Today's Brief 25/02/2025

IE Analysis:https://youtu.be/X0Tqz8_M4js?feature=shared

JS Analysis:https://youtu.be/xHRCkwPKIWU?feature=shared

1 . Exercise SHAKTI :(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management) The Indian Army chief's visit to Marseille, France, likely involves discussions and briefings on two key programs: Exercise SHAKTI and the "Scorpion" program.

Exercise SHAKTI:

• Bilateral Military Exercise: Exercise SHAKTI is a biennial military exercise conducted jointly by the armies of India and France. The exercise alternates between being held in India and France.

• Focus: The primary focus of Exercise SHAKTI is to enhance military cooperation and interoperability between the two armies. This includes training in counter-terrorism operations, sharing best practices, and improving coordination in joint operations.

• Significance: Exercise SHAKTI is a crucial part of the defense cooperation between India and France, strengthening their strategic partnership.

"Scorpion" Program: French Military Modernization Program: The "Scorpion" program is a large-scale modernization effort undertaken by the French Army. It aims to upgrade and integrate various combat systems, including armored vehicles, communication systems, and battlefield management systems.

 India might be looking at some of the technologies or platforms developed under the "Scorpion" program for its own modernization efforts.

Marseille is a major port city in France and could be a logistical hub for military cooperation and exchanges.

2 .Innovate with GoIStats:  (GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), in collaboration with MyGov, is set to launch an exciting data-visualization hackathon titled "Innovate with GoIStats", centered around the theme “Data-Driven Insights for Viksit Bharat”.

The hackathon aims to inspire India’s young and brightest minds – students and researchers to utilize the vast official statistics generated by the National Statistics Office (NSO) for creating innovative data driven insights.

The hackathon will invite participants to explore and analyse official statistics from the reports, microdata and other datasets available on the website of the Ministry, such as the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Household Consumer Expenditure Survey (HCES), Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), Consumer Price Index (CPI), Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and more to create impactful visualizations to support evidence-based policymaking in the journey towards Viksit Bharat.

Participants can gain hands-on experience with official statistics while creating a stronger foundation for data-driven policy insights.

The Hackathon will take place on the MyGov platform, from 25th February 2025 to 31st March 2025. Students pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate or doing research can participate. The top 30 entries, selected by a panel of expert evaluators from the industry and academia will get prize money, with one first prize of ₹2 Lakhs, followed by two second prizes of ₹1 Lakh each, two third prizes of ₹50,000 each and twenty-five consolation prizes of ₹20,000 each.

3 .PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: (GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

  The Government of India has approved the scheme on 29th February, 2024 to increase the share of solar rooftop capacity and empower residential households to generate their own electricity.

The scheme has an outlay of Rs 75,021 crore and is to be implemented till FY 2026-27. The scheme will be implemented by a National programme Implementation Agency (NPIA) at the National level and by the State Implementation Agencies (SIAs) at the state level.

The Distribution Utility (DISCOMs or Power/Energy Departments, as the case may be) shall be the State Implementation Agencies (SIA) at the State/UT level.

c) Under the scheme, the DISCOMs shall be required to put in place several facilitative measures for promotion of rooftop solar in their respective areas such as availability of net meters, timely inspection and commissioning of installations, vendor registration and management, interdepartmental convergence for solarizing government building etc.

How does PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijlee Yojana work?

The scheme provides for a subsidy of 60% of the solar unit cost for systems up to 2kW capacity and 40 percent of additional system cost for systems between 2 to 3kW capacity. The subsidy has been capped at 3kW capacity.

At current benchmark prices, this will mean Rs 30,000 subsidy for 1kW system, Rs 60,000 for 2kW systems and Rs 78,000 for 3kW systems or higher.

Who are eligible to apply for the Scheme?

• The applicant must be an Indian citizen.

• Must own a house with a roof that is suitable for installing solar panels.

• The household must have a valid electricity connection.

• The household must not have availed of any other subsidy for solar panels.

4 .Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers eased:(GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

  The Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) is a key indicator of inflation for these specific demographics in India. Here's a breakdown of what "eased" means in this context:

What is the CPI-AL and CPI-RL?

• Measures Inflation: These indices track the changes in the prices of a basket of goods and services consumed by agricultural and rural laborers in India.

• Essential Items: The basket includes items like food, fuel, clothing, and other necessities.

• Base Year: The indices are compared against a base year to show how prices have changed over time.

What does "eased" mean?

• Slower Increase: When the CPI-AL and CPI-RL "ease," it means that the rate at which prices are increasing has slowed down. In simpler terms, the cost of living for agricultural and rural laborers is still rising, but not as quickly as before.

• Potential Factors: This easing can be due to various factors, such as:

  • Lower Food Prices: Food often makes up a significant portion of the basket, so changes in food prices have a big impact.

  • Stable Fuel Costs: Fuel prices also play a role, especially for transportation and agricultural activities.

  • Government Policies: Government interventions, like subsidies or price controls, can influence the indices.

Why is this important?

• Impact on Livelihoods: The CPI-AL and CPI-RL directly affect the purchasing power and living standards of agricultural and rural laborers.

• Policy Decisions: These indices are crucial for policymakers to understand the economic situation of these groups and make informed decisions about social welfare programs, minimum wages, and other relevant policies.

