1.Performance Grading Index for Districts

2.Launch Vehicle Mark 3

3.Global tropical primary forest cover continued to decline

4.SC Collegium 

5.Anna Bhagya Scheme

 

 

       1.The Performance Grading Index for Districts

The Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) is a tool that measures the performance of school education systems at the district level in India. It was developed by the Ministry of Education and is based on a set of 83 indicators grouped into six categories:

* Outcomes: This category measures the learning outcomes of students, as well as their transition to higher education and employment.

* Effective Classroom Transaction: This category measures the quality of teaching and learning in schools.

* Infrastructure, Facilities, and Student Entitlements: This category measures the availability of infrastructure and facilities in schools, as well as the provision of student entitlements such as textbooks and mid-day meals.

* School Safety and Child Protection: This category measures the safety of schools and the protection of children from abuse and exploitation.

* Digital Learning: This category measures the use of digital technologies in schools.

* Governance Processes: This category measures the effectiveness of the governance processes in the school education system.

The PGI-D grades districts on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest grade and 10 being the highest. The grades are awarded based on the overall performance of a district, as well as its performance in each of the six categories.

The PGI-D is used to assess the performance of school education systems at the district level and to identify areas where improvements can be made. It is also used to track the progress of districts over time and to identify best practices that can be shared with other districts.

The PGI-D has been praised by education experts for its comprehensiveness and its ability to provide a holistic assessment of school education systems. It has also been used by state governments to improve the performance of their school education systems.

The benefits of the PGI-D:

* It provides a comprehensive assessment of the performance of school education systems at the district level.

* It identifies areas where improvements can be made.

* It tracks the progress of districts over time.

* It identifies best practices that can be shared with other districts.

The PGI-D is a valuable tool for improving the performance of school education systems in India. It is a comprehensive and evidence-based tool that can be used to identify areas where improvements can be made and to track the progress of districts over time.

2.The Launch Vehicle Mark 3

The Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LV-Mark 3), also known as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (GSLV Mk III), is a launch vehicle developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is designed to deliver heavier payloads into space, particularly for geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) missions.

The GSLV Mk III is India’s most powerful launch vehicle and is capable of placing satellites weighing up to 4,000 kilograms (8,800 pounds) into GTO, which is a high-altitude orbit used by communication satellites. It has a two-stage configuration with solid and liquid propulsion systems.

The first stage of the GSLV Mk III consists of two large solid rocket boosters, called S200, each containing 200 metric tons of solid propellant. These boosters provide the initial thrust during the launch phase. The second stage is powered by a liquid-fueled engine called the L110, which uses a combination of liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2) as propellants.

The upper stage of the GSLV Mk III, known as the Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), uses a more advanced propulsion system. It is powered by a cryogenic engine called the CE-20, which utilizes liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The CUS enables the launch vehicle to achieve higher performance and deliver heavier payloads into orbit.

The GSLV Mk III has been successfully used in several missions, including the launch of the Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission in July 2019 and the launch of the GSAT-29 communication satellite in November 2018. It represents a significant advancement in India’s space program and provides the country with increased self-reliance in launching heavier satellites into space.

3.Global tropical primary forest cover continued to decline

According to a report by Global Forest Watch, global tropical primary forest cover continued to decline in 2022. The report found that 4.1 million hectares of tropical primary forest were lost in 2022, an area equivalent to the size of Belgium. This represents a 10% increase in primary forest loss from 2021.

The report also found that the majority of primary forest loss in 2022 occurred in Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Bolivia. These three countries accounted for over half of the total primary forest loss.

The report’s findings are a cause for concern, as tropical primary forests play an important role in regulating the global climate, providing habitat for biodiversity, and supporting local communities. The report’s authors call for urgent action to reduce tropical deforestation and protect these vital ecosystems.

The reasons why tropical primary forest cover is declining:

Agriculture: The expansion of agricultural land is the main driver of deforestation in the tropics. This is due to the growing demand for food and other agricultural products.

Logging: Logging is another major driver of deforestation in the tropics. This is because tropical forests are home to many valuable timber species.

