MERIT app

The government has launched the MERIT app (Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for
Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency) and the e-bidding portal for providing e-
Bidding solution to States to select Independent Power Producers (IPPs) for procurement of
power by transferring their domestic coal under the scheme of flexibility in utilization of
domestic coal.
The app displays extensive array of information regarding the merit order such as daily
state-wise marginal variable costs of all generators, daily source-wise power purchases of
respective states/UTs with source-wise fixed and variable costs, energy volumes and
purchase prices.
The app also gives information regarding reasons for deviation from merit order such as
must run conditions, transmission constraints etc.
The app and the web portal would result in optimum utilization of Coal which would
save the consumer close to Rs. 20,000 crores five years down the line.

The advantages of MERIT app are as follows:

Empowerment of the Consumer and participative governance.
Transparent information dissemination pertaining to marginal variable cost and source
wise purchase of electricity.
Promotes economy and efficiency in operations.
Helps understand the utility portfolio and its complexity.
Optimization of the power procurement costs.
Facilitates renewable integration and handling of the variability and uncertainty of
renewables.
Indication of supply side reliability and adequacy.
The flexibility in utilization of domestic coal scheme envisages transferring coal to more
efficient IPPs generating stations, leading to lower generation costs and ultimately lesser
cost of electricity for the consumers.

Aaykar Setu:
It is an app launched by the CBDT that allows entities track TDS, pay taxes and apply for
permanent account number (PAN). It will also help people link their 12-digit biometric
identifier Aadhaar with PAN card. Aaykar Setu literally means taxpayers bridge

JIGYASA Student-Scientist connect programme

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has joined hands with Kendriya
Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to implement this programme. The focus is on connecting
school students and scientists so as to extend students classroom learning with that of a
very well planned research laboratory based learning.
 The JIGYASA would inculcate the culture of inquisitiveness on one hand and
scientific temper on the other, amongst the school students and their teachers.
The model of engagement includes:
Student Residential Programmes.
Scientists as Teachers and Teachers as Scientists.
Lab specific activities / Onsite Experiments.
Visits of Scientists to Schools/Outreach Programmes.
Science and Maths Clubs.
Popular Lecture Series/ demonstration programme at Schools.
Student Apprenticeship Programmes.
Science Exhibitions.
Projects of National Childrens Science Congress.
Teacher Workshops.
Tinkering Laboratories.

Garib Nawaz Skill Development Centres:

The government is planning to establish Garib Nawaz Skill Development Centres in 100
districts of the country.
will effectively ensure employment oriented skill development of youth belonging to
Minority communities.

Van Mahotsav

Van Mahotsav, a week-long festival, is being celebrated in different parts of India. It is

usually celebrated between 1 July to 7 July. Programmes like screening of short films and
documentaries, seminars and exhibition, painting and poster competitions are organised to
mark the occasion.

About Van Mahotsav:

Van Mahotsav began in 1950, with a tree plantation drive, in which national leaders
participated. The festival of tree plantation was started by Dr. K.M. Munshi, the then Union
Minister for Agriculture and Food to create enthusiasm among masses for forest conservation
and planting trees.
Van Mahotsav is usually observed in the first week of July every year and is celebrated
on different days in different parts of India.
The objective behind celebrating Van Mahotsav is to keep local people involved in
plantation drives and spread environmental awareness.
(Case studies of the successful conservation strategies)-
Mendha-Lekha village in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, where self-rule and forest
conservation date back a few decades, was one of the first villages to have claimed and
received Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights over 1,800 ha of forests. While
initiating a forest governance and management system, the village set aside 10% of forest
area for wildlife, compiled a community biodiversity register, and for livelihood have
decided to carry out forest management activities (soil and water conservation, mulching
for bamboo, etc) instead of heavy extraction of resources.
In Maharashtras Amravati district, near the Melghat Tiger Reserve, Payvihir village
claimed and received community forest resource titles in 2012. Subsequent forest
management and governance led to uniting a conflict-ridden village towards an
envisioning and planning process which led to regenerated forests, return of wildlife, and
livelihoods through forest-based activities, including the sale of custard apple and tendu
patta.
Pachgaon village in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, after receiving CFR rights in
2012, has also been nearly self-sufficient in generating local livelihood from regulated
bamboo harvests. To maintain the diversity of their forests the villagers decided not to
harvest tendu patta that was traditionally an important non-timber forest produce earning
substantial revenue. They have done this to reduce forest fires, allow for regeneration,
and provide tendu fruits for wildlife. In addition to devising rules and regulations of use
for their 2,487 acres of community forest resources, the village also protects 85 acres as a
strict protected zone for wildlife. Inspired by these villages, gram sabhas that have
received CFR rights in the buffer zone of Tadoba Tiger Reserve are now in the process
of devising similar conservation and management plans.

