9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – March 9th, 2022
Dear Friends, We have initiated some changes in the 9 PM Brief and other postings related to current affairs. What we sought to do:
- Ensure that all relevant facts, data, and arguments from today’s newspaper are readily available to you.
- We have widened the sources to provide you with content that is more than enough and adds value not just for GS but also for essay writing. Hence, the 9 PM brief now covers the following newspapers:
- The Hindu
- Indian Express
- Livemint
- Business Standard
- Times of India
- Down To Earth
- PIB
- We have also introduced the relevance part to every article. This ensures that you know why a particular article is important.
- Since these changes are new, so initially the number of articles might increase, but they’ll go down over time.
- It is our endeavor to provide you with the best content and your feedback is essential for the same. We will be anticipating your feedback and ensure the blog serves as an optimal medium of learning for all the aspirants.
- For previous editions of 9 PM Brief – Click Here
- For individual articles of 9 PM Brief– Click Here
Mains Oriented Articles
GS Paper 1
GS Paper 2
- We may need a Bretton woods pact of data regulation
- Why India may not get a sizable role in post-war reconstruction of Ukraine
- Revive tax increases, stub out tobacco product use
- Clear signals: On India-China ties and the new global currents
GS Paper 3
- Global stagflation risk
- The burden of Govt Equity in PSUs
- THE MACROECONOMIC FRAMEWORK THAT CAN GUIDE OUR POLICY CHOICES
- Navigating economic uncertainties caused by Ukraine war
Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)
- Bangladesh, India, Nepal move ahead on motor vehicle agreement project
- Amendments proposed to make land pooling mandatory
- Union Minister for Power launch Virtual Smart Grid Knowledge Center and Innovation Park
- Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Textiles to organize pan-India programme “Jharokha – Compendium of Indian handicraft/ handloom, art and culture”
- Petascale Supercomputer “PARAM Ganga” established at IIT Roorkee under National Supercomputing Mission
- IISER professor Deepak Dhar becomes first Indian to bag Boltzmann Medal
- Explained: The legacy of Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule
- Union Minister launches Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women – “SAMARTH” on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2022
Mains Oriented Articles
GS Paper 1
If women are not empowered, the economy loses
Source: This post is based on the article “If women are not empowered, the economy loses” published in Indian express on 9th Mar 2022.
Syllabus: GS1-Role of women and women’s organization.
Relevance: Gender Equality, Economic progress.
News: Women in India have been in top positions in almost all the sectors like politics, administration and financial sector as well. However, despite this progress, we have a long way to go before we could say that there is complete gender equality in every respect. Glass ceilings are beginning to shatter, but there is a lot more to be done.
How giving equal opportunity to women can help Nations advance in their journey of growth?
Economic Growth: It has been proven time and again that when more women enter the workforce, economies grow faster. Studies conducted in various nations have proven that there is a direct correlation between greater gender diversity and higher GDPs.
Poverty eradication: Empowerment of women helps in poverty eradication.
Human Capital: By empowering women, we increase their right to economic resources, as well as their decision-making powers. This, in turn, benefits their households and their communities. Women begin investing more in their children’s education, and thus the quality of human capital improves, which leads to economic prosperity.
Also, If women are not empowered, the nation’s economy loses. A recent study by the World Bank found that countries lose $160 trillion in wealth due to the differences in lifetime earnings between men and women.
What is the situation in India like?
According to World Bank Women’s participation in the workforce in India is still among the lowest in the world at 19.9%. Only 3.7 per cent of the leadership positions in corporate India are occupied by women.
What is the way forward?
The traditionally male-dominated sectors like mining need to improve not only in terms of their gender representation, but also in terms of the work culture.
It is the culture at the workplace that determines not just whether a woman gets a seat at the table, but also whether her voice is heard.
GS Paper 2
We may need a Bretton woods pact of data regulation
Source: This post is based on the article “We may need a Bretton woods pact of data regulation” published in Live Mint on 9th Mar 2022.