Mining: Mining activities also contribute to deforestation in the tropics. This is because mines often require large areas of land to be cleared for infrastructure and operations.

Fire: Forest fires are a natural occurrence in the tropics, but they can also be caused by human activities. Forest fires can cause significant deforestation, especially when they are not properly managed.

There are a number of things that can be done to reduce tropical deforestation and protect primary forest cover:

Sustainable agriculture: Sustainable agricultural practices can help to reduce the need for new agricultural land, which can help to protect forests.

Reduced demand for timber: Reducing the demand for timber from tropical forests can help to reduce logging activities.

Responsible mining: Responsible mining practices can help to minimize the impact of mining on forests.

Fire management: Effective fire management can help to prevent forest fires and reduce the damage they cause.

Protecting tropical primary forest cover is essential for the future of the planet. These forests play a vital role in regulating the global climate, providing habitat for biodiversity, and supporting local communities. We must take action to reduce tropical deforestation and protect these vital ecosystems.

4.The Supreme Court Collegium

The Supreme Court Collegium is a body of five senior-most judges of the Supreme Court of India that is responsible for recommending the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and the High Courts. The Collegium was formed in 1993 by a Supreme Court judgment in the case of Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India.

The Collegium consists of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court. The Collegium meets regularly to consider the names of judges who are eligible for appointment to the Supreme Court or the High Courts. The Collegium’s recommendations are then sent to the President of India, who makes the final decision on appointments.

The Collegium system has been criticized by some for being too secretive and for giving too much power to the Chief Justice of India. However, the Collegium system has also been defended by others for ensuring that the judiciary remains independent from the executive and legislative branches of government.

The key features of the SC Collegium:

The Collegium is a self-contained body, meaning that it is not subject to the control of any other body or institution.

The Collegium’s decisions are made by a majority vote, with the Chief Justice of India having the casting vote.

The Collegium’s recommendations are confidential, and the reasons for its decisions are not made public.

The President of India is bound by the Collegium’s recommendations, but he or she can return a recommendation for reconsideration.

The SC Collegium has been the subject of much debate and controversy over the years. Some people believe that the Collegium system is undemocratic and gives too much power to the Chief Justice of India. Others believe that the Collegium system is necessary to ensure that the judiciary remains independent from the executive and legislative branches of government.

The SC Collegium is a complex and controversial institution, but it is an important part of the Indian judicial system. The Collegium’s decisions have a significant impact on the composition of the judiciary, and they play a vital role in ensuring that the judiciary remains independent.

5.The Anna Bhagya Scheme

The Anna Bhagya Scheme is a government-run scheme in India that provides free rice to eligible families below the poverty line (BPL). The scheme was launched in 2013 by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, and it is currently being implemented in all states and union territories of India.

Under the Anna Bhagya Scheme, eligible families are entitled to receive 5 kilograms of rice per person per month. The rice is distributed through the public distribution system (PDS), and it is available at a subsidized price of Rs. 2 per kilogram.

The Anna Bhagya Scheme has been a major success in reducing hunger and malnutrition in India. According to a study by the World Bank, the scheme has helped to reduce the prevalence of undernourishment in India by 10 percentage points.

However, the scheme has also been criticized for its high cost. The central government spends around Rs. 30,000 crore per year on the scheme, and this has put a strain on the exchequer.

Despite the criticism, the Anna Bhagya Scheme remains a popular scheme among the poor in India. It has helped to improve the nutritional status of millions of people, and it has also provided a much-needed social safety net for the poor.

Key features of the Anna Bhagya Scheme:

* The scheme provides free rice to eligible families below the poverty line.

* The rice is distributed through the public distribution system (PDS).

* The rice is available at a subsidized price of Rs. 2 per kilogram.

* The scheme has been a major success in reducing hunger and malnutrition in India.

* The scheme has been criticized for its high cost.

The Anna Bhagya Scheme is a valuable social welfare scheme that has helped to improve the lives of millions of people in India. The scheme is not without its flaws, but it is a major step in the right direction.