31 Aug | UPSC Current Affairs: Sabina Shoal, Project NAMAN, D-Voter, Solar Paraboloid Technology, and More

Leave a Comment / By /

UPSC GS 1

Sabina Shoal

  • News:  The Philippine coast guard has accused China of building an artificial island at Sabina Shoal.
  • Location and Geographic Features:
      • Sabina Soal, also known as Xianbin Reef, is an oceanic coral atoll situated in the eastern part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. 
      • The shoal is located approximately 75 nautical miles from the Philippine province of Palawan and is considered part of the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 
      • However, China also claims the shoal, along with much of the South China Sea, as its sovereign territory, despite it being 630 nautical miles from China.

Sabina Shoal

  • Physical Structure:
      • Sabina Shoal spans around 23 kilometers along its northwest-southeast axis and is composed of two main sections connected by a narrow segment.
      •  The western part, larger than the eastern, measures 13 km long by 6 km wide, while the eastern part is 10 km long by 3 km wide.
      •  Both parts feature central lagoons surrounded by a coral ring with discontinuous shallow sections.
  • Strategic Importance:
      • Sabina Shoal is strategically significant due to its location within the contested South China Sea, an area with vital shipping lanes, rich fishing grounds, and potential underwater oil and gas reserves.
      •  The ongoing dispute between the Philippines and China over the shoal highlights broader regional tensions regarding sovereignty and control in the South China Sea.

Read also: Patent Regime in India: Overview and Strategic Insights | UPSC

UPSC GS 2

Project NAMAN

  • News: The Indian Army launched the first phase of Project NAMAN, in presence of General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army.
  • Project NAMAN
      • Initiative focused on providing dedicated support and services to Defence Pensioners, Veterans, and their families.
  • Key Features: 
      • Central to the project is the implementation of SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha).
      • SPARSH is a digital pension system designed to streamline pension-related processes for Defence Pensioners.
      • Addresses the critical need for accessible facilitation points for Veterans and Next of Kin (NOK) across the country.
      • Under Project NAMAN, 14Common Service Centre(CSCs) have been established in Delhi, Jalandhar, Leh, Dehradun, Lucknow, Jodhpur, Bengdubi, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Secunderabad, Saugor, Guntur, Ahmedabad and Bangalore. 
      • Common Service Centres (CSCs) dedicated to:
        • Army Veterans
        • Pensioners
        • War Widows
        • NOKs
      • CSCs offer:
        • SPARSH-enabled pension services
        • Government to Citizen (G2C) services
        • Business to Consumer (B2C) services
        • All services at a single, convenient location.
      • Each CSC managed by a Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE):
        • Selected from among veterans or NOKs by respective Local Military Authorities (LMAs).
        • Onboarded by CSC e-Governance India Limited.
        • Provided with comprehensive training to deliver required services.
        • HDFC Bank provides a monthly monetary grant of ₹ 20,000 for the first 12 months, aiding in the stabilization and sustainability of the centres. 

Retired Sportsperson Empowerment Training’ (RESET) Programme

  • News: To provide support to former sportspersons, the Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment recently launched the ‘Retired Sportsperson Empowerment Training’ (RESET) Programme on the occasion of National Sports Day.
  • Empowering Retired Sportspersons:
      • The Retired Sportsperson Empowerment Training (RESET) Programme is designed to empower retired athletes who have represented the country and achieved significant success.
      •  It aims to support their career development by providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance their employability.
  • Key Objectives: 
      • Utilizing Expertise: The programme recognizes the invaluable experience of retired athletes and seeks to channel it into meaningful career opportunities.
      • Career Development: It provides comprehensive training to help athletes transition into new careers, ensuring they can continue to contribute to society after their sports careers end.
  • Eligibility Criteria:
      • Age and Career Status: Athletes aged between 20-50 years who have retired from active sports are eligible.
      • Achievements: Eligibility includes winners of international medals, participants in international events, national and state medallists, and participants in competitions recognized by National Sports Federations, the Indian Olympic Association, or the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
  • Programme Structure:
      • Education Levels: The programme offers courses at two levels:
      • Class 12th and Above
      • Class 11th and Below
      • Lead Institute: The Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) will lead the implementation of the pilot phase of the RESET Programme.
      • Hybrid Mode: The programme will be delivered in a hybrid format, combining self-paced learning through a dedicated portal with on-ground training and internships.
  • Training and Support: 
      • Internships: Internships will be available in sports organizations, competitions, training camps, and leagues.
      • Placement and Entrepreneurship: Participants will receive placement assistance and guidance for entrepreneurial ventures upon successful course completion.

