- Indian Heritage
NATAK AKADEMI FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS FOR THE YEAR 2022 AND 2023
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu presented Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards for the year 2022 and 2023 in New Delhi today (March 6, 2024).
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that art is not just for the sake of art. It also has social purpose. She added that there are many such examples in history, when artists used their art for social welfare. Artists have been contributing to awakening of society through their creations. Indian art is the best example of India’s soft-power.
The President said that today mental issues like stress and depression are increasing. There are several reasons for this. One of the reasons could be focusing more on material happiness rather than spirituality. She stated that connection with art makes us creative. Art provides a way to discover truth and gives meaning to life.
The President said that art and artists have worked to weave the diversity of India into the thread of unity. By doing this, they have also fulfilled the fundamental duties enshrined in the Constitution.
The President appreciated Sangeet Natak Akademi for promoting various art forms for the last seven decades. She said that the work done by the Akademi in the field of performing arts and intangible heritage is very important.
The President congratulated all the recipients of Akademi’s Fellowship and Awards and expressed confidence that they will continue to enrich the Indian art tradition through various forms and genres of music and drama.
- Culture
- Modern Indian history
- The Freedom Struggle
- Post-independence
- Indian Society
A. population and associated issues
B. poverty and developmental issues
C.urbanization
7. Geographical features
8.Indian Constitution
9. Polity
10. Governance
A. institutions
B. regulatory
C. Government policies
Central Consumer Protection Authority issues advisory on Prohibition of Advertising, Promotion, and Endorsement of Illegal Activities
In response to increasing instances of advertisements promoting illegal activities such as betting and gambling, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued a comprehensive advisory. The advisory, in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, emphasizes the prohibition of advertising, promotion, and endorsement of unlawful activities prohibited under various laws.
Betting and gambling are strictly prohibited under the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and are considered illegal in the majority of regions across the country. Despite this, online betting platforms and apps persist in advertising betting and gambling directly, as well as under the guise of gaming. Endorsements of such activities presents considerable financial and socio-economic implications, especially to the youth.
The advisory underscores the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s efforts in issuing various advisories to media platforms, cautioning them against publicizing betting and gambling platforms. Online advertisement intermediaries have also been warned against targeting such advertisements toward the Indian audience.
The advisory highlights that, the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022, categorically prohibit advertisements of products or services prohibited under any prevailing law.
It reiterates that the guidelines apply to all advertisements, irrespective of the medium used and warns celebrities and influencers that any engagement in the promotion or advertisement of online gambling and betting, given its unlawful status, renders one equally liable for participating in an illegal activity.
Through this advisory, CCPA cautions that any advertisement or endorsement of activities which are otherwise prohibited by law, including but not limited to betting or gambling, shall be subject to rigorous scrutiny. If any violation of the guidelines is found, stringent measures, as per the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, will be initiated against involved, including manufacturers, advertisers, publishers, intermediaries, social media platforms, endorsers, and any other relevant stakeholders.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority urges all stakeholders to adhere strictly to these guidelines and refrain from promoting or endorsing activities that are illegal under Indian law.
D. role of NGOs
E. measures
11. Social Justice
A. Welfare schemes
B Health
C. Education
D. Human Resources
E. poverty and hunger
12. International relations
A. India and its neighbourhood
B. groupings and agreements
International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED)
International Centre of Excellence for Dams will act as a technological arm of the Ministry of Jal Shakti to provide specialized technical support in investigations, modelling, research and innovations, and technical support services for the Indian and overseas dam owners. The Centre will work for agreed dam safety areas to support the Ministry and provide solutions to various emerging challenges faced in dam safety through scientific research. It will also carry out applied research, education, and technology transfer in dam safety management at local, regional, national, and international levels.
The specific objectives of the formation of ICED are as follows.
To empower ‘Make in India’ in dam safety by undertaking advanced research and developing technologies and application products.
To enable fast-track innovations to provide most appropriate solutions to various challenges in the dam safety for the agreed working areas.
To create a pool of competent manpower for dam owning agencies and industry equipped with state of the art theoretical and practical knowhow.
Self-sufficiency in providing (a) Solutions through scientific studies, (b) Technology development
ICED faculty/ engineers will work towards an in-depth understanding of the problems pertaining to the focused areas being faced by the dam owning agencies to offer effective recommendations and position their R&D activities accordingly.
C.Indian diaspora
13. Economic Development
A. Government Budgeting
B. industrial
Promoting Clean Coal Technology: Coal Gasification
The Ministry of Coal, Government of India, is steadfast in its efforts to promote coal production and ensure surplus supply, while transitioning towards cleaner energy alternatives like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, recognizing the need to address environmental concerns and reduce carbon emissions. At the forefront of promoting clean coal technology, particularly coal gasification, the Ministry aligns with the Government’s vision of fostering a resilient and sustainable energy ecosystem. Coal plays a pivotal role in India’s energy system, accounting for nearly 70% of the total electric generation. It is also a critical input in various industries such as steel, sponge iron, cement, and paper. And because of initiatives like ‘Make In India’, the Ministry anticipates increased demand and higher economic growth projections.
