Square Kilometre Array telescope Why in the news?
• Recently, the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) Council held its
maiden meeting and approved the establishment of ‘Square Kilometre Array telescope’ the world’s largest radio telescope.
About Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) Council
• It is a new intergovernmental organisation dedicated to radio astronomy and is
headquartered in the UK.
• The organisations from ten countries are currently a part of the SKAO, including
Australia, Canada, China, India, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK.
What are radio telescopes?
• Unlike optical telescopes, radio telescopes can detect invisible gas and, therefore,
they can reveal areas of space that may be obscured by cosmic dust.
• It is used to detect radio waves emitted by different objects in the universe and
explore it
• As per NASA, the telescope will accomplish its scientific goals by measuring neutral hydrogen over cosmic time, accurately timing the signals from pulsars in the Milky Way, and detecting millions of galaxies out to high redshifts.
Location
• It will be located in Africa and Australia whose operation, SKAO will oversee
maintenance and construction. Background
• The first radio signals were detected by physicist Karl Jansky in the 1930s.
• According to NASA, radio astronomy evolved after World War II and became one
of the most important tools for making astronomical observations since.
• In Puerto Rico, the Arecibo telescope, which was the
second-largest single-dish radio telescope in the world, collapsed in December 2020.
Topic- GS Paper III–Science and Technology Source-The Hindu
G Rohini's Commission on Sub-categorisation of OBCs Why in the news?
• Recently, the Centre has extended the Commission's tenure to Examine
Sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) headed by Justice G Rohini, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court. The Commission now has until July 31 to submit its report.
What is the sub-categorisation of OBCs?
• OBCs are granted 27% reservation in jobs and education under the central
government.
• In September last year, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court reopened the
legal debate on sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for reservations.
• The debate arises out of the perception that only a few affluent communities
among the over 2,600 included in the Central List of OBCs have secured a major part of this 27% reservation.
• The argument for sub-categorisation — or creating categories within OBCs for
reservation — is that it would ensure "equitable distribution" of representation among all OBC communities.
• To examine this, the Rohini Commission was constituted on October 2, 2017.
Commission's terms of reference
It was originally set up with three terms of reference:
• To examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation
among the castes or communities included in the broad category of OBCs with reference to such classes included in the Central List.
• To work out the mechanism, criteria, norms, and parameters in a scientific
• To take up the exercise of identifying the respective castes or communities or sub-castes or synonyms in the Central List of OBCs and classifying them into their respective sub-categories.
A fourth term of reference was added on January 22, 2020, when the Cabinet granted it an extension:
• To study the various entries in the Central List of OBCs and recommend
correction of any repetitions, ambiguities, inconsistencies and errors of spelling or transcription.
Related Information
National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)
• National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) established on August 14,
1993, as a statutory body.
• But now, the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act,
2018 provides constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).
• This Commission was formed as an initiative to investigate the conditions and
difficulties of the socially and educationally backward classes and thus make appropriate recommendations.
Background
• The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was an outcome of
the Indra Sawhney case (Mandal Commission) of 1992.
• In Indra Sawhney case of 1992, the Supreme Court had directed the government to create a permanent body to entertain, examine and recommend the inclusion and exclusion of various Backward Classes for benefits and protection.
• Previously the two Backward Class Commissions were appointed in the 1950s
and 1970s under Kaka Kalelkar and B.P. Mandal respectively. Constitutional Provision
• 102nd Constitution Amendment Act inserted new Articles 338 B and 342 A.
• The amendment also brings about changes in Article 366.
• Article 338B provides authority to NCBC to examine complaints and welfare measures regarding socially and educationally backward classes.
• Article 342(A) introduces greater transparency as it is made mandatory to take the concurrence of Parliament for adding or deleting any community in the backward list.
Composition
• The National Commission for Backward Classes consists of five regulatory
members: the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other members with a tenure period of three years.
• The conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson,
Vice-Chairperson and other Members are determined by the President. Topic- GS Paper III–Governance
CM launches ‘Switch Delhi’ campaign to promote EV policy Why in the news?
• To promote electric vehicles in the Capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has
recently launched a ‘Switch Delhi’ campaign.
About ‘Switch Delhi’ campaign
• It will educate people about the benefits of electric vehicles (EV) and urge them to
make a switch.
• The campaign aims to inform, encourage, and motivate every person in Delhi to
switch from polluting vehicles to zero-emission electric vehicles. Related Information
Central Government Initiatives on Electric Vehicles National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP)
• It was launched in 2013 to achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and
EVs in the country.
• There is an ambitious target to achieve 6-7 million hybrid and EVs sales year on
year from 2020 onwards.
Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India)
• It was launched in 2015 to support hybrid/EV market development and
manufacturing ecosystem.
• The scheme has four focus areas
1. Technology development 2. Demand creation
3. Pilot projects
4. Charging infrastructure Note:
• Organisations like Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Department of Heavy
Industry, Automotive Research Association of India are devising design and manufacturing standards of EVs, Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSEs) charging infrastructure to smoothen the advent of in-house production of EVs. Topic- GS Paper III–Environment
Source-The Hindu
Groundhog Day: A popular North American tradition Why in the news?
• Recently, the United States and Canada marked Groundhog Day, an annual
tradition in which a groundhog predicts whether winter will continue or give way to spring soon.
