Daily Current Affairs
To the Point Notes
1: Mission Mausam: Enhancing India’s Weather Readiness
Context:
- Cabinet approves “Mission Mausam” for a more weather-ready and climate-smart Bharat.
About Mission Mausam:
- Two-year initiative under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Financial outlay of ₹2,000 crore.
- Spearheaded by India Meteorological Department (IMD), IITM, and National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).
Key Components:
- Expanding research in atmospheric sciences.
- Focusing on weather surveillance, forecasting, and modeling.
- Integrating advanced technologies like AI, ML, and high-performance computing.
Importance:
- Enhanced weather observation systems and improved forecasts (monsoon, air quality, extreme weather).
- Benefits sectors like agriculture, disaster management, and health.
2: TAPI Pipeline Project
Context:
- Afghanistan government announces commencement of work on $10 billion TAPI gas pipeline.
About TAPI:
- Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline project.
- Aims to transport 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually.
- Pipeline spans approximately 1,800 kilometers.
- Passes through Herat, Kandahar (Afghanistan), Balochistan (Pakistan), and terminates in Fazilka, Punjab (India).
Significance:
- Meets growing energy needs of South Asia.
- Pakistan and India each receive 42% of gas supplies, Afghanistan receives 16%.
- Afghanistan benefits from transit fees (estimated at $500 million annually).
- Enhances regional cooperation, boosts energy security, and promotes economic development.
3: Expansion of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)
Key Points:
- Union Cabinet Approval: The Union Cabinet has approved extending AB PM-JAY health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income.
- Benefits for Senior Citizens: Eligible seniors will receive a distinct card for accessing benefits. Those already covered will get an additional Rs. 5 lakh annual top-up.
- Options for Other Health Insurance: Seniors covered under other public health insurance schemes can choose to retain their existing coverage or opt for AB PM-JAY.
- About AB PM-JAY: It’s the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, providing Rs. 5 lakh annual coverage per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations.
- Eligibility: Based on SECC 2011, implemented in 33 States/UTs except Delhi, West Bengal, and Odisha.
- Expenses Covered: Up to 3 days pre-hospitalization and 15 days post-hospitalization expenses. No restrictions on family size, age, or gender. Covers all pre-existing conditions.
- Achievements: Facilitated over 7.37 crore hospital admissions, benefiting 55 crore individuals. Initially covered 10.74 crore families, expanded to 12 crore in January 2022. Recent extension includes free healthcare for 37 lakh ASHAs, AWWs/AWHs.
4: PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme
Context:
- Union Cabinet approves PM E-DRIVE scheme to promote electric vehicles in India.
About PM E-DRIVE:
- Replaces FAME India Phase II.
- Implemented by Ministry of Heavy Industries with a total outlay of Rs 10,900 crore over two years.
- Focuses on promoting electric buses, trucks, and ambulances.
- Electric cars for private or shared mobility are not covered.
Key Components:
- Subsidies/Demand incentives worth Rs 3,679 crore for e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-ambulances, e-trucks, and other EVs.
- Supports 24.79 lakh e-2Ws, 3.16 lakh e-3Ws, and 14,028 e-buses.
- Allocates Rs 500 crore for deployment of e-ambulances.
- Allocates Rs 4,391 crore for procurement of 14,028 e-buses by STUs/public transport agencies.
- Allocates Rs 500 crore for incentivizing e-trucks with scrapping certificates.
- Proposes installation of 22,100 fast chargers for e-4 Ws, 1800 for e-buses, and 48,400 for e-2W/3Ws.
- Outlay of Rs 2,000 crore for electric vehicle public charging stations (EVPCS).
Significance:
- Promotes efficient, competitive, and resilient EV manufacturing industry.
- Incorporates a phased manufacturing program (PMP) to encourage domestic manufacturing and strengthen EV supply chain.
- Addresses environmental pollution and fuel security concerns.
- Promotes sustainable transportation solutions.
- Creates significant employment opportunities along the value chain.
Other Initiatives for Electric Vehicle Mobility:
- Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024 (EMPS): Provides incentives to buyers of e-2W and e-3W.
- Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component Industry (PLI-AAT): Incentivizes various categories of electric vehicles.
- Production Linked Incentive Scheme for manufacturing of Advanced Chemistry Cell (PLI-ACC): Attracts investments in EV manufacturing.
- Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars: Attracts investments from global EV manufacturers and promotes India as a manufacturing destination for e-vehicles.
5: Salt Pans
Context:
- Union Government approves transfer of 256 acres of salt pan land in Mumbai to Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL).
- Faces criticism from opposition leaders and environmentalists due to environmental concerns.
About Salt Pans:
- Low-lying lands where seawater flows in and leaves behind salt and other minerals.
- Play a crucial role in protecting the city from flooding, along with mangroves.
- Fall under CRZ-1B category (ecologically sensitive) as per Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.
- No economic activity allowed except salt extraction and natural gas exploration.
- Nationally, around 60,000 acres of salt pan lands exist in states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, and Karnataka.
- Andhra Pradesh has the largest expanse of salt pan land, followed by Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
6: National Florence Nightingale Awards 2024
Context:
- President of India conferred National Florence Nightingale Awards 2024 to Nurses at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
About National Florence Nightingale Awards:
- Instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1973.
- Recognizes meritorious services rendered by nurses and nursing professionals to society.
- Each award consists of a Certificate of Merit, Cash Award of Rs. 1,00,000/-, and a medal.
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