[Newsbits] 31.01.2024: Exercise SADA TANSEEQ, Snow Leopards in India & more

newsbits mindmap notes
Ungalai Thedi, Ungal Ooril Scheme mind map
Recent News
Launched
By Tamil Nadu Government
Chief Minister
M.K. Stalin
Announced
November 23, 2023
Implementation start
January 30, 2024
Why
Improve Service Delivery
Various government services
Expedite scheme implementation
Address Public Grievances
Directly on the field
Focus on local governance
What
Set up camps
In every Taluk
Officials
District collectors
Senior district-level officials
Activities
Inspect infrastructure
Review projects
Public representations
Schedule
Forenoon
Inspecting sites
Health centres, ration shops, schools, etc.
Afternoon
Review meeting
Public interactions
Evening
Visit Social Welfare facilities
Bus stands, public toilets, etc.
Next Morning
Review basic civic amenities
Inspect villages
Guidelines
Released by Tamil Nadu government
Officials spend 24 hours in one taluk
When
Every 4th Wednesday of the month
Where
In Tamil Nadu
Every Taluk
Who
Beneficiaries
Citizens of Tamil Nadu
Eligibility
Permanent residents of Tamil Nadu
How
Process
Officials visit taluks
Conduct field verification
Collect grievances
Optimize services
Redress grievances
Application
No application fees
Required documents
Aadhar card, PAN card, etc.
Contact details available
Significance
Eliminates middlemen
Direct government-citizen connection
Real-time grievance redressal
Enhanced service delivery

The “Ungalai Thedi, Ungal Ooril” Scheme is a state government initiative launched by Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to improve the delivery of government services and expedite the implementation of various schemes. It involves setting up camps in every Taluk of the state on the fourth Wednesday of each month, where district collectors and senior officials will spend 24 hours to directly address public grievances, inspect infrastructure, review projects, and interact with the public. The scheme aims to eliminate middlemen, facilitating direct connection between the government and citizens, and enhance real-time grievance redressal and service delivery. It is specifically designed for the residents of Tamil Nadu, aiming to reach out to all taluks uniformly throughout the year. The scheme was announced on November 23, 2023, and the implementation started on January 30, 2024​​​​​​​​.

/ Indices/Reports
IEA’s Electricity 2024 Report mind map
Recent News
Clean energy transition
Accelerating
Next three years crucial
Low-emission technologies
Covering additional demand
When
Published in 2024
Why
Importance of electricity
Increasing due to technologies
Electric vehicles
Heat pumps
Largest source of CO2 emissions
Power generation
Transition to net zero
Expansion of renewables
Solar
Wind power
What
Overview
Deep, comprehensive analysis
Policies, market developments
Forecast
Demand
Supply
CO2 emissions
Through 2026
Global Electricity Demand
Projected growth
Faster rate next three years
85% increase from outside advanced economies
Notably China, India, Southeast Asia
Electricity Generation
Record-setting from low-emissions sources
Renewables
Solar, wind, hydro
Nuclear power
Expected to reduce fossil fuels' role
Fossil Fuels
Share expected to fall
Below 60% first time in IEA records
Nuclear Power
Forecast to reach all-time high
Output increase in France
New reactors in various markets
CO2 Emissions
Expected decrease
2.4% in 2024
Smaller declines following years
Where
Countries involved
Member countries
31 countries
Association countries
11 countries
India's Role
Fastest growth in electricity demand
Coal domination
Projected decrease to 74% by 2023
Renewable generation
21% in 2023
21 GW added
Nuclear expansion
Aiming to triple by 2032
Who
International Energy Agency (IEA)
Autonomous inter-governmental organization
Within OECD framework
Founded in 1974
Focus
Security of oil supplies
Members
31 member countries
11 association countries
India
Joined as associate member in 2017
Reports by IEA
World Energy Outlook
World Energy Balances
Energy Technology Perspectives
World Energy Statistics
Net Zero by 2050
How
By advancing clean energy technologies
Solar
Wind
Hydro
Nuclear power
Policy and market developments
Increasing global electricity demand
Significance
Match increase in demand
With renewable and nuclear power
Promising trends
Despite needing more progress
Structural decline in power sector emissions
Challenges
Ensuring secure, affordable access to electricity
While reducing global CO2 emissions
Economic slowdowns
Impacting electricity market trends
Way Forward
Continued focus on renewables
Especially solar
Support for nuclear power comeback
Decoupling electricity demand from emissions

