Today's News 24 March 2019
देश के पहले लोकपाल ने ली शपथ
सुप्रीम कोर्ट के पूर्व जज जस्टिस पिनाकी चंद्र घोष ने देश के पहले लोकपाल के तौर पर शपथ ले ली। जस्टिस घोष को राष्ट्रपति रामनाथ कोविंद ने देश के पहले लोकपाल के तौर पर शपथ दिलाई। इस मौके पर प्रधानमंत्री मोदी भी मौजूद थे।जस्टिस घोष इससे पहले आंध्र प्रदेश हाई कोर्ट के चीफ जस्टिस और सुप्रीम कोर्ट के जज रह चुके हैं। जस्टिस घोष वर्तमान में राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग के सदस्य भी थे और मानवाधिकार कानूनों के जानकार के तौर पर उन्हें माना जाता है।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/19393-2019-03-24-03-23-20
#Ombudsman #Lokpal #RamnathKovind #PinakiChandraGhosh #Lokayukta

जल प्रबंधन कार्यशाला के साथ विश्व जल दिवस को मनाया गया
पेयजल और स्वच्छता मंत्रालय ने 22 मार्च, 2019 को विश्व जल दिवस के अवसर पर भारतीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान (आईआईटी) मद्रास के सहयोग और यूनिसेफ इंडिया के समर्थन के साथ ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में धूसर जल प्रबंधन (ग्रे वॉटर) और आर्सेनिक और फ्लोराइड युक्‍त जल शोधन पर दो दिवसीय राष्ट्रीय कार्यशाला (21 और 22 मार्च) का आयोजन किया। कार्यशाला के पूर्ण सत्र को पेयजल और स्वच्छता मंत्रालय के सचिव श्री परमेस्वरन अय्यर, और आईआईटी मद्रास के निदेशक, प्रोफेसर भास्कर राममूर्ति ने संबोधित किया।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/19392-2019-03-24-03-22-56
#WorldWaterDay #UNICEF #India #IIT #Gujarat

RBI again defers Ind AS
The Reserve Bank again deferred the implementation of the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) by banks as the requisite legislative amendments are still under consideration. Earlier in April 2018, the central bank had postponed the implementation of the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) by the banks by one year.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/19398-rbi-again-defers-ind-as
#RBI #ICAI #IFRS #ReserveBank #NACAS #ASB #FICCI

Italy endorse Belt and Road accord
Italy on 23 March 2019 became the first member of the Group of Seven industrialised powers to endorse China's "Belt and Road" infrastructure project, with Rome brushing off the worries of Western allies as it looks to revive its flagging economy.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/19397-italy-endorse-belt-and-road-accord
#Italy #BRI #XiJinping #China #infrastructure

World's 12th busiest overtaking hubs
The capital’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) is now the world’s 12th busiest airport — moving up four places from the 16th spot in 2017 — by overtaking mega hubs like the Frankfurt, Dallas Forth Worth, Guangzhou and Istanbul Ataturk airports. According to the preliminary world airport traffic rankings for 2018 released by Airports Council International (ACI), IGIA was the fastest growing among the top 20 airports.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/19396-world-s-12th-busiest-overtaking-hubs
#IGIA #ACI #airport #Delhi #Frankfurt #Istanbul

First Lokpal of India sworn in
Justice Pinaki Ghose on 23 March 2019 took oath as the first Lokpal of India — the national anti-corruption ombudsman. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi were present on the occasion. The former Supreme Court judge’s appointment comes five years after the Lokpal Act received the President’s nod on January 1, 2014.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/19395-first-lokpal-of-india-sworn-in
#Ombudsman #Lokpal #RamnathKovind #PinakiChandraGhosh #Lokayukta

An elusive whale is found all around the world
Salvatore Cerchio stunned the small world of whale science in 2015 when he found examples of a new species in the wild for the first time. Now, he’s mapped the habitat of that species, called Omura’s whale after Hideo Omura, a prominent Japanese whale biologist. The surprise in the new study, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, is that Omura’s whales, though little seen, are widespread across the tropical world. Cerchio, a researcher with the New England Aquarium in B

