Tamil Nadu topped in micro-irrigation- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II-Governance

The state of Tamil Nadu has topped the all-India level for micro-irrigation (MI), under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), with a coverage of 2,06,853.25 ha for the year financial year 2019-20. The state is followed by Karnataka and Gujarat with 1,41,103.56 Ha and 1,08,322.00 Ha of coverage respectively.

• On the other hand, the cumulative total coverage of MI during 2015-2020 has been topped by Karnataka (8,15,690.31 ha) followed by Andhra Pradesh (7,17,421.08 ha) and Gujarat (7,00,858.35 ha). Tamil Nadu occupies the fourth spot with about 5,62,059.11 ha.
• At the all-India level, 43.71 lakh ha of land were brought under micro irrigation in the last 5 years.

How MI cover increased in TN?

During the inaugural year of the MI programme (2015-16), Tamil Nadu had just 32,290 hectares under micro-irrigation. After that the State government had started providing additional subsidy to what was provided by the Centre to small and marginal farmers and big farmers through a website “Micro Irrigation Management Information System” (MIMIS). They have also removed 12% goods and services tax (GST) on MI components. The state has provided options to farmers for the purchase of MI components by identifying 45 firms.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana

Out of about 141 m.Ha of net area sown in the country, about 65 million hectare (or 45%) is presently covered under irrigation. Substantial dependency on rainfall makes cultivation in unirrigated areas a high risk, less productive profession. Empirical evidences suggest that assured or protective irrigation encourages farmers to invest more in farming technology and inputs leading to productivity enhancement and increased farm income.

The overreaching vision of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) is to ensure access to some means of protective irrigation to all agricultural farms in the country, to produce ‘per drop more crop’, thus bringing much desired rural prosperity.

Objectives

The broad objectives of PMKSY include (PT SHOTS)

• Achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level (preparation of district level and, if required, sub district level water use plans).
• Enhance the physical access of water on the farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation (Har Khet ko pani).
• Integration of water source, distribution and its efficient use, to make best use of water through appropriate technologies and practices.
• Improve on - farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage and increase availability both in duration and extent.
• Enhance the adoption of precision - irrigation and other water saving technologies (More crop per drop).
• Enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices.
• Ensure the integrated development of rainfed areas using the watershed approach towards soil and water conservation, regeneration of ground water, arresting runoff, providing livelihood options and other NRM activities.
• Promote extension activities relating to water harvesting, water management and crop alignment for farmers and grass root level field functionaries.
• Explore the feasibility of reusing treated municipal waste water for peri - urban agriculture.
• Attract greater private investments in irrigation.

Programme implementation

• Krishi Sinchayee Yojana with an outlay of Rs.50,000 crores for a period of 5 years (2015-16 to 2019-20) is to achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level.
• PMKSY has been formulated amalgamating ongoing schemes viz. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation; Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) of Department of Land Resources; and On Farm Water Management (OFWM) component of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation.
• PMKSY is to be implemented in an area development approach, adopting decentralized state level planning and projectised execution, allowing the states to draw their irrigation development plans based on district/blocks plans with a horizon of 5 to 7 years. States can take up projects based on the District/State Irrigation Plan.
• All the States and Union Territories including North Eastern States are covered under the programme.
• The National Steering Committee (NSC) of PMKSY under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister, will provide policy direction to programme framework and a National Executive Committee (NEC) under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog will oversee the programme implementation at national level.
• Provision has been made under PMKSY during 2015-16 for carrying out extension activities in the field with special focus on water harvesting, water management and crop alignment for farmers and grass root level field functionaries.

Programme Components

PMKSY has the following programme components:

A. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)

• To focus on faster completion of ongoing Major and Medium Irrigation including National Projects.

B. PMKSY (Har Khet ko Pani)

• Creation of new water sources through Minor Irrigation (both surface and ground water)
• Repair, restoration and renovation of water bodies; strengthening carrying capacity of traditional water sources, construction rain water harvesting structures (Jal Sanchay);
• Command area development, strengthening and creation of distribution network from source to the farm;
• Ground water development in the areas where it is abundant, so that sink is created to store runoff/ flood water during peak rainy season.
• Improvement in water management and distribution system for water bodies to take advantage of the available source which is not tapped to its fullest capacity (deriving benefits from low hanging fruits). At least 10% of the command area to be covered under micro/precision irrigation.
• Diversion of water from source of different location where it is plenty to nearby water scarce areas, lift irrigation from water bodies/rivers at lower elevation to supplement requirements beyond IWMP and MGNREGS irrespective of irrigation command.
• Creating and rejuvenating traditional water storage systems like Jal Mandir (Gujarat); Khatri, Kuhl (H.P.); Zabo (Nagaland); Eri, Ooranis (T.N.); Dongs (Assam); Katas, Bandhas (Odisha and M.P.) etc. at feasible locations.

