NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY

Tags: nuclear, sodium, liquid, breeder, BHAVINI,

PFBR
– BHAVINI, a PSU under DAE is responsible for building these series of PFBR
– technology developed by IGCAR Kalpakkam
– called breeder because they produce more fuel than they need.
– uses plutonium -uranium oxide fuel.
– liquid sodium as coolant.
– pumping and not letting sodium leak involves complex technology.
– PFBR for 500 MWe is being developed at Kalpakkam derived from FBTR of 13 MWe at IGCAR

RAPS
– raawatabhatta atomic power station, banks of chambal river, Rajasthan
– chambal being thermally polluted by it
– developed by DAE with indigenous technology
– everything indian thus of supreme emotional attachment and value
– being running since 750 days now at full capacity of 220 MWe
– record for india since no plant has ever run “continuously”
– reflects safety and reliability of jndian nuclear program
– based on PHWR using heavy water and low enriched (natural ) uranium
– shows maturity of indian nuclear technology (“safety in blood” says NPCIL)
– 2 more being constructed at raps

POKHRAN 2
– underground since PTBT doesn’t cover underground as the testing site
– india signed and ratified PTBT in 1963 only
– CTBT ( which india didn’t sign,) covers underground testing also
– CTBT doesn’t cover “cold testing or computer simulated testing”.

BRICS

Tags: BRICS, Brazil, CRA, NDB, china, shanghai,

BRICS
– 20percent world GDP
– 40 percent world population

India-Brazil
– Fortaleza convention
– new development bank foundation laid down.
– BRICS contingency reserve arrangement established.
– cooperation of environmental issues and remote sensing tech development also discussed on sidelines of 6 BRICS Summit.

New Development Bank
– Fortaleza convention to form NDB as ” supplementary of the efforts of multi lateral and regional financial institutions for global development”
– Shanghai to host the HQ
– India to have presidency
– South Africa to have African regional Centre
– $100 billion bank to have $20 billion equal share for all.
– unlike western controlled IMF and World Bank, or Asian Development Bank , it has no political baggage.
– start of a new world economic order

CRA
– for developing countries for short term liquidity crisis( like IMF)
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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Tags: mdm, Clinton, akshay patra

MID DAY MEAL SCHEME

– under department of school education and literacy.
– ministry of HRD
– carried on through various NGO’s like “AKSHAY PATRA” provides food to students 1.3 million children in 10500 schools in 10 states along with state governments.
– Clinton foundation under Clinton global initiative raises awareness and motivates corporate and other agencies to fund akshay patra for running MDM.
– Caterpillar foundation at $2 million to run a similar kitchen in Lucknow.

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Marrakesh convention or Treaty

– Marrakesh is the capital of Morocco
– United nation convention for the disabled
– india first country to ratify it
– now india has implanted it in spirit also by taking this matter to debates with parliamentary standing committee .
– the law will amend domestic copyright act to allow conversion of books o blind friEndly formats like “Braille”.
– benefits blind and visually impaired.
– benefits include available of literature to blind in developing countries like india where 90 percent of worlds blinds reside.
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IHDI

– Inequality adjusted HDI
– tells the loss to achievements or loss in Human Development due to inequality in society.
– Calculated normally as HDI and then the inequality of population is discounted for from this index.
– IHDI = HDI when inequality is zero, i.e Gini Coefficient is ZERO or the Lorenz curve is a straight line.
– Finland has the least inequality at 5.5% while greatest is for Angola at 44%.
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MPI

Further read: http://hdr.undp.org/en/faq-page/multidimensional-poverty-index-mpi#t295n135

– Multi dimensional poverty index

– measures on same parameters that HDI is measured but the details differ.
– gauges poverty not just on income but other deprivation factors like health and education and standard of living.
– measures “acute” poverty among nations and its a measure of relative deprivation that humans face
– “extreme” poverty is measured by world bank and fixed at $1.25 per person per day.
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AWARDS

Tags:

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GANDHI PEACE PRIZE 2013

– an expression of indias belief that Gandhi’s ideals are a part of Indias living heritage.
– “one people”
-Chandi Prasad Bhatt : founder, chipko movement 1973 to protect the rights of hill people through satyagraha and saving their livelihood from natural calamities owing to large scale deforestation
– part of Sarvodaya movement

Chandi Prasad Bhatt

– Gandhian and Environmentalist

-Padma Bhushan 2005, and Ramon Magsaya Award Winner

– Founder of “Dasholi Gram Swarayjya Sangh” – Mother Organization of Chipko Movement

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TANG PRIZE

– Asian Nobel

– by Taiwanese richest Man

– 4 fields: sinology, sustainable development, politics and something else

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MIDORI PRIZE

WHAT?

– beinneal prize by AEON Environment foundation and CBD (Convention for Biodiversity)

– for contribution to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at global or local level

WHO?

