30th August 2024

Explanation - Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Gati Shakti – National Master

Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity. 'Gati Shakti’ is a digital platform which will bring 16

Ministries including Railways and Roadways together for integrated planning and coordinated

implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.

It will incorporate the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments

like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, UDAN etc. Economic Zones like

textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defence corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors,

fishing clusters, agri zones will be covered to improve connectivity & make Indian businesses

more competitive. It will also leverage technology extensively including spatial planning tools

with ISRO imagery developed by BiSAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space

Applications and Geoinformatics).

Implementation framework includes Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGOS), Network

Planning Group (NPG) and Technical Support Unit (TSU) with required technical competencies.

EGOS will be headed by Cabinet Secretary and will consist of Secretaries of 18 Ministries as

members and Head of Logistics Division as Member Convenor. The EGOS has been mandated

to review and monitor implementation of the PM Gati Shakti NMP to ensure logistics

efficiency. A Multimodal Network Planning Group (NPG) to be constituted with representation

from the heads of Network Planning Division from various Ministries and Departments.

Explanation - Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Gati Shakti – National Master

Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity. 'Gati Shakti’ is a digital platform which will bring 16

Ministries including Railways and Roadways together for integrated planning and coordinated

implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.

It will incorporate the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments

like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, UDAN etc. Economic Zones like

textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defence corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors,

fishing clusters, agri zones will be covered to improve connectivity & make Indian businesses

more competitive. It will also leverage technology extensively including spatial planning tools

with ISRO imagery developed by BiSAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space

Applications and Geoinformatics).

Implementation framework includes Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGOS), Network

Planning Group (NPG) and Technical Support Unit (TSU) with required technical competencies.

EGOS will be headed by Cabinet Secretary and will consist of Secretaries of 18 Ministries as

members and Head of Logistics Division as Member Convenor. The EGOS has been mandated

to review and monitor implementation of the PM Gati Shakti NMP to ensure logistics

efficiency. A Multimodal Network Planning Group (NPG) to be constituted with representation

from the heads of Network Planning Division from various Ministries and Departments.

Explanation - The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) is a major infrastructure project aimed

at developing industrial zones and smart cities between Delhi and Mumbai, with collaboration

between the Government of India and the Government of Japan. It also includes the development

of a high-speed freight corridor to enhance connectivity and reduce transportation time.

Explanation - Cyclones originate and intensify over warm tropical oceans. These are ferocious

storms that originate over oceans in tropical areas and move over to the coastal areas causing violent winds, very heavy rainfall, and storm outpourings. They are known as - Cyclones in the Indian Ocean; Hurricanes in the Atlantic; Typhoons in the Western Pacific and the South China Sea, and; Willy-willies in Western Australia.

Formation of a cyclone - The energy that strengthens the cyclonic storm comes from the

condensation process in the towering cumulonimbus clouds, surrounding the centre of the

storm. With an uninterrupted supply of moisture from the sea, the storm is again strengthened. On reaching the terrestrial region the moisture supply is cut off and the storm dissipates. The place where a tropical cyclone cuts the coast is called the landfall of the cyclone. Eye - A mature

tropical cyclone is characterised by the strong spirally circulating wind around the centre which is

called the eye. The eye is an area with calm weather descending air. It is characterised by light

winds and clear skies.

Explanation - Quasars are highly energetic objects powered by supermassive black holes at the

centres of galaxies. Astronomers study them using telescopes across different wavelengths. A

quasar is an extremely active and luminous type of active galactic nucleus (AGN). An AGN is

nothing more than a supermassive black hole that is active and feeding at the centre of a galaxy.

All quasars are AGNs, but not all AGNs are quasars. Quasars are thought to form in regions of

the universe where the large-scale density of matter is much higher than average. They are

among the most luminous, powerful, and vibrant objects known in the universe.

Explanation - The traditional Indian system of medicine, which comprises of Ayurveda, Yoga

and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH), is a perennially neglected

alternative medicine sector. It played an important role against the imperialistic British reign by the cultural nationalistic reassertion but is losing its significance in modern times. These systems are based on definite medical philosophies and represent a way of healthy living with established

concepts on prevention of diseases and promotion of health. Importance and demand of

Yoga, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha and Unani medical systems have grown especially due to

growing challenges of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), lifestyle disorders, long term

diseases, multi-drug resistant diseases, which are not easily solved by the allopathic medical

system. After Independence, the Government started supporting all the medical systems for their

growth, thereby offering the public a choice for their routine health care need. Because of this as

now there are public patronage and institutional support to widen the strength of these

systems in curative, preventive, promotive aspects of health care.