SHe-Box (Sexual Harassment e-box) Portal

  • News: The Union Minister of Women and Child Development recently announced the launch of the SHe-Box portal.
  • Centralized Platform for Complaints:
      • The SHe-Box Portal is a centralized platform designed for registering and monitoring complaints related to sexual harassment of women in the workplace. 
      • It offers a streamlined and user-friendly system to ensure that complaints are addressed promptly and effectively.
  • Repository of Information on Committees:
      • The portal serves as a comprehensive repository for information on Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) established across India. 
      • It covers both government and private sector organizations, ensuring transparency and accountability.
  • Complaint Filing and Monitoring:
      • SHe-Box provides a common platform for women to file complaints, track their status, and ensure that these complaints are processed in a time-bound manner by the relevant ICs. 
      • The portal assures users of a streamlined and secure process for registering and addressing grievances.
  • Real-Time Monitoring and Nodal Officer:
      • A designated nodal officer will monitor the complaints in real time, ensuring that they are addressed efficiently. 
      • The portal is designed to protect the complainant’s personal information, guaranteeing privacy and safety.
  • Access and Redressal: 
      • The SHe-Box portal can be accessed at https://shebox.wcd.gov.in/.
      •  It provides an assured redressal mechanism, making it easier for women to seek justice and for authorities to take appropriate action.
  • Importance:
      • The launch of the SHe-Box portal aligns with the government’s broader vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, with a strong emphasis on women-led development
  • Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013.:
      • In 2017, the SHe-Box portal was upgraded in line with The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013.
      • This enhancement allows women who face harassment at any workplace to register their complaints on the portal.
      • Formation of Committees: Upon filing a complaint, two types of committees are formed:
      • Internal Committee (IC) for private institutions.
      • Local Committee (LC) for government institutions, chaired by the District Magistrate (DM), Deputy Commissioner (DC), or an appointed officer.

D-Voter

  • News: Assam Chief Minister recently said nearly 1.2 lakh people in the state have been identified as ‘D’ (Dubious or Doubtful) voters.
  • Concept and Origin:
      • The concept of “D-Voter” is unique to Assam, introduced in 1997 by the Election Commission of India.
      •  It was created to identify individuals who could not prove their Indian nationality. Migration and citizenship issues are significant political concerns in Assam, making the D-Voter category particularly relevant.
  • Definition and Legal Background:
      • Doubtful Citizenship: The terms “Doubtful voter” or “doubtful citizenship” are not defined in the Citizenship Act, 1955, or the Citizenship Rules, 2003. 
      • These rules, framed under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003, outline the procedures for creating the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC).
      • NRIC and D-Voters: During the preparation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, individuals whose citizenship was in question were categorized as D-Voters.
  • Verification and Classification Process:
      • Registrar’s Role: If an individual’s citizenship is doubtful, the Local Registrar marks their status in the population register for further inquiry. This process is followed by a specific  notification once verification concludes, classifying them as a D-Voter.
      • Hearing Opportunity: Affected individuals or families are given a chance to be heard by the Taluk or Sub-district Registrar of Citizenship before a final decision is made. The Registrar has 90 days to justify and conclude the findings.

D-Voter

  • Implications for D-Voters:
      • Voting Rights: D-Voters are not allowed to vote in elections due to the uncertainty surrounding their citizenship.
      • Electoral Candidacy: They are also barred from running for office in national elections.
  • Resolution Process:
      • Temporary Measure: Being marked as a D-Voter is a temporary status, and a final decision must be made within a definite period. If found to be a foreign national or illegal immigrant, the individual may be deported or placed in a detention center.
      • NRC Inclusion: D-Voters have the option to apply for inclusion in the NRC. They can be included only after receiving clearance from the Foreigners Tribunals, which would result in the removal of their name from the D-Voter category on the electoral rolls.