Today Update

मालदीव, हिंद महासागर में चीन के साथ रद कर सकता है समझौता
भारत के मित्र देश मालदीव ने चीन को बड़ा झटका देने की तैयारी कर ली है। मालदीव, चीन के साथ एक बड़ी संधि (Deal) रद कर सकता है। मालदीव ने चीन के साथ हिंद महासागर में एक वैधशाला (ऑब्जरवेटरी) बनाने के लिए समझौता किया था। खबरों के मुताबिक अब मालदीव, चीन के साथ अपने इस समझौते को तोड़ सकता है। ये समझौता रद होना चीन के साथ भारत के लिए बड़ी जीत के तौर पर देखा जाना चाहिए।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/20577-2019-06-18-04-50-53
#Maldives #Indian #Indiasfriendly #Pakistan #AbdullahYameen

अमेरिका और फ्रांस से हुए समझौतों से भारतीय नौसेना को लाभ
अमेरिका और फ्रांस के साथ हुए समझौतों से भारतीय नौसेना को हाल के वर्षो में काफी लाभ हुआ है। इन समझौतों से भारतीय नौसेना को हिंद महासागर के दूरस्थ इलाकों और अदन की खाड़ी में ईंधन, सूचनाएं और अन्य तरह का सहयोग हासिल होने लगा है। वरिष्ठ नौसेना अधिकारी के अनुसार दोनों देशों के साथ हुए समझौतों से भारतीय युद्धपोत हिंद महासागर, अदन की खाड़ी और फारस की खाड़ी में आसानी से अपने मिशन पूरे कर रहे हैं।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/20576-2019-06-18-04-50-44
#IndianNavy #France #PersianGulf #NarendraModi #India

हथियारों की आपूर्ति में भारत को प्राथमिकता देगा अमेरिका
अमेरिकी संसद के दो सीनियर सेनेटर्स ने यूएस आर्म्ड कंट्रोल्स एक्सपोर्ट ऐक्ट में संशोधन का प्रस्ताव सदन में पेश किया है। इसके तहत भारत को भी नाटो देशों के समान दर्जा दिए जाने का प्रस्ताव रखा गया है। इससे भारत इंटरनैशनल ट्रैफिक इन आर्म्स रेग्युलेशन लिस्ट में अमेरिका के नाटो सहयोगियों की बराबरी पर आ जाएगा। फिलहाल अमेरिका की इस लिस्ट में इजरायल, ऑस्ट्रेलिया, न्यू जीलैंड और दक्षिण कोरिया शामिल हैं।
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants-hindi/20575-2019-06-18-04-50-32
#America #NATO #NewZealand #ForeignMilitarySales #InternationalTraffic #ArmsRegulation

US-India ties on upward trajectory
The US and India have strengthened their ties in a number of key areas like defence, counter-terrorism, trade and energy over the years and would continue to take the cooperation to "new heights".
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20581-us-india-ties-on-upward-trajectory
#India #IACCGH #leading power #US #naturalallies #AtalBihari #MTCR

Bitcoin use causing huge CO2 emissions
The use of Bitcoin -- a popular virtual currency -- emits over 22 megatonnes of carbon dioxide annually, comparable to the total emissions of cities such as Las Vegas and Vienna, a study has found. Researchers from Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany carried out the most detailed calculation of the carbon footprint of the Bitcoin system to date.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20580-bitcoin-use-causing-huge-co2-emissions
#Bitcoin #CO2 #BTC #MIT #emissions #TechnicalUniversityofMunich

ADB approves infrastructure projects
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a project worth Rs 1,650 crore to develop infrastructure in seven district headquarter towns of Tripura. The ADB will provide Rs 1,650 crore, out of which 80 per cent will be grant-in-aid and the state will have to repay 20 per cent loan in due course of time.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20579-adb-approves-infrastructure-projects
#ADB #DEA #Asia #AsianDevelopmentBank #PFR #infrastructure

