• UGI USER
  • Oct 10, 2023
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Preliminary Pointers

Centre introduces SHRESHTA scheme for residential education for SC students

News: To promote education and socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes , the Government launched the SHRESTHA scheme. Launched by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

About SHRESTHA

  • Objective: to extend government development efforts and rectify service gaps in areas predominantly inhabited by Scheduled Castes in education.
  • Structure: Two Modes-

First: SHRESHTA Schools (Best CBSE/State Board Affiliated Private Residential Schools)

  • Through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), the National Testing Agency (NTA) selects approx. 3000 meritorious SC students from various States/UTs annually, with parents’ annual income upto 2.5 lakh.
  • Students are admitted in 9th & 11th grade for upto 12th grade.
  • Entire students’ fee (School & Hostel) is covered by Grants.
  • Schools with a 75% pass record in last 3 years are selected.
  • Includes a school-specific bridge course, addressing students’ academic needs

Second: NGO/VO Operated Schools/Hostels

  • Covers NGO and Voluntary Orgs.(VO) operated schools and hostels.

At least 20 killed in Turkish strike on northeast Syria

News: Turkey carried out air strikes In Kurdish held Northeast Syria. According to Turkey, the strike was in retaliation for an attack in Ankara earlier this month.

 

About the Conflict

Who are Kurds?

  • Kurds are an ethnic group primarily residing in the Middle East, with significant populations in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
  • Their demands often include cultural recognition, autonomy ,political rights and creation of Homeland “ Kurdistan”

The Conflict

  • Kurdish militia reside in north-eastern part of Syria bordering Turkey.
  • In northeastern Syria, Turkey initiates Operation Peace Spring targeting the Kurdish-led militia alliance, the YPG (People’s Protection Units) after withdrawal of US troops.
  • Turkey’s Aim Behind Strikes:
    • Creation of Safe Zone(Buffer Zone) along its Syrian border inhabited by Kurdish militia.
    • Relocation of Syrian refugees in Turkey to a safe zone in Syria.
  • India’s Stand :
    • India took its principled stand in resolving the conflict in a non-military and through an inclusive Syrian-led political process.
    • Criticized “unilateral military offensive” by Turkey in northeastern Syria.

Unemployment rate dips to 6.6 % in urban areas in April-June 2023: Govt survey.

News: According to NSSO survey (Periodic Labour Force Survey), Unemployment Rate in Urban areas during April-June quarter:

  April/June 2023 April/June 2022
Male 5.9% 7.1%
Female 9.1% 9.5 %
Overall 6.6 % 7.6 %

About Periodic Labour Force Survey(PLFS)

  • Labour Force: According to Labour Bureau “Labour Force” is the sum of all employed and unemployed persons in the working-age population who are either actively engaged in economic activities or actively seeking employment aged 15 years or above.
  • PLFS was launched in 2017 by National Statistical Office(NSO) , Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
  • Using PLFS data, a quarterly bulletin is released, providing statistics on labour force indicators, including unemployment rate, Worker Population Ratio (WPR), Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), and worker distribution.
  • Unemployment Rate (%) = (Number of Unemployed / Total Labor Force) x 100

National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical System (NM-ICPS)

  • News: A Cyber-Physical System (CPS) is an integrated platform that merges physical processes with computing, communication, and control systems. CPSs interact with the physical world through sensors and actuators, allowing real-time monitoring and automation.
  • Application :They find applications in smart cities, healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing, enabling efficient, data-driven decision-making.

About NM-ICPS

  • NM-ICPS encompasses technology development, application, skill enhancement, entrepreneurship, and startup support in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) .
  • Launched by: Department of Science And Technology(DST), Ministry of Science and Technology in 2018.
  • Works Under NM-ICPS:
    • 6 Application Hubs
    • 15 Technological Hubs
    • 4 Technology Translation Research Park(TTRP)
  • Industry Collaboration: NM-ICPS encourages collaboration between academia and industry to facilitate technology transfer and commercialization of CPS innovations.
  • Societal Impact: NM-ICPS intends to address societal challenges, improve quality of life, and strengthen India’s position in emerging technology domains.

Personality In News

Dr. Gopalasamudram Narayana Ramachandran

News: Dr. Gopalasamudram Narayana Ramachandran , was an eminent Indian physicist and crystallographer who made significant contributions to the fields of science and academia.

  • Early Life : Was born on October 8, 1922, in Gopalasamudram, Tamil Nadu.
  • Education: He completed his education at the Madras Christian College and pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Madras.
  • Crystallography Pioneer : Ramachandran is best known for his pioneering work in the field of crystallography, specifically the development of the Ramachandran plot.

Ramachandran Plot
The Ramachandran Plot is a graphical tool in structural biology used to visualize the allowed and disallowed regions of dihedral angles in a protein’s backbone. It aids in determining protein structure(3-D structure) and quality.
  • Academic Career: Served as a professor at the University of Madras and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
  • Awards and Honors: Ramachandran received several prestigious awards, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize and the Padma Shri, for his exceptional contributions to science.
  • Research Contributions: In addition to his work in crystallography, he made significant contributions to the study of collagen and the structure of collagen fibrils.

Dr. G. N. Ramachandran passed away on April 7, 2001, leaving behind a legacy of pioneering research and contributions to the scientific community.

Heavy flooding in southern Myanmar displaces more than 14,000 people.

News: Bago township in southern Myanmar experienced its highest rainfall in 59 years, leading to flooding in low-lying areas, but there have been no reported casualties so far.

About Floods

Floods in India are recurrent natural disasters with multifaceted causes, varying durations, and widespread impact.

Causes

  • Monsoon Rains: The annual monsoon season, spanning from June to September, brings heavy rainfall, leading to river and flash floods.
  • Glacial Melt: In the Himalayan region, glacial meltwater adds to flood risk, especially during the summer months.
  • Cyclones: Coastal areas are susceptible to cyclone-induced flooding, with the Bay of Bengal being a hot spot.
  • Urbanization: Rapid urban growth has increased vulnerability due to inadequate drainage systems.

Affected Areas

  • Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin.
  • Coastal Regions.
  • Western Ghats States witness both monsoon and flash floods.
  • Urban Areas: Rapidly growing cities like Mumbai and Chennai are susceptible to urban flooding.

Floods pose significant challenges for disaster management and necessitating comprehensive strategies for mitigation.