Syllabus: GS2- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Relevance: Data governance, Data Protection.
News: Experts globally have been voicing the need for an international solution for data protection and regulation on the lines of Bretton woods arrangement of the 1940s.
What is the need for an international approach for data protection standard?
Currently there are broadly three different approaches to data governance being practised by countries around the world. As we are getting increasingly dependent on data for almost everything we do, these divergences will cause complications.
It will promote cooperation between the countries which will help us to achieve global objectives.
If there is an international approach to data protection standards, it will lead to enhanced public trust and then stakeholders will be able to unlock the full potential of data driven innovation.
What a good international approach should focus upon?
It is not necessary that all countries in the world enact a uniform global law.
Instead a global alliance can be created, membership to which would be open to nations with a demonstrated commitment to data protection. They will be free to fine tune these according to their respective needs.
This will require setting up a new multilateral institution for data that can be tasked with the responsibility of coordinating a regulatory dialogue between nations in order to achieve a sufficient level of regulatory harmonization. This organisation can be created on the lines of Financial Stability Board.
A common global institution will ensure that a common set of technical standards and protocols are developed for all aspects of data governance. Upon agreeing to some common framework members can incorporate these into their national systems which will ensure that there is global interoperability.
Why India may not get a sizable role in post-war reconstruction of Ukraine
Source: The post is based on the article “Why India my not get a sizable role in post-war reconstruction of Ukraine” published in the business standard on 09th March 2022.
Syllabus: GS-II – International Relations: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groups
Topic: Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Post war reconstruction of Ukraine
Context: After Ukraine crisis, major international bodies will be framing world order. India might not be a participant in decision making due to its weak presence on international institutions.
After World War II, the Global Reconstruction was handled by newly created international organizations, like the United Nations (UNs), the IMF, and the World Bank. Later Specific continent-based development banks, like the Asian Development Bank and the African Development Bank, also joined.
However, the approach of reconstruction was guided by the nations holding pole positions in these institutions. Voting rights, for instance, became important in this context.
This global power play will become active again after the end of Russian invasion of Ukraine. In this context, it is important to note that India has not been in senior secretariat positions in any of the major global institutions. Thus, India’s modest presence in these multilateral organisations may devoid it of any active role in decision making.
As a result, India, the world’s sixth largest economy, will be obliged to follow the rules set by most of them.
What are the other reasons behind India’s weak position in major multilateral organizations?
No Major institution in India: India does not host any major global institution.
Not part of few important rule making institution: India is not a member of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). UNCLOS sets rules for marine and maritime activities. Whereas Pakistan is a member country.
India’s strategy: India develops deep partnerships with a number of countries to gain positions at the high table. For example, the Quad Grouping in which India is a significant member. But this is not a viable option because multilateral institutions are more important in global power play.
Some positive developments in the recent past
Indian bureaucrats now also feel that the weaponization of the global financial system to target countries, has made it essential that India sits in positions of authority at the rule-making bodies.
India has chairmanship of the G20 at the end of this year.
India is advocating for combining the issue of Special Drawing Rights with enhanced voting rights at IMF. India argues that those nations that provide the support should also get larger voting rights.
India is also keen to secure the chairmanship of the Heads of State Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
India is a keen supporter of a new G10 grouping.
Revive tax increases, stub out tobacco product use
Source: The post is based on the article “Revive tax increase, stub out tobacco product use” published in the Hindu newspaper on 09th March 2022.
Syllabus: GS-II: Health Sector
Topic: Tobacco Consumption
Context: Apart from COVID-19 pandemic (which is reported to have killed half a million Indians over the past two years), tobacco is a silent killer in our midst that kills an estimated 1.35 million Indians every year.
Impact of Tobacco Consumption
Tobacco Related Death: 3,500 Indians die every single day, as estimated by scientific studies.
Economic Burden: It comes with an economic cost of ₹1,77,340 crore to the country or more than 1% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
How pricing and taxation determines Tobacco Consumption?
