{"id":15780,"date":"2021-06-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/23-06-2021\/facts-in-news-185\/"},"modified":"2024-05-08T13:22:55","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T07:52:55","slug":"facts-in-news-185","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/23-06-2021\/facts-in-news-185","title":{"rendered":"Facts in News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Facts in News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Land For Life Award<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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  • Shyam Sundar Jyani, a Rajasthan-based climate activist, has won the prestigious <\/span><\/span><\/span>United Nations’ Land for Life Award for his environment conservation concept, Familial Forestry.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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    • Familial Forestry <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>means transferring the care of the tree and environment in the family so that a tree becomes a part of the family’s consciousness<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • This year\u2019s theme is “<\/span><\/span><\/span>Healthy Land, Healthy Lives”<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The 2021 Award will put the spotlight on individuals\/organizations that made an outstanding contribution to land <\/span><\/span><\/span>degradation neutrality on a large scale, with long-term changes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span><\/span>dedicated actions for 25 years<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> or longer and remarkable positive impacts on land, people, communities, and society.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The Land for Life Award was launched at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification <\/span><\/span><\/span>(UNCCD) COP10 in the Republic of Korea (in 2011<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>) as part of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Changwon Initiative<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Every two years<\/span><\/span><\/span>, UNCCD organizes the Land for Life Award<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The Award <\/span><\/span><\/span>recognizes excellence<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span><\/span>innovation in efforts towards<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> land in balance.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The past editions<\/span><\/span><\/span> shed light on inspiring initiatives<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of recovery and restoration of degraded landscapes worldwide.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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      • They all made a significant contribution towards achieving S<\/span><\/span><\/span>ustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>: “Life on Land”, in particular, Target 15.3 land degradation neutrality (LDN).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Changwon Initiative\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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        • It intends to complement <\/span><\/span><\/span>activities being undertaken in line with The Strategy and in accordance with COP 10 decisions.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • The main components of the Changwon Initiative include:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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          • Enhancing the scientific process of the UNCCD,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Mobilizing additional resources and facilitating partnership arrangements.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • Supporting a global framework for the promotion of best practices.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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  • Recently, a 50 kWp Solar rooftop under the IPDS scheme of Government of India was inaugurated in Solan.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The project further reinforces the<\/span><\/span><\/span> \u2018Go Green\u2019 Initiative<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of the government envisaged in the Urban Distribution scheme of the Government of India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    About IPDS\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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    • The Ministry of Power, Government of India notified \u201cIntegrated Power Development Scheme” (IPDS) on 3rd December\u201914 with the following components:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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      • Strengthening of sub-transmission<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and distribution networks in the urban areas.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Metering of distribution<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> transformers \/feeders \/ consumers in the urban areas.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • IT enablement of the distribution secto<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>r and strengthening of the distribution network under the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Schemes for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and IT enablement of balanced urban towns are also included under IPDS.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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        • The scope of IT enablement has been extended to all 4041 towns as per Census 2011.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Power Finance Corporation(PFC)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> is the Nodal agency for implementation of the scheme.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Eligible Utilities<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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          • All Discoms will be eligible for financial assistance under the scheme.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Funding Pattern<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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            • GoI Grant = 60% (85% for special category States).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
            • Additional Grant = 15% (5% for special category States) – linked to achievement of milestones.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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              • It was launched in July 2008 with focus on establishment of baseline data, fixation of accountability, reduction of AT&C losses upto 15% level through strengthening & up-gradation of Sub Transmission and Distribution network.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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SVAMITVA Scheme<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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  • A <\/span><\/span><\/span>Memorandum of Understanding<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> was inked between Survey of India, Government of India and Government of Assam For the implementation of the SVAMITVA scheme in Assam.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>SVAMITVA scheme\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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    • It is a<\/span><\/span><\/span> Central Sector Scheme <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>of the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ministry of Panchayati Raj.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • It was launched on the National <\/span><\/span><\/span>Panchayati Raj Day<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in 2020.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Aim<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>: To provide the \u2018r<\/span><\/span><\/span>ecord of rights\u2019 to village household<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> owners in rural <\/span><\/span><\/span>areas and issuance of Property cards<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • It has been approved for implementation at an outlay of Rs. 566.23 crore across the country in a phased manner over five years (2020-2025).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Its pilot phase was implemented during 2020-2021 in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh and a few border villages of Punjab and Rajasthan.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The scheme will be carried out in <\/span><\/span><\/span>close coordination with the Survey of India, Panchayati Raj departments and Revenue departments<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of various states.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • Significance<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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      • It has the potential to <\/span><\/span><\/span>transform rural India<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and will ensure streamlined planning, revenue collection and provide clarity over property rights in rural areas.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • It will <\/span><\/span><\/span>pave the way for using the property<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> as a financial asset by villagers for taking loans and other financial benefits.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • This is the first time that such a<\/span><\/span><\/span> large-scale exercise involving most modern <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>technology is being carried out to benefit millions of rural property owners.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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        • Disputes related to the propert<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>y would also be settled through the Property Cards\/Title Deeds.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • Property Cards are allotted through this Scheme<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> for every property in the village and will be prepared by states using accurate measurements delivered by drone mapping.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Inter-State Transmission System<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

