Aphantasia

Context:  A new study on aphantasia was conducted by the University of Glasgow which examined the link between auditory and visual senses.

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• Blindfolded participants were exposed to sounds like birds in a forest, a bustling crowd, and traffic noise.
• Results showed:
  • In people without aphantasia, auditory scenes activated the brain’s visual cortex, creating neural patterns.
  • Spectrum of Visualisation Ability
    • The study suggests that mental visualisation occurs on a spectrum, varying from person to person.
      • This highlights the complex interconnection between different parts of the brain.
      • In individuals with aphantasia, these neural patterns were weaker or absent.

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What is Aphantasia?

• Aphantasia is a condition where individuals have very limited or no ability to visualise mental images.
• It is not a disability but simply a variation in how some people process mental imagery.
• Historical Context of Aphantasia
  • British polymath Francis Galton first identified the concept of aphantasia in the 1880s.
  • The term “aphantasia” was coined in 2015 by neurologist Adam Zeman.
    • It is estimated to affect roughly 2% of the population.

Auditory-Visual Connection in the Brain

• When people hear sounds, their minds often create visual representations influenced by past experiences.
  • For instance, the sound of a crying baby may evoke an image of a child in one’s mind.
• Those with aphantasia, however, lack this ability to visualise vividly or at all.

PM Internship Scheme in Top Companies (Scheme) Pilot Project

Context: Recently, 6.5 lakh youth had applied for internships under the PM Internship Scheme in Top Companies (Scheme) pilot project.

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• The Union government has opened up a portal for India’s top 500 companies to participate in the one-year internship scheme.

About PM’s Internship Scheme

• It was introduced in the 2024 Union Budget as part of the government’s efforts to boost employment opportunities.
• Nodal Agency: Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• Objective: Bridge the gap between the skill sets of unemployable youth and those needed by employers.
• Target: The project will provide on-the-job training to one crore people over five years.

Internship Details

• Each applicant could apply for up to five different internships, so the total number of applications does not equal the number of individuals.
• Interns will work for a year-long tenure, starting from December 2, 2024, as per the original timeline.
• Candidates could specify preferences for sector, functional role, State, and district while applying.
• Internship Features and Scope
  • Internships will last for 12 months and provide exposure to real-world workplaces to enhance employability.
  • Participating companies can nominate vendors and suppliers to join the scheme.
  • Companies will appoint nodal officers for grievance redressal, monitored by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• Stipend and Financial Benefits
  • Interns will receive a monthly stipend of ₹5,000:
    • ₹500 from the participating companies’ CSR funds.
    • ₹4,500 via direct benefit transfer to their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
  • A one-time grant of ₹6,000 will be provided to cover incidental expenses upon joining.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to youth aged 21–24 years who meet the following conditions:
  • Educational qualifications: High school pass, ITI certificate, polytechnic diploma, or degrees such as BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BBA, BCA, or B.Pharma.
  • Annual family income should be less than ₹8 lakh in 2023-24.
  • Not enrolled in post-graduate programs or other government training/apprenticeship schemes.
  • Excludes children of regular government employees and graduates from premier institutes like IITs, IIMs, and NIDs.

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Grievance Redressal Assessment And Index (GRAI) 2023

Context: Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index (GRAI) 2023  has been launched by the  Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology  Dr Jitendra Singh.

About Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index (GRAI) 2023:

• This is the 2nd edition of GRAI.
  • The first edition of GRAI 2022 was released on 21 June 2023.
• Conceptualised by: The index is designed by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel and Training, Administrative Reforms, Public Grievances and Pensions.
• Recommended By: It is based on the recommendation of Parliamentary Standing Committee of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions 
• Objective: To present organisation-wise comparative analysis and provide valuable insights about strengths and areas of improvement regarding grievance redressal mechanism.
• Data Source: Data between January and December 2023 was used from the Centralised Public Grievance Redressal and Management System (CPGRAMS) to compute the index.
• Assessment: Eighty-nine Central Ministries and Departments were assessed and ranked on the basis of four Dimensions And 11 Indicators.
  • The report gives a 2 dimensional color coded (vertical and horizontal) analysis of the root causes of effective redressal of grievances of each Ministries and Departments.
• Dimensions: Efficiency; Feedback; Domain; Organisational Commitment 

Key Highlights

• Ranking: Ministries and Departments are grouped in three groups based on the number of grievances registered in calendar year 2023 at CPGRAMS.

