14 Jan 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Different Festivals of India
2. GIS-based automated water connection
3. 147th foundation day of India Meteorological Department (IMD)
4. Community Based Organizations

1. Different Festivals of India

Syllabus: GS I, Indian Heritage and Culture

Prelims: About Makar Sankranti, Uttarayan, Magh Bihu, Bhogi and Pongal 

Mains: Significance of festivals in conserving unity in diversity

Context: The Prime Minister greeted the nation amidst different festivals across the country that reflect the vibrant cultural diversity of the country.

Makar Sankranti: 

• It is the major harvest festival that is of religious and seasonal importance. 
• The festival of Sankranti is dedicated to Lord Surya. 
• This festival is celebrated across the country with different names usually in the month of January. 
• Makar Sankranti denotes the end of winter and the beginning of longer days on account of the northward journey of the sun. This is why this period is also referred to as Uttarayan. 
• This period marks the sun’s transit into Makara (Capricorn) rashi (zodiac).
• The north Indians call this festival Maghi and Lohri. 
• Makar Sankranti and Poush Sankranti are celebrated in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka and Telangana. 
• This harvest festival is celebrated as Sukrat in central India, Magh Bihu in Assam and Thai Pongal or Pongal in Tamil Nadu. 
• On this auspicious day, it is believed that taking a dip in the rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery will wash away the sins.

Image Source: myGOVIndia

2. GIS-based automated water connection

Syllabus: GS II, Governance, e-governance – applications

 Prelims: GIS,  E-Chhawani portal

 Mains: Growing popularity of ‘Minimum government and maximum governance’ 

Context: Water connection has been granted under an automated water supply system that is GIS (Geographical Information System) enabled for the residents of cantonments. 

Importance:

• This initiative will enhance the ease of living under the E-Chhawani portal which can facilitate the cantonment residents with various services. 
• It offers a user-friendly automated system that allows the citizens to identify the location of the water supply. 

About GIS:

• The GIS-based ‘Automatic Water Supply System’ has been developed by Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics under the guidance of the Defense Secretary and Director General of Defense Estates. 
• It is completely an automated system that provides the citizens with the nearest water pipeline.
• Under the GIS, no manual intervention is required for the clearance and sanction of the water connection. 

About E-Chhawani portal:

• It is a unified portal for 62 cantonment boards which will enable the citizens to have ready access to information regarding their cantonment board.
• This portal also helps the citizens to avail the civic services delivered by cantonment boards. 
• It is planning to provide an online property tax payment facility. Online building plan facility, community hall booking, school admission facility along with fee payment in the coming future. 

Ongoing facilities of the portal for cantonment residents: 

• Information portal
• Trade license
• Public Grievances
• Online Challan Payment System
• Lease renewal
• Birth certificate 
• Death certificate
• Hospital OPD registration
• Water and sewerage connection facility

3. 147th foundation day of India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Syllabus: GS III, Disaster Management 

Prelims: IMD

Mains: Contributions of IMD in weather and climate services

Context: Salient contributions of IMD were acknowledged on the occasion of the 147th foundation day of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). 

Important Highlights:

• IMD has played a crucial role in extending the weather and climate services to South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle East countries.
• Discussions included the usage of drone-based observation technology to strengthen localized forecasting.
• Four doppler weather radars were dedicated to the nation at Leh, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai to improve the research of weather forecasting and climate studies along with a better understanding of operational analysis. 
• A new platform for crowd searching for the collection of observation through the public was inaugurated which opens a new chapter in citizen science. This will ensure to bridge the gap between science and society. 
• The web GIS services were launched by IMD to minimize the loss of lives and properties due to natural calamities by monitoring a wide range of weather conditions. 
• Over the course of time, IMD has facilitated the citizens to make weather-wise and climate-smart decisions. 
• IMD intends to reorient its weather and climate services by adopting modern technology that would cater to global needs. 

Read more about IMD in the linked article.

4. Community Based Organizations

Syllabus: GS III, Major Crops – Marketing of agricultural produce and issues

Prelims: CBO

Mains: Role of Community-Based Organizations in improving the income of farmers

Context: Value addition of spice crops has been granted by community-based organizations with the support of the North Eastern Community Resource Management Society under the Ministry of Development of North-East Region.

About Community Based Organizations (CBO):

• The Community Based Organizations have been formed under the Ministry of DoNER to replace the vicious cycle of middlemen in the promotion of agricultural products from the North-East region.
• These organizations will also address the challenges of marketing and transport assisting to improve the income of farmers. 
• This will ensure to provide the right price for agricultural produce which is a major challenge for the farmers.
• The spice crops produced by the farmers are processed by the CBO at the centralized processing and packaging unit. 
• The products are then branded under the label of Namdapha Goodness along with special attention to standard quality and food safety measures by the CBO members. 
• The CBOs would source raw spices such as ginger and turmeric directly from the farmers and provide them with a ready platform to sell their products at competitive market prices.

Read previous PIB here.

January 14th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here