15 February 2019: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

Read the daily PIB update and stay up-to-date on current affairs for the UPSC exam

Pahari Dam Modernization Project

• Pahari Dam is a water storage dam situated on Dhasan River in Jhansi district.
  • The Dhasan River is a right bank tributary of the Betwa River.
  • The river originates in Begumganj tehsil of Raisen district in Madhya Pradesh.

Significance

• The project will benefit farmers by reducing the water leakage from the dam and make more water available for the farmers.

LADIS – Least Available Depth Information System

Context

• Inland Waterways Authority of India launches portal for real-time information on available depth on stretches of National Waterways.

Details

• LADIS will ensure that real-time data on least available depths is disseminated for ship/barge and cargo owners so that they can undertake transportation on NWs in a more planned way.
• The portal being hosted on IWAI’s website www.iwai.nic.in has been developed in-house
• Initially, LAD information will be available for NW-1, NW-2, Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route and NW-3, along with the date of survey. The facility will be expanded to other NWs also.
• IWAI has designed LADIS to facilitate the day to day operations of inland vessels plying on National Waterways and to avoid any hindrance in service and operation.
• It will enhance credibility and efficiency of information sharing to achieve seamless operations on National Waterways, besides pre-empting problems that may occur during movement of vessels.

Why was it required?

• An assured depth of waterway is required for seamless movement of vessels.
• If real time information is made available regarding LADs in stretches of various NWs, it will help transporters by guiding them on the suitability of time of movement.

Sulwade Jamphal Kanoli Lift Irrigation Scheme

• This scheme envisages lifting 9.24 TMC of flood water from river Tapi in 124 days of the monsoon season.
• It is proposed to irrigate 33367 hectares area of about 100 villages of Dhule district.

Tagore Award

• Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony was instituted by the Government of India from 2012 recognizing the contributions made by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore to humanity at large with his works and ideas, as part of the Commemoration of his 150th Birth Anniversary in 2012, for promoting values of Cultural Harmony.
• It is awarded annually
• It carries an amount of Rs. One Crore (convertible to foreign currency), a citation in a Scroll, a Plaque as well as an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item.
• This annual award is given to individuals, associations, institutions or organizations for their outstanding contribution towards promoting values of Cultural Harmony.
  • The Award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.
• Normally, contributions made during ten years immediately preceding the nomination are considered.
  • Older contributions may also be considered if their significance has become apparent only recently.

Context

• President of India will present the Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony to Shri Rajkumar Singhajit Singh; Chhayanaut (a cultural organization of Bangladesh); and Shri Ram Sutar Vanji for the years 2014, 2015 & 2016 respectively at Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra, New Delhi

Government liberalizes the e-Visa regime

• The e-Tourist Visa which was introduced in September 2014 with 46 countries has now been made applicable for 166 countries. Recently, government has made series of amendments in e-visa regime, liberalizing it further and making it more tourist friendly.
• The Ministry of Tourism has been working very closely with Ministry of Home Affairs for easing of the Visa Regime in the country over a period of time.

Important modifications made are highlighted as under:

• Duration of stay in India of e-Tourist and e-Business Visas is maximum upto 1 Year with multiple entry subject to the stay stipulations.
• Also, the existing restriction of allowing foreigner for a maximum of three times has also been removed.

Changes in e-Tourist Visa

• On e-Tourist Visa continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 90 days in case of nationals of all countries who are eligible for grant of e-visa except nationals of USA, UK, Canada and Japan.
• In case of nationals of USA, UK, Canada and Japan continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days.
• In all cases no registration will be required.

Changes in e-Business Visa

• Continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days in case of nationals of all countries who are eligible for grant of e-visa.
• No registration will be required if the stay is for a period of less than 180 days.

Other changes:

• e-Visa is valid for entry through 2 (two) more designated Airports (Bhubaneswar and Port Blair) raising the total number of such airports to 28.
• Attending Destination wedding under normal e-Tourist visa or Tourist visa- No separate category of Destination Wedding Visa
• Foreign nationals who fall sick during their stay in India can now avail medical treatment without converting their visa into Medical Visa. This would take care of sudden medical emergencies.
• Visa-on-Arrival facility extended to the nationals of the Republic of Korea.

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