Facebook to unveil new cryptocurrency
Facebook is set to unveil a bid to bring cryptocurrency payments into the mainstream, reportedly with the endorsement of governments and financial giants. The world's biggest social network is expected to outline details of a virtual currency launching next year that it hopes will avoid the rollercoaster volatility of “blockchain” technologies such as bitcoin.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20578-facebook-to-unveil-new-cryptocurrency
#Facebook #cryptocurrency #Libra #blockchain #Uber #Visa #bitcoin

Items identified for high export potential
A study has identified 31 products such as women’s apparel, drugs, and cyclic hydrocarbons that have high export potential and can make India a top exporter of these products, industry body CII said on 21 July 2019.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20974-items-identified-for-high-export-potential
#India #CII #women #infrastructure #Entrepreneurial #potential

Material help to make Mars habitable
Regions of Mars could be made habitable with a material — silica aerogel — that mimics Earth’s atmospheric greenhouse effect, according to a study by NASA and Harvard researchers. People have long dreamed of re-shaping the Martian climate to make it livable for humans.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20973-material-help-to-make-mars-habitable
#Mars #Earth #NASA #habitable #SEAS #CO2 #RegionsofMars

'Metrolite' train for small cities
The Centre has proposed light urban rail transit system - 'Metrolite' - in small cities and towns having lower projection of ridership, with each train having three coaches and a restricted speed of 25 kmph.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20972-metrolite-train-for-small-cities
#Metrolite #MoHUA #PPHPD #LRT #train #India #MetroRailPolicy

Girls migrating for education rising
Many more girls are moving out of their states in search of education than in the past and the pace at which this is changing is most rapid in the states generally viewed as backward. This heartening trend emerges from just-released census 2011 data.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/20971-girls-migrating-for-education-rising
#Girls #Odisha #education #India #census2011 #UttarPradesh

No Aryan invasion over South Asia
A latest study by a team of archaeologists has busted the previously believed theories that all South Asians have an Aryan ancestry.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21410-no-aryan-invasion-over-south-asia
#SouthAsia #Aryan #DNA #Haryana #BCE #Zagrosmountains

TSENTR 2019
Even as the relationship between India and Pakistan continues to remain tense, the armies of the two nations will take part in a multi-national military exercise in Russia next week – China will also take part in the exercise.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21409-tsentr-2019
#TSENTR2019 #Pakistan #VOSTOK2018 #India #JammuandKashmir

Soft landing of Vikram
The crucial landing of ‘Vikram’, Chandrayaan-2’s moon lander, will be carried out by at least eight onboard equipment in a coordinated manner.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21408-soft-landing-of-vikram
#Vikram #Chandrayaan2 #Pragyaan #LHDAC #LASA #ISRO #NASA

India to host 6th India-China SED
India will host the 6th India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) that will focus on collaboration between two countries on areas of infrastructure, energy, high-tech, resource conservation, pharmaceuticals an policy coordination.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21407-india-to-host-6th-india-china-sed
#SED #India #NDRC #RajivKumar #NITIAayog #infrastructure

Volcanic eruption set off a phytoplankton bloom
The eruption last year of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii produced the equivalent of 320,000 Olympic-size swimming pools of lava. Much of it ended up flowing into the Pacific Ocean, creating plumes of acidic, glassy steam in the process.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/index.php/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21406-volcanic-eruption-set-off-a-phytoplankton-bloom
#Hawaii #Volcanic #phytoplankton #Olympic

States to get medical device parks
The government has given approval for setting up four medical device parks with a view to support Make in India initiative and provide world-class products at an affordable price for treatment.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21950-states-to-get-medical-device-parks.html
#CFC #AndhraPradesh #infrastructure #CommonFacilityCentre

