Current Affairs 25th July 2023 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Current Affairs 25th July 2023 for UPSC Prelims Exam

District Mineral Fund

Context: The CAG report found several irregularities in the working of the District Mineral Fund trusts in Chhattisgarh.

What are District Mineral Foundations (DMFs)?

• DMFs are non-profit trusts that are formed under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act 2015.
  • They are established by state governments in every district affected by mining-related operations.
  • The idea behind setting up of DMFs is that local mining-affected communities, mostly tribal and among the poorest in the country, also have the right to benefit from natural resources extracted from where they live.
• Objectives of DMF:
  • To work in the interest and benefits of persons and areas affected by mining-related operations in a manner as may be prescribed by the State Government.
  • A DMF is responsible for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) and other schemes in areas where mining is carried out.
• The Ministry of Mines launched the PMKKKY in 2015 for the welfare of areas and people affected by mining-related operations, using the funds generated by DMFs.
• DMF Funds contribution:
  • In case of all mining leases executed before 12th January 2015 (the date of coming into force of the Amendment Act) miners will have to contribute an amount equal to 30% of the royalty payable by them to the DMFs.
  • Where mining leases are granted after 12.01.2015, the rate of contribution would be 10% of the royalty payable.
• Beneficiaries under DMF scheme: People who have lost their land rights (including legal, occupational, usufruct and traditional rights) and livelihood (including forest-based livelihood) due to mining.
• Jurisdiction: The operation of DMFs falls under the jurisdiction of the relevant State Government. The fund for DMF is collected at the district level.
• Governing council: The DMF to have a Governing Council comprising:
  • District magistrate as the chairperson
  • Five community representatives from areas affected by mining, nominated by DMF Members
  • Two state government representatives, nominated by the state government.
  • One representative from mining companies contributing to the DMF, nominated by the district mining association.
  • District mining officer
  • Secretary, who will be the chief executive officer (CEO) of the DMF, and who will be appointed by the Governing Council.

Current Affairs 24th July 2023 for UPSC Prelims Exam

One Web Project

Context: The Gujarat government has signed a memorandum of understanding with OneWeb India Communications Pvt Ltd for setting up a ‘satellite network portal site’ — a first for India — at Mehsana in Gujarat.

About One Web Project

• Definition:  Under this Project, two Satellite Network Portals (SMPs) are being set up in India, one in Gujarat and the other in Tamil Nadu through OneWeb.
  • The satellite network portal site is to be launched in Jotana, Mehsana district in Gujarat.
  • For the SNP set-ups in India, OneWeb India Communications will be receiving the capacity from the UK parent company to sell in India.
• Aim: This project will provide internet in an affordable manner to villages, district panchayats, local administrative bodies, government departments, among other, across India under the Digital India initiative.
• Importance:
  • It will provide high-speed, low-latency, and affordable connectivity to the government, businesses, consumers, schools.
  • It will provide continuous and secure satellite internet access at affordable rates in the country.
  • This satellite network portal will be commissioned in 2023 with a possible investment of over Rs. 100 crores in Phase-I.
  • It will create approximately 500 direct and indirect employment opportunities in telecom, electronics and instrumentation sectors in Gujarat.
• Low Earth Orbit:  OneWeb is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite company, which has as many as 648 satellites and aims to build a global communication network.
  • OneWeb uses LEO to provide a broadband network instead of using the traditional method of using geostationary satellites located 36,000 km above the equator.
  • LEO satellites operate at an altitude of 500 to 1,200 km, making it apt for high-speed and low latency, a lower time lag between a user seeking data, and the server sending that data, compared to geostationary Earth orbit positioned satellites.
  • The satellite network portal (SNP) site will be serving as a signal and data downlink and uplink terminal or base station on the ground, an intermediary for data transmission through satellite tracking antenna systems.
• Location of Gujarat:   Decision to set up an SNP in Gujarat is a combination of geographical and business interests.
  • There was requirement of suitable geography for the project since the government wanted to cover/cater to the maritime sector also and Gujarat has the longest coastline in India.
  •  Gujarat has a favourable business climate and it is a place where business moves faster.
• Role of DST Gujarat:  DST handles telecommunications and it also handles the Gujarat Electronics Policy.
  • So, an investment of this large scale requires fiscal, non-fiscal incentives and assistance with regulatory and statutory approvals, such as change of land use, building permits, and fibre connectivity, which we (DST Gujarat) shall be facilitate as part of the MoU.
• OneWeb’s Growing Footprint in India: India’s Bharti Enterprises serves as a major investor and shareholder in UK based OneWeb and Bharti Enterprises’ founder Sunil Bharti Mittal serves as OneWeb’s executive chairman.
  • India launched 36 GEN 1 satellites of OneWeb on March 26, 2023, from aboard Launch Vehicle Mark-3 from Sriharikota.
  • OneWeb has also appointed Hughes Communications India Private Ltd (HCIPL) — a joint venture between Hughes and Bharti Airtel Limited — as its distributor, which will sell end-user services in India.

National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities

Context: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has noted  that the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities has only been able to document 16.8 lakh antiquities.

More on News

• The Parliamentary Standing Committee noted in its report NMMA has only been able to document 16.8 lakh antiquities out of a total of 58 lakh which is just about 30%.
• Indian heritage items and cultural repositories all over the country come under the purview of various agencies. Some are protected by the ASI, some are under the State government, and some are under trusts, local authorities and private ownership.

