Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram
Context :
Promoting health and prevention of disease and risk factors is an important aspect of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram under the National Health Mission.
Various platforms being used to promote health and well-being of adolescents through Social and Behaviour Change Communication are as follows:
- Quarterly Adolescent Health Day
- Peer Educator Programme in the community and schools
Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram has the following components :
- The Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs) are established across various levels of public health institutions in all the States.
- Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) Programme is being implemented for school going adolescent boys and girls and out of school adolescent girls across the country.
- The Peer Educator Programme is being implemented in select 200 districts, based on Composite Health Index and identified as High Priority Districts (HPDs). Within, these districts, 50% of the blocks are beingcovered for implementation of Peer Educator Programme in entirety.
- Under the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme, funds are provided to the States/UTs for procurement of sanitary napkins for Adolescent Girls (aged 10-19 years) as per proposals received from them in their Annual Programme Implementation Plans.
Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) focuses on reaching out alladolescents include Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ).
Lok Sabha passes Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020
context :
Lok Sabha passes the The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 :
- The Bill is intended to carry out amendments to the Aircraft Act, 1934 (XXII of 1934).
- The Bill enhances the maximum limit of fine from the existing ₹10 lakhs to ₹one crore.
- It also enlarges the scope of the Act to include regulation of all areas of air navigation.
- The proposed amendments would fulfill the safety requirements of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). This will also enable the three regulatory bodies in the civil aviation sector in India—Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to become more effective.
- This (the Bill) will lead to enhancement in the level of safety and security of aircraft operations in the country
- A few other provisions would also be made part of the law that will also help in complying with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) requirements.
- The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 also provides for keeping “aircraft belonging to any armed forces of the Union, other than naval, from military or air force outside the purview” of the Aircraft Act, 1934.
- Other proposals include empowering BCAS or any authorised officer to issue directions, having designated officers for adjudging penalties and introducing a provision for compounding of offences.
The amendments would fulfill the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This will enable the three regulatory bodies in the Civil Aviation sector in India, namely Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau to become more effective, which will lead to enhancement in the level of safety and security of aircraft operations in the country.
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System
Context :
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has designed NavIC messaging system and developed a NavIC receiver.
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information System (INCOIS) is using this messaging system to broadcast emergency warning messages like cyclone, tsunami and high waves as and when it occurs and also for broadcasting of information of Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ).
Highlights :
- ISRO has transferred this technology to five industries in India to manufacture the receivers.
- ISRO has distributed about 250 units each to the State Fisheries Department of Kerala and Tamil Nadu for the use of fishermen.
- Distribution of NAVIC has to be implemented by the Department of Fisheries of the respective State Governments.
Madhya Pradesh (Floor test)
Context :
The Supreme Court asks Kamal Nath government ( Madhya Pradesh ) to perform floor test on 18 March 2020.
What is “floor test” :
- In parliamentary system, the government is made by a party or a group of parties i.e. a coalition, which has support of majority of elected members present in the house.
- A floor test is a motion through which the government of the day seeks to know whether it still enjoys the confidence of legislature.
- In this procedure, a CM appointed by the Governor can be asked to prove majority on the floor of the Legislative Assembly of the state.
- The chief minister has to move a vote of confidence and win a majority among those present and voting.
- If the confidence motion fails to pass, the chief minister has to resign.
- The idea behind a floor test is to ensure transparency in the constitutional process.
What is Composite “floor test”:
- If there is more than one person staking claim to form the government and the majority is not clear, the governor may call for a special session to see who has the majority.
- Some legislators may be absent or choose not to vote. In such a case, the majority is counted based on those present and voting
Voting process :
These are the modes by which voting can be conducted :
- Voice vote: In a voice vote, the legislators respond orally.
- Division vote: In case of a division vote, voting is done using electronic gadgets, slips or in a ballot box.
- Ballot vote: Ballot box is usually a secret vote – just like how people vote during state or parliamentary elections. The Supreme Court in its order on Friday rejected the Yeddurappa’s government’s request for a secret ballot.
Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2020
Context :
Parliament Passes Central Sanskrit Universities Bill 2020.
Highlights :
- A Bill to grant the status of Central universities to three deemed Sanskrit universities was passed by the Rajya Sabha .
- It gives Central status to the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in Delhi and the Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in Tirupati.
Background :
Lok Sabha passed the bill in December 2019 while it was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on March 02, 2020.
Indian scientists develop friction-reducing nanocomposite coatings to increase system life
Context :
Scientists from the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI) developed a process for size-selective deposition of nanocomposite coatings, which can reduce the friction of these dynamic systems.
Need :
The aerospace, defence, automobile, space devices are in need to reduce friction, wear, and tear caused in the device in order to enhance the life of components. At present, to reduce friction, the dynamic systems are lubricated, which adds to the cost, complexity, and weight of these systems.
Nanocomposite coatings :
- The newly developed coating is of nickel tungsten-based with impregnation of particular sized Silicon Carbide (SiC) submicron particles. It uses economical and straightforward pulsed electroplating or electrodeposition process.
- It can provide an excellent combination of wear and corrosion resistance with the low friction coefficient and good oil retention capacity.
- The coating can withstand corrosion due to salt spray better than many similar wear-resistant coatings available in the market.
ARCI :
ARCI was established in 1997. It functions under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, GoI. It is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana. ARCI is mandated to develop High-Performance Materials and Processes for Niche Markets, demonstrate technologies at Prototype/pilot scale, and transfer of Technology to Indian Industry. The centre is chaired by Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Former Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Mumbai.
source : pib