Current Affairs 24 June 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 24 June 2021 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Cost Effective Catalysts For Metal-Air Battery

Source : Indian Express
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Approach “Cost Effective Catalysts For Metal-Air Battery” : Mains

1. Zn-Air Batteries
2. Bi Functional Catalysts

Why in News ?

A new non-precious metal-based bi-functional electrocatalyst (capable of catalyzing two different types of reactions) can decrease cost and increase the efficiency of metal air batteries.

Key Facts

• With the rise in demand for different energy sources, worldwide efforts are being made to develop different kinds of energy devices, such as lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batteries, redox flow batteries, lithium-air batteries, zinc-air batteries, etc. sodium-ion batteries, fuel cells, and super capacitors.
• Zn-air Batteries
  • Low cost and high energy density.
  • Compact power sources for portable electronics and electric vehicles.
  • A major challenge for such batteries is catalyst development.
• Bi Functional Catalysts
  • A bi-functional catalyst works for oxygen reduction while discharging the battery and the same catalyst helps in oxygen evolution reaction during the charging cycle.
  • Most of the conventional catalysts available consist of noble metals in their composition, making the batteries costly.
  • Newly developed cost-effective electro-catalyst by anchoring transition metal ions into the sulfur-doped carbon framework via carbonization of a polymer called SPEEK (sulphonated polyether ether ketone).
  • This catalyst synthesis method can also be used to recycle used ionomers (polymer composed of both neutral repeating units and ionized units).
  • Cost-effectiveness is thus achieved by low loading of transition metal, high activity, and high cycling stability compared to many of the catalysts.
  • The catalyst also leads to reduced voltage polarization, enabling higher energy efficiency and a stable charge-discharge characteristic.
  • The results obtained were comparable to that of conventionally used noble metal-based catalysts with metal loading of 20% or higher.

India Signs $32 Million Loan With World Bank

Source : PIB
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Approach “India Signs $32 Million Loan With World Bank” : Mains

1. Implementation
2. Who will get the benefit ?
3. Implementation Strategy

Why in News ?

The Government of India, Government of Mizoram and the World Bank have signed a $32 million Mizoram Health Systems Strengthening Project.

• To improve management capacity and quality of health services in Mizoram particularly for the benefit of under-served areas and vulnerable groups.

Key Facts

• The project will strengthen the governance and the management structure of the Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW)
• Also its subsidiaries, improve the quality and coverage of services delivered by the state government health systems.
• The project amount can invest in a comprehensive Quality Assurance program which would enable quality certification of health facilities.
• Key Focus
  • Strengthen the effectiveness of the state health insurance programme.
  • Build synergies with the Government of India’s Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PMJAY).
  • Reduce financial barriers in accessing hospital services, prevent catastrophic out of pocket expenditure for health by poor families and expand coverage.
  • Invest in infection prevention and control for a more resilient response to future outbreaks, pandemics, and health emergencies.
  • improving the overall ecosystem for bio-medical waste management (both solid and liquid waste).
    • It will include segregation, disinfection, and collection while safeguarding the environment and improving the quality of health service and patient safety.
• Benefits for
  • The people across all eight districts of the state.
  • Health sector staff, specifically at the secondary and primary levels, by strengthening their planning and management capacity along with building their clinical skills and competencies.
  • Poor families.
• Key strategy of the project
  • Project will move towards a performance based financing system.
  • Internal Performance Agreements (IPAs) between the DoHFW and its subsidiaries would foster more accountability at all levels.
  • This is expected to go a long way in improving the management of the system to deliver quality health services.
  • Promoting synergy between various schemes and augment the capacity of the state insurance agency.

Toycathon 2021

Source : PIB
Facts for Prelims

Approach “Toycathon 2021” : Mains

1. Facts about Toycathon 2021
2. What is Toycathon 2021 ?
3. Importance of Toycathon 2021 

Why in News ?

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with participants of Toycathon 2021 via video conferencing.

Key Facts

• Toys as the first friend of the children also emphasized the economic aspects of toys and gaming called it ‘Toyconomy’.
• Cheap data and growth of Internet led rural connectivity and called for exploration of possibilities in virtual, digital and online gaming in India.
• Most of the online and digital games available in the market are not based on Indian concepts.
• Many such games promote violence and cause mental stress.
• India has ample content and competence for digital gaming.
• Many incidents, stories of our freedom fighters and their valour and leadership can be created into gaming concepts.
• There is a need to create interesting and interactive games that ‘engage, entertain and educate.

What is Toycathon 2021 ?

• It is a Initiative by
  • Ministry of Education
  • Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • Ministry of Textile
  • Ministry of Commerce and Industries
  • Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
  • Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
• It aims to promote India as a global toy manufacturing hub.
• To conceptualize innovative toys based on the Indian value system which will inculcate the positive behaviour and good value among the children.
• What kind of toys ? : Indian culture and ethos, local folklore and heroes, and Indian value systems.

Importance of Toycathon 2021 ?

• Global toy market is about 100 billion dollars and India have only 1.5 per cent of this market.
• India imports almost 80 per cent of its toys.

  

• This means that crores of rupees are being drained out of the country.
• This needs to change and this sector has the capacity to bring progress and growth to the neediest segments of society.
• Toy industry has its own small-scale industry, artisans comprising of rural population, dalits, poor people and tribal population.
• In order to take the benefits to these segments we need be vocal for local toys.
• New models of innovation and financing to make Indian toys competitive at the global level.
• There is a need for new ideas to be incubated, new start-ups promoted, taking new technology to traditional toy makers and creating new market demand.
• World wants to learn about India’s capabilities, art and culture. and society in that way toys can play a big role.
• This is the inspiration behind events like Toyacathon.

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