PIB Analysis : 20th and 21st January

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PIB Analysis for UPSC CSE

Topics Covered

  1. Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas
  2. Chhatra Vishwakarma Awards and Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) Awards
  3. Kinnara Akhara
  4. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission

1 . Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas

Prime Minister to inaugurate 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Convention in Varanasi on 22 January, 2019

About Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas

  • The decision to celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) was taken by the former Indian Prime Minister, late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
  • The 1st PBD was celebrated on 9th January, 2003 in New Delhi. January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate PBD as it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, had returned to India from South Africa.
  • PBD now celebrated once in every two years, provides a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and reconnect with their roots. 
  • During the Convention, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman is conferred on the selected overseas Indians for their significant contributions to various fields both in India and abroad. 

Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2019

  • For the first time, it will be a three day long convention organized in Varanasi 
  • The theme of PBD Convention 2019 is “Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India”. 

2 . Chhatra Vishwakarma Awards and Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) Awards

Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu Presents Chhatra Vishwakarma Awards and Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) Awards

ChhatraVishwakarma Awards

  • The ChhatraVishwakarma Awards are inspired by the spirit of engineering and creation patronized by Lord Vishwakarma, the ruling deity of construction practices in India.
  • The Awards are aimed for motivating young individuals, inspiring leaders and institutions/ organizations to recognize and applaud the innovations and achievements of individuals as well as institutions.
  • This year AICTE in association with Engineering Council of India (ECI) and the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) announced the 2nd AICTE-ECI-ISTE ChhatraVishwakarma Awards 2018 under the theme “Empowerment of Villages through Technologies”.

Sansad Adarsh GramYojana (SAGY) Awards

  • Sansad Adarsh GramYojana (SAGY) was launched in October 2014 with the aim to translate the comprehensive vision of Mahatma Gandhi of an ideal Indian village. Under the scheme, Member of Parliament adopted Gram Panchayats for its holistic progress.
  • AICTE has encouraged institutes located in proximity of villages which can be supported under the scheme. These institutes have been working hard to develop the adopted villages. 
  • AICTE has instituted the SAGY Award with an aim to motivate, recognize and honor the institutions under the theme “Developed Village-Developed Nation” to raise their performance in the specific domains leading to significant contribution for the growth and development of villages and Country as well

3 . Kinnara Akhara

About Akharas

  • The word akhara came from the word akhand which means indivisible
  • The akharas were formed following efforts by the eighth century Hindu seer Adi Shankaracharya to unite organisations of ascetics to protect the sanatan way of life.
  • Each akhara houses followers of similar religious customs, views and ideologies, who specialise in both scriptures and armaments.
  • According to Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) akharas may be categorised into three categories based on the deities they worship Shaiva, Vaishnava and Udaseen.
  • Of the 13 akharas, seven are Shaiva and three each are Vaishnava and Udaseen
  • In terms of strength, Juna Akhara is the largest, followed by Niranjani and Mahanirvani Akharas. 

Kinnar Akhara

  • Kinnar Akhara, a group of transgender saints pursuing religious activities has emerged as a very significant feature at Prayagraj Kumbh.
  • Akhara has provided a forum to transgenders to pursue a dignified life with religious rituals.
  • Juna Akhara a traditional powerful Akhara of Sanyasi saints and seers has given the recognition to Kinnar Akhara and has allowed to be part of Shahi Snan procession

Shahi Snan

  • Shahi Snan (Royal Bath) is the holy bath that is taken by the Saints of different Akharas (religious groups) in the sacred river before any other Hindu pilgrims.
  • It is one of the rituals of the fair that the common people can take the bath in holy rivers; Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati confluence after the holy men in these akharas have taken a dip. 
  1. 1st Shahi Snan: Makar Sankranti- This day considered a particular delight because the sun enters Tropic of Cancer and the days become longer and night short. They believed that on this day the doors of heaven from the earth open open and by taking a bath here, the soul gets liberation with ease.
  2. 2nd Shahi Snan: Paush Purnima- It is believed that taking holy dips on Paush Purnima at the banks of River Ganga and Yamuna can purify souls, relieved from all sins and can attain Moksha(Salvation) after death. Many devotes firmly believed that God grant all their wishes.
  3. 3rd Shahi Snan: (Main Royal Bath) Mauni Amavasya- Mauni Amavasya is believed to be the day when the universe was created, on the auspicious day the water in the holy river of Ganges turns nectar and also that the Gods resides in the holy water. A vow of complete silence is observed on this day known as Maun Vrat. 
  4. 4th Shahi Snan: Basant Panchami- Basant Panchami marks the beginning of the spring season and is celebrated as the fifth day of Spring Season . It is also celebrated by worshipping Hindu Goddess of knowledge and wisdom, Saraswati. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus bathe at the Holy river to pay their respect.
  5. 5th Shahi Snan: Maghi Purnima- It is believed that taking holy dip on Maghi Purnima will cure diseases, solve all sort of problems and relieves a person’s sin. 
  6. 6th Shahi Snan: Mahashivratri- It is the last day of the Kumbh Mela. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati on Mahashivratri.

4 . Central Electricity Regulatory Commission

Power Minister administers oath of Office to new CERC Member Shri Indu Shekhar Jha

Shri Lalchharliana Pachuau appointed as Member Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for Manipur and Mizoram

About CERC

  • The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) had been established by the Government of India under the provisions of the Electricity Regulatory Commissions (ERC) Act, 1998. CERC is the Central Commission for the purposes of the Electricity Act, 2003 which has repealed the ERC Act, 1998.
  • The Commission consists of a Chairperson and four other Members including Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority who is the ex-officio Member of the Commission.

Major functions of CERC

  • to regulate the tariff of generating companies owned or controlled by the Central Government,
  • to regulate the tariff of other generating companies having a composite scheme for generation and sale of electricity in more than one State,
  • to regulate the inter-State transmission of electricity and to determine tariff for such transmission of electricity, etc.

Under the Act, CERC shall also advise the Central Government on-

  • formulation of National Electricity Policy and Tariff Policy;
  • promotion of competition, efficiency and economy in activities of electricity industry;
  • promotion of investment in electricity industry; and
  • any other matter referred to the Central Commission by the Government.

 About Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission

  • The Central Government constituted Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for Manipur and Mizoram in pursuance of provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 and the Memorandum of Agreement signed by the State Governments of Manipur and Mizoram, authorizing Government of India to constitute a JERC on their behalf. 
  • It is a two-Member Commission, each Member representing the respective participating State. The Central Government appoints the Members of the Commission from Manipur and Mizoram sides under the provisions of the Act and in pursuance of MoA.

The major functions of the Commission

  • to regulate the tariff for generation, supply, transmission and wheeling of electricity, whole sale, bulk or retail as the case may be within the State;
  • to regulate the electricity purchase of distribution licensees,
  • facilitate intra-state transmission and wheeling of electricity;
  • issue licenses to transmission licensees, distribution licensees and electricity traders;
  • promote cogeneration and generation of electricity from renewable sources of energy and
  • adjudicate upon the disputes between the licensees and generating companies, etc.

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