Current Affairs 15th April 2019
Current Affairs from PIB, The Hindu & Indian Express
Current Affairs 15th April 2019
SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation)
Why in news?
Social reforms are also being done in the hindsight by proactive bureaucrats.
One of the responsibilities of a district electoral officer during the poll process is to ensure systematic voters’ education and electoral participation, or SVEEP. Keerthi Jalli, the first woman Deputy Commissioner of southern Assam’s Hailakandi district since its birth in 1989, has packed in other campaigns too –such as promoting menstrual hygiene. It turned out to be a ‘SVEEPing’ success, especially among women in some Muslim localities in the district.
What is SVEEP?
Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation program, better known as SVEEP, is the flagship program of the Election Commission of India for voter education, spreading voter awareness and promoting voter literacy in India. Since 2009, they have been working towards preparing India’s electors and equipping them with basic knowledge related to the electoral process.
SVEEP’s primary goal is to build a truly participative democracy in India by encouraging all eligible citizens to vote and make an informed decision during the elections. The programme is based on multiple general as well as targeted interventions which are designed according to the socio-economic, cultural and demographic profile of the state as well as the history of electoral participation in previous rounds of elections and learning thereof.
ECI is always looking forward to achieving the aim of building a stronger democracy through greater synergy with Civil Society Organisations, Media and Corporate Houses and even greater queries, suggestions, and participation from individuals.
Source: The Hindu and ECI website
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden
Why in news?
Because of the ongoing Tulip festival.
Tulip festival is an annual celebration that aims to showcase the range of flowers in the garden as a part of tourism efforts by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. It is organized during the onset of spring season in Kashmir valley.
What is it?
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden, previously Model Floriculture Center, is a tulip garden in Srinagar, India. It is the largest tulip garden in Asia spread over an area of about 30 hectares. It is situated on the foothills of Zabarwan Range with an overview of Dal Lake. The garden was opened in 2007 with the aim to boost floriculture and tourism in Kashmir Valley.
The garden is built on a sloping ground in a terraced fashion consisting of seven terraces. Apart from tulips, many other species of flowers - hyacinths, daffodils and ranunculus have been added as well.
Source: The Hindu and Wikipedia
Khalistani extremism
Why in news?
Canada on Friday removed a reference to Sikh extremism from its “2018 Public Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada”, a move that was welcomed by the Sikh diaspora but criticised by sections of the Indian government.
The 2018 report had identified Sikh extremism and the movement for an independent homeland of Khalistan, in Punjab, as one of five key terror threats facing Canada, along with “Sunni Islamist Extremism”, “Right-Wing Extremism”, “Shia Extremism” and “Canadian Extremist Travellers”.
Why did Canada do this?
To please its strong 5 lakh plus Sikh vote bank in the election year.
Where lies the justification to do this?
The section pertaining to incidents of terror by members of the Sikh community has now been renamed “Extremists who Support Violent Means to Establish an Independent State Within India”.
The section talks about support from “some individuals in Canada” for “violent means to establish an independent state within India” and identifies two organisations in Canada, Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation, as being associated with terrorism.
While updating the report, Public Safety Canada, which is under the Canadian government, said in a statement that “a review of the language used to describe extremism has been undertaken and is ongoing”.
It continued, “The government’s communication of threats must be clear, concise, and cannot be perceived as maligning any groups. As we continue this review, it is apparent that in outlining a threat, it must be clearly linked to an ideology rather than a community. The Government will carefully select terminology that focuses on the intent or ideology.”
What is it?
The Khalistan movement is a Sikh separatist movement, which seeks to create a separate country called Khalistān ("The Land of the Pure") in the Punjab region to serve as a homeland for Sikhs. The territorial definition of the proposed country Khalistan consists of both the Punjab, India along with Punjab, Pakistan and includes parts of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan
The Khalistan movement began as an expatriate venture. In 1971, the first explicit call for Khalistan was made in an advertisement published in the New York Times by an expat Jagjit Singh Chohan. With financial and political support of the Sikh diaspora the movement flourished in the Indian state of Punjab, which has a Sikh-majority population and reached its zenith in the late 1970s and 1980s, when the secessionist movement caused large-scale violence among the local population including assassination of PM Indira Gandhi and bombing of Air India plane killing 328 passengers. Various pro-Khalistan outfits have been involved in a separatist movement against the Government of India ever since. In the 1990s the insurgency petered out, and the movement failed to reach its objective due to multiple reasons including a heavy police crackdown on separatists, divisions among the Sikhs and loss of support from the Sikh population. The extremist violence had started with targeting of the Nirankaris and followed by attack on the government machinery and the Hindus. Ultimately the Sikh terrorists also targeted other Sikhs with opposing viewpoints. This led to further loss of public support and the militants were eventually brought under control of law enforcement agencies by 1993.