The IEA’s Electricity 2024 Report presents an insightful analysis and forecast of the global electricity sector up to 2026, emphasizing the increasing significance of electricity in modern life, especially with technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps. It underscores a pivotal shift towards clean energy, with low-emission technologies like solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear power set to meet all additional global electricity demand in the near future. This shift is marked by a projected decrease in fossil fuels’ role in power generation, dropping below 60% for the first time in IEA records, and an increase in renewables and nuclear power. The report, highlighting trends in global electricity demand, particularly notes the significant contributions from non-advanced economies like China, India, and Southeast Asia. Additionally, it discusses the challenges of ensuring secure and affordable electricity access while reducing CO2 emissions, outlining a path forward focused on renewable energy, especially solar, and the revival of nuclear power.

/ Species
Snow Leopards in India mind map
Recent News:
Population Estimate:
718 individuals in India
Around 1/6th to 1/9th of global population
Survey Details:
Conducted from 2019 to 2023
Covered 70% of species' habitats
Spanned 120,000 square kilometers
Mainly outside protected regions
Methodology:
Camera traps in 2,000 locations
Recorded over 180,000 nights
Captured 241 individual leopards
Distribution in States:
Ladakh: 477
Uttarakhand: 124
Himachal Pradesh: 51
Arunachal Pradesh: 36
Sikkim: 21
Jammu and Kashmir: 9
When:
Survey period: 2019-2023
Report released: January 2024
Why:
To estimate snow leopard population
For species conservation
What
Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) program
First-ever scientific exercise for population estimation
Involvement of:
Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru
WWF-India
Two-step framework:
Evaluating spatial distribution
Estimating abundance using camera traps
Where:
Trans-Himalayan region:
Ladakh
Jammu & Kashmir
Himachal Pradesh
Uttarakhand
Sikkim
Arunachal Pradesh
Who:
Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change:
Bhupender Yadav
Wildlife Institute of India (WII):
National Coordinator
Conservation Partners:
Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru
WWF-India
How:
Surveying 13,450 km of trails
Deploying camera traps at 1,971 locations
180,000 trap nights
Significance:
Enhanced understanding of snow leopard population
Aids in effective conservation strategies
Challenges:
Inaccessibility of some habitats
Elusive nature of snow leopards
Way Forward:
Establishment of Snow Leopard Cell at WII
Periodic population estimation every 4 years
Long-term population monitoring
Structured study designs and consistent field surveys

In summary, the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) program, a pioneering initiative conducted from 2019 to 2023, has revealed that there are 718 snow leopards in India. This survey covered about 70% of their potential habitat, amounting to 120,000 square kilometers across the trans-Himalayan region. It represents the first-ever scientific count and extensive survey of the snow leopard population in India, conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India with the support of various conservation partners. The survey’s findings are crucial for the conservation and long-term survival of snow leopards in India, guiding future strategies and policies.

