Current Context : Former Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan is appointed as Chairperson of UPSC.

• She will take charge on 1st August.
• Ms Sudan will succeed Manoj Soni, who resigned earlier this month before the end of his tenure.

About Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

• It is India’s premier central recruiting agency responsible for conducting various examinations to recruit candidates for civil services and other government posts.
• It is established under Article 315 to 323 of Part XIV of the Indian Constitution, titled “Services Under the Union and the States.”
• Article 315: Public Service Commissions for the Union and for the States
• Article 316: Appointment and Term of Office of Members :
  • Appointed by the President or the Governor,
  • Tenure : Six years or until they reach the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Article 317: Removal and Suspension of a Member

Current Context : The Defence Ministry approved proposals to acquire an Advanced Land Navigation System (ALNS), ALNS Mk-II for Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) for the Indian Army and Indian Coast Guard.

• It will be procured from Bharat Electronics Limited.

ABOUT ADVANCED LAND NAVIGATION SYSTEM (ALNS) :

• It is a Ring Laser Gyro (RLG) based navigation system used primarily for accurate and reliable navigation and positioning in various environments, including challenging terrains and urban areas.
• It provides precise location information using a combination of GPS, inertial navigation systems (INS), and other sensors to ensure high accuracy, even where GPS signals are weak or unavailable.
• It offers real-time navigation and positioning data,

ABOUT ADVANCED LAND NAVIGATION SYSTEM (ALNS) MK-II 

• It is an upgraded and more advanced version of the existing land navigation systems.
• It is designed to provide precise navigation capabilities for AFVs.
• ALNS Mk-II is compatible with NaVIC and GLONASS.
• Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): These include tanks and other armored vehicles used by the Indian Army for combat operations. The ALNS Mk-II will enhance the operational capabilities of these vehicles.

Current Context : Union Minister for Education has launched the National Apprenticeship and Training Scheme (NATS) 2.0 Portal.

• Portal will facilitate registration and application for apprenticeships.

ABOUT NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING SCHEME

• It is a flagship programme of Government of India.
• Launched under the provisions of Apprentices Act, 1961 for Skilling Indian Youth.
• Objective: To provide practical training to graduates and diploma holders in engineering and technology fields, thereby improving their employability and skill levels, duration ranging from 6 months to 1 year
• Administered by: The Ministry of Education, Government of India, through the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT).
• At the end of the training, apprentices will receive Certificate of Proficiency.

Current Context : Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day was observed on 31st July.

ABOUT SAHEED UDHAM SINGH 

• Shaheed Udham Singh was an Indian revolutionary known for his significant role in the Indian independence movement.
• Birth : December 26, 1899 in Sangrur district (Punjab).
• He was deeply influenced by Bhagat Singh.
• He was deeply affected by the atrocities of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

CONTRIBUTIONS IN  INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE

• He formed Azad Party in Chicago as a part of Ghadar Party.
• He traveled extensively, visiting countries like the United States, Germany, and the Soviet Union, to garner support for India’s independence struggle.
• On 13th March 1940, he shot Michael O’Dwyer who was the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab when the Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place.
• Udham Singh was sentenced to death and hanged on July 31, 1940, at Pentonville Prison in London.

Current Context : Olympic Men’s triathlon postponed due to high levels of pollution in river Seine in Paris.

ABOUT SEINE RIVER

• It is the second longest river of France, after the Loire.
• Length : 777 kilometers (483 miles).
• Source : The river begins in the Burgundy region at the Côte d’Or in the village of Source-Seine.
• Course : It flows northwest through the Paris Basin and empties into the English Channel near Le Havre.
• Drainage network of this river carries most of the French inland waterway traffic.
• Major Cities located : Paris, Rouen, and Le Havre are the major cities along its course.

Current Context : ChaudharySarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur received  the ‘Outstanding Natural Farming Krishi Vigyan Kendra’ (KVK) award during the progress review-cum-awareness workshop on “Out Scaling of Natural Farming through KVK”.

ABOUT AWARD :

• The “Natural Farming Krishi Vigyan Kendra” (KVK) award is given to institutions or individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of natural or sustainable farming practices.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) are agricultural extension centers in India that focus on training farmers and promoting innovative farming techniques.

ABOUT NATURAL FARMING :

• Natural farming, also known as ecological or sustainable farming, is an agricultural approach that focuses on working with natural ecosystems rather than against them.
• Objective : to maintain or improve soil health, conserve biodiversity, and reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals and artificial inputs.

