Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN

The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) has recently completes 6 years with a total of 75 airports have being and 499 UDAN routes being operationalized under UDAN.

• The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN aims to improve infrastructure and connectivity in India, especially in remote and underserved regions.
• It is a vital component of India's National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016, launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) with a 10-year vision.
• The first RCS-UDAN flight was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 2017, connecting Shimla to Delhi.
• The scheme focuses on improving unserved air routes in underserved regions of the country and fulfilling the aspirations of the common citizens.
• Achievements of RCS – UDAN – So far, it has facilitated travel of more than 130 lakh passengers.
• It also stands as a prominent contributor to the growth of tourism sector.
• It has contributed to the growth of the civil aviation industry as 4 new & successful airlines have come up in the last 6 years.
• It has helped airline operators to start up and develop a sustainable business model.
• It has provided opportunities to small regional airlines such FlyBig, Star Air and IndiaOne Air to scale up their businesses operation.
• UDAN 1.0 – 5 airlines companies were awarded 128 flight routes to 70 airports (including 36 newly made operational airports)
• UDAN 2.0 – 73 underserved and unserved airports were announced and for the first time, helipads were also connected.
• UDAN 3.0 – In coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, tourism routes were included.
• In addition to Seaplanes for connecting Water Aerodromes, several routes in the North-East Region came under the ambit of the scheme.
• UDAN 4.0 – Gave impetus to North-Eastern Regions, Hilly States, and Islands. The operation of helicopters and seaplanes incorporated.
• UDAN 5.0 – Focuses on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-3 (>80 seats) aircraft.
• Under it the cap of 600 km has been removed and there is no restriction on the distance between the origin and destination of the flight.
• UDAN 5.1 – Designed specifically for helicopter routes by increasing the scope of operations for helicopter operators, enhancing viability gap funding (VGF) and reducing Airfare Caps.
• UDAN 5.2 – Is underway to further enhance the connectivity to remote and regional areas of the country, achieve last-mile connectivity.
• It will provide impetus to the tourism sector through small aircraft (<20 seats).
• The scheme will provide greater operational flexibility to the small aircraft operators.

Seethakathi

• Seethakathi was also called as Shaikh Abdul Qadir
• He is one of the earliest regional traders to do business with the Dutch and the British in the 17th Century.
• Seethakathi was a generous patron of the arts, with poets like Umaru Pulavar, Padikasu Thambiran and Kandasamy Pulavar among the many supported by him.
• The Marakkayar community was known for its maritime trade, and Seethakathi made his fortune in dealing with pepper, rice, pearls and handloom textiles, among other commodities.
• An annual ‘Seethakathi Vizha’ is organised with panegyric poems and speeches in his honour.
• The Marakkayars (an abbreviated form of Marakala Rayar) were one of the five early Tamil Muslim communities (the others being Sonakar, Labbai, Turki and Rowther) mentioned in historical texts.
• Seethakathi was a close friend of Vijaya Raghunatha Thevar, or Kilavan Sethupathi, a loyal vassal of Chokkanatha Nayak, who helped Thirumalai Nayak in his war against the Mysore army.
• The title, ‘Vijaya Raghunatha Periya Thambi’, denoted the affection and trust that Seethakathi enjoyed of his royal friend.
• The Grand Jumma Masjid in Kilakarai was commissioned by Seethakathi or built during his lifetime in the 17th Century.
• It houses the graves of him, his elder brother ‘Pattathu Maraikkar’ Mohamed Abdul Qadir and the domed mausoleum of the saint-scholar Shaikh Sadaqatullah (known locally as Sadaqatullah Appa).

Indian peafowl

The recent research by Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology (SACON) suggest that the population of peafowls has increased exponentially across Tamil Nadu that has led to increase in the human-animal conflicts.

• Indian peafowl are a species in a group of birds called pheasants. The males are called peacocks, while the females are called peahens. Together, they are peafowl.
• The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is a brightly-coloured bird that lives mainly on the ground.
• Peafowl are among the largest of all birds that fly such as ostriches and emus.
• It is regarded as the national bird and is listed under Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 2022.
• The IUCN status of the Indian peafowl is Least Concern.
• It can be found in forest, forest edge and agricultural land.
• It presence in forest areas often indicates the presence of a predator such as a tiger.
• Indian peafowl are native to India and Sri Lanka in South Asia.
• The recent research by the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology (SACON) in Coimbatore suggest that the population of peafowls has increased exponentially across Tamil Nadu in the last 5 to 10 years.
• One of the reasons for the proliferation of peafowls is due to a drop in the numbers of predators such as jackals.
• Another could be due to the rising temperatures due to climate change and subsequent increase in dry areas, which are preferred by the bird.

One nation, One Student ID

Recently several state governments requested schools to seek parental consent for the creation of the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR), a new student identity card.

• APAAR - Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry.
• APAAR is envisioned as a special ID system for all students in India, starting from childhood.
• The main objective of the APAAR is to make education hassle-free and reduce the need for students to carry physical documents.
• It would also serve as a gateway to Digilocker, a digital system where students can store their important documents and achievements.
• It also aims to reduce fraud and duplicate educational certificates by providing a single, trusted reference for educational institutions.
• Every individual will have a unique APAAR ID, which will be linked to the Academic Bank Credit (ABC).
• Academic Bank Credit (ABC) is a digital storehouse that contains information of the credits earned by students throughout their learning journey.
• With the APAAR ID, students would be able to store all their certificates and credits, whether they come from formal education or informal learning.
• To sign up for APAAR, students will have to provide basic information such as name, age, date of birth, gender, and a photograph.
• This information will be verified using their Aadhar number.
• Registration for creating APAAR ID is voluntary, not mandatory.
• APAAR is a part of ‘One nation, One Student ID’ initiative.
• ‘One nation, One Student ID’ initiative was launched as part of the National Education Policy 2020 by the Education Ministry.

Indigenous cattle breeds of India

The Rashtriya Gokul Mission seeks to improve all Indigenous cattle breeds of India but recently it is found that it has promoted only the Gir indigenous cow breed.

• Rashtriya Gokul Mission aims to genetically improve the cattle population and promote and conserve indigenous cattle breeds.
• Indian Indigenous dairy breeds of cattle – Gir, Red Sindhi and Sahiwal.
• Indian Indigenous Draught breeds of cattle – Hallikar, Amritmahal, Khillari, Kangayam, Bargur, Umblachery, Pulikulam and Alambadi.
• Indian Indigenous Dual purpose breeds of Cattle – Tharparkar, Hariana, Kankrej, Ongole, Krishna Valley and Deoni.
• Exotic dairy breeds of cattle – Jersey, Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss, Red Dane, Ayrshire and Guernsey.
• Cross bred Dairy Cattle – Jersey cross and Holstein Friesian cross.
• Jamunapari and Barbari are goats of Indian Breeds.