• BharOS is an AOSP (Android Open Source Project) based operating system with no Google apps or services.
• The BharOS is an Indian government-funded project to develop a free and open-source operating system (OS) for use in government and public systems.
  • A mobile operating system is a software that is the core interface on a smartphone like Android by Google and iOS by Apple.
• BharOS, a new mobile operating system, focuses on privacy and security. The project aims to reduce the dependence on foreign OS in smartphones and promote the use of locally developed technology. It is a huge leap forward to create an indigenous ecosystem and a self-reliant future.
• BharOS Services are currently being provided to organisations that have stringent privacy and security requirements and whose users handle sensitive information that requires confidential communications on restricted apps on mobiles. Such users require access to private cloud services through private 5G networks.
• The BharOS was developed by JandK Operations Private Limited (JandKops), which has been incubated by IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, a Section 8 (Not for Profit) Company established by IIT Madras.
  • The Foundation is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, under its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NMICPS). It aspires to put India on par with those few countries that currently possess such capabilities.
• BharOS comes with No Default Apps (NDA). This means that users are not forced to use apps that they may not be familiar with or that they may not trust. Additionally, this approach allows users to have more control over the permissions that apps have on their device, as they can choose to only allow apps that they trust to access certain features or data on their device.
• In addition, BharOS offers ‘Native Over The Air’ (NOTA) updates that can help to keep the devices secure.
  • NOTA updates are automatically downloaded and installed on the device, without the need for the user to manually initiate the process. This ensures that the device is always running the latest operating system version, including the latest security patches and bug fixes. With NDA, PASS, and NOTA, BharOS ensures that Indian mobile phones are trustworthy.
• BharOS provides access to trusted apps from organisation-specific Private App Store Services (PASS). A PASS provides access to a curated list of apps that have been thoroughly vetted and have met certain security and privacy standards of organisations. This means users can be confident that the apps they are installing are safe to use and have been checked for any potential security vulnerabilities or privacy concerns.

• The Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI) has asked the state government to identify land for a pilot project for pasture conservation. Several hectares in the state are under threat from invasive plant species.
• Invasive species have spread over 14 lakh hectare in all districts, excluding Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti
• Migrating shepherds are facing hardships due to the loss of pasture land in the area
• The institute has asked the government to identify suitable areas to develop model grasslands, which can further be replicated in other parts of the state. The project will benefit several farmers, especially those engaged in dairy industry. At present, several farmers have to purchase fodder from Punjab and Haryana.
• Herdsmen in the state own around 22 lakh sheep and goats. Their livestock are dependent on grasslands. However, the state has no policy for the protection of pastures. Shepherds are losing grasslands either to development projects or invasive species and weeds.
• According to a study of Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University (HPAU), invasive species lead to 90 per cent reduction in the productivity of pasture land. Moreover, overgrazing also allows weeds to dominate over grass species, affecting plant biodiversity, the study mentioned.

• The state government has sanctioned Rs 25 crore in the first phase to speed up the ongoing construction work of the new building complex of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital at Sarol near the district headquarter town of Chamba.
• Addressing mediapersons here today, local MLA Neeraj Nayar said that the government was serious about the health facilities for the people of the aspirational district.
• Nayar said the government was committed to complete the construction works of the medical building complex as early as possible so that the people of the remote district could get all types of health facilities at their district headquarter.

• The International Atomic Energy (IAEA) Task Force established to monitor Japan’s plan to discharge treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi NPP has completed its second regulatory review.
• Fukushima is to release radioactive contaminated water which was stored at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on Japan’s east coast due to tsunami.
• Before it is stored, wastewater produced at Fukushima is treated to remove almost all radioactive elements including cobalt 60, strontium 90 and caesium 137.
  • But tritium—a radioactive form of hydrogen—is left behind.
• When one of hydrogen atoms in water is replaced by tritium, it forms radioactive tritiated water.
• Tritiated water is chemically identical to normal water, which makes separating it from wastewater expensive, energy intensive and time consuming.

