Curbing air pollution in India needs efforts across South Asia

• According to the report, existing measures by the government can reduce particulate matter, significant reduction is possible only if the territories spanning the airsheds implement coordinated policies.
• Currently over 60% of South Asians are exposed to an average 35 g/m3 of PM2.5 annually.
• In some parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) it spiked to as much as 100 g/m3 – nearly 20 times the upper limit of 5 g/m3 recommended by the World Health Organisation.
• According to the report, India has six large airsheds, some of them shared with Pakistan, between which air pollutants move.
• The six major airsheds in South Asia where air quality in one affected the other were:
  • West/Central IGP: Punjab (Pakistan), Punjab (India), Haryana, part of Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh;
  • Central/Eastern IGP: Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bangladesh;
  • Middle India: Odisha/Chhattisgarh;
  • Middle India: Eastern Gujarat/Western Maharashtra;
  • Northern/Central Indus River Plain: Pakistan, part of Afghanistan; and
  • Southern Indus Plain and further west: South Pakistan, Western Afghanistan extending into Eastern Iran.
• When the wind direction was predominantly northwest to the southeast, 30% of the air pollution in Indian Punjab came from the Punjab Province in Pakistan and, on average, 30% of the air pollution in the largest cities of Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chittagong, and Khulna) originated in India.
• In some years, substantial pollution flowed in the other direction across borders.
• If Delhi National Capital Territory were to fully implement all air pollution control measures by 2030 while other parts of South Asia continued to follow current policies, it wouldn’t keep pollution exposure below 35 g/m3.
• However if other parts of South Asia also adopted all feasible measures it would bring pollution below that number.

Government tweaks vehicle registration rules

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has allowed the conversion of regular vehicle registrations into Bharat Series (BH) numbers as part of measures to widen the scope of the BH series ecosystem.
• The BH series registration mark vide General Statutory Rule (GSR) 594(E) was introduced on August 26, 2021.
• This has come into force with effect from 15th September, 2021.
• It has been incorporated in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
• The implementation of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 is under the purview of the State Governments/UT administration.

Eligibility:

• It has been introduced for citizens working in Government offices or in private organizations with offices in four or more States/UTs, on voluntary basis.
• Applicants, working in Government offices, can avail BH Series facility on the basis of their official ID Card.
• Private Sector employees are required to submit a working certificate, certifying that their organization has offices in 4 or more States/UTs.
• Currently, only new vehicles are being registered under the BH Series.
• So far, 24 states and UTs have rolled out the new Bharat Series (BH-series) for vehicle registration and so far over 20,000 vehicles have been registered across the states.

EAC-PM to release the Social Progress Index (SPI) for states and districts

• SPI is a comprehensive tool intended to be a holistic measure of the Social Progress made by the country at the national and sub-national levels.
• The report has been prepared by Institute for Competitiveness, headed by Dr Amit Kapoor and the Social Progress Imperative, headed by Michael Green.
• It was mandated by Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.

Objective of the SPI

• The report aims to provide a systematic account of the social progress made at all levels in the country with state and district-wise rankings and scorecards.
• The report also sheds light on the achievements of the districts that have performed well on the index and the role of the states in achieving social progress.
• A special section of the report provides an analysis of the Aspirational Districts of India, leading to a broader understanding of the social progress at the grassroots level.
• The report will act as a critical enabler and tool for policymakers in the coming years for achieving sustained socio-economic growth.
• SPI assesses the performance of states and districts on three dimensions of social progress: Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity. Within each dimension, there are four components.
• The dimension of Basic Human Needs assesses the performance of states and districts in terms of Nutrition and Basic Medical Care, Water and Sanitation, Personal Safety and Shelter.
• The dimension of Foundations of Wellbeing evaluates the progress made by the country across the components of Access to Basic Knowledge, Access to Information and Communication, Health and Wellness, and Environmental Quality.
• The dimension of Opportunity focuses on aspects of Personal Rights, Personal Freedom and Choice, Inclusiveness, and Access to Advanced Education.

“Eco Circuit” identified as one of the 15 thematic circuits under Swadesh Darshan Scheme to promote Eco Tourism in the country

• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Tourism.
• Type of Scheme: Central Sector Scheme.
• **Launched in:**2014-15.
• Developing critical tourism infrastructure to make India a world class tourist destination.
• This scheme is envisioned to synergise with other schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, Make in India etc. with the idea of positioning the tourism sector as a major engine for job creation, the driving force for economic growth, building synergy with various sectors to enable tourism to realise its potential.
• Circuits:
  • Under the Scheme 15 circuits have been identified for development namely Himalayan Circuit, North East Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Buddhist Circuit and Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Heritage Circuit, Tirthankar Circuit and Sufi Circuit.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme 2.0

• It aims to evolve Swadesh Darshan Scheme as a holistic mission to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations covering tourism and allied infrastructure, tourism services, human capital development, destination management and promotion backed by policy and institutional reforms.
• Major themes have been identified for tourism under the Scheme.
  • Culture and Heritage
  • Adventure Tourism
  • Eco-Tourism
  • Wellness Tourism
  • MICE Tourism
  • Rural Tourism
  • Beach Tourism
  • Cruises – Ocean & Inland