– Kamal Bawa, Professor at University of Masschussets, Boston

POLITICS and Political Committees

Tags: north east, violence, mongoloid, bank, bandhan finance

Bimal Jalan
– february 2014
-to give 2 more private companies a banking license to function and be registered under RBI
– bandhan microfiannce eaier a NBFC now approved
– IDFC also approved now
– last time it happened in 2004-2005 when axis bank got license.

Bezbaruah Committee

-Chairmanship of Shri M.P. Bezbaruah, Member, North Eastern Council
-concerns of North Eastern States people who are living in different parts of the country, especially the Metropolitan areas, and to suggest suitable remedial measures which could be taken by the Government.
– concerns of security
– why attacks occur or violence and discrimination ovcur
-suggest measures and legal remedies to address these concerns.

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HATE SPEECHES

– SC says it aint the relevant authority to issue definition, rules etc
– parliament the apt authority.

AGRICULTURE

Tags: nitrogen, urea, fertilizer, NPK, potash, natural gas, haber, eutrophication, loss, agriculture, hatshwardhan, health, farmer, economics, subsidy

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 KRISHI SINCHAI YOJANA

-per drop more crop
– introduced in budget as agricultural friendly yojana.

Subsidy

– Urea only subsidized fertilizer (made from natural gas and NAPTHA as raw material, though naptha is losing out due to higher costs and inefficient.)

– govt spends 11760 per tonne for subsidy, farmer pays 5360 per tonne

WHAT and WHY?

-required ratio is 4:2:1, (N:P:K) ,whereas actually used is : 8.2:4.2:1. thus overuse of urea

– reason atributed to cheaper urea, made of natural gas (methane CH4 used with Atm N2 to form NH3 via Habers process)

Losses?

-extra nitrogen has loss or no benefit, only eutrophication due to runoff

– loss to all- farmer, people, govt., taxpayer, firms

– annual subsidy around 25000 crores

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SOIL HEALTH  CARD

– to assess soil at regular intervals to maintain their health
– for judicious use of nutrients
– setting up more STL both mobile vans, and soil test centre to issue soil cards
– project called “management of soul health and fertility” under national mission for sustainable agriculture
– involves agricultural students, ngo, private sector
– ICAR to lead research in this refard, provide with fertilizer support, new seeds, micro irrigation techniques, laser levelling, bio fertilizers, composting technique, rain water, drip irrigation
-Mission for integrated development of horticulture for irrigation expansion.

 

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CAPART

Read: http://rural.nic.in/capart_intro.htm

-COUNCIL FOR ADVANCEMENT OF PEOPLE’S ACTION AND RURAL TECHNOLOGY

– formed in 1986 by merging PADI (People/s action for develpment of india) and CART (council for advancement of rural technology)

– a autonomous body, and a registered society under Societies Registration India act (SRA 1860) 1860

– under “Department of Rural Development”

– EXECUTIVE ARM of the Ministry for Rural Development – enabling the voluntary agencies in INDIA to work towards rural development, poverty alleviation programs, socio-economic upliftment programs and ensuring smooth flow of benefits to weaker/under priviliged sections.

– Role for implementing and assisting NGO’s for executing programs like: 
    IRDP, Million Wells Scheme, Rural Watrer Supply Program, Jawahr Gram Samridhi Yojana (earlier Jawahar Rozgar Yojana), Indira Awas Yojana, Strenghtening Panchayati Raj Institutes, Watershed development etc.

– Provides financial assistance to NGO’s for other “rural development” projects and enabling/implementing technology for hardcore rural areas only. (NO TOWN PANCHAYATS, Municipal areas etc)

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KISAN CREDIT CARD

– innovation and implemented by NABARD
– for production credit requirement of farmers
– timely, hassle free at low rates to avoid exploitation from private money lenders
– also a step for financial inclusion

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NABARD

– apex institution for all matters of policy, planning and operations in the field of credit for agriculture and rural development.
– includes development of Small Scale Industries, Cottage and Village Industries, Handicrafts and other rural crafts
– gives loans or refinancing to SHG, NGO, RRB, Co-operatives, State governments, PRI , MFI, NBFC etc for rural infrastructure development
– direct financing to institutions also as deemed necessary or approved by centre.
– monitors and regulates the MFI and RRB and Cooperatives
– training of personnel for rural development
– promoting research for rural technologies, agriculture development, rural infra, rural banking etc
– most importantly coordinating all the field work with central govt, RBI , state govt and other national institutions for policy development and framing.

LOK ADALAT

Alternative system for dispute redressal.
1st loladalat drive in 2011 where 95000 case were adjudicated.
Need to make people aware of lik adalat.
Prelitigation stage only.
All case including petty crimes.
Mutual compromise, based on amicable adjudication.
Non challengeable and no appeal.

