Afternoon edition
Daily current affairs for UPSC, BPSC, State PCS and PSC exams.
Why in news?
The Odisha government announced free education from KG to PG and an enhanced food security scheme, marking significant welfare initiatives.
Key points
- Free education from Kindergarten to Postgraduate level in all government institutions.
- Launch of Chief Minister Annapurna Yojana for enhanced food security.
- Beneficiaries of National Food Security Act and State Food Security Scheme to receive an additional 5 kg of rice monthly.
- Total beneficiaries for the food scheme: 3.28 crore, covering 80% of the state's population.
- Annual expenditure for the food scheme: ₹8,813 crore.
Background & context
The announcements were made on the completion of two years of the BJP government in Odisha. The state has been focusing on improving educational access and food security for its population, particularly the economically weaker sections.
★ Prelims fact capsule
Odisha to provide free education from KG to PG in government institutions.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper 1: Social Justice; GS Paper 2: Government Policies and Interventions, Welfare Schemes.
Why in news?
The Maharashtra government is set to table a bill to provide independent legal recognition to women farmers and improve their access to agricultural schemes.
Key points
- Bill aims to grant women farmers independent legal recognition.
- Will improve their access to welfare schemes and institutional support.
- Addresses the exclusion of women farmers from benefits due to land ownership prerequisites.
- Aims to recognize women involved in allied agricultural activities as farmers.
- A digital system will be developed for women farmers to access loan schemes and subsidies.
Background & context
Women constitute over 81% of Maharashtra's agricultural sector, yet most policies and schemes are male-centric. This bill seeks to rectify the exclusion of women farmers who often do not own land but are actively involved in cultivation and allied activities.
★ Prelims fact capsule
Women constitute over 81% of Maharashtra's agricultural sector.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper 1: Social Issues (Women's empowerment); GS Paper 2: Government Policies and Interventions, Welfare Schemes.
Why in news?
A new study has identified a significant link between tropical atmospheric waves and extreme rainfall events along India's west coast, with implications for regions like Kerala.
Key points
- Invisible atmospheric disturbances (Kelvin, Rossby, Mixed Rossby-Gravity waves) significantly enhance heavy rainfall.
- These waves organize deep convective cloud systems and increase moisture convergence.
- Rossby waves have the strongest influence, amplifying extreme rainfall by 20-60%.
- The research is the first comprehensive assessment of these waves' role in rainfall extremes over the region.
- Past extreme events in Kerala (2018, 2019 floods) and Wayanad (2024 landslides) were associated with strong Rossby wave activity.
Background & context
The study by researchers from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), UK Met Office, and France, highlights the role of atmospheric dynamics in extreme weather events. Understanding these phenomena is crucial for disaster preparedness, especially in flood-prone areas like Kerala.
★ Prelims fact capsule
Rossby waves can amplify extreme rainfall over land by 20-60%.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper 1: Geography (Climate patterns, Natural Disasters); GS Paper 3: Disaster Management.