C. PMKSY (Per Drop More Crop)

• Programme management, preparation of State/District Irrigation Plan, approval of annual action plan, Monitoring etc.
• Promoting efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices like drips, sprinklers, pivots, rain - guns in the farm (Jal Sinchan);
• Topping up of input cost particularly under civil construction beyond permissible limit (40%), under MGNREGS for activities like lining inlet, outlet, silt traps, distribution system etc.
• Construction of micro irrigation structures to supplement source creation activities including tube wells and dug wells (in areas where ground water is available and not under semi critical /critical /over exploited category of development) which are not supported under AIBP, PMKSY (Har Khet ko Pani), PMKSY (Watershed) and MGNREGS a s per block/district irrigation plan.
• Secondary storage structures at tail end of canal system to store water when available in abundance (rainy season) or from perennial sources like streams for use during dry periods through effective on - farm water management;
• Water lifting devices like diesel/ electric/ solar pumpsets including water carriage pipes, underground piping system.
• Extension activities for promotion of scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures including cropping alignment to maximise use of available water including rainfall and minimise irrigation requirement (Jal sarankchan);
• Capacity building, training and awareness campaign including low cost publications, use of pico projectors and low cost films for encouraging potential use water source through technological, agronomic and management practices including community irrigation.
• The extension workers will be empowered to disseminate relevant technologies under PMKSY only after requisite training is provided to them especially in the area of promotion of scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures, improved/ innovative distribution system like pipe and box outlet system, etc. Appropriate Domain Experts will act as Master Trainers.
• Information Communication Technology (ICT) interventions through NeGP - A to be made use in the field of water use efficiency, precision irrigation technologies, on farm water management, crop alignment etc. and also to do intensive monitoring of the Scheme.

D. PMKSY (Watershed Development)

• Effective management of runoff water and improved soil & moisture conservation activities such as ridge area treatment, drainage line 5 treatment, rain water harvesting, in - situ moisture conservation and other allied activities o n watershed basis.
• b) Converging with MGNREGS for creation of water source to full potential in identified backward rainfed blocks including renovation of traditional water bodies

Jai Hind Jai Bharat

Central government constitutes 10-member group headed by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh kant to fight corona

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- GOVERNANCE

On April 5, 2020,In order to deal with this coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, the central government has constituted a 10-member group under the chairmanship of NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Amitabh Kant.

Key Points:

i.The work of this group will primarily identify issues through 3 groups of stakeholders, then present effective measures to address solutions to the issues related to the formulation of plans for counter-activities related to COVID-19. The 3 groups includes

• The UN agencies, World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Civil Society Organisations and development partners
• Industry associations – CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), FICCI ( Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry), ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India), NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies).

ii.NITI Aayog write to the over 92,000 NGOs (Non-governmental organizations) / CSOs (civil society organisation) registered on its ‘Darpan’ portal to help the government identify hotspots, the elderly, the differently-abled, children & other vulnerable groups to fight against the virus.
iii.Other members of Committee include Dr Vijayaraghavan, PSA, Kamal Kishore (Member, NDMA); Sandeep Mohan Bhatnagar (Member, CBIC); Anil Malik (AS, MHA); Vikram Doraiswami, (AS, MEA); P. Harish (AS, MEA); Gopal Baglay (JS, PMO); Aishvarya Singh (DS, PMO); Tina Soni (DS, Cabinet Secretariat); and Sanyukta Samaddar (Adviser, SDG, NITI Aayog).

NITI Aayog Evolution

The NITI Aayog was formed on January 1, 2015. In Sanskrit, the word “NITI” means morality, behavior, guidance, etc. But, in the present context, it means policy and the NITI stands for “National Institution for Transforming India”. It is the country’s premier policy-making institution which is expected to bolster the economic growth of the country. It aims to construct a strong state that will help to create a dynamic and strong nation. This helps India to emerge as a major economy in the world. The NITI Aayog’s creation has two hubs called “Team India Hub” and “Knowledge and Innovation Hub”.

1. The Team India: It leads the participation of Indian states with the central government.
2. The Knowledge and Innovation Hub: it builds institution’s think tank capabilities.

