[pib] RAISE Initiative

PIB | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: RAISE initiative
Mains level: Paper 3-Energy efficiency and safety
The Ministry of Power has launches Retrofit of Air-conditioning to improve Indoor Air Quality for Safety and Efficiency (RAISE) – a joint initiative of EESL and USAID.

Possible prelims question:
Q. The MAITREE programme recently seen in news is related to:
Trade/Energy Efficiency/Climate Change/ Strategic Relations

RAISE Initiative
- It aims to ensure cleaner and greener office spaces in the country.
- This is a part of the larger initiative developed for healthy and energy-efficient buildings, in partnership with US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) MAITREE programme.
Why RAISE?
- Poor air quality has been a concern in India for quite some time and has become more important in light of COVID pandemic.
- As people return to their offices and public spaces, maintaining good indoor air quality is essential for occupant comfort, well-being, productivity and overall public health, the statement noted.
About MAITREE programme
- The Market Integration and Transformation Program for Energy Efficiency (MAITREE) is a part of the US-India bilateral Partnership between the Ministry of Power and USAID.
- It is aimed at accelerating the adoption of cost-effective energy efficiency as a standard practice within buildings and specifically focuses on cooling.
Back2Basics: EESL
- Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the administration of Ministry of Power, is working towards mainstreaming energy efficiency.
- It is implementing the world’s largest energy efficiency portfolio in the country.
- EESL aims to create market access for efficient and future-ready transformative solutions that create a win-win situation for every stakeholder.
About USAID:
- USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results.
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[pib] DDT and its impact on environment

PIB | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: DDT
Mains level: Paper 3-Pollution and harm to ecology
India has supplied 20.60 MT of DDT to South Africa for its Malaria control program.

Try this question from CSP 2014:

With reference to ‘Global Environment Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
(a) It serves as financial mechanism for ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’ and ‘United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’
(b) It undertakes scientific research on environmental issues at global level
(c) It is an agency under OECD to facilitate the transfer of technology and funds to underdeveloped countries with specific aim to protect their environment.
(d) Both (a) and (b)

What is DDT?
- Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane commonly known as DDT is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless crystalline chemical compound.
- It was developed as the first of the modern synthetic insecticides in the 1940s.
- It was initially used with great effect to combat malaria, typhus, and other insect-borne human diseases among both military and civilian populations.
Why is it controversial?
- DDT is a persistent organic pollutant that is readily adsorbed to soils and sediments, which can act both as sinks and as long-term sources of exposure affecting organisms.
- Routes of loss and degradation include runoff, volatilization, photolysis and aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation.
- Due to hydrophobic properties, in aquatic ecosystems DDT is absorbed by aquatic organisms and thus bio-accumulates in the food web.
Threats of DDT
- The bioaccumulation of DDT has caused eggshell thinning and population declines in multiple North American and European bird of prey species.
- DDT is an endocrine disruptor. It is considered likely to be a human carcinogen.
In use despite ban
- A worldwide ban on agricultural use of DDT was formalized under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
- But its limited and still-controversial use in disease vector control continues, because of its effectiveness in reducing malarial infections, balanced by environmental and other health concerns.
Back2Basics: Stockholm Convention on POPs
- Stockholm Convention is an international environmental treaty, signed in 2001 and effective from May 2004 that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
- In 1995, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) called for global action to be taken on POPs.
- POPs are defined by the UNEP as chemical substances that persist in the environment, bio-accumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment.
Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
- Bioaccumulation and biomagnification are two different processes that often occur in tandem with one another.
- Bioaccumulation is the process by which toxins enter the food web by building up in individual organisms.
- Biomagnification is the process by which toxins are passed from one trophic level to the next (and thereby increase in concentration) within a food web.
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Coronavirus – Health and Governance Issues

[pib] Manodarpan Initiative

PIB | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Manodarpan Initiative
Mains level: Mental health concerns raised by the COVID-19 pandemic
The Union HRD Ministry will launch the Manodarpan Initiative, today.

Try this question from CSP 2016:

Q.’Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign to:

(a) rehabilitate the homeless and destitute persons and provide them with suitable sources of livelihood

(b) release the sex workers from their practice and provide them with alternative sources of livelihood

(c) eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers

(d) release the bonded labourers from their bondage and rehabilitate them

Manodarpan Initiative
- ‘Manodarpan’ covers a wide range of activities to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing during the COVID outbreak and beyond.
- It contains advisory, practical tips, posters, videos, do’s and don’ts for psychosocial support, FAQs and online query system.
- It aims to provide psychosocial support to students for their mental health and well-being.
- It has been included in the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, as a part of strengthening human capital and increasing productivity and efficient reform and initiatives for the education sector.
- A toll-free helpline will also be launched as part of the initiative for a country-wide outreach to students from schools, colleges and universities.
- Through this helpline, tele-counselling will be provided to the students to address their mental health and psychosocial issues.
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Wildlife Conservation Efforts

[pib] Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ)

PIB | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: ESZs and its regulation
Mains level: Significance of ESZ
The Environment Ministry has approved the Zonal Master Plan (ZMP) for the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone.

