TOPIC 1 : Impact Of Small Dams On Ecology [ Prelims ]
- It seems that small dams cause less environmental problems than large ones.
- But the first study on small hydropower projects in India proves that they cause as severe ecological impacts as big dams, including altering fish communities and changing river flows.
- Small hydroprojects usually generate less than 25 megawatts of power.
- Small dams are touted to be better than large dams because they submerge fewer regions and barely impact river flow.
- Such projects receive financial subsidies — even carbon credits — for being ‘greener’.
Facts to be remembered for Prelims : 25 megawatts; barely impact river flow; receive subsdies and carbon credits.
TOPIC 2 : Lateral Entry [ GS 2 ]
- In an apparent bid to bring in expertise from the private sector and infuse talent into the country’s bureaucracy, the Union government has invited “outstanding individuals” to join the government at the level of Joint Secretary at the Centre.
- For starters, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has invited applications for 10 senior-level positions in the departments of Economic Affairs, Revenue, Commerce and Highways and others.
- The notification invites individuals working at comparable levels in private sector companies, consultancy organisations, international/multinational organisations with a minimum of 15 years’ experience, besides those working in central public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies, statutory organisations, research bodies and universities.
- The recruitment will be on contract basis for three to five years.
- The intake will be made in 10 departments initially but will expand to other categories in the second phase.
Usage of this news in GS 2 : The above information can be used in a question on civil service reforms.
TOPIC 3 : Global Hindi Meet [ Prelims, GS 2 ]
- The upcoming 11th World Hindi Conference in Mauritius is likely to produce directives to increase the popularity of Hindi globally.
- The World Hindi Conference is a major event organised every three years by the External Affairs Ministry.
- The World Hindi Secretariat (WHS) supported by India is located in Mauritius.
Facts to be remembered for Prelims : 11th ; External Affairs Minstry; every three years; Secretariat in Mauritius.
Usage of this news in GS 2: The above information can be used in a question on bilateral relations between India and Mauritius or on a question on soft power of India.
TOPIC 4 : India-ASEAN Naval Games [ Prelims, GS 2 ]
- India is instituting a series of bilateral and multilateral naval exercises with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries as part of the increasing military-to-military cooperation.
- The Navies of India and Indonesia will hold their first bilateral exercise in the Java Sea. The bilateral with Indonesia is in addition to the Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) that the two sides conduct.
- India will stage a new trilateral exercise with Thailand and Singapore soon. Beyond patrols.
Facts to be remembered for Prelims : CORPAT
Usage of this news in GS 2 : The above given information can be used in a question on India-ASEAN relation or a question on India’s role in Indo-Pacific.
IMPORTANT TERMS IN NEWS EXPLAINED
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) [ Prelims]
- Formed in 2001
- Headquarters at Beijing
- No of member states : 8
- Member states : Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
- Type of organisation : Political, Economic , and Security.
- India and Pakistan joined in 2017 as full members.
- Dubbed as “ alliance of Asia “
Eurozone [Prelims ]
- It is a monetary union.
- Consists of of 19 of the 28 European Union (EU) member states which have adopted the euro as their common currency and sole legal tender.
- The other nine members of the European Union continue to use their own national currencies.
