AMIGOS IAS Daily Current Affairs (12th Sept 2024)
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY-IV)
GS 3: Economy: Rural Infrastructure
Why is it in the news?
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV) aimed at enhancing rural infrastructure.
- This phase, spanning from 2024-25 to 2028-29, will focus on constructing 62,500 kilometres of new all-weather roads to connect 25,000 villages.
About the initiative
- The initiative comes with a total outlay of ₹70,125 crore, with the central government contributing ₹49,087.50 crore and the states providing ₹21,037.50 crore.
- The project aims to connect habitations with populations of 500 or more in plains, 250 or more in northeastern and hill states, and 100 or more in left-wing extremism-affected districts, as per the 2011 Census.
- In addition to the road construction, the scheme will include the building of necessary bridges along these routes.
- The alignment and planning of the roads under PMGSY-IV will be managed through the PM Gati Shakti portal, which aims to streamline and optimize the execution of infrastructure projects.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the launch of PMGSY-IV in her budget speech, highlighting the project’s role in enhancing socio-economic development in remote rural areas by improving access to essential services such as education, health, and markets.
Cabinet approves health cover for senior citizens above 70 under AB PM-JAY
GS 2: Society: Health insurance for elderly
Why is it in the news?
- The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved an extension of health coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to include all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of their income.
- This new measure is expected to benefit approximately 4.5 crore families, encompassing around 6 crore senior citizens, by offering a health insurance cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year.
Key features
- As part of this initiative, eligible senior citizens will receive a new, distinct card under the AB PM-JAY scheme.
- For those who are already covered under the AB PM-JAY, the new scheme will provide an additional top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year specifically for individuals aged 70 and above, which will be separate from the family’s general coverage.
- For senior citizens not yet covered by the AB PM-JAY, the new policy will provide a cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year on a family basis.
- Seniors who are currently benefiting from other public health insurance schemes, such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), will have the option to either continue with their existing schemes or switch to the AB PM-JAY.
- Additionally, those aged 70 and above with private health insurance policies or coverage under the Employees’ State Insurance scheme will also be eligible for benefits under the AB PM-JAY.
- The AB PM-JAY, noted as the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, already provides ₹5 lakh annual health cover per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 55 crore individuals, representing 12.34 crore families.
PM E-Drive scheme for E-Mobility expansion
GS 3: Economy: A push to e-mobility
About the news
- The Union Cabinet approved a ₹10,900 crore scheme to advance e-mobility in India.
- The scheme, named PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-Drive), will be implemented over two years and aims to address ‘range anxiety’ by facilitating the procurement of e-buses and the establishment of over 72,000 charging stations for EV batteries, both in cities and along highways.
- According to the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the PM E-Drive scheme includes subsidies and demand incentives worth ₹3,679 crore for e-two wheelers (e-2Ws), e-three wheelers (e-3Ws), e-ambulances, and e-trucks. It will support the purchase of 24.79 lakh e-2Ws, 3.16 lakh e-3Ws, and 14,028 e-buses.
- Specifically, ₹4,391 crore will be allocated for acquiring 14,028 e-buses by state transport undertakings in nine major cities with populations exceeding 40 lakhs, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore, Pune, and Hyderabad.
- Additionally, the scheme earmarks ₹2,000 crore for setting up charging stations in cities with high EV adoption and along designated highways.
Mission Mausam
GS 3: Environment and Biodiversity: Enhancing weather forecast
Why is it in the news?
- The Union Cabinet has approved ‘Mission Mausam’, with a budget of ₹2,000 crore over two years.
- The mission aims to enhance India’s weather forecasting capabilities by improving weather surveillance, modelling, and forecasting. It is designed to benefit critical sectors such as agriculture, aviation, defense, disaster management, tourism, and health.
About the Mission
- Mission Mausam seeks to cover all aspects of weather and forecasting services in the country. This initiative follows the 2012 launch of Mission Monsoon, which focused on enhancing long-range forecasts.
- Currently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) achieves about 97.99% accuracy in forecasting extreme events like heatwaves 24 hours in advance, though heavy rainfall forecasts are accurate only around 80% of the time.
- The mission will be led by three institutions funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences: the IMD, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting in Noida.
- Its goals include providing accurate and timely weather forecasts, issuing alerts and warnings for extreme weather events, and developing weather interventions to manage fog, hail, and rainfall. Additionally, it aims to enhance capacity building and training for personnel.
- Since 2014, there has been a nearly five-fold increase in radar deployments across the country, including in the Himalayan states.