Recently, the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ministry of Power<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> has issued an order for <\/span><\/span><\/span>extension of the waiver<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> of <\/span><\/span><\/span>Inter-State Transmission System<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (ISTS)<\/span><\/span><\/span> charges<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> on transmission of electricity generated from <\/span><\/span><\/span>solar and wind sources<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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  • The waiver would be available <\/span><\/span><\/span>till 30<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>th<\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> June 2025<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and be available for <\/span><\/span><\/span>Hydro Pumped Storage Plant<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (PSP) and <\/span><\/span><\/span>Battery Energy Storage System<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (BESS) projects also.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • This will promote PSP and BESS projects for meeting the balancing requirement of the grid caused due to large scale integration of <\/span><\/span><\/span>renewable energy<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (RE) in the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Electricity Grid<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> i.e. <\/span><\/span><\/span>around 450 GW by 2030<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • This is expected to<\/span><\/span><\/span> encourage the RE trade in the power exchanges<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Any waiver of ISTS charges shall <\/span><\/span><\/span>also be applicable to such parts of the intra-state transmission<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Inter State Transmission System<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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    • Any system for the conveyance of electricity by means of a main transmission line from the territory of one State to another State.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The conveyance of electricity across the territory of an intervening State as well as conveyance within the State which is incidental to such inter-state transmission of energy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • The transmission of electricity within the territory of State on a system built, owned, operated, maintained or controlled by Central Transmission Utility (CTU),<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • ISTS may be owned by CTU, State Utility, Independent Power Transmission Companies.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • ISTS tariff<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> is determined as per the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Central Electricity Regulatory Commission<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (CERC)<\/span><\/span><\/span> (Terms and Conditions of Tariff), Regulations, 2009<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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      • CERC is a <\/span><\/span><\/span>statutory body<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> functioning with quasi-judicial status under <\/span><\/span><\/span>Section 76 of the Electricity Act 2003<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • It is a key <\/span><\/span><\/span>regulator of the power sector <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>in India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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World\u2019s First GM Rubber Sapling\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

Recently, the <\/span><\/span><\/span>world\u2019s first <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Genetically Modified<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> (GM) <\/span><\/span><\/span>rubber sapling<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> has been planted in <\/span><\/span><\/span>Guwahati, Assam<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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  • It has been <\/span><\/span><\/span>tailored for the climatic conditions<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Northeast<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It has <\/span><\/span><\/span>additional copies of the gene MnSOD<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, or <\/span><\/span><\/span>manganese-containing superoxide dismutase<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It was developed at the Kerala-based <\/span><\/span><\/span>Rubber Research Institute of India<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (RRII).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Natural rubber<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> is a native of<\/span><\/span><\/span> warm humid Amazon forests<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and is <\/span><\/span><\/span>not naturally suited for the colder conditions<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the Northeast, which is one of the largest producers of rubber in India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Growth <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>of young rubber plants remains<\/span><\/span><\/span> suspended during the winter <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>months, which are also characterised by <\/span><\/span><\/span>progressive drying of the soil<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>. This is the <\/span><\/span><\/span>reason for the long immaturity period of this crop<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the region.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The MnSOD gene has the <\/span><\/span><\/span>ability to protect plants from the adverse effects of severe environmental stresses<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> such as cold and drought. The plant is thus expected to establish well and grow fast in the region.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The planting had been done at an<\/span><\/span><\/span> experimental level following all mandatory biosafety measures<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> applicable to field trials involving GM crops.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • There was<\/span><\/span><\/span> no risk of genes flowing from the GM rubber into any other native species<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, a concern often raised by environmental groups against GM plants.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Yellow Gold 48<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

Recently, <\/span><\/span><\/span>Bayer <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>(German agrochemicals major) has launched the <\/span><\/span><\/span>first-ever yellow watermelon variety Yellow Gold 48<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> under <\/span><\/span><\/span>Seminis brand<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span><\/span>India<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n