Important Events:-
- Punjabi Suba movement in the 1950s
- Punjab reorganization Act 1966
- Anandpur Sahib Resolution in 1973
- Dharam Yudh Morcha in early 1980s
- Operation Blue star 1984
- Rajiv-Longowal Accord 1985
Source: - Scroll, The hindu, LiveMint and Wikipedia
4th Resilient Cities Asia-Pacific (RCAP) Congress 2019
Why in news?
The 4th Resilient Cities Asia-Pacific (RCAP) Congress 2019 organized by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) in association with South Delhi Municipal Corporation.
What is Resilient Cities Asia-Pacific?
- It is the annual global platform for urban resilience and climate change adaptation.
- It is convened by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and co-hosted by the World Mayors Council on Climate Change and the City of Bonn.
- It was launched in 2010 with the goal of forging partnerships and dialogues that matter.
The Asia-Pacific Forum on Urban Resilience and Adaptation – Resilient Cities Asia Pacific Congress (RCAP)
The Asia-Pacific Forum on Urban Resilience and Adaptation – Resilient Cities Asia Pacific Congress (RCAP) is a response to heightened demand from the Asia Pacific Region, which encouraged ICLEI to expand the congress series to include Resilient Cities Asia-Pacific, bringing the event and the focus to the Asia-Pacific region, catering to the situation, challenges and opportunities of local governments specifically in this region.
Aim: To provide an Asian platform for urban resilience and climate change adaptation where partnerships are forged and concrete dialogues are happening, with the ultimate goal of identifying solutions and creating lasting impacts for cities in the region.
What is the need for urban resilience and climate change adaptation?
Current changes in climate, combined with rapid and often unplanned urbanisation, make Asia one of the regions of the world most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, intensification of extreme weather events and rising sea levels are already a reality in the region. At the same time, increasing population and spreading of human settlements in low lying, flood prone coastal areas magnify the risks coming from climate change related disasters, thus increasing the vulnerability of people, especially the urban poor, who live in hazardous areas. More than 60% of the world’s population resides in Asia and the region was most affected by natural disasters.
How can the urban resilience be improved?
- Town planners need to integrate sustainable solutions such as harvesting solar energy, enhancing green cover and water conservation as an essential part of town planning.
- Municipal administrators to accord priority to tree plantation, solid waste management, protection and rejuvenation of water bodies.
- Need for collaborative efforts of governments at state and centre to reduce the divide by providing urban amenities in rural areas.
- Dependency on fossil fuel must be reduced and new forms of energy sources such as solar must be explored.
- Need to adopt multi-dimensional and innovative approaches to ensure low emissions oriented development. Need to promote public transport in cities to reduce congestion and air pollution.
Source: PIB and http://resilientcitiesasiapacific.iclei.org/
GSLV Programme
Why in news?
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved ongoing GSLV continuation programme Phase-4 consisting of five GSLV flights during the period 2021-2024.
The GSLV Programme - Phase 4 will enable the launch of 2 tonne class of satellites for Geo-imaging, Navigation, Data Relay Communication and Space Sciences.
Benefits:
The GSLV Continuation Programme - Phase 4 will meet the launch requirement of satellites for providing critical Satellite Navigation Services, Data Relay Communication for supporting the Indian Human spaceflight programme and the next interplanetary mission to Mars. This will also ensure the continuity of production in Indian industry.
Implementation Strategy and targets:
The GSLV Continuation Programme - Phase 4 will meet the demand for the launch of satellites at a frequency up to two launches per year, with maximal participation by the Indian industry. All the operational flights would be completed during the period 2021-24.
Major impact:
The operationalization of GSLV has made the country self-reliant in the launching capability of 2 tonne class of satellites for communication & meteorological satellites. The GSLV Continuation Programme will sustain & strengthen the capability and self-reliance in the launching of similar satellites for national requirements including next generation navigation satellites, data relay communication satellites and interplanetary missions.
Background:
GSLV has enabled independent access to space for 2 tonne class of satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). One of the very significant outcomes of the GSLV Continuation Programme is the mastering of the highly complex cryogenic propulsion technology, which is an essential technological capability to launch communication satellites to GTO. This has also paved the way for the development of a high thrust Cryogenic engine & stage for the next generation launch vehicle i.e. GSLV Mk-lll.
