Important Facts for Prelims (25th January 2019) | 25 Jan 2019

National Girl Child Day

  • The Ministry of Women & Child Development has celebrated National Girl Child Day (NGCD) on 24th January 2019 in Delhi.
  • The theme of NGCD 2019 was “Empowering Girls for a Brighter Tomorrow” and was celebrated with objectives of generating awareness on the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and create a positive environment around valuing the girl child.
  • The celebrations also marked the 4th anniversary of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme which was launched in 2015.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme

  • The trend of decline in the Child Sex Ratio (CSR), defined as the number of girls per 1000 of boys between 0-6 years of age, has been unabated since 1961.
  • The decline from 945 in 1991 to 927 in 2001 and further to 918 in 2011 is alarming.
  • The decline in the CSR is a major indicator of women disempowerment.
  • CSR reflects both, pre-birth discrimination manifested through gender-biased sex selection, and post-birth discrimination against girls.
  • Two most prominent reasons for the decline in child sex ratio are:
    • Social construct discriminating against girls 
    • Easy availability, affordability and subsequent misuse of diagnostic tools
  • The government has announced the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative to ensure survival, protection, and empowerment of the girl child.
  • This is being implemented through a national campaign and focussed multisectoral action in 100 selected districts low in CSR, covering all States and UTs.
  • This is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource Development.
  • The objectives of this initiative are:
    • Prevention of gender-biased sex-selective elimination
    • Ensuring survival & protection of the girl child
    • Ensuring education and participation of the girl child

Bio-fuel Standard for Aviation

  • To use bio-jet fuel on all military and civilian aircraft, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), in collaboration with IAF and the oil industry, has brought out a new standard for Aviation Turbine Fuels (ATF).
  • This standard would enable the oil companies to manufacture bio-jet fuel for the Indian aviation industry and align Indian standards with current international standards.
  • This step will help in reducing the carbon emissions and will help India become a green fuel production hub.
  • Increased demand of bio-jet fuel would give impetus to increase in collection of tree-borne non-edible oil seeds, which, in turn, will help generate ancillary income, increase remuneration for tribal and marginal farmers, and enthuse cultivation/ collection of oilseeds.
  • This will also help in achieving global emission target under Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
    • CORSIA addresses the increase in total CO2 emissions from international aviation above 2020 levels.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

  • The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a UN specialized agency, established in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).

India’s First Military Flight using Blended Bio-Jet Fuel