Why in news?

• Israel becomes the first-ever country to allow drone flights in civilian airspace. The certification was issued to the Hermes Starliner unmanned system by the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority and was manufactured and developed by Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence electronics company.
• The UAVs will be used for the benefit of agriculture, the environment, public welfare, economic activity and against crime. For safety reasons, international aviation regulations prohibit uncertified aircraft from flying in civilian airspace, limiting the operation of UAVs to unsegregated airspace.

Why in news?

• German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been re-elected for a second term of five years by a special parliamentary assembly. This is also the final term for Steinmeier, which he won with 71% of the vote.
• The special assembly was made up of the members of parliament of the lower house and representatives of Germany’s 16 states. Steinmeier was first elected as the president on February 12, 2017, with 74% of the vote.

Why in news?

• Under the Saubhagya scheme, Rajasthan has the maximum number of households electrified through the solar-based standalone system. In hill states of Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir had nil beneficiaries under the initiative. Under the Saubhagya Scheme, 817 crore households were electrified up to March 31 last year, including 4.16 lakh through solar-based standalone systems.
• Under the Saubhagya scheme, as many as1,23,682 households were electrified through the solar-based standalone system in Rajasthan, followed by Chhattisgarh (65,373), Uttar Pradesh (53,234), Assam (50,754), Bihar (39,100), Maharashtra (30,538), Odisha (13,735), Madhya Pradesh (12,651), Power Minister R K Singh told the LokSabha.

About Pradhan MantriSahajBijliHarGharYojana –“Saubhagya”

• SAUBHAGYA is one of the largest household electrification drives in the world. SAUBHAGYA was announced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 25th September 2017.
• Pradhan MantriSahajBijliHarGharYojana –“Saubhagya” is a scheme to ensure electrification of all willing households in the country in rural as well as urban areas.
• The objective of the ‘Saubhagya’ is to provide energy access to all by last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all remaining un-electrified households in rural as well as urban areas to achieve universal household electrification in the country.
• The beneficiaries for free electricity connections would be identified using Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.
• However, un-electrified households not covered under the SECC data would also be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs. 500 which shall be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 instalments through electricity bill.
• The solar power packs of 200 to 300 Wp with battery bank for un-electrified households located in remote and inaccessible areas, comprises of Five LED lights, One DC fan, One DC power plug. It also includes the Repair and Maintenance (R&M) for 5 years.
• For easy and accelerated implementation of the Scheme, modern technology shall be used for household survey by using Mobile App.
• Beneficiaries shall be identified and their application for electricity connection along with applicant photograph and identity proof shall be registered on spot. The Gram Panchayat/Public institutions in the rural areas may be authorised to collect application forms along with complete documentation, distribute bills and collect revenue in consultation with the Panchayat Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
• The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) will remain the nodal agency for the operationalisation of the scheme throughout the country.

Why in news?

• Every year, February 15 is observed as International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) to raise awareness about the evil that entails this issue and the ways to deal with the same.
• The day is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families.
  • The most common types of childhood cancers include leukemias, brain cancer, lymphomas, solid tumours, such as neuroblastoma, Wilms tumour and bone tumours.
• The day promotes increased appreciation and deeper understanding of issues and challenges relevant to childhood cancer and impacting children/adolescents with cancer, the survivors, their families and the society as a whole. It also spotlights the need for more equitable and better access to treatment and care for all children with cancer, everywhere.
• This annual event was created in 2002 by Childhood Cancer International, a global network of 176 parent organizations, childhood cancer survivor associations, childhood cancer support groups, and cancer societies, in over 93 countries, across 5 continents.

Why in news?

• IAS Vineet Joshi has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
• He replaces IAS Manoj Ahuja, who has been appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Mr Joshi, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Manipur cadre, is an Additional Secretary, Department of Higher Education, under the Ministry of Education. He is also the Director-General of the National Testing Agency (NTA). In 2010 as well he got the responsibility of CBSE chairman.

Why in news?

