1. MoU signed by Ministry and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)
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The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25.
An Overview of the News
The collaboration aims to uplift sanitation workers, manual scavengers, waste pickers and their dependents across India.
The MoU focuses on inclusive growth and effective fund allocation for targeted welfare programmes.
The partnership emphasizes initiatives on protection, education, skill development, entrepreneurship and sustainable employment opportunities for these marginalized communities.
NSKFDC, a premier organization dedicated to this purpose, will work closely with the Ministry to ensure transparent and effective utilization of the allocated funds.
The goal is to combine expertise and resources for effective implementation of programs that empower these marginalized groups.
About NSKFDC
Establishment: Incorporated on 24 January 1997
Managing Director: Prabhat Kumar Singh
Affiliation: Wholly owned by Government of India
Ministry: Operates under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (M/O SJ&E)
Legal Status: Registered as a non-profit company under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956
Function: Active since October 1997, working for the upliftment of sanitation workers, sweepers and their dependents across India.
Mission: Actively involved in the eradication of manual scavenging, a symbol of untouchability.
2. CM MK Stalin launches construction of South East Asia's largest desalination plant at Perur, Chennai
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Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated the Rs 4,276.44 crore desalination plant at Perur on 21 August 2023.
An Overview of the News
Development of Southeast Asia's largest desalination plant begins.
Funding is provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The project covers 85.51 acres of land, which is targeted to be completed by 2026.
Innovative Water Treatment Technologies:
Advanced Methods: Dissolved Air Flotation and Dual Media Filtration.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines extend up to 1,150 meters into the sea.
59 km long drinking water pipeline up to Porur area.
Augmentation of water supply and distribution:
Enhanced supply: 400 MLD additional water after completion of the plant.
To meet the water needs of: 22.67 lakh people in Chennai and surrounding areas.
Beneficiary Areas: Chennai, Tambaram, Kovilanchery, Perumbakkam, Kolappakkam, Vandalur.
Desalination Plant Network of Chennai:
Fourth desalination facility for the water demands of Chennai.
Inaugurated Plant: 100 MLD Capacity, Minjur, July 31, 2010.
Nemmeli Desalination Plant: 100 MLD, foundation stone laid on 23 February 2010.
Ongoing construction: 150 MLD desalination plant at Nemmeli.
Publicity and Communication:
CMWSSB made a video to highlight the characteristics of plants.
Video shared with a wide consumer base for information dissemination.
3. Assam's International Airport Becomes 1st Airport In Northeast India To Launch 'Digi Yatra' Facility
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Guwahati's popular Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LBBI) has become the first airport in Northeast India to launch a 'Digi Yatra' facility.
An Overview of the News
The innovative service aims to enhance the air travel experience in the region by streamlining airport processes.
Cooperation and Objectives:
The 'Digi Yatra' initiative is a collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation with the goal of modernizing and improving air travel.
It aims to revolutionize passenger navigation through airports, making it more intuitive and convenient.
Major Areas of Implementation:
The 'Digi Yatra' service has been implemented in three main areas of the airport: entry points, check-in counters, and boarding zones.
Traditional long queues and delays during check-in and security procedures are expected to come down significantly.
Facial Recognition Technology:
The core of the 'Digi Yatra initiative is the use of facial recognition technology for seamless airport travel.
This eliminates the need for traditional methods of ticket verification and ID checking.
Security and Privacy Measures:
Passenger data is encrypted and stored in the passenger's smartphone wallet, ensuring privacy.
No personally identifiable information (PII) is stored during the process.
Industries and Commerce Minister of Assam - Chandra Mohan Patowary
About Assam:
It is a state located in the northeastern region of India. It is bounded by Bhutan in the north, Arunachal Pradesh in the east, Nagaland in the northeast, Manipur in the southeast, Mizoram in the south, and West Bengal in the west.
Formation (as a state) - 26 January 1950
Capital - Dispur
Chief Minister - Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor - Gulab Chand Kataria
4. Parliament passed the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023
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The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was recently passed by the Parliament after approval from the Lok Sabha. It is a historic moment as the Cinematograph Act is being amended after a gap of 40 years, with the last significant changes being made in 1984.
An Overview of the News
The primary objective of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill is to combat film piracy in a big way, as it is causing an estimated loss of Rs 20,000 crore to the film industry.
The government wants to protect and promote the growth of the film industry, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who sees India as a global content hub.
Measures to Curb Piracy
The bill introduces strict penalties for piracy-related offences to deter unauthorized recording, exhibition, and transmission of films, including online piracy.
Offenders will face a minimum imprisonment of 3 months and a fine of Rs. 3 lakhs, with the possibility of extended imprisonment up to 3 years and a fine of up to 5% of the audited gross production cost.
Empowerment of Film Industry
The bill eliminates the need to renew a film's licence every 10 years, making the licence valid for a lifetime.
This move streamlines the licensing process and reduces bureaucratic hurdles for filmmakers.
