Current Context : The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) of Indian Army has launched the Electronic Services e-Health Assistance and Tele-consultation (E-SeHAT).

ABOUT E-SEHAT TELE-CONSULTANCY :

• It would enable ECHS beneficiaries in obtaining online Tele-consultation for medical treatment from their homes without visiting the ECHS Polyclinic.
• Aim : to provide health care services through safe and structured video based clinical consultations.
• The pilot project has been launched at 12 ECHS Polyclinics including remote locations of Baramulla, Imphal, Churachandpur, Dimapur and Aizawal.
• The E-SeHAT initiative aligns with the Digital India vision of the Government of India aimed at promoting digital inclusivity and efficiency in public services.

Current Context : Goa CM launches ‘Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan’ to boost solar rooftop installation in state.

• It is an initiative aligned with the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
• Aim : to enhance solar rooftop capacity and empower residential households in Goa to generate their own electricity.

Current Context : Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair, assumed the office of Director General Medical Services (Army), becoming the first woman to be appointed to this prestigious position.

• She was the first woman to hold the post of DG Hospital Services (Armed Forces) on promotion to the rank of Air Marshal.
• Lt Gen Nair was nominated as an expert member of Dr Kasturirangan Committee for drafting part of the medical education component of the National Education Policy.
• For her meritorious service, she has been awarded the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command and Chief of the Air Staff Commendations as well as Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India.

 Current Context : The National Housing Bank appointed Sanjay Shukla  as the managing director (MD).

• He began his career in 1991 as an officer at LIC Housing Finance Limited, the National Housing Bank (NHB)
• Shukla was the founding managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Centrum Housing Finance Limited (CHFL) from October 2016.

ABOUT NATIONAL HOUSING BANK

• The National Housing Bank (NHB) is a statutory institution.
• Established in 1988 under the National Housing Bank Act.
• Objective : To promote and develop the housing finance market in India, with a focus on improving the accessibility and affordability of housing finance.

Current Context : Due to heavy rainfall, a landslides struck the hilly areas near Meppadi in Kerala’s Wayanad district, 167 bodies have been recovered while 200 persons have sustained injuries.

ABOUT LANDSLIDE:

• A landslide is a geological event where a large amount of earth material, such as rock, soil, and debris, moves down a slope under the force of gravity.
• Types : Including falls, slides, flows, and topples.
• Causes: Natural factors like geology, weathering,Heavy Rainfall , and tectonic activity, and human factors such as deforestation, construction, and mining.

ABOUT WAYANAD:

• Location : in the northern part of Kerala, India. Known for its lush greenery, rolling hills, and abundant wildlife.
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
• Tourist Attractions : Edakkal Caves, Pookode Lake, Soochipara Falls, Banasura Sagar Dam

Current Context : India will host its first multinational air exercise, ‘Tarang Shakti 2024’, in two phases starting on August 6th in Sular, Tamil Nadu.

• Aim : to showcase India’s defence capabilities and enhance cooperation among the participating militaries.
• 30 countries will participate, with ten countries bringing their fighter aircraft.
• The ten countries bringing their aircraft include Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the USA, and Singapore.
• Eighteen other countries will attend as observers.

Current Context : The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had granted the FCA Stage II clearance for the use of approximately 85 bighas for the 450 MW Shongtong Karchham hydroelectric project in Kinnaur.

About Project :

• The Shongtong Karchham hydroelectric project would significantly boost the state’s power generation capacity and contribute to its economic growth.
• Location: Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, India
• River: Satluj River
• Installed Capacity: 450 MW
• Type: Run-of-the-river project

Current Context : The Central government has rejected the ‘special category’ status for Bihar during the all-party meeting.

ABOUT SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS

• The “special category” status for Indian states was introduced in 1969 based on the recommendations of the Fifth Finance Commission to provide certain states with preferential treatment in terms of financial assistance and other benefits.
• Criteria : factors such as hilly terrain, low population density, strategic location along borders, economic and infrastructural backwardness, and non-viable nature of state finances.

BENEFITS TO STATES WITH SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS

• Higher share of central assistance for planned expenditure.
• Preference in receiving funds from various central government schemes.
• Concessions in tax rates and other central government policies.
• Significant portion of central assistance as grants rather than loans.

11 STATES WERE GRANTED SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS ARE :

• Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir (now Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand.

Current Context : Sado gold and silver mines in Japan added to UNESCO World Heritage List after South Korea’s objections dropped.

About :

• Located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
• They are renowned for their extensive production of gold and silver during Japan’s feudal period and are considered an important part of Japan’s industrial heritage.
• These mines are now a popular tourist attraction, are believed to have started operating as early as the 12th century and produced until after World War II.
• In 2021, the Sado Gold and Silver Mines were nominated for inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The site includes:
  • Yama-dera (Mountain Temple): A historical temple associated with the mining community.
  • Sado Kinzan Gold Mine Museum: Offers exhibits and displays related to the history and technology of the mines.
  • Underground Tunnels: Various tunnels and shafts that provide a glimpse into the mining operations.

SOUTH KOREA’S OBJECTION FOR MINES OF JAPAN :

• South Korea expressed concerns about the nomination due to historical issues related to forced labor during World War II.
• Officials argued that the site should acknowledge the suffering of Korean laborers who were forced to work under harsh conditions in the mines during the war.

Current Context : India gets its first pond-based swimming pool to address the high rates of child drowning deaths in the Sundarbans region of West Bengal.

ABOUT :

• It is a community pond was modified with a platform and fencing to teach and encourage survival swimming to children between ages 6 to 10 years.
• This innovative project transforms a traditional village pond into a swimming pool by incorporating modern filtration and purification systems.
• Objective : to provide a clean and safe swimming environment for the local community while preserving the traditional pond structure.
• The project also highlights efforts to blend modern amenities with traditional practices in rural areas.