UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelim Bits 12-04-2025
iasparliament
April 12, 2025
Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management
Prelims – Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development.
Why in News?
The Union Cabinet recently approved the Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) as a sub-scheme of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for the period 2025-2026.
Aim- Modernization of the irrigation water supply network to supply of irrigation water from existing canals or other sources in a designated cluster.
Micro irrigation facilitation - It will make robust backend infrastructure for micro-irrigation by farmers from established source to the Farm gate upto 1 Ha with underground pressurized piped irrigation.
Useof technology - Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Internet of things technology will be used for water accounting and water management.
Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) - Water User Society (WUS) will manage Irrigation assets.
The Water User Societies will be linked with existing Economic Entities like FPO or PACS for five years.
Benefits - This will increase the Water Use Efficiency (WUE) at the farm level, increase agriculture production & productivity; and thereby increase the income of farmers.
Command Area Development And Water Management (CAD&WM) Programme
The programme was launched in 1974-75.
It is being implemented under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna (PMKSY) - Har Khet Ko Pani from 2015-16.
The ongoing CADWM programme has now been restricted to implementation of CAD works of 99 prioritized Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) projects.
Components of CADWM Programme
Structural Intervention
On-Farm Development (OFD) works;
Construction of field, intermediate & link drains;
Correction of system deficiencies; and
Reclamation of waterlogged areas.
Non-Structural Intervention - Activities directed at strengthening of Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) including:
One time Functional Grant to the registered Water Users’ Associations (WUAs);
One time Infrastructure Grant to the registered WUAs;
Prelims – Current events of national and international importance| Economic and Social Development.
Mains (GS II) – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Why in News?
Recently, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) has signed jointly to launch the Phase 2 of the Niveshak Didi.
Niveshak Didi– A unique initiative that trains women postal workers and community leadersto act as financial educators within their local regions.
Aim – To scale financial literacy among women in rural, semi-urban, and underserved areas through grassroots mobilization and community-driven education.
To empower rural women with the skills and confidence to make informed financial decisions.
Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Phase 1 of Niveshak Didiwas launched in 2022 and more than 55,000 beneficiaries participated in IPPB Financial Literacy Camps across India.
Approximately 60% female beneficiaries mostly in the youth & economically active age group.
Launched by–Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB).
Significance – It is a women-centric model led by almost 40,000 women postal workers trained as Niveshak Didis, who will conduct sessions on responsible investing, fraud awareness, savings habits, and digital banking tools.
It enables them to build trust, inspire & share financial discipline, and create a lasting impact at the grassroots level.
Phase 2 will see the deployment of over 4,000 financial literacy camps across India.
Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA)
Established on – 2016.
It is a statutory body, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Vision – To build a financially aware and confident India.
Objective – To ensure that investors across the country are both informed and protected.
To educate people about their rights and responsibilities as investors.
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)
Established on – 2018, under the Ministry of Communication.
Vision – To build the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man in India.
Objective – To remove barriers for the unbanked & underbanked and reach the last mile leveraging the Postal network.
Key pillars – Enabling Paperless, Cashless and Presence-less banking in a simple and secure manner at the customers' doorstep.
Significance – It delivers simple and affordable banking solutions through intuitive interfaces.
Prelims – Current events of national and international importance.
Mains (GS III) – Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Why in news?
Bangladesh recently became the 54th nation to sign the Artemis Accords.
Aim – To provide a non-binding framework of principles to guide peaceful and cooperative civil space exploration, supporting NASA's Artemis Program.
NASA's Artemis Program aims to return humans to the Moon and Mars.
Established – In 2020 by the United States, led by NASA and the U.S. Department of State and 7 other initial signatory nations.
Scope – Applies to civil space activities on the Moon, Mars, asteroids, comets, their orbits, Lagrangian points and transit paths.
Signatories – There are 54 countries including Bangladesh.
India – Signed the Accords in 2023 to boost the cooperation between the two nations and explore the domain beyond the boundaries of Earth.
Core Principles of the Accord
Peaceful Exploration– All activities exclusively for peaceful purposes.
Transparency – Commitment to sharing space policies, plans, and scientific findings by the nations.
