Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: On 16 January, the Union government announced the constitution of the 8th Pay Commission.

Background: –

• Since 1947, seven Pay Commissions have been constituted, with the last one constituted in 2014 and implemented on January 1, 2016. The 7th pay commission saw an expenditure increase of Rs 1 lakh crore for fiscal 2016-17.

Key takeaways 

• A Pay Commission, set up by the government of India, decides the salary and compensation of Central government staffers and allowances of pensioners.
• Pay commissions consult with central and state governments, along with other stakeholders, before recommending salary structures, benefits, and allowances for government employees.
• The commission also suggests formulas for revising dearness allowance and dearness relief for central government employees and pensioners, aiming to offset the impact of inflation. 
• The recommendations are suggestive, there is no obligation on the government to accept the recommendations of the pay commission.
• There are over 49 lakh central government employees and nearly 65 lakh pensioners who will benefit. 
• Generally, every 10 years, the central government implements a pay commission to revise employee remuneration. As the 7th Pay Commission’s term concludes in 2026, initiating the process now ensures sufficient time to receive and review recommendations before its completion.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: India, with 17% of the world’s population but only 4% of its freshwater resources, faces uneven water distribution. The river interlinking project aims to address challenges from topography, climate, natural disasters, and water inequality.

Background: –

• The idea of interlinking rivers goes back to 1858 when Captain Arthur Cotton, a British Army engineer, first proposed linking rivers through canals, mainly for inland navigation.

River interlinking in India

• River interlinking is a large-scale water management strategy involving human-induced water redistribution from surplus areas to areas experiencing shortages. The strategy involves connecting two or more basins through a network of canals, reservoirs, pipelines, etc.
• In 1980, the Ministry of Irrigation (Now the Ministry of Water Resources) framed the National Perspective Plan (NPP) for inter-basin water transfer. The plan identified 30 link projects divided into two components:14 Himalayan and 16 Peninsular link projects. 
• Subsequently, in 1982, The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) was set up to study and implement river interlinking projects. 
• In 2002, in response to a Public Interest Litigation or PIL, the Supreme Court ordered the government to complete all river links within 12 years, bringing the issue to the forefront.

Ken-Betwa Link Project

• On December 25, 2024, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) in Madhya Pradesh. The project aims to provide irrigation to Bundelkhand. 
• In this project, surplus water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh will be transferred to the Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh. Both of these rivers are right-bank tributaries of the Yamuna River. 
• The project will irrigate 10.62 lakh hectares (8.11 lakh ha in MP and 2.51 lakh ha in UP) of land annually and supply drinking water to about 62 lakh people. This project will generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar energy. The project passes through Panna Tiger Reserve. 
• KBLP is the first project under the National Perspective Plan that is currently being implemented.

Significance of river interlinking

• The scheme aims to transfer about 200 billion Cubic Meters (BCM) of water annually from water-rich to drought-prone regions. It will irrigate 34 million hectares of agricultural land and generate 34,000 MW of substantial hydropower. It will ensure continuous and reliable water supply for irrigation, which can hugely increase the country’s agricultural productivity.
• Additionally, interlinking projects will lead to equitable access to water resources for drinking and industrial uses by reducing regional imbalances in current water availability. Equitable and reliable water supply will also support industries and help in employment generation.
•  They will also help mitigate floods’ impacts by storing excess water in reservoirs. Simultaneously, this stored water can be used to provide relief during droughts.

Environmental and social concerns 

• The inter-basin water transfer will change the river morphology and also have an impact on the physical and chemical composition of the sediment load. Subsequently, it will also affect the water quality and ecosystem of the region.
• The large-scale diversion of water can disrupt the river’s natural ecosystem and affect the habitat of the various species. Canals and reservoirs can alter the migratory routes of fish and other species, which, as a result, will decline, eventually leading to biodiversity loss.
• Water transfer may also disturb the inter-relationship between rivers and climatic attributes such as temperature, precipitation and Humidity. 
• The construction activities will cause significant social disruptions mainly due to the displacement of populations. Water is a state subject, and conflicts exist among states regarding water-sharing.
• Moreover, these projects are excessively expensive. Also, such large-scale projects often suffer from time and cost overruns, diminishing their economic viability.
• Therefore, the economic feasibility of these projects needs to be assessed against more cost-effective, sustainable, and environment-friendly alternatives such as rainwater harvesting, local water conservation, and efficient irrigation. It may be more suitable to explore localised solutions alongside these large-scale projects.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that the main theme of the third edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam, a cultural exchange programme scheduled to be held from February 14 to 25, will be Rishi Agastya.

Background:

• The first edition of the programme was held in 2022.

