RPSC Monthly Current Affairs: September 2024 | Monthly Current Affairs RPSC - RPSC RAS (Rajasthan) PDF Download

Jaipur Monuments and World Tourism Day 2024

To celebrate World Tourism Day on September 27, 2024, the Rajasthan government has decided to offer free entry to several of Jaipur's famous monuments, such as Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal.

Key Points

• Free Entry to Major Attractions: Tourists can enjoy free access to iconic sites including Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Amer Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Sisodia Rani Garden, Vidhyadhar Garden, and Albert Hall Museum.
• Theme for 2024: This year’s World Tourism Day theme is “Tourism and Peace,” highlighting the role of tourism in promoting peace and understanding among different cultures.
• Historical Significance: UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Jantar Mantar: Jantar Mantar is renowned for its architectural and astronomical significance, featuring the world’s largest stone sundial.
  • Hawa Mahal: Also known as the “Palace of Winds,” Hawa Mahal is famous for its unique architecture and historical importance.

Monsoon Withdrawal from Parts of Rajasthan

The Southwest monsoon has begun its withdrawal from parts of Rajasthan, indicating a delayed retreat this year.

• Delayed Withdrawal: The monsoon started withdrawing from West Rajasthan and Kachchh, a week later than scheduled. Further withdrawal is expected from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat in the next 24 hours, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Rainfall Overview: Despite a 3% deficit in September, overall monsoon rainfall has been 5% higher than normal. August witnessed 15% more rainfall than usual, attributed to multiple depressions from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.
• La Niña Impact: Contrary to IMD’s forecast of increased September rainfall due to La Niña, the month experienced a 3% shortfall.
• Full Withdrawal Timeline: The complete withdrawal of the monsoon is expected by mid-October, paving the way for the northeastern monsoon in southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Indian Monsoon Overview: The Indian monsoon is a crucial seasonal wind system that significantly influences the country’s climate and agricultural patterns. It consists of distinct wet and dry periods, with the Southwest Monsoon being the primary source of rainfall from June to September.

Key Features of the Indian Monsoon

• Seasonal Wind Reversal: Monsoon winds are marked by a reversal in wind direction. During summer (June to September), moist winds blow from the Indian Ocean towards the land (Southwest Monsoon). In winter (October to December), dry winds blow from land towards the sea (Northeast Monsoon).
• Southwest Monsoon: This monsoon dominates the summer months and is divided into two branches: the Arabian Sea Branch and the Bay of Bengal Branch. These winds bring heavy rainfall, especially to the western coast, northeastern regions, and the Indo-Gangetic plains. The Southwest Monsoon is vital for India’s agriculture, providing most of the irrigation for the Kharif crop season.
• Northeast Monsoon: Occurring during the winter months, this monsoon primarily affects southern India, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. It brings less rainfall compared to the Southwest Monsoon and contributes to the rabi crops.
• Retreating Monsoon: As the monsoon withdraws, dry winds from the north bring cooler temperatures, signaling the transition to winter, especially in northern India.

Earthquake Tremors in Rajasthan

Recently, residents of Barmer, Rajasthan, experienced mild earthquake tremors, causing a brief period of panic as people vacated buildings and gathered in open spaces.

Details of the Earthquake:

• Location: Barmer, Rajasthan
• Magnitude: 3.5 on the Richter scale
• Structural Damage: No major structural damage reported, although some minor cracks in buildings were observed.

Emergency Response: Local authorities responded quickly to the situation, ensuring emergency protocols were followed. Residents were advised to stay alert and follow safety guidelines in case of aftershocks.

Understanding Earthquake Measurements:

• Seismic Waves: These are vibrations from earthquakes that travel through the Earth and are recorded on instruments called seismographs.
• Seismograph Recordings: Seismographs record a zigzag trace showing the varying amplitude of ground oscillations beneath the instrument.
• Richter Scale: This scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake, indicating the energy released during the event, expressed in absolute numbers from 0 to 10.
• Mercalli Scale: This intensity scale measures the visible damage caused by the earthquake, ranging from 1 to 12.

Seismic Zones in India: India is divided into four seismic zones (II, III, IV, and V) based on scientific inputs relating to seismicity, past earthquakes, and the tectonic setup of the region.

Bureau of Indian Standards

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has classified India into four seismic zones based on the severity of earthquakes.
• Seismic Zone II: Areas with minor damage from earthquakes, corresponding to intensities V to VI on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale.
• Seismic Zone III: Areas experiencing moderate damage, corresponding to intensity VII on the MMI scale.
• Seismic Zone IV: Areas prone to major damage, corresponding to intensity VII and higher on the MMI scale.
• Seismic Zone V: The most earthquake-prone region, located around major fault systems. This zone has a history of powerful earthquakes with magnitudes exceeding 7.0 and intensities higher than 9.
• Earthquake Waves:
• Body Waves: These waves move in all directions through the body of the Earth.
• P Waves: These are the fastest waves, arriving first at the surface. They are similar to sound waves and can travel through gaseous, liquid, and solid materials.
• S Waves: These waves arrive at the surface with a delay and can only travel through solid materials.
• Surface Waves: These waves are the last to be recorded on seismographs and are more destructive. They cause displacement of rocks.
• Love Waves: These waves have a horizontal motion similar to S-waves but without vertical displacement. They move sideways perpendicular to the direction of propagation and are faster than Rayleigh waves.
• Rayleigh Waves: These waves cause the ground to shake in an elliptical pattern. They spread out the most of all seismic waves, moving vertically and horizontally in a vertical plane.
• Causes of Earthquakes:
• Release of Energy along a Fault: This occurs when there is a break in the crustal rocks along a fault line.
• Movement of Tectonic Plates: This is the most common cause of earthquakes.
• Volcanic Eruption: This involves stress changes in rock due to the injection or withdrawal of magma.
• Human Activities: Activities such as mining, and the explosion of chemical or nuclear devices can also trigger earthquakes.
• Seismometers: These instruments measure seismic waves.
• Richter Scale: This scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake, indicating the energy released. The range is from 0 to 10.
• Mercalli Scale: This scale measures the intensity of an earthquake based on visible damage. The range is from 1 to 12.