Research shows that a price increase induces people to quit or reduce tobacco use as well as discourages non-users from getting into the habit of tobacco use. Taxation is one of the most cost-effective measures to reduce the demand for tobacco products.
Challenges in Discouraging Tobacco Consumption in India
Inadequate Taxation: There has been no significant tax (GST) increase on any tobacco product for four years, barring a minor increase in the National Calamity Contingent Duty (NCCD) during the Union Budget 2020-21 which only had the effect of increasing cigarette prices by roughly 5%.
The Union Budget 2022-23 also didn’t hike tax on any tobacco product. ITC stocks gained by more than 6% and outperformed most other stocks.
Cess applied on cigarettes has remained unchanged for four years in the face of increasing inflation.
Consequence of not increasing the taxes on tobacco products
Loss of Revenue: Absence of hike of taxes on tobacco product means foregone tax revenues for the Government. In fact, Government of India is looking forward to increasing the share of public spending on health. For example, in the recent Union Budget, it has budgeted 2.2% of the total expenditures towards health.
Making Tobacco Products Affordable: The lack of tax increase in a country makes all tobacco products increasingly more affordable.
Increase Tobacco Users Base: It is known that more affordable tobacco products could attract new users, especially among the youth.
Suggestions
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council should raise either the GST rate or the compensation Cess levied on tobacco products.
Expanding the Tobacco Products under Taxation Domain: Bring in bidi under taxation as it does not have a Cess levied on it under the GST while all other tobacco products attract a Cess.
Clear signals: On India-China ties and the new global currents
Source: This post is based on the article “Clear Signals: On India-China ties and the new global currents” published in the Hindu newspaper on 09th March 2022.
Syllabus: 2 – International Relations: Bilateral
Topic: Indo-China Relations
News: The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi claimed that the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy is aiming to create “an Indo-Pacific version of NATO”. His statement has deeper interpretations for India.
Challenges in India-China Relations?
Revival of QUAD (called as “Asian NATO” by China) having Australia, Japan, U.S. and India as member.
However, apart from this, U.S. is also Strengthening the Five Eyes (An intelligence alliance), formed other exclusive clubs like AUKUS as well as the USA is also tightening bilateral military alliances.
How these developments impact India-China relations?
China is continuously situating India as a part of the U.S. “exclusive club” by targeting Quad.
Beijing’s also making aggressive moves along the LAC in 2020 as a warning sign to deter India-U.S. relations.
Some experts view China’s aggressive moves along the LAC in 2020 as a warning sign to deter India-U.S. relations.
Consequences of ongoing geopolitical developments
How has India responded to China?
New Delhi has rejected the claims of China about India. India’s External Affairs said “interested parties” were making a “lazy analogy of an Asian NATO” and India was not a U.S. treaty ally.
In response, India has been continuously deepening ties not only with the U.S. and the Quad but also other Indo-Pacific partners to underline it will not be swayed.
Russia being common friend of both China and India: Both Russia and China claimed to have “rock solid” relationship on a summit on February 4. China backed Russia on its concerns on NATO’s eastward expansion in Europe, and Russia returned the favor with both criticizing the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy.
GS Paper 3
Global stagflation risk
Source: This post is created based on the article “Global stagflation risk” published in The Hindu on 9th March 2022.
Syllabus: GS -3 – Economic growth and development
News: Russian invasion of Ukraine is set to halt the global economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.
IMF had already reduced the global growth outlook due to the Omicron variant to 4.4%, now after the Ukraine crisis situation has become much worse.
How Russian invasion of Ukraine is affecting the global economic scenario?
Read – Sanctions and their Effectiveness – Explained, pointwise |
Sanctions on Russia have led to a drastic fall of more than 60% in the value of the Rouble (Russian currency).
Prices of several commodities like wheat and corn, nickel, aluminum, oil, and gas have surged due to conflict. For example, the price of Brent Crude is 29% higher than before the invasion began on February 24.
