio of 60:40 between the central and state governments. 
  • The cost has now been fixed at Rs 6.19 per child per day for Bal Vatika and primary class students and Rs 9.29 for upper primary class students. 
  • Grains like wheat and millet are supplied by the government, while the amount for other materials like vegetables, spices and oil has been increased.  
• Nodal Ministry:
  • The scheme is implemented under the guidance and supervision of the Ministry of Education.
• Significance:
• • By ensuring nutritional support and encouraging school participation, the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme plays a crucial role in fostering holistic development among children, especially from economically weaker sections.

Amrit Gyaan Kosh

• News:  Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh recently launched “Amrit Gyaan Kosh” Portal to strengthen governance training.
• Definition:
  • The Amrit Gyaan Kosh Portal has been developed collaboratively by the Capacity Building Commission and Karmayogi Bharat.
  • It is designed to foster self-reliance in governance training and enhance governance capacity-building efforts.

• Platform Details:
  • Built on the iGOT platform, the portal serves as a comprehensive repository for best practices in governance and policy implementation.
  • It supports faculty and trainers by providing curated resources to align their teaching methods with global standards, while addressing India’s unique administrative challenges.
• Alignment with SDGs:
  • The portal aligns with 15 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on critical areas like:
    • Health
    • Education
    • Agriculture
    • Digital Governance
• Significance:
• • By offering curated resources, the portal empowers faculty to enhance training quality and contribute to improving governance at various levels.
  • It strengthens India’s efforts towards achieving sustainable development and effective policy implementation.

Removal of Vice President

• News:  The opposition INDIA bloc recently moved a notice to remove Vice-President and Rajya Sabha chair Jagdeep Dhankhar from office.
• Eligibility for Removal: The Vice President can be removed from office before completing the term.

• Initiation of Resolution:
  • A resolution for the removal of the Vice President can only be introduced in the Rajya Sabha and not in the Lok Sabha.
  • A notice period of at least 14 days must be provided before moving such a resolution.
• Approval Requirements:
  • The resolution must secure a majority of the total membership of the Rajya Sabha (Effective Majority).
  • Additionally, it must receive approval from the Lok Sabha by a Simple Majority.
• Grounds for Removal:
  • The Constitution does not specify any grounds for the removal of the Vice President.
• Historical Context:
• • There is no record of a no-confidence motion being moved against the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
  • However, in 2020, a no-confidence motion was moved against the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Bima Sakhi Yojana

• News:   The Prime Minister recently introduced the Bima Sakhi Yojana during an event in Panipat, Haryana.
• Definition: An initiative by the state-owned Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), the scheme aims to empower women through financial literacy and insurance awareness.

• Eligibility:
  • Open to women aged 18-70 years who have completed Class 10.
  • Relatives of existing agents, employees, and retired LIC employees are not eligible.
• Training and Stipend:
  • Selected women will receive specialized training to equip them with knowledge and skills for the insurance sector.
  • A monthly stipend will be provided during the initial three years:
  • First Year: ₹7,000 per month.
  • Second Year: ₹6,000 per month.
  • Third Year: ₹5,000 per month.
• Commission Structure:
  • Bima Sakhis will earn commissions, including ₹48,000 (excluding bonuses) in the first year.
• Career Opportunities:
  • After training, participants can work as LIC agents.
  • Graduates from the program may qualify for development officer roles within LIC.
• Target:
  • The initiative aims to recruit two lakh Bima Sakhis over the next three years.

Manama Dialogue

• News: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently spoke at the 20th IISS Manama Dialogue panel on ‘Whither Regional Strategic Cooperation.’
• Definition: The Manama Dialogue is an annual global summit focusing on security and geopolitical issues, held in Bahrain. It was first initiated in 2004.

• Organizers: The Dialogue is organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), in collaboration with Bahrain’s Ministry of External Affairs.
• Purpose and Platform: It serves as a platform for national leaders, ministers, policymakers, and strategic thinkers to engage in discussions on pressing regional security issues.
• 2024 Theme: The theme for the 2024 edition of the Dialogue was “Middle East Leadership in Shaping Regional Prosperity and Security.”
• International Participation: The event invites participants from various regions, including Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and Latin America.

