Contents
- Ayurveda Day
- Digital Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan)
- Geo-polymer aggregate from fly ash
- QRSAM Missile System Achieves Major Milestone
- MNRE expands scope of PM-KUSUM Scheme
- New incentive scheme under Khelo India Scheme
AYURVEDA DAY
Focus: GS-II Social Justice
Why in news?
The Prime Minister dedicated two future-ready Ayurveda institutions to the nation on the 5th Ayurveda Day.
Introduction
- India’s traditional systems of medicine have amply demonstrated to the world the power of Ayurveda.
- It is now important to develop scientific evidence-based research structures to integrate with the modern knowledge repositories to move ahead in the 21st century.
- While India has been known as Pharmacy of the World, with evidence-based research, we can take traditional medicine systems and Ayurveda to new heights.
Impact of Ayurveda during the Covid-19 Pandemic
- During the Corona period the demand for Ayurvedic products has increased rapidly all over the world.
- Exports of Ayurvedic products increased by about 45 percent in September of 2020 compared to September of 2019.
- The significant increase in export of spices like turmeric, ginger, considered as immunity boosters, shows the sudden boost in confidence in Ayurvedic solutions and Indian spices in the world.
About the New Ayurveda institutions
- These are the Institute of Teaching & Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar and the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur.
- Both the Institutes are premier institutions of Ayurveda in the country.
- Institute of Teaching & Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar has been conferred the status of an Institution of National Importance (INI) by an Act of the Parliament.
National Ayurveda Day
The National Ayurveda Day is celebrated every year on the occasion of Dhanwantari Jayanti (Dhanteras). (Lord Dhanvantari, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, is considered as divine propagator of Ayurveda; i.e., God of Medicine or God of Ayurveda.)
Objectives of Ayurveda Day
- An attempt to further promote Ayurveda into mainstream
- Focus on strengths of Ayurveda and its unique treatment principles.
- Reduce the burden of disease and related morbidity and mortality by utilizing the potential of Ayurveda.
- Exploring the potential of Ayurveda to contribute towards National health policy & National Health programmes.
- Create a sense of awareness in today’s generation and promote Ayurvedic principles of healing in society.
National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Award
- The National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Award has been instituted by Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India to be conferred on Ayurveda experts possessing qualifications according to the Indian Medical Central Council (IMCC) Act and having profound contribution to the field of Ayurveda.
- The award is conferred every year on the Ayurveda Day.
DIGITAL LIFE CERTIFICATE (JEEVAN PRAMAAN)
Focus: GS-II Social Justice
Why in news?
Jeevan Pramaan / Digital Life Certificate now available at the nearest post office or at the doorstep for those who require it.
What is Jeevan Pramaan?
- Digital Life Certificate for Pensioners Scheme of the Government of India known as Jeevan Pramaan seeks to address this very problem by digitizing the whole process of securing the life certificate.
- It aims to streamline the process of getting this certificate and making it hassle free and much easier for the pensioners. With this initiative the pensioners requirement to physically present himself/herself in front of the disbursing agency or the certification authority will become a thing of the past benefiting the pensioners in a huge way and cutting down on unnecessary logistical hurdles.
- Jeevan pramaan is one of the main requisites for the pensioners to avail pension is to provide Life Certificates (LCs).
- “Jeevan Pramaan ” – an “Aadhar-based Digital Life Certificate” for pensioners. It is a move that could eventually benefit over a crore pensioners.
- The proposed digital certification will do away with the requirement of a pensioner having to submit a physical Life Certificate in November each year, in order to ensure continuity of pension being credited into his account.
- It can be operated on a personal computer or a smartphone, along with an inexpensive biometric reading device.
GEO-POLYMER AGGREGATE FROM FLY ASH
Focus: GS-III Science and Technology
Why in news?
- NTPC Ltd, India’s PSU and largest power producer has successfully developed Geo-polymer coarse aggregate from fly ash.
- The development will help in replacing natural aggregates reducing the impact on environment.
- Recently NTPC had developed an infrastructure at Rihand project in Uttar Pradesh to transport fly ash in bulk to cement plants, located at distance, at a cheaper cost.
The use
- In India, every year, approximately 258 MMT of ash is produced by the coal fired thermal power plants and out of this around 78% of the ash is utilised and the balance remains unutilised which remain in ash dykes.
- NTPC is exploring alternate ways to utilise the remaining ash which includes the current research project to generate aggregates using more than 90% ash.
Details
- The Geo-polymer aggregates finds its extensive usage in construction industry turning the ash eco-friendly.
- These aggregates are extremely environment friendly and does not require any cement for application in concrete where the fly ash based Geopolymer mortar acts as the binding agent.
- The Geo-polymer aggregates will help in reducing carbon emission and has great potential for reduction of water consumption.
Geopolymer
- Geopolymers are inorganic, typically ceramic, materials that form long-range, covalently bonded, non-crystalline (amorphous) networks.
- Obsidian (volcanic glass) fragments are a component of some geopolymer blends.
- Geopolymers consist of a polymeric Si–O–Al framework, similar to zeolites.
