• 15 Jul 2024

Bihar Floods

Why in News?

In the Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, the rapid increase in water levels in the Bagmati River has led to flood waters entering thousands of houses in 18 panchayats.

Key Points

• The flooding has led lakhs of people across panchayats to lose contact with their block headquarters and district headquarters for aid.
• Several schools in the region have also been filled with floodwater, disrupting education facilities for hundreds of children.
• Bagmati River is a transboundary river between Nepal and India.
  • It starts its journey from Kathmandu, Nepal and it ends in the Koshi River near Bornesthan, Bihar, India.
• The total length of the Bagmati is 3 km.
• Hindus see the Bagmati as sacred and possess great spiritual significance for them.
• The Pashupatinath Temple, located on the river's edge, is another famous Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to Shiva.
• Bishnumati River, Dhobikhola River and Manohara River are tributaries of the Bagmati river.

Early Lightning Detection System

Why in News?

According to the sources, The Uttar Pradesh government plans to establish an early lightning detection and warning system. 

• This system aims to avert casualties caused by lightning strikes in the state, particularly during the monsoon period.

Key Points

• According to an India Meteorological Department (IMD) report Uttar Pradesh ranks among the states with the highest lightning strike casualties in the country.
• On the direction of the chief minister, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), decided to set up a state-of-the-art lightning detection system based on time of arrival (ToA) technology, which is more time and location accurate, across the state.
  • The IMD currently relies on radar-based systems and satellite data to warn about the possibility of lightning strikes in an area but it is not considered a real-time warning.
  • The ToA-based system can successfully detect and warn about the possibility of lightning in a particular area at least 30 minutes in advance.
• The Uttar Pradesh Lightning Alert Management System will be set up in three phases.
  • In the first phase, it will be implemented in 37 districts.
  • It is expected to be set up in 20 and 18 districts respectively in the second and third phases.

Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging)

• It is a device which uses electromagnetic waves in the microwaves region to detect location (range & direction), altitude, intensity and movement of moving and non-moving objects.

India Meteorological Department

• IMD was established in 1875. It is the National Meteorological Service of the country and the principal government agency in all matters relating to meteorology and allied subjects.
  • It works as an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi.
• IMD is also one of the six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organization.

Rajasthan Tribal Movement

Why in News?

A popular movement in the tribal-dominated regions of southern Rajasthan is working to preserve indigenous seed varieties, many of which are on the brink of extinction. This effort is promoting crop diversity and enhancing climate resilience.

Key Points

• In the tribal belt at the tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, thousands of tribal people, from about 1,000 villages and hamlets took part in a series of Beej Utsavs, or seed festivals.
  • The seed festivals exhibited traditional seeds and held interactive sessions on their properties and significance.
  • The tribals were encouraged to protect their rich heritage of biodiversity through farm practices handed down through several generations.
• Indigenous seeds are an important legacy preserved by tribal communities in the midst of the increasing influence of multinational companies in the agriculture sector.
• Banswara-based voluntary group Vaagdhara was the main organiser of the Beej Utsav events, which were facilitated by other tribal rights groups, such as Krishi Evum Adivasi Swaraj Sangathan, Gram Swaraj Samooh, Saksham Samooh, and Baal Swaraj.

Uttarakhand Repopulation Measures

Why in News?

Recently,Uttarakhand's Rural Development and Migration Prevention Commission submitted a report to the Chief Minister revealing that 11 villages near the Indo-China border have no residents remaining.

Key Points

• The report was submitted following a ground survey of 137 border villages in 2023.
  • Out Of the 11 villages, six are in Pithoragarh district- Gumkana, Lum, Khimling, Sagri Dhakdhauna, Sumatu, and Poting.
  • Three are in Chamoli district- Rewal Chak Kurkuti, Fagti, and Lamtol and two are in Uttarkashi district- Nelang and Jadung.
• The report submitted by the commission comprises several suggestions for the government, such as:
  • Promoting border tourism in those areas by relaxing accessibility norms.
  • Providing 200 days' employment instead of 100 days under the MGNREGA program in the border villages. 
  • Develop the places situated near the 51 border villages identified as 'Vibrant Villages' by the Centre.

