Current Affairs

India's first early warning mobile application which can alert users before an earthquake was recently launched in Uttarakhand.

• The application is called 'Uttarakhand Bhookamp Alert' and has been developed by IIT Roorkee.
• The project was sponsored by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority.

Features

• The application uses an Earthquake Early Warning (EEW), a real-time earthquake information system that can detect the onset of the earthquake.
• It can issue warnings before significant tremors take hold of an area.
• The app can also help to tell the location of people trapped inside a structure following an earthquake.
• It disseminates information regarding the occurrence of an earthquake, as well as the expected time of arrival and intensity at the tremor location to prevent any loss of life.
• It is compatible with both Android and iOS platforms, and is available in two versions.

EEW exploits the Advantage of Varying Speeds of Seismic Waves

• According to IIT-Roorkee experts, the physical basis for an earthquake early warning system is the speed of the seismic waves, which propagate after the release of stress from faults movement. The strong ground shaking is caused by shear waves which travel at about half the speed of the primary waves and much slower than electromagnetic signals. The EEW system exploits this advantage.

e-RUPI, a person and purpose specific digital payment solution was launched on 2nd August 2021.

• It has been developed by National Payments Corporation of India on its UPI platform, in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and National Health Authority.

Features

• e-RUPI is a cashless and contactless instrument for digital payment.
• It is a QR code or SMS string-based e-Voucher, which is delivered to the mobile of the beneficiaries.
• The users of this seamless one-time payment mechanism will be able to redeem the voucher without a card, digital payments app or internet banking access, at the service provider.
• e-RUPI connects the sponsors of the services with the beneficiaries and service providers in a digital manner without any physical interface. It also ensures that the payment to the service provider is made only after the transaction is completed. Being pre-paid in nature, it assures timely payment to the service provider without involvement of any intermediary.

Expected Benefits

• It is expected to be a revolutionary initiative in the direction of ensuring a leak-proof delivery of welfare services.
• It can also be used for delivering services under schemes meant for providing drugs and nutritional support under Mother and Child welfare schemes, TB eradication programmes, drugs & diagnostics under schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, fertilizer subsidies etc.
• Even the private sector can leverage these digital vouchers as part of their employee welfare and corporate social responsibility programmes.

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, is hosting the 18th International Conference on Cloud and Precipitation (ICCP) in Pune.

• This is for the first time, the event is being organised in Asia.
• Described as the 'Olympics of Cloud Physics', the ICCP is conducted every four years, by the ICCP Commission, an international body of scientists and students.

Why study of Clouds is important for India?

• To Monitor Seasonal Precipitations: Apart from monsoon, India also experiences different characteristics of the clouds and hence precipitation in other seasons. For example, NE Indian states experience floods in the month of April or May because of intense convective clouds leading to heavy downpour, which leads to lot of floods and landslides.
• To get further insight on Western Disturbances: During winter season, India experiences western disturbances, which passes through the western and north-western parts of the country, and causes different forms of precipitations like hailstorm and snowstorms apart from rainfall.
• To Study on Lightning: Lightning is one of the severest killers, claiming 2000-3000 people every year.

Under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Pani Maah (Water Month) is being observed by the UT of Ladakh in two phases.

• Pani Maah is a comprehensive 1-month campaign which was launched on 25th July in UT Ladakh which will run at the block and panchayat level in 2- phases, with the 1st phase from 1st to 15th August and 2nd phase from 16th to 30th August, 2021.

Aim

To ensure clean and safe drinking water in every village.

The Campaign

• Extensive testing of water will be conducted at the sources and delivery points with the involvement of the community which also includes the Village Women Committee and user groups.
• The Village Women Committee at every village level will be guided with proper training and also equipped with Field testing Kits (FTK).
• 12 to 13 parameters have been set to check the feasibility of safe and drinking water in various labs on regular basis.
• To implement this campaign at the ground level, people representatives like Councilors, BDC Chairpersons Sarpanchs and Panchs will also be involved who will be imparted detailed training.