Distribution of Earthquakes:

• Circum-Pacific Belt: This belt accounts for 81% of the largest earthquakes.
• Alpide Earthquake Belt: This belt accounts for 17% of the largest earthquakes.
• Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Most of the earthquakes in this region occur underwater.

Rain Alert in Rajasthan

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has recently issued a yellow alert for anticipated rainfall in various districts of eastern Rajasthan, including Jaipur, Ajmer, Alwar, and Udaipur.

Color Coded Alerts:

• Green Alert: Indicates "No warning," with a forecast of light to moderate rainfall ranging from 15.6 mm to 64.4 mm.
• Yellow Alert: Signifies "Watch," with expectations of heavy rainfall between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm.
• Orange Alert: Stands for "Alert," indicating very heavy rainfall ranging from 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm.
• Red Alert: Signifies "Warning," with forecasts of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 204.5 mm.

Upgrade in Forecasting:

The India Meteorological Department is preparing for a significant upgrade to enhance the accuracy of localized and extreme-weather predictions.

Monsoon Mission, 2012

New Mission: A new weather forecasting mission, with a budget of at least Rs 10,000 crore, is expected to be launched soon. This mission is significantly larger than the previous Monsoon Mission and will focus on developing accurate computer simulation models for India, considering climate change scenarios.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): The new mission will improve the use of advanced instruments like Doppler radars and integrate AI and ML in weather forecasting.

Meteorological Satellites: India currently operates three meteorological satellites, including INSAT-3D, INSAT-3DR, INSAT-3DS, and the INSAT-4 series. The next-generation satellites are under development to provide high-resolution data for better forecasts.

India Meteorological Department (IMD)

• Established in 1875, the IMD is the National Meteorological Service of India and the primary government agency for meteorology and related subjects.
• It operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, and is headquartered in New Delhi.
• The IMD is one of six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organization.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• To observe and provide current and forecast meteorological information for activities like agriculture, irrigation, shipping, aviation, and offshore oil explorations.
• To warn against severe weather phenomena such as tropical cyclones, dust storms, heat waves, norwesters, heavy rains and snow, cold waves, etc., which can cause harm to life and property.
• To provide meteorological statistics for agriculture, water resource management, industries, oil exploration, and other national activities.
• To conduct and promote research in meteorology and related fields.

Expiry of Ceiling Limit: Concerns for Ration Card Holders

The ceiling limit for ration card holders in Chittorgarh has expired, raising concerns among beneficiaries who depend on subsidized food grains and essentials.

• Impact on Entitlements: The expiration may lead to changes in the quantity and type of commodities that ration card holders are entitled to, potentially reducing the amount of subsidized goods available to families.
• Renewal and Updates: Ration card holders might need to renew their cards or update their information to continue receiving benefits, involving the submission of new documentation or verification of existing details.
• Policy Changes: The government may introduce new policies or guidelines to streamline the management and distribution of ration cards, addressing issues of misuse and fraud.

Rajasthan Ration Card, 2024

• A ration card is a government-issued document that allows cardholders to purchase food items like wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene at significantly reduced prices from government ration shops each month.
• The primary purpose of issuing ration cards is to ensure that poor families in the state have access to affordable rations. Any middle or lower-income family in Rajasthan is eligible to apply for a ration card.

Types of Ration Cards in Rajasthan

• BPL Ration Card: This card is issued to families living below the poverty line, with an annual income of less than ₹10,000. Holders of this card receive 25 kilograms of subsidized ration each month.
• APL Ration Card: Families with an annual income of more than ₹10,000, living above the poverty line, are issued this card. APL cardholders receive 15 kilograms of grain each month.
• AAY Ration Card: This card is designated for extremely poor families with no income sources. Holders of the AAY card can obtain up to 35 kilograms of grain each month from government ration shops.

33% Quota for Women in Police Force

• A 5% additional allowance was approved for pensioners aged 70 to 75
• Pension Payment Order (PPO)
• Specially-abled children, dependent parents, and specially-abled siblings can now be permanently added to the gratuity and death gratuity if there is no other eligible member.
• The for state employees were increased from Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh.
• Note: The Union government approved a 33% reservation for women in direct recruitment for non-gazetted posts (constable to sub-inspector) in Delhi in March 2015.

Review Meeting on 17 New Districts of Rajasthan

Recently, a review meeting was conducted to assess the status of the 17 new districts established during the previous government's tenure in Rajasthan. 

• New Districts and Divisions: The newly created districts in Rajasthan include Anupgarh, Gangapur City, Kotputli, Balotra, Jaipur City, Khairthal, Beawar, Jaipur Rural, Neemkathana, Deeg, Jodhpur City, Phalodi, Didwana, Jodhpur Rural, Salumber, Dudu, Kekri, Sanchore, and Shahpura. In addition to these districts, three new divisions—Banswara, Pali, and Sikar—have also been established.  
• Cost and Administration:  The estimated cost of creating a new district is around Rs. 2,000 crore, according to the review committee report. The district of Pratapgarh, which was established in 2008, remains incomplete, with several administrative tasks still pending. 
• Future Considerations: Retired IAS officer Lalit K. Pawar has been reappointed to oversee the progress of the 17 new districts and gather public feedback. He is tasked with preparing a factual and analytical report for further consideration by the committee.