Atal Bhujal Yojana
Why in news?
- The World Bank has approved Atal BhujalYojana (ABHY), a Rs.6,000 Crore Central Sector Scheme, for sustainable management of ground water resources with community participation.
News summary
- The scheme envisages active participation of the communities in various activities such as formation of Water User Associations, monitoring and disseminating ground water data, water budgeting, preparation and implementation of Gram-Panchayat wise water security plans and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities related to sustainable ground water management.
- The funding pattern is 50:50 between Government of India and World Bank.
- The identified over-exploited and water stressed areas for the implementation of the scheme fall in the States of Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
- The States have been selected according to a number of criteria, including degree of groundwater exploitation and degradation, established legal and regulatory instruments, institutional readiness, and experience in implementing initiatives related to groundwater management.
Disha Bill
Why in news?
- The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Friday passed the Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill, 2019 (Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2019).
News summary
- It has prescribed the death penalty for rape crimes where there is adequate conclusive evidence. Provision is given by amending Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
- It also prescribes life imprisonment for other sexual offences against children and includes Section 354 F and 354 G in IPC.
- In cases of harassment of women through social or digital media, it states two years imprisonment for the
first conviction and four years for second and subsequent convictions. For this, a new Section 354 E will be added in IPC, 1860. - It envisages the completion of investigation in seven days and trial in 14 working days, where there is adequate conclusive evidence, and reducing the total judgment time to 21 days from the existing four months.
- The period for disposal of appeal cases has been reduced to three months. Amendments are being made in Section 374 and 377 of Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1973.
- The government will constitute special police teams at the district level to be called District Special Police Team to be headed by DSP for investigation of offences related to women and children.
Old cave art
Why in news?
- According to a study published in ‘Nature’, a cave painting found on Indonesia’s island of Sulawesi, depicting human-like figures hunting animals, appears to be the earliest known pictorial record of story-telling.
News summary
- The painting, found in a limestone cave in 2017, was dated to nearly 44,000 years ago using uranium-series analysis.
- It shows eight therianthropes, or humans with animal characteristics, appearing to chase and kill six animals such as the warty pigs native to the island, using what seem to be spears and ropes.
- The drawings were found in a cave called Leang Bulu’Sipong 4 in the south of Sulawesi, an Indonesian island east of Borneo.
- Until now, the oldest rock art showing a character with the characteristics of an animal had been an ivory sculpture found in a cave in Germany. Thought to be dating back 40,000 years, it depicts a human body attached to a feline-like head.
Accessible India campaign
Why in news?
- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment informed Lok Sabha that the deadline for the government’s Accessible India campaign have been extended to March 2020 due to slow progress.
News summary
- Accessible India campaign aims at making public spaces friendly for persons with disabilities.
- Under the Rights of PwD Act, 2016, all existing and new public buildings have to follow the accessibility standards notified on June 15, 2017. The existing buildings were given five years to comply.
- The original deadlines under the Accessible India campaign were July 2016 for conducting an accessibility audit of 25-50 of the most important government buildings in 50 cities and making them completely accessible and March 2018.
- The decision to extend deadline was taken by the Central Advisory Board chaired by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot.
Nuad Thai
Why in news?
- This year, UNESCO has included 20 elements – such as “Nuad” Thai massage, Irish harping, Portugal’s Carnival of Podence – in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at its recent meeting that was held in Bogota, Columbia.
News summary
- UNESCO maintains three lists under its “Intangible Cultural Heritage” banner:
- the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding,
- the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity and
- the register of good safeguarding practices.
- Intangible culture is that part of culture which cannot be touched but can only be recorded. It includes performing arts like song, music, drama, skills, crafts etc.
- Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted in 2003. India ratified it in 2007.
Domains:
- There are five broad ‘domains’ in which intangible cultural heritage is manifested:
- Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage;
- Performing arts;
- Social practices, rituals and festive events;
- Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe;
- Traditional craftsmanship.
- Till date, this list includes 13 intangible cultural heritage items from India, the most recent addition was made in 2017 when Kumbh Mela was added to the list. The first three entries were made in 2008, when Vedic chanting, Ramlila and Sanskrit theatre Kutiyattam were added.
National Energy Conservation Day
Why in news?
- National Energy Conservation Day is being celebrated on 14th December 2019.
Key highlights:
- National Energy Conservation Day is celebrated every year on 14th December by Ministry of Power in association with Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
- In order to recognise the efforts of industry and other establishments towards promoting energy efficiency, on this Day, Ministry of Power organizes National Energy Conservation Awards event every year.
- The National Energy Conservation Awards Programme recognizes the energy efficiency achievements in 56 sub sectors across industry, establishments and institutions.
Rohne and Rabodih Coal Mines
Why in news?
- The Ministry of Coal has allotted two Coking Coal mines, Rohne and Rabodih located in Jharkhand, to the Steel Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE’s).
News summary
- Allocated under the Coal Mines (Special Provision) Act, 2015, these mines located in Jharkhand will add about more than 10 MT per annum and boost the coking coal production in the country.
- The ‘Rohne’ Coal Mine has been allotted to National Mineral Development Corporation Limited.
- The ‘Robodih OCP’ coal mine has been allotted to Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited.
- This allotment is in addition to 5 coal mines which have been allocated to successful bidders and 6 coal mines which have allotted to PSU’s. In all, the 13 mines will add more than 35 MT per annum coal to the domestic availability of coal.