UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 31st March 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Why in News?

Recently, an Australian renewable-energy company Green Gravity has proposed a scheme to generate electricity from the defunct Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), in Karnataka, using Low-Tech Gravity Technology.

What is the Mechanism of the Technology?

• The plan is to find defunct mines, which often go hundreds or thousands of meters deep, and haul a Weighted Block, that may be around 40 tonnes, up to the top of the mine shaft using renewable power during the day.
• When backup power is required, the heavy block will fall, under gravity, and the ensuing momentum will power a generator via a connected shaft (or rotor).
• The depth to which the block can slip can be determined via a braking system, thus giving control on the amount of power that can be produced.
  • This is similar to the pumped hydropower storage method, where water is pumped uphill electrically into a reservoir, and then released downhill to move a turbine and generate electricity as needed, as in a hydroelectric power plant.

What is the Significance of this Technology?

• A hiccup that makes renewable energy unreliable is that there is no power during nights or windless days. Charging a battery to use as a backup during this downtime hikes power prices.
• Low-tech Gravity Technology can help address this challenge. This technology may use more energy than produced but when accounting for being able to make renewable energy available at off-peak hours, can mean less reliance on coal-produced power and access to reliable power.
• Using weighted blocks instead of water means that decommissioned mines can be put to use and the environmental costs and challenges of moving water up can be avoided.

Source: The Hindu

GS-II

Why in News?

The Delhi High Court has restrained the Institute Of Cost Accountants Of India from using the “ICAI” acronym, a trademark which stands registered in favour of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

About

• It is a statutory body established by an act of Parliament, the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959.
• Mandate:  Regulation of the profession of cost and management accountancy.
• It is the only recognised statutory professional organisation and licensing body in India specialising exclusively in Cost and Management Accountancy.
• It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. 

What is Cost Accounting?

• It is the reporting and analysis of a company's cost structure.
• It is a process of assigning costs to cost objects that typically include a company's products, services, and any other activities that involve the company.
• Cost accounting can identify where a company is spending its money, how much it earns, and where money is being lost.
• It aims to report, analyze, and lead to the improvement of internal cost controls and efficiency. 

Key facts 

• It is a statutory body established under the Chartered Accountants Act 1949.
• Mandate: Regulating the profession of Chartered Accountancy in the country; Formulation of Accounting Standards; and Prescription of Standard Auditing Procedures.
• It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.

Source: Indian Express

Why in News?

Recently, the Government has launched a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme “New India Literacy Programme” (NILP) for implementation during five years from the FYs 2022-23 to 2026-27 with financial outlay of Rs.1037.90 crore.

What is New India Literacy Programme?

• The scheme has five components:
  • Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
  • Critical Life Skills
  • Vocational Skills Development
  • Basic Education
  • Continuing Education
• Identification of Beneficiaries:
  • Door-to-door surveys on a mobile app are conducted by surveyors in the States/UTs to identify beneficiaries.
  • Non-literates can also register directly through a mobile app.
• Volunteerism for Teaching and Learning:
  • The scheme is mainly based on volunteerism for teaching and learning, and volunteers can register through the mobile app.
• Implementation through Technology:
  • The scheme is implemented predominantly through the online mode and is based on technology.
  • The teaching and learning material and resources are available on the DIKSHA platform of NCERT and can be accessed through mobile apps.
• Dissemination of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy:
  • Modes like TV, Radio, Samajik Chetna Kendra, etc. are also used for dissemination of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.
• Eligibility:
  • All non-literates above 15 years of age are eligible to avail of the benefits of the scheme.
• Need of NILP:
  • As per Census 2011, the absolute number of non-literates of the country in 15 years and above age group is 25.76 crore (Male 9.08 crore, Female 16.68 crore).
  • In consideration of the progress of persons certified as literates being to the tune of 7.64 crore under the Saakshar Bharat programme implemented during 2009-10 to 2017-18, it is estimated that currently around 18.12 crore adults are still non-literate in India.

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Ministry of Defence recently signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited for the procurement of 13 Lynx-U2 fire control systems for the Navy.

