21st Jul 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Ayurveda
2. Indigenous technology for conversion of seawater to potable water
3. Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana
4. Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana

1. Ayurveda

Syllabus: GS-2, Health

Prelims: Ayurveda, Panchakarma

Context:

Patent awarded for use of advanced automated system or instrument for Therapeutic Emesis.

What is Panchakarma?

• Panchakarma is the prime treatment modality in Ayurveda. 
• Panchakarma is administered for prevention, management, cure as well as rejuvenation.
• Vamana (therapeutic emesis), virechana (therapeutic purgation), basti (therapeutic enema), nasya (therapy through nasal route) and rakthamokshana (blood letting therapy) are the five procedures under panchakarma.

Also read: National AYUSH Mission

2. Indigenous technology for conversion of seawater to potable water

Syllabus: GS-3; Science and Technology; Indigenization of technology and developing new technology

Prelims: Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) technology

Context:

The Ministry of Earth Sciences has developed indigenous technology for conversion of seawater to potable water – Union Minister in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Details:

• The indigenously developed Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) technology for conversion of seawater to potable water has been successfully demonstrated in the Lakshadweep Islands.
• It has been developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Three desalination plants based on the LTTD technology have been developed and demonstrated at Kavaratti, Agati and Minicoy Islands of Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The capacity of each of these LTTD plants is 1 Lakh litre of potable water per day.
• The LTTD technology is found suitable for Lakshadweep islands where the required temperature difference of about 15⁰C between sea surface water and deep-sea water is found in the vicinity of Lakshadweep coasts only as of now.

3. Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana

Syllabus: GS-2; Governance; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors

Prelims: About the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar

Mains: Significance and achievements of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar

Context:

Minister mentioned the scheme in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

About the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana:

• The scheme was launched in Oct 2020 to incentivize employers for the creation of new employment and restoration of loss of employment during the Covid-19 pandemic. 
• Under the scheme:
  • An employee drawing a monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was not working in any establishment registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) before 1st October 2020 is eligible for the benefit. The employees who lost their job during the Covid-19 pandemic and did not join any EPF covered establishment upto 30.09.2020 are also eligible for the benefit.
  • The government of India for a period of two years, is crediting both the employees’ share (12% of wages) and employer’s share (12% of wages) of contribution payable or only the employee’s share, depending on employment strength of the EPFO registered establishments.

4. Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana

Syllabus: GS-3; Environment; Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

Prelims: Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana

Mains: Advantages of Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana

Context:

The Government had notified the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana for providing financial support to integrated bio-ethanol projects.

About the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana:

• The scheme was notified in 2019 for providing financial support to integrated bio-ethanol projects for setting up Second Generation (2G) ethanol projects in the country using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstock. 
• The scheme has an outlay of Rs. 1969.50 crore for the period 2018-19 to 2023-24.
• Under the scheme, the maximum financial assistance of Rs.150 crore per project for commercial projects and Rs.15 crore per project for demonstration projects has been prescribed for improving commercial viability as well as promoting R&D for the development and adoption of technologies in the field of production of 2G ethanol.
• JI-VAN stands for Jaiv Indhan-Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran.
• The scheme will be supported financially by Viability Gap Funding (VGF).
• The objective of the scheme is to create an ecosystem for setting up commercial projects and boost to Research and Development in 2G Ethanol sector.
• The ethanol produced by the beneficiaries of the scheme will be mandatorily supplied to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to further augment the blending percentage under Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP).
• Scheme’s implementation Agency – Centre for High Technology (CHT), a technical body under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Benefits of the scheme:

• Encourages 2G biofuel technology rather than 1G biofuel which uses food crops for biofuel generation. 2G plants utilize surplus biomass and agricultural waste to produce ethanol, etc.
• Promotes fossil fuel substitution helping achieve reduced GHG emissions.
•  Helps in stopping stubble burning.
• Creates employment opportunities.
• Helps achieve the goals under Swachh Bharat Mission by disposing of non­-food biofuel feedstocks such as waste biomass and urban waste.
• Promotes R&D in the country in the field of second-generation biofuels.

Read previous PIB here.

July 21st, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here