An embargo on energy supplies from Russia could result in soaring electricity prices in European and other dependent countries. It is notable that Russia supplies Europe about 40% of its gas requirements, roughly a quarter of its oil and almost half its coal needs.
How would it impact India?
In a 2019 paper on ‘The Impact of Crude Price Shock on India’s Current Account Deficit, Inflation, and Fiscal Deficit’, 2 senior RBI researchers gave an idea of the impact of oil price rise.
They estimated that a $10 increase in the price of oil from a $65 level would raise headline inflation by about 49 basis points (bps) or widen the Government’s fiscal deficit if it decided to absorb the entire oil price shock.
Thus, Indian policy makers will have to make a tough choice between revenue shortfall in case they cut the fuel taxes and higher inflation plus slow economic growth i.e. stagflation.
The burden of Govt Equity in PSUs
Source: This post is based on the article “The burden of Govt Equity in PSUs” published in Business Standard on 9th Mar 2022.
Syllabus: GS3- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth.
Relevance: Privatisation, disinvestment, Infrastructure
News: From the analysis of PSU investments by different governments in the last two decades, the result shows that their share in total government expenditure increased rapidly since 2014.
What has been the disinvestment and Privatisation trajectory in the last decade?
Although the government in the time period ranging from 2009-2014 dropped the total equity it infused in the PSUs, however it collected huge amount from disinvestment receipts.
From the period of 2014-2019: government was far more focused on disinvestment, and pursued privatisation cautiously.
The current government believes in privatisation in principle and goes in for aggressive disinvestment. However still it infused huge amount in PSUs equity.
Why has the govt increased equity infusion despite following an aggressive privatisation policy?
Government followed a policy to support the banking sector through capital infusion and investing more in key infrastructure areas controlled by a few state-owned enterprises.
What were the key themes that government focussed on while this capital infusion?
Government focussed on state-controlled enterprises in banking, railways and in construction of highways.
Banking: Government supported this sector because the non-performing assets situation in the public-sector banking system worsened which required higher capital infusion.
Equity infusion into the Indian Railways and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) more than doubled. This was because government was committed to investing more in the infrastructure sector at a time when private-sector investment flows had slowed. Higher government investments were needed to crowd in private investments and keep the growth momentum intact.
What has been the current trend?
Although this trend has continued even during the present government but composition of such equity infusion has also undergone a significant change. The biggest increase has taken place with respect to equity contribution to the NHAI.
Recapitalisation of public-sector banks can see a decline as their financial condition is improving with lower non-performing assets.
What were the reasons for increased PSU investments by governments from about middle of last decade?
The financial health of PSUs had got worse over time requiring increased equity infusion.
Growing investment needs for the country’s transport sector, largely controlled by the government-owned enterprises, has to be met.
What is the way forward?
As has been seen Infrastructure sector that is taking away a larger share of government equity infused into PSUs.
So in the long term government should focus on bringing in private sector to carry the load of infrastructure building in the economy. As if the demand for more equity in PSUs is not managed well, it could become a financial burden on the government.
THE MACROECONOMIC FRAMEWORK THAT CAN GUIDE OUR POLICY CHOICES
Source: The post is based on the article “The macroeconomic framework that can guide out policy choices” published in the Live mint on 09th March 2022.
Syllabus: GS Paper 3- Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development
Topic: Macroeconomic Situation, Policy Responses (Exchange Rate Policy, Fiscal Policy and Monetary Policy)
News: Indian policymakers have been gradually rolling back the Covid-19 pandemic stimulus, given since 2020. The ongoing Ukraine Crisis-2022 will have multiple economic implications for policymakers now.
Upcoming Challenges to due to Ukrainian Crisis
International Crude Oil Prices: Since Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine. International prices of crude oil have gone up sharply up to $140 a barrel.
Inadequate Forecasts in India: RBI’s inflation forecast as well as the budgetary calculations of the Union government have been made assuming crude prices at $75 a barrel.