100% FDI in coal mining
India’s move to allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment in coal mining is a “positive move” and a good policy enabler towards the country’s long-term ambition of producing 300 million tonnes of steel per annum.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21949-100-fdi-in-coal-mining.html
#FDI #NationalSteelPolicy2017 #environment #India #NSP

Black hole devour another
In a first, researchers have created simulations explaining how the largest of black hole mergers may have happened, showing one may have devoured another “in a ‘Pac-Man-like’ behaviour.”
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/21948-black-hole-devour-another.html
#Blackhole #RIT #gravitational #Earth #gas #space

India in RCEP dialogue
India has been extended an invitation to join talks on the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) next month, but is still on the fence about participation, say sources.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22683-india-in-rcep-dialogue.html
#RCEP #India #Malaysia #ASEAN #FTAs

India in Democracy Index 2019
India slipped 10 places to 51st position in the 2019 Democracy Index’s global ranking, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit, which cited “erosion of civil liberties” in the country as the primary cause for the downtrend.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22682-india-in-democracy-index-2019.html
#India #DemocracyIndex2019 #EIU #globalranking #Xinjiang

A new virus : Wuhan virus
The Union Health Ministry has sounded an alert at international airports for thermal screening of passengers arriving from China for the novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) — also known as the Wuhan virus — the WHO is convening an Emergency Committee to discuss steps to contain its spread.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22681-a-new-virus-wuhan-virus.html
#Wuhanvirus #WHO #SARS #MERS #CoV #UHM

India needs investment to meet UN's SDG
India needs a whopping $2.64 trillion investment to meet the UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs), offering the private sector an investment opportunity of over $1.12 trillion by 2030, according to a report.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22680-india-needs-investment-to-meet-un-s-sdg.html
#UN #SDG #investment #India #infrastructure

Daman as headquarters of the merged UT
The Centre on 22 January 2020 designated Daman as the headquarters of the merged Union Territories of Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
Read More: https://www.ksgindia.com/study-material/news-for-aspirants/22679-daman-as-headquarters-of-the-merged-ut.html
#Daman #GST #UTs #Headquarters #VAT #NagarHaveli

Watch: NaBFID to be regulated as AIFI under RBI Act #RBIAct #prelims2022 #development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2aPxLYKSbs

Watch: NaBFID to be regulated as AIFI under RBI Act #RBIAct #prelims2022 #development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2aPxLYKSbs&list=PLCUwtp5IghZlGtWhDAkuXVFs8MLdVey75&index=58
#UPSCOnlineClasses #OnlineClassses #IASOnlineclasses

Today's Headlines - 24 July 2023
National Broadcasting Day 2023
GS Paper - 2 (Infrastructure)

National Broadcasting Day in India is marked on 23 July as symbolic of the Radio Club of Bombay (established by some businessmen) making the first-ever broadcast in the country in June 1923. The broadcast was followed by the setting up of the Calcutta Radio Club five months later.

About IBC

The Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) came into being on 23 July 1927, although it was soon facing liquidation in less than three years.
But it would eventually lead to the birth of a name recognisable to Indians for generations in the form of the All India Radio (AIR). Here is how it happened.

Beginnings of All India Radio

The Indian Broadcasting Service had commenced its operations on an experimental basis but soon saw a financial downturn.
To revive the radio, BBC producer Lionel Fielden was appointed the first Controller of Broadcasting in August 1935.
By January 1936, he gave Delhi its radio station, at Kingsway Camp, ruffling many feathers as he went about in his brusque “must do” style.
In the same year Akashvani Mysore, a private radio station, was set up. On 8 June 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) became All India Radio.

How film songs were allowed on the radio

The Vividh Bharati Service was then launched in 1957 with popular film music as its main component. But this was not easy to do and had some critics.
In 1952, AIR had imposed a ban on film music and it was in these years that Radio Ceylon and their popular show Binaca Geetmala, hosted by Ameen Sayani, became the saviour for Hindi film music lovers.
With a network of around 260 radio stations, AIR today is accessible to almost the entire population of the country and serves nearly 92% of the total area. A broadcasting giant, it broadcasts in 23 languages and 146 dialects.

