Daily important updates for civil services

Introduction: The Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), one of the flagship schemes of the present government, was launched in August 2014.  The ‘J’ in JDY is the ‘J’ in ‘JAM’ (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) through which the Economic Survey of 2015 claimed that “every tear from every eye” could be wiped.  A critical evaluation of the scheme is in order. Background: The recently released World Bank Global Findex data show that 80% of Indian adults now have a bank account, which is being celebrated as the success of the JDY.  While the increase in the proportion of adults having bank accounts is indeed impressive (80% in 2017 from 53% in 2014), 48% of those who have an account in a financial institution made no withdrawal or deposit in the past one year. An analysis: Financial inclusion is not just about opening bank accounts, but also about using these accounts and providing access to formal credit. In fact, the major limitation of the JDY has been that while it h...

THE NEWS Five rural crafts from the State of Bengal secure Geographical Indication protection by the Geographical Indication Registry and Intellectual Property India. KEY-FACTS ABOUT THE FIVE RURAL CRAFTS OF BENGAL: The Chau mask of Purulia: The word ‘Chhau’ ordinarily means a mask and because the dance is performed by use of mask, it is called ‘Chhau dance’(originates in the Purulia district in West Bengal). Moreover, 500 families were involved in the making of large and colorful Chau masks used in the Chau dance, also known as Chhau. The wooden mask of Kushmandi: The ecstatic wooden masks of Kushmandi in Dakshin Dinajpur is associated with the Rajbongshi community. Around 250 artists are engaged in making Wooden and Bamboo Masks and other items of decor. These masks are part of the costume of the traditional Gomira dancers who perform to propitiate the deity to usher in the 'good forces' and drive out the 'evil forces'. The Patachitra: Pattachitr...

Introduction: In recent years, the waste from electrical and electronic equipment, also referred to as WEEE or e-waste, has become an important focus of legislators globally.  This can be attributed principally to following reasons: The hazardous nature of this waste component, both in terms of the health of the citizens and the environment. The possibility of deriving valuable materials like precious, critical and base metals from the e-waste. Among all urban solid waste, e-waste is the fastest growing waste stream (‘UNEP 2007 E-waste Inventory Assessment’), and this trend is expected to continue, in line with advancements in the quality and quantity of technology products’ consumption globally. Such multifaceted characterisation makes handling of e-waste very challenging to address, especially considering the political, social and environmental factors involved in both developed and developing countries. Present system: Most governments, like India, have followed t...

THE NEWS Recently, the Election Commission has said in an order that Political parties are out of the purview of the Right to Information Act, which is contrary to the directive of the Central Information Commission (CIC) to bring six national parties under the law. BACKGROUND: The order came on the appeal of an RTI applicant seeking to know the donatons collected by the six natonal partes which were brought under the ambit of the law by the CIC in June 2013. ABOUT THE ORDER: The Electon Commission order is based on the recent remark by the Central Public Informaton Officer (CCPIO#, which says that “The politcal partes are out of the purview of the RTI Act and may submit informaton on donatonnamount collected through electoral bonds in their contributon report for 2017-18 in the ECI, for which the due date is September 30”. CIC’s CONCERNS: The CIC had declared all natonal and regional politcal partes as public authorites under the RTI in its 2013 order. Six of the se...

Introduction: One of the key non-military issues that does not just bedevil India-China relations but also significantly affects many countries in the region is the inability of the two Asian giants to communicate, cooperate and coordinate on matters of regional trade and connectivity which could have benefited all. Poor connectivity in South Aisa: Poor connectivity is the major reason why intra-regional trade is among the lowest in South Asia. South Asia, with its 1.8 billion population, is only capable of conducting around 5% intraregional trade as connectivity remains a constant barrier. Non-tariff barriers (NTBs) continue to plague the region and addressing infrastructure deficits can do away with 80% of the NTBs. In addition to enhancing trade, connectivity can significantly improve people-to-people interaction leading to better understanding, greater tolerance\ and closer diplomatic relations in the region. Regional initiatives: States in South and Southeast Asi...

Headline :  Blockchain Technology Details : Details:   Blockchain Technology The Blockchain technology has become a regular news item with the emergence of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Now, this technology is disrupting almost all markets, changing the way we do our day to day business. Yes, the blockchain technology is changing our world. Blockchain: Introduction Blockchain is a digital ledger. Ledger is a book containing accounts to which debits and credits are posted from books of original entry. A blockchain is a digitized, decentralized, public ledger. The blockchain is an incorruptible digital ledger of transactions that can be programmed to record virtually everything of value. Each list of record in a blockchain is called block. So a blockchain is a continuously growing list of records called blocks, which are linked and secured. Blockchain Technology was invented by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008 for use in the ...

About: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, one of the most ambitious schemes aimed at removing poverty and biggest social welfare programmes in the world, aims at guarantying 100 days of work to people in rural areas. The programme has arguably lifted lakhs of people out of poverty however there are few lacunas that needs to be addressed. Among those lacunas, lack of sufficient funds, rampant payment delays and abysmal wage rates act as triple blow to the job guarantee scheme. Lack of sufficient funds The program has made fundamental difference for people who could now do much better than before. The issue of finance has to be addressed properly. On one side we have a set of a states performing extremely well, on the other side there are states that are performing very low due to paucity of funds. There is an urgent need for the centre to address the issue of finance for effective implementation of scheme. Budget allocation over the y...

THE NEWS In a bid to boost clean energy generation, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has issued National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy. KEY-FACTS OF THE POLICY The National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy seeks to promote new hybrid projects as well as hybridization of existing wind/solar projects. Objective:  It aims to provide a framework for the promotion of large grid-connected and wind-solar PV hybrid system for efficient utilization of transmission infrastructure & land and to further reduce the variability in renewable power generation whileachieving better grid stability. Target:  It has set an ambitious target of achieving 175 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity from renewable energy sources by 2022, which includes 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of wind power capacity. Period:  This policy will remain in force unless withdrawn or superseded by the Government. The Government will undertake a review of this Policy as and when required. TECHNOLOGY USED ...

International Solar Alliance (ISA)  is a treaty based inter-governmental international organization with the vision of making solar energy affordable, thus achieving energy security and sustainable development. Major objectives of the ISA are Reducing the cost of finance and cost of technology Enhancing energy security and achieving sustainable development Mobilize  $1 trillion investment  in Solar Energy by  2030 Overcoming hurdles in deployment of solar energy as an alternative source of energy India has committed to produce  100 GW of 175 GW  through solar energy. Tobring  121 countries  that lie between the  Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn  that receives plenty of sunshine and are mostly developing nations. ISA alliance is a step that reinforces the objectives of Paris deal on climate change and  SDG goal 7 (affordable and sustainable energy). Affordable and clean source of energy is a priority for tackling the imp...