9 PM Current Affairs Brief – January 15, 2019

36 years after law, girls still forced into devadasi custom News: Girls are forced into devadasi custom in Karnataka Devadasi System – Devadasi system is a religious practice in parts of southern India, including Andhra Pradesh, whereby parents marry a daughter to a deity or a temple. The marriage usually occurs before the girl reaches… Continue reading 36 years after law, girls still forced into devadasi custom

Desalination plants harm environment: UN Context: Prevailing drinking water crisis in India and the prospect of desalination technology in India. Availability and access to improved source of drinking water is a basic indicator for human development and bears direct relevance to health and well-being of individuals. Availability of drinking water in India is falling: Between… Continue reading Desalination plants harm environment: UN

Waterway projects to boost N-E connectivity News The Centre is working on developing a network of waterway projects in the North-East and neighbouring countries like Bangladesh to enhance connectivity to the region as part of its Act East policy. Important facts Current scenario of connectivity in North-East The north-eastern states of India are dependent on… Continue reading Waterway projects to boost N-E connectivity

Centre to award UDAN-III routes soon News The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation will award new regional connectivity routes under UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik) III Important facts UDAN and Its Phases UDAN scheme was launched in n 2016 to make air travel affordable through subsidised tickets and to provide its access to smaller… Continue reading Centre to award UDAN-III routes soon

ISRO developing technology to reuse first & second stages of rocket News ISRO is working on reusable launch vehicle technology for using the first and second stages of a rocket multiple times. ISRO has successfully developed a scaled down (1:5) technology demonstration version of Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) vehicle and carried out… Continue reading ISRO developing technology to reuse first & second stages of rocket

Helping build urban houses faster, cheaper News The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs recently launched the Global Housing Technology Challenge, an initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U) Important facts Global Housing Technology Challenge The aims of the initiative is to introduce best technologies to fast-track the construction of affordable housing and… Continue reading Helping build urban houses faster, cheaper