To introduce clean coal technologies, the Government has launched several clean coal initiatives, including the Coal Gasification Mission. It aims to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030 through surface coal/lignite gasification projects. The Ministry highlights collaborative efforts in advancing Surface Coal Gasification (SCG) projects in Coal India Limited (CIL) coalfields. Notably, strategic bilateral agreements were executed in October 2022, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BHEL & CIL, as well as an MoU between IOCL, GAIL & CIL, aiming to foster cooperation and expertise in driving the implementation of SCG projects.
To support these initiatives, a financial assistance scheme has been proposed to promote Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects by Government PSUs and the Private Sector, with an allocation of ₹ 8500 crores for incentives towards coal gasification projects. The scheme aims to demonstrate the financial and technical viability of gasification projects, accelerate markets for downstream products, and create an additional value chain in the economy for coal.
Significant strides have been made through joint venture agreement (JVA), wherein Government has approved the equity investment proposal by CIL in JVs of CIL-GAIL and CIL-BHEL. The JV Agreement has been formally signed between CIL and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for setting up an ammonium nitrate plant through coal gasification (SCG), which is poised to revolutionize indigenous technology, at Lakhanpur area of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Odisha. The upcoming plant as backward integration would help in securing the raw material, reducing import dependency of ammonium nitrate and promoting Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan. Additionally, Joint Venture Agreement is under consideration between Coal India Limited (CIL) and Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). The agreement aims to establish a Surface Coal Gasification (SCG) project at Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL) and is expected to be signed shortly.
The adoption of gasification technology in India will revolutionize the coal sector, reducing reliance on imports of Natural Gas, Methanol, Ammonia, and other essential products. It will contribute to India’s vision of becoming Aatmanirbhar and create a surge in employment opportunities. The implementation of coal gasification is expected to make significant contributions to the nation’s development by reducing imports by 2030.
E.issues
14. Technology
Biomanufacturing and Bio-foundry will drive India’s future bioeconomy and promote “Green Growth”
Biomanufacturing and Bio-foundry will drive India’s future bioeconomy and promote “Green Growth”, said Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh while inaugurating the 17th Annual International Biocuration Conference (AIBC-2024) being organized by Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) at Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), in Faridabad, Haryana.
a new strategy for energy-efficient hydrogen production
Scientists have identified a new catalyst that can efficiently oxidize urea and lower the energy demand for hydrogen generation by urea-assisted water splitting thereby making way for improved production of the green fuel.
Understanding the importance of hydrogen energy in reversing climate change, the scientific community is intensifying efforts to revolutionize hydrogen production, a key player in the clean energy landscape. Electrolytic generation of hydrogen at cathode, while inherently clean and green, has been hampered by the energy demands of the oxygen evolution reaction at the anode (counter electrode). A viable solution emerges from replacing the oxygen evolution reaction with other anodic processes such as urea electro-oxidation reaction (UOR) possessing lesser overall cell potential. By adding urea to water, it has practically been shown to reduce the energy demand for electrochemical hydrogen production by about 30%. This not only reduces the electrical energy input and hence, the cost for hydrogen generation from water but also holds a promise for remediating urea from wastewater in conjunction with energy generation while converting urea into nitrogen, carbonate, and water. Despite the potential advantages of this reaction, the catalysts developed so far not stable vulnerable to COx poisons (by-products of UOR) posing barriers to industry-scale implementation of this process
15. Environment
Notification of Rules framed under Section 49M of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2022)
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972), provides the legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals, management of their habitat and also for the regulation and control of trade in the products derived from various parts of wild animals.
The Act was last amended in 2022. The Wild life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 has come into force since 1st April 2023. Section 49 M of the Act provides for registration of possession, transfer and birth and reporting of death of living scheduled animal species which are listed in the Appendices of CITES and as such listed in the Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Rules for the purposes of Section 49 M vide Gazette Notification dated 28th February 2024.
All persons possessing a living specimen of an such animal species are required to apply for registrations of such possession within a period of six months from the date of commencement of these rules and thereafter within thirty days of possession of such animal species to the concerned State Chief Wild Life Warden, through the PARIVESH 2.0 portal (https://parivesh.nic.in/parivesh-ua/#/).
Further, any transfer of possession and birth of offsprings of such specimen(s) shall also be registered and death of such specimen(s) shall be reported, to the concerned Chief Wild Life Warden through the said PARIVESH 2.0 portal in accordance with these Rules.
16. Security
17. Disaster Management