News In Short – 31-08-2024

Cabinet Secretary

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• Recently, Dr. T.V. Somanathan assumed as the Cabinet Secretary after the superannuation of his predecessor, Shri Rajiv Gauba.

About the Cabinet Secretary

• He is the administrative head of the Cabinet Secretariat who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board, and serves as the head of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
• He plays a critical role in coordinating policy implementation, inter-ministerial communication, and administrative matters at the highest level.

Roles and Functions

• Coordinating Cabinet Meetings: It ensures smooth functioning of Cabinet meetings, where crucial decisions are made. These meetings involve discussions on policy matters, legislative proposals, and administrative issues.
• Inter-Ministerial Coordination: It acts as a bridge between various ministries and departments by facilitating communication, resolves conflicts, and ensures effective implementation of government policies.
• Advising the Prime Minister: It provides expert advice to the Prime Minister on administrative matters, policy formulation, and governance. Its insights are invaluable in shaping the country’s direction.
• Administrative Leadership: As the senior-most civil servant, the Cabinet Secretary leads the bureaucracy. His decisions impact the functioning of the entire administrative machinery.

Cabinet Secretariat – It is responsible for the administration of the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961 and the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules 1961, facilitating smooth transaction of business in Ministries/Departments of the Government. – It provides Secretarial assistance to the Cabinet and its Committees, and also assists in decision-making in Government by ensuring Inter-Ministerial coordination, ironing out differences amongst Ministries/Departments and evolving consensus through the instrumentality of the standing/ad hoc Committees of Secretaries. – It ensures that the President, the Vice President and Ministers are kept informed of the major activities of all Ministries/Departments by means of a monthly summary of their activities. – Management of major crisis situations in the country and coordinating activities of various Ministries in such a situation is also one of the functions of the Cabinet Secretariat.

Source: News On AIR

Listeria 

Syllabus: GS2/ Health 

Context

• The US has reported more than 50 illnesses and nine deaths in the Listeria outbreak.

What is listeria and listeriosis?

• Listeria or Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria that can survive on surfaces, such as meat slicers, and in foods, even at refrigerated temperatures.
• Listeria-contaminated food can lead to an infection called listeriosis. 
• The infection is especially dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and people over 65.
• Its symptoms include fever, chills, and headache and can take up to ten weeks to manifest in some individuals. 

Prevention and Treatment 

• Reheating foods to a sufficiently high temperature before consumption can eliminate the bacteria.
• Also, listeriosis is treatable and one of the most prescribed drugs is Ampicillin.

Source: AIR

Private FM Radio Channels in 234 New Cities

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for conduct of 3rd batch of ascending e-auctions for 730 channels in 234 new cities with estimated reserve price of Rs.784.87 crore under Private FM Radio Phase Ill Policy.

About

• The Cabinet also approved the proposal to charge Annual License Fee (ALF) of FM channels as 4% of Gross Revenue excluding Goods and Services Tax (GST). This will be applicable for 234 new cities / towns.
• It will lead to creation of new employment opportunities, boost to local dialect and culture and ‘vocal for local’ initiatives.
• Many of these cities and towns are located in aspirational districts and areas affected by Left-Wing Extremism. 

FM Radio Phase-III Policy

• Phase III of the FM Radio Policy was introduced to expand private FM radio broadcasting to cover more cities, particularly those that remained uncovered in previous phases.
  • The first two batches were auctioned in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
• Under phase III, the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) limits in private FM radio companies were increased from 20% to 26%. 

Source: PIB

University of Southampton’s New Campus

Syllabus :GS 2/Education 

In News

• The University of Southampton (UK) has been granted a license by the Indian government to set up a comprehensive campus in Gurgaon.

About 

• The campus will be located in Gurugram, National Capital Region (NCR).
• It is expected to begin offering programs in July 2025.
• This initiative is part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aimed at enhancing India’s educational standards and providing world-class education domestically.
• Courses Offered: The campus will offer programs in business and management, computing, law, engineering, art and design, biosciences, and life sciences.
• Degrees awarded by the Indian campus will be equivalent to those from the main University of Southampton in the UK.
• Regulatory Framework: The University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations for setting up foreign higher educational institutions in India were notified in November 2023.

Importance of the Initiative

• Addresses challenges like visa restrictions and job uncertainties for Indian students pursuing education abroad.
• Provides access to top international education without leaving India.
• The initiative aims to develop world-class, work-ready graduates and contribute to India’s growing knowledge economy.

Source:BS

Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to the State Governments for Development of Hydro Electric Projects

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Central Financial Assistance towards Equity Participation by the State Governments of the North Eastern Region for development of Hydro Electric Projects in the region.

