UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 19-08-2020

ARIIA Ranking

Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) is an initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Govt. of India.
ARIIA systematically ranks all major higher educational institutions and universities in India.
The calculation is based on indicators related to “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development” amongst students and faculties.
It also measure the impact created by these innovations and Startups from Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in society and market.
It aims to uplifting India’s Position in the Global Innovation Index from 52th to top 30 in a time period of 5 Years.
ARIIA metrics considers all major parameters used globally to rank education institutions and some parameters which are India specific in nature.
The parameters are primarily organized in major broad parameters with 7 indicators.
Scores is computed based on the weights allotted to each head, overall score can take a maximum value of 100.
All recognized Higher Educational Institutions of India are eligible to participate in the ARIIA ranking.
In the recent ARIIA IIT Madras has bagged the top position under the category of Institutes of National Importance, Central Universities.

Global Innovation Index

The Global Innovation Index (GII) is an annual ranking of countries by their capacity for, and success in, innovation.
The index was started in 2007 by INSEAD and World Business, a British magazine.
Now it is published by Cornell University, INSEAD, and the World Intellectual Property Organization, in partnership with other organizations and institutions.
It is based on both subjective and objective data derived from several sources, including the International Telecommunication Union, the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
The GII is commonly used by corporate and government officials to compare countries by their level of innovation.

Idukki Landslides

Idukki district lies in the Western Ghats region of Kerala, it’s known as “Spice garden of Kerala”.
Recently a landslide occurred in the hamlet of pettimudi in Munaar’s Rajamala.
The landslide was triggered from a Chola forest region in the eravikulan national park that lies in Rajamala.
Factors that triggered land slide are

Heavy rain fall recorded in Rajamala made the epicenter of the landslide vulnerable to slippage, because of the high sand content in the soil and 40 degree slope.
Human Interventions – Buildings on the slopes without adequate protective measures
Blockage of river channels and change of river course due to previous landslides.

Srijan Portal

Defence Ministry has launched ‘SRIJAN’ portal, a one stop shop online portal.
The portal provides access to the vendors to take up items that can be taken up for indigenization.
On this portal, DPSUs/OFB/SHQs can display their items which they have been importing or are going to import which the Indian Industry can design, develop and manufacture as per their capability or through joint venture with OEMs.
The concerned DPSUs/OFB/SHQs, based on their requirement of the items and their guidelines & procedures will interact with the Indian industry for indigenization.

Pan-India entity for retail payments

RBI releases framework for pan-India entity for retail payments
As per the framework, the companies with a net worth of over 500 crore rupees will be eligible to set up an umbrella entity which among other things will be permitted to set up, manage and operate new payment systems in the retail space comprising the following

This entity, to be incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, would need to focus on retail payments systems

The entity will be expected to monitor national as well as international developments so as to avoid shocks and frauds that may adversely affect the system and the economy in general.
The entity will operate clearing and settlement systems for participating banks and non-banks, identify and manage relevant risks, monitor retail payments system developments and related issues in the country and internationally.

White Label PoS

Currently, merchant services providers have two common options when it comes to offering their clients a POS system.
Customers with access to a third-party branded POS system - Companies which choose this route believe that their clients want to feel comfortable by knowing they are using a well-known brand.
Where a white label POS system is an off-the-shelf solution built by software specialists, which channel partners can rebrand and sell as their exclusive offering to merchants.

Bhadbhut project

Bhadbhut project in Bharuch is planned to be a 1.7-km causeway-cum-weir barrage with 90 gates, across the river Narmada.
The barrage will stop most of the excess water flowing out of the Sardar Sarovar Dam from reaching the sea and thus create a “sweet water lake” of 600 mcm (million cubic metres) on the river.
The sweet water from the reservoir will aim to meet the residential and industrial water requirements of Bharuch, Ankleshwar and Dahej.
The project also aims to prevent flooding in years when rainfall is higher than normal.
Embankments 22 km long will be made and will extend upstream towards Bharuch, from either side of the river.
The barrage design also has a navigation lock to enable any future plans to run a ferry service or boats under the inland waterway scheme.
The Inland Waterway Authority of India has given clearance for this project.
The project as faced protests from local fishermen for its likely impact on fishing patterns, notably those of hilsa.
A marine fish, hilsa migrate upstream and arrives in the brackish water of the Narmada estuary near Bharuch for spawning usually during the monsoon months of July and August, and continue doing so till November.
Once the barrage is built, it is expected to block their natural entry.

Source: PIB, Indian Express, the Hindu