13 Feb 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana
2. Defence Ministry inks contract with BEL
3. Smart Gram Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram Panchayat
4. Prelims Facts

1. Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

Syllabus: GS-2, Govt Schemes

Prelims: Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

Context:

PM announced the Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

About the Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana:

• It is a rooftop solar scheme for free electricity.
• With an investment of over Rs. 75,000 crores, the scheme aims to light up 1 crore households by providing up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
• The central government aims to give substantive subsidies, which will be given directly to people’s bank accounts, and heavily concessional bank loans to reduce the cost burden on people.
• All stakeholders will be integrated into a National Online Portal.
• To popularise this scheme at the grassroots, Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats shall be incentivised to promote rooftop solar systems in their jurisdictions. 
• The scheme is expected to generate more income, lower power bills and provide employment for people.

2. Defence Ministry inks contract with BEL

Syllabus: GS-3, Defence

Prelims: BEL

Mains: Indigenisation of defence manufacturing

Context:

The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Hyderabad.

Details:

• Objective of the contract: To procure 11 Shakti Electronic Warfare Systems along with associated equipment/accessories for the Indian Navy under the Buy (Indian – IDDM) category.
• Total cost: Rs.2269.54 Cr.
• Shakti Electronic Warfare System:
  • The Shakti EW System is indigenously designed, developed and manufactured. The Shakti EW System can accurately intercept electronic emissions and implement countermeasures in dense electromagnetic environments.
  • The Shakti EW System will be installed onboard capital warships of the Indian Navy.
• The project will generate employment of two and half lakh man-days over four years with the participation of more than 155 industry partners including MSMEs.

3. Smart Gram Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram Panchayat

Syllabus: GS-2, Govt Schemes

Prelims: Smart Gram Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram Panchayat, PM-WANI

Context:

Union Minister launched a pilot project ‘Smart Gram Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram Panchayat’ to extend PM-WANI Service in Gram Panchayats of Bihar’s Begusarai District.

Details:

• The pilot project titled ‘Smart Gram Panchayat: Revolution towards Digitization of Gram Panchayat’ was launched to extend PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) Service in all Gram Panchayats across Begusarai District in Bihar. 
• Begusarai has now become the first District in Bihar to equip all Gram Panchayats with Wi-Fi services under the PM-WANI Scheme.

Know more about the PM WANI scheme in the linked article.

4. Prelims Facts

International Epilepsy Day

• International Epilepsy Day is an annual awareness-raising initiative organised by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).
• The day is observed annually on the second Monday of February.
• Epilepsy, often misunderstood as a curse, is a medical condition that can be managed effectively with the right treatment and support.

Epilepsy 

• Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterized by repeated seizures. A seizure is usually defined as a sudden alteration of behaviour due to a temporary change in the electrical functioning of the brain. 
• Epilepsy is usually diagnosed after a person has had at least two seizures that were not caused by some known medical condition, such as alcohol withdrawal or extremely low blood sugar.
• Epilepsy can also be caused due to stress, insufficient food intake, sleep deprivation or fatigue, alcohol use or drug abuse, or failure to take prescribed anticonvulsant medications.
• There are other risk factors also for epilepsy such as brain tumour, premature birth, cerebral palsy, serious brain injury, etc.
• Epilepsy may be treated with antiepileptic medications (AEDs), diet therapy and surgery.

Read previous PIB articles here.