Note the following things with respect to the ESZs:

1) Its demarcation

2) Law/Regulation providing it

3) Boundary restrictions

Bhagirathi ESZ

It covers a watershed of about 100 kilometres stretch of the river Bhagirathi from Gaumukh to Uttarakashi covering an area of 4179.59 square km.

What are the Eco-sensitive Zones (ESZs)?
- Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) or Ecologically Fragile Areas (EFAs) are areas notified by the MoEFCC around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
- The purpose of declaring ESZs is to create some kind of “shock absorbers” to the protected areas by regulating and managing the activities around such areas.
- They also act as a transition zone from areas of high protection to areas involving lesser protection.
How are they demarcated?
- The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 does not mention the word “Eco-Sensitive Zones”.
- However, Section 3(2)(v) of the Act, says that Central Government can restrict areas in which any industries, operations or processes or class of industries, operations or processes shall be carried out or shall not, subject to certain safeguards.
- Besides Rule 5(1) of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 states that central government can prohibit or restrict the location of industries and carrying on certain operations or processes on the basis of certain considerations.
- The same criteria have been used by the government to declare No Development Zones (NDZs).
Defining its boundaries
- An ESZ could go up to 10 kilometres around a protected area as provided in the Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 2002.
- Moreover, in the case where sensitive corridors, connectivity and ecologically important patches, crucial for landscape linkage, are beyond 10 km width, these should be included in the ESZs.
- Further, even in the context of a particular Protected Area, the distribution of an area of ESZ and the extent of regulation may not be uniform all around and it could be of variable width and extent.
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Industrial Sector Updates – Industrial Policy, Ease of Doing Business, etc.

[pib] ASPIRE Portal

PIB | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth

Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: ASPIRE Portal
Mains level: Not Much
The International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) is developing a technology platform for the automotive industry called ASPIRE – Automotive Solutions Portal for Industry, Research and Education.

Try this MCQ:

Q.The recently launched ASPIRE Portal deals with:

a) Aspirational Districts

b) Primary Education

c) Industrial Clusters

d) Automotive Technology

ASPIRE Portal
- The key objective of this portal is to facilitate the Indian Automotive Industry to become self-reliant by assisting in innovation and adoption of global technological advancements.
- It aims to bring together the stakeholders from various associated avenues.
- This includes bringing together the automotive OEMs, Tier 1 Tier 2 & Tier 3 companies, R&D institutions and academia (colleges & universities) on matters involving technology advancements.
- The activities would include R&D, Product Technology Development, Technological Innovations, Technical and Quality Problem Resolution for the industry, Manufacturing and Process Technology Development etc.
- Apart from acting as a solution and resource platform, the portal will also host grand challenges in line with the need of the industry as will be identified from time to time, for development of key automotive technologies.
About ICAT
- International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) is located at Manesar in Gurugram district of Haryana.
- It is a govt entity owned by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
- It has facilities for vehicle homologation and also testing laboratories for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and passive safety.
- It also includes a powertrain laboratory, engine dynamometers, emission laboratory with Euro-V capability, a fatigue laboratory, passive safety laboratory, and vehicle test tracks.
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Renewable Energy – Wind, Tidal, Geothermal, etc.

[pib] India Energy Modeling Forum (IEMF)

PIB | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: IMEF
Mains level: Various energy related alliances and partnerships
In the joint working group meeting of the Sustainable Growth Pillar of the India-US partnership, an India Energy Modeling Forum was launched.

Note the following things about IEMF:

1. It is a bilateral forum.

2. It is not associated with any International Agency say UN, IEA, IAEA etc.

3.On March15 last year, the idea was incepted and only a formal workshop was organized on IEMF (it wasn’t launched).

UPSC can puzzle you along these 3 points in a statements-based MCQ.

