Abhigyan App
- Context: The Union Home Minister inaugurated the Abhigyan app, which has been developed by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
- The application is integrated with the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), enabling fingerprint records of accused persons, convicted offenders, and prison inmates to be maintained on a single centralized database.
- Fingerprint impressions captured through the app can be compared with the NAFIS repository, with results generated in approximately 35 seconds.
- The app allows law enforcement personnel to carry out biometric verification of suspicious individuals during routine vehicle inspections or street checks.
- This capability helps authorities quickly identify persons who are wanted or have links to criminal cases.
Initiatives for Women’s Safety and Gender Equality in India
- Context: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj organized a three-day ‘Training of Trainers’ program on ‘Nirbhaya Chetna’ in New Delhi under the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ scheme. During the event, the Ministry also launched the ‘Nirbhaya Chetna’ training module.
Nirbhaya Chetna
- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has launched a national-level initiative called ‘Nirbhaya Chetna’.
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- This initiative focuses on raising awareness among men regarding issues concerning women, particularly women’s safety and health.
- It is recognized as the largest initiative of its kind in the world.
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- The initiative aims to place women’s safety and gender equality at the core of grassroots-level administration in India.
- ‘Nirbhaya Chetna’ is a key component of the broader ‘Nirbhaya Raho’ scheme.
- The initiative is implemented under the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’.
- It will cover all Panchayats across India.
- Training will be provided to over 17.5 lakh elected male representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions.
The training will cover the following:
- Gender equality
- Women’s rights
- Women’s safety
- Responsibilities of elected representatives
The overarching objective is to ensure a safe environment for women in local communities.
Nirbhaya Fund
- The ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ was established by the Government of India in 2013 following the ‘Nirbhaya’ case.
- Its primary objective is to support initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety of women.
- The fund is administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
- An ‘Empowered Committee’ chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development and comprising representatives from various ministries is responsible for recommending projects to receive financial assistance from this fund.
Key initiatives supported under this fund include
- Central Victim Compensation Fund (CVCF)
- One Stop Centres (OSCs) – Integrated service centres
- Expanded use of the Women Helpline (WHL)
- Mahila Police Volunteer (MPV) scheme
Since its inception, the ‘Empowered Committee’ has approved projects worth approximately ₹9,800 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund.
Bhavishya Portal
- Context: Over the past 12 years, pension rules have been improved to simplify the lives of pensioners, and a centralized pension processing system named ‘Bhavishya’ has been introduced.
About Bhavishya
- Bhavishya is an online pension processing system launched by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare.
- It has been made mandatory for all Central Government departments since January 1, 2017.
Objective
- To minimize the delays, errors, financial losses, and hardships faced by pensioners during the pension processing stage.
Key Features of Bhavishya
Automated Registration
- Employees nearing retirement are automatically registered through payroll systems.
- Departments can view the number of employees due to retire in the next 15 months.
Self-Registration
- Officials and retirees can register themselves.
- Retirees can fill out pension forms independently, reducing errors.
Timely Processing
- The pension process begins 15 months prior to retirement.
- Automated reminders are sent to ensure deadlines are met.
Transparency
- The entire process is transparent, making it easier to track delays and ensure accountability.
Accurate Calculations
- Benefits are calculated automatically, minimizing manual errors and complaints.
Instant Updates
- Pensioners receive updates via SMS and email at every stage.
e-PPO System
- Digital Pension Payment Orders (e-PPOs) are generated.
- These are transmitted directly to the CPAO and the bank for faster processing.
Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Project
- Context: The Prime Minister is laying the foundation stone for India’s first commercial ‘Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Project’ at Lakhanpur in the Jharsuguda district of Odisha.
About the Project
- This is India’s first large-scale plant to convert coal into ammonium nitrate. The project is being set up at Lakhanpur in the Jharsuguda district of Odisha.
- Objective: To produce ammonium nitrate domestically using the country’s coal reserves, reduce imports, and support the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) initiative.
Highlights
- Formed by BCGCL (a joint venture of BHEL and Coal India Limited).
- Converts coal into chemical grade ammonium nitrate.
- Produces around 2,000 tonnes daily.
- Uses 100% indigenous coal gasification technology.
- Received government funding of ₹1,350 crore under a national scheme.
- Helps promote industrial use of coal and better utilization of land.
Production Process
- Instead of burning high-ash coal, it is heated with steam and oxygen in a specialized unit.
- This process converts the coal into a gas known as ‘syngas’ (primarily a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen).
- The gas is purified and adjusted to achieve the precise ratio required for ammonia production.
- The syngas is converted into ammonia (NH₃).
- The ammonia undergoes further processing to produce nitric acid; this is then combined with ammonia to produce ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃).
Ground-level Ozone Pollution
- Context: A study based on 21 years (2004–2024) of climate and air quality data reveals that severe heatwaves in India exacerbate ground-level ozone pollution.
About Ground-level Ozone Pollution
- Ground-level ozone is formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the presence of sunlight.
- High temperatures accelerate this reaction. Ozone pollution levels can remain elevated for 3 to 4 days even after the heatwave subsides.
Vulnerable Regions
- Northwest India
- Indo-Gangetic Plain
- Western Himalayan region
Impact
- More than 800 people in India lost their lives due to ozone exposure during the 2024 heatwaves; heart diseases and lung diseases (COPD) were the primary underlying causes.