• Economic Indicator: They also serve as a broader indicator of inflationary trends in the economy, particularly in rural areas.

it's a positive sign, suggesting that the pace of price increases for essential goods and services consumed by agricultural and rural laborers has slowed down. However, it's important to remember that prices may still be rising, just at a slower rate.

5 .USAID:(GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations) The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a US government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid.

What is USAID?

• Independent Agency: USAID is an independent agency of the US government.

  
  

• Foreign Aid: It's the principal agency responsible for distributing and managing US economic assistance to other countries.

  
  

• Global Development: USAID works to promote and advance global development, with a focus on supporting countries transitioning from dependency to self-reliance.

  
  

What does USAID do?

• Various Sectors: USAID's work spans a wide range of sectors, including:

  •   Economic growth and trade

  •   Agriculture and food security

  •   Global health

  •   Education

  •   Democracy and governance

  •   Environmental protection

    
    

• Partnerships: USAID partners with various organizations, including:

  •   Host country governments

  •   Private sector businesses

  •   Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

  •   Research institutions

• Geographic Focus: USAID operates in many countries around the world, prioritizing those in need of assistance.

  
  

Objectives of USAID

• Promote Economic Growth: USAID supports sustainable economic growth in developing countries, aiming to create jobs and improve living standards.

• Strengthen Democratic Institutions: USAID works to promote democracy, good governance, and human rights in partner countries.

• Improve Global Health: USAID plays a significant role in global health initiatives, addressing issues like infectious diseases, maternal and child health, and family planning.

•   Enhance Education: USAID supports education programs to improve literacy rates and provide access to quality education.

• Address Environmental Challenges: USAID works to protect the environment and promote sustainable resource management.

  
  

Funding and Accountability

• Congressional Funding: USAID's budget is determined by the US Congress.

• Transparency: USAID aims to be transparent about its programs and how funds are used.

•   Evaluation: USAID evaluates its programs to assess their effectiveness and impact.

6 .Quantum computing (General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management) is a type of computation that harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics to solve problems too complex for classical computers. It utilizes qubits, which, unlike classical bits, can exist in multiple states simultaneously due to superposition and entanglement, enabling the exploration of numerous possibilities at once.

This capability allows quantum computers to tackle problems exponentially faster than classical computers for certain tasks.

Qubits are the fundamental units of quantum information, analogous to bits in classical computing. However, while a classical bit can only be 0 or 1, a qubit can be in a superposition of both states at the same time. This ability dramatically increases computing power by allowing multiple calculations to be performed simultaneously.

 Qubits are implemented using various physical systems, including superconducting circuits, trapped ions, and photonic systems.

Despite its immense potential, quantum computing is still in its infancy and faces several key challenges, such as error rates and stability, limited qubit count, high cost and infrastructure, and software and algorithm development.

Why is Microsoft in News?

Microsoft's Majorana 1 chip represents a significant advancement in the field of quantum computing, particularly in the pursuit of more stable and scalable qubits. 

What is Majorana 1?

it is built on the concept of topological qubits, which are theorized to be significantly more resistant to environmental noise and errors compared to traditional qubits. This robustness is crucial for building practical quantum computers.

The chip aims to harness Majorana fermions, exotic particles that are their own antiparticles. These particles, when confined in a special type of material called a topoconductor, can form Majorana zero modes, which are the basis for topological qubits.

 Microsoft claims that Majorana 1's architecture paves the way for scaling quantum computers to a million qubits on a single chip, a threshold considered necessary for tackling real-world problems.

Why is it Important?

• Stability: Current quantum computers are highly susceptible to errors, making them difficult to control and limiting their computational power. Majorana 1's focus on topological qubits addresses this challenge, potentially leading to more stable and reliable quantum computers.

• Scalability: Building large-scale quantum computers with millions of qubits is essential for solving complex problems. Majorana 1's architecture offers a potential pathway to achieve this scalability.

• Real-world Applications: With increased stability and scalability, quantum computers could revolutionize various fields, including medicine, materials science, and artificial intelligence.

overall, Majorana 1 is a promising development in the quest for practical quantum computers. Its focus on topological qubits and scalability could potentially overcome some of the major hurdles in the field.

7. Germany Political System: (GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

The Federal Republic of Germany is organised as a federal and parliamentary democracy. The Basic Law sets down that all state authority derives from the people. The people confer this power to the federal and state parliaments for one legislative period.

Key Institutions:

• Federal President: The head of state, primarily a ceremonial role. They represent Germany internationally and have some reserve powers.   

• Federal Chancellor: The head of government, similar to a prime minister. They lead the government and are responsible for setting policy guidelines.   

• Bundestag: The lower house of parliament, the main legislative body. Members are elected by a mixed system of proportional representation and direct mandates.   

• Bundesrat: The upper house of parliament, representing the 16 states. It has a role in legislation, especially concerning state interests.   

• Federal Constitutional Court: The highest court, responsible for interpreting the constitution and ensuring its protection.

Germany has a multi-party system, with several parties represented in the Bundestag. Traditionally, the two largest parties have been the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). However, other parties like the Greens, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and the Left have also gained significant influence

The Bundestag is elected using a system called "personalized proportional representation." This combines elements of proportional representation (ensuring fair representation of parties) and direct mandates (allowing voters to choose individual candidates).

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