PIB Summary- 8th April, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

World Health Day

Why in News?
April 7 of each year marks the celebration of World Health Day.

Background:

• From its inception at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950, the celebration has aimed to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization.
• Over the past 50 years this has brought to light important health issues such as mental health, maternal and child care, and climate change. The celebration is marked by activities which extend beyond the day itself and serves as an opportunity to focus worldwide attention on these important aspects of global health.

World Health Day 2022: Theme

• This year 2022, the theme for World Health Day is “Our planet, our health”.
• The year’s theme is centered on the connection between the health of our planet and the health of humans, animals, plants, and all other living things.
• The campaigns based on the theme for the year will promote messages and activities that highlight how individual decisions and social behaviours impact the environment, in keeping with the positive health approach, that highlights the interdependence of animal, human, and environmental health.

Earth Observation Satellite (EOS)

Why in News?
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology said that EOS-02 satellite will be launched in second quarter of 2022.

Earth Observation Satellites

• An Earth Observation Satellite or Earth Remote Sensing Satellite is a satellite used or designed for Earth Observance (EO) from orbit, including spy satellites and similar ones intended for non-military uses such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, cartography and others.
• The most common type are Earth imaging satellites, that take satellite images, analogous to aerial photographs; some EOS satellites may perform remote sensing without forming pictures, such as in GNSS radio occultation.
• The first occurrence of satellite remote sensing can be dated to the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, by the Soviet Union in 1957.

ISRO and EOS

• Starting with IRS-1A in 1988, ISRO has launched many operational remote sensing satellites.
• Currently 13 operational satellites are in Sun-synchronous orbit – RESOURCESAT-1, 2, 2A CARTOSAT-1, 2, 2A, 2B, RISAT-1 and 2, OCEANSAT-2, Megha-Tropiques, SARAL and SCATSAT-1, and *four* in Geostationary orbit- INSAT-3D, Kalpana & INSAT 3A, INSAT -3DR.
• The data from these satellites are used for several applications covering agriculture, water resources, urban planning, rural development, mineral prospecting, environment, forestry, ocean resources and disaster management.

Microsat 2A (EOS 02)

• It is a small Indian earth observing satellite developed by ISRO as a test payload for the maiden SSLV launch.
• It is expected to meet the increasing user demands for cartographic applications at cadastral level, urban and rural management, coastal land use and regulation, utilities mapping, development and various other GIS applications.
• The mass of the spacecraft is 142 kg and it will be placed at an altitude of 350 km.
• The mission life of the satellite is 10 months.

The details of the satellites included in the EOS series are as follows

• EOS-01: Earth Observation satellite meant for Agriculture, Forestry & disaster management support
• EOS-02: Technology demonstration satellite for various new technologies with applications that include agriculture, forestry, geology, hydrology etc. and forming the payload for SSLV-1.
• EOS-03 : First Agile Earth Observation satellite in Geostationary orbit and applications which include near real time imaging, quick monitoring of natural disasters, spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry etc.
• EOS-04 : Radar Imaging satellite meant to provide high quality images under all weather conditions for applications such as Agriculture, Forestry & Plantations, Soil Moisture & Hydrology and Flood Mapping.
• EOS-05 : Earth Observation Satellite in the Geostationary Orbit.
• EOS-06 : Earth Observation satellite meant for applications, which include ocean related services and advisories towards potential fishing zone forecast , ocean state forecast.

District Ganga Committees

Why in News?
Under the Namami Gange Programme, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has created the ‘Digital Dashboard for District Ganga Committees (DGCs) Performance Monitoring System’ (GDPMS).

• The purpose of the Digital Dashboard is to assist DGCs in improving people-river connections.

About District Ganga Committees

• District Ganga Committees were formed in districts in the Ganga River basin to put in place a framework at the district level to ensure people’s engagement in river Ganga and its tributaries management and pollution abatement.
• The DGCs’ responsibilities include ensuring effective use of assets developed under Namami Gange, monitoring drains/sewage flowing into the Ganga and its tributaries, and establishing a strong link between people and Ganga rejuvenation.

About Namami Gange programme
Nodal: Ministry of Jal Shakti.

• It is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as a ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
• Implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterparts—State Programme Management Groups.

Main Pillars of the Namami Gange Programme are:

• Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure
• River-Surface Cleaning
• Afforestation
• Industrial Effluent Monitoring
• River-Front Development
• Biodiversity
• Public Awareness
• Ganga Gram