Ganga basin States stare at three-fold rise in crop failures by 2040

GS PAPER - 03 ENVIRONMENT - Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Context :

      ★ The Ganga river basin could see crop failures rise three-fold and drinking water shortage go up by as much as 39% in some States between now and 2040, says an assessment commissioned by the World Bank and submitted to the Central Water Commission.

More about the report :

      ★ The report is based on a modelling study that simulates river flow, water quality and groundwater levels in the different States and regions within the Ganga river basin.

      ★ The aim of the report was to strengthen the “capacity for strategic basin planning, develop a set of scenarios for the development of the Ganga basin and build a strong and accessible knowledge base.”

Key Findings :

      ★ The report says that Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are likely to face a deficit in irrigation water of 28%, 10%, 10% and 15% respectively in 2040 as compared to the current levels if no proper steps are taken.

      ★ During the same period Madhya Pradesh would see a 39%, Delhi 22% and Uttar Pradesh a 25% deficit in drinking water.

      ★ The volume of extracted groundwater is expected to more than double, leading to an increase in the critical blocks.

      ★ Low flow values in the rivers are predicted to decline compared to present levels

      ★ Water quality and environmental flow conditions already critical will deteriorate further,” the report has warned.

      ★ The report cautioned, pointing out that there is no ‘silver bullet’ intervention that can solve all problems.

Recommendations :

      ★ Combinations of different interventions such as increasing water use efficiency and implementing a ‘more job per drop’ rather than striving for wholesale crop production are needed

      ★ The intervention that will result in the most beneficial impact is improvement of municipal waste water treatment.

      ★ Whether central or de-central, whether high or low tech, reduction in pollution loads provides a positive return on investment both in availability of clean water for downstream uses, including ecosystem services, as well as a drastic reduction in water-related illnesses and deaths

                                                                                                          Source :- The Hindu

Niyamgiri’s Dongria Kondh gird for ‘resistance’ after SC order

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context :

      ★ Odisha’s Dongria Kondh tribals have resolved to resist any attempt to force them out with a recent Supreme Court order triggering panic among forest dwellers over possible eviction.

Issue:

      ★ The applications for regularization of residence under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 has been rejected.

      ★ The Dongria Kondh are currently holding their annual ‘Niyamraja festival’ on the picturesque hilltop of Niyamgiri.

      ★ Thus the issue of possible eviction of tribals, came up for discussion at the Niyamraja festival of the Dongria Kondh tribe.

      ★ Due to their successful resistance against the Vedanta Group’s plan to mine bauxite in the ecologically and mineral-rich Niyamgiri hill range the tribe came into the limelight.

                                                                                            Source :- The Hindu

India's Hyperloop dreams take shape in Nevada Desert

GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Context :

      ★ Maharashtra declared the company’s proposed hyperloop system between Pune and Mumbai as an official infrastructure project.

      ★ Construction on a 7-mile test track could start this year, said Jay Walder, the company’s chief executive.

Hyperloop :

      ★ A proposed mode of freight and passenger transportation in which a pod like vehicle will be propelled through a near vacuum tube at airline speed for the price of a bus ticket.

      ★ These pods essentially are autonomous which would enable high speed travel inside the tube. This will also ensure that the vehicles glide silently for miles without any turbulence.

How It Operates ?

      ★ In hyperloop transporation, custom-designed capsules or pods are expected to zip smoothly through continuous steel tubes which are held at partial vacuum.

      ★ The pod which sandwiches the passenger compartment between an air compressor upfront and a battery compartment in the rear is supported by air caster skis at the bottom.

      ★ The skis float on a thin layer of air provided under high pressure, eliminating rolling resistance and allowing for movement of the pods at high speeds.

      ★ These capsules are expected to be driverless with estimated speeds of 1,000 km/h.

      ★ Linear induction motors that are placed along the tube control the speed of the pod. Electronically-assisted acceleration and braking determines the speed of the capsule.

                                                                                                 Source :- Economic Times

PM-KISAN scheme

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes;

Context :

      ★ PM to launch PM-KISAN scheme from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM KISAN) :

      ★ The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) was announced in the interim Budget 2019-20.

      ★ Under the Scheme, Rs 6,000 will be given per year to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of upto 2 hectares.

      ★ The amount will be given in three installments of Rs.2000 each.

      ★ The amount will be transferred directly to the bank account of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer. DBT will ensure transparency in the entire process and will save time for the farmers.

      ★ PM KISAN is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India. The Scheme becomes effective from 1.12.2018 for transfer of benefit to eligible beneficiaries.

      ★ State Government and UT Administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines.

Objective :

      ★ The Scheme was introduced to augment the income of the Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs). It is estimated to benefit more than 12 crore small and marginal farmers.

      ★ The PM-KISAN scheme aims to supplement the financial needs of the SMFs in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm income at the end of the each crop cycle.

      ★ This would also protect them from falling in the clutches of moneylenders for meeting such expenses and ensure their continuance in the farming activities.

                                                                                          Source :- PIB

The Future of Indian Banking

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context :

      ★ NITI Aayog co-hosted a conference on “The Future of Indian Banking” on February 22, 2019, with the Foundation for Economic Growth and Welfare (EGROW Foundation).

Aim of the Conference :

      ★ To increase and elevate the discourse on the banking sector in India,

      ★ Help develop insights to inform the continued evolution of the Indian banking sector for optimally supporting the growing credit needs of the Indian economy.

Key messages from the deliberations:

      ★ Technology has become critically important for banking already and will continue to become more important in future.

      ★ This will serve to bring banking closer to the customer, including those in rural areas, and also bring tremendous efficiencies with greater speed of service at much lower cost.

      ★ Appropriate skilling of banking human resources is necessary to keep pace with best credit practices and new technology-based banking paradigm. In addition, banking staff needs to be trained to prepare for a larger role of banking in expanding the Indian economy.

      ★ The banking industry has to be continuously prepared for fraud and rising cyber security risks.

      ★ The banking industry requires a suitable vigilance mechanism for trustworthy banking but with a clear mandate to distinguish between deliberate action, criminal negligence, error in judgment or unforeseeable business risk.

      ★ There may be a need to think again in terms of specialised and sector based banking.

      ★ Public sector banks have consistently supported social banking, unlike private and foreign banks. Public sector banks should continue to do so.

      ★ To compete effectively globally there is a need for bigger banks in India.

      ★ There is a need for more research on banking sector issues, specific to the Indian context.

                                                                                                                        Source :- PIB

Working Groups - to study and recommend measures to facilitate trade, promote exports

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context :

      ★ The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has constituted three Working Groups to study and recommend measures to facilitate trade, promote exports and improve compliance

The Working Groups will focus on:

      ★ Improving the legislative structure of customs tariff and update it to suit the emerging and future needs of the economy and industry.

      ★ Special focus would be given to create a comprehensive export tariff structure to enhance India’s export competitiveness.

      ★ Export promotion and facilitation with emphasis on boosting exports through e-commerce, addressing the trade facilitation barriers faced in India’s export markets and improving the quality of logistics services for exporters.

      ★ Enhancing compliance, plugging loopholes to improve revenue collection on customs and curb IGST refund frauds.

                                                                                                          Source :- PIB

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