About Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989:

• It is an act to prevent the commission of offences of atrocities against the members of the Scheduled Castes (SCs)and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) by persons other than SCs and STs.
• It provides for punishment for offences of atrocities committed against SCs and STs. 
• It authorizes the Central Government to frame rules for carrying out the purpose of the Act. 
• The Act is implemented by the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, which are provided due central assistance under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for effective implementation of the provisions of the Act.
• Offences:
  • This Act does not apply to crimes committed between SCs and STs or between STs and SCs.
  • There are 37 offences included in the Act that involve patterns of behaviour inflicting criminal offences and breaking the self-respect and esteem of the SCs and STs community.
  • Among these are the denial of economic, democratic, and social rights, as well as the exploitation and abuse of the legal system.
• Investigation:
  • All offences listed in the Act are cognizable. 
  • An investigation of offence committed under the Act cannot be investigated by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
  • The investigation should be completed within 30 days, and the report should be sent directly to the director of the state police.
• Special Courts:
  • The act clearly states about the constitution of special courts for hearing cases on atrocities against SCs and STs.
  • For the purpose of providing for a speedy trial, the State Government shall, with the concurrence of the Chief Justiceof the High Court, establish in each district a Court of Session to be a Special Court exclusively to try the offences under this Act. 
  • The exclusive Special Courts shall try offences under this Act on a day-to-day basis.
  • For every Special Court, the State Government shall specify a Public Prosecutor or appoint an advocate who has been in practice as an advocate for not less than seven years, as a Special Public Prosecutor for the purpose of conducting cases in that Court.
• Punishment:
  • The minimum punishment in most cases is six months of imprisonment, while the maximum is a five years sentence and with fine.
  • In some cases, the minimum is enhanced to one year while the maximum goes up to life imprisonment or even a death sentence.
  • Section 4 of the act deals with punishment for neglect of duties by a public servant. According to this section, if a public servant, who is not a member of the SC or ST, deliberately neglects his duties, which he should perform under the Act, he is liable for punishment with imprisonment up to six months.
• Immediate Relief:
  • According to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995, the District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or any other Executive Magistrate, shall make arrangements for providing immediate relief in cash or in kind, or both, to the victims of atrocity, their family members, and dependents.
  • Such immediate relief shall also include food, water, clothing, shelter, medical aid, transport facilities, and other essential items necessary for human beings.

Q1: What is a cognizable offence?

A Cognizable offence or case is defined as the one which an officer in-charge of a police station may investigate without the order of a magistrate and effect arrest without warrant. The Police have a direct responsibility to take immediate action on the receipt of a complaint or of credible information in such crimes, visit the scene of the crime, investigate the facts, apprehend the offender and arraign him before a Court of law having jurisdiction over the matter. Non-Cognizable crimes are defined as those which cannot be investigated by police without the order of a competent magistrate.

News: More cases filed under SC/ST Act due to awareness, says Social Justice Minister

About Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024:

• It is a bill to amend the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, aiming to boost investment in oil and gas exploration and production.
• The bill will regulate the exploration and extraction of natural gas and petroleum.
• The amended bill expands the definition of mineral oils to include petroleum and natural gas in it.
• The amended bill includes any naturally occurring hydrocarbon, coal bed methane, and shale gas/oil in the category of mineral oils. 
• However, it clarifies that mineral oils will not include coal, lignite, or helium.
• It also provides for mining leases; this will include various activities such as exploration, prospecting, production, making merchantable, and disposal of mineral oils.
  • Prospecting is the initial stage in the search for oil and gas fields, involving the assessment of potential petroleum accumulations across large areas.
• The new bill will replace the mining lease with a petroleum lease to cover a similar set of activities. However, existing mining leases granted under the old Act will continue to be valid.
• The new bill will empower the central government to make rules on several matters, like regulating the grant of leases, terms and conditions of leases, including the minimum and the maximum area and the period of the lease, conservation and development of mineral oils, methods for producing oil, and manner of collection of royalties, fees, and taxes.
• It also empowers the central government to make rules on the merger and combination of petroleum leases, sharing of production and processing facilities, obligations of lessees towards protecting the environment and reducing emissions, and alternative mechanisms for resolving disputes in relation to the grant of petroleum leases.
• It aims to decriminalize some of the provisions of the original 1948 law by introducing "penalties, adjudication by an adjudicating authority, and appeal as against the order of the adjudicating authority".
  • For cases of violation of rules, the bill provides to hike the punishment and penalty from a current fine of Rs 1000 to Rs 25 lakhs.
  • In cases of exploring, prospecting, and production without a valid lease, a penalty of Rs 25 lakhs and continued violations will attract a penalty of Rs 10 lakh per day.
  • For dispute resolution, the central government will appoint an officer of the rank of joint Secretary or above for adjudication of penalties.
  • Appeals against the decision of the adjudication officer can be filed at the Appellate tribunal specified in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Board Regulatory Board Act, 2006.

Q1: What is hydrocarbon?

