11 June 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

June 11th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Ram Prasad Bismil
2. Prevention of HIV/AIDS
3. Solar PLI Scheme
4. Aerosol Pollution
5. Aspirational Districts Programme

1. Ram Prasad Bismil

Context:

Birth anniversary of revolutionary freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil.

Know more about Ram Prasad Bismil in This Day in History dated June 11.

2. Prevention of HIV/AIDS

Context:

Union Health Minister addressed the 75th session of UNGA on prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Details:

• The Minister spoke on Resolution 75/260 which concerns the Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the political declarations on HIV/AIDS.
• In India, the HIV & AIDS Prevention and Control Act, 2017, provides a legal and enabling framework to safeguard the human rights of infected and affected populations.
• India’s HIV prevention model is centred around the concept of Social Contracting through which the ‘Targeted Interventions Program’ is implemented with support from civil society.
• The program is aimed at behaviour change, communication, outreach, service delivery, counselling & testing and ensuring linkages to HIV care.
• India is providing free anti-retro-viral treatment to close to 1.4 million people. Indian drugs are also reaching millions of people living with HIV in Africa.

Also read: AIDS and India

3. Solar PLI Scheme

Context:

IREDA invited bids for Rs. 4500 crore Solar PLI scheme.

Details:

• The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has appointed the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) as the implementing agency for the scheme.
• The applicants are required to set up either brownfield or greenfield manufacturing facility for the entire capacity allotted under the scheme. Applicants are not allowed to set up a mix of brownfield and greenfield facility under the scheme.
• Solar capacity addition presently depends largely upon imported solar PV cells and modules as the domestic industry has limited operational capacities of solar PV cells and modules.

Read more on the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme in the link.

4. Aerosol Pollution

Context:

Aerosol particles below 3 nm which can reach sizes having climatic impacts, formed frequently in urban locations in India.

Details:

• Scientists, tracing the concentration, size and evolution of aerosol particles smaller than 3 nanometres at an urban location in India, have found frequent formation of sub-3nm aerosol particles in the atmosphere.
• This is critical as a major fraction of these newly formed particles can reach to sizes of cloud condensation nuclei where they have climatic impacts.
• The formation of small molecular clusters of sub-3nm size is technically called aerosol nucleation and the subsequent growth of these newly formed clusters to large sizes is called atmospheric new particle formation (NPF).
  • NPF occurs everywhere in the terrestrial troposphere, and therefore it is a large source of aerosol numbers to the atmosphere.
• This area is largely unexplored in India, though globally, it is extensively studied.

The Study:

• Scientists from the University of Hyderabad measured neutral sub-3nm particles for the first time at an urban location in India.
• The study was conducted with support from the Department of Science & Technology (DST) under Climate Change Programme Division.
• The research showed that a pool of sub-3nm particles is often present in the atmosphere, but how fast these clusters grow depends on various factors.
• The team found a strong positive correlation between sub-3nm particle concentrations and sulphuric acid concentrations, confirming the potential role of sulphuric acid in the formation of sub-3nm particles.
• Other vapours such as ammonia, amines and organics also play a crucial role in the growth of the newly formed particles.

Also read: Air pollutants

5. Aspirational Districts Programme

Context:

UNDP Report lauded the Aspirational Districts Programme.

Details:

• In the report, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has lauded India’s Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and said that it should serve as a best practice for several other countries where regional disparities in development status persist for many reasons.
• The report said that due to concerted efforts made under the ADP, previously neglected districts, including those in remote locations and those affected by Left Wing Extremism, ‘have experienced more growth and development in the last three years than ever before’.

Read more on the Aspirational Districts Programme in the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

June 11th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here