• As per India Justice report, the number of under trials in prisons rose sharply in 2020 even as the number of convicts fell, resulting in under trials accounting for over three-fourths (75%)of all those in jail, the highest proportion in at least a decade.
• The highest increase in the proportion of undertrials was in Punjab, where it jumped from 66% in 2019 to 85% in 2020 followed by Haryana, where it jumped from 64% to 82% and MP where it went from 54% to almost 70%. Chhattisgarh saw an over 10% increase in the proportion of under trials.
• An undertrial is an unconvicted prisoner who is on trial in a court of law.
• Reasons for increase in number of undertrials- low population to judge ratio, delayed investigation, shortage of public prosecutors, most undertrials being poor, illiterate and belonging to marginalised communities etc.
• Measures taken-
  • Establishment of Fast track Courts.
  • E-prisons project to introduce efficiency in prison management.
  • Model Prison Manual 2016 provides information about legal services available to prison inmates.
  • Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records(FASTER) Scheme by Supreme Court on bail orders.
  • Free legal services to undertrials by NALSA.

Why in news?

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on increased the cap on e-RUPI vouchers issued by the central and state governments from the existing Rs 10,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per voucher.
• The central bank has also permitted such e-RUPI vouchers to be used more than once until the amount of the voucher is completely redeemed.

About e-Rupi Digital Voucher

• The e-RUPI is a prepaid digital voucher, which a beneficiary gets on his phone in form of an SMS or QR code, to facilitate cashless payment for various services like donations, corporate gift vouchers, etc.
• It is developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and was launched in August 2021.
• It allows users to redeem voucher without a card, digital payments app or internet banking access.
• It does not require beneficiaries to have a bank account and works on basic phones.

Why in news?

• River Devika rejuvenation Project is expected to completed by June 2022.
• Devika project as North India’s first ever river rejuvenation Project on the lines of Namami Ganga, will offer a unique destination both to the pilgrim tourists as well as recreation tourists.
• The project included the construction of three sewage treatment plants of 8 MLD, 4 MLD and 1.6 MLD capacity, sewerage network of 129.27 km, development of two cremation ghats, protection fencing and landscaping, small hydropower plants and three solar power plants.

About River Devika

• Devika river originates from the hilly Suddha Mahadev temple in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir and flows down towards western Punjab (now in Pakistan) where it merges with the Ravi river.
• Devika river also holds great religious significance as it is revered by Hindus as the sister of river Ganga.

Why in news?

• Government had released a pictorial book on India’s Women Unsung Heroes of Freedom Struggle as part of Azadi ka Mahotsav which narrates the tales of valor of Rani Abbakka.

About Rani Abbakka Chowta

• Rani Abbaka Chowta was the first Tuluva Queen of Ullal.
• She fought the Portuguese in latter half of the 16th century. The queen belonged to the Chowta dynasty, who ruled over parts of coastal Karnataka (Tulu Nadu).
• Capital of the dynasty was Puttige. The port town of Ullal was their subsidiary capital.
• Ullal was strategically placed because of which, the Portuguese made several attempts to capture it. But the queen repulsed their attacks for over four decades. She came to be known as Abhaya Rani, because of her bravery.

Why in news?

• llker Ayci has been appointed as the new CEO and MD of Air India.
• He was previously serving as the Chairman of Turkish Airlines and was on the board of the company before that.
• Ilker Ayci will take charge of his new role on or before April 1, 2022.

About Ilker Ayci

• Born in Istanbul in 1971, Ilker Ayci is a 1994 alumni of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Bilkent University.
• He also did research on political science at UK’s Leeds University in 1995. He then did International Relations from Marmara University in Istanbul in 1997.
• He was serving as the Chairman of Turkish Airlines from 2015 to 2022.
• He has also previously served as the advisor of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 1994.
• Ilker Ayci expressed delight at being chosen for the post. He said that he is honoured to accept the privilege of leading the iconic airline and join the Tata Group.
• He said that by working closely with his colleagues at Air India and Tata Group, they will utilize Air India’s strong heritage to make it one of the best airlines in the world.