Hindu Notes from General Studies-01

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Tribal festival begins

News

• A two-day tribal festival organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute, got under way in the city.

Objective of the festival

• The objective of the festival is to create awareness, promotion and dissemination of tribal culture and traditions.
• Besides, it is also expected to generate awareness of the richness and the diversity of the tribal culture among the urban population.
• A release said such festivals also help provide the Scheduled Tribe communities an opportunity to conduct cultural activities and showcase the same to the public.
• About 45 tribal communities from Mysuru, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru are participating in the festival.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

Karnataka takes historic decision to have separate State flag

News

• Karnataka government took a historic decision to have separate State flag.

Beyond News

• The decision was taken at a meeting convened by Chief Minister to discuss the recommendations of the nine-member flag committee.
• The committee had recommended yellow, red and white with the State emblem in the middle.
• The meeting was attended by representatives of Kannada organisations, littérateurs and official representatives.
• Chief Minister said that, the “government, which felt the need of having separate flag, lent voice to the demand by setting up expert committee to decide on colour and emblem of the State flag.”
• In the tri-colour Stage flag, white symbolises peace with State emblem. While yellow symbolises the auspiciousness and well-being of Kannadigas, the red colour symbolises courage.
• If centre agrees to the proposal, Karnataka will be second state in the country to have a separate State flag, after Jammu and Kashmir. This is due to J&K’s special status under the Constitution.

Free education for girls from April 1

News

• Free education for girls from primary level to post-graduation — which was announced in the budget will be implemented from April 1.

Beyond News

• Chief Minister reiterated his budget promises such as free bus passes for students, and also spoke about the free laptop scheme for first-year students.

Higher Education Minister said the State government would set up 16 new residential degree colleges to help students from economically weak backgrounds complete their higher education.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Scientists discover antibiotic-producing bacterium

News

• A novel species of a bacterium that produces antibiotic has been discovered .

Beyond News

• The newly discovered bacterium, Planctopirus hydrillae, may provide a solution to the problem of diseases becoming resistant to a majority of known drugs.
• The new bacteria would also clean up ammonia waste, a growing environmental concern.
• Scientists have been striving hard to find drugs to overcome the challenge of antimicrobial resistance in the wake of disease-causing germs failing to respond to even the most potent antibiotics.
• In this scenario, the discovery of antibiotic- producing Planctomycete may help in the development of a new drug.
• The bacterium was isolated from aquatic plant Hydrilla.

TNERC suggests 30% lower tariff for wind, solar power

News:

• A consultative paper of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has suggested a benchmark tariff of Rs. 2.86 per unit for wind energy and Rs. 3.11 per unit for solar energy, an over 30% fall from previously fixed tariffs.

Beyond News:

• The suggested tariffs are also cheaper than thermal power, whose average cost is Rs. 4 per unit.
• States are also procuring wind and solar energy through competitive bidding, a process which could drive the prices even lower than the benchmark rates.
• The consultative paper has fixed a rate of Rs. 2.86 per unit without accelerated depreciation and Rs. 2.80 per unit with accelerated depreciation benefits [for wind energy].
• Reports broadly suggest reduction in the prices of wind power turbines to an extent of 20% in the last two years.
• The recent auctions show that the developers have adopted a combination of various factors that have brought down the per unit price of wind energy.

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