Balance of Payment: The higher energy import bill will put pressure on the Balance of Payments. India is nowhere near unmanageable stress in its balance of payments, as a comparison with 2013 will show.
Headline Inflation: The prices of other industrial commodities have also gone up in tandem with energy prices. It will also influence headline inflation.
Government budget: The effect on budget will depend on the extent to which the government passes on higher oil prices to consumers and how much it absorbs through reductions in excise duty on petrol or higher fertilizer subsidies.
What should be the policy Reponses?
The Australian economist Trevor Swan gave a very good framework to understand how a country should respond to various combinations of internal and external imbalances in its economy. The Swan framework provides clues that are relevant even today, depending on where a country is in the macroeconomic space:
Fig: The Swan Diagram
Internal balance: When there is full employment or economic growth is at potential or when inflation is not accelerating.
External balance: When an economy has neither a large current account deficit nor surplus.
Interactions between Internal and External balance: study of the interaction between them is most closely identified with the work of international economists such as James Meade and Harry Johnson. J.P. Morgan.
Macroeconomic spaces:
Following are the 4 macroeconomic spaces that are depicted in the diagram above:
- A current account deficit with growth below potential.
- A current account deficit with rising inflation.
- A current account surplus with rising inflation.
- A current account surplus with growth below potential.
Combined Reponses for external and internal balance:
Any country that seeks to maintain an internal and external balance at the same time has to maintain a balance between the levels of real exchange rate and the domestic demand.
Changes in the real exchange rate (on the Y-axis) which affect the composition of demand between imported goods and domestically produced goods in an economy. It may include the depreciation of the real exchange rate to reduce the current account deficit or appreciation to bring down a current account surplus.
Changes in monetary and fiscal policies (on the X-axis in diagram) to affect the size of domestic demand, or expenditure control in the domestic economy. Meanwhile, interest rates and net government spending have to be calibrated to manage domestic demand.
India will thus have to adapt its mix of fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policies to maintain a balance in case global turbulence persists for an extended period of time. It will ensure that neither internal nor external imbalances get out of hand.
Navigating economic uncertainties caused by Ukraine war
Source: This post is based on the article “Navigating economic uncertainties caused by Ukraine war” published in the Indian Express on 09th March 2022
Syllabus: 3- Indian Economy – Issues related to Growth, LPG
Topic: Macroeconomic Situation
Context: The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia is going to have a significant impact on emerging market economies, including India. The main concern largely comes from the impact of higher crude oil prices which has hit crude $139/bbl.
Present Macroeconomic situation of Emerging Countries including India
They are running current account deficits. They have witnessed depreciating currency and a hardening of interest rates.
Problems being faced by Emerging Market Situation (Apart from the consequences of Present Oil Prices)
US dollar is appreciating and US treasuries are strengthening. The US runs the largest current account deficit in the world (23 times higher than that of India). But, by this logic, US treasuries should now have been at all-time lows (But it is not so, because of Triffin paradox).
Triffin Paradox
The US current account deficit is purely a reflection of the US supplying large amounts of dollars to fulfil the world’s demand. There is also a “saving glut” i.e., emerging economies were accumulating foreign exchange reserves in dollars, and diverting domestic savings to buy US treasuries.
Analyzing Possible Solution
Global Analysis: the dominance of the US dollar is inevitable in the global financial architecture. The dollar’s dominance will not decline ever in future as 90% of global trade is dollar-denominated. Also, the Renminbi and the Euro do not find a larger space in the foreign reserves’ basket of an emerging market economy today.
Domestic Analysis: We must find domestic solutions by managing our government finances better
Challenges in Domestic Solution
Although heavy interventions by the RBI in the foreign exchange market could pull the rupee up from the record lows. But the larger concern is how the government and the RBI will do so now. Because now the government is doing record government borrowings, and how to prevent domestic interest rates from hardening.