nline education portal Swayam

SWAYAM,- the portal that takes high quality education to the doorstep of everyone
SWAYAM Prabha the 32 DTH channels operationalised for telecasting high quality
educational content free of charge using the GSAT-15 satellite transponders.

What you need to know about Swayam?

With the launch of SWAYAM, India has become one of the few countries in the World
which has its own online interactive learning platform that provides, not only video
lectures, reading material but also assignments/quizzes that could end up in securing
credits after completing the assessment system.
 More than 400 Courses are available on SWAYAM covering all the engineering and
non-engineering subjects at undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
The UGC has already issued Regulation that allows transfer of credits earned through the
courses done through SWAYAM into the academic record of the students.
It is now possible for the students and others to take courses of the prestigious IITs or
IIMs without formally studying there.
The platform has been constructed by Microsoft with totally indigenous efforts.

What you need to know about Swayam Prabha?

The SWAYAM Prabha channels are available for free for anyone who has a set top box to
receive either DD Free Dish or DishTV. These channels transmit 4 hours of fresh content
every day, and contain lectures from the best teachers in the Country. There is no monthly
charge for viewing these channels. These channels include the IIT-PAL channels which were
intended to help students taking the prestigious JEE examination, taught by the IIT faculty.

Minimum qualifications for coop. societies polls:

Rajasthan has become the countrys first State to lay down the minimum
educational qualifications for contesting elections to village cooperative societies
and various other cooperative bodies. The State Cooperative Societies Rules, 2003,
were amended for the purpose and notified.
The educational qualifications will range from Class V to Class VIII for election as
members of governing boards of dairy societies, farming societies, consumer societies,
weavers societies, housing construction societies, urban banks, primary land
development banks, credit societies, salary earners societies and cooperative unions.

Sexual Harassment electronic-Box (SHe-Box)

What is it?
It is an online complaint management system for registering complaints related to
sexual harassment at workplace. It was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child
Development. The complaint management system has been developed to ensure the
effective implementation of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention,
Prohibition and Redressal) Act (the SH Act), 2013.

What you need to know about the She-Box?

This portal is an initiative to provide a platform to women working or visiting any office
of Central Government (Central Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Undertakings,
Autonomous Bodies and Institutions etc.) to file complaints related to sexual harassment
at workplace under the SH Act. Those who had already filed a written complaint with the
concerned Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) constituted under the SH Act are also
eligible to file their complaint through this portal.
 It is also an effort to provide speedier remedy to women facing sexual harassment at
workplace as envisaged under the SH Act.
Once a complaint is submitted to the portal, it will be directly sent to the ICC of the
concerned Ministry/Department/PSU/Autonomous Body etc. having jurisdiction to
inquire into the complaint. Through this portal, WCD as well as complainant can monitor
the progress of inquiry conducted by the ICC.

Aarambh app for Road maintenance

The government has launched a mobile app- Aarambh- for road maintenance.
This Mobile Phone App aims at use of GIS based mapping for making road inventories,
condition surveys, and producing cost estimates and other relevant data for preparation
and monitoring of annual road maintenance plans.
Its usage would greatly enhance the service delivery of the state level institutions in
planning and implementing performance based rural roads maintenance contracts.

Government plans I stand by my country campaign

The government hopes to trigger a citizen movement around the theme I stand by my
country as part of a twin celebration to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Quit
India movement and the 70th Independence Day.

What you need to know?

As part of the programme, the government plans a multimedia campaign that will focus on
inspiring the young generation and instilling in them a sense of pride and responsibility.
The celebrations will stress that in the next five years in an era of determination, will
and struggle a New India will be built which is rid of corruption and black money
and fulfils the aspirations of its teeming millions.
The aim of the campaign, hence is to portray an India which is bold and decisive,
can secure its future, is on the path of reforms, and that cares.