Implementation – Through memoranda, government agreements and agency arrangements.
Intense summers and economic growth are driving rapid AC adoption, straining India's power grid, especially during peak hours, making AC efficiency a critical issue.
Challenges faced due to Air Conditioners (ACs)
Rapid Growth– India is adding 10-15 million AC units annually, with projections indicating an additional 150 million units over the next decade.
Peak Load Crisis – ACs significantly contribute to peak electricity demand, especially during evening and night-time hours when solar power generation diminishes, but heat persists.
In May 2024, India's evening peak demand hit a record 240 GW, largely driven by cooling needs.
Supply-Demand Gap – Potential shortfall in firm power capacity (reliable 24/7 power) projected as early as 2026, despite overall capacity additions.
The issues with Current Standards
Outdated MEPS – India's Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for ACs, represented by the star rating system, are lagging behind global benchmarks.
Inverter AC Gap– The widely sold inverter (variable-speed) ACs at India's 1-star minimum rating are nearly 50% less efficient than the minimum standards in countries like China and Japan.
Lagging International Benchmarks – China's minimum standard is roughly equivalent to India's highest 5-star rating, meaning a large portion of ACs sold in India would not meet basic requirements in the Chinese market.
Strategic Importance
Enhancing AC efficiency acts as a power system reliability safeguard.
It offers a consumer savings strategy through lower electricity bills.
Provides an industrial competitiveness lever, potentially positioning India as a leader in efficient cooling technology.
Proposed Roadmap for Higher Efficiency
Year
Proposed Minimum Efficiency (Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)
Relevance
2027
5.0 (current 5-star)
India’s top-rated models now
2030
6.3
Premium models in Indian market
2033
7.4
Global best-in-class
The Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ISEER) is a metric used to assess the energy efficiency of air conditioners, considering seasonal variations in temperature and operating conditions and is a key factor in the BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) star rating system for room air conditioners.
Benefits of Efficiency Upgrade
Peak Demand Reduction– Projected to contribute up to 120 GW by 2030 and 180 GW by 2035 to peak demand.
Consumer Savings – Cumulative savings by 2035 projected between ₹66,000 crore to ₹2.25 lakh crore ($8–$26 billion) due to reduced electricity bills."
Infrastructure Cost Savings – Avoided investments potentially reaching ₹7.5 lakh crore by 2035 in new power generation and grid infrastructure.
Energy Savings – 120 terawatt hours (TWh) per year by 2035, which is equivalent to 60 GW of solar capacity.
Environmental Gains – Reduced carbon footprint.
Challenges to Efficiency Adoption
Higher upfront cost of efficient ACs.
Low consumer awareness about ISEER ratings.
Retailer preference for low-efficiency models (higher margins).
Tenant-owner disconnect (buyers don’t pay the electricity bills).
Prelims – Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Mains(GS II) – Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance.
Why in news?
In a push for data driven governance, the Department of Panchayati Raj has come up with the first ever Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI).
Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI)– Aims to assess and measure the progress made by grassroots-level institutions in achieving localized SDGs, thereby contributing to the attainment of SDG 2030.
It is a multi-domain and multi-sectoral index that is intended to be used to assess the overall holistic development, performance & progress of Panchayats.
The index takes into account various socio-economic indicators and parameters to gauge the well-being and development status of the local communities within the jurisdiction of a Panchayat.
Launched by – Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
9 themes – PAI has been compiled based on 435 unique local Indicators (331 mandatory & 104 optional) on nine themes.
These themes align global goals with rural realities, helping local governments tailor their strategies for holistic development.
Categories of performance– Based on these, gram panchayats are grouped into one of the 5 categories of performance
Achiever (90+)
Front runner (75 to below 90)
Performer(60 to below 75)
Aspirant (40 to below 60)
Beginners (below 40)
Performance – The 2022-23 PAI data reveals that out of 2,55,699 Gram Panchayats, 2,16,285 submitted validated data.
699 (0.3%) Panchayats emerged as Front Runners, 77,298 (35.8%) were Performers, 1,32,392 (61.2%) were Aspirants while 5,896(2.7%) Gram Panchayats were at the Beginner Level.