#upsc #news #todayheadline #national #broadcasting #infrastructure #symbolic #bombay #IBC #calcutta #radio #club #liquidation #AIR #india #ISBS #binacageetmala #radioceylon #akashvanimysore #vividhbharti #service #dialects

Today's Headlines - 28 July 2023
Lok Sabha passes forest conservation bill
GS Paper - 1 (Geography)

Lok Sabha a bill that seeks to exempt land within 100 km of the country's borders from the purview of conservation laws and permit setting up of zoos, safaris and eco-tourism facilities in forest areas. The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill-2023 was passed after a brief debate which was responded to by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.

More about the Bill

The bill exempts certain types of land from the provisions of the Act such as forest land along a rail line or a public road maintained by the government providing access to a habitation, or to a rail, and roadside amenity up to a maximum size of 0.10 hectare.
Forest land that will also be exempted includes land situated within 100 km along the international borders, Line of Control, or Line of Actual Control, proposed to be used for construction of strategic linear projects for national importance or security.
It also exempts land up to 10 hectares, proposed to be used for constructing security related infrastructure, or land proposed to be used for constructing defence related projects, camp for paramilitary forces, or public utility projects as specified by central government not exceeding five hectares in a left wing extremism affected area.
Yadav made it clear that there was no contradiction between the Forest (Conservation) Act and the Forest Rights Act as the two legislations supplement each other.
The bill also seeks to empower the central government to specify, by order, the terms and conditions subject to which any survey, such as, reconnaissance, prospecting, investigation or exploration including seismic survey, shall not be treated as non-forest purpose.

#upsc #news #todayheadline #loksabha #conservation #geography #laws #zoo #tourism #facilities #forest #areas #railline #border #hectares #infrastructure #projects #forestrights #prospecting #investigation #exploration #seismic

Today's Headlines - 01 August 2023
DGCA fined for Tail strikes
GS Paper - 2 (Infrastructure)

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fined IndiGo a sum of Rs 30 lakhs and issued a show cause notice to the airline, following a special audit concerning frequent tail strike incidents. The special audit uncovered “certain systemic deficiencies” in IndiGo’s documentation pertaining to “operations/training procedures and engineering procedures”.

What is a tail strike?

A tail strike refers to an incident where the tail of an aircraft hits the ground or strikes any other stationary object.
While tail strikes can occur during takeoff, a majority happen during the landing of an aircraft.
According to Airbus statistical data, over 65 per cent of tail strikes happen during landings.
Tail strikes can cause significant damage to the aircraft, with major repairs needed to restore the plane’s structural integrity.
Even in cases where the damage is not major or immediately obvious, thorough inspections are carried out before the aircraft is declared fit to fly again.

What causes tail strikes?

While modern aircraft are fitted with a whole gamut of systems to aid pilots in flying aircraft and reduce the probability of human error, most tail strikes can be attributed to mistakes made by pilots.
Simply put, tail strikes occur when the pitch attitude of the aircraft (more on that in a moment) – while taking off or landing – is steep enough for the tail of the craft to hit the ground.
Aircraft, depending on their size, have different “tail strike margins” – the longer the aircraft, more prone it is to a tail strike as the rear of the plane juts out further behind the rear undercarriage.
An aircraft in flight is free to rotate in three dimensions: yaw, nose left or right about an axis running up and down; roll, rotation about an axis running from nose to tail; and pitch, nose up or down about an axis running from wing to wing. These are collectively known as an aircraft’s attitude.
Tail strikes are most impacted by the aircraft’s pitching motion. A positive pitching motion raises the nose of the aircraft and lowers the tail.
Tail strikes are caused by such a motion being executed improperly during take off and landing.