On Suspension of ‘X’ by Brazil’s Supreme Court
GS 2: International Relations: Balancing free speech & censorship
Why is it in the news?
- On August 30, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the “immediate, complete and total suspension of X’s operations” in the country.
- This decision, made by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, came after X failed to appoint a legal representative in Brazil within the required timeframe. Justice Moraes also imposed a daily fine of 50,000 reals on anyone accessing X via a virtual private network (VPN).
More about the news
- The background of the case involves a two-year investigation by Moraes into what he calls “digital militias”—far-right groups supporting former President Jair Bolsonaro.
- Following Bolsonaro’s 2022 election loss, these groups used X and other platforms to spread disinformation and incite violence, culminating in the January 8, 2023 riots in Brasilia.
- Moraes’ investigation led him to order X to suspend accounts spreading misinformation and to provide information on these accounts, including IP addresses, for prosecution.
- However, X’s response was marked by defiance. Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, refused to comply with Moraes’ demands, including reactivating previously suspended accounts.
- In April, Moraes escalated the matter by including Musk in his investigation, leading to a public dispute between the two. X also claimed that Moraes threatened its Brazilian legal representative with arrest and imposed a daily fine of 20,000 reals for non-compliance.
- Musk then announced X’s immediate closure in Brazil on August 17, though its services continued to operate. Following X’s failure to meet the deadline for appointing a legal representative, Moraes ordered the suspension of X until it complied with court orders.
- This situation raises significant questions about regulatory sovereignty, the appropriate methods for addressing disinformation, and the balance between free speech and censorship. It highlights the challenges of managing cross-border internet governance and the potential for social media to be used for political ends.
- Moreover, Musk’s alignment with Bolsonaro and his critical remarks about Moraes have added complexity to the issue. Within Brazil, some view Moraes’ actions as judicial overreach, while others believe they are justified given the attacks on Brazilian democracy.
- The suspension of X led to Starlink, another Musk-owned company providing satellite internet in Brazil, initially refused to block X but eventually complied after the Supreme Court ordered the freezing of its bank accounts.
- The ban has driven many Brazilian users to migrate to Bluesky, which saw a surge of 2.6 million new users within five days of X going offline. However, the fine for accessing X via VPN is considered excessive by many users and analysts.
New study reveals airborne germs at 10,000 Feet
GS 3: Environment and Biodiversity: Microbes at high altitude
About the news
- A recent study has revealed intriguing findings about airborne germs at high altitudes. Researchers flying over Japan at altitudes of up to 10,000 feet captured hundreds of types of bacteria and fungi.
- These microbes, which had travelled more than 1,200 miles, included species that could potentially cause diseases in humans. Although the study provides no direct evidence that these high-altitude microbes can cause outbreaks, it suggests that wind patterns might aid in the spread of pathogens.
- The idea for this research stemmed from investigations into Kawasaki disease, a condition characterized by fevers, rashes, and severe heart complications.
- Previous studies had linked surges in Kawasaki disease cases in Japan to winds blowing from northeastern China, which also correlated with increased cases in California. The region in China, known for its extensive agriculture and mining activities, might be a source of airborne pathogens.
- The researchers collected air samples during ten flights, capturing particles through a filter. Analysis revealed a diverse array of microbes, including 266 types of fungi and 305 types of bacteria, some of which are known human pathogens. High levels of hafnium, a mineral from Chinese mines, were also detected in the samples.
- While some microbes remained viable and grew in lab cultures, the study does not resolve the mystery of Kawasaki disease.
- Despite the lack of conclusive evidence about disease transmission from high-altitude microbes, the study highlights a need for further research into these environmental spaces.
Controversy over Mumbai’s salt pans
GS 3: Miscellaneous
Why is it in the news?
- The Centre has approved the transfer of 256 acres of Mumbai’s salt pan land to Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), a joint venture between Adani Realty Group and the Maharashtra government.
- This land is set for rental housing for slum dwellers, but the move has drawn criticism from environmentalists, who argue that it could harm the ecosystem.
More about the news
- Salt pan lands are low-lying areas where seawater evaporates, leaving behind salt and minerals, and are crucial for flood prevention in Mumbai.
- Classified under CRZ-1B by the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2011, these areas are protected except for salt extraction and natural gas exploration. Mumbai has 5,378 acres of salt pan land, with about 1,672 acres deemed developable.
- The drive to develop these lands stems from Mumbai’s land scarcity and the need for affordable housing.
- However, environmentalists warn that construction on salt pans could worsen flooding in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs, as these lands absorb excess rainwater and manage tidal flows. They also support diverse flora and fauna.