Key takeaways 

• Kashi Tamil Sangamam is an annual month-long programme organized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India to celebrate, reaffirm and rediscover the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Varanasi. The event underscores the connections between these two ancient centers of learning and spirituality.
• The most recent third edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam is scheduled from February 15 to 24, 2025. 
• The main theme in this year’s event is highlighting the significant contributions of Sage Agasthyar to the Siddha System of Medicine (Bharatiya Chikitsa), Classical Tamil Literature, and also his contributions in the cultural unity of the Nation.
• In this edition, around 1000 people under 5 categories (Students, Teachers, Farmers & Artisans, Professionals and small Entrepreneurs, women, and Researchers) will participate.
• An online registration portal has been launched, and the selection of participants will be done through a quiz. Seminars and cultural programmes will be held during the programme. Participants will visit Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya, and with the event coinciding with the Maha Kumbh, they will also visit the Kumbh.

Objectives:

• Strengthen Cultural Bonds: Deepen the understanding and appreciation of each other’s cultural practices and heritage.
• Promote Knowledge Exchange: Facilitate the exchange of traditional knowledge systems and contemporary innovations.
• Encourage Tourism and Education: Boost tourism between the regions and promote educational interactions across universities.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims – GEOGRAPHY

Context: Reliance Jio announced that it had extended its 4G and 5G services to Siachen Glacier, known as the world’s highest battlefield.

Background: –

• Reliance Jio noted that it worked with Army Signallers of the Indian army in order to manage the logistics and airlift Jio equipment to the glacier in freezing weather conditions.

Key takeaways

• Location and Geography:
  • Situated in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas. The Siachen Glacier is positioned from northwest to southeast.
  • It originates at the base of the Indira Col West, a col (low point) on the Indira Ridge, at an altitude of 6,115 metres (20,062 feet), and it descends to an altitude of 3,570 metres (11,713 feet).
  • Length: Approximately 76 km, making it the longest glacier in the Karakoram and the second-longest in non-polar regions.
  • Lies to the north of the Nubra Valley in Ladakh. At the glacier’s snout, two proglacial meltwater streams emerge, and eventually they combine into a single stream, thus forming the Nubra River in the Indian union territory of Ladakh. 
  • The Nubra flows 90 km before its confluence with the Shyok River, which in turn drains into the approximately 3,200-km- long Indus River. 
• Strategic Importance:
  • Positioned at the tri-junction of India, Pakistan, and China, making it geopolitically significant.
  • Overlooks major supply routes and the Karakoram Pass, crucial for controlling the region.
• Conflict and Military Presence:
  • The Siachen region has been at the center of military significance due to its strategic position between India and Pakistan. India controls the entire Siachen Glacier since the Operation Meghdoot in 1984
  • Highest militarized zone in the world, with troops stationed at altitudes exceeding 20,000 feet.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus:

• Prelims – GEOGRAPHY

Context: The Tungabhadra water has turned green around Shiranahalli, Gangapur and Korlahalli villages in Mundargi taluk of Gadag district creating panic among the residents

Background: –

• According to the residents, the river flowing in the region usually dries up during summer and the water left in puddles turns green. However, this year, flowing river water turning green has caused anxiety among them.

Key takeaways 

• The Tungabhadra River is a prominent river in southern India.It is a key tributary of the Krishna River and plays a vital role in the irrigation, hydroelectricity, and water supply of the region.

Geographical Features:

• Source: Originates in the Western Ghats at the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers near Kudremukh in Karnataka.
• Course: Flows for approximately 531 km through Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana before merging with the Krishna River at Sangameswaram in Andhra Pradesh.
• Basin Area: Covers about 71,417 square kilometers across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and a small part of Telangana.
• Irrigation:
  • The river supports extensive agricultural activities in the Deccan Plateau.
  • The Tungabhadra Dam near Hospet in Karnataka provides irrigation to over 1.25 million hectares of land.
• Hydroelectric Power: The dam generates hydroelectric power, contributing to the energy requirements of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• Historical Importance: The river was central to the prosperity of the Vijayanagara Empire, with Hampi located on its banks.

Source: The Hindu

Q1.) Which of the following statements regarding the Siachen Glacier is/are correct?

1. The Siachen Glacier is the longest glacier in the Karakoram range and the second-longest in the world.
2. The glacier forms the source of the Nubra River, which eventually merges with the Shyok River.
3. Operation Meghdoot was launched by India to secure the Siachen Glacier.

Options:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2, and 3
(d) 1 and 3 only

Q2.) Consider the following statements regarding the Tungabhadra River:

1. It originates from the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers in the Eastern Ghats.
2. The Tungabhadra Dam provides irrigation to more than 1.25 million hectares of land.
3. The river was historically significant for the Vijayanagara Empire.

Options:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2, and 3
(d) 1 and 3 only

Q3.) With reference to the Pay Commission in India, consider the following statements:

1. The recommendations of the Pay Commission are binding on the government.
2. The 7th Pay Commission was implemented on January 1, 2016.
3. Pay Commissions are generally constituted every 5 years to revise central government employee salaries.

Options:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  Today’s – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – a

Q.3) – a