- The main difference to zeolite is geopolymers are amorphous instead of crystalline.
- Geopolymers are framework structures produced by condensation of tetrahedral aluminosilicate units, with alkali metal ions balancing the charge associated with tetrahedral Al.
Fly ash
- Fly ash or flue ash (aka pulverised ash) is a coal combustion product that is composed of the particulates (fine particles of burned fuel) that are driven out of coal-fired boilers together with the flue gases.
- Ash that falls to the bottom of the boiler’s combustion chamber (commonly called a firebox) is called bottom ash and is easily collected.
- In modern coal-fired power plants, fly ash is generally captured by electrostatic precipitators or other particle filtration equipment before the flue gases reach the chimneys.
- Depending upon the source and composition of the coal being burned, the components of fly ash vary considerably, but all fly ash includes substantial amounts of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) (both amorphous and crystalline), Aluminium Oxide (Al2O3) and Calcium Oxide (CaO), the main mineral compounds in coal-bearing rock strata.
- In the past, fly ash was generally released into the atmosphere, but air pollution control standards now require that it be captured prior to release by fitting pollution control equipment.
QRSAM MISSILE SYSTEM ACHIEVES MAJOR MILESTONE
Focus: GS-III Internal Security Challenges
Why in news?
Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) System has achieved a major milestone by a direct hit on to a Banshee Pilotless target aircraft at medium range & medium altitude.
Details
- The Missile is canisterised for transportation and launch using a mobile launcher capable of carrying 6 canisterised missiles.
- All QRSAM weapon system elements like Battery Multifunction Radar, Battery Surveillance Radar, Battery Command Post Vehicle and Mobile Launcher were deployed in the flight test.
- The system is capable of detecting and tracking targets on the move and engaging target with short halts.
- The system is designed to give air defence coverage against strike columns of Indian Army.
Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM)
- Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) is a missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in association with Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited for the Indian Army.
- As a part of a replacement program for its obsolete Osa-AK and Kvadrat missile systems, Indian Army received a go ahead to initiate a global acquisition program for quick-reaction surface-to-air missiles from the Ministry of Defence in September 2007.
- This missile is an all-weather, all-terrain surface-to-air missile equipped with electronic counter measures against jamming by aircraft radars.
- QRSAM uses solid-fuel propellant and has a range of 25–30 km.
MNRE EXPANDS SCOPE OF PM-KUSUM SCHEME
Focus: GS-II Social Justice
Why in news?
- MNRE has amended/clarified implementation Guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme expanding the scope of the Scheme to enable greater solar energy generation in farm sector.
- Solar power plants can now be installed on pastureland and marshy land of farmers besides barren, fallow and agricultural land.
- Size of solar plant has been reduced to enable participation of small farmers.
PM KUSUM scheme
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme for farmers for installation of solar pumps and grid connected solar and other renewable power plants in the country.
The Scheme consists of three components:
- Component A: 10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants of individual plant size up to 2 MW.
- Component B: Installation of 17.50 lakh standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.
- Component C: Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.
State Nodal Agencies (SNAs) of MNRE will coordinate with States/UTs, Discoms and farmers for implementation of the scheme.
- The scheme will open a stable and continuous source of income to the rural land owners for a period of 25 years by utilisation of their dry/uncultivable land.
- Further, in case cultivated fields are chosen for setting up solar power project, the farmers could continue to grow crops as the solar panels are to be set up above a minimum height.
- The scheme would ensure that sufficient local solar/ other renewable energy-based power is available for feeding rural load centres and agriculture pump-set loads, which require power mostly during the day time.
- As these power plants will be located closer to the agriculture loads or to electrical substations in a decentralized manner, it will result in reduced Transmission losses for STUs and Discoms.
NEW INCENTIVE SCHEME UNDER KHELO INDIA SCHEME
Focus: GS-II Social Justice
Why in news?
In a first-ever move, the Sports Ministry has introduced a incentivisation structure to extend monetary support to 500 private academies, through the Khelo India Scheme over the next four years starting FY 2020-21.
Khelo India Scheme
- The Khelo India programme has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports played in our country.
- It is implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
- Under the scheme, the talented players identified in priority sports disciplines at various levels (by the High-Powered Committee) will be provided annual financial assistance of INR 5 lakh per annum for 8 years.
Objectives of Khelo India
- Conduct structured annual sports competition and encourage Mass participation of youth.
- Identify talent through these competitions.
- Guidance and nurturing of the talent through the existing and new infrastructure
- Creation of Sports infrastructure at various levels.
Components Khelo India
- Competition: Sports competition would be held at Block/District/State and National level.
- Sponsorship: Under Khelo India Scheme, the funding for sports promotion and development has switched from centrally aided scheme to Central Sector Scheme.
- Talent: Talented sportspersons among the participants form the competitions conducted are identified and are eligible for scholarships or admission into SAI (Sports Authority of India) Centres and Sports Academies. Sporting talent selected for Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) receive financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh per annum.
- Infrastructure: Infrastructure is being developed both in the existing SAI Centres as well as identifying new spaces for sports infrastructure.