With the recent successful launch of GSLV-F11 on 19th December 2018, GSLV has successfully orbited 10 national satellites. GSLV with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage has established itself as a reliable launch vehicle for communication, navigation and meteorological satellites and also to undertake future interplanetary missions.
GSLV Continuation Programme was initially sanctioned in 2003, and two phases have been completed and the third phase is in progress and expected to be completed by Q4 of 2020-21.
Source: PIB
Prelims
The world’s largest aeroplane
- With two fuselages and six Boeing 747 engines — it made its first test flight on Saturday in California.
- The mega jet, called Stratolaunch, carried out its maiden voyage over the Mojave desert.
- It is designed to carry into space, and drop, a rocket that would in turn ignite to deploy satellites. It is supposed to provide a more flexible way to deploy satellites than vertical takeoff rockets because this way all that is needed is a long runway for takeoff.
Source:- The Hindu
Heo Hwang-ok
Why in news?
Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government of India and The Ministry of Science and ICT (Korea Post), Government of the Republic of Korea have mutually agreed to jointly issue Postage Stamps on the theme "Queen Hur Hwang-ok of Korea".
Who is Heo Hwang-ok?
Heo Hwang-ok is a legendary queen mentioned in Samguk Yusa, a 13th-century Korean chronicle. According to Samguk Yusa she became the wife of King Suro of Geumgwan Gaya at the age of 16, after having arrived by boat from a distant kingdom.Making her a legendary first queen of Geumgwan Gaya. There is a tomb in Gimhae, Korea, that is believed by some to be hers,and a memorial in Ayodhya in India. According to some Korean historians there are more than six million present day Koreans with surnames that trace their lineage to the legendary queen.There is, however, no mention of her in any Indian sources.
As per reports, every year, hundreds of South Koreans visit Ayodhya, the birthplace of the Hindu deity Rama, for paying homage to their legendary queen Heo Hwang-ok, also known as Princess Suriratna.
Source: PIB and Wikipedia
Editorial Discussion
Source: - The Hindu
Necessary steps to ending poverty
There can be two ways to end poverty –
- Income Augmentation – give people the money
- Capability development – make people capable of earning money.
As the famous saying goes – “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Capability development works better than income augmentation.
If there had been a focus on poverty even 50 years ago, why have we not seen it end? This is because the approach of public policy to the problem has been to initiate schemes which could serve as no more than a palliative, as suggested by the very term ‘poverty alleviation’ commonly used in the discourse of this time. These schemes failed to go to the root of poverty, which is capability deprivation that leaves an individual unable to earn sufficient income through work or entrepreneurship. Income poverty is a manifestation of the deprivation, and focussing exclusively on the income shortfall can address only the symptom.
Problem with schemes
- Against right to equality
BJP’s Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKisan), paying farm households below a threshold ₹6,000 a year, is already in place. An incomesupport scheme for any one section of the population is grossly inequitable. We can think of agricultural labourers and urban pavement dwellers as equally deserving of support as poor farmers. While it is the case that at present agricultural subsidies go to farmers alone, these are intended as production subsidies and so channelled due to the criticality of food production to all. On the other hand, a welfare programme cannot, ethically speaking, exclude those equally placed.
- Not practical to implement
Similarly Congress’s NYAY focuses on income support scheme where it is difficult to identify beneficiaries on a real time basis. Also while there exists a severe deficit of social and physical infrastructure in the country, this won’t work.
Capability development versus income augmentation
We have already spoken of poverty as capability deprivation. Health, education and physical infrastructure are central to the capabilities of individuals, and the extent of their presence in a society determines whether the poor will remain so or exit poverty permanently. The scale at which these inputs would be required to endow all Indians with the requisite capabilities makes it more than likely that we would have to rely on public provision.
Evidence for the above argument
There is indirect evidence that the provision of health, education and public services matters more for poverty than the Central government’s poverty alleviation schemes in place for almost half a century. Per capita income levels and poverty vary across India’s States. A discernible pattern is that the southern and western regions of India have lower poverty than the northern, central and eastern ones. This, very likely, is related to higher human development attainment in the former. This indicator is based on the health and education status of a population apart from per capita income, bringing us back to the relevance of income generation to poverty. As the Central government is common across regions, differences in the human development index must arise from policies implemented at the State level. This further implies that a nationwide income support scheme that channels funds from a common pool to households in the poorer States would be tantamount to rewarding lower effort by their governments.
Conclusion
There is a crucial role for services, of both producer and consumer variety, in eliminating the capability deprivation that is poverty. As these services cannot always be purchased in the market, income support alone cannot be sufficient to eliminate poverty. It is in recognition of the role of services in enabling people to lead a productive and dignified life that the idea of multidimensionality has taken hold in the thinking on poverty globally. At a minimum these services would involve the supply of water, sanitation and housing apart from health and education.
