PIB Summary- 13th December, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

AMRIT Technology

Context
Recently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has shed light on the progress of the Jal Jeevan Mission and the Arsenic and Metal Removal by Indian Technology (AMRIT).

AMRIT Technology Overview

• Development Source:
  Developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Madras.
• Purpose:
  Designed for the removal of arsenic and metal ions from water, addressing water quality issues.
• Operational Mechanism:
  Utilizes nano-scale iron oxy-hydroxide.
  Selectively removes arsenic when water passes through it.
• Applicability:
  Suitable for both domestic and community-level water purification.
• Alignment with Jal Jeevan Mission:
  Supports the goals of the Jal Jeevan Mission, aiming to provide safe and potable tap water to rural households in India.
• Recognition and Recommendation:
  Recommended by the ‘Standing Committee’ of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
  Considered for addressing water and sanitation challenges.

About Jal Jeevan Mission:

• Jal Jeevan Mission, a central government initiative under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, aims to ensure access of piped water for every household in India.
• National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) was restructured and subsumed into Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – to provide Functional Household Tap Water (FHTC) to every rural household with service level at the rate of 55 lpcd i.e., Har Ghar Nal Se Jal (HGNSJ) by 2024.

Implications 

• Supply of water to all households is a basic necessity
• Reduction in water borne diseases which was due to due to consumption of substandard water

Challenges

• Critical situation of Decrease in ground water table.
• Water demand and supply is a miss match
• Contamination of local ground level sources of water like, ponds lakes and wells.
• Sustaining the provision of water to all households is a challenge, not just starting it.

Exercise VINBAX-2023

Context
The Indian Armed Forces contingent reached Hanoi, Vietnam to take part in the fourth edition of Joint Military Exercise VINBAX-2023.

Exercise VINBAX Overview

• Inception: Instituted in 2018.
• First Edition: Conducted at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
• Nature: Annual training event.
• Participants: Conducted alternatively in India and Vietnam.
• Focus Area: Under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter on Peacekeeping Operations.
• Format: Command Post Exercise cum Field Training Exercise.

Aim:

• Foster collaborative partnership.
• Promote inter-operability.
• Share best practices.

Specific Training Areas:

• Deployment and employment of an Engineer Company.
• Deployment and employment of a Medical Team.

Knowledge Exchange:

• Modern methods for constructing roads, culverts, helipads, ammunition shelter, and observation posts in operational areas.