Finance Ministry's "The Indian Economy: A Review” Report mind map
Recent News
Report Title
"The Indian Economy: A Review"
Released By
Ministry of Finance
Context
Before Budget 2024
Chief Economic Adviser
V Anantha Nageswaran
When
Release Date
January 30, 2024
Why
Tribute to Government Policies
Providing Insights
Past Ten Years of Indian Economy
What
Economic Growth
Fastest-Growing Economy in FY24
Surpassing 7% Expansion
For Third Consecutive Year
Milestones
Aspiring to Become
$7 Trillion Economy by 2030
Fiscal Indicators
From High Fiscal Deficits
And Double-Digit Inflation in 2014
To Controlled Inflation
Lower Fiscal Deficit Trends
Current Account Deficit
Just Above 1% of GDP
Foreign Exchange Reserves
Cover Nearly Eleven Months of Imports
Reforms
Financial Sector Strengthening
Balance Sheets Cleanup
Banks and Corporates
Encouraging Lending
To Various Economy Sectors
Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Streamlined Domestic Markets
Incentivized Larger-Scale Production
Enhanced Economic Efficiency
Reduced Logistics Costs
Digital Transformation
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
Transforming Authentication Ecosystem
Reducing e-KYC Costs
E-commerce Market Thriving
Third-Largest Fintech Economy Globally
Behind USA and UK
Agriculture
Demonstrated Resilience
Amidst Global Health Crisis
And Climate Variations
Where
Global Context
India's Growth Amidst
Global Economic Struggles
How
Government's Comprehensive Welfare Approach
Predicted to Increase Consumption Base
By Expanding Middle Class
Public Sector Capital Investment
Considerable Increase Over Past Decade
Significance
Steady Growth
Amidst Global Challenges
Enhancing Quality of Life
And Standard of Living in India
Challenges
Global Health Crisis
Climate Variations
Way Forward
Continued Reforms
In Financial and Agricultural Sectors
Digital Infrastructure Development
For Fostering Economic Growth

The report “The Indian Economy: A Review” by India’s Finance Ministry provides a comprehensive overview of India’s economic progress, highlighting the transformation from high fiscal deficits and inflation to a more stable economic condition with controlled inflation and lower fiscal deficits. It emphasizes India’s status as the fastest-growing major economy, with aspirations to become a $7 trillion economy by 2030. The report underscores significant growth in various sectors, including financial and agricultural, and acknowledges the role of digital transformation in enhancing economic efficiency. Despite global challenges, India’s steady economic growth, backed by government reforms and investments, aims to enhance the quality of life and standard of living for its citizens.

Maratha Military Landscapes of India mind map
Recent News
UNESCO World Heritage List Nomination
Year 2024-25
India's Nomination
Included in Tentative List in 2021
When
Development Period
17th to 19th Centuries
Why
Representation
Extraordinary Fortification
Military System
Maratha Rulers' Vision
What
Component Parts
Total of Twelve
Salher Fort
Shivneri Fort
Lohgad
Khanderi Fort
Raigad
Rajgad
Pratapgad
Suvarnadurg
Panhala Fort
Vijaydurg
Sindhudurg
Gingee Fort
Fort Types
Hill Forts
Salher
Shivneri
Lohgad
Raigad
Rajgad
Gingee
Hill-Forest Fort
Pratapgad
Hill-Plateau Fort
Panhala
Coastal Fort
Vijaydurg
Island Forts
Khanderi
Suvarnadurg
Sindhudurg
Where
Geographic Distribution
Maharashtra
Majority of Forts
Tamil Nadu
Gingee Fort
Physiographic Regions
Sahyadri Mountain Ranges
Konkan Coast
Deccan Plateau
Eastern Ghats
Who
Maratha Rulers
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Inception of Military Ideology
Circa 1670 CE
Peshwa Rule
Continuation until 1818 CE
Protecting Authorities
Archaeological Survey of India
Shivneri
Lohgad
Raigad
Suvarnadurg
Panhala
Vijaydurg
Sindhudurg
Gingee
Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Maharashtra
Salher
Rajgad
Khanderi
Pratapgarh
How
Integration Strategy
Landscape
Terrain
Physiographic Characteristics
Significance
Cultural Tradition Representation
Exceptional Testimony
Architectural Ensemble
Outstanding Technological Features
Historical Events Association
Traditions, Beliefs, Universal Significance