About Lynx-U2 System:

• It is a naval gun fire control system designed and developed indigenously.
• The system will be installed on the NOPV ( Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel), Talwar and Teg class of ships. 
• The system has been completely designed and developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). 
• It is capable of accurately tracking and engaging targets amidst sea clutter.
• It is capable of accurately tracking air/surface targets and generating required target data for predicting weapon aiming points and engaging targets. 
• The target engagement is carried out with medium/short-range gun mounts like Russian AK 176, AK190, AK630 and the Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) available onboard ships.

Source: The Hindu

Why in News?

Recently, Dalai Lama named a US-born Mongolian boy as the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa, the head of the Janang tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

About

• Buddhism originated in India and became the predominant religion in Tibet by the 9th century AD.
• It evolved from the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions of Buddhism, incorporating many tantric and shamanic practices of both post-Gupta period Buddhism in India.
• Tibetan Buddhism also incorporates the Bon religion which was spread across Tibet before Buddhism’s arrival.
• Tibetan Buddhism has 4 major schools: Nyingma (8th century), Kagyu (11th century), Sakya (1073) and Gelug (1409)
• The Janang school (12th century) is one of the smaller schools that grew as an offshoot of the Sakya school.

What is Gelug School?

• Since 1640, the Gelug School has been the predominant school of Tibetan Buddhism.
• The Dalai Lama belongs to Gelug School (‘Dalai’ means ‘ocean’ in Mongol).
• The Dalai Lama is the foremost spiritual and temporal authority of Tibet.
• The 5th grand lama of the school, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, was first conferred the title of Dalai Lama. 
• To consolidate his rule, he instituted the tradition of succession through reincarnation in the Gelug School.
• He claimed to be the reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara, one of the most important Bodhisattvas in Mahayana traditions.

Source: PIB

GS-III

Why in News?

A recent report from the Comptroller Auditor General of India (CAG) said that an open channel carrying treated effluent from Tata Chemicals Limited plant at Mithapur and releasing it in Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary of Gulf of Kutch region may “drastically affect the inter-tidal organisms and coastal ecosystem.

About

• It is India’s first Marine Wildlife Sanctuary and first Marine National Park which were created in the Gulf of Kutch in 1980 and 1982, respectively.
• It is an archipelago of 42 tropical islands along the northern coast of Jamnagar district and the southern coast of Kutch.
• Some of the finest coral reef fringe islands are found at Pirotan, Narala, Ajad and Positara, with species of hard and soft coral.
• Fauna: There are 7 species of mangrove which are breeding grounds for colonies of near-threatened species of birds such as the Painted Stork, Darter and Black-necked Ibis. Endangered Sea Turtles like the Green Sea, Oliver Riddley & Leather Back can also be found here.

Source: CAG: Tata Chemicals’ open channel may affect the national park ecosystem

Why in News?

Recently, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) clarified that there are no charges for bank account - to - bank account based UPI payments.

• NPCI stated that an interchange charge of 1.1% has been introduced on UPI transactions made through PPI instruments above Rs 2,000, and there is no charge to customers.
  • Also, NPCI has permitted the PPI wallets to be part of interoperable UPI ecosystem.

What are Prepaid Payment Instruments?

• The RBI defines PPIs as payment instruments that facilitate the buying of goods and services, including the transfer of funds, financial services, and remittances, against the value stored within or on the instrument.
• PPIs are in the form of payment wallets (like Paytm Wallet, Amazon Pay Wallet, PhonePe Wallet, etc.)), smart cards, mobile wallets, magnetic chips, vouchers, etc. As per the regulations, banks and NBFCs can issue PPIs.

What is National Payments Corporation of India?

• About:
  • NPCI is an umbrella organisation for all retail payments systems in India. Its primary objective is to provide safe, secure, and efficient retail payment systems in India.
  • It aims to promote digital payments and financial inclusion in the country.
• Establishment:
  • NPCI was established in 2008 under the guidance and support of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks' Association (IBA).
• Ownership:
  • NPCI is a not-for-profit company, and its ownership is shared by a consortium of major banks in India.
• Products and Services:
  • NPCI offers a range of products and services, including Unified Payments Interface (UPI), National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), RuPay card, and others.

Source: Indian Express