Tribal Youth Exchange Program (TYEP)

Recently the union home minister interacted with the 200 tribal youth under the Tribal Youth Exchange Program (TYEP) that is held at New Delhi.

• Tribal Youth Exchange Program (TYEP) aims to raise aspirations of youth from remote tribal areas of worst affected by the left wing extremism districts of selective states in the country.
• It provides them opportunity to visit 26 different places of the country to understand the cultural ethos, language, lifestyles of the people, Socio–economic & Cultural Development, Process and unity in diversity aspect of our national life.
• Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan organizes Tribal Youth Exchange Programme for the development of tribal youth with the support of Ministry of Home Affairs.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs has been running the TYEP for 15 years through Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan.
• The objectives of this programme include:
  • Promoting the aspirations of the youth in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism and deepening the confidence in democratic system in these areas.
  • Countering the propaganda against the government being spread by CPI Maoists.
  • Informing the youth of tribal areas about the development activities and industrial progress and to sensitize them about the rich cultural heritage of India.
  • Spreading awareness about major development and welfare schemes among the youth of the tribal community.
  • Developing an emotional bonding between youth belonging to the tribal community and their peer groups in other parts of the country.
• In the Tribal Youth Exchange Programme 25,880 youngsters from the tribal community have participated from 2006-07 to 2022-23.
• As per the 2011 Census, the Schedule Tribes account for 104.3 million representing 8.6 % of India.
• The tribes are characterized by distinct cultures, shyness of contact with other communities at large and economical backwardness.

Nanhe Faristey, AAHT, Uplabdh and Yatri Suraksha

Nanhe Faristey, AAHT, Uplabdh and Yatri Suraksha are operations of Railway Protection Force (RPF) to protect railway property, passenger areas and passengers.

• Operation ‘Nanhe Faristey’ – The operation aims to rescue children and reunite them with their family.
• It was launched on Indian Railways by the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
• Operation ‘AAHT’ – It is an effective operation to curb the evil plans of Human traffickers.
• Anti-Human Trafficking Units of RPF are operational at the Post level (Thana level) over the Indian Railways.
• During the month of September 2023, 29 persons were rescued from the clutches of traffickers with arrest of 14 traffickers.
• Operation ‘Uplabdh’ – In this operation the touts were arrested and legal action was taken against them as per law.
• Touts are the persons who sell tickets unofficially, at a much higher price than the official price, especially outside a theatre, stadium, railway station and other places.
• Operation ‘Yatri Suraksha’ - In order to redress security related complaints of passengers in distress and for immediate assistance, this operation was launched.
• Passengers can make complaint on Rail Madad Portal or through helpline No. 139 (integrated with Emergency Response Support System No. 112).

White Phosphorus

Global human rights organisations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have recently accused the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of using white phosphorus munitions in Gaza and Lebanon.

• White phosphorus is a pyrophoric that ignites when exposed to oxygen, producing thick, light smoke as well as intense 815-degree Celsius heat.
• Pyrophoric substances are those which ignite spontaneously or very quickly (under 5 minutes) when in contact with air.
• It is a toxic substance produced from phosphate-containing rocks.
• It is among the most unstable of pyrophoric substances that emits a distinct garlic-like odour and it can release into indoor air as smoke.
• It appears White to yellow transparent, waxy crystalline solid and turns dark on exposure to light.
• White phosphorus can contaminate water but it cannot be used to contaminate food.
• Applications – In industries it is used to manufacture chemicals used in fertilizers, food additives, and cleaning compounds.
• In the past, it was used as a pesticide and in fireworks.
• The military uses white phosphorus in various types of ammunition as an incendiary agent, because it spontaneously catches fire in air.
• Its primary military use is as a smokescreen that is used to hide troop movement on the ground.
• White phosphorus can also be used as an incendiary weapon.
• Irish nationalists in the late 19th century first used white phosphorus munitions, in a formulation that became known as “Fenian fire”.
• According to Human Rights Watch, US forces used white phosphorus munitions during the second battle of Fallujah in Iraq in 2004.
• Effects on health – Inhaling white phosphorus particles or smoke can cause respiratory damage and harm to internal organs.
• White phosphorus burns on even 10 % of the body can be fatal.
• Those who survive initial injuries often experience a lifetime of suffering with impaired mobility and painful, horrific scars.
• It can also devastate infrastructure and property, damage crops and kill livestock, with raging fires, especially in windy conditions.
• White phosphorus munitions are not under a blanket ban, though their use is regulated under the International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
• It is not considered a chemical weapon because its operational utility is primarily due to heat and smoke, rather than toxicity.
• The use of White phosphorus munitions is governed under the Protocol III by the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW).
• Protocol III of Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) deals with incendiary weapons.
• Palestine and Lebanon have joined Protocol III, while Israel has not ratified the protocol.

Microbial Rhodopsins

Recently the researchers have observed that the Microalgae are adapting to warming climate, declining nutrient levels in seas with help of the Rhodopsin protein.

• The warmer the surface water gets, the lower are the nutrients in these surface water layers.
• There is less mixing between the surface waters and nutrient-rich deeper waters as the oceans warm.
• So nutrients become scarce at the surface, impacting the primary producers such as microalgae that are present in the top layer.
• Microalgae form the base of the food chain in the ocean and capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• For algae to produce food and to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, they need sunlight.
• To harness sunlight, the microalgae require a lot of iron.
• However, 35 % of the surface of the ocean does not have enough iron to support the growth of algae.
• Microbial rhodopsins may absorb as much light as chlorophyll-based photosynthesis in the sea, which also captures light to generate energy and food.
• Rhodopsin is a light-responsive protein that helps the microalgae flourish with the help of sunlight in place of traditional chlorophyll.
• Microbial rhodopsins may have the potential to reduce the negative effects of changing environmental conditions, such as ocean warming and even the reduction in the productivity of crops.
• The same mechanism could be deployed to enhance the activity of microbes that cannot use light, such as yeast.
• Rhodopsins were found to be more concentrated in low latitudes, where there is less mixing of ocean waters and lower concentrations of nutrients, including dissolved iron.

Amrit Kaal Vision 2047

At the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 the Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’, a blueprint for the Indian Maritime blue economy.

• Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 is the long-term blueprint for the Indian maritime blue economy for enhancing port, promoting sustainable practices and facilitating global collaboration.
• The blueprint outlines strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing port facilities, promoting sustainable practices and facilitating international collaboration.
• It includes strategies to make major ports carbon-neutral and push for domestic hydrogen production and distribution.
• It aims to quadruple port capacity to 10,000 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2047, aiming to get 100 % public private partnership (PPP) for 12 major ports.
• The investments worth Rs 75-80 trillion over the next 25 years will be used to achieve the following goals:
  • Carbon neutrality at all major ports,
  • Attaining the highest rank in cruise tourism,
  • Development of 25 cruise terminals,
  • Increasing operational waterways more than two-fold and
  • 500 million tonne (mt) of cargo, development of 2 new major ports and
  • Becoming the leading nation in ship recycling.
• Global Maritime India Summit 2023 is the 3rd edition of the summit that was held at Mumbai.