State PCS

• 10 May 2024

Rising Electricity Consumption in Rajasthan

Why in News?

Recently, Increasing temperatures are leading to a rise in electricity usage in Rajasthan, causing concern for the state's power sector.

Key Points

• To meet the increasing demand, Rajasthan buys electricity from other states at increased costs annually.
  • With temperatures on the rise in India, failure by the energy department to make arrangements may lead to power shortages for consumers, impacting industrial output significantly.
• More than 2,450 lakh units of electricity were used in the state in April 2023. This number rose to over 2,700 lakh units in April 2024 and further increased to 2,900 lakh units in the first week of May 2024.
  • Expectations indicate an 8-10% rise in electricity consumption in 2024.
• The state has a total power generation capacity of over 24,000 megawatt (Mw), around 58% comes from coal-fired power plants and around 10-12% is generated by solar plants.

Rajasthan's Digital Healthcare Access System

Why in News?

The Rajasthan government is set to implement a new integrated health management system with digitalisation to provide easy access to healthcare services.

Key Points

• The new online system will strengthen health services and create the facilities of electronic health records and single window procedures.
  • The project would be completed at the earliest and the departments and agencies concerned would work with full coordination to ensure its success.
• As part of the online system, the common people and patients approaching the health facilities would get the facilities of electronic health records, digi-health locker, freedom from queue, unified digital survey, key performance indicators (KPI)-based dashboard, telemedicine intensive care unit, geotagging-based hospital map, and single window procedures for health-related licences and no-objection certificates.
• The agencies involved in the new system’s implementation include the National Health Mission, Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation, State Health Insurance Agency and the Department of Information Technology.

National Health Mission (NHM)

• It was launched by the government of India in 2013 subsuming the National Rural Health Mission (Launched in 2005) and the National Urban Health Mission (Launched in 2013).
• The main programmatic components include Health System Strengthening in rural and urban areas for - Reproductive-Maternal- Neonatal-Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A), and Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases.
• The NHM envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality health care services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs.

Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation (RMSCL)

• It was incorporated on 4^th May, 2011 as a Public Limited Company under The Companies Act, 1956.
• It has been established as a centralized procurement agency for procuring generic medicines, surgical & sutures and medical equipments for the department of Medical, Health and Family welfare department, medical Education department and other departments.

Heatwave in Rajasthan

Why in News?

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a Heatwave alert has been issued in West Rajasthan & Kerala.

Key Points

• Strong moisture flow is coming into the nation from the Bay of Bengal, due to which thunderstorm activity along with cloud-to-ground lightning will be increasing.
• As per IMD, a region undergoes a heatwave if the maximum temperature reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius or higher in plains and at least 30 degrees Celsius or more for Hilly regions.
  • In essence, a heatwave is a situation where the air temperature poses a severe risk to human health when exposed.

Causes of Heat Waves

• Global Warming:
  • One of the primary causes of heatwaves in India is global warming, which refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average temperature due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities.
  • Global warming can result in higher temperatures and changes in weather patterns, leading to heatwaves.
• Urbanisation:
  • Rapid urbanisation and the growth of concrete jungles in cities can lead to the phenomenon known as the "urban heat island effect."
  • Urban areas with high population density, buildings, and concrete surfaces absorb and retain more heat, leading to higher temperatures, particularly during heatwaves.
• Sparse Pre-Monsoon Season Showers:
  • Less moisture in many areas, leaving large parts of India arid and dry.
  • The sudden end of pre-monsoon rain showers, an uncommon trend in India, has contributed to the heat waves.
• El Nino Effect:
  • El Nino often increases temperatures in Asia, combined with the weather pattern to create record high temperatures.
  • Trade winds coming from South America normally blow westward towards Asia during the Southwest Monsoon and warming of the Pacific Ocean results in weakening of these winds.
    • Therefore, moisture and heat content get limited and results in reduction and uneven distribution of rainfall across the Indian sub-continent.

Repolling in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News?

Recently, The Election Commission of India ordered repolling at four booths in Madhya Pradesh's Betul Lok Sabha seat after a few Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were damaged.

Key Points

• Repolling would be held from 7 am to 6 pm on 10^th May 2024. A dry day and holiday have been announced in the areas where repolling will be held.
• An estimated 72.65% polling was recorded in the Betul Lok Sabha seat.
• Betul was among nine seats in Madhya Pradesh which voted in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)

• EVM is a device used to record votes electronically. They were first used in the Paravur Assembly Constituency of Kerala in the year 1982.
  • Since 1998, the Election Commission has increasingly used EMVs instead of ballot boxes.
  • In 2003, all state elections and by-elections were held using EVMs.
    • Encouraged by this, in 2004, the Commission took a historic decision to use only EVMs for the Lok Sabha elections.

Low Water Level in Bhimtal Lake

Why in News?

According to the sources, the water level of the Bhimtal Lake, located in Uttarakhand's Nainital district, has dropped to 17 metres, from 22 metres due to the rainfall and snowfall scarcity in the state's Kumaon region.

Key Points

• The prevailing situation has also resulted in a sharp decline in the number of tourists in the hill town.
  • Low water levels in the lake will affect the livelihood of thousands who are dependent on the tourism industry, including hotels and resorts.
• The continuous neglect of the lake by the authorities and the flushing of many drains across the area in the lake has aggravated the situation.

Bhimtal Lake

• Bhimtal Lake is the largest lake in the Nainital district. It is the largest lake in the Kumaon region, known as the "lake district of India".
  • It is named after the second Pandava called Bhima of the famous epic Mahabharata.
• It is a natural lake and its origin is attributed to several faults that occurred due to the shifting of the Earth's crust.
• The lake was built during British time in 1883 and has a masonry dam built on it.
• The lake has rich flora and fauna around it and thick forests of pine and oak cover the hill slopes around the lake.
  • It is home to a number of migratory birds in the winter months.
  • Famous species found in the area include bulbul, wall creeper, Emerald Dove, Black Eagle, and Tawny fish owl.