News in Shorts: 17 September 2024

Two years of Project Cheetah

About Project Cheetah: 

• The Government of India launched it to bring back Cheetahs to India. 
• Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952.
• Implementing Body: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA),  a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment.
• Objective: The Indian government hopes to bring 50 cheetahs from African countries to various national parks over the next five years.
• Currently, a total of 20 radio collared Cheetahs were brought from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, in a first ever transcontinental wild to wild translocation i.e  Africa to Asia.
• IUCN status: Asiatic Cheetah is critically Endangered whereas African cheetah is Vulnerable 

Samagra Shiksha Funds

• Proposal: It was proposed by the Union Budget of 2018-19, subsumed the erstwhile Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE) schemes.
• Funding: The scheme is funded in a 60:40 ratio by the Centre and states, barring the 11 Northeastern and Himalayan states, which have to bear only 10% of the cost.
• It Supports implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
• Programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class 12.

Issue:

• Centre has stopped funding for the Samagra Shiksha Scheme in states that have refused to implement its PM SHRI scheme.
• Five states →  Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhi, Punjab, and West Bengal have not signed the MoU. 

About Sepsis

• Sepsis was once commonly known as “blood poisoning.”
• It is a life-threatening condition that happens when the body’s immune system has an extreme response to an infection, causing organ dysfunction 
• Cause: Bacterial infections are one of the most common causes of sepsis.

Data from India:  60 percent of the 29.9 lakh sepsis deaths in the country in 2019 were caused by bacterial infection.

• Nearly 10.4 lakh sepsis deaths (33.4 percent) were linked to bacterial AMR that year.

Swachhata under Special Campaign 4.0 and Swachhata hi Seva

Special Campaign 3.0 on Swachhata: It is an initiative of the Indian government to encourage cleanliness across government offices and public spaces.

Main Campaign: October 2 to October 31, 2023.

• 2nd Position: Ministry of Heavy Industries ranked 2nd for space freed by scrap disposal. 
  • 5th Position: Same ministry ranked 5th for revenue generation with Rs. 4.66 crore from scrap sales.

Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2024 Campaign:

• Launch Date: September 13 in New Delhi.
• Campaign Period: September 17 to October 2, ending on Swachh Bharat Diwas.
  • This campaign celebrates 
    • 10th anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission ( SBM) 
    • 7th year of Swachhata Hi Seva(SHS).
• Theme for SHS 2024: “Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskar Swachhata (4S)“
• Focus: Increase collective action and citizen involvement in cleanliness efforts.
• Key Pillars of SHS 2024:
  • Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs): Shramdaan activities to clean specific areas.
  • Swachhata Mein Jan Bhagidari: Public participation, awareness, and advocacy.
  • Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivirs: Health check-ups and social security for sanitation workers.

Integrated Ocean Energy Atlas

About Integrated Ocean Energy Atlas:

• Unveiled By: Ministry of Earth Sciences 
• Focus: Identifies areas with high potential for energy generation.
• Significance of Atlas: It showcases the vast potential of ocean energy resources encompassing marine meteorological (solar and wind) and hydrological (wave, tide, currents, ocean thermal, and salinity gradients) energy forms.
  • A reference tool for harnessing the energy resources available in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• Ocean Energy Estimates Accessible via WebGIS Interface: The atlas includes detailed annual, monthly, and daily estimates of these ocean energy components, which can be accessed via a WebGIS interface at a five-km grid resolution. 
  • WebGIS is a way to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) over the internet. 
    • It allows you to view, share, and analyse maps and spatial data through a web browser or mobile app.
• Estimated Ocean Energy Potential in India’s EEZ : Approximately 9.2 lakh TWh per annum within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• Future Prospects: INCOIS aims to collaborate with industrial partners and public sector companies to develop marine energy projects in high energy potential areas within the Indian EEZ.

