Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

Editorials are covered separately. HINDU NOTES are available free date wise| CLICK HERE

Aadhaar not mandatory for getting pension: Govt

News:  The Aadhaar card is not mandatory for central government employees to get their pension, Minister of State for Personnel said.

Beyond News:

In 30th meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies here recently, the Aadhaar was an additional facility to enable the use of technology for submission of life certificate without the need for visiting banks, Minister said.

His assertion assumes significance as there were reports of some retired employees facing difficulty in getting the pension in the absence of Aadhaar linkage with their bank accounts.

The minister clarified that Aadhaar has not been made mandatory for getting pension for government employees, according to the minutes of the meeting.

Aadhaar is a 12-digit number, issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), that acts as identification and address proof.

There are about 48.41 lakh central government employees and 61.17 lakh pensioners.

Minister cited various initiatives started by the central government for the welfare of its employees and pensioners.

For instance, minimum pension has been increased to ₹9,000, ceiling of gratuity has been increased to ₹20 lakh, fixed medical allowance has been increased to ₹1,000 per month,the minister said.

V.K. Singh makes surprise visit to North Korea

News:

Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. (Retd.) V.K.Singh has reached Pyongyang for talks with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) government, the official Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported.

Beyond News:

During the visit on May 15-16, that was previously unannounced, Mr. Singh met with DPRK Vice President Kim Yong Dae, and the Foreign and Culture ministers on “a range of issues covering political, regional, economic, educational and cultural cooperation between the two countries,” a statement from the MEA said.

According to the statement, DPRK officials discussed recent peace initiatives with the Republic of Korea (South Korea) as well as proposed talks with the United States. Mr. Singh raised the issue of DPRK links with Pakistan.

 Minister highlighted the threat from nuclear proliferation, in particular India’s concerns in the context of the proliferation linkages with India’s neighbourhood. The DPRK side emphasized that as a friendly country DPRK will never allow any action that would create concerns for India’s security,” the statement added.

The visit by Gen. Singh, and the secrecy surrounding it suggests that India is trying to quietly rebuild ties with the reclusive regime, ostracised by most of the world due to its defiance of UNSC norms on nuclear weapons. In the past year, India had joined the U.S. and allies in statements “deploring” nuclear tests and ballistic missile tests by the DPRK, although it had earlier refrained from similarly strong language.

In March 2017, the government even issued a gazette notification instituting major restrictions on any trade with North Korea other than essentials like food and medicines.

Railways to install ‘panic button’ in trains for women safety

News: With a view to strengthen security of women passengers in trains, the North Eastern Railway (NER) plans to deploy women police personnel on trains during night hours as well as install ‘panic buttons’ in coaches.

Beyond News:

Currently, women passengers have to depend on either on helpline numbers by call or SMS, or on chain-pulling in emergency situation, but with this system immediate action can be taken, he said.

Among the other measures proposed to ensure women safety are having a different colour on the coaches earmarked for women for easy identification, wire mesh in windows of ladies coaches.

Railways also proposes month-wise calendar of activities with focus on women security and gender sensitisation and upgradation of all-India security helpline.

It also proposes CCTV cameras in women coaches of sub-urban trains with live feed if possible, CCTV cameras on platforms to cover ladies coaches during halt of trains, amendment in the Railways Act to ensure enhanced punishment for offences pertaining to women, he said.

It also intend special drive under the Railways Act to prosecute offenders.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Scientists have developed a flexible, honey-comb like material could eliminate pollution

News: Scientists have developed a flexible, 3D porous material that mimics the shape of a honeycomb and could help filtering air to remove pollutants or viruses.

Beyond News:

Both the lattice of a honeycomb and the symmetry of a diatom are complex living structures comprising patterns and shapes that have long provided inspiration for scientists.

One recent application is to develop artificial hierarchical porous materials that are stable, yet have a large surface area and the ability to selectively extract materials. It has been difficult however to build these structures at the nano scale due to their complexity and pattern repeatability across scales from the individual compartments to the whole structure.

A team from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, has proposed a simple method that, in just five minutes, can produce a flexible film with a complex hierarchical structure that has repeating patterns of interconnected, regularly shaped pores.

By using this method they create an important platform to design artificial porous materials that replicate highly ordered porous and complex systems mimicking nature.

These have potential use for separations, such as virus filtration, and for biological scaffolds, such as those used for bone regeneration.

In search of a threatened species

1. Desert National Park, Thar Desert, Rajasthan

Covering an area of more than 3,000 sq.km., the Desert National Park is spread across Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan.

Forming a part of the great Thar Desert, this Park has a good number of Indian bustards, among the largest numbers in the country. And for this reason, it has become the most important site for the long-term survival of this threatened species. The Park also welcomes the migrant Houbara Bustard and several other bird species.

2. Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Gujarat

Spreading across two sq.km. in the Abdusa Taluka near Nalia in Kutch, the sanctuary is dominated by vast swathes of grasslands, making it an ideal habitat for this critically endangered species.

Declared a sanctuary way back in 1992, it is one of the few places today in the country to spot the bird. The region is home to several other endangered animals and birds.

3. Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Maharashtra

Also known as the Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary of Maharashtra, this sanctuary is located in Ninnaj, over 20 km from the city of Solapur.

The sanctuary was established in 1979, after conservationists who spotted these birds in large numbers in the region called for the need to conserve them. However, it has been felt that after the formation of the sanctuary – sprawling over 8,000 sq.km. dominated by grasslands – not much has been done to preserve the bird. As if proof of this, as recent as late 2016, only one bird remained in the sanctuary, and unconfirmed reports suggest that today those sprawling grasslands are home to perhaps not a single bustard.

Threats for Indian Bustard

The bustard numbers earlier reduced drastically due to hunting, both in India and Pakistan.

However, over the years the mortality due to hunting has reduced, but the birds face other severe threats – habitat loss and degradation.

Both these occur predominantly due to agricultural expansion, infrastructure development and ill-informed habitat management.

CLICK HERE TO SEE DATE WISE CURRENT AFFAIRS.