None of the Gram Panchayat was qualified as an Achiever and as of now, no inter-state comparison has been done.
Gujarat led the index with 346 Gram Panchayat as Front Runners, followed by Telangana with 270 Front Runners.
States with a high number of Performers include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana along with Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh have a significant share of Aspirant Gram Panchayats.
Significance of PAI – Promotes Evidence-Based Planning.
Recently, the Rajasthan government informed the Supreme Court that it is “actively considering” a complete ban on mining activities up to 10 kilometres from the outer boundary of the historic Chittorgarh Fort.
It stands as the largest fort complex in India.
Location – On the Banks of river Gambhiri and Berach, Rajasthan.
Construction – Initially constructed by Chitrangad of the Mori (Mourya) dynasty during the 7th century AD.
Key structures – It houses 65 historic structures, including 20 large temples, 6 palaces, memorials, and victory towers.
Rani Padmini’s Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace Museum, and the Tower of Victory.
Recognition – It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Polity & Governance
Revamped Microdata Portal
Recently, a revamped Microdata Portal was launched Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) during a conference of State Government Ministers.
Developed by – Data Informatics & Innovation Division of MOSPI.
In collaboration with World Bank Technology Team, it has adopted a modern scalable technology stack.
Purpose – A centralized repository for extensive statistical data collected from national surveys and economic census.
It enhances data accessibility, user experience and the integration of advanced technologies in the Official Statistical System.
It ensures compliance with the latest security standards but also supports a responsive design and data access mechanism.
National Statistical System Training Academy
The web site of National Statistical System Training Academy was recently launched by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI).
Developed by – Data Informatics & Innovation Division of MOSPI.
Mandate – It includes imparting training in the field of Official Statistics to the statistical personnel.
It covers government personnel of the Central, State and UT’s of India as well as for the developing countries in the Asia Pacific region.
International Relations and Issues
India-US Extradition Treaty, 1997
Recently, Tahawwur Rana, a co-conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks was extradited to India from the U.S. through Inia-US Extradition Treaty 1997.
Treaty– It enables extradition for crimes punishable by over a year's imprisonment in both nations.
Conditions for India – The extradited person cannot be detained, tried, or punished in India for an offence other than the one for which extradition was granted.
Exceptions include offences based on the same facts as the extraditable offence, offences committed after extradition, or if a waiver is granted by the US authorities.
India cannot extradite the person to a third country for offences committed before the extradition without US consent.
India must comply with its own legal procedures for handling extradited individuals, including those outlined in the Extradition Act, 1962.
India-Japan Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting
Recently, the 4th JWG Meeting on Tourism Cooperation between India and Japan was held in New Delhi.
It focused on finding new ways to work together and enhance tourism ties between the two nations.
It concluded with mutual assurances of ongoing dialogue, further collaborations and a reinforced commitment to leveraging tourism as a bridge for enhancing bilateral relations and mutual prosperity.
Key discussion points – Promoting Buddhist sites in India to Japanese tourists, improving air connectivity and encouraging Japanese student visits to the country.
It also explored increased private sector involvement and strategies to harness media and influencer engagements for boosting tourist flow.
Economy
Registrar General of India (RGI)
Recently, the RGI warns hospitals on reporting delays of birth & death.
RGI holds the office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (ORGI & CCI).
Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Home Affairs.
Role – To ensure a systematic collection of statistics related to India’s population size, growth, and distribution.
Key responsibilities – To conduct the Housing & Population Census under the Census Act, 1948.
Tomanage the Civil Registration System (CRS) as per the Registration of Births & Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969.
Tooversee the National Population Register (NPR) under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Environment
Future Conservationist Award
Recently, a team of researchers from Kerala has been awarded the Future Conservationist Award for the project of conservation of Malabar Grey Hornbill.
Awarded by – Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP).
Partnership by – Fauna & Flora International, BirdLife International and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Role – It supports promising young conservationists with less than 5 years of professional experience, offering funding and tailored mentoring to lead impactful projects.
Malabar Grey Hornbill
Scientific name – Ocyceros griseus.
It has large, curved bill and striking grey plumage.
