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Daily PIB/ 22 June
General Studies- I
Topic- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
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What is Yoga?
Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India.
- The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.
- Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.
History of IYD:
Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131.
- The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.
- The draft resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states.
- The proposal was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly.
Why 21 June?
21st June was selected because it represents summer solstice (one of the two solstices) and it is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere which has special significance in many parts of the world.
General Studies- I
Topic- Important Geophysical phenomena.
Summer Solstice 2021
On June 21, the Northern hemisphere will experience its longest day of the year, known as summer solstice, or the first day of summer.
- The day also brings in the shortest night.
- This year, Summer Solstice is coinciding with International Yoga Day.
What is the Solstice?
The word “solstice” originated from Latin word “sol” which means sun and “sistere” which means stationary or stand still.
- The summer solstice occurs between June 20 and 22 every year.
- Summer Solstice is also referred to as Midsummer, First Day of Summer, June solstice (in the Northern Hemisphere) and the longest day of the year.
- This phenomenon occurs twice a year, once in the Northern Hemisphere (between June 20-22, depending on the year and time zone) and once in the Southern Hemisphere (between Dec 20-23).
What is the Summer Solstice?
The Summer Solstice, which is the longest day of the summer season and takes place in the northern hemisphere when the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer.
- At the time of Summer Solstice, Earth’s North Pole is tipped directly towards the Sun more than any other time of the year. Also, the South Pole is away from the Sun.
- As seen from Earth, the sun is directly overhead at noon 5 degrees north of the equator, at an imaginary line encircling the globe known as the Tropic of Cancer.
- As a result of this, sunlight falls for longer periods on regions located in the northern hemisphere and for fewer hours on places south of the Equator.
Implications:
- In a year, two such events take place: Summer Solstice and the Winter Solstice.
- Summer Solstice signals the start of the summer season in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of winter in the southern hemisphere.
- All locations north of the equator have days longer than 12 hours at the June solstice. Meanwhile, all locations south of the equator have days shorter than 12 hours.
- This day is characterised by a greater amount of energy received from the sun.
Its occurrence:
The Earth rotates around its axis resulting in the cycle of day and night. When the Earth is close to the Sun, the areas that are close have hot and humid days and nights.
- At the time of Summer Solstice, the Earth is at a point where its tilt is at the greatest angle to the plane of its orbit.
- This results in one hemisphere receiving more sunlight and a longer day than the other.
- NASA explains that we have seasons as a result of the tilt and Earth’s revolution on its orbit around the Sun.
What is the winter solstice?
Winter solstice, also called hibernal solstice, and is one of the two moments during the year when the path of the Sun in the sky is farthest south in the Northern Hemisphere (December 21 or 22) and farthest north in the Southern Hemisphere (June 20 or 21).
- At the winter solstice the Sun travels the shortest path through the sky, and that day therefore has the least daylight and the longest night.
- During this, countries in the Northern Hemisphere are farthest from the Sun and the Sun shines overhead on the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° south).
General Studies- II
Topic- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS)
50 kWp Solar roof top under the IPDS scheme of Government of India inaugurated in Solan.
The project further reinforces the ‘Go Green’ Initiative of the government envisaged in the Urban Distribution scheme of the government of India.
About the IPDS:
The ‘Integrated Power Development Scheme’ (IPDS) was notified by Ministry of Power, Government of India in 2014.
It has following components:
- Strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution networks in the urban areas.
- Metering of distribution transformers / feeders / consumers in the urban areas.
- IT enablement of distribution sector and strengthening of distribution network under R-APDRP by carrying forward the approved outlay for R-APDRP to IPDS.
- Schemes for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and IT enablement of balance urban towns are also included under IPDS.
- Underground cabling to include additional demand of States and smart metering solution for performing UDAY States and Solar panels on Govt. buildings with net-metering are also permissible under the scheme.
Implementation:
Power Finance Corporation (PFC) is the Nodal agency for implementation of the scheme.
Objectives of scheme are:
- Strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution networks in the urban areas;
- Metering of distribution transformers / feeders / consumers in the urban area.
- IT enablement of distribution sector and strengthening of distribution network
Significance of the scheme:
The IPDS scheme will help in reduction in AT&C losses; establishment of IT enabled energy accounting / auditing system, improvement in billed energy based on metered consumption and improvement in collection efficiency.
Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP):
The R-APDRP was launched in July 2008 with focus on establishment of base line data, fixation of accountability.
- It also aimed at reduction of AT&C losses upto 15% level through strengthening & up-gradation of Sub Transmission and Distribution network and adoption of Information Technology during XI Plan.
- The Govt. of India has proposed to continue R-APDRP during the XI Plan with revised terms and conditions as a Central Sector Scheme.
General Studies- II
Topic- Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI)
Context:
National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) celebrates its 18th Foundation Day.
About NIXI:
National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is a not-for-profit organization (section 8 of the Companies Act 2013).
It has been working since 2003 for spreading the internet infrastructure to the citizens of India through the following activities:
- Internet Exchanges through which the internet data is exchanged amongst ISP’s, Data Centers and CDNs.
- .IN Registry, managing and operation of .IN country code domain and .भारत IDN domain for India.
- IRINN, managing and operating Internet protocol (IPv4/IPv6).
Free Domain in Local Indian Languages:
Recently, NIXI announced that it will offer a free IDN (Internationalized Domain Name) in any of their preferred 22 official Indian language along with every IN domain booked by the registrant.
- Applicant will also get a free email in local language.
- This offer has been created to stimulate the adoption of भारत (IDN) domain name and proliferation of local language content.
Chrome IAS’ facts for Prelims
Indian Certification of Medical Devices (ICMED) Plus Scheme
The ICMED Plus Scheme has been launched by the ‘Quality Council of India’ (QCI) with the Association of Indian Manufacturers of Medical Devices (AiMeD).
- This is an upgraded version of ICMED Scheme that had been launched for Certification of Medical Devices in 2016.
- The ICMED 13485 PLUS, as the new scheme has been christened, will undertake verification of the quality, safety and efficacy of medical devices.
- This scheme provides the much-needed institutional mechanism for assuring the product quality and safety.
- It will go a long way in assisting the procurement agencies to tackle the challenges relating to the menace of counterfeit products and fake certification.
Expert Group on fixation of Minimum Wages
The Central Government has constituted an Expert Group an Expert Group under the Chairmanship of Professor Ajit Mishra, a renowned economist.
- It has been tasked to provide technical inputs and recommendations on fixation of Minimum Wages and National Floor Wages to the Government.
- The tenure of the Expert Group is three years.
EUNAVFOR Exercise
Recently, the Maiden Indian Navy – European Union Naval Force (IN-EUNAVFOR) Exercise was conducted in Gulf of Aden.
- EUNAVFOR and the Indian Navy converge on multiple issues including counter piracy operations and protection of vessels deployed under the charter of World Food Programme (UN WFP).
- Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR also have regular interaction through SHADE (Shared Awareness and De-confliction) meetings held annually at Bahrain.
- This engagement showcases increased levels of synergy, coordination and inter-operability between IN and EUNAVFOR.
- It also underscores the shared values as partner navies, in ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive, and a rules-based international order.
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