• Positive Trajectory: 85 out of 89 Ministries And Departments showed an improvement In their GRAI Scores In 2023 Over 2022. 
• Growth Statistics: Approximately 10% Of the Ministries/Departments achieved Over 50% growth, while 28% recorded 25-50% growth. 
  • A majority of 57% exhibited incremental growth of up to 25% in their scores.

Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)

• It is an online platform for grievance redressal available to the citizens 24×7 to lodge and track their complaints to the public authorities on any subject related to service delivery. 
• It is a single portal connected to all the Ministries/Departments of Government of India and States.
• Accessibility: It is also accessible to the citizens through mobile application integrated with UMANG.

Bharat NCX 2024

Context: The Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise (Bharat NCX 2024) was inaugurated to fortify India’s cybersecurity resilience recently.

• The event will be held from November 18 to November 29, 2024.

About Bharat NCX 2024

• Organized By: The ceremony was organized by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU).
• It is a 12-day exercise aimed at strengthening India’s cybersecurity resilience
• Objective: To prepare India’s cybersecurity professionals and leadership to tackle evolving threats with advanced cyber defense, incident response capabilities, and strategic decision-making.
• Features:
  • Immersive Training: The participants will be trained on cyber defense and incident response, live-fire simulations of cyberattacks on IT and OT systems
  • Strategic Decision-Making: Senior management from across sectors will come together to simulate decision-making in a national-level cyber crisis
  • The CISO’s Conclave: It will feature Chief Information Security Officers from government, public, and private sectors
  • Bharat Cybersecurity Startup Exhibition: It will showcase innovative solutions from Indian startups, emphasizing their role in enhancing the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure. 

The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS)

• NSCS is an unit under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) which formulates India’s policies related to strategic interests which shape its national security in areas of defense, foreign policy, internal security etc
• Establishment: The NSCS was set up by former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1998 with Shri Brajesh Misra as the first National Security Advisor
• Headed By: The Prime Minister heads the body with The National Security Advisor acting as its secretary.
• Vision: A secure & resilient nation; A networked government, a cohesive society, an engaged people.
• Mandate: It aims to provide the strategy, direction and long term vision to the governmental arms responsible for national security to adequately prepare them  to address all possible threats.

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Global Soil Conference 2024

Context: Union Minister addressed the inaugural session of the Global Soil Conference 2024 in PUSA, New Delhi recently.

About Global Soil Conference 2024

• It is a pivotal international event focused on advancing sustainable soil management practices.
• Organised by: Indian Society of Soil Science (ISSS), New Delhi under the aegis of International Union of Soil Sciences, Italy in Collaboration with Indian council of Agricultural Research, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi.

Theme: “Caring Soils Beyond Food Security : Climate change mitigation & Ecosystem Services”.

Key Objectives

• Enhancing Soil Productivity:
  • To promote actionable, farmer-centric solutions for improving soil fertility and resilience.
• Integrating Climate Action:
  • To align soil health initiatives with climate mitigation strategies and global sustainability goals.
• Fostering Ecosystem Services:
  • To highlight soil’s role in supporting biodiversity, regulating water cycles, and providing critical ecosystem services.
• Strengthening Global Collaboration:
  • To encourage partnerships between nations and institutions in advancing soil research and formulating sustainable policies.

International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS)

• It is a global organization dedicated to promoting the study and sustainable management of soils. Based in Italy, 
• It serves as a vital platform for advancing scientific research, education, and policy development in soil sciences. 
• It works collaboratively with governments, institutions, and researchers to address critical challenges related to soil health and its role in global sustainability.

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