Daily Current Affairs 22 January 2024 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 22 January 2024 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Revamped Scheme for Administrative Reforms of DARPG

Source: PIB

GS II:  Governance and Civil Service

Overview

1. About Revamped Scheme for Administrative Reforms of DARPG
2. Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)

Why in the News?   The Government recently approved funding for the revamped Scheme for Administrative Reforms of DARPG to be implemented in 2024-25 and 2025-26 of the 15th Finance Commission Cycle. 

About Revamped Scheme for Administrative Reforms of DARPG

• The scheme will take up next-generation administrative reforms to match the new aspirations of Viksit Bharat.
• The revamped Scheme for Administrative Reforms has 2 verticals:
  • Comprehensive System for Redressal of Public Grievances
  • Administrative Reforms.

Comprehensive System for Redressal of Public Grievances:

• Aimed at improving the quality of grievance redressal and reducing timelines by developing an AI-enabled comprehensive system for redressal of Public Grievances.
• The Scheme has an allocation of Rs. 128 crores.
• Seeks to take forward the 10-Step CPGRAMS reforms.
• The project will integrate all other grievance portals
• The scheme would utilize deeper technology adoption, enhance capacity building of grievance redressal officers, and upgradation of CPGRAMS version 7.0.

Scheme for Administrative Reforms

• Allocation of Rs. 107 crores to utilize the resources for the following programs.
  • Conduct of Civil Services Day Conferences
  • Regional Conferences for Replication of Good Governance Practices in States/ UTs and e-governance practices.
• Initiative for Increasing Efficiency in Decision Making and Sushasan Saptah 2024 & 2025.

Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)

• It is an online platform available to the citizens 24×7.
• Aims to lodge their grievances to the public authorities on any subject related to service delivery.
• It was developed by National Informatics Centre in association with the Directorate of Public Grievances (DPG) and the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
• It is a single portal connected to all the Ministries/Departments of Central and State Governments.
• This is accessible to the citizens through a mobile application integrated with UMANG.
• if they are not satisfied with the resolution by the Grievance Officer citizens can appeal
• It provides online access to all citizens including those in Armed Forces personnel to report their grievances.

Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana

Source: PIB

GS III: Economics; GS III: Environment & Ecology

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. About Solar Energy Potential
3. Steps Taken by India 

Why in the News? The Prime Minister has announced the Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana under which 1 crore households will get rooftop solar.

News in Brief

• The government will launch the Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana to install rooftop solar on 1 crore houses.
• This will not only reduce the electricity bill of the poor and middle class but will also make India self-reliant in the field of energy.

About Solar Energy Potential

• About 5,000 trillion kWh per year energy is incident over India’s land area with most parts receiving 4-7 kWh per sqm per day.
• Solar energy has taken a central place in India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change with National Solar Mission (NSM) as one of the key Missions.
• NSM was launched on 11th January 2010.
• The mission’s objective is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for solar technology diffusion across the country as quickly as possible.
• The government of India have launched various schemes to encourage the generation of solar power in the country like Solar Park Schemes, VGF Schemes, CPSU Schemes, Defence Schemes, Canal bank & Canal top Schemes, Bundling Schemes, Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Schemes etc.
• Solar power installed capacity has reached around 70.10 GW as on June 2023.

Steps Taken by India 

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 per cent under the automatic route
• Notification of Promoting Renewable Energy through Green Energy Open Access Rules 2022.
• Setting up of Project Development Cell for attracting and facilitating investments.
• Waiver of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by June 2025.

Schemes by the Indian Government

• Solar Park Scheme: The Solar Park Scheme plans to build several solar parks, each with a capacity of nearly 500 MW, across several states.
• National Solar Mission: It is a major initiative of the Government of India and State Governments to promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing India’s energy security challenge.
• PM KUSUM: The scheme aims to add solar and other renewable capacity of 30,800 MW by 2022 with total central financial support of Rs. 34,422 Crores.
• Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY): The AJAY scheme was launched in September 2016 for the installation of solar street lighting (SSL) systems in states with less than 50% of households covered with grid power (as per Census 2011).
• SRISTI Scheme: Sustainable rooftop implementation of Solar Transfiguration of India (SRISTI) scheme to promote rooftop solar power projects in India.
• Grid-connected Solar Rooftop programme: Launched to achieve a cumulative capacity of 40,000 MW from Rooftop Solar (RTS) Projects by the year 2022.

Prelims

Mahayogi Vemana

News: Recently, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Mahayogi Vemana on the occasion of Vemana Jayanti. 