The term hydrocarbon refers to an organic chemical compound that is composed exclusively of hydrogen and carbon atoms. Hydrocarbons are naturally-occurring and form the basis of crude oil, natural gas, coal, and other important energy sources.

News: Rajya Sabha passes oilfields amendment bill to modernize energy laws, attract investments

About PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana:

• It is a government scheme launched on February 15, 2024, that aims to provide free electricity to households in India.
• Under the scheme, households will be provided with a subsidy to install solar panels on their roofs.
• The subsidy will cover up to 40% of the cost of the solar panels.
• It would help one crore families get up to 300 units of free electricity per month with savings of up to Rs 18,000 annually.
• It is estimated that the scheme will save the government Rs. 75,000 crore per year in electricity costs.
• The scheme has an outlay of Rs 75,021 crore and is to be implemented till FY 2026-27.
• The benefits of the scheme include:
  • Free electricity for households.
  • Reduced electricity costs for the government.
  • Increased use of renewable energy.
  • Reduced carbon emissions.
• Eligibility:
  • The household must be an Indian citizen.
  • The household must own a house with a roof that is suitable for installing solar panels.
  • The household must have a valid electricity connection.
  • The household must not have availed any other subsidy for solar panels.
• Under the scheme, DISCOMs are designated as State Implementation Agencies (SIAs) responsible for facilitating various measures, including net meter availability, timely inspection, and commissioning of installations. 
  • DISCOMs will receive incentives based on their achievement in the installation of additional grid-connected rooftop solar capacity beyond a baseline level.
  • The total financial outlay for the ‘Incentives to DISCOMs’ component is Rs 4,950 crore.

Q1: What are solar panels?

Solar panel is a component of a photovoltaic system that is made out of a series of photovoltaic cells arranged to generate electricity using sunlight.

News: PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana receives 1.45 cr registrations: MoS Shripad Naik

About Aravalli Green Wall Project:

• The project is a major initiative to green the 5 km buffer area around Aravalli Hill.
• It is part of the Union Environment Ministry's vision to create green corridors across the country to combat land degradation and desertification.
• The project covers the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi - where the Aravalli hills landscape span over 6 million hectares of land.
• The project will involve planting native species of trees and shrubs on scrubland, wasteland and degraded forest land, along with rejuvenating and restoring surface water bodies such as ponds, lakes and streams.
• The project will also focus on agroforestry and pasture development to enhance the livelihoods of local communities.
• Objectives
  • Improving the ecological health of the Aravalli range.
  • To prevent eastward expansion of Thar Desert and to reduce land degradation by creating green barriers that will prevent soil erosion, desertification and dust storms
  • It will help in carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change to enhance the biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Aravalli range by planting native tree species in the Aravalli region, providing habitat for wildlife, improving water quality and quantity.
  • Promote sustainable development and livelihood opportunities by involving local communities in afforestation, agro-forestry and water conservation activities that will generate income, employment, food security and social benefits.
  • It will contribute to India's commitments under various international conventions such as UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) and UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

Q1: Where is Aravalli Range?

It is a mountain range located in northwestern India. It is one of the oldest fold mountains in the world. It runs approximately 670 km (430 mi) in a south-west direction, starting near Delhi, passing through southern Haryana and Rajasthan, and ending in Gujarat.

News: UNCCD COP16 Opens Today With India Set To Showcase Landmark Green Project

About Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana:

• It is a Central Sector Scheme formulated by the Ministry of Ayush.
• It aims to regulate Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy (ASU&H) medicines in India, utilizing the framework provided by the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, and its associated rules.
• Objectives of the Scheme
  • To enhance India's manufacturing capabilities and exports of traditional medicines and health promotion products under the initiative of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
  • To facilitate adequate infrastructural & technological upgradation and institutional activities in public and private sector for standardization, quality manufacturing and analytical testing of Ayush drugs & materials.
  • To strengthen regulatory frameworks at Central and State level for effective quality control, safety monitoring and surveillance of misleading advertisements of Ayush drugs.
  • To encourage building up synergies, collaborations and convergent approaches for promoting standards and quality of Ayush drugs & materials.
• Components
  • Strengthening and up-gradation of Ayush Pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories to achieve higher standards.
  • Pharmacovigilance of ASU&H drugs including surveillance of misleading advertisements.
  • Strengthening of Central and State regulatory frameworks including Technical Human Resource & Capacity Building programs for Ayush drugs.
  • Support for development of standards and accreditation/ certification of Ayush products & materials in collaboration with BIS, QCI and other relevant scientific institutions and industrial R&D centres

Q1: What is Pharmacology?

It is the scientific study of the effects of drugs and chemicals on living organisms where a drug can be broadly defined as any chemical substance, natural or synthetic, which affects a biological system.

