News In Short 16-12-2024

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Syllabus :GS 1/History 

In News

• The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary.

About Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

• Early Life and Career: Born on 31st October 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat.
  • A successful lawyer who became involved in public service through his leadership in the Kheda Satyagraha (1918).
• Public Service and Leadership: Elected President of the Ahmedabad Municipal Board in 1924; improved sanitation, drainage, and cleanliness in the city.
  • Led the Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928, gaining national fame and earning the title “Sardar” for his leadership.
  • Served as India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister from 1947 to 1950.
  • Known as the “Iron Man of India” for his commitment to national integration.
• Role in National Struggle for Independence: Elected President of the Indian National Congress in 1931 during a turbulent time for the nation.
  • Played a pivotal role in the independence movement and became one of the foremost leaders in India’s freedom struggle.
• Integration of Princely States: After India’s independence in 1947, the country had over 560 princely states that needed to be integrated into India.
  • Sardar Patel formed the States Department to manage the integration process and overcame challenges with diplomacy and negotiation.
• Notable Integration Efforts: Successfully negotiated with the Raja of Jodhpur and Travancore, ensuring their accession to India.
  • Resolved the Junagadh issue despite opposition from its ruler, leading to a plebiscite in favor of India.
  • Played a key role in the integration of Kashmir after Pakistan’s attack in 1947.
  • Oversaw the integration of Hyderabad through military intervention (Operation Polo) in September 1948.
• Creation of All India Services: He is credited with establishing the All India Services (Article 312 of the Constitution) to maintain national unity and merit-based administration.
  • Civil Services Day (21 April) commemorates Sardar Patel’s address to the first IAS batch in 1947.
• Legacy :  Passed away on 15 December 1950, having integrated 565 princely states into India.
  • In 2019, Article 370 was abrogated, completing Sardar Patel’s vision of full integration of Jammu and Kashmir.
• National Unity Day and Statue of Unity: Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary, 31st October, has been celebrated as National Unity Day since 2014.
  • On 31st October 2018, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, a 182-meter statue dedicated to Sardar Patel’s legacy of national unity.

Source :PIB

Potti Sriramulu

Syllabus :GS 1/History 

In News

• The Chief Minister  of AP  affirmed the government’s commitment to establish a Telugu university in honor of Potti Sriramulu.

Potti Sriramulu

• Early Life: Born on March 16, 1901, in Madras (now Chennai), Sriramulu came from a family originally from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
  • Despite having a stable job, he became deeply involved in India’s freedom struggle.
• Personal Tragedies: After losing his wife, child, and mother between 1928 and 1930, Sriramulu gave up his job and joined Mahatma Gandhiji’s Sabarmati Ashram.
• Involvement in Freedom Struggle: Sriramulu participated in the Salt Satyagraha and was imprisoned. In 1942, he joined the Quit India Movement and was jailed alongside Gandhiji.
• Work for Social Justice: After 1946, Sriramulu returned to Nellore to work for the welfare of downtrodden communities, particularly advocating for the rights of the Dalit community.
• Advocacy for Temple Entry: Sriramulu led a movement to open all temples in Madras Province to the Dalits, refusing to break his fast until Gandhiji persuaded him.
• Vision for Separate State: After Gandhiji’s death in 1948, Sriramulu proposed a separate state for Telugu-speaking regions, but it was initially rejected by political leaders.
  • On October 19, 1952, Sriramulu began an indefinite fast demanding a separate Andhra state. Despite initial indifference from leaders, growing unrest led to political attention.
  • Sriramulu died on December 15, 1952, after 58 days of fasting.
    •  His death led to widespread protests, and Nehru formally announced the creation of Andhra Pradesh on December 19, 1952.
• Formation of Andhra State: On October 1, 1953, the Telugu-speaking region of Andhra Pradesh was formed, with Kurnool as its capital.
• Legacy: Sriramulu was posthumously honored with the title “Amarajeevi” for his ultimate sacrifice. Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh is named in his honor.

Source :TH

Santa Ana Winds

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography

Context

• The Santa Ana winds and climate change are fueling wildfires in Malibu, California.

