PIB – December 24 , 2019


General Studies-III

TopicConservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Environment Education Awareness and Training (EEAT)

Context

First Annual Meet of State Nodal Agencies for ‘Ecoclub’ programme conducted.

About

  • Under the EEAT, National Green Corps (NGC) ‘Ecoclub’ programme was initiated in 2001-2002.
  • Annual Meet of the State Nodal Agencies implementing the National Green Corps ‘Ecoclub’ programme was conducted.
  • ‘Ecoclub’ programme is a initiative of the Ministry of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
  • It was in collaboration of the GEER Foundation, Gujarat in Kevadia, Gujarat.

About Environment Education Awareness and Training (EEAT)

  • EEAT is an established central sector scheme of the MoEF continuing since 1983-84.
  • It aims– to promote environmental awareness and mobilize student’s participation for environment conservation.
  • Under the scheme, National Green Corps (NGC) ‘Ecoclub’ programme was initiated in 2001-2002.

Objectives of EEAT

  • To impart knowledge to school children through hands on experience, about their immediate environment, interactions within it and the problems therein.
  • To inculcate proper attitude towards environment and sensitize children on issues related to environment and development.
  • To facilitate the development of education/training materials and aids in the formal education sector.
  • To facilitate the development of education/training materials and aids in the formal education sector.
  • To mobilize people’s participation for preservation and conservation of the environment.

Eco-clubs (National Green Corps)

  • National Green Corps (NGC) is a programme of the MoEF.
  • Environmental activity in schools is promoted through the National Green Corps Eco-club.
  • Each NGC School Eco Club has 30 to 50 NGC Students or NGC Cadets who form the National Green Corps.
  • These NGC Students participate in activities related to Biodiversity Conservation, Water Conservation, Energy Conservation, Waste Management and Land Use Planning and Resource Management.

General Studies- II

Topic- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

India Innovation Index 2019

Context

NITI Aayog launches India Innovation Index 2019.

Key Points of India Innovation Index 2019

  • NITI Aayog with Institute for Competitiveness as the knowledge partner released the India Innovation Index (III) 2019.
  • Karnataka is the most innovative major state in India.
  • The top ten major states are-
  1. Karnataka
  2. Tamil Nadu,
  3. Maharashtra,
  4. Telangana,
  5. Haryana,
  6. Kerala,
  7. Uttar Pradesh,
  8. West Bengal,
  9. Gujarat,
  10. Andhra Pradesh.
  • The top ten major states are majorly concentrated in southern and western India.
  • Sikkim takes the top spots among the north- eastern & hill states.
  • Delhi is on the top among union territories/city states/small states respectivel
  • Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh are the most efficient states in translating inputs into output.

Background

  • NITI Aayog with Institute for Competitiveness as the knowledge partner has released the India Innovation Index 2019.
  • India Innovation Index recognize the role of innovation as a key driver of growth and prosperity for India,

Objective

  • The aim is to create a holistic tool which can be used by policymakers across the country to identify the challenges to be addressed.
  • To identify strengths to build on when designing the economic growth policies for their regions.

Features of the India Innovation Index

  • The index attempts to create an extensive framework for the continual evaluation of the innovation environment of 29 states and seven union territories in India.
  • It intends to perform the following three functions-
  1. Ranking of states and UTs based on their index scores,
  2. Recognizing opportunities and challenges,
  3. Assisting in tailoring governmental policies to foster innovation.

Method applied in Index

  • The India Innovation Index 2019 is calculated as the average of the scores of its two dimensions – Enablers and Performance.
  • The Enablers are the factors that underpin innovative capacities.
  • They grouped in five pillars: (1) Human Capital, (2) Investment, (3) Knowledge Workers, (4) Business Environment, and (5) Safety and Legal Environment.
  • The Performance dimension captures benefits that a nation derives from the inputs.
  • It divided in two pillars: (1) Knowledge Output and (2) Knowledge Diffusion.

Significance of the Index

  • The index presents the latest findings and highlights the regional catalysts and caveats for promoting innovation readiness.
  • The Report offers a comprehensive snapshot of the innovation ecosystem of 29 states and seven union territories.
  • It also includes a section on state profiles covering 33 indicators looking at the different facets of innovation in India.
  • The index shows that the innovation ecosystem of the country is strong in south and western parts of India.

Institute for Competitiveness

About

  • Institute for Competitiveness, is the Indian knot in the global network of the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School.
  • Institute for Competitiveness is an international initiative centered in India, dedicated to enlarging and purposeful disseminating of the body of research and knowledge on competition and strategy.
  • Institute for Competitiveness conducts & supports indigenous research; offers academic & executive courses; provides advisory services to the Corporate & the Governments and organises events.
  • The institute studies competition and its implications for company strategy; the competitiveness of nations, regions & cities and thus generate guidelines for businesses and those in governance; and suggests & provides solutions for socio-economic problems.

General Studies-III

Topic- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Modern Train Control System

Context

Modern Train Control System to be implemented on Indian Railways.

About

  • Indian Railways has decided to modernize its Signalling system on its entire network by implementing Modern Train Control system with LTE based MTRC.
  • This ambitious modernization projects envisages upgradation of signaling system for improving safety, Line Capacity and to run trains at higher speed.

Technologies include:

  1. Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System
  2. Electronic Interlocking System
  3. Remote Diagnostic & Predictive Maintenance System
  4. Long Term Evolution (LTE) based Mobile Train Radio Communication (MTRC) System
  5. Centralized Traffic Control System (CTC) /Train Management System (TMS)

Funding

  • Modernization of Signalling system on entire Indian Railway network has been included in Works Programme 2018-19 at a cost of Rs. 77,912 Crores.
  • It will be implemented after approval of NITI Aayog, Extended Board for Railways (EBR) and sanction of CCEA.

General Studies-III

Topic- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Green Good Deeds

Context

‘Green Good Deeds’ initiative to promote environmental awareness.

About ‘Green Good Deeds’ initiative

  • ‘Green Good Deeds’ is a societal movement, launched by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
  • The ‘Green Good Deeds’ initiative is about simple, practical steps that students/teachers/citizens can perform in their day-to-day life towards protection of environment.
  • The BRICS Ministerial on Environment at Durban, South Africa, has agreed to include “Green Good Deeds” in its official agenda.
  • The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change had drawn up a list of over 500 Green Good Deeds.
  • The Ministry asked people to alter their behaviour to Green Good Behaviour to fulfil their Green Social Responsibility.

Objective

The purpose of the people-oriented campaign is to sensitise people and students, in particular about climate change and global warming.


For prelims

Hunar Haat

Highlights

  • Hunar Haat is an exhibition of handicrafts and traditional products made by artisans from the Minority communities.
  • It is organised by Ministry of Minority Affairs.
  • Hunar Haats are being organized USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills & Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development)
  • The USTTAD scheme aims at preserving & promoting the rich heritage of the traditional arts & crafts of the Minority communities.

 

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