August 17, 2023 | Your One-Stop Solution for Daily Preparation
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Highlights of the Day
1. India and WHO to Launch Global Digital Health Initiative at G-20 Summit
India and the World Health Organization (WHO) will unveil the Global Initiative on Digital Health on August 19 during the G-20 summit in Gujarat. This pioneering effort focuses on uniting health data, interfacing platforms, and investing in digital health worldwide. The initiative includes an investment tracker, an ask tracker, and a digital health platform library. It aims to enhance universal health coverage and service delivery, with global funding secured. Data ownership rests with citizens, aligning with India's approach. The initiative assures user data privacy while promoting data analysis and interoperation. Additionally, the summit explores a Climate and Health Initiative and a patient-healthcare workforce mobility portal [1].
2. Karnataka's 'Koosina Mane' Initiative: Transforming Childcare for Working Mothers and Boosting Women's Labor Force Participation
The Karnataka government's 2023-24 Budget includes plans to establish "Koosina mane" child homes in 4,000 gram panchayats, aiding children of working mothers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. This initiative targets enhancing women's labor force participation by providing childcare, aligning with MGNREGA goals and Women and Children Development Department objectives. "Koosina mane" acknowledges working mothers' contributions, addressing the triple burden of work, childcare, and domestic chores. It also supports women in sustaining employment, upskilling, and ensuring child safety. Uniquely, this initiative emphasizes scale, government funding, and care for infants as young as six months, potentially setting a precedent for similar efforts [2].
3. India's PM e-bus Sewa Scheme: 10,000 Electric Buses to Transform Urban Mobility and Green Infrastructure
The Union Cabinet approved the PM e-bus Sewa scheme, aiming to introduce 10,000 e-buses across Indian cities lacking organized bus services. These e-buses run solely on emissions-free electricity. Costing ₹57,613 crore, the scheme will receive ₹20,000 crore from the government. The plan spans a decade and will be executed in two phases. In 169 cities, a public-private partnership model will deploy e-buses, while 181 other cities will witness infrastructure enhancements. The initiative encompasses depot upgrades, power infrastructure development, bus priority provisions, and charging systems. The scheme, spanning cities with populations above three lakh, envisions a cleaner, job-creating, and efficient urban mobility landscape [3].
4. Indian Supreme Court Releases Handbook to Eliminate Gender-Biased Language in Legal Proceedings
The Supreme Court of India has released a handbook aimed at eradicating gender-biased language in court proceedings. The 30-page handbook combats stereotypes, replacing terms like "career woman" with "woman," and "fallen woman" with "woman." It emphasizes proper language usage in judgments, orders, and pleadings to ensure impartiality. The handbook challenges misconceptions about women's emotional capacities and highlights the impact of language on legal outcomes and societal perceptions. Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasizes that language in law carries values and perceptions, and its use reflects both interpretation of the law and societal understanding. The handbook seeks to promote a more just and equitable society by eliminating gender-based language [4].
5. India's Digital India Program Extended with ₹14,903 Crore Outlay, Emphasizing Cybersecurity and Digital Infrastructure Enhancement
The Indian Union Cabinet has greenlit a five-year extension and expansion of the Digital India program, allocated ₹14,903 crore for this initiative. The plan includes boosting the Computer Emergency Response Team, India (CERT-in), and enhancing cybersecurity tools for businesses, schools, and hospitals. About 6.25 lakh IT professionals will receive upskilling, while 2.65 lakh employees will get information security training. The National Knowledge Network will be modernized, and the UMANG platform will add 540 more government services. DigiLocker will now serve MSMEs for document verification, and the National Supercomputing Mission will deploy nine new supercomputers. The AI-enabled translation tool Bhashini will expand to all 22 languages specified in the Constitution [5].
Source: The Hindu | Indian Express
Practice Questions for Prelims
Q1: Examine the following statements related to the "Ganga Action Plan":
I. The Ganga Action Plan was launched to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga River.
II. The plan was initiated in the 1970s and covered only the upper reaches of the river.
III. The main focus of the plan was on conserving the cultural heritage along the banks of the Ganga.
Choose the correct option:
a) I and II
b) II and III
c) I and III
d) I, II, and III
Q2: Consider the following statements about the "Panchayati Raj System" in India:
I. Panchayati Raj institutions are mandated by the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution.
II. Panchayats have financial autonomy and generate their own revenue.
III. Gram Sabha is the highest decision-making body at the district level in the Panchayati Raj system.
Choose the correct combination:
a) I and II
b) II and III
c) I and III
d) I, II, and III
Q3: Examine the following statements about the "Cabinet Mission Plan":
I. The Cabinet Mission Plan was proposed by the British Government in 1946 to resolve the deadlock between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.
II. The plan proposed a federal government with weak central powers and maximum autonomy to provinces.
III. The Congress accepted the plan, while the Muslim League rejected it.
Choose the correct option:
a) I and II
b) II and III
c) I and III
d) I, II, and III
Q4: Examine the following statements regarding "Artificial Intelligence (AI)":
I. Artificial Intelligence refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
II. Machine Learning, a subfield of AI, enables machines to learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed.
III. Neural networks, a key technology in AI, model the way human brains work and are used for tasks like image recognition and language processing.
Choose the correct combination:
a) I and II
b) II and III
c) I and III
d) I, II, and III
Q5: Which Mughal Emperor is known for his efforts to promote religious tolerance and cultural syncretism, as well as for abolishing the jizya tax on non-Muslims?
a) Akbar
b) Aurangzeb
c) Babur
d) Shah Jahan
Today’s Question for Mains Answer Writing
Examine the implications of the Supreme Court's initiative to eliminate gender-biased language in court proceedings. How can this effort contribute to a more just and equitable judicial system in India? (Word limit: 250 words)
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