India Energy Modeling Forum (IEMF)
- The IEMF seeks to provide a platform for policy makers to study important energy and environmental issues and ensure induction of modelling and analysis in informed decision making process.
- The Forum aims to improve cooperation and coordination between modeling teams, the GoI, knowledge partners and think-tanks, build capacity of Indian institutions, and identify issues for joint modeling activities and future areas of research.
What is Energy Modelling?
- Energy modeling or energy system modeling is the process of building computer models of energy systems in order to analyze them.
- There exists energy modelling forums in different parts of the World.
- Such models often employ scenario analysis to investigate different assumptions about the technical and economic conditions at play.
- Outputs may include the system feasibility, greenhouse gas emissions, cumulative financial costs, natural resource use, and energy efficiency of the system under investigation.
- Governments maintain national energy models for energy policy development.
Outcomes of the forum
- Discussions on energy modelling in India and the world explored how energy modelling can play an important role in decision-making.
- The panelists laid focus on bridging the rural-urban divide and factoring in energy pressures from the informal economy within models.
- Deliberations included a spotlight on how the impact of the evolving character of India’s cities, industries and especially the transport sector should be included in the any India-centric models.
- The shift towards electric mobility, an increasing emphasis on mainstreaming of renewable energy options and overarching environmental concerns were also stated as key factors for determining India’s energy future.
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Primary and Secondary Education – RTE, Education Policy, SEQI, RMSA, Committee Reports, etc.

[pib] NISHTHA Programme

PIB | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: NISHTHA programme
Mains level: Various digital initiatives by HRD ministry
The first on-line NISHTHA programme for 1200 Key Resources Persons in Andhra Pradesh was launched by Union HRD Ministry.

There are various web/portals/apps with peculiar names such as YUKTI, DISHA, SWAYAM etc. Their core purpose is similar with slight differences. Pen them down on a separate sheet under the title various digital HRD initiatives.

Add one more to this list.

NISHTHA Programme
- NISHTHA is an acronym for National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement.
- It is the largest teachers’ training programme of its kind in the world.
- The basic objective of this massive training programme ‘NISHTHA’ is to motivate and equip teachers to encourage and foster critical thinking in students.
- The initiative is first of its kind wherein standardized training modules are developed at national level for all States and UTs.
- The States and UTs can also contextualize the training modules and use their own material and resource persons also, keeping in view the core topics and expected outcomes of NISHTHA.
Progress till date
- Around 23,000 Key Resource Persons and 17.5 lakh teachers and school heads have been covered under this NISHTHA face to face mode till date.
- It has been customized for online mode to be conducted through DIKSHA and NISHTHA portals by the NCERT.
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Port Infrastructure and Shipping Industry – Sagarmala Project, SDC, CEZ, etc.

[pib] India’s first trans-shipment hub – Vallarpadam Terminal of Cochin Port

PIB | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Major ports of India
Mains level: Not Much
The Ministry of Shipping has reviewed the development activities of the Vallarpadam Terminal of Cochin Port, envisaged as first trans-shipment port of India.

Try this question from CSP 2016:

Q.Recently, which of the following States has explored the possibility of constructing an artificial inland port to be connected to the sea by a long navigational channel?

(a) Andhra Pradesh

(b) Chhattisgarh

(c) Karnataka

(d) Rajasthan

Vallarpadam Terminal
- The Kochi International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT), locally known as the Vallarpadam Terminal is located strategically on the Indian coastline.
- It is the terminal at the port which handles containers, stores them temporarily and transfers them to other ships for the onward destination.
- It is proposed to be developed as the most preferred gateway for South India and leading transhipment hub of South Asia.
It successfully fulfils all the criteria which are needed to develop it as trans-shipment hub which include:
- It is best positioned Indian port with regard to proximity to International sea routes;
- It is located at least average nautical distance from all Indian feeder ports;
- It entails connectivity which has multiple weekly feeder connections to all ports on West & East Coast of India, From Mundra to Kolkata;
- It has proximity to key hinterland markets of India;
- It has the infrastructure to manage large ships and capacity to scale it up as per requirement.
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[pib] PRAGYATA Guidelines on Digital Education

PIB | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: PRAGYATA Guidelines

Mains level: Limitations of Digital learning

Union HRD Ministry has released PRAGYATA Guidelines on Digital Education through online medium.

Practice question for mains:

Q.Discuss the impact of the COVID induced lockdowns on the education system in India. Give some solutions for it.

PRAGYATA guidelines

The guidelines include eight steps of online/ digital learning that is, Plan- Review- Arrange- Guide- Yak(talk)- Assign- Track- Appreciate.
These guidelines have been developed from the perspective of learners, with a focus on online/blended/digital education for students who are presently at home due to lockdown.
It provides a roadmap or pointers for carrying forward online education to enhance the quality of education.
The guidelines will be relevant and useful for a diverse set of stakeholders including school heads, teachers, parents, teacher educators and students.
It stresses upon the use of an alternative academic calendar of NCERT, for both, learners having access to digital devices and learners having limited or no access.

