Why in the News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to launch the PM PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) Development Mission in a huge step to empower tribal people.

About PM PVTG Development Mission:

• The PM PVTG Development Mission plans to saturate PVTG families and habitations with basic facilities such as road and telecom connectivity, electricity, safe housing, clean drinking water, and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
• The Mission will be implemented through the convergence of 11 interventions of nine Ministries.
• In addition, saturation will be ensured for schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna, Sickle Cell Disease Elimination, TB Elimination, 100 percent immunisation, PM Surakshit Matritva Yojana, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, PM Poshan, and PM Jan Dhan Yojana.

Who are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)?

• PVTGs, or Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, represent the most vulnerable subsets within India's diverse tribal communities, requiring heightened support and development efforts.
• There are 75 PVTGs in 18 States and Union Territories living in 22 thousand 544 villages having a population of around 28 lakhs.
• These tribes stay in scattered, remote, and inaccessible habitations, often in forest areas.
• The Government of India employs specific criteria for their identification, encompassing pre-agricultural technological levels, low literacy rates, economic disadvantages, and either a declining or stagnant population.
• The origin of the PVTG category dates back to 1975 when the government identified 52 vulnerable tribal groups, later augmented by an additional 23 in 1993.
• Notable examples of PVTGs include:
• the Cholanaikayan in Kerala
• Kathodi in Gujarat
• Jarawas in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and
• Koraga in Karnataka
• The distinctive classification of PVTGs underscores a commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by these marginalized tribal communities, aiming to uplift them through targeted support and development initiatives.

Why in the News?

The Delhi government is mulling the use of artificial rain through cloud seeding this month to combat the air pollution crisis in the national capital.

What is Cloud Seeding?

• Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique aimed at increasing precipitation by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei.
• The primary goal is to encourage the formation and growth of precipitation particles within clouds.
• Commonly used substances for cloud seeding include silver iodide, potassium iodide, and liquid propane.

There are two main types of cloud seeding:

• Static cloud seeding: This type of seeding is used to increase precipitation in areas that are experiencing drought
• It involves releasing silver iodide or dry ice into clouds that are already producing precipitation.
• The silver iodide or dry ice acts as ice nuclei, which causes water droplets in the clouds to freeze and form snowflakes.
• The snowflakes then grow larger and fall to the ground as rain or snow.
• Dynamic cloud seeding: This type of seeding is used to increase the amount of precipitation that falls from clouds that are not yet producing precipitation.
• It involves releasing silver iodide into clouds that are still in the development stage.
• The silver iodide acts as condensation nuclei, which causes water vapor in the clouds to condense and form water droplets.
• The water droplets then grow larger and fall to the ground as rain or snow.
• Cloud seeding is typically done using aircraft, but it can also be done using ground-based generators or rockets.
• The aircraft or other seeding platform will fly into the clouds and release the silver iodide or dry ice.
• The seeding material will then spread throughout the cloud and begin to alter the microphysical processes.
• The effectiveness of cloud seeding is debated.
• Some studies have shown that it can increase precipitation by up to 30%, while other studies have shown that it has little or no effect.
• The effectiveness of cloud seeding is likely to vary depending on the type of clouds being seeded, the atmospheric conditions, and the seeding method used.
• Cloud seeding is used in a variety of countries around the world, including the United States, China, Russia, and Australia.

Why in the News?

For the first time in India, a prisoner in J&K has been given bail on the condition that his movements are monitored constantly.

About GPS Anklets/Tracker:

• The GPS tracker is a compact wearable gadget secured around the ankle, offering real-time location details.
• It is designed to be tamper-proof, triggering an alarm if any attempt is made to interfere with it.
• Removal by the wearer or any unauthorized individual without causing damage is virtually impossible.
• This versatile tracker can be attached to either the ankle or the arm, presenting as GPS anklets or GPS bracelets.
• While commonplace for bail conditions in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia, this marks the inaugural use of GPS trackers for this purpose in India.

What is GPS?

• GPS, or the Global Positioning System, is a satellite-based navigation system with a global reach.
• It functions through a network of satellites orbiting Earth, transmitting signals to GPS receivers.
• This technology has revolutionized navigation, offering precise location and time information for diverse applications, from driving to hiking.
• Originally developed for military purposes, GPS is now widely used in civilian life, integrated into smartphones for location-based services and emergency response.
• Its applications extend to real-time tracking of vehicles and assets, contributing to enhanced security and efficient management.
• Ongoing advancements ensure that GPS remains a crucial tool in modern navigation.

Why in the News?

The Vadhavan Port Project Ltd. (VPPL) has started the procedures to build a port with an estimated cost of ?76,220 crore. Public hearings are expected to commence in the coming months.

About Vadhavan Port:

• The Vadhavan Port is a proposed deep-sea port to be located in Palghar District, Maharashtra.
• It is expected to be one of the largest ports in the world, with a capacity to handle over 20 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers per year.
• The port is being developed by a joint venture between the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB).
• The Vadhavan Port is being designed as a "green port" with a focus on sustainability.
• The port will use renewable energy sources and implement energy efficiency measures.
• The port will also have a dedicated waste management system to minimize environmental impact.
• It is expected to be operational by 2040 and is a critical project for India's economic growth and development.
• The Vadhavan Port is expected to be a major boost to the Indian economy.
• It will create thousands of jobs and attract billions of dollars in investment.
• The port will also help to reduce congestion at the JNPA, which is currently India's busiest container port.
• The Vadhavan Port is a major infrastructure project that is expected to have a significant impact on India's economy and society.

Why in the News?

On Birsa Munday's birthday on Nov. 15th, PM Modi is scheduled to visit Ulihatu village, where the great leader's descendants live in an asbestos house.

About Birsa Munda:

• Birsa Munda was a tribal leader and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe.
• He was born on November 15, 1875, in the village of Ulihatu in the present-day Khunti district of Jharkhand.
• Birsa Munda is known for leading a rebellion against British colonial rule and the exploitation of tribal communities in the late 19th century.
• He was a charismatic leader and a devout Hindu.
• He preached a message of social and religious reform and advocated for the revival of traditional Munda culture and values.
• He also led a campaign against the conversion activities of Christian missionaries.
• In 1895, Birsa Munda launched a rebellion against the British.
• He and his followers attacked police stations, government buildings, and the homes of zamindars (landlords).
• The British responded with a heavy crackdown, and Birsa Munda was arrested in 1897.
• He was released from prison in 1898 but was rearrested in 1900 after he resumed his rebellion.
• Birsa Munda died in prison on June 9, 1900, at the age of 25.
• Birsa Munda's rebellion was a watershed moment in the history of the Indian independence movement.
• It inspired other tribal leaders to rise up against the British, and it helped to raise awareness of the plight of tribal communities in India.
• Birsa Munda is revered as a hero by tribal communities across India, and he is considered to be one of the pioneers of the Indian independence movement.
• In addition to his political activism, Birsa Munda was also a religious reformer.
• He founded a new religious movement called Birsait, which combined elements of Hinduism and tribal animism.
• Birsaitism is still practiced by some tribal communities in Jharkhand today.
• Birsa Munda's legacy continues to inspire people today, and he is remembered as one of the greatest heroes of the Indian independence movement.
• To honor Birsa Munda's significant influence on the national movement, the state of Jharkhand was established on his birthday in 2000.
• Recognizing his contributions, the Central Government declared November 15 as 'Janjatiya Gaurav Divas' in 2021.