UPSC EXAM QUIZ 31.08.2024

Explanation:

• Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) released the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2024.
• In India, where the annual PM2.5 standard is 40 µg/m³, more than 40% of the population breathes air that exceeds the standard.

Key Findings of the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2024

• Impact of Air Pollution on Life Expectancy: The report revealed that if PM2.5 (particulate matter that are 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter) pollution were reduced to meet the guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO), the average person could live 1.9 years longer, adding a total of 14.9 billion life years globally.The WHO guidelines state that annual average concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3).

Explanation:

• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced a mandate requiring telecom firms to block messages containing unregistered Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), over-the-top (OTT) links, Android Application Packages (APKs), or call-back numbers starting from 1st September 2024.
• The new rule, aimed at reducing spam and phishing attempts, requires institutions to register and whitelist (or allowlist - a list of acceptable entities) their numbers to send one-time passwords (OTPs), which may impact banks and services using OTPs for transactional alerts or authentication.
• Telecom companies will now need to verify the content of messages before delivery, enhancing security.
• TRAI has also mandated that telemarketing calls starting with the 140-series (assigned to telemarketers) will have to be migrated to an online DLT (digital ledger technology) platform or on blockchain to enable better monitoring.

Explanation:

• Northern Railways changed the names of 8 railway stations in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh. The stations have been named after the religious identity and great men of the district.
• These include Jais Station, Akbarganj Station, Fursatganj Railway Station, Warisganj Halt Station, Nihalgarh Station, Bani Railway Station, Misrauli Station and Kasimpur Halt Station. In the year 2018, Mughalsarai Railway Station was renamed as Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Railway Junction.
• Former Amethi Lok Sabha MP Smriti Irani had sent a proposal to change the name to the Home Ministry in February, which was approved in March.
• However, the process was delayed due to the model code of conduct during the Lok Sabha elections, but finally the order to change the name was issued on Tuesday.

Explanation:

• Central Government has issued comprehensive guidelines for timely disposal of public grievances lodged by citizens on the Centralized Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System Portal.
• Under these, the time limit for grievance redressal has been reduced from 30 days to 21 days.
• Nodal officers for public grievances will be appointed in all ministries/departments for quick resolution of grievances.
• The role of the nodal officer will be to effectively classify, monitor pending cases and check the feedback process.
• Dedicated grievance cells will be set up in each ministry or department with adequate resources and information on schemes and activities.
• The Grievance Redressal Assessment Index will be released monthly for ranking ministries and departments.

Explanation:

• The government has announced the 'Pradhan Mantri Janjati Unnat Gram Abhiyan' in the budget 2024-25 to improve the socio-economic condition of tribal communities in the country.
• The objective of this scheme is to bring tribal families under the ambit of development in tribal-dominated villages and aspiring districts.
• Under this scheme, work will be done to improve the standard of living of tribal families in the districts and tribal-dominated villages.
• It aims to include 63,000 tribal villages. 5 crore people of the tribal community will benefit from this scheme.