20 February 2025: Daily Current Affairs Updates

NAMASTE Scheme ; GS-2(Governance) ▪️Why in the News:

Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar recently distributed PPE Kits and Ayushman Cards to Sewer and Septic Tank Workers under the NAMASTE Scheme.

• Definition:

• The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme aims to formalize and institutionalize sanitation workers engaged in hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.

• The initiative promotes safe and mechanized sanitation practices by training workers in the use of modern cleaning techniques.

• It is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

> Implementation Details:

• Implementing Agency: The scheme is executed by the National Safai Karmacharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE).

• Duration: The program is designed for a three-year period, spanning FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26.

• Target Groups: The primary beneficiaries include sanitation workers engaged in sewer and septic tank cleaning (SSWs) and waste pickers in urban areas across India.

Soil Health Card Scheme ; GS-2 (Governance) ▪️Why in the news:

The Soil Health Card Scheme introduced by PMNarendra Modi on 19th February, 2015 has completed a decade.

• Introduction:

• The Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme was introduced in 2015 to help State Governments distribute Soil Health Cards to all farmers across the country:

• The initiative provides farmers with detailed information on soil nutrient status and offers recommendations on the appropriate dosage of nutrients to enhance soil fertility and overall health.

> Nodal Agency:

• The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Soil Health Card Scheme at the national level.

> Key Features of the Soil Health Card Scheme: The Soil Health Card provides an assessment of 12 key parameters, which include:

• Macronutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sulfur (S)

• Micronutrients: Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (Bo)

• Other Soil Properties: pH (Acidity or Alkalinity), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC)

• Soil samples are collected twice a year, typically after the harvest of Rabi and Kharif crops or when there is no standing crop in the field.

Inland Water Transport (IWT) Terminal; GS-3(Economy) ▪️Why in the news:

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal recently inaugurated the Inland Water Transport (IWT) Terminal on the Brahmaputra (National Waterway-2) at Jogighopa in Assam.

• Overview:

• The newly developed Inland Water Transport (IWT) Terminal is expected to significantly enhance regional connectivity and strengthen trilateral trade between India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh:

The foundation stone for the terminal was laid in February 2021.

> Key Features:

• The terminal has been developed at a cost of & 82 croreand aims to reduce transportation costs while providing an eco-friendly and efficient alternative for cargo movement along the Brahmaputra River.

• By 2027, the terminal is projected to handle 1.1 million tonnes of cargo annually, improving trade efficiency in the region.

> Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI):

> About IWAI:

• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is a statutory body established under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985:

• It is responsible for the development and maintenanceof Inland Water Transport (IWT) infrastructure on national waterways with funding support from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways

> Key Functions:

The Authority works on improving navigability, developing terminals, and modernizing waterways to facilitate seamless water-based transport.

Biannual Transparency Report (BTR); GS-3 (Environment) ▪️Why in the news:

India is finalizing its first-ever Biannual Transparency Report (BTR) as part of its commitment under the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

• Definition:

• The Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) is a document prepared and submitted by Parties to the Paris Agreement under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).

• The report provides details on a country's progress in implementing various components of the Paris Agreement.

• The BTR consists of five distinct chapters, with some sections being mandatory and others optional

> Key Components of the BTR:

• National Inventory Report of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions: Submission of this report is mandatory for all Parties.

• Progress in Implementing and Achieving the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): All Parties to the Paris Agreement are required to report on their efforts towards meeting their NDC targets.

• Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Measures:This section is optional for all countries and includes information on adaptation strategies and actions undertaken to address climate change impacts.

• Financial, Technology Transfer, and Capacity-Building Support Provided: Developed country Parties are mandated to report on the support they have provided. Other countries that offer support may include this information on a voluntary basis.

• Financial, Technology Transfer, and Capacity-Building Support Needed and Received:

This section is optional and applies to developing country Parties that wish to report on the support they require and have received.

> Reporting Requirements:

• All Parties, except Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), are required to submit a Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) every two years to provide country-specific information on the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

• SIDS and LDCs are given flexibility due to their capacity constraints and may submit BTRs at their discretion.