Subhadra Scheme 

About Subhadra Yojana scheme:

• Scheme Named After: The scheme is named after Goddess Subhadra, the younger sister of Lord Jagannath. 
  • Lord Jagannath, a highly revered deity in Odisha, is part of a divine trio with his siblings Subhadra and Balabhadra.
• Duration: Over five years, until 2028-29, the scheme will assist over 1 crore women across the state.
• Financial Assistance: Each woman will receive Rs 10,000 annually, distributed in two instalments:
  • Rs 5,000 on Rakhi Purnima (Raksha Bandhan, typically in August).
  • Rs 5,000 on International Women’s Day (March 8) each year.
• Current Registrations: More than 50 lakh women have already registered for the scheme.
• Fund Transfer: Money will be deposited directly into the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-enabled single-holder bank account.
• e-KYC Requirement: e-KYC is mandatory for participation in the scheme.
• Debit Card: A Subhadra Debit Card will be issued to each beneficiary.
• Additional Incentives
  • The top 100 beneficiaries with the highest number of digital transactions in each gram panchayat and urban local body area will receive an additional Rs 500 as an incentive.
• Eligibility Criteria
  • Ineligible Groups: Women from economically well-off families, government employees, and income-tax payees are not eligible.
  • Exclusions: Women receiving assistance of Rs 1,500 or more per month (or Rs 18,000 or more per year) under any other government scheme are excluded.

India’s Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024 Ranking

Global Cybersecurity Index

• The GCI measures the commitment of countries to cybersecurity.
• It highlights the importance of cybersecurity.
• Identifies nations that are excelling in online safety.
  • Evaluates how sectors like business, government, and technology maintain online security.
• Pillars of assessment
  • Legal Measures
  • Technical Measures
  • Organizational Measures
  • Capacity Development
  • Cooperation

India Performance

• Tier-1 Status: India is ranked in Tier-1 in the GCI 2024, as per the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• Ranking: India scored 98.49.
  • It placed it among the 47 leading countries for cybersecurity commitment.
• Scores in Cybersecurity Pillars
  • Legal Measures: 20/20
  • Technical Measures: 20/20
  • Organizational Measures: 18.49/20
  • Capacity Development: 20/20
  • Cooperation: 20/20
  • Each category is scored out of 20. 

4th Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST)

More on the news

• The 3-day event (sep.2024) will celebrate India’s success in reaching 200 GW of renewable energy capacity.
• Focus of the 4th Edition:
• • Showcasing the latest innovations and products in renewable energy.
  • Encouraging business interactions and partnerships to further develop India’s renewable energy sector.

What is RE-INVEST?:

• RE-INVEST is a major event organized by the Indian government to show off India’s renewable energy potential to the world.
• Managed by:  the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• It invites investors from around the globe to support India’s renewable energy projects.
• India’s Future Renewable Energy Goals:
• • India aims to achieve 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
  • The government has made green energy a people’s movement, with programs like the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme.

The Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR):

The Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) initiative has been launched under the  Startup India program.

About BHASKAR:

• Nodal Ministry: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• Aim: It is an all-encompassing, one-stop digital platform that addresses the challenges faced by stakeholders alike to  strengthen India’s startup ecosystem.
  • It will build the world’s largest digital registry for stakeholders within the startup ecosystem. 
• Key Features
  • Networking and Collaboration: BHASKAR will enable seamless interaction between startups, investors, mentors, and other stakeholders.
  • Central Hub: Here the startups, investors, service providers, and government bodies can come together to collaborate, exchange ideas, and accelerate growth.
  • Centralized Access to Resources: The platform will provide startups with immediate access to critical tools and knowledge, enabling faster decision-making and more efficient scaling.
  • Creating Personalized Identification: Every stakeholder will be assigned a unique BHASKAR ID, ensuring personalized interactions 
  • Enhancing Discoverability: Through powerful search features, users can easily locate relevant resources, collaborators, and opportunities, ensuring faster decision-making and action.
  • Supporting India’s Global Brand: BHASKAR will serve as a vehicle for promoting India’s global reputation as a hub for innovation