Current Affair 1:

Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)

 

I have tried to cover lot of points.

What is the objective of scheme?

The objective of the scheme is to enable MPs to recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on the locally felt needs to be taken up in their Constituencies. Right from inception of the Scheme, durable assets of national priorities viz. drinking water, primary education, public health, sanitation and roads, etc. are being created.

Read all the points given below. Directly we are taking from guidelines.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has been responsible for the policy formulation, release of funds and prescribing monitoring mechanism for implementation of the Scheme.

1. The Government of India informs the State Nodal Department about the MPLADS funds released to the District Authorities.
2. The District Authorities report the status of MPLADS implementation to the Government of India and State Nodal Department.

1. The MPLADS is a Plan Scheme fully funded by Government of India. The annual MPLADS fund entitlement per MP constituency is Rs. 5 crores.
2. If a Lok Sabha Constituency is spread over more than one District, the Member of Parliament can choose any one of the Districts as Nodal District in his/her constituency.
3. The Rajya Sabha MP can choose any District in his/her State of Election as Nodal District.
4. Nominated Members of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can choose any District in the country as Nodal District.

 

 

1. Minimum funds mandatorily transferred in the development of Areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe.

1. The District Authorities should maintain information and data on implementation of the

provision for SC/ST areas and also furnish the same on quarterly basis to the nodal department of the State Government.

1. Natural & Man-made Calamities: MPLADS works can also be implemented in the areas prone to or affected by the calamities like floods, cyclone, Tsunami, earthquake, hailstorm, avalanche, cloud burst, pest attack, landslides, tornado, drought, fire, chemical, biological and radiological hazards.
2. District Collector/District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner will generally be the District Authority to implement MPLADS in the district.
3. The District Authority shall make the selection of an appropriate Implementing Agency through which a particular work recommended by an MP would be executed;
4. The selection of the Implementing Agency shall be undertaken in accordance with the State Government rules/guidelines applicable for the purpose.
5. Provided that for certain works in certain Central Government Ministries/Organizations (like Railways) where the Implementing Agency has necessarily to be the concerned Central Government Ministry/Organization, the same shall be selected as the Implementing Agency.

 

Just have a look:

Current Affair 2:

What are the reasons for low oxygen levels in the water?

 

Dissolved oxygen – oxygen molecules dissolved in water – is a major indicator of water quality. Like the air we breathe, the survival of aquatic life depends on a sufficient level of oxygen dissolved in water. When it drops below levels necessary for sustaining aquatic life, it becomes a significant water quality impairment, often referred to as low dissolved oxygen (DO).

Current Affair 3:

The concept of bye-election:

 

Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 mandates the Election Commission to fill the casual vacancies in the Houses of Parliament and State Legislatures through bye elections within six months from the date of occurrence of the vacancy, provided that the remainder of the term of a member in relation to a vacancy is one year or more.

See one example of Legislative Assembly, what provision in RPA, 1951 says:

Current Affair 4:

About National Food Security Act

 

National Food Security Act, 2013 was notified on 10th September, 2013 with the objective to provide for food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity.

1. Priority households are entitled to 5 kgs of food grains per person per month, and Antyodaya households to 35 kgs per household per month. The combined coverage of Priority and Antyodaya households (called “eligible households”) shall extend “up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population”.

1. For children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years, the Bill guarantees an age-appropriate meal, free of charge, through the local anganwadi. For children aged 6-14 years, one free mid-day meal shall be provided every day (except on school holidays) in all schools run by local bodies, government and government aided schools, up to Class VIII. For children below six months, “exclusive breastfeeding shall be promoted”.

1. Every pregnant and lactating mother is entitled to a free meal at the local anganwadi (during pregnancy and six months after childbirth) as well as maternity benefits of Rs 6,000, in instalments.

1. The Central Government is to determine the state-wise coverage of the PDS, in terms of proportion of the rural/urban population. Then numbers of eligible persons will be calculated from Census population figures.

1. The identification of eligible households is left to state governments, subject to the scheme’s guidelines for Antyodaya, and subject to guidelines to be “specified” by the state government for Priority households.

1. The Act provides for the creation of State Food Commissions. Each Commission shall consist of a chairperson, five other members and a member-secretary (including at least two women and one member each from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes).

The main function of the State Commission is to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the act, give advice to the states governments and their agencies, and inquire into violations of entitlements (either suo motu or on receipt of a complaint, and with “all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908”). State Commissions also have to hear appeals against orders of the District Grievance Redressal Officer and prepare annual reports to be laid before the state legislature.

1. The Centre should provide all possible resource and funds to prevent scarcity.

1. Obligation of Local Authorities:

1. Food security to people living in hilly areas:

Current Affair 5:

Advantages of Na-ion batteries

 

Basically here, you have read about advantages of Na-ion batteries.

Scientists have used nano-materials to develop Na-ion-based batteries and supercapacitors, which can be rapidly charged and have integrated them in e-cycles. The low-cost Na-ion-based technologies would be cheap and are expected to reduce the cost of the e-cycles significantly.

Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries have triggered academic and commercial interest as a possible complementary technology to lithium-ion batteries because of the high natural abundance of sodium and the consequent low costs of Na-ion batteries.

These sodium materials are cheaper than Li-based materials, high performing, and can be scaled up to industrial-level production.

The Na-ion cell can also be totally discharged to zero volt, similar to a capacitor, making it a safer option in comparison to many other storage technologies.

Na-ion batteries can be charged rapidly.

With further development, the price of these vehicles can be brought down to the range of Rs. 10-15 K, making them nearly 25% cheaper than Li-ion storage technologies-based e-cycles.

As disposal strategies of Na-ion-based batteries would be simpler, it can also help in addressing the climate mitigation issue.

 

 

 

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