CA : 17 August 2023

Daily Current Affairs 17 August 2023

PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme :

• The PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme is a government initiative approved by the Union Cabinet to enhance city bus services and urban infrastructure with a focus on green mobility. 

• The scheme aims to introduce 10,000 electric buses (e-buses) into city bus services across the country, particularly targeting cities that lack organised bus services.

Key highlights of the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme:

• Budget Allocation: The scheme is estimated to cost ₹57,613 crore. The Central Government will contribute ₹20,000 crore, while the remaining amount will be funded by the respective States.

• Duration: The scheme will support bus operations for a period of 10 years.

• Employment Generation : The scheme will generate 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs 

• Implementation: The scheme will be carried out in two segments:

Segment 1: Augmenting the City bus Services

• In 169 cities, 10,000 e-buses will be introduced through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. 

• Additionally, depot infrastructure will be developed or upgraded to support the new e-buses. 

• This includes the creation of behind-the-meter power infrastructure like substations.

Segment 2: Green Urban Mobility Initiatives 

• In 181 other cities, the focus will be on upgrading urban infrastructure to promote green urban mobility. 

• Initiatives will include bus priority measures, multimodal interchange facilities, automated fare collection systems, and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

These initiatives are aimed at reducing emissions, improving public transportation services, and promoting sustainable urban development. By introducing electric buses and improving urban infrastructure, the scheme seeks to contribute to cleaner air, reduced congestion, and enhanced urban mobility.

Global Initiative on Digital Health :

• The Global Initiative on Digital Health, a collaboration between India and WHO, was unveiled during the G20 summit in Gandhinagar. 

• It strives to globally advance digital health with three key objectives. 

• Firstly, it seeks to amalgamate health data from diverse sources for informed decision-making. 
• Secondly, it aims to improve integration among various health platforms and technologies, bolstering healthcare delivery. 
• Lastly, the initiative aims to foster investments in digital health projects for accelerated development. 

• A global digital platform will include features like an investment tracker, needs assessment tool, and a repository of digital health solutions. 

• Emphasising data security and ownership, the platform focuses on analysis and interoperability without sharing user data. 

• The G20 summit also addresses health emergencies through the Interim Medical Countermeasure (MCM), advocates for climate and health initiatives, and envisions a portal for enhanced healthcare workforce mobility. 

• In essence, these efforts leverage digital innovation to enhance global healthcare collaboration, data analysis, and delivery.

For More detailed Information Read - "Global Initiative on Digital Health"

Koosina Mane Scheme By Karnataka Governemnt :

• "Koosina Mane" is a scheme introduced by the Karnataka government in its 2023-24 Budget. 

• The scheme aims to set up child homes or creches across 4,000 gram panchayats in Karnataka. 

• Its primary purpose is to provide healthcare, nutrition, and safety for children whose mothers are employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), as well as for other mothers in the vicinity.

Significance of the Scheme:

• It aims to enhance women's labor force engagement by offering childcare, nutrition, and safety. 

• The initiative addresses low women's participation in MGNREGA and alleviates the "triple burden" of work, childcare, and domestic tasks. 

• By redistributing childcare responsibilities, it creates a supportive atmosphere for working mothers, ensuring child safety and well-being. 

• Notably, the scheme is unique due to its large-scale implementation with state-funded child homes, catering to infants as young as six months. 

• The initiative harmonises with MGNREGA and Women and Children Development Department goals, fostering a holistic approach to enhance women's labor participation and childcare support.

Terms in News:

Circular Economy :

• The circular economy is an economic model that aims to create a regenerative and sustainable system by minimising waste, maximising resource utilisation, and promoting a continuous loop of product lifecycle. 

• Unlike the traditional linear economy, which follows a "take, make, dispose" pattern, the circular economy emphasises reducing, reusing, and recycling materials to keep products, components, and materials in use for as long as possible.

• It includes 6 R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refurbishment, Recover, and Repairing of materials

Deemed Forest:

• Deemed forest, as you mentioned, refers to land that has the appearance of a forest but hasn't been officially designated as forest land by the central or state government. 

• This concept gained prominence after a significant Supreme Court order in the TN Godavarman case in 1996. 

• In this case, the Supreme Court directed the state government to identify and record such land that had the characteristics of a forest but hadn't been officially recognised as such.

Places in News:

Lake Titicaca :

Why in News: Water Level falls to historic lows due to climate change

About Lake Titicaca:

• Situated between Bolivia and Peru in South American Continent.

• Located in Andes Mountains in South America

• Located at above 3800 meters from sea level

• It is the world's highest navigable water body

• largest fresh water lake in South America

Pong Dam:

Why in news: Several villages in Punjab inundated after water released from Pong Reservoir.

• It is also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar or Pong reservoir.

• Pong Dam: Manmade reservoir constructed in 1975 on the Beas River in the Shivalik hills of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh.

• 1983: Entire reservoir designated as Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Highest Earth Fill Dam in India.

• Pong Dam Lake designated as Ramsar Site in 2002.

• There exists a Vulture Café in Pong: Dumping of cattle carcasses to attract vultures for scavenging.