WILDLIFE/ENVIRONMENT

Tags: environment , tiger, wildlife, kanha, forest, livestock, farmer, buffalo, cow, leopard, barasingha, swamp deer,

tigers attacking livestock

Why?
– forest area depleting
– cows a easy target
– especially for mother tigers or leopards hunting cow live stock is easier quicker
– animals wander far off in jungle for grazing, though not in core areas where it’s a penalty

Problem?
– livestock is a stock for farmer in kanha
– livelihood depends on cow milk, goat meat, etc
– loss means emotional plus economic loss
– angrily the villagers kill tiger, poison , support poachers
– life, security, safety of villagers also trouble

Compensation and problems?
– compensation needed, otherwise the farmer will kill the tiger in retaliation.
– historically proved when dead and poisoned carcasses of cows were eaten by tigers and leopards and dead cats were found by forest dept.
– poaching already a trouble, forest officials don’t want extra burden from farmer and villagers who are already displaced from comer area of forests.
– villagers helpful to forest guards and provide useful info thus cannot be made enemies
-Upto 90% reimbursed in case of tiger killing a domestic cattle
– paid by forest department, not government or state legislature.
– forest spends upto 17 lacs (2013 figures) in compensation (kanha and MP forest)
– net earnings by forest approx. 5 cr out of which 1 cr (20%) spent towards farmer help
– problems for farmer is to :
1. Find the carcass which maybe inside jungle -thorny unsafe treacherous.
2. Prove that tiger killed it, by pug marks, scratches, eaten up etc
3. Wait for a month for cheque released.
4.buy another cow and bear the emotional loss of a mature milch cow or buffalo.
5. Compensation only 10000 which may not always be good.

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HFC/ CFC / ODS

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-flawed-approach-to-montreal/article5335706.ece

– cfc phased out by Montreal
– halons also included in Montreal 1993
– now 2013 USA pushes india to include HFC in Montreal also
– HFC not a ODS
– HFC a potent GHG, still less potent than CO2
– hence HFH shud be covered in UNFCCC or KYOTO which USA is not a signatory to
– thus if USA wants its own industries to proliferate (like in 1993 daikin, Electrolux, etc) in developing countries ( india) by blackmailing them of environmental friendliness then it shall have to sign Kyoto and then itself be a target of world.
– thus USA wants HFC to be a part of Montreal and not Kyoto
– mostly economics behind this decision and not environment

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DEHORNING RHINOS

– aaranyak- NGO and biological diversity conservTion group against it.
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ORDINANCE

Tags: executive heavy hand, excess, PMO, cabinet, ordinance, 123, TRAI

Ordinance:
– art 123

Misuse of ordinance:

TRAI amendment bill
– TRAI amendment bill to change the further employability of the TRAI chairman. Originally he cannot have any further employment in state or in any private telecom related company.
– Nripendra Misra who is now the principal secretary to PM was earlier TRAI chief.
– new rules say that after 2 year cooling off period , former TRAI chair can join any government post with permission from Central/state government

Negatives
– hampers the independence of the post of TRAI chairman.
– possible domino effect on other government posts and other statutory bodies’s chairperson.

PARLIAMENT FOR CRIMINALISATION OF POLITICS
– ordinance protecting politicians who have committed crimes to still run elections against the SC ruling for declaring ultra virus Section 8(4) of RPA.
– Rahul gandhi later rejected it saying that it was a miscalculated decision and should not have happened

HUMAN RIGHTS

Tags: human rights, HR, Alang, commissioner, nhrc, lop

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NHRC
– statutory body estab. In 1993 by “protection of human rights act”
-watchdog of human rights in india( constitutional rights, and international rights) that are enforceable by court of law.
– strengthen institutions for HR issues
– inquire into HR excesses independently of government.
– chief commissioner a retired Chief Justice of india
– 4 other members plus 4 ex-officious members. ( chair of NCW, NCSC, NCST, NCM)
– chair selected by 6 member body of pm, lop, lop(rajya sabha), home minister, speaker, deputy chair rajya sabha.
– term as 70/5.

– 2 fold function of :
(a) investigating/ enquiring into human rightrs excesses on suo-motu basis
(b) as a court to hear the decision of state government etc

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Suo Motu cases:

– Alang, ship breaking yard, human rights violation of workers the industry due to lack of safety measures and recent gas blast killing 5 labourers

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HIV LIFE SAVING DRUGS

– Taking suo-motu cognizance of mdeia reports that there is a shortage of HIV Life saving drugs in delhi and metros,

– NHRC says its a “VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS”

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RAJASTHAN ALIVE GIRL BURIED

– 2.5 years old alive girl buried

– female genocide common in that area

– NCPCR, NCHR, NCW all now involved

– “GLORIFACTION OF MURDER” as the girl was given incarnation of goddess status before being buried

– a SAMADHI was also built on her grave.

– ijn effect it is against Art 21, question is who shall be punished as the whole community was involved

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IRAN CASE

– 6 people who danced and sung on a William Pharrel Song “Happy” sentenced to 6 months and awarded 91 lashes each.

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg5qdIxVcz8

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MYANMAR ROHINGYA MUSLIMS

– Rohingya Muslims are minority in Rakhine State

– Myanamar Govt calls them Bengali as refugees/illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

– Over 1 million,

– Some Rohingyas from “Kaman Muslims minority” who are indigenous to Myanamar given citizenship.