Jal Shakti Abhiyan
Context :
‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan’—is all set to combat the present health crisis and give a boost to the rural economy through its various components. This year owing to the COVID-19 emergency, and availability of large labour force in rural areas, the Abhiyan has started gearing up for the impending monsoon.
Last year Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched and it covered 256 water stressed districts across the country. This ‘Abhiyan’ is a mass movement to bring all the stakeholders under one ambit of water conservation drive, and last year it had a nationwide impact. Under this Abhiyan more than six and a half crore people became part comprising of State Govts, Central Govt, Civil Society Organisations, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Communities. More than seventy- five lakh traditional and other water bodies and tanks were renovated and around a crore water conservation & rainwater harvesting structures were created.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan :
As per the promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Ministry of Jal Shakti was formed on May 2019 to reduce the issues related to water scarcity in India. Soon after the announcement of Ministry of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced the commencement of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan on 1st July 2019. This was a campaign for water conservation and water security which continued from 1st July 2019 to 15th September 2019. This campaign mainly focused on the water-stressed districts.
As per Shri Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), the Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a collaborative campaign of various Ministries under the Government of India and the State Governments being coordinated by the DDWS. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan mainly focuses upon conservation of water in 1592 water-stressed blocks in 256 districts. It also ensures five important water conservation interventions:
- Rainwater harvesting
- Renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks
- Reuse bore well recharge structures
- Watershed development
- Intensive afforestation.
The Jal Shakti Abhiyan was also established to develop various Water Conservation Plans for Blocks and Districts, to promote efficient water use for irrigation and selection of better crops through Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
Eleventh Petersberg Climate Dialogue
Context :
The eleventh session of Petersberg Climate Dialogue witnessed India along with 30 other countries deliberating over ways and means to tackle the challenge of reinvigorating economies and societies after COVID-19, while enhancing collective resilience and catalysing climate action while also supporting in particular those most vulnerable.
Petersberg Climate Dialogue :
- It has been hosted by Germany since 2010 to provide a forum for informal high-level political discussions, focusing both on international climate negotiations and the advancement of climate action.
- The virtual XI Petersberg Climate Dialogue was co-chaired by Germany and the United Kingdom (UK) and was attended by about 30 countries including India.
- The UK is the incoming Presidency of the 26th Conference of Parties (COP 26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- COP 25 was held at Madrid, Spain in December 2019.
India’s Contributions in the Dialogue :
- India expressed solidarity with the world as it combats the Covid-19 pandemic and emphasised on adopting more sustainable consumption patterns in line with the requirement of sustainable lifestyles.
- India suggested having climate technology as an open source available to all countries at affordable prices.
- India stressed on climate finance and urged to plan for 1 trillion USD in grants to the developing world immediately.
- India highlighted its Nationally Determined Contributions spanning a ten-year time frame and in compliance with the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement.
- India focused on the opportunity to accelerate renewable energy deployment and create new green jobs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector.
source : pib
USCIRF ANNUAL REPORT-2020
Context :
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has downgraded India to the lowest ranking, “countries of particular concern” (CPC) in its 2020 report.
Highlights :
- The report, released in Washington by the federal government commission that functions as an advisory body, placed India alongside countries, including China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. India was categorised as a “Tier 2 country” in last year’s listing.
- This is the first time since 2004 that India has been placed in this category.
- According to the report, India took a sharp downward turn in 2019, which included specific concerns about the Citizenship Amendment Act, the proposed National Register for Citizens, anti-conversion laws and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Government of India reacted sharply to the USCIRF report on Tuesday, terming it “biased and tendentious” and rejected its observations.
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) :
- USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission, dedicated to defending the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad.
- The USCIRF is also an advisory body to the US Congress.
- USCIRF reviews the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.
- It is Headquartered at Washington DC.
NEW LIST OF NAMES OF TROPICAL CYCLONES OVER NORTH INDIAN OCEAN
Context :
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) released a new list of names of tropical cyclones over north Indian Ocean including Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, comprising of 169 names including 13 from India such as Gati, Tej, Aag, Neer, Vyom, Jhar and Jaladhi among others.
About:
- The current list has, in fact, 13 names each from all 13 member countries of the Regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) including Bangladesh, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
- The IMD being one of the six RSMCs in the world to provide tropical cyclone and storm surge advisories finalised the new list of 169 names.
Significance :
Naming of Tropical Cyclones helps the scientific community, disaster managers, media and general masses to
- identify each individual cyclone.
- create awareness of its development.
- remove confusion in case of simultaneous occurrence of TCs over a region
- remember a TC easily
- rapidly and effectively disseminate warnings to much wider audience
Once the last name (Amphan) of the previous list is used, the TCs thereafter will be known one-by-one as Nisarga (shared by Bangladesh), Gati (India), Nivar (Iran) in that order from the list of 169 names.
The other names from India in the new list include Murasu, Probaho, Prabhanjan, Ghumi, Ambud and Vega. The names of TCs over the north Indian Ocean are not repeated. Once used, it will cease to be used again.
source : pib
RAJA RAVI VARMA
Context :
April 29 is the birth anniversary of the famed Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906), remembered for giving Indians their western, classical representations of Hindu gods and goddesses.
About :
Raja Ravi Varma (1848 – 1906) is considered among the greatest painters in the history of Indian art. Varma was patronised by Ayilyam Thirunal, the next Maharaja of Travancore and began formal training thereafter.
A prolific artist, Varma is believed to have made around 7,000 paintings before his death at the age of 58. His most famous works include Damayanti Talking to a Swan, Shakuntala Looking for Dushyanta, Nair Lady Adorning Her Hair, and Shantanu and Matsyagandha.
Key highlights of his work :
- His works are held to be among the best examples of the fusion of European techniques with a purely Indian sensibility.
- Through his printing press, Varma’s humanised depiction of Hindu pantheon travelled beyond the surfaces of costly canvases, and into the prayer and living rooms of working-class homes.
- He was notable for making affordable lithographs of his paintings available to the public, which greatly enhanced his reach and influence as a painter and public figure.
- His depictions of Hindu deities and episodes from the epics and Puranas have received profound acceptance from the public and are found, often as objects of worship, across the length and breadth of India.
International Dance Day
Context :
International Dance Day is celebrated on 29 April. The day is observed to appreciate the art form. It encourages participation and education in dance. The day is celebrated with people from all over the world contributing to dance.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that people stay at homes and celebrate International Dance Day from their homes.
Aim :
The dance day promotes all dance forms throughout the world. It will also make people aware of the value of all the dance forms and bring attention to governments, leaders, and get support to enable the dance community to promote their artwork.
History :
The Dance Committee of International Theatre Institute (ITI) founded International Dance Day in 1982. ITI is the primary partner for the performing arts vertical of UNESCO. The day is celebrated every year on 29 April commemorating the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), creator of modern ballet. The day aims to celebrate dance, revel in the universality of this art form, cross all political, cultural, and ethnic barriers, and bring people together with a common language, dance.