About

• The Scheme formulated by the Ministry of Power provides for formation of a Joint Venture (JV) Company for all the projects of a Central PSU with the State Govt.
  • A cumulative hydro capacity of about 15000 MW would be supported under the scheme. 
• This scheme has an outlay of Rs. 4136 crore to be implemented from FY 2024-25 to FY 2031-32. 
• The scheme would be funded through 10% Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) for North Eastern Region from the total outlay of the Ministry of Power.

Significance

• Participation of the State Governments in the hydro development shall be encouraged and risk and responsibilities shall be shared in a more equitable manner.
  • The issues such as land acquisition, rehabilitation & resettlement and local law & order issues would be reduced with the State Governments becoming stakeholders. 
• Development of hydroelectric projects shall also contribute towards realization of India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) of establishing 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030 and would help integration of Renewable Energy sources in the grid thus enhancing flexibility, security and reliability of the national grid.

Other initiatives

• To promote the hydro power sector and to make it more viable, the Government of India in 2019, approved measures, such as;
  • Declaring large hydro power projects as Renewable Energy sources, 
  • Hydro Power Purchase Obligations (HPOs), 
  • Tariff rationalization measures through escalating tariff, 
  • Budgetary support for flood moderation in storage HEP and 
  • Budgetary support for the cost of enabling infrastructure, i.e., construction of roads and bridges.

Source: PIB

World Gold Council (WGC)

Syllabus: GS2/ International Organisation

Context

• The World Gold Council (WGC) has raised its projection for India’s gold consumption in 2024 to 850 tonnes from 750 tonnes.

World Gold Council (WGC)

• WGC is an international trade association for the gold industry formed in 1987 by some of the world’s most forward-thinking mining companies.
• Governance: The World Gold Council is governed by the Board of Directors, composed of member company representatives (Chairperson or Chief Executive Officer) and the World Gold Council’s Chief Executive Officer. 
• Members: The World Gold Council’s 32 Members.
• It is headquartered in London and has offices in India, China, Singapore, the UAE and the United States.

Source: ET

Payment Passkey Service

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• Recently, Mastercard chose India for the global launch of Payment Passkey Service, recognising its tech-savvy population and vibrant e-commerce landscape.

About the Passkeys

• These replace traditional passwords by leveraging biometric authentication methods—such as facial recognition, fingerprints, or swipe patterns—across all your devices.
• It combines the phone’s biometrics (like fingerprint or face unlock) with robust encryption.
• In October 2023, Google declared passkeys as its default login method worldwide.
• The state of Michigan implemented passkeys on its website, resulting in 1,300 fewer calls related to password resets in just one month.

How Do Passkeys Work?

• Key Creation: When one signs into an account, its device generates a pair of keys—one shared with the website and one private on your device.
  • This dynamic duo ensures secure access without the hassle of passwords.

Why Passkeys?

• Password Fatigue: Multiple passwords, each requiring a unique combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Data Breaches: In 2023 alone, 353 million Americans were impacted by breaches. In the first half of 2024, over a billion people had their data stolen.

Source: BL

Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd Granted Navratna Status

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has been granted the Navratna status by the Ministry of Finance.

About

• India’s central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) are classified into three major categories – Miniratna, Navratna and Maharatna CPSEs.
• The main aim of assigning the “ratna” statuses was to give operational freedom and decision-making power to the state-run entities. 

Classification 

• Miniratna Status: CPSEs are put in two sub-categories under the Miniratna status – Miniratna-I and Miniratna – II.
  • Category-I status: CPSEs which reported profits in three consecutive years, have a pre-tax profit of ₹30 crore or more in at least one of the three years, and have a positive net worth are classified as a Miniratna-I PSU.
  • Category-II status: PSUs with a profit for the last three successive years and have a positive net worth are classified as Miniratna-II companies.
• Navratna status: PSUs that have a Miniratna-I status and have obtained an “Excellent” or “Very Good” MoU rating in three out of the last five years and have a composite score of 60 or more in six selected performance indicators are eligible.
• Maharatna status: A PSU is eligible for being granted a “Maharatna” status, in case it meets the following criteria:
  • Should have a “Navratna” status
  • Should be listed on the Indian stock exchanges
  • Should be compliant with minimum shareholding norms
  • Average annual turnover of more than ₹25,000 crore and average annual net worth of over ₹15,000 crore in the last three years
  • Average annual net profit of over ₹5,000 crore in the last three years along with significant global presence.
  • BHEL, BPCL, Coal India, GAIL, HPCL, Indian Oil, NTPC, ONGC are some of the Maharatna PSUs.

Source: PIB

Samudra Pratap

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence 

Context

• The indigenously built pollution control vessel of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Samudra Pratap, was launched in Goa.