News: Pharmacovigilance Program for ASU & H Drug is one of the components of the Central Sector Scheme-Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY)

About Subabul Tree:

• It is a fast-growing leguminous tree commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions.
• It originates from Mexico is a small, perennial, woody, highly branched to medium-sized tree with a short, clear bole. 
• It was introduced as a cover crop in plantations and for fodder and fuel.
• Other names: Kubabul (Hindi), Naattu Cauvindal (Tamil), Kainti, Kantisubabul (Telugu).
• Distribution in India: It is mainly found in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha and Tamil Nadu 
• Uses: The leaves and immature seeds are eaten in the form of soups or salad, both raw and cooked, providing a rich source of protein and fibre, leading to its traditional usage in human and animal food by different ethnic communities.
• It is valuable for its wood, which is used to make good quality charcoal, small furniture and paper pulp. 

What is diabetes?

• It is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
• Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose.
• It is a Non-Communicable Disease (NCD).
• Type 2 Diabetes: In this condition the human body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels. It develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults (but more and more in children, teens, and young adults).

Q1: What are Legumes?

These are a family of plants that includes beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, soybeans, and alfalfa. Legumes have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria called rhizobia, which live in the roots of the plants. The rhizobia bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which is then used by the legume plant.

News: Tropical plant Subabul shows potential in managing insulin resistance related to type II diabetes

About Linen Inspection and Sorting Assistant System:

• It is an Artificial Intelligence-based system.
• It inspects and sorts linens such as bed sheets and towels provided to passengers in the air-conditioned coaches.
• The LISA system is an advanced AI-based automation machine designed to ensure 100% quality inspection of bed sheets used in trains.
• It ensures 100% quality inspection and performs thorough checks to detect and segregate substandard linens.
• Advanced AI algorithms ensure precise and reliable inspection results. And it can process large volumes of linens quickly, significantly improving operational efficiency.
• It was developed by the Pune division of Indian Railways and installed in Ghorpadi Integrated Coaching Complex (GICC).

What is Artificial Intelligence?

• Artificial Intelligence refers to machines performing human-like tasks.
• Its main components are Machine Learning algorithms that train on data, Neural Networks that mimic the brain's structure, and Natural Language Processing that understands human language.
• AI systems work by taking inputs, processing them with algorithms, and providing intelligent outputs that mimic human cognition and reasoning abilities.

Q1: What is Machine learning?

It is an essential branch of artificial intelligence that employs data and algorithms to mimic human learning processes, gradually enhancing its accuracy. It is a cornerstone of the emerging field of data science.

News: Railways launches AI-based bedroll inspection tech

About Aleppo City:

• Aleppo, or "Halab" in Arabic, is one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities, being mentioned in Egyptian texts from the 20th century BC.
• It is a principal city of northern Syria. 
• It is situated in the northwestern part of the country, about 30 miles (50 km) south of the Turkish border.
• It lies some 60 miles (100 km) from both the Mediterranean Sea (west) and the Euphrates River (east).
• It sits on a plateau at an elevation of approximately 1,300 feet (400 meters).
• Located at the crossroads of several trade routes from the 2nd millennium B.C., Aleppo was ruled successively by the Hittites, Assyrians, Arabs, Mongols, Mamelukes, and Ottomans. 
• Aleppo’s most visible landmark is the medieval citadel, which sits on a partly man-made hill at the center of the city about 130 feet (40 meters) high. 
• The Quwayq River runs through the city, although it has at times run dry in Aleppo partly because of heavy water use in Turkey, where it originates.
• Aleppo was a focal point of the Syrian Civil War from 2012 until 2016, when opposition fighters there surrendered the city to government forces. 

Q1: Which is the capital of Syria?

The capital of Syria is Damascus. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and serves as the political, cultural, and historical hub of the country.

News: Syria's second city slips from government control: Monitor

About International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development:

• It is an intergovernmental knowledge and learning centre working on behalf of the people of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH).
• It was formally established and inaugurated on 5 December 1983.
• Mission: To build and share knowledge that drives regional policy and action and attracts investment that enables the diverse countries and communities of the HKH to transition to greener, more inclusive, and climate resilient development.
• Member countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Functions
  • It serves the region through information and knowledge generation and sharing to find innovative solutions to critical mountain problems.
  • It bridges science with policies and on-the-ground practices.
  • It provides a regional platform where experts, planners, policymakers, and practitioners can exchange ideas and perspectives towards the achievement of sustainable mountain development.
• Headquarter: Kathmandu, Nepal

Key points about Air Quality Dashboard

• The dashboard combines ground sensor data with satellite imagery to provide a comprehensive view of air pollution across local, sub-regional and regional scales.
• Among its tools is a dynamic timelapse powered by the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem).
• This model reveals the alarming spread of PM2.5 plumes across the region, including hotspots like Lahore, New Delhi and Kolkata.
• The WRF-Chem model on the dashboard allows users to explore the interaction between weather patterns and air pollution sources, providing insights into pollution outbreaks and trends.
• It integrates emissions data at both local and regional levels, offering a clearer picture of pollution dynamics across borders. Users can also access two-day forecasts, enabling communities, policymakers and researchers to anticipate air quality conditions.

 Q1: What is Particulate matter?

It contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Some particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter can get deep into your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream.

News: ICIMOD launches air quality dashboard to track and forecast pollution across Indo-Gangetic plain