The tradition of Groundhog Day
• The tradition began during the Middle Ages in Europe when it was believed that
badgers and bears interrupted their hibernation to appear on this day.
• German settlers in North America brought the tradition with them, and the
groundhog replaced the badger.
• Groundhog Day is also believed to be an enhanced version of Candlemas, a
Christian festival which falls on the same day every year.
• According to lore, clear weather on Candlemas day forebodes a prolonged winter.
About Groundhog
• It is also known as a woodchuck.
• It is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to large ground squirrels known
• It is native to North America. Conservation Status
• These are listed as Least Concern as per IUCN Red List.
Topic- GS Paper I+III–Art and Culture + Environment Source-The Hindu
Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram Why in the news?
• Recently Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Kiren Rijiju has given
in a written reply in Lok Sabha about the Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram.
About Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram
• It is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and has been continuing since the 12th Five Year Plan.
• The Scheme aims to develop the youth's personality and leadership qualities and
engage them in nation-building activities.
• It was formulated as an umbrella scheme; in rationalisation exercise undertaken
on Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendation on HRD and in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and NITI Aayog.
• The Objective was that the Scheme's merger under an umbrella scheme would
effectively leverage the administrative structure of the Scheme for effective implementation of the programmes.
The seven sub-schemes under scheme RYSK are: a. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan.
b. National Youth Corps.
c. National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development. d. International Cooperation.
e. Youth Hostels.
f. Assistance to Scouting and Guiding Organisations. g. National Young Leaders Programme.
Beneficiaries
• The Scheme beneficiaries are youth in the age-group of 15-29 years, in line with
the definition of 'youth' in the National Youth Policy, 2014.
• In the case of programme components specifically meant for the adolescents, the
age group is 10-19 years. Topic- GS Paper II–Governance Source-PIB
One in five Indians exposed to novel coronavirus: sero-survey Why in the news?
• According to the third round of the serological survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found nearly one in five Indians had been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus until December 2020.
• This is roughly a three-fold increase since August and a 30-fold increase since May when previous rounds of the survey were conducted.
• The survey sampled people from 70 districts across 21 States.
What are Sero-surveys?
• Sero-surveys are conducted by drawing blood samples and checking for a specific
class of IgG antibodies that appear within two weeks of infection.
• Because it is yet unclear how long antibodies detectably persist in the body, their
presence only indicates past exposure to — and not the presence of — the virus. Topic- GS Paper III–Science and Technology
Source-The Hindu
NRIs allowed operating One Person Companies in India Why in the news?
• Recently, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has amended the One Person
Companies (OPCs) rules after the Finance Minister's announcement in Union Budget 2021-22.
About One person company (OPC)
• It is a company formed with only one (single) person as a member, unlike the
traditional manner of having at least two members to form a company. Key highlights of the scheme
• The incorporation of One Person Companies is being incentivized by amending
the Companies (Incorporation) Rules to allow OPCs to grow without any restrictions on paid-up capital and turnover.
• The new rules have reduced the residency limit for an Indian citizen to set up an
OPC from 182 days to 120 days.
• The amendment will allow Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to incorporate OPCs in
• The fast-track process for mergers under the Companies Act, 2013 has also been extended to include mergers of Startups with other Startups and small companies.
• The rule relating to voluntary conversion unless OPC has completed two years
from the date of incorporated is proposed to be omitted.
• The conversion of One Person Company into a Public Company or a Private
company shall be permitted anytime. Significance of OPCs rules amendments
• The move will benefit startups and innovators and help NRIs with
entrepreneurial potential to enter the Indian market.
• It is a measure that directly benefits Startups & Innovators in the country, especially those supplying products & services on e-commerce platforms.
Topic- GS Paper III–Economics Source-Hindustan Times
State Reform Action Plan (SRAP), 2019 Why in the news?
• Ministry of Commerce and Industry has informed Lok Sabha about the rankings of States and Union Territories (UTs) under State Reform Action Plan (SRAP), 2019.
About State Reform Action Plan
• It is an index that ranks states and Union Territories based on implementing the
Business Reform Action Plan.
• The Department has released it for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT) since 2015. Objective
• The objective of the index to attract investments by increasing the Ease of Doing
Business in each State.
• It introduces an element of healthy competition through a system of ranking
states. Parameters
• It includes 180 reform points covering 12 business regulatory areas such as
Access to Information, Single Window System, Labour, Environment, and Paying Taxes.
Method of Ranking
• The assessment of States/UTs under SRAP, 2019 was based on
users/professionals' feedback against 180 out of 187 reform points.
• Its method is similar to the methodology followed by the World Bank in its global
Doing Business rankings. Ranking
• The top five states under the SRAP 2019 are Andhra Pradesh, Uttar
State Reform Action Plan 2020
• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has prepared
a 301-point State Reforms Action Plan,2020, and shared with States/UTs.
• The Action Plan is spread across 15 reform areas.
• It seeks to promote a sector-specific approach to create an enabling business
environment across various sectors in the country.
• The various sectors include Trade License, Healthcare, Legal Metrology, Fire
License/NOC, Cinema Halls, Hospitality, Telecom, Movie Shooting and Tourism. Topic- GS Paper II–Governance
