PIB Summary- 16th January, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan

Context
In continuation of its tribal outreach ahead of Lok Sabha elections, the government will release the first installment for pucca houses amounting to Rs 540 crore to one lakh beneficiaries under the PM-JANMAN.

Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN): Empowering Tribal Communities

• PM JANMAN, comprising Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, is a holistic initiative targeting 11 critical interventions through nine ministries, with a particular focus on the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Key Interventions:

• Aims to address 11 critical interventions, including permanent housing, road connectivity, piped water supply, mobile medical units, hostel construction, ‘Anganwadi’ facilities, and skill development centers.

Additional Ministries’ Involvement:

• Ministry of Ayush:
  • Establishes Ayush Wellness Centres based on existing norms.
  • Extends Ayush facilities to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) habitations through Mobile Medical Units.
• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship:
  • Facilitates skill and vocational training in PVTG habitations, multipurpose centers, and hostels, aligning with the specific skills of these communities.

India Meteorological Department

Context
The Prime Minister hailed the India Meteorological Department’s exceptional service to our nation. The department completed 150 years of service. 

India Meteorological Department (IMD):

Establishment and Authority:

• Founded in 1875, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) holds the distinction of being the National Meteorological Service of India.
• As a key entity under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, IMD operates as the principal government agency, overseeing meteorology and related domains.
• Its headquarters are situated in New Delhi, and it serves as one of the esteemed Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres recognized by the World Meteorological Organization.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• IMD plays a pivotal role in gathering meteorological observations, offering real-time and forecasted meteorological information crucial for a spectrum of weather-sensitive activities, encompassing agriculture, aviation, shipping, and offshore oil explorations.
• Additionally, it assumes the responsibility of issuing warnings against severe weather phenomena, ranging from tropical cyclones and dust storms to heavy rains and heat waves.
• Furthermore, IMD contributes to the national research landscape by conducting and promoting studies in meteorology and allied disciplines.

Major Initiatives:

• Among the noteworthy initiatives, the National Monsoon Mission (NMM), launched in 2012, aims to develop a cutting-edge dynamical prediction system for monsoon rainfall.
• The Mausam App stands as a user-friendly tool for disseminating weather information and warnings.
• IMD’s implementation of Doppler Weather Radars, based on the Doppler principle, signifies a technological stride to enhance precision in long-range weather forecasting and surveillance.
• This radar system provides critical data on rainfall intensity, wind characteristics, storm centers, and tornado or gust front directions.