Daily Current Affairs Notes for 30 August 2022

Recently, the central government’s ambitious scheme Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana has completed eight years. The main objective of this scheme was to include the poor section of the country in the main banking system.

Under this scheme more than 46 crore bank accounts have been opened in 8 years. It has deposits of Rs 1.74 lakh crore. With the help of this scheme, 67 percent of the rural population of the country has now got banking services and 56 percent of women also have Jan Dhan accounts.

Overview

The schemes would provide the connectivity to the individuals through banking facilities. Several key features of the scheme include:

• Interest on deposit
• Accidental insurance cover of Rupee One Lakh.
• No minimum balance required
• Life insurance cover of Rs.30,000/-
• Easy Transfer of money across India

Further, the beneficiaries of Government Schemes would get Direct Benefit Transfer in these accounts; After satisfactory operation of the account for 6 months, an overdraft facility will be permitted; Access to Pension, insurance products.; Accidental Insurance Cover, RuPay Debit Card must be used at least once in 45 days; Overdraft facility upto Rs.5000/- is available in only one account per household, preferably lady of the household.

With the help of this scheme, the financial help sent by the central government to the poor during the covid-19 pandemic was directly transferred to their bank accounts. This made it possible for the financial assistance given under other schemes including Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi to reach the beneficiaries directly.

Recently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti unveiled a new initiative named ‘Arth Ganga’ under the Namami Gange program with an aim to boost economic activities along the banks of river Ganga.

Overview

Under Arth Ganga, the government is working at six levels.

• Zero Budget Natural Farming is its first level, which includes chemical free farming for 10 km on both banks of the river and promotion of cow dung as manure through Govardhan Yojana. This will open the way for ‘Per Drop, More Income’ and ‘Gobar Dhan’ for the farmers.

• The second phase is monetization and reuse of sludge and waste water, which seeks to reuse treated water for irrigation, industries and revenue generation for urban local bodies (ULBs).

• Arth Ganga will also include opportunities for livelihood generation by creating haats where people can sell local produce, medicinal plants and Ayurveda.

• Fourth is to increase public participation by increasing coordination among the stakeholders associated with the river.

• The fifth model seeks to promote cultural heritage and tourism in and around the Ganges through boat tours, adventure sports and yoga activities.

• The final model seeks to promote institutional building by empowering local administration for better water governance.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the iconic ‘Atal Bridge’ over the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat. Its name was declared as Atal Bridge on 25 December on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Overview

• This bridge is built on the banks of the Sabarmati Riverfront on Sabarmati River which flows through the city of Ahmedabad.
• Equipped with attractive design and LED lights, this bridge is about 300 meters long and 14 meters wide.
• 2,600 metric tons of steel pipe has been used in the construction of this bridge and the railing is made of glass and steel.
• The bridge will provide connectivity to various public developments on the East and West Bank, from multi-level car parking and plazas, to the proposed arts, cultural and exhibition center between the Flower Park on the East Coast and the West Bank’s Event Ground.
• Apart from pedestrians, cyclists can also use this bridge to cross the river.
• The total cost of construction of this bridge is Rs 74.29 lakh crore.

Sabarmati Riverfront

The Sabarmati Riverfront has been developed on the banks of the Sabarmati River in the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Under this project both the banks of the river have been developed. It was proposed to be developed in 1960 but its work started in 2005. After its completion in 2012, it was opened to the general public.

Environment Ministry has recently notified Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 for eco-friendly disposal of defective batteries. These rules will replace the Battery (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001.

Overview

• These regulations cover all types of batteries such as electric vehicle batteries, portable batteries, automotive batteries and industrial batteries.
• Based on the concept of Extended Manufacturer Responsibility (EPR), battery manufacturers (including importers) are responsible for the collection and recycling/renewal of waste batteries and the use of waste materials in new batteries.
• The EPR mandates the collection of all waste batteries and sends them for recycling/renewal, and prohibits their disposal in landfills and incineration.
• These rules will make it possible to set up a centralized online portal for exchange of EPR certificates between producers and recyclers/renewers to meet the obligations of the producers.

During the 38th Ministerial Meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission, the two countries finalized a draft of a Memorandum of Understanding to share the waters of the Kushiyara River on an interim basis.

Overview

• In this meeting, the two countries discussed many issues of mutual interest, including river water sharing of rivers, sharing of flood data, focus on river pollution, joint study on sedimentation management, river bank protection between the two countries. tasks etc.
• All aspects of issues related to Ganga, Teesta, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla, Dudhkumar etc. other rivers were also discussed during this meeting.
• Meanwhile, both sides welcomed the finalization of the design of Feni River Water Harvesting Site and its technical infrastructure to meet the drinking water requirements of Sabroom Town, Tripura. It is noteworthy that in this regard, an MoU came into existence between the two countries in October 2019.

Kushiyara River

• The Kushiyara River forms the Indo-Bangladesh border as a branch of the Barak River when it separates from the Surma, another branch of the Barak. After flowing some distance in Bangladesh, it meets again with Surma river and this combined river is now called Meghna river.

Manipur, Mizoram and Assam receive water through this river in India.

India and Bangladesh water sharing

• India and Bangladesh share 54 between them. All the rivers of Bangladesh either have their source in India or pass through it.
• The Ganges, the major river system in India, flows through Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal. About 35 million people in about one third of Bangladesh’s area are directly dependent on the Ganges.