0.1636
900 319 0030
x

Prelim Bits 03-10-2017

iasparliament Logo
October 03, 2017

ODF cities and towns

  • All cities and towns in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Haryana became ‘Open Defecation Free’ as the Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM) completed three years.
  • Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh had already declared all cities and towns ODF.
  • Chandigarh is the only UT to have become ODF under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Urban).

ODF Rural

  • Rural Gujarat has been declared as ODF, marking the completion of three years of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin).
  • The state joined the league of Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Haryana, which were the first 5 states to be declared ODF rural states.
  • SBM (Gramin) is implemented by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and SBM (Urban) is implemented by Ministry of Urban development.

National Waterway – 4

  • National waterway – 4 connects the state of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
  • It runs along Krishna, Godavari Rivers and Commanur, Buckingham Canals along the Coromandal Coast.
  • It is proposed to be developed in three phases.
  • Phase-I: Muktyala to Vijayawada (Krishna River)
  • Phase-II: Vijayawada to Kakinada (Eluru canal & Kakinada canal) and Rajahmundry to Polavaram stretch of Godavari
  • Phase-III: Commamur Canal, Buckingham canal and balance stretches of Krishna & Godavari Rivers.

  • Work on the first phase from Muktiyala to Vijayawada stretch has already commenced and the foundation stone will be laid today.

Commission to Examine Sub Categorization of OBC

  • The President has appointed a Commission to examine the sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes.
  • The commission is formed in exercise of the powers conferred to the President under the Article 340 of the Constitution.
  • The five-member panel will be headed by retired Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court G. Rohini.
  • Sub-categorisation of OBC is done to ensure that the more backward among the communities can access the benefits of reservation.
  • The terms of reference of the commission are
    • Examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes or communities included in the broad category of OBC.
    • To work out the mechanism for sub- categorisation of OBC with reference to such classes included in the Central list.
  • Article 340 - Appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes.

Friends of Fish

  • It is an informal group of members in WTO which includes Argentina, Australia, Chile, Colombia, New Zealand, Norway, Iceland, Pakistan, Peru and the US.
  • The group is formed following the discussions on curbing fisheries subsidies in the WTO.
  • The group has pointed out that subsidies to the fisheries sector have led to over-capacity and over fishing.
  • However some countries including Japan, South Korea and China has expressed scepticism over the link between subsidies and over fishing.
  • Many developing countries such as India and the Philippines have been seeking flexibility in granting subsidies to their fisheries sectors.

Chinese ink for Cancer therapy

  • Photothermal Therapy (PTT) is an emerging non-invasive treatment option for cancer.
  • It involves injection of nano-materials and accumulates it in cancer cells.
  • A laser heats up the nano-materials and kills the cells.
  • Many of the nano-materials are expensive and difficult to make.
  • However, a traditional Chinese ink called Hu-Kaiwen has similar properties to the nanomaterials used in Photothermal Therapy.
  • The Chinese ink is also capable of absorbing near infrared light, which will be useful in locating tumours.

Crude Oil Shipment from US

  • India got its first shipment of crude oil from US in 42 years.
  • India Oil Corporation (IOC) became the first PSU refiner from India to source US crude oil.
  • It will process the crude at its east-coast base refineries located at Paradip, Haldia, Barauni and Bongaigaon.

 

Source: PIB, The Hindu, Business Line.

 

 

Login or Register to Post Comments
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to review.

ARCHIVES

MONTH/YEARWISE ARCHIVES

Free UPSC Interview Guidance Programme