Current Context : Recently, Uttar Pradesh government approved a 1,200 MW pumped storage power project in Sonabhadra district.

ABOUT PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER

• It is a type of hydroelectric power generation used to store and manage electrical energy.
• Pumped storage plants use the principle of gravity to generate electricity.
• It is a configuration of two water reservoirs at different elevations that can generate power as water moves down from one to the other (discharge), passing through a turbine.
• The system also requires power as it pumps water back into the upper reservoir (recharge).
• Central Electricity Authority estimates on-river pumped storage hydro potential in India to be 103 GW.

GLOBAL EXAMPLES OF PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER

1. Bath County Pumped Storage Station (USA): It is one of the largest pumped storage plants in the world, located in Virginia, with a capacity of around 3,000 MW.
2. Daya Bay Pumped Storage Station (China): A significant facility in Guangdong province, contributing to grid stability and energy storage in the region.
3. Festiniog Pumped Storage (UK): An older but still operational facility in Wales, providing valuable grid support and energy storage.

Current Context : Recently, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched Ideas4LiFE portal.

The portal ‘Ideas4Life.nic.in’ will allow participants to submit their ideas and innovations online.

ABOUT IDEAS4LIFE PORTAL

• Ideas4LiFE (Ideas for Low Carbon and Circular Economy) is an initiative designed to promote innovative solutions for reducing carbon emissions and fostering a circular economy.
• Aim : to encourage and motivate students, faculty and research scholars to contribute their innovative ideas to the global initiative of Mission LiFE.
• It focuses on bringing behavioral changes related to environmentfriendly lifestyles.

MISSION LIFE (LIFESTYLE FOR ENVIRONMENT)

• Launched in 2022.
• It is a significant initiative launched by the Government of India to promote environmentally sustainable practices and foster a culture of sustainability among citizens.
• By focusing on public engagement, collaboration, and innovation, the initiative seeks to create lasting positive impacts on the environment and contribute to global sustainability efforts.

Current Context : China is planning to build the world’s first nuclear power plant using molten thorium salt.

• It is a groundbreaking development in nuclear energy technology.

ABOUT MOLTEN SALT REACTORS (MSRS):

• MSRs are a type of nuclear reactor where the nuclear fuel is dissolved in a molten salt mixture.
• This technology differs from conventional reactors that use solid fuel rods.
• They are known for their potential safety benefits, higher efficiency, and reduced nuclear waste.

ABOUT THORIUM FUEL:

• Thorium is a naturally occurring element with radioactivity,is found at trace levels in soil, rocks, water, plants  and
• It is an alternative nuclear fuel to uranium.
• It is more abundant and has certain advantages, such as producing less long-lived radioactive waste compared to uranium and having a lower risk of nuclear weapons proliferation.
• Due to its physical characteristics, thorium cannot be used directly to produce nuclear energy. It has to be first converted to U-233 in a nuclear reactor. 
• Thorium reactors can also be more efficient in utilizing the nuclear fuel.
• Its reactor does not need water for cooling because it utilizes liquid salt or carbon dioxide to transfer heat and make electricity.
• Unlike the water-cooling model, this design significantly reduces the chances of meltdowns.

IN INDIA :

• Kerala and Odisha have rich reserves of monazite, which contains about 8 – 10% thorium.

Monazite is also prominent in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Jharkhand.

Current Context: Recently, The Central Water Commission (CWC) has been honoured with the  GEEF Global WaterTech Award under category ‘Water Department of the Year’.

ABOUT CWC

• The Central Water Commission (CWC) is a key organization in India responsible for water resources management and planning.
• Objective : to promote integrated and sustainable development and management of India’s water resources by using state-of-the-art technology and competency and by coordinating all stakeholders.
• Established in 1945 on advice of B.R. Ambedkar.
• Headed by Chairman, an Ex-officio Secretary to Government of India.
• Operated under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Three technical wings: Designs and Research Wing; Water Planning and Projects Wing; River Management Wing.
• Headquarters: in New Delhi, India.

RECENT INITIATIVES:

• National Hydrology Project : This project aims to improve the management of water resources by modernizing the country’s hydrological data systems and enhancing forecasting capabilities.
• Integrated River Basin Management : Efforts to implement integrated approaches to managing river basins, focusing on balancing ecological needs with human demands.