Improved Film Certification Process
Age-Based Certification: The bill introduces age-based categories for film certification, dividing the existing UA category into three age groups: seven years (UA 7+), thirteen years (UA 13+), and sixteen years (UA 16+).
These age markers are meant for parental guidance to help determine suitable content for children.
Alignment with Supreme Court Judgements
The bill aligns the law with relevant Supreme Court judgments and other legislations, providing a consistent legal framework for the film industry.
Perpetual Validity of Certificates
Certificates issued by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) will now be valid perpetually, removing the previous 10-year restriction.
TV Broadcast and Recertification
Only films under the Unrestricted Public Exhibition category can be shown on television.
Films intended for television broadcast will require recertification of edited versions.
5. 'Meri Mati Mera Desh' campaign to be launched before Independence Day
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On 30 July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of the 'Meri Mati Mera Desh' campaign to honour the martyred heroes ahead of Independence Day.
An Overview of the News
Campaign announcement: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of 'Meri Mati Mera Desh' campaign before Independence Day. The campaign aims to honour the martyred men and women of the country.
Nationwide Programs: During the ongoing Amrit Mahotsav celebrations across the country, several programs will be organised in the memory of the martyrs.
Inscriptions in Gram Panchayats: Special inscriptions will be put up in lakhs of Gram Panchayats to pay tribute to the sacrifice of the martyrs.
Amrit Kalash Yatra: 'Amrit Kalash Yatra' will be organised across the country, in which soil will be brought in 7500 kalash from every nook and corner of India to make 'Amrit Vatika' near the National War Memorial.
Oath for the Future: Participating in the 'Meri Mati Mera Desh' campaign involves taking an oath to fulfil the 'Panch Sankalp' or 'Panch Prana' for the next 25 years of Amrit Kaal.
Selfie with the sacred soil: People are encouraged to upload selfies on yuva.gov.in while taking the oath and holding the sacred soil of the country.
'Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan' continues, urging citizens to hoist the national flag at every house.
Innovative efforts to combat drug abuse in J&K, Chandigarh and Punjab.
Return of valuable ancient artefacts by the US government.
Women of Niti Mana Valley are making beautiful artefacts from Bhojpatra.
Changes in the Haj policy have allowed women to perform Haj without a male companion.
6. UNESCO urges global ban on smartphones in schools to promote human-centred education approach
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) published its 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report titled "Technology in Education: A Tool on Whose Terms", which supports a worldwide ban on smartphones in schools where technology integration Does not improve learning outcomes.
An Overview of the News
UNESCO advocates a more "human-centred approach" to education and highlights the need to reduce reliance on digital technology.
Excessive use of smartphones has negative effects on children's academic performance and emotional competence.
UNESCO's Manos Antoninis raised concerns about data leaks in educational technology, revealing that only 16 percent of countries have laws guaranteeing data privacy in the classroom.
The shift to online-only learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the loss of approximately 500 million students worldwide.
The report emphasises that the right to education is increasingly linked to meaningful connectivity. One in four primary schools do not have access to electricity, making it important to set standards for connecting schools to the Internet.
The survey conducted by UNESCO reveals that only 11 out of 51 governments have implemented a curriculum for artificial intelligence (AI) in schools.
About UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN)
It is also a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UN SDG), a coalition of United Nations agencies and organisations that aims to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Headquarters:- Paris, France
Director General: -Audrey Azoulay
Founded:- 16 November 1945 in London, United Kingdom
The organisation has -193 members and 11 associate members
7. Kerala to set up India's first fisheries Atal Incubation Centre
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After receiving a grant of ₹10 crore from NITI Aayog, the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) will set up India's first Atal Incubation Center (AIC) in fisheries.
An Overview of the News
NITI Aayog, as the premier policy think tank of the Government of India, provided a grant to KUFOS to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the fisheries sector.
The AIC initiative is part of the Atal Innovation Mission, which aims to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across various industries in the country.
Fisheries Atal Incubation Centre:
Fisheries Atal Incubation Centre will act as a focal point to foster innovation and inspire young individuals to create advanced technologies and solutions that will address challenges faced by our marine ecosystem and fishing communities .
Its primary objective is to promote progress in the fisheries industry by providing a supportive and encouraging environment for startups and innovative initiatives within the sector.
The centre will play a key role in creating employment opportunities, creating a conducive environment for startups and entrepreneurs to flourish and succeed.
Vice Chancellor of KUFOS - T. Pradeepkumar
About Kerala
Capital - Thiruvananthapuram
Official Bird - Great Hornbill
Governor - Arif Mohammad Khan
Chief Minister - Pinarayi Vijayan
Origin of rivers in Kerala
Periyar River
Bharathapuzha River
Pamba River
Chaliyar River
Chalakudy River
India's longest lake - Vembanad, Kerala
8. Naveen Patnaik holds the record for being India's second longest serving chief minister
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Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik holds the distinction of being the second longest serving Chief Minister in India.
