PIB Analysis : 2nd and 3rd October

PIB Analysis for UPSC CSE

Topics Covered

1. BIS Standard for Drinking water
2. Joint Military Exercise Ekuverin
3. Joint Exercise Nomadic Elephant
4. KAZIND
5. Prakash Portal
6. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
7. Walkthan 
8. Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan

1 . BIS Standards for drinking water

About the Standards

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has specified drinking water quality standards in India to provide safe drinking water to the people. It is pertinent that drinking water sources be tested at regular intervals and ensure that water is meeting the prescribed standards or not, if not, then, the extent of contamination/unacceptability and follow up required.
• Another guideline for water quality is prescribed by Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India in 2005. This is known as the Uniform Protocol for Water Quality Monitoring. The increasing risk of geogenic and anthropogenic contamination has led to necessitate the above.

About drinking water quality

• According to Central Ground Water Board, BIS (IS_10500 and revised module IS 10500:2012) has specifications in Uniform Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Protocol.
• This standard has two limits i.e. acceptable limits and permissible limits in the absence of an alternate source. If any parameter exceeds the limit, the water is considered unfit for human consumption.
• In broad terms, if the water is bacteriology contaminated (E-coli and viruses etc), or if chemical contamination exceeds maximum permissible limits, the BIS considers that water unfit for drinking.
• According to BIS 1500-2012 the acceptable limit of bacteria and other major contamination are as follows:

WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND BIS STANDARDS FOR VARIOUS CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONSTITUENTS

2 . Joint Military Exercise Ekuverin

About Ekuverin

• Ekuverin is the joint Military Exercise Ekuverin between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force
• The Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces have been conducting Exercise Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends’ in the Dhivehi language since 2009.
• The 14 days Joint Exercise held alternatively in India and Maldives focuses on enhancing interoperability between the two forces for carrying out counter insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in a semi-urban environment under the United Nations mandate.

3 . Joint Exercise Nomadic Elephant

About the Joint Exercise Nomadic Elephant

• Indo – Mongolian joint military training is known as Exercise Nomadic Elephant-
• Nomadic Elephant-XIV is aimed at training troops in counter insurgency &counter terrorism operations under United Nations mandate.
• The Joint Exercise will enhance defence co-operation and military relations between the two nations. It is an ideal platform for the armies of both the nations to share their experiences & best practices and gain mutually during the joint training.

4 . KAZIND 2019

About KAZIND

• Military exercise KAZIND 2019 between India and Kazakhstan army commenced today at Pithoragarh.
• The aim of exercise is joint training of troops in Counter Insurgency/ Counter Terrorism operations in both Jungle and Mountainous terrain.
• Exercise KAZIND 2019 can be termed as a facade of long standing strategic ties between India and Kazakhstan.
• As part of exercise, important lectures, demonstrations and drills related to counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations will be conducted. Both the Armies will also share their valuable experiences in countering such situations and also refine drills and procedures for joint operations whenever the need so arises.

5 . Prakash Portal

Context : The Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy (IC) and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri RK Singh and the Union Minister for Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi jointly launched PRAKASH (Power Rail Koyla Availability through Supply Harmony) portal.

About the Portal

• The Portal aims at bringing better coordination for coal supplies among all stakeholders viz – Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal, Coal India, Railways and power utilities.
• This is an important step in ensuring adequate availability and optimum utilization of coal at thermal power plants.
• PRAKASH Portal is developed by NTPC and sources data from different stakeholders such as Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS) and coal companies
• The Portal is designed to help in mapping and monitoring entire coal supply chain for power plants, viz –
  • Coal Stock at supply end (mines),
  • coal quantities/ rakes planned,
  • coal quantity in transit and
  • coal availability at power generating station.

Benefits of Portal to the Stakeholders

• Coal company will be able to track stocks and the coal requirement at power stations for effective production planning
• Indian Railways will plan to place the rakes as per actual coal available at siding and stock available at power stations.
• Power stations can plan future schedule by knowing rakes in pipe line and expected time to Reach.
• Stock at power generating station
• Ministry of Power /Ministry of Coal/ CEA/ POSOCO can review overall availability of coal at thermal power plants in different regions

Portal will make available four reports as detailed below –  

• Daily Power Plant Status
• Periodic Power Plant Status
• Plant Exception Report
• Coal Dispatch Report

6 . Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

About Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) 

• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) is a scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens belonging to BPL category. This is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Central Government.
• The expenditure for implementation of the scheme will be met from the “Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund”.
• The Scheme will be implemented through the sole implementing agency – Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a PSU under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Under the scheme, the physical aids will be provided only to the senior citizens of the nation. This implies those who are aged above 60 years will get free assisted living aids and physical devices which are required for their sustainability.
• The main criteria for the senior citizens to get full benefits of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) scheme is that they must belong to BPL family and should hold valid BPL card issued by the concerned authority.

7 . Walkthan 

Context : Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment flagged off a “Walkthan” for older persons and senior citizens to mark the International Day of Older Persons at Commonwealth Games Village Stadium, near Akshardham Mandir here this morning.

About Walkthan

• On the International Day of Older Persons, every year since 2005 the mass awareness event “Walkthan” is being organised by NISD.
• The event has a great value for awareness about welfare of Senior Citizens and giving a life of dignity to elderly persons.
• Showcasing of various positive physical activities were done like a RUN, slogan March, Yoga and fitness session.
• The Walkthan was organised by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in collaboration with Confederation of Senior Citizens Association of Delhi

8 . Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan

About Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan

• Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan”, is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and State Governments / UT Administrations.
• It aims at involving public sector companies, private sector companies and corporate citizens/individuals to take up the responsibility for making our heritage and tourism more sustainable through development, operation and maintenance of world-class tourist infrastructure and amenities at ASI/ State heritage sites and other important tourist sites in India.