Santa Ana winds

• Santa Ana winds are dry, warm, and powerful winds that originate in the Great Basin, a region between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada. 
• They occur when high-pressure systems develop over the inland deserts, while low-pressure conditions prevail over California’s coastal areas. 
• This pressure difference forces strong winds to flow westward, descending the mountains toward the Pacific Ocean.

Impact 

• As these winds descend, they compress, heat up, and lose humidity—sometimes reducing moisture levels to below 10%. 
• The resulting hot and dry conditions desiccate vegetation, making it highly flammable and prone to wildfires.

Source: IE

SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has set up 4 Smart Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Transformation Hub (SAMARTH) Centres.

What is SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0?

• It is an Industry 4.0 initiative of the Ministry of Heavy Industry & Public Enterprises, under its scheme on  “Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector”.
• It is aimed at promoting smart and advanced manufacturing technologies, boosting digital transformation, and strengthening India’s manufacturing sector.

What is Industry 4.0? – Industry 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial revolution, characterized by the integration of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and data analytics into manufacturing processes.

SAMARTH Centres

• The established Centres are as;
  • Centre for Industry 4.0 (C4i4) Lab, Pune,
  • IITD-AIA Foundation for Smart Manufacturing, IIT Delhi,
  • I-4.0 India @ IISc, Bengaluru, and
  • Smart Manufacturing Demo & Development Cell, CMTI, Bengaluru.
• Further, 10 cluster Industry 4.0 experience centres have been approved under the Hub and Spoke model to be established across India by Centre for Industry 4.0 (C4i4) Lab, Pune. 

Objectives of SAMARTH Udyog Bharat 4.0

• Organizing awareness seminars, workshops, and knowledge-sharing events on Industry 4.0 technologies.
• Providing training programs to industries, including MSMEs, for capacity building.
• Offering consultancy in IoT hardware, software development, and data analytics.

Key achievements of the SAMARTH Centres 

• C4i4 Lab, Pune developed an Industry 4.0 solutions-enabled Model Factory.
• CMTI, Bengaluru created a production-based Smart Factory.
• Development of the Industry 4.0 Maturity Model (I4MM) to assess the readiness and progress of industries.
• C4i4 Lab launched a Free Online Assessment Tool to help MSMEs evaluate their Industry 4.0 readiness.

Source: PIB

Revised the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

Syllabus :GS 3/Environment 

In News

• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Delhi-NCR has revised the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for December 2024 to address worsening air quality during the winter months. 

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

• The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is an emergency response mechanism for Delhi-NCR, designed to address deteriorating air quality based on the average AQI levels. 
• It involves multiple stakeholders and authorities to take action.
• Stages  : It has four stages based on AQI thresholds: Stage I for “poor” air (201-300), Stage II for “very poor” (301-400), Stage III for “severe” (401-450), and Stage IV for “severe+” (above 450).
•  The revised GRAP incorporates targeted actions from the earlier Stages III and IV into Stages II and III, based on scientific data, expert recommendations, and past experiences.

Recent Developments 

• The updated plan imposes stricter measures when air quality worsens. Currently, Stage II restrictions, for an AQI of 201-300 (“very poor”), are in effect.
• Key changes include: A ban on inter-state buses from entering Delhi, except electric, CNG, or BS-VI diesel buses, now moved from Stage III (AQI 301-400) to Stage II.
  • Schools and colleges will switch to a hybrid mode (in-person and online classes) during high pollution, rather than closing entirely. This applies to schools in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar when AQI reaches ‘severe’.
  • For Stage IV (AQI over 450), hybrid classes will be implemented for students in Classes 6-9 and 11.

Source :PIB

National Energy Conservation Day

Syllabus: GS3/Energy

Context

• December 14 is designated as the  National Energy Conservation Day in India.

About

• It was introduced in 1991, by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power. 
• It serves as a reminder of the vital role energy plays in our lives and the urgency of conserving it. 
• National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA): 
  • Instituted in 1991.
  • These awards honour the efforts of industrial units, and establishments that have significantly reduced energy consumption while maintaining their operational efficiency.
  • Each year the Awards are presented on 14th December.

Source: PIB