Way Ahead
First, the government and RBI may spread the borrowings of the government over four quarters of the financial year, instead of the traditional approach of completing 60 per cent of the borrowings in the first half of the year.
Second, The RBI and the government can induce market players to buy bonds in this uncertain time. Further, a higher proportion of short-and medium-tenor securities can be offered in the initial months of the year, while longer tenor securities can be offered in the second half of the year.
Third, the small savings collections are an important part of the government borrowing. Therefore, the government can encourage fresh registration in the small savings schemes such as the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)
Fourth, The Life Insurance Company (LIC) which holds a large share of government bonds. As a result, LIC’s listing should signal positively for the bond market. It is because the insurance behemoth may be forced to invest a larger portion of its inflows in safer domestic assets. The current market volatility could push investors readjust their exposure to countries like India.
Conclude
In such a scenario it is best to follow unconventional policy measures as those listed above to ensure that the government’s borrowing programme passes through with the least disruptions.
Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)
Bangladesh, India, Nepal move ahead on motor vehicle agreement project
What is the News?
India, Bangladesh and Nepal have finalized a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) for implementing the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement(MVA).
Note: Bhutan has decided to continue to stay out of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement(MVA).
What is BBIN MVA?
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal(BBIN) had signed the Motor Vehicles Agreement(MVA) in 2015 at Thimphu, Bhutan.
Aim: To provide seamless people-to-people contact and enhance economic interaction by facilitating cross border movement of people and goods.
As per the agreement, member countries would allow vehicles registered in the other countries to enter their territory under certain terms and conditions. Customs and tariffs will be decided by the respective countries and these would be finalized at bilateral and trilateral forums.
Assistance: Asian Development Bank(ADB) has been providing technical, advisory, and financial support to the BBIN MVA initiative as part of its assistance to the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) program.
Why has Bhutan decided to stay out of BBIN MVA?
Bhutan PM has said that the country’s top priority is to remain “carbon-negative”. That’s why it would not be possible for them to join the MVA as there are serious sustainability and environmental concerns.
Note: Bhutan is the only country in the world that is carbon negative, which means it produces more oxygen than it consumes.
Source: This post is based on the article “Bangladesh, India, Nepal move ahead on motor vehicle agreement project” published in The Hindu on 9th Mar 2022.
Amendments proposed to make land pooling mandatory
What is the News?
The Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs has said that amendments will be made to the Delhi Development Act, 1957, to speed up the Land Pooling Policy.
What is land pooling?
Land Pooling Policy means that government agencies consolidate parcels of land and design or develop it with infrastructures like roads, schools, hospitals, community centres and sports facilities on part of the land and then returns a portion to the original owners who can later sell it or execute housing projects with the help of private builders.
What is Delhi Land Pooling Policy?
Under Delhi Land Pooling(DLP) policy, 60% of the land will be used by the owners or developer entity for the purpose of developing residential and commercial facilities while 40% of the land will be surrendered to service providing agencies, such as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for infrastructural developments.
Benefits for Landowners: Although the land returned to the original owners will be smaller in size, they will have access to infrastructure and services developed by DDA.
Problems faced in the Policy: According to a senior DDA official, the agency was facing hurdles in convincing landowners to participate, as most of them were unsure of the outcome of the policy.
What are the amendments proposed to the Delhi Land Pooling Policy?
Firstly, the pooling of land for owners who are yet to express their willingness becomes mandatory once the participation rate reaches the minimum threshold of 70%.
Secondly, the amendment will give the Central government power to declare pooling mandatory — even if the minimum threshold of 70% is not achieved.
Source: This post is based on the article “Amendments proposed to make land pooling mandatory” published in The Hindu on 9th Mar 2022.
Union Minister for Power launch Virtual Smart Grid Knowledge Center and Innovation Park
What is the News?
The Union Minister for Power has launched the Virtual Smart Grid Knowledge Center (Virtual SGKC) and Innovation Park.
What is Virtual Smart Grid Knowledge Center(Virtual SGKC)?
