Prelim Bits 14-09-2018

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

• It is one of the flagship schemes of Ministry of Tourism for development of thematic circuits in the country in a planned and prioritised manner.
• First Tribal circuit under Swadesh Darshan scheme is going to be inaugurated in Chhattisgarh.
• This is the second project under the scheme.
• The ministry has sanctioned 4 projects under Tribal circuit to Telangana, Nagaland and Chhattisgarh.
• Earlier, the first project under the scheme was inaugurated in Manipur.

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National Conference of District Disability Rehabilitation Centres

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is organising this conference to improve the functioning of rehabilitation centres.
• District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRC) play a key role in helping people with disabilities access services and provide information on the different schemes.
• It helps in facilitating therapeutic services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech.
• It facilitates creation of infrastructure and capacity building at the district level for generating awareness.
• So far, 310 districts have been identified for setting up the centres.
• Each DDRC will be run by District Management Team (DMT) which is headed by the District Collector.

Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund

• The fund was recently inaugurated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
• The fund will be set with an outlay of Rs.10000 crore.
• The amount will be sourced from NABARD as a loan and end borrower contribution (as interest for the loan).
• The fund will be disbursed to National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and National Dairy Development Corporation (NCDC).
• It funds the project focussing on building an efficient milk procurement system through building proper infrastructure and equipments.
• These projects will be implemented by NDDB and NCDC through milk unions and dairy cooperatives.
• Milk cooperatives (end borrowers) will be provided financial assistance in the form of loan at 6.5% interest which will be reimbursed over a period of 10 years.

Greenhouse Gas Emission

• According to a recent study, rice farming across the world could be responsible for up to twice the level of climate impact.
• The study found that intermittently flooded rice farms can emit 45 times more nitrous oxide as compared to the maximum from continuously flooded farms that predominantly emit methane.
• Methane and Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from rice farms could have the same long-term warming impact as about 600 coal plants.
• India, china, Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangladesh are the world’s biggest producers of rice.
• The emissions from intermittently flooded rice farms contribute to global warming far more than the previous estimate of 10%.
• The researchers also found an inverse correlation between methane and N₂O emissions from rice farming.
• Water and organic matter management techniques that reduce methane emissions can increase  N₂O emissions.
• N₂O is a long-lived greenhouse gas that traps several times more heat in the atmosphere than methane over 20 and 100 year time frames.

Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)

• Maharashtra Police has recently invoked UAPA for arresting activists accused of inciting violence in Bhima Koregaon.
• The UAPA was introduced in 1967 as a legislation to set out reasonable restrictions on the fundamental freedoms under Article 19(1) of the constitution.
• These restrictions were meant to be used to safeguard India’s integrity and sovereignty.
• After repealing Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) act (TADA) and Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), UAPA became the primary anti-terror legislation in India.
• The offences covered under UAPA are terrorist act, membership of terrorist organisation, funding, support and recruitment for terror activities.
• It has poor conviction rate as 22 of 33 trials ended in acquittal or discharge in 2016.
• There is a major argument against this act that it has been used by the government to curb extremist activities as opposed to unlawful activities and people are targeted on the basis of their religion or community.

Bhima Koregaon Battle

• It is one of the last battles of 3rd Anglo-Maratha War in January 1818, between Maratha ruler Baji Rao Peshwa II and the British East India Company along with the local Mahar community.
• The battle brought an end to the domination of Peshwas.
• Historically, Mahars were considered as untouchables.
• Maratha King Shivaji, nevertheless, recruited large number of Mahars into the Maratha Army in the 17th century.
• However, relations between Mahars and Peshwas turned sour after Baji Rao II reportedly insulted the community by rejecting their offer to serve the army.
• This made them to side with the English against the Peshwa’s numerically superior army.
• After the victory, British erected a commemorative victory pillar (KoregaonRanstambh) in Bhima-Koregaon village in 1818.
• Dr BR Ambedkar visited the site.
• This year, the event commemorating the 200th anniversary of the battle had been met with protests.

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Source: PIB, The New Indian Express