UPSC GS 3

Solar Paraboloid Technology

  • News:  As the world grapples with the urgent need to transition to renewable energy, solar paraboloid technology is emerging as a potentially transformative solution.
  • Advanced Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Technology:
      • Solar Paraboloid Technology is an advanced form of CSP that enhances solar energy capture efficiency and overcomes the limitations of traditional photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Solar Paraboloid Technology

  • Working Mechanism: Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) System
      • Solar paraboloids function using a PTC system.
      •  These systems are composed of long, parabolic mirrors that focus sunlight onto a receiver tube located at the focal line of the mirror. 
      • The concentrated solar energy heats a fluid within the receiver, which can then be used to generate electricity or provide direct heat for industrial applications.
  • Key Benefits: 
      • High Efficiency and Cost Reduction:
      • Solar paraboloids are highly efficient at concentrating solar energy, allowing for more electricity to be generated from the same amount of sunlight.
      •  This efficiency leads to lower costs per unit of electricity produced, making solar energy increasingly competitive with fossil fuels.
      • Operation at Higher Temperatures:
      • One of the standout benefits of this technology is its ability to operate at temperatures as high as 300°C. 
      • This significantly boosts thermal efficiency by minimizing heat losses through a smaller absorbing surface area.
      • Versatile and Scalable: 
      • Solar paraboloid systems can produce energy even in low-light conditions, making them suitable for a variety of environments. 
      • They are also scalable, capable of being deployed in diverse configurations ranging from small-scale applications to large solar farms.

Right to Repair Portal

  • News: The Department of Consumer Affairs hosted a groundbreaking National Workshop on the Right to Repair Framework for the Mobile and Electronic Sectors recently.
  • Definition: 
      • The Right to Repair Portal India was launched by the Department of Consumer Affairs as a resource for consumers seeking repair-related information.
      • The initiative empowers consumers by providing them with the necessary knowledge and resources to effectively repair and maintain their products.

Right to Repair Portal

  • Launched By: 
      • The portal was launched by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs (MCA) on National Consumer Rights Day 2022.
  • Key Features: 
      • Access to Repair Resources: The portal provides links to product manuals and DIY repair videos sourced from companies’ websites and YouTube channels.
      • Pricing and Warranty Information: It addresses consumer concerns related to the pricing of spare parts and warranty terms.
      • Clarification of Terms: The portal clarifies the distinctions between guarantees, warranties, and extended warranties.
      • Service Centers: Consumers can access details about service centers across India, including recognized third-party repairers approved by companies.
      • Country of Origin Information: The portal includes information regarding the country of origin for various products.
  • Current Status: 
      • As of now, over 63 companies have joined the portal, including 23 from the mobile and electronics sectors. These companies provide valuable repair information and access to authorized repairers and spare parts sources.

Read also: Understanding Ballast Water Management | UPSC

Samudra Pratap Pollution Control Vessel

  • News: Goa Shipyard has launched India’s first pollution control vessel Samudra Pratap for the Indian Coast Guard.
  • Definition: 
      • Samudra Pratap is the first indigenously developed Pollution Control Vessel (PCV) of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
      • The vessel is constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), marking a milestone in India’s shipbuilding industry.
      • This is the first time that such vessels are being designed and built indigenously in India.

Samudra Pratap Pollution Control Vessel

  • Objective: 
      • The vessel is specifically designed to control and manage pollution, with a focus on addressing oil spills along India’s sea coast.
  • Key Features: 
      • Pollution Control Equipment: Equipped with specialized gear for the containment, recovery, separation, and dispersal of oil and other pollutants.
      • Specifications: The vessel measures 114.5 meters in length, 16.5 meters in breadth, with a displacement of 4,170 tons.
      • Design and Construction: Entirely designed and built by Goa Shipyard Ltd to meet the Indian Coast Guard’s operational needs.
      • Crew Complement: The ship accommodates 24 officers and 115 sailors.
      • Oil Recovery and Storage: It boasts an oil recovery rate of 300 tonnes per hour and can store up to 300 tonnes of oil in onboard tanks, expandable to 1,000 tonnes using inflatable barges.
  • Significance: 
      • Aatmanirbhar Bharat Initiative: Samudra Pratap represents a significant achievement in India’s self-reliance initiative, showcasing indigenous defense production capabilities.
      • Shipbuilding Milestone: The vessel positions Goa Shipyard Limited among the elite Indian shipyards capable of producing state-of-the-art Pollution Control Vessels.
  • National and International Impact: 
      • Self-Reliant Defense Manufacturing: The development of Samudra Pratap highlights India’s strides towards becoming a self-sufficient defense manufacturer and potential exporter of defense technology.
      • Enhanced Maritime Security: The vessel enhances India’s maritime security and environmental protection capabilities, reinforcing its standing as the world’s fifth-largest economy.

 

Scroll to Top