#upsc #news #DGCA #tail #strikes #infrastructure #indigo #systemic #engineering #aircraft #gamut #axis #rotate #motion #human #probability

Today's Headlines - 11 August 2023
Aspirational districts programme
GS Paper - 2 (Infrastructure)

Haryana's Nuh district has achieved the second position in Niti Aayog's 'Delta ranking' under the aspirational districts programme on 10 August 2023. The programme aims at uplifting and developing the most socio-economically challenged districts in India, and this progress in Nuh is certainly a step in the right direction.

More about the News

The continuous efforts are on to improve the ranking of the district on several parameters.
Nuh tops in parameters of agriculture and water resources while in health and nutrition parameters, it comes in second place.
Due to continuous improvement in the ranking of other departments, the district has bagged an overall second position.
The Delta rankings for the aspirational districts measure the incremental progress made by them across the developmental areas of health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and basic infrastructure.
The Aspirational Districts Programme is a part of the government’s endeavour to raise the standard of living of its citizens and ensure inclusive development for all under the vision of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’.
The programme focuses on improving the capacity of people to participate fully in a growing economy, ensuring optimum utilisation of their potential.
Health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development and basic infrastructure are the thrust areas of the programme.

#upsc #news #headline #aspirational #districts #programme #infrastructure #haryana #nitiaayog #deltaranking #NUH #developing #economically #right #direction #efforts #agriculture #water #resources #health #sabkasathsabkavikas #nutrition

Today's Headlines - 17 August 2023
'PM-eBus Sewa' approved
GS Paper - 2 (Infrastructure)

The Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister approved the Rs 57,613 crore PM-eBus Sewa initiatives to augment the use of electric buses in 169 cities. The scheme will augment city bus operations, under which priority will be given to cities having no organised bus service.

More about the Initiatives

These include all the capital cities of Union Territories (UTs), north eastern and hill states. The e-buses will be provided under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode for 10 years.
The scheme will cover cities of 3 lakh and above population and priority will be given to cities not having organised bus services.
Ten thousand e-buses will be deployed on public-private partnership (PPP) model in 169 cities.
Infrastructure will be upgraded in 181 cities under the Green Urban Mobility Initiatives.
The Scheme has two segments

Segment A – Augmenting the City bus services (169 cities)

The approved bus scheme will augment city bus operations with 10,000 e-buses on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Associated Infrastructure will provide support for Development/ up-gradation of depot infrastructure; and Creation of behind-the-meter power infrastructure (substation, etc.) for e-buses.
Segment B– Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI): (181 cities)

The scheme envisages green initiatives like bus priority, infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, NCMC-based Automated Fare Collection Systems, Charging infrastructure, etc.
Support for Operation: Under the scheme, States/Cities shall be responsible for running the bus services and making payments to the bus operators.
The Central Government will support these bus operations by providing subsidies to the extent specified in the proposed scheme.
Boost to E-Mobility:

The scheme will promote e-mobility and provide full support for behind-the-meter power infrastructure.
Cities will also be supported for development of charging infrastructure under Green Urban Mobility Initiatives.
The support to bus priority infrastructure shall not only accelerate the proliferation of state-of-the-art, energy efficient electric buses but also foster the innovation in the e-mobility sector as well as development of resilient supply chain for electric vehicles.
This scheme shall also bring in economies of scale for procurement of electric buses through aggregation for e-buses.
Adoption to Electric mobility will reduce noise and air pollution and curb carbon emission.
Modal shift due to increased share of bus-based public transportation will lead to GHG reduction.

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Today's Headlines - 28 August 2023
Indore named best city in Smart Cities Mission
GS Paper - 2 (Infrastructure)

The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry named Indore the best city and Madhya Pradesh the best state in the Smart Cities Mission in its India Smart Cities Awards 2022. Surat and Agra were named second and third best among cities and Tamil Nadu second in states, with the third prize being shared by Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. A total of 66 winners in different categories were announced; the awards would be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in Indore on 27 September 2023.