NITI Aayog is additionally creating itself as a State of the Art Resource Center, with the essential resources, knowledge, and skills that will empower it to act with speed, advance research and innovation, bestow crucial policy vision to the government and manage unforeseen issues. The reason for setting up the NITI Aayog is that people had expectations for growth and development in the administration through their participation. This required institutional changes in administration and active strategy shifts that could seed and foster substantial scale change.

Objectives of NITI Aayog

1. The active participation of States in the light of national objectives and to provide a framework ‘national agenda’.
2. To promote cooperative federalism through well-ordered support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on an uninterrupted basis.
3. To construct methods to formulate a reliable strategy at the village level and aggregate these gradually at higher levels of government.
4. Economic policy that incorporates national security interests.
5. To pay special consideration to the sections of the society that may be at risk of not profiting satisfactorily from economic progress.
6. To propose strategic and long-term policy and programme frameworks and initiatives, and review their progress and their effectiveness.
7. To grant advice and encourage partnerships between important stakeholders and national- international Think Tanks, as well as educational and policy research institutions.
8. To generate a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a shared community of national and international experts, etc.
9. To provide a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to speed up the accomplishment of the progress agenda.
10. To preserve a state-of-the-art Resource Centre, be a repository of research on good governance and best practices in sustainable and equitable development as well as help their distribution to participants.
11. To effectively screen and assess the implementation of programmes and initiatives, including the identification of the needed resources to strengthen the likelihood of success.
12. To pay attention to technology improvement and capacity building for the discharge of programs and initiatives.
13. To undertake other necessary activities in order to the implementation of the national development agenda, and the objectives.

7 pillars of effective governance envisaged by NITI Aayog

The NITI Aayog is based on the 7 pillars of effective Governance. They are:

1. Pro-people: it fulfills the aspirations of society as well as individuals
2. Pro-activity: in anticipation of and response to citizen needs
3. Participation: involvement of citizenry
4. Empowering: Empowering, especially women in all aspects
5. Inclusion of all: inclusion of all people irrespective of caste, creed, and gender
6. Equality: Providing equal opportunity to all especially for youth
7. Transparency: Making the government visible and responsive

NITI Aayog Composition

The NITI Aayog will comprise the following:

1. Prime Minister of India is the Chairperson
2. Governing Council consists of the Chief Ministers of all the States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories in India.
3. Regional Councils will be created to address particular issues and possibilities affecting more than one state. These will be formed for a fixed term. It will be summoned by the Prime Minister. It will consist of the Chief Ministers of States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories. These will be chaired by the Chairperson of the NITI Aayog or his nominee.
4. Special invitees: Eminent experts, specialists with relevant domain knowledge, which will be nominated by the Prime Minister.
5. The full-time organizational framework will include, in addition to the Prime Minister as the Chairperson:
   1. Vice-Chairperson (appointed by the Prime Minister)
   2. Members:
      • Full-time
      • Part-time members: Maximum of 2 members from foremost universities, leading research organizations and other innovative organizations in an ex-officio capacity. Part-time members will be on a rotational basis.
   3. Ex Officio members: Maximum of 4 members of the Council of Ministers which is to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
   4. Chief Executive Officer: CEO will be appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure. He will be in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.

About NITI Aayog:

Headquarters– New Delhi.

Chairperson– Narendra Modi.

Vice Chairperson– Rajiv Kumar.

Jai HIND Jai Bharat

ICMR approves TB machines for Covid-19 testing

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- S&T

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has given its nod to Diagnostic machines used to test drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) for conducting Covid-19 tests. In this regard, Truenat beta CoV test on Truelab workstation will be used for screening test of COVID-19. A total of 800 truenat machines are available in India.

• Currently India is using real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing approved by United States and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

About Truenat:

-It is a battery operated small machine that requires minimal training and gives the result between 30-60 minutes.
-The sample of the throat and the nasal swab is collected by the trained technicians wearing personal protective equipment.
-There are two-way and four-way Truenat machines. Four-way Truenat machines can run 32 to 48 samples of multiple diseases – COVID19, HIV and TB, while two-way can handle 16 to 24 samples.
-The cost of a test on Truenat machines will be of Rs 1000-Rs.1500.

ICMR

• ICMR is India’s apex scientific body for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
• It was established in 1911 as Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) making it one of oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world.
• The ICMR functions under Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi.
• Its Governing Body is presided over by Health Minister.
• It is assisted in scientific and technical matters by Scientific Advisory Board comprising eminent experts in different biomedical disciplines.
• ICMR’s research priorities coincide with national health priorities such as control and management of communicable diseases, fertility control, maternal and child health, control of nutritional disorders, research on major non-communicable diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and mental health research and drug research (including traditional remedies) and developing alternative strategies for health care delivery.