About National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA)

• Definition: The NMMA was launched in 2007 to document India’s monuments and antiquities to help in the creation of a database of all antiquities that can be referred to readily in case of fraudulent dealings or theft.
  • It was initially set up for a period of five years from 2007.
  • It was extended for a further five years till 2017 and later merged with the ASI.
• Ministry:  NMMA is under Ministry of Culture.
• Objectives of NMMA:
  •  Documentation and creation of suitable database on built heritage and sites for information and dissemination to planners, researchers etc. and for better management of such cultural resources.
  •   Documentation in a uniform format developed by NMMA, of all Antiquities that are available in the form of Registered Antiquities, Catalogued Antiquities with Central as well as State Governments, Private museums and collections, Universities, etc.
  • Promote awareness and sensitize people concerning the benefits of preserving the historical and cultural aspects of built heritage, sites and antiquities.
  • Extend training facility and capacity building to the concerned State Departments, Local bodies, NGOs, Universities, Museums, Local communities etc.
  • Help in developing synergy between institutions like Archaeological Survey of India, State Departments, concerned Institutions and NGOs to generate close interaction.
  • Publication and Research.
• Significance:
  • A large number of movable heritages is scattered all over the country without any vigilance.
  • Though theft of antiquities from Centrally Protected Monuments/sites under the ASI and under State governments is immediately reported and FIRs lodged, theft of unprotected antiquities makes recovery very difficult.
  • Hence, the documentation of all such antiquities in the form of digitised records along with maintenance and periodic auditing of inventory is the first step to ensure the safeguarding of India’s tangible cultural heritage.

Cantonments

Context: For bringing uniformity in municipal laws governing civil areas of cantonments and adjoining State municipal areas, the government has decided to identify civil areas of certain cantonments and merge them with neighbouring State municipalities.

About Cantonments

• As per Union List (Schedule VII) of the Constitution of India, Urban Self Governance of the Cantonments and the Housing Accommodation is the subject matter of the Union of India.
• Definition: Cantonments in India are permanent military stations where a group of military personnel are stationed for administrative purposes.
• Governance: These cantonments are governed by the Cantonments Act, 2006 which provides for municipal administration and control of these areas.
• Cantonment Board: A cantonment board is established for municipal administration for civilian population in the cantonment area.
  • It is set up under the provisions of the Cantonments Act of 2006-a legislation enacted by the Central government.
  •  It works under the administrative control of the defense ministry of the Central government.
  • A cantonment board is created as well as administered by the Central government.
• Composition of Cantonment Board: It consists of partly elected and partly nominated members.
  • The elected members hold office for a term of five years while the nominated members (i.e., ex-officio members) continue so long as they hold the office in that station.
  •  The military officer commanding the station is the ex-officio president of the board and presides over its meetings.
  • The vice president of the board is elected by the elected members from amongst themselves for a term of five years.
  • The executive officer of the cantonment board is appointed by the President of India.
    • He implements all the resolutions and decisions of the board and its committees.
    •  He belongs to the central cadre established for the purpose.
• Functions:  The functions performed by a cantonment board are like those of a municipality.
  • These are statutorily categorized into obligatory functions and discretionary functions.
  • The sources of income include both, tax revenue and non-tax revenue.

Tele MANAS

Context: Tele MANAS, the Toll-free digital arm of the Centre’s District Mental Health Programme, has received over 200,000 calls since its launch in October 2022.

About Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS):

Tele-MANAS was launched in 2022 to provide free tele-mental health services all over the country round the clock, particularly catering to people in remote or under-served areas.

• Background: Acknowledging the mental health crisis in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and an urgent need to establish a digital mental health network that will withstand the challenges amplified by the pandemic, Government of India announced National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP) in the Union Budget 2022-23.
• Definition: Tele-MANAS was launched in 2022 aims to provide free tele-mental health services all over the country round the clock, particularly catering to people in remote or under-served areas.
• Ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• Features:
  •  The programme includes a network of 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence, with NIMHANS being the nodal centre and International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIITB) providing technology support.
  • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bengaluru and National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHRSC) will provide the technical support.
  • A toll-free, 24/7 helpline number (14416) has been set up in India allowing callers to select the language of choice for availing services.
  • There are 42 operational Tele MANAS cells in 31 States and Union Territories, the service is currently catering to over 1,300 calls per day in 20 languages.
• Significance:
  • This initiative acknowledges mental health issue in providing support while maintaining the anonymity of the callers, thereby reducing the stigma generally surrounding mental health issues.
  • It will make mental health services available free of cost to every household and every individual, targeting the most vulnerable and unreached sections of society that may otherwise have gone unnoticed.
  • The Tele MANAS service is being promoted via different media platforms, including print media, radio, and social media. The service provides assistance via basic counselling and mental health services, and linkages to existing vital services and resources.
  • Specialised care is being envisioned through the programme by linking Tele-MANAS with other services like National tele-consultation service, e-Sanjeevani, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, etc.
  • This system will include the entire spectrum of mental wellness and illness, and integrate all systems that provide mental health care.
  • NIMHANS has conducted training for 900 Tele MANAS counsellors from majority of States/UTs.

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