05 Nov 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. CREST UNVEILING CEREMONY OF INDIAN NAVY’S PROJECT 15B WARSHIP “SURAT”
2. Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas 
invokes 8-point action plan as per Stage-IV of the GRAP

1. Digital Life Certificate Campaign 2.0

Syllabus: GS-III, Security

Prelims: PROJECT 15B, Guided missile destroyer INS Surat

Context:  The Indian Navy’s under construction, guided missile destroyer, INS Surat, will have its crest unveiled on November 6, 2023, in Surat, Gujarat.

• The warship is part of the Project 15B program, which includes the construction of four next-generation stealth guided missile destroyers.
• INS Surat is the fourth and final ship in this project and is currently being constructed at Mazagon Docks Shipbuilders Ltd. in Mumbai.
• The construction of this warship demonstrates India’s commitment to developing its own cutting-edge warship building technology and enhancing its military capabilities.
• The city of Surat has a rich maritime history, having been an important trading center and hub for shipbuilding activities from the 16th to the 18th centuries.
• Many Indian naval ships have been named after prominent cities in the country, and INS Surat is the first capital warship to be named after a city in Gujarat.

2. Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas invokes 8-point action plan as per Stage-IV of the GRAP

Syllabus: GS-III, Environment & Ecology

Prelims: CAQM, GRAP, AQI

Context: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked the eight-point Stage IV of the graded response action plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR due to the severe air pollution crisis.

• The GRAP is a set of emergency action plans that are implemented in four stages based on the severity of air pollution, which is determined by the air quality index (AQI).
• The first stage of GRAP is imposed when the overall air quality is in the ‘poor’ category, and includes measures such as fines for garbage burning and sweeping without sprinkling water, enforcement of dust mitigation measures, and guidelines for use of anti-smog guns at construction sites.
• The second stage of GRAP is imposed when the air quality enters the ‘very poor’ category, and includes additional measures such as a ban on diesel generators, increased parking fees, and an advisory for vulnerable populations.
• The third stage of GRAP is imposed when the air quality breaches the ‘severe’ category, and includes a ban on construction and demolition activities, hot mix plants, brick kilns, and stone crushers.
• The fourth and final stage of GRAP is enforced when the air quality is in the ‘severe plus’ category, and includes measures such as stopping entry of non-essential trucks into Delhi, banning diesel-operated vehicles, and potentially discontinuing physical classes for certain school grades and moving them online.
• ​​The Commission for Air Quality Management has been set up for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas for better coordination, and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index.

Read the previous PIB articles here.