UPSC GS 3

Marbled Duck

• News: Bird enthusiasts were thrilled to see a marbled duck — an unusual winter migrant — at Sultanpur National Park.
• Definition: The Marbled Duck, also referred to as the marbled teal, is a small-sized duck with distinct features, including a black bill, grayish-brown plumage marked with pale spots, a dark patch near the eyes, and no speculum on its wings.

• Scientific Name: Marmaronetta angustirostris.
• Distribution: The species is found across the central and southwestern Palearctic, with fragmented populations extending from Central Asia to northwest Africa and the Iberian Peninsula.
• Migratory Behavior: Populations inhabiting colder regions migrate south during winter, reaching destinations such as North Africa and the Indian subcontinent.
• Habitat Preferences:
  • Marbled Ducks thrive in various wetland types, including temporary or semi-permanent ones, whether natural or man-made, as long as shallow water is available.
  • They exhibit a preference for brackish wetlands over purely fresh or saline ones and favor areas with well-structured vegetation.
• Behavioral Characteristics:
  • This species is social, non-territorial, and exhibits non-aggressive behavior.
  • Marbled Ducks generally follow monogamous breeding patterns, with pairs forming annually starting in the autumn season.
  • They are known for their slow, low-altitude flight, easily recognized by their elongated necks and wings.
• Conservation Status:
• • IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened.

Subaru Telescope

• News:  The Subaru Telescope has captured of a pair of interacting galaxies, designated as NGC 5257 and NGC 5258. 
• Specifications and Features:
  • The telescope has a diameter of 8.2 meters (27 feet), allowing it to gather substantial amounts of light for observing distant celestial objects.
  • It is equipped with an adaptive optics system comprising 261 actuators, which adjust the mirror’s shape to counteract distortions caused by gravity.
  • Its powerful light-gathering capability enables it to detect faint light emitted by distant celestial bodies.

• Location:
  • Situated on the dormant volcano Mauna Kea, at an altitude of 4,163 meters, on Hawaii’s Big Island.
  • The telescope’s location was chosen to take advantage of the clear skies and minimal atmospheric interference.
• Unique Design:
  • Unlike most observatories, which use hemispherical domes, the Subaru Telescope is housed in a cylindrical dome to reduce air turbulence around the telescope, ensuring better image clarity.
• History and Development:
  • Construction of the Subaru Telescope began in 1992, and it commenced its first observations in 1999.
  • The telescope’s name, Subaru, refers to the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster.
• Achievements:
• • It has observed a wide range of celestial phenomena, from nearby meteors to galaxies as distant as 13.1 billion light-years away.

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Voronezh Series

• News:  India is set to finalise a landmark USD 4 billion defence agreement with Russia, aimed at acquiring an advanced long-range early warning radar system called Voronezh series. 
• Introduction:
  • The Voronezh radar system plays a vital role in Russia’s early warning and missile defense strategy.
  • It is designed to detect and track a wide array of threats, including ballistic missiles and aircraft, at ranges extending up to 8,000 kilometers.

• Deployment and Operation:
  • First introduced in 2009, the Voronezh radars became fully operational in 2012.
  • Strategically located across Russia, these radars ensure comprehensive coverage, enhancing Russia’s ability to defend against potential missile threats.
• Technology and Features:
  • These radars utilize phased array technology, allowing for rapid electronic steering of the radar beam.
  • This technological advancement makes the Voronezh system more efficient and mechanically simpler compared to older radar systems.
  • The system includes different variants that operate in varying wavelength ranges:
  • Meter-range (Voronezh-M)
  • Decimeter-range (Voronezh-DM)
  • Centimeter-range (Voronezh-CM)
  • Some versions integrate multiple wavelength ranges for enhanced performance.
• Integration with Missile Defense Systems:
  • Voronezh radars are part of a larger Missile Attack Early Warning System.
  • They can work in coordination to create a comprehensive radar picture, which helps detect missile threats and track space activities.
• Strategic Importance:
• • These radars are crucial for providing early warnings against ballistic missile threats.
  • They are strategically positioned to maximize their detection capabilities across a variety of threat scenarios.