The Maratha Military Landscapes of India, poised for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for 2024-25, epitomize the exceptional fortification and military acumen of the Maratha rulers from the 17th to the 19th centuries. This nomination, encompassing twelve forts of various types – hill forts, coastal forts, and island forts – across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, reflects the strategic integration of military architecture with the diverse landscapes of the Sahyadri mountain ranges, Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau, and Eastern Ghats. This acknowledgment serves not only as a testament to the historical and architectural grandeur of these forts but also highlights the profound synergy between these structures and their surrounding terrain, echoing the enduring legacy of the Maratha military ideology initiated by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Exercise SADA TANSEEQ mind map
Recent News
First Joint Military Exercise
India and Saudi Arabia
Commenced on 29th January 2024
When
29th January to 10th February 2024
Where
Mahajan, Rajasthan, India
Why
Enhance Capabilities and Interoperability
Joint Operations in Semi-Desert Terrain
What
Under Chapter VII
United Nations Charter
Troop Composition
45 Personnel Each
Saudi Arabian Contingent
Royal Saudi Land Forces
Indian Army Contingent
Battalion from Brigade of the Guards
Mechanised Infantry
Key Activities
Mobile Vehicle Check Post
Cordon & Search Operation
House Intervention Drill
Reflex Shooting
Slithering
Sniper Firing
Who
India
Indian Army
Saudi Arabia
Royal Saudi Land Forces
How
Sharing Best Practices
Tactics, Techniques
Procedures in Sub-Conventional Domain
Developing Interoperability
Bonhomie and Camaraderie
Significance
Strengthening Military Bond
Enhancing Defence Cooperation
Fostering Bilateral Relations

Exercise SADA TANSEEQ is the inaugural joint military exercise between India and Saudi Arabia, aimed at enhancing the capabilities and interoperability of the troops in conducting joint operations in semi-desert terrains. Commenced on 29th January 2024 in Rajasthan, India, this exercise involves 45 personnel from each nation, including the Royal Saudi Land Forces and a battalion from the Indian Army’s Brigade of the Guards (Mechanised Infantry). The exercise focuses on various military training activities such as establishing mobile vehicle checkpoints, cordon and search operations, and sniper firing, with an overarching aim to strengthen military bonds, enhance defense cooperation, and foster bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.

/ Beggars
National Initiative to Rehabilitate Beggars mind map
Recent News
Launch
When
January 2024
Why
Address beggary
Promote dignity
Where
Religious sites
Historical sites
Tourist sites
Who
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Indian Government
How
Identification
Survey
Rehabilitation
Comprehensive approach
Budget
Total allocation
Rs.100 crore
Timeframe
2025-26
Sub-schemes
Welfare of Transgender Persons
Scholarships
IX to Post-graduation
Housing
Garima Greh
Food, clothing, skill development
Medical support
National Portal & Helpline
Information and solutions
SMILE 75-Initiative
Background
Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav
Focus
75 Municipal Corporations
Approach
Collaboration with NGOs
Stakeholders
Rehabilitation measures
Medical facilities
Counseling
Education
Skill development
Economic linkages
Rescue and Shelter
For beggars
Begging in India
Census 2011
Total beggars
4,13,670
Largest numbers
West Bengal
Uttar Pradesh
Bihar
Legal aspects
Supreme Court stance
Socio-economic problem
No ban on begging
State subject
No central law
Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959
Police powers
Arrest without warrant
Detention up to 3 years
Significance
Dignity restoration
Empowerment
Socio-economic upliftment
Challenges
Legal complexity
State vs. central jurisdiction
Implementation hurdles
Across diverse regions
Way Forward
Further research
Effective strategies
Collaboration enhancement
Government
NGOs
Local communities

The National Initiative to Rehabilitate Beggars, launched by the Indian Government in January 2024, is a comprehensive program aimed at addressing the issue of beggary at religious, historical, and tourist sites. With a budget of Rs.100 crore for 2025-26, it encompasses the SMILE 75-Initiative under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, focusing on rehabilitating beggars in 75 Municipal Corporations through collaboration with NGOs. The initiative includes various welfare measures like medical facilities, counseling, education, skill development, and shelter homes. Special attention is given to the welfare of transgender persons, including scholarships and housing facilities. Despite its ambitious goals, the program faces challenges related to legal complexities and implementation across diverse regions. It represents a significant effort to restore dignity and improve the socio-economic conditions of beggars in India.

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