Articles covered:

1. Karnataka launches ‘Yuva Nidhi’ scheme.
2. Press release from the Andhra Pradesh I&PR Department.
3. India is set to become the world’s largest producer of lentil (masoor) during the 2023-24 crop year on account of higher acreage.
4. Marvels of the upcoming Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir, a blend of tradition and innovation.
5. President’s greetings on the eve of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Magh Bihu & Pongal.
6. Union Health Ministry rejects the media reports claiming that the government will launch a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for girls in the 9 to 14 years age group in the second quarter of 2024

Karnataka launches ‘Yuva Nidhi’ scheme:

• Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the ‘Yuva Nidhi’ scheme, the fifth and final poll guarantee of the Congress government which provides financial assistance for educated unemployed youth of the State.
• Every month, the Chief Minister said, around 1.5 crore families in the State get ₹5,000 to ₹6,000 under the five guarantee schemes. “In European countries, this amount is referred to as universal basic income. We have implemented a similar principle here.
• The rate of unemployment has grown at an alarming rate since 2014, he said. “The unemployment rate was 5.5% in 2014. Now it stands at 10.5%. Hence, we have come up with ‘Yuva Nidhi’ to help the youth.

‘Yuva Nidhi’:

• The scheme offers financial assistance, besides training programmes to develop skills and seek jobs.
• The scheme offers financial aid and training to graduates and diploma holders, who are yet to get a job, for a maximum of two years.
• The government has promised ₹3,000 per month to degree holders and ₹1,500 per month to diploma holders who were unable to get a job in the past six months and are not pursuing higher studies.

‘Govt. policies have ensured all-round development’:

Villages in the State have been transformed into a vibrant tapestry of progress and prosperity due to the policies, schemes and programmes of the government, according to a release from the I&PR Department.

• The YSR Rythu Bharosa Kendras located across the State turned out to be a one-stop solution to the farmers. There were 10,778 RBKs that offered a variety of services, and facilitated farmers from the seed to sale of crops in their respective villages itself.
• The Village/Ward Secretariats fulfilled the dream of Gram Swaraj. Providing over 540 government services at the doorstep through 15,004 Gram/Ward Secretariats was an achievement. Rendering services through 1,35,819 permanent employees and 2.6 lakh volunteers was another major breakthrough.
• A total of 10,132 Village Health Clinics had been established, one for every 2,500 people. Free medical services, 14 types of tests, and 105 types of medicines were being made available through them, and the government was implementing the Family Doctor concept.
• In a move to make corporate schools compete with the government institutions, the government was investing ₹17,805 crore to improve infrastructure and modernise 56,703 educational institutions in three phases. Free tabs for Class 8 students, bilingual textbooks, Byju’s content, ‘Jagananna Gorumuddha’, Vidya Kanuka were some of the schemes that helped the student community.
• The government was protecting the future of children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers through 55,607 Anganwadi centres. “The government is taking rapid steps towards providing good facilities and infrastructure in the Anganwadis through Nadu-Nedu. Providing nutritious food through Sampoorna Poshana and Poshana-Plus forms part of the initiatives.”
• In all, 60 lakh volunteers were hand-holding the beneficiaries right from application to receiving benefits and providing services at their doorstep.
• The YSR Village Digital Libraries was another initiative that would help youth preparing for competitive examinations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India is set to become the world’s largest producer of lentil (masoor) during the 2023-24 crop year on account of higher acreage:

Lentil (masoor):

• Scientific name – Lens culinaris
• It is a small annual legume of the pea family (Fabaceae) and its edible seed.
• Types – Green lentils, Red & Yellow lentils, Black lentils and Brown lentils.
• It has high protein and fibre content.
• Cultivation – Throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa but are little grown in the Western Hemisphere.
• It helps in nitrogen fixation in the soil.
• Cultivation in India – Agriculture Ministry shows that 19.45 lakh hectares is under lentils till January, 2024, 6% higher from last year’s area, and 37% higher than the normal area.
• India’s lentil production – In the 2022-23 crop year, it stood at 1.56 million tonnes.
• According to FAO, India is the world’s 2nd largest lentil growers (1.26 million tonnes) in 2022 while Canada tops the chart. followed by India.
• Lentil Production in India has tapered since 2017-18 when the country recorded its highest output of 1.62 million tonnes. But the Indian government had increased the MSP of lentils to Rs 6,425 per quintal for the Rabi Marketing Season 2024-25 from the Rs 2,950 per quintal in 2014-15.
• Imports – It is to meet its domestic requirements, buying mainly from Australia, Canada, Russia, Singapore, and Turkey.
• During the current year, it also imported some quantities of lentil from UAE, USA, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Marvels of the upcoming Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir, a blend of tradition and innovation:

