10 Aug 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. VV Giri
2. World Lion Day
3. Additional Guidelines for Health and Wellness Celebrities & Influencers
4. Renewable Energy Microgrid
5. Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) initiative for Lymphatic Filariasis
6. NPS-Traders Scheme
7. Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme

1. VV Giri

Syllabus: GS-1, History, Freedom Movement Personalities

Prelims: VV Giri

Context:

Birth anniversary of VV Giri.

VV Giri was an independence activist and the fourth President of India. Know more about VV Giri in the linked article.

2. World Lion Day

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment & Ecology

Prelims: Lions, World Lion Day

Mains: Conservation of lions

Context:

World Lion Day is observed on 10 August every year.

About World Lion Day:

• The purpose of Lion Day is to create awareness about the lion and the importance of its conservation.
• The World Lion Day celebrations were started by Big Cat Rescue, the largest accredited sanctuary dedicated to big cats worldwide.
• The first World Lion Day was celebrated in 2013 when Big Cat Rescue and National Geographic came together to take measures to safeguard the remaining big cats thriving in their natural habitats.
• The lion population is declining worldwide making it necessary to actively promote their conservation efforts.
• India is home to the majestic Asiatic Lion, which inhabits the protected territory of the Sasan-Gir National Park.

Know more about World Lion Day in the linked article.

3. Additional Guidelines for Health and Wellness Celebrities & Influencers

Syllabus: GS-2, Health, Governance

Prelims: Additional Guidelines for Health and Wellness Celebrities

Context:

Centre releases additional guidelines for Health and Wellness Celebrities, Influencers and Virtual Influencers.

Details:

• The guidelines have been released by the Department of Consumer Affairs.
• These guidelines are an important extension to the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisement that were released in June 2022.
• The additional guidelines were drafted after consultations with stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Ayush, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).

Salient Features of the Additional Guidelines:

• Celebrities and influencers, who present themselves as health experts or medical practitioners when promoting health- and wellness-related products, must provide a “clear disclaimer”.
• Certified medical practitioners and health & fitness experts, when sharing information, promoting products or services or making any health-related claims, will need to disclose that they are certified health/fitness experts and medical practitioners. 
• This disclosure or disclaimer should be displayed during endorsements, promotions, or at any instance of making health-related assertions.
• This disclosure or disclaimer is necessary when talking or making claims regarding health advantages including those derived from food items & nutraceuticals, disease prevention, treatment or cure, medical conditions, recovery methodologies or immunity boosting, etc.
• Objective: The guidelines aim ​​to prevent misleading endorsements and unsubstantiated claims of health and wellness products made by influencers on social media platforms.
• Violations may lead to penalties under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 and other relevant provisions of the law.

4. Renewable Energy Microgrid

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment, Economy

Prelims: Renewable Energy Microgrid

Mains: Renewable Energy

Context:

Minister inaugurated a Renewable Energy Microgrid Power Plant for the electrical energy requirements of rural communities.

Details:

• The indigenous technology of a Hybrid Green Energy Microgrid for electrical energy requirements of the rural communities developed by C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram was inaugurated at the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre (ERC), Kottoor, Thiruvananthapuram.
• A unique 25kW Power Conditioning Unit (PCU) technology using Silicon Carbide, a Wide Band Gap (WBG)  Semiconductor device operating at 50kHz and avoiding bulky 50Hz transformer make the system very compact.
• A container-based deployment in remote locations is also realised. 

What is a renewable energy microgrid?

• A renewable energy microgrid is an autonomous, localised and self-contained energy system that incorporates renewable energy sources as its primary generation inputs. 
• A renewable energy microgrid includes various components and systems that work together to generate, store, manage, and distribute energy in a localized and sustainable manner. 
• In the off-grid mode of operation of a microgrid, it generates, stores, and distributes electricity within a specific area or community while prioritizing the use of renewable energy to minimize reliance on fossil fuels and reduce environmental impact. 
• In the on-grid mode of operation, the microgrid will be able to interact with the utility grid and export power if the generation is in excess of what is locally needed.

5. Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) initiative for Lymphatic Filariasis

Syllabus: GS-2, Health

Prelims: Lymphatic Filariasis

Context:

Union MInister inaugurated the second phase of the annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) initiative for Lymphatic Filariasis.

Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) initiative for Lymphatic Filariasis:

• The second phase of the Annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) initiative will cover 81 districts in nine endemic states – Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
• India is committed to eliminating Lymphatic filariasis by 2027, three years ahead of the global target through a multi-partner and multi-sector targeted drive.

Read more on lymphatic filariasis in the linked article.

6. NPS-Traders Scheme

Syllabus: GS-2, Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population

Prelims: NPS-Traders Scheme

About the NPS-Traders Scheme:

• This scheme is meant for old age protection and social security of Vyapaaris (retail traders/shopkeepers and self-employed persons) whose annual turnover is not exceeding Rs.1.5 crores.
• These retail traders/petty shopkeepers and self-employed persons are mostly working as shop owners, retail traders, rice mill owners, oil mill owners, workshop owners, commission agents, brokers of real estate, owners of small hotels, restaurants and other Vyapaaris. The entry age for the scheme is 18-40 years and the Vyapaari should not be a member of ESIC/EPFO/PM-SYM or an income taxpayer.
• The schemes are being implemented through Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India and Common Service Centres. LIC is the Fund Manager and responsible for pension pay-out.

7. Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment

Prelims: Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme (RE-RTD)

About the RE-RTD Programme:

• The RE-RTD programme aims at scaling up the R&D effort during the period FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 for promoting indigenous technology development for widespread deployment of new and renewable energy in an efficient and cost-effective manner across the country. 
• The programme will strengthen research and innovation capacity of the country and will be implemented in accordance with the policy and guidelines issued from time to time and thrust areas identified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• The programme will receive a budget allocation of ₹228 crore.
• Financial support under the RE-RTD programme is structured to encourage participation from both public and private sectors. Government and non-profit research organizations can avail themselves of up to 100% financial assistance, while startups, industries, entrepreneurs, and manufacturing units can receive support of up to 70%.
• The MNRE is implementing Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme through various research institutions and industry to develop indigenous technologies and manufacturing for widespread applications of new and renewable energy in efficient and cost-effective manner.

Read the previous PIB articles here.