• Globe at Night, an international citizen-science campaign, study has highlighted that:
  • Night sky brightness has increased by 7-10% per year from artificial light between 2011-22.
  • Visibility of stars in night sky is declining by 10% per year because of light pollution.
• Light pollution, also known as photo pollution, is the presence of anthropogenic light in night environment.
• Impact of Light Pollution: Interferes with astronomical research, disrupts ecosystems, threat to nocturnal wildlife especially birds etc.
• Skyglow is a form of light pollution characterized by diffuse illumination of night sky.
  • Easily visible over cities, it doesn’t include natural light sources such as moon and visible individual stars.

• India celebrated its 13^thNational Voters Day on January 25.
• The first NVD was celebrated in 2011. The Election Commission of India will host the celebrations.
• ECI has released a logo marking the theme of the celebrations. On NVD, the President of India is to present the National Awards in the category of Electoral Practices.
• Theme of National Voters Day, 2023- Nothing Like Voting. I Vote for Sure.
• The main objective of celebrating NVD is to create awareness of voting among the citizens.
• On NVD, ECI presents EPICs to the new voters. EPIC is Elector Photo Identity Card.

• PMRBP-2023 conferred upon 11 children by President of India.
• PMRBP is instituted by Ministry of Women and Child Development, and conferred upon children in the age group 5 -18 years.
• It is given for six categories, viz. Art & Culture, Bravery, Innovation, Scholastic, Social Service and Sports.

Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar

• Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and Lunglei Fire Station (LFS), Mizoram, have been selected for Subhash Chandra Bose APP-2023.
• Subhash Chandra Bose APP for 2023 was instituted by government as an annual award.
• It recognises and honour the contribution and service rendered by individuals and organisations in India in field of disaster management.

• On Parakram Diwas, 21 largest unmanned islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands are named after 21 Param Vir Chakra (PVC) awardees.
  • Parakram Diwas is celebrated on occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
• Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India’s highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valor during wartime.
• It was designed by Mrs. Savitri Khanolkar.
• Cast in bronze, it carries state emblem at centre on a raked circle surrounded by four replicas of lndra’s Vajra, flanked by sword of Shivaji.
• Major Somnath Sharma (Posthumous) was first PVC awardee.

• As per report, incentives provided by Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) have helped in boosting credit flow to MSMES.

Important points

• MSME loan accounts worth Rs 2.2 lakh crore improved for entire banking industry.
• Saved 12 percent of outstanding MSME credit from slipping into Non-Performing Asset and livelihood of nearly 6.6 crores.
• MSME units becoming larger with several units crossing threshold of Rs 250 crore turnover and turning into mid-sized corporates by new definition of MSME units.

About ECLGS

• ECLGS is a special scheme to provide 100 percent guarantee coverage to banks and NBFCs to enable them to extend emergency credit facilities to Business Enterprises/MSMEs.
• It is under the purview of Ministry of Finance.
• It was announced as part of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package with:
  • Emergency Credit Line of upto 20% of total outstanding as on February 29, 2020.
  • 100% Guarantee Coverage with maximum tenure of 4 years from date of disbursement and one year moratorium on principal amount.
  • It is managed by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd (NCGTC) under trusteeship management
• Other recent steps taken
  • MSME definition was changed in 2020 with introduction of a composite criteria
  • Udyam Assist Platform, developed by SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India), to bring all informal micro enterprises (IMEs) into formal ambit. It would benefit up to 5 crore IMEs.

• It is an annual status report published by World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives.
• It monitors global progress towards 2023 target for global elimination of industrially produced Trans-Fatty Acids (TFA).
• Important findings
  • 5 billion people globally are exposed to harmful trans-fat, increasing their heart disease and death risk.
  • 9 of the 16 countries do not have a best-practice policy.
    • They are Australia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and Republic of Korea.
  • TFAs are unsaturated fatty acids that are of two types-
    • Naturally occurring trans-fat occurs naturally in some dairy and meat products.
    • Industrially produced trans-fat adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. It is found in packaged foods, baked goods, cooking oils and spreads.
  • Recommendations: Invest in monitoring and surveillance mechanisms; Develop and implement best-practice policies to set TFA limits, etc.
  • Steps taken to regulate TFA
    • REPLACE strategy by WHO
    • FSSAI limit the content not more than 2% by mass of total oils and fats from January 2022.
    • FSSAI made mandatory for food manufacturers to declare TFA content on nutrition label.