Major highlights

The guidelines highlight 3 modes of online education:

The guidelines outline suggestions for administrators, school heads, teachers, parents and students in the following areas:

Need assessment
Concerns while planning online and digital education like duration, screen time, inclusiveness, balanced online and offline activities etc level-wise
Modalities of intervention including resource curation, level-wise delivery etc.
Physical, mental health and wellbeing during digital education
Cyber safety and ethical practices including precautions and measures for maintaining cyber safety
Collaboration and convergence with various initiatives

Recommended screen time

Class	Recommendation
Pre Primary	Not more than 30 minutes.
Classes 1 to 12	Recommended to adopt/adapt the alternative academic calendar of NCERT
Classes 1 to 8	Not more than two sessions of 30-45 minutes each on the days
Classes 9 to 12	Not more than four sessions of 30-45 minutes each on the days

Guidelines for parents

For parents, the guideline helps to understand the need for physical, mental health and wellbeing along with the cyber safety measures for children at home.
Guidelines for physical health and mental wellness is stressed so that children do not get overly stretched or stressed, or get affected owing to prolonged use of digital devices.
Also, it provides sufficient Dos and Don’ts regarding ergonomics and cyber safety.

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Tiger Conservation Efforts – Project Tiger, etc.

[pib] India’s Tiger Census sets a New Guinness Record

DOMR PIB | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: All India Tiger Estimation 2018 results
Mains level: Tiger conservation
The fourth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation 2018, results of which were declared to the nation on Global Tiger Day last year has entered the Guinness World Record for being the world’s largest camera trap wildlife survey.
Before reading this newscard, try these PYQs:

Q. The term ‘M-STrIPES’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of: (CSP 2017)

(a) Captive breeding of Wild Fauna

(b) Maintenance of Tiger Reserves

(c) Indigenous Satellite Navigation System

(d) Security of National Highways

Q.Consider the following protected areas: (CSP 2012)
1. Bandipur
2. Bhitarkanika
3. Manas
4. Sunderbans
Which of the above are declared Tiger Reserves?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
About All India Tiger Estimation
- The tiger count is prepared after every four years by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) provides details on the number of tigers in the 18 tiger reign states with 50 tiger reserves.
- However, this time, the census also included data collected from the rough terrains of north-eastern states which were not possible due to logistic constraints before.
- The entire exercise spanned over four years is considered to be the world’s largest wildlife survey effort in terms of coverage and intensity of sampling.
- Over 15, 000 cameras were installed at various strategic points to capture the movement of tigers. This was supported by extensive data collected by field personnel and satellite mapping.
Highlights of the 2018 estimation
- India has 2,967 tigers, a third more than in 2014, according to results of a tiger census.
- India has achieved the target of doubling tiger population four years before the 2022 deadline.
- According to the census, Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers at 526, closely followed by Karnataka at 524 and Uttarakhand at number 3 with 442 tigers.
- While Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of tigers, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu registered the “maximum improvement” since 2014.
- Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in their tiger numbers while tiger numbers in Odisha remained constant. All other states witnessed a positive trend.
Back2Basics: Project Tiger
- Project Tiger is a tiger conservation programme launched in April 1973 during PM Indira Gandhi’s tenure.
- In 1970 India had only 1800 tigers and Project Tiger was launched in Jim Corbett National Park.
- The project is administrated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
- It aims at ensuring a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats, protecting them from extinction etc.
- Under this project the govt. has set up a Tiger Protection Force to combat poachers and funded relocation of villagers to minimize human-tiger conflicts.
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Type: PIB

RAISE Initiative

Why RAISE?

About MAITREE programme

Back2Basics: EESL

About USAID:

Try this question from CSP 2014:

What is DDT?

Why is it controversial?

Threats of DDT

In use despite ban

Back2Basics: Stockholm Convention on POPs

Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification

Try this question from CSP 2016:

Manodarpan Initiative

Note the following things with respect to the ESZs:

Bhagirathi ESZ

What are the Eco-sensitive Zones (ESZs)?

How are they demarcated?

Defining its boundaries

Try this MCQ:

ASPIRE Portal

About ICAT

Note the following things about IEMF:

India Energy Modeling Forum (IEMF)

What is Energy Modelling?

Outcomes of the forum

NISHTHA Programme

Progress till date

Try this question from CSP 2016:

Vallarpadam Terminal

PRAGYATA guidelines

Major highlights

Recommended screen time

Guidelines for parents

Before reading this newscard, try these PYQs:

About All India Tiger Estimation

Highlights of the 2018 estimation

Back2Basics: Project Tiger