Atal Innovation Mission and UNDP India launch 5th edition of Youth Co:Lab for Young Entrepreneurs

• Youth Co:Lab is an initiative launched in 2019 by UNDP India in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog.
  • Youth Co:Lab was co-created in 2017 by UNDP and the Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab.
  • It is a multi-dimensional and multi-level response to tackle the challenges young people face by positioning youth at the forefront in finding solutions to global challenges tackling Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• It aims to establish a common agenda for Asia-Pacific countries to invest in and empower youth to accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• The Youth Co:Lab initiative, till date, has been implemented in 28 countries and territories, reaching over 200,000 participants, benefitting more than 11,000 young social entrepreneurs and supporting over 1,240 social enterprises.
• Through Youth Co: Lab, 30 early-stage start-ups would be supported by the springboard programme, and the best would be provided a seed grant for scaling up their start-up.
• The 5 focus thematic areas for Youth Co: lab 2022-23 are:
  • Digital and Financial Literacy for Youth
  • Gender Equality and Women Economic Empowerment
  • Developing FinTech Solutions focused on Biodiversity Conservation
  • Promoting Biodiversity-friendly Lifestyles through Technological Solutions in Finance
  • Accelerating Circular Economy through Upcycling Innovations
  • Behavioural Nudges for LiFE ( Lifestyle For Environment)

India successfully carries out night trials of nuclear-capable ''''Agni-five missile''''

• Type: It is a surface-to-surface Nuclear Capable Ballistic missile.
• Warhead: It can carry both nuclear and traditional weapons.
• Range: Agni-V, with a range of over 5,000 km, is India’s longest-range ballistic missile and can reach most parts of China, making it the mainstay of India’s triad to deliver nuclear weapons.
• Dimensions: it is a 17-meter long missile with two-meter diameter.
• Development: It has been indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Technologies: Agni-V is the most advanced missile in the Agni series featuring many new technologies, including the very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and Micro Navigation System (MINS) which improves the accuracy of the missile.
• With the Agni-V, India joins an elite club of countries like US, Russia, the UK, France and China, which boast Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capabilities.

China builds ropeway, roads near tri-junction

• Doklam, or Donglang in Chinese, is an area spread over less than a 100 sq km comprising a plateau and a valley at the trijunction between India, Bhutan and China.
• It is surrounded by the Chumbi Valley of Tibet, Bhutan’s Ha Valley and Sikkim.
• Doklam is strategically located close to the Siliguri Corridor, which connects mainland India with its north-eastern region.
• The corridor, also called Chicken’s Neck, is a vulnerable point for India.

Areas of differing perception:

• These are the areas where both sides patrol the area upto their claim lines.
• This “has been the trend since 2006”.
• India and China have mutually agreed disputed areas and areas of differing perception along the 3,488 km-long LAC.
• For instance in eastern Ladakh, there are two mutually agreed disputed areas, Trig Heights and Demchok, while there are 10 areas of differing perception.
• Similarly, Yangtse is one of the eight major friction points in the eastern sector.

7th Edition of ''India Water Impact Summit'' is underway

• The Summit aims at giving an insight into the potential causes for divergence and formulating strategy to achieve convergence.
• It is organised by NITI Aayog at Dr Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC), 15 Janpath, New Delhi.
• Experts from the country and abroad are discussing ways to protect the small rivers in large river basins.
• Theme:
  • ‘Restoration and Conservation of Small Rivers in a Large Basin’ with emphasis on the select aspects of ‘Mapping and Convergence of 5Ps’ - People, Policy, Plan, Programme and Project.
• Finance Forum:
  • The summit will also host the “Finance Forum”, a special track that will bring together global financial institutions and investors interested in river restoration and conservation programmes.
• The 2022 summit, like earlier summits, will also provide an opportunity to dozens of technology and innovation companies from around the world that are keen to bring their solutions to India to address various issues and concerns pertinent to our river basins.

16th Edition of Indo-Nepal joint army training exercise begins

• It is an Indo-Nepal joint army training exercise.
• It is conducted annually between India and Nepal with the aim to enhance inter-operability in jungle warfare and counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) under UN mandate.
• Nepal Army soldiers of Shree Bhawani Baksh Battalion and Indian Army soldiers from the 5 GR are participating in the exercise.

Nation celebrates Vijay Diwas today to mark victory of 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War

• On December 16, 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93 thousand troops, had surrendered unconditionally to the allied forces consisting of Indian Army and Mukti Bahini, led by Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora in Dhaka after their defeat in the Liberation war.
• The war resulted in the birth of Bangladesh, which was then East Pakistan.
• The day is also observed in Bangladesh as ‘Bijoy Dibos’, marking the country’s formal independence from Pakistan.
• India had also held 93,000 prisoners-of-war by the end of war on December 16.
• Eight months after the war, in August 1972, India and Pakistan settled the Shimla agreement.
• Under the agreement, India agreed to release the 93,000 Pakistani prisoners-of-war.