SKGC has been established by PowerGrid with support from the Ministry of Power and National Smart Grid Mission(NSGM) and technical assistance from United States Agency for International Development(USAID).
Purpose of the Center: To become a global leader in fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and research in smart grid technologies and create capacities in the power distribution sector.
Location: The centre is located within the POWERGRID.
What is the National Smart Grid Mission?
Launched by: Ministry of Power in 2015
Objective: To address key issues of Smart Grid Initiatives on a large scale in the country and to make the Indian Power infrastructure cost-effective, responsive and reliable.
What is a Smart Grid?
Smart Grid is an Electrical Grid with Automation, Communication and IT systems that can monitor power flows from points of generation to points of consumption and control the power flow or curtail the load to match generation in real-time or near real-time.
Some smart grids include various energy measures such as smart meters, smart appliances, renewable energy resources, and energy-efficient resources.
These measures can contribute to a reduction of T&D losses, Peak-load management, improved quality of Service, increased reliability, better asset management, renewable integration, better accessibility to electricity and also lead to self-healing grids.
Source: This post is based on the article “Union Minister for Power launch Virtual Smart Grid Knowledge Center and Innovation Park” published in PIB on 8th Mar 2022.
Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Textiles to organize pan-India programme “Jharokha – Compendium of Indian handicraft/ handloom, art and culture”
What is the News?
The Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Textiles are organizing “Jharokha-Compendium of Indian handicraft/ handloom, art and culture”.
What is Jharokha?
Jharokha is a celebration of traditional Indian handicrafts, handlooms, and art & culture.
It will be a pan India celebration that will be held at 16 locations in 13 states and UTs.
The first event under this celebration is being organized in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
It will be organized at Rani Kamlapati Railway Station which is named after the brave and fearless Queen Kamlapati of the Gond kingdom of Madhya Pradesh.
Source: This post is based on the article “Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Textiles to organize pan-India programme Jharokha – Compendium of Indian handicraft/ handloom, art and culture” published in PIB on 9th Mar 2022.
Petascale Supercomputer “PARAM Ganga” established at IIT Roorkee under National Supercomputing Mission
What is the News?
A Supercomputer named ‘PARAM Ganga’ has been established at IIT Roorkee under National Supercomputing Mission(NSM).
What is PARAM Ganga?
PARAM Ganga is a supercomputer designed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing(C-DAC) under Phase 2 of the National Supercomputing Mission(NSM).
It has a supercomputing capacity of 1.66 Petaflops (1 petaflop equals a quadrillion or 1015 operations per second).
This supercomputer will accelerate the research and development activities with a focus on providing computational power to the user community of IIT Roorkee and neighbouring academic institutions.
What is the National Supercomputing Mission(NSM)?
Launched in: 2015
Aim: To empower national academic and R&D institutions spread over the country by installing a vast supercomputing grid comprising more than 70 high-performance computing facilities.
Nodal Ministries: The mission is being steered jointly by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeiTY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Implemented by: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
Pillars of the mission: The four major pillars of the mission are: Infrastructure, Applications, R&D, HRD. These pillars have been functioning efficiently to realise the goal of developing indigenous supercomputing ecosystem of the nation.
Under the mission, C-DAC has designed and developed a computer server “Rudra” and high-speed interconnect “Trinetra” which are the major sub-assemblies required for supercomputers.
Source: This post is based on the article “Petascale Supercomputer “PARAM Ganga” established at IIT Roorkee under National Supercomputing Mission” published in PIB on 8th Mar 2022.
IISER professor Deepak Dhar becomes first Indian to bag Boltzmann Medal
What is the News?
Physicist Professor Deepak Dhar has become the first Indian to be awarded the Boltzmann Medal.He shares the medal with John J Hoefield of Princeton University.
What is the Boltzmann Medal?
Boltzmann Medal was initiated in 1975. It is awarded by the Commission on Statistical Physics (C3) of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.
The award is given to physicists that obtain new results concerning statistical mechanics.
