Prelim Bits 07-10-2017

Neelakurinji

• Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is a shrub that is found in the shola forests of the Western Ghats in South India.
• It belongs to the genus Strobilanthes which has around 250 species.
• Blooming periods of different species of Kurinji differ from each other.
• Neelakurinji blooms once in 12 years and its gregarious blooming are expected in July next year.
• It grows at an altitude of 1300 to 2400 metres.
• Besides the Western Ghats, Neelakurinji is also seen in the Shevroys in the Eastern Ghats.

Mission Rice

• Mission rice is organised under the Kudumbasree mission in Kerala.
• The project aims to conserve and propagate seven vanishing indigenous rice seeds of Wayanad District.
• It includes Gandhakasala, Jeerakasala, Palthondi, Chenellu, Rakthashali, Veliyan and Adukkan.
• The project has been executed through Joint liability groups (JLGs) of the mission.
• Bioslurry pellet method, an innovative method of rice cultivation is followed under the mission.
• JLG - It is an informal group comprising of 4-10 individuals coming together for the purpose of availing bank loan on individual basis or through group mechanism.

Pradhanmantri Grameen Digital Saksharata Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)

• It is the new scheme launched by the Ministry of Electronics and IT, envisage to make 6 crore citizens digitally literate in rural India by 2019.
• It is an integral component of Digital India Initiative of the Government.
• It is expected to be one of the largest digital literacy programs in the world.
• It would empower the citizens by providing them access to information, knowledge and skills for operating computers / digital access devices.
• The scheme also focuses on enabling digital financial transactions among the citizens.
• Under the Scheme, Digital Saksharata Abhinanadan Samaroh event will be held in Gandhinagar.
• Various Common Service Centres and Village level entrepreneurs will be participating in this event.

Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (RSM) 2017

• RSM-2017 will be held in Ahmadabad, India’s 1st World Heritage City.
• It was conceived in 2015 by Ministry of Culture.
• It was organised with intent to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the country.
• This year, Ministry of Culture in partnership with Ministry of Tourism is organising a RSM under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat mission.

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

• The ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ programme under Ministry of HRD, aims to actively enhance interaction between people of diverse cultures living in different States and UTs in India.
• As per the programme, each year, every State/UT would be paired with another State/UT in India for reciprocal interaction between the people.

India Water Week

• It is an international event organised by Ministry of Water Resources.
• The 5^th edition of this event will be held this month with the participation of 13 countries.
• The theme of India Water Week – 2017 is “Water and Energy for Inclusive Growth”.
• It is seen as a platform to elicit ideas and opinions from global-level decision makers, researchers and entrepreneurs in the field of water resources development and management.

National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB)

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) established National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) in the year 1972.
• It is the only organization involved in continuous collection of data on actual dietary intakes 0f population.
• It collects information from households as a whole, as well as by individuals belonging to different age and physiological groups, in different states.
• In its recent nation-wide study to assess urban nutrition, it highlighted that Indians consume far less than the recommended quantum of several micro-nutrients and vital vitamins.

Source: PIB, The Hindu.