More about the News

The cities were selected based on their ranking in terms of progress of projects, project outcomes and presentations submitted for the awards.
Indore has topped the cleanliness rankings under the Swachh Bharat Mission, being named the cleanest city for the past six years in a row.
Madhya Pradesh, too, won the tag of the cleanest state in the Swachh Survekshan 2022. In the Smart Cities awards, Indore had shared the first place with Surat last time.
In the Smart Cities Awards 2022, Coimbatore’s project of model roads, restoration and renovation of lakes was ranked the best in the category of built environment, while Jabalpur won the award for its incubation centre in the economy category.
Chandigarh’s public bike sharing and e-governance services won in the mobility and governance categories, respectively. Chandigarh also won the overall award in the Union Territory category.
Flashback

Under the Smart Cities Mission, which was launched in 2015, the 100 selected cities have completed 76% of the proposed projects worth Rs.1.10 lakh crore, while the remaining projects worth Rs.60,095 crore “will be completed by 30 June 2024, a ministry statement said.
Earlier this year, the mission’s deadline was extended from June 30 to next year to allow all 100 cities to complete their projects.
Most notable milestone achieved in the mission has been the Integrated Command and Control Centers (ICCC), which is operational in all 100 Smart Cities.
These ICCCs work as the brain and nervous system for city operations, using technology for urban management.
The urban services have significantly improved in diverse fields like crime tracking, safety and security of citizens, transport management, solid waste management, water supply, disaster management etc.

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Today's Headlines - 09 September 2023
Indore ranks first in Clean Air Survey 2023
GS Paper - 2 (Infrastructure)

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav awarded first rank to the Information Technology hub of Madhya Pradesh, Indore, in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan-2023 (or Clean Air Survey), conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board.

More about the Sarvekshan-2023

Under the first category (million-plus population), Indore ranked first, followed by Agra and Thane. Amravati secured first rank in the second category (3-10 lakh population), followed by Moradabad and Guntur.
Similarly, for the third category (less than 3 lakh population), Parwanoo secured the first rank, followed by Kala Amb and Angul.
The fourth International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (Swachh Vayu Diwas 2023) aims to create stronger partnerships, increase investment, and share responsibility for overcoming air pollution, with the global theme of "Together for Clean Air."
About NCAP

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has been implementing the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a national-level strategy, outlining the actions for reducing the levels of air pollution at city and regional scales in India since 2019.
The NCAP aims to systematically address air pollution by engaging all stakeholders and ensuring necessary action.
A total of 131 cities have been identified for the implementation of the city-specific action plans under this programme, for reducing air pollution by up to 40 per cent by FY26.
NCAP focuses on the preparation and implementation of national-level action plans, state-level action plans, and city-level action plans for the targeted 131 cities.
Flashback

The NCAP Ministry has also launched "PRANA", a portal for monitoring the implementation of NCAP.
In this portal, action plans of cities, states, and line ministries will be reflected and monitored for their implementation status.
In addition, best practices adopted by cities are shared on the PRANA portal for adoption by other cities.

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Today's Headlines - 11 September 2023
India-Middle East-Europe mega economic corridor
GS Paper - 2 (International Relations)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe mega economic corridor. The project includes India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, France, Italy, Germany and the US.

What is the project?

The rail and shipping corridor is part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII) — a collaborative effort by G7 nations to fund infrastructure projects in developing nations. PGII is considered to be the bloc’s counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The project will aim to enable greater trade among the involved countries, including energy products.
It could also be one of the more ambitious counters to China’s massive infrastructure program, through which it has sought to connect more of the world to that country’s economy, AP said.
The corridor will include a rail link as well as an electricity cable, a hydrogen pipeline and a high-speed data cable, according to a document prepared by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The document also called the project “a green and digital bridge across continents and civilizations.”
Why is the project being proposed?

First, it would increase prosperity among the countries involved through an increased flow of energy and digital communications.
Second, the project would help deal with the lack of infrastructure needed for growth in lower- and middle-income nations.
Third, it could help “turn the temperature down” on “turbulence and insecurity” coming out of the Middle East

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