The award is given only once to a person and on the condition that that person has not won the Nobel prize so far.
The award comprises medals and honours for the contribution to Statistical Physics. It also consists of the gilded Boltzmann medal with the inscription of Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann.
Note: Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann was an Austrian physicist and philosopher. His greatest achievements were the development of statistical mechanics and the statistical explanation of the second law of thermodynamics.
Why was Professor Deepak given this award?
He has been given the award for his seminal contributions to several areas of statistical physics, including exact solutions of self-organized criticality models, inter-facial growth, universal long-time relaxation in disordered magnetic systems among others.
Source: This post is based on the article “IISER professor Deepak Dhar becomes first Indian to bag Boltzmann Medal” published in Indian Express on 9th Mar 2022.
Explained: The legacy of Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule
What is the News?
Maharashtra Governor was criticized for allegedly mocking 19th-century social reformers Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule for “getting married at a young age”.
Who was Mahatma Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule?
Mahatma Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule were an extraordinary couple in the social and educational history of India. They spearheaded path-breaking work towards female education and towards ending caste- and gender-based discrimination.
In 1840, at a time when child marriages were common, Savitri at the age of ten was married to Jyotirao, who was thirteen years old at the time. The couple later in life strove to oppose child marriage and also organised widow remarriages.
What was the contribution of Mahatma Jyotirao?
Jyotirao Phule was influenced by Thomas Paine’s book titled The Rights of Man and believed that the only solution to combat the social evils was the enlightenment of women and members of the lower castes.
He was bestowed with the title of Mahatma in 1888 by a Maharashtrian social activist Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar.
What was the contribution of Savitribai Phule?
What was the legacy of Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule?
1848: Phules started a school for girls called Shudras and Ati-Shudras in Poona.
1850s: They initiated two educational trusts—the Native Female School, Pune and The Society for Promoting the Education of Mahars, Mangs and Etceteras—which came to have many schools under them
1853: They opened a care centre for pregnant widows to have safe deliveries and to end the practice of infanticide owing to social norms. For instance, they started Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha (Home for the Prevention of Infanticide) in their own house.
1873: Satyashodhak Samaj (The Truth-Seeker’s Society) was established in 1873 by Jyotirao-Savitribai and other like-minded people.
– It was founded with a purpose to give education to the lower castes, scheduled caste, scheduled tribes and made them aware of the exploiting tradition of society.
– It also advocated for social changes that went against prevalent traditions, including economic weddings, inter-caste marriages, eradication of child marriages, and widow remarriage.
Source: This post is based on the article “Explained: The legacy of Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule” published in Indian Express on 9th Mar 2022.
Union Minister launches Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women – “SAMARTH” on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2022
What is the News?
On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2022, the Union Minister for MSME has launched “SAMARTH”.
What is SAMARTH?
Launched by: Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
Purpose: It is a Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women to provide them with an opportunity to be self-reliant and independent by undertaking self-employment opportunities.
Key features of the scheme: Under the initiative, the following benefits will be available to aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs:
– 20% of Seats in free Skill Development Programs organized under skill development schemes of the Ministry will be allocated for Women.
– 20% of MSME Business Delegations sent to domestic & international exhibitions under the schemes for Marketing Assistance implemented by the Ministry will be dedicated to women-owned MSMEs.
– 20% Discount on annual processing fee on National Small Industries Corporation’s (NSIC) Commercial Schemes such as Single Point Registration Scheme, Raw Material Assistance and Bill Discounting, Tender Marketing among others.
– Special Drive for registration of women-owned MSMEs under Udyam Registration.
Significance of the Scheme: Through this initiative, the Government is planning to train more than, 7500 women candidates from rural and sub-urban areas in FY 2022-23. Besides, women will also be getting marketing opportunities to showcase their products in domestic and international exhibitions.
Source: This post is based on the article “Union Minister launches Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women – “SAMARTH” on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2022” published in PIB on 9th Mar 2022.
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