An Overview of the News
Patnaik held the office of Chief Minister for an impressive period of 23 years and 138 days, assuming office on 5 March 2000.
In achieving this feat, he surpassed the previous record holder, former Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu, who served for 23 years and 137 days from June 21, 1977 to November 5, 2000.
The title of longest-serving Chief Minister is held by former Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling, who held the post for an even longer period of 24 years and 166 days.
Patnaik's journey in politics has been remarkable, and his turning point came when he was called on to lead the newly formed Biju Janata Dal on 17 April 1997, following the death of his father, former Chief Minister of Odisha, Biju Patnaik.
He began his political journey by winning the election from the Aska Lok Sabha constituency in his home district of Ganjam, marking the beginning of his successful leadership tenure.
Naveen Patnaik:
In 1998, Naveen Patnaik joined the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government at the Center as the Minister of Steel and Mines. However, he later decided to return to the state and contest the assembly elections in 2000.
Under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has achieved an impressive record of being undefeated in all elections including Lok Sabha, Assembly and Panchayat elections.
In 2000, Naveen Patnaik successfully formed a coalition government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha and became the 14th Chief Minister of the state on 5 March.
One of the most significant challenges Naveen Patnaik faced was in 2009 when communal violence in Kandhamal ended his alliance with the BJP.
In 2012, Naveen Patnaik faced an alleged political coup attempt organised by his advisor Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, which he successfully foiled.
9. Cinematograph Amendment Bill 2023 introduced in Rajya Sabha
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur introduced the Cinematograph Amendment Bill 2023 in the Rajya Sabha to deal with film piracy.
An Overview of the News
The primary objective of the Cinematograph Amendment Bill is to tackle film piracy, which has been a significant concern for the Indian film industry.
A report by Ernst & Young states that the Indian film industry suffered a huge loss of around Rs 18,000 crore in 2019 due to piracy.
In response to alarming piracy rates, the Indian government took action by proposing amendments to the existing Cinematograph Bill 1952.
The Cinematograph Bill 1952 is responsible for overseeing the certification and exhibition of films in India.
The proposed amendments are aimed at strengthening the regulatory framework and enhancing measures against film piracy.
About Piracy
It is the unauthorized copying, distribution or exhibition of films without the consent of the rights holders, which poses a significant challenge by affecting the revenue and overall quality of the Indian film industry.
Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023:
The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023 was introduced to effectively deal with the issue of piracy.
One of the key provisions of the Bill is to reclassify films on the basis of age groups instead of the existing system of 'U', 'A' or 'UA'. The proposed classification includes "UA-7+", "UA-13+" and "UA-16+", replacing the existing "UA-12" category.
The main objective behind the recategorization is to establish consistency in categorizing movies and content across different platforms.
The Bill, once enacted, would recognize theft as a legal offence, leading to stricter punishment for those responsible. Punishment for piracy will now include three years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakh.
Indian Cinematograph Bill 1952:
The Indian Cinematograph Bill of 1952 established censor boards in various cities, which were later reorganized as the Central Board of Film Censors and renamed the Central Board of Film Certification in 1983.
The primary objective of the Cinematograph Bill 1952 is to provide for a certification procedure for cinematograph films intended for public exhibition and to regulate such exhibitions.
The Cinematograph Bill 1952 also included the screening of film titles. Titles depicting excessive violence, obscene language, obscenity, contempt of court, insult to national symbols, or misrepresentation of personality or religion are prohibited.
10. Ministry of Culture and Indian Navy Collaborate to Revive “Ancient Stitched Shipbuilding Method (Tankai Method)”
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The Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy collaborated to revive the 2000-year-old 'Stitched Shipbuilding Method'.
An Overview of the News
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on July 18, 2023 for 'Stitched Shipbuilding Method'.
'Stitched Shipbuilding Method':
In traditional shipbuilding techniques, wooden planks are stitched together without the use of nails.
Provides flexibility and stability, making vessels resilient to shallows and sandbars.
This declined with the arrival of European ships but small fishing boats survived in some Indian coastal areas.
Indian Navy Participation
The Indian Navy oversees the project because of its expertise in maritime security and shipbuilding.
Its objective is to ensure the successful implementation of the ancient sewing method.
Cultural Values and Heritage
For India, the revival of a vanishing art has significant cultural value.
It is part of India's rich maritime heritage.
It aims to create a sea-going wooden stitched sailing ship showcasing traditional craftsmanship.
Exploration of Historic Sea Routes
The ship will ply on ancient sea routes using traditional navigational techniques.
The project seeks to gain insight into the historical interactions, exchange of culture, knowledge, traditions and technologies in the Indian Ocean.
Preservation of Maritime Memory
Its importance lies in preserving maritime memory and fostering a sense of pride in India's heritage.
Its objective is to promote cultural relations among the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean.
Documentation and Cataloging
Detailed documentation and cataloguing of the project to preserve valuable information for future generations.