जीयोसिंक्रोनस सेटेलाइट लांच व्हेकिल (जीएसएलवी)
चर्चा में क्यों?
मंत्रिमंडल ने जीयोसिंक्रोनस सेटेलाइट लांच व्हेकिल (जीएसएलवी) के चौथे चरण को जारी रखने की मंजूरी दी। चौथे चरण के अंतर्गत 2021-24 की अवधि के दौरान 5 जीएसएलवी उड़ानें शामिल है।
जीएसएलवी कार्यक्रम- चरण 4 से जियो-इमेजिंग, नेवीगेशन, डेटा रिले कॉम्यूनिकेशन और स्पेस साइंस के लिए दो टन वर्ग के उपग्रहों को लांच करने की क्षमता मिलेगी।
लाभ:
जीएसएलवी निरंतरता कार्यक्रम- चरण 4 के जरिए महत्वपूर्ण उपग्रह नौवहन सेवाएं प्रदान करने, भारतीय मानव अंतरिक्ष उड़ान कार्यक्रम और अगले मंगल अभियान के संबंध में डेटा रिले कॉम्यूनिकेशन संबंधी उपग्रहों की आवश्यकताएं पूरी करने में मदद मिलेगी। इससे घरेलू स्तर पर उत्पादन जारी रखना भी सुनिश्चित होगा।
कार्यान्वयन रणनीति और लक्ष्य:
जीएसएलवी निरंतरता कार्यक्रम- चरण 4 से प्रतिवर्ष दो उपग्रह लांच करने की मांग पूरी होगी, जिसमें भारतीय उद्योग की सर्वाधिक भागीदारी होगी। सारी परिचालन उड़ानें 2021-24 की अवधि के दौरान पूरी हो जाएंगी।
प्रमुख प्रभाव:
जीएसएलवी के परिचालन से देश संचार और मौसम संबंधी उपग्रहों के मद्देनजर दो टन वर्ग वाले उपग्रहों को लांच करने के क्षेत्र में आत्मनिर्भर हो गया है। जीएसएलवी निरंतरता कार्यक्रम से राष्ट्रीय आवश्यकताओं को ध्यान में रखकर इसी तरह के उपग्रहों को लांच करने में आत्मनिर्भरता मिलेगी और क्षमता बढ़ेगी। इसमें नौवहन उपग्रहों की अगली पीढ़ी, डेटा रिले कॉम्यूनिकेशन उपग्रह और अंतर-ग्रह अभियान शामिल हैं।
पृष्ठभूमि:
जीएसएलवी से जीयोसिंक्रोनस ट्रांसफर ऑर्बिट (जीटीओ) के सिलसिले में दो टन वर्ग के उपग्रहों को लांच करने के लिए अंतरिक्ष में स्वतंत्र पहुंच प्राप्त हो गई है। जीएसएलवी निरंतरता कार्यक्रम का एक सर्वाधिक महत्वपूर्ण परिणाम यह है कि अत्यंत जटिल क्रायोजेनिक प्रोपल्शन प्रौद्योगिकी में महारथ हासिल हुई है, जो जीटीओ में संचार उपग्रहों को लांच करने की प्रौद्योगिकी क्षमता के लिए बहुत जरूरी है। इससे उच्च ऊर्जा वाले क्रायोजेनिक इंजन के विकास तथा लांच व्हेकिल की अगली पीढ़ी यानी जीएसएलवी एमके –iii के चरण का मार्ग प्रशस्त हुआ है।
19 दिसंबर, 2018 को जीएसएलवी-एफ 11 के हाल में सफल लांच के साथ जीएसएलवी ने कामयाबी से 10 राष्ट्रीय उपग्रहों को कक्षा में भेजा है। स्वदेशी क्रायोजेनिक अपर स्टेज के साथ जीएसएलवी ने संचार, नौवहन और मौसम संबंधी उपग्रहों के संबंध में खुद को एक भरोसेमंद लांच व्हेकिल के रूप में तथा भावी अंतर-ग्रह अभियान शुरू करने के लिए स्थापित कर लिया है।
जीएसएलवी निरंतरता कार्यक्रम को 2003 में मंजूरी दी गई थी और दो चरण पूरे किए जा चुके हैं। तीसरा चरण प्रगति पर है और उम्मीद की जाती है कि 2020-21 की चौथी तिमाही में उसे पूरा कर लिया जाएगा।