• He was a saint in Andhra Pradesh. 
• Vemana was born in Gandikota, Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh. 
• He was an Indian philosopher and poet in the Telugu language. 
• He was an achala Yogi, Poet, Social Reformer. 
• His poems are known for their use of simple language and native idioms. 
• They discuss the subjects of yoga, wisdom and morality. 
• His poems follow various themes: social, moral, satirical and mystical. 
• Most of them are in Ataveladi (dancing lady) meter. 
• Notable works:- 
  • vemana satakam 

Global Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality

News: India successfully established a “Global Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality” to promote women’s empowerment and gender equality. 

• It is a new alliance for global good, gender equity, and equality established by India on the sidelines of the 54th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos. 
• The alliance will bring together worldwide best practices, knowledge sharing, and investment opportunities in women’s education, health, and enterprise. 
• This initiative marks a significant stride toward achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality and Empowerment), 17 (Global Partnership for Development) and more. 
• It has garnered support from industry leaders such as MasterCard, Uber, Tata, TVS, Bayer, Godrej, the Serum Institute of India, IMD Laussane, and over 10,000 partners from industry through the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). 
• Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the alliance will be housed and anchored by the CII Centre for Women Leadership. 
• The WEF has come on board as a ‘Network Partner’ and Invest India as an ‘Institutional Partner’. 

Moh-Juj Baffalo Fight

News:  The Assam Government reinstated the traditional buffalo fight (Moh-Juj) after a nine-year hiatus. 

• Following a Supreme Court ban on similar events in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. 
• It was introduced by the 30th Ahom king Swargadeo Rudra Singha nearly 200 years ago 
• It is celebrated as a sport in Ahatguri during Magh Bihu, a significant harvest festival in Assam held in January–February. 
• These fights were organised however informally.  
• The buffalo fight tournaments in Ahatguri have been a tradition since 1972. 
• The event is part of the cultural celebration of Magh Bihu. 
• Ensuring no deliberate torture or cruelty is carried out on the animals and their well-being is provided for by the organisers during the annual Moh-juj festival. 

Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary

News: The Odisha government recently planned to introduce Sambar and Gaur as well as launch a ‘nocturnal trail’ in the Chandaka-Dampara wildlife sanctuary. 

• It is located in the up land of North-Eastern Ghat of biotic region, near Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. 
• This is now an isolated forest, which once formed a part of Eastern Ghats forest and Central Indian Elephant range. 
• It lies adjacent to the Nandankanan zoo and Bharatpur Reserve Forest is situated to its east. 
• Forest Type: Evergreen and deciduous forest spread over the uneven table hills and hillocks of the Eastern Ghats. 
• Flora: Preponderance of thorny bushes, weed growth, Thorny bamboo, Kusum, Karada, etc. 
• Fauna: Elephants, Chital, Barking Deer, Rhesus Monkey, Pangolin, Sloth Bear, Indian Wolf, Hyena, various reptiles, and over 100 species of birds including Raptors. 

SLIM Mission

News: Japan’s SLIM spacecraft lands on moon, a 1st for the country. 

• SLIM – The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon is a lightweight spacecraft about the size of a passenger vehicle. 
• Thw mission aim is to test new landing technology that would allow moon missions to land ‘where we want to land’ and to seek clues about the origin of the moon and analysing minerals with a special camera. 
• It was carrying 2 small autonomous probes lunar excursion vehicles LEV-1 and LEV-2. 
• It was aiming to land near the Shioli crater, near a region covered in volcanic rock 
• It was Launched by – Mitsubishi Heavy H2A rocket. 

Yellow Rust

News: The Karnal-based Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR) has appealed to the farmers to remain vigilant against yellow rust. 

• Yellow Rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis. 
• It is a significant disease affecting wheat crops. 
• Symptoms include yellowish spots or stripes on leaves, turning into yellow or orange pustules filled with spores. 
• This disease prefers cool and humid conditions which posing a threat during the wheat-growing season. 
• It can lead to defoliation and reduced grain production, affecting food prices and security. 
• Besides Yellow Rust infection reduces wheat yield and quality, leading to economic losses. 

Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD)

News: The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) has warned users of different scams perpetrated through messaging platform WhatsApp 

• It was  formally established in 1970. 
• It is under the Ministry of Home Affairs giving a new orientation to the existing Police Research and Advisory Council (1966) . 
• It  has also been entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the training needs and quality of training in the States and Central Police Organisations. 
• To identify the needs and problems of the police in the country,  
• Undertake research projects and studies, and suggest modalities to overcome problems and challenges.

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