Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

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Mission to make tribes literate

News:

• As many as 5,283 neo-literates, including 3634 women, from select tribal hamlets in the Wayanad district will appear for a preliminary literacy examination, organised by the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority (KSLMA) on Sunday.

Beyond News:

• The exams will be conducted in 283 tribal hamlets in the district.
• A three-month training programme was conducted in the hamlets for the purpose and two instructors were appointed in each hamlet to train the neo-literates.
• The tribal literacy project was executed in 283 tribal hamlets, of the total 2,226 tribal hamlets in the district, in the first phase three months ago.
• There are 1,51,443 members in 2,226 tribal hamlets in the district, But nearly 30,000 tribespersons are illiterate.
• The mission had conducted a survey prior to identifying the hamlets and preference was given to most backward hamlets of Paniya, Kattunayakka and Adiya sects of tribespersons in the first phase of the project.
• Those who pass the examination can appear for the Class 4 equivalency examination organised by the Mission.
• The project will be executed in other tribal hamlets too in a phased manner.

Vehicles to come with high security plates from Jan. 1

News:

• From January 1, 2019 onward, all classes of motor vehicles hitting the roads will come fitted with tamper-proof High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) that have a host of in-built security features.

Beyond News:

• They are expected to offer increased protection against theft.
• The HSRP was first made mandatory in some States 13 years ago but failed to take off.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) last week published new draft rules that make it mandatory for automobile manufacturers to provide, and dealers to affix, the “security licence plate, including the third registration mark” for all new vehicles manufactured on or after January 1 next year.
• HSRPs will come with a 15-year guarantee.

Laser-branded numbers:

• A chromium-based hologram will be applied by hot stamping on the top left corner of the number plates both at the front and back. A permanent identification number with a minimum of 10 digits will be laser-branded into the reflective sheeting on the bottom left of the registration plate.
• The permanent number will be preceded by two alphabets indicating the name of the vendor, manufacturer, or supplier, for whom the Type approval certificate was issued by the testing agencies.
• A third registration plate, in the form of a self-destructive, chromium-based hologram sticker will be affixed on the inner side of the vehicle’s windshield. The registering authority, registration number, laser-branded permanent number, the engine number and chassis number will all be in the sticker.
• The registration plate fitted in the rear of the vehicle will be fastened with a non-removable/non-reusable snap lock system. For enhanced security, two snap locks will be used in the HSRP affixed in the rear.

‘Sustainable growth should be a goal’

News:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the Commonwealth to put sustainable development and climate change, particularly of small island states, at the heart of its agenda, as India announced an increased funding for various Commonwealth initiatives and sought to take a leadership role in a renewed group.

Beyond News

• During the executive sessions that focussed on democracy and the rule of law, the international trading system, climate change and sustainable development goals, Mr. Modi spoke on the need in particular to give a greater role to the concerns of small island states.
• India has said that it would double its contribution to the Commonwealth’s small states offices in New York and Geneva to help them deal with multilateral areas of concern, a spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs said.
• Ahead of the summit, it was hoped that renewed interest from India will give new impetus and relevance to the organisation.
• After many years of active engagement with it, there was an eight-year period where no Indian Prime Minister had participated in a CHOGM, so the decision by Mr. Modi to attend the event was seen as a significant moment for the group.
• Security, counter terrorism, education, climate change and environmental issues were set to feature prominently in discussions, as well as opportunities to grow intra-Commonwealth trade to $700 billion by 2020, challenging rising protectionist sentiment globally.

CEOs raise retrospective tax, mobility issues with Indian, UK PM at “productive” forum

News

• The issue of retrospective taxation in India, and labour mobility in the U.K. were among the issues raised by Indian and British chief executives during a round-table discussion with the two Prime Ministers during the bilateral that took place.

Beyond News

• These issues, alongside recommendations on ways in which the countries could jointly enhance data protection, and collaborate on technology and innovation were discussed at the UK-India CEOs forum, attended by Narendra Modi and Theresa May.
• The discussion was part of a programme aimed at helping the countries resolve outstanding barriers to trade and investment, as well as look at opportunities and broader ways in which the two economies could take a leadership role in wider international challenges, through recommendations from top business leaders in the two countries.
• The forum, which involved about 30 CEOs from India and the U.K, took place on the bilateral leg of Mr. Modi’s visit to London for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
• Following discussions among the CEOs, the results of the discussions were presented to the two Prime Ministers, and a letter summarising the discussions and recommendations will also be sent to both leaders.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Turning crop residue into useful products

News:

• To come up with a solution to deal with air pollution in the Capital during the winter due to stubble burning, Kriya Labs, a start-up incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi has come up with a method to convert agro-waste into pulp that can be used to make bioethanol, paper and tableware.

Beyond News:

• The team said that, farmers currently burn rice straw in the field as it is a waste product. However, the process they have developed, will help farmers earn profits from this waste product, which when burnt in the farms of Punjab and Haryana brings down the air quality of the region.
• A solvent system developed by Kriya Labs for the process is completely biodegradable, non-volatile, made of natural products and completely safe to use. The start-up hopes to find manufacturers who will use this technology to provide a safe alternative to crop burning.
• Kriya Labs director, said their solution to the problem of stubble burning will not only ensure a pollution-free Delhi but create rural employment by creating wealth from waste and contribute to sustainable development by starting a bio-economy.
• Some of these products include an intelligent artificial leg, refreshable Braille display to enable digital access, waterless bathing solutions and a naso-filter that cuts out air pollution.

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