• The Mandir is in the traditional Nagara style.
• The Mandir has a length (east-west) of 380 feet, a width of 250 feet, and a height of 161 feet.
• The Mandir is three-storied, with each floor being 20 feet tall. It has a total of 392 pillars and 44 doors.
• In the main sanctum sanctorum, there is the childhood form of Bhagwan Shri Ram (the idol of Shri Ram Lalla) and on the first floor, there will be a Shri Ram Darbar.
• Five Mandaps (Hall) – Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prarthna and Kirtan Mandaps.
• Statues of deities, gods, and goddesses adorn the pillars and walls.
• Entry is from the east, ascending 32 stairs through the Singh Dwar.
• Provision of ramps and lifts for the convenience of the differently-abled and elderly.
• The Parkota (Rectangular compound wall) with a length of 732 metres and a width of 14 feet, surrounds the Mandir.
• At the four corners of the compound, there are four Mandirs – dedicated to Surya Dev, Devi Bhagwati, Ganesh Bhagwan and Bhagwan Shiv. In the northern arm is a Mandir of Maa Annapurna and in the southern arm is Mandir of Hanuman ji.
• Near the Mandir is a historic Well (Sita koop), dating back to the ancient era.
• In the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir complex, there are proposed Mandirs dedicated to Maharshi Valmiki, Maharshi Vashishtha, Maharshi Vishwamitra, Maharishi Agastya, Nishad Raj, Mata Shabri, and the revered consort of the Devi Ahilya.
• In the southwestern part of the complex, at Kuber Tila, the ancient Mandir of Bhagwan Shiv has been restored, along with the installation of Jatayu.
• No iron is used anywhere in the Mandir.
• The foundation of the Mandir has been constructed with a 14-metre- thick layer of roller-compacted concrete (RCC), giving it the appearance of artificial rock.
• For protection against ground moisture, a 21-foot-high plinth has been constructed using granite.
• The Mandir complex has a sewage treatment plant, water treatment plant, water supply for fire safety and an independent power station.
• A Pilgrims Facility Centre (PFC) with a capacity of 25,000 people is being constructed, it will provide medical facilities & Locker facility to the pilgrims.
• The complex will also have a separate block with a bathing area, washrooms, washbasin, open taps, etc.
• The mandir is being constructed entirely using Bharat’s traditional and indigenous technology. It is being constructed with particular emphasis on environmental-water conservation with 70% of the 70-acre area being left green

President’s Greetings on the Eve of President’s Greetings on the Eve of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Magh Bihu and Pongal:

Makar Sankranti is a festival day in the Hindu calendar, in reference to deity Surya (sun).

• Date of observance: Makar Sankranti is observed according to solar cycles. It is held normally on the 14th of January, or a day before or after. In certain regions celebrations can go on for even four days and vary a lot in the rituals.

Significance:

• It marks the first day of sun’s transit into the Makara (Capricorn), marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days.
• It marks the end of the inauspicious phase of the preceding month that is called Paush.
• It marks the beginning of the end of chilling winter.
• It marks the occasion to celebrate the hard work of millions of our farmers and people across the country (it is celebrated as a harvest Festival)
• It goes by its standard all-India name, ‘Makar Sankranti’ in Odisha, Maharashtra-Goa, Andhra-Telangana, Kerala and most of north India. It is also called as –
  • Paush Parbon in Bengal
  • Pongal in Tamil Nadu
  • Uttarayan in Gujarat
  • Bhogali Bihu in Assam
  • Lohri in Punjab and Jammu
  • Maghi in Haryana and Himachal
  • Makar Sankramana in Karnataka
  • Saen-kraat in Kashmir
  • Sukaraat in Madhya Pradesh
  • Khichdi Parwa in parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.

The Union Health Ministry rejects the media reports claiming that the government will launch a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for girls in the 9 to 14 years age group in the second quarter of 2024:

• The media reports are false and speculative.
• The Ministry says, it is yet to make a decision on the roll out of HPV Vaccination in the country.
• The Ministry says, it is closely monitoring the incidences of cervical cancer cases in the country and is in regular touch with states and various health departments regarding this.

About Cervical cancer:

• It starts in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (womb).
• In a small percentage of people, the virus survives for years, contributing to the process that causes some cervical cells to become cancer cells.
• Causes:
  • Various strains of the Human papillomavirus (HPV) play a role in causing most cervical cancer.
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection which can affect the skin, genital area and throat.
• When exposed to HPV, the body’s immune system typically prevents the virus from harming

Types of HPV Vaccines available:

• Quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil): It protects against four types of HPV (HPV 16, 18, 6 and 11).
• Bivalent vaccine (Cervarix): It protects against HPV 16 and 18 only.
• Non-valent vaccine (Gardasil 9): It protects against nine strains of HPV.

How does the vaccine prevent cancers?

• The quadrivalent vaccines, including the Serum Institute of India’s Cervavac, prevent the entry of four of the most common types of HPV 16, 18, 6 and 11 thereby preventing infections, genital warts, and eventually cancer.
• The indigenously developed, cheaper Cervavac will be used in the government campaign.
• At least 14 HPV types have been identified to have the potential to cause cancer. Among these, HPV types 16 and 18 are considered to be the most oncogenic, causing about 70 per cent of all cervical cancer cases globally.
• The vaccine has to be administered in adolescent girls before they are sexually active. This is because the vaccine can only prevent the entry of the virus.

Prevention:

• Boosting public awareness, access to information and services are key to prevention and control across the life course.
• Being vaccinated at age 9–14 years is a very effective way to prevent HPV infection, cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers.
• Screening from the age of 30 can detect cervical disease, which when treated, also prevents cervical cancer