Headquarter– New Delhi

Director General– Prof. Balram Bhargava

NASA’s Artemis: First human base camp

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- S&T

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) unveiled its plan to setup ‘Artemis’, the first human base camp on Moon’s South Pole by 2024 through a 13-page report titled “NASA’s Plan for Sustained Lunar Exploration and Development”. The report was submitted to the National Space Council, an advisory group to United States (US) President Donald Trump, presided over by Vice President Mike Pence.

• The Artemis program aims to land first woman and next man on the moon by 2024. The report offered a summary of how the space agency will accomplish the 2024 moon landing mission.
• The plan is to make a one to two-month stay at the South Pole of the moon to learn more about it and the universe.
• Base camp will need infrastructure for power, waste disposal and communications, besides radiation shielding and a landing pad.

The Artemis program is carried out by NASA along with European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the Australian Space Agency (ASA).
About NASA and Missions

History

• Following World War II, the United States was in direct competition with the erstwhile Soviet Union (the superpower that was disbanded into several sovereign nations including the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, the Ukraine, etc. in 1991). That period was called “Cold War”.
• It was the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik on October 4, 1957, that first put an object into orbit around Earth.
• It was followed in November by the even larger Sputnik II, which carried the dog Laika.
• Only in late January 1958, the United States could launch Explorer 1, hoisted aloft by the Army’s rocket team, using rocket technology developed from World War II.
  
  • Though a small spacecraft weighing only 30 pounds, it discovered what are now known as the Van Allen radiation belts, named for the University of Iowa scientist Dr. James Van Allen, launching the new discipline of space science.
  • Explorer 1 was followed in March, 1958 by the Navy’s Vanguard 1, 6 inches in diameter and weighing only 3 pounds.
• NASA’s birth was directly related to the launch of the Sputniks and the ensuing race to demonstrate technological superiority in space.
• Driven by the competition of the Cold War, on July 29, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, providing for research into the problems of flight within Earth’s atmosphere and in space.
• After a protracted debate over military versus civilian control of space, the act inaugurated a new civilian agency designated the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Objectives of NASA

• To expand human knowledge of space
• To lead the world in space-related technological innovation
• To develop vehicles that can carry both equipment and living organisms into space
• To coordinate with international space agencies to achieve the greatest possible scientific advancements.

NASA Missions

Over the last 60 years, the NASA has achieved every one of the aforesaid goals through various missions some of which are given below, and it continues to seek answers to some of the biggest mysteries in science as it evolves with a changing world.

Establishment– 1958,

Headquarter– Washington, D.C., United States

Administrator– James Frederick Bridenstine

Naveen Patnaik conferred PETA’s “Hero to Animals Award”for feeding community animals

The Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik has been conferred with Hero to Animals Award by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India for feeding community animals in five municipal corporations and all 48 municipalities of Odisha during the COVID-19 lockdown. He has allocated Rs 54 lakhs from a relief fund for the same.

• He has presented a framed certificate and a letter of appreciation from PETA India.

It should be noted that the central government advisory body the Animal Welfare Board of India had urged state governments and union territories (UTs) to allow animal welfare volunteers to feed community animals. Also, Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries mandated veterinary services and animal shelters to function as normal and kept in the “essential services” list.
About PETA India

Establishment– 2000

Headquarter– Mumbai, Maharashtra

Indian Railways’ RCF unit developed low-cost ventilator ‘Jeevan’ to fight COVID-19

The Indian Railways has developed a low-cost ventilator ‘Jeevan’ at its premier coach production unit,Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala in Punjab.The cost of “Jeevan”is around Rs 10,000 without the compressor and it will not rise over Rs 30,000 even after adding a few more indicators.The ventilator is now awaiting the final clearance from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

• It should be noted that this ventilator has produced at a time when the nation needs them utmost due to COVID-19 effect. Currently India has 57,000 ventilators but their requirement can be reached between 110,000-220,000.
• Also, Jeevan will produce low cost effective service as other ventilators cost between Rs5- Rs15 lakh.

Key Points:

-If Jeevan receives final clearance from ICMR then RCF will produce 100 such devices every day.
-The reason behind its low cost is that it is produced from materials which were already available in the factory. For eg: the portable compressor has been made from an air cooling machine, the body from coach components, the argon flow has been taken from a laser welding machine, while the microprocessor has been taken from the coach information system.

About RCF:

Establishment– 1986

General manager– Ravinder Gupta

Important days

National Maritime Day 2020: April 5

International Day of Conscience 2020: April 5

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2020: April 6