Vibrant Villages Programme

• It is a Centrally sponsored scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 (to 2025-26) for development of villages on the northern border, thus improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages.
• It will cover the border areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh.
• It will cover 2,963 villages with 663 of them to be covered in the first phase.
• Vibrant Village Action Plans will be created by the district adminstration with the help of Gram Panchayats.
• There will not be overlap with the Border Area Development Programme.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Scheme

• Launched in 2005 by the Ministry of Rural Development, MGNREGA stands as one of the world's largest work guarantee programs.
• This initiative provides a legal guarantee, ensuring a hundred days of employment each financial year for adult members of any rural household.
  • Participants engage in unskilled manual work related to public projects, earning the statutory minimum wage.

Muslim Board to Challenge SC Ruling

Why in News?

Recently, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board announced its plan to challenge the Supreme Court's recent ruling that permits divorced Muslim women to claim maintenance after the 'Iddat' period. 

• The board also intends to challenge the newly enacted Uniform Civil Code (UCC) law in Uttarakhand. 

Key Points

• These decisions were made during a working committee meeting, under which eight resolutions were approved.
• One of the resolutions concerns the Supreme Court's judgment, which contradicts Sharia law. 
• Recently, the Supreme Court unequivocally ruled that Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) applies to all married women, including Muslims. 
  • The court emphasized that Indian men must unequivocally recognize the significance of homemakers by providing unwavering financial support, such as joint accounts and unfettered access to ATMs.
• The board highlights that diversity is our country's identity, protected by the Constitution. The UCC aims to erase this diversity, challenging both constitutional and religious freedoms. 
• The legal committee is preparing to challenge the UCC law enacted in Uttarakhand.

Section 125 of the CrPC 

• Section 125 of the CrPC mandates that a Magistrate of the first class may order a person with sufficient means to make a monthly allowance for the maintenance of:
  • His wife, if she is unable to maintain herself.
  • His legitimate or illegitimate minor child, whether married or not, unable to maintain itself.
  • His legitimate or illegitimate adult child with physical or mental abnormalities or injuries that render them unable to maintain themselves.
  • His father or mother, unable to maintain themselves.

Iddat Period

• A divorced Muslim woman is entitled to a reasonable and fair provision and maintenance from her former husband, to be paid within the iddat period.
• Iddat is a period, usually of three months, which a woman must observe after the death of her husband or a divorce before she can remarry.

Chhattisgarh's First Digital Planetarium

Why in News?

According to the sources, Chhattisgarh's first digital planetarium being established in the insurgency-affected Dantewada district, with support from the Government of India.

Key Points

• The initiative has been taken by the district administration of Dantewada with the help of the Ministry of Culture and National Council of Science Museums (NCSM).
  • The plan to establish a digital planetarium in Karli, Dantewada, will soon begin under the Ministry of Culture’s Science and Culture Promotion Scheme, 2021. 
  • The district administration requested support for the planetarium, and the proposal for full financial assistance under Category III (population less than 5 lakh) has been approved.
• The initiative encompasses various elements such as educational advancement, scientific consciousness, cultural and societal progress, as well as engaging audiovisual experiments.
• A budget of Rs 7.95 crore has been approved for the construction of the planetarium. 
  • Nestled amidst dense forests, this digital planetarium will be a major tourism initiative.
  • It will play a vital role in shaping the future of local children, inspiring future generations to pursue careers in space science.

National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)

• In 1978, the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) was established as a central coordinating agency for national science museums.
• It is an autonomous Science & Technology institution under the Ministry of Culture jointly with the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
• NCSM is the world’s largest network of science centres and museums that functions under a single administrative umbrella.