About

• The Ship has been built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). 
• The vessel will help to check the oil spillage in the country’s sea coast. It contains specialized equipment for the containment, recovery, separation, and dispersal of pollutants.
  • Samudra Pratap can recover oil at a rate of 300 tonnes per hour and has a storage capacity for 300 tonnes or 1,000 tonnes in inflatable barges.

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) – ICG is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency of India with jurisdiction over its territorial waters including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. – Established in 1977 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India. – Parent Agency: Ministry of Defence – Headquarters: New Delhi – Head: Director General Indian Coast Guard (DGICG)  Missions of Indian Coast Guard – Safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore terminals and other installations. – Protection and assistance to fishermen and mariners at sea. – Preservation and protection of marine ecology and environment including pollution control. – Assistance to the Department of Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations.

Source: PIB

Project NAMAN 

Syllabus :GS 3/Defense

In News

• Indian Army launched the first phase of Project NAMAN 

About Project NAMAN 

• Project NAMAN is designed to provide dedicated support and services to Defence Pensioners, Veterans, and their families.
• It centers around the SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha) digital pension system, aiming to streamline pension processes.
• Partnership and Implementation: The project involves a tripartite MoU between the Indian Army’s Directorate of Indian Army Veterans, Common Service Centre (CSC) e-Governance India Limited, and HDFC Bank Limited.
• Phase One Expansion: 14 CSCs established in key locations: New Delhi, Jalandhar, Leh, Dehradun, Lucknow, Jodhpur, Bengdubi, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Secunderabad, Saugor, Guntur, Ahmedabad, and Bangalore.
  • Plan to expand to approximately 200 centres nationwide in the next 2-3 years.
• Impact and Benefits: Project NAMAN enhances welfare for veterans and their families, provides commonly required e-Governance services, and creates entrepreneurial opportunities for Veterans and Next of Kin (NOK) , empowering them to contribute to their communities.

Source:PIB

Vulture Count 2024

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The World Wide Fund for Nature-India has launched Vulture Count 2024.

About

• It is a nationwide citizen-science initiative designed to monitor and conserve the country’s rapidly declining vulture populations
• The launch of the initiative coincides with International Vulture Awareness Day on September 7, 2024. 

Vulture 

• Vultures are one of the 22 species of large carrion-eating birds that live

mostly in the tropics and subtropics.

• India is home to nine species of Vulture namely the Oriental white-backed, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Himalayan, Red-headed, Egyptian, Bearded, Cinereous and the Eurasian Griffon.

Importance of Vultures

• They serve as nature’s clean-up crew by feeding on the infected carcass which kills the Pathogens and breaks the chain of infections. 
• Vultures are critically important to the Parsi community as it leaves its dead bodies atop the Towers of Silence to be consumed by vultures. 

Major Threats

• Use of  toxic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Diclofenac, Lack of Nesting Trees, Electrocution by power lines, Food Dearth and Contaminated Food, Pesticide poisoning etc. threaten vultures across the country. 
• According to BirdLife International, the vulture population declined from over 40,000 in 2003 to 18,645 in 2015.
• India has lost 99 percent of the population of the three species — Oriental White-Backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture. 

Conservation Status

• Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Bearded, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Oriental white-backed.
  • Rest are protected under ‘Schedule IV’.
• IUCN Red List;
  • Critically Endangered: Oriental White-backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture and Red-headed Vulture.
  • Endangered: Egyptian Vulture.
  • Least Concerned: Eurasian Griffon.
  • Near Threatened: Himalayan, Bearded and Cinereous.

Source: DTE

Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF)

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• Researchers of Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), have developed electrochemical and optical biosensors based on nano polymers multifunctional Metal-organic framework (MOF) and 2-dimensional (2D) materials. 

About

• The researchers have utilized MOFs, 2D nanomaterials (e.g., MoS2, MXenes) and their composites. 
• Properties: Both MOFs and 2D classes of materials are known for their large surface area, functionality, and optoelectronic properties.
  • They also have a wide range of synthesis methods and can be developed into disposable electrodes, optical kits, fiber optic sensors, colorimetric strips, etc.
  • The application of MOFs, 2D materials and their composites allows greater sensitivity over many of the existing methods for the electrochemical and optical sensing of analytes. 
• Application: Metal-organic frameworks (MOF) and 2-dimensional (2D) materials, can be used for rapid and convenient detection of several health, food quality, and environmental parameters. 
  • They can pave the way for low-cost point of care devices for quick detection and screening of diseases such as anaemia, cancer and so on.
  • Some of these sensors can be deployed as gas and heavy metal detection tools to monitor the environmental quality.

Source: PIB