Chief Defense Staff of Indian Army:
Why in News?
Lt. General Anil Chauhan appointed as new Chief of defence staff.
About CDS:
- Highest-ranking uniform officer.
- Head of the department for military affairs under ministry of defence.
- He/she will serve as the government’s sole military advisor.
- He/she will be the four-star general.
- CDS serves as the permanent chairman of chiefs of staff committee.
- Serve as the Defence Minister’s principal military adviser.
- He/she will be the single point of contact for all defence issues.
- Member of the Defence Acquisition Council chaired by the Minister of Defence.
- Acts as a Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority.
Cotton cultivation in India:
Why in News?
Cotton growers in Karnataka worried over excess of soil moisture.
Cotton:
One of the most important fiber crops and the basic raw material for textile industries.
Conditions for growth:
- Temperature: between 21⁰c to 30⁰c.
- Rainfall: 50-100cm Annually
- Soil: cotton grows in variety of soil
- Alluvial soil in North India.
- Black clayey soil in central India
- Black soil mixed with red soil in south India.
Dry period: cotton is a kharif crop needs 6 to 8 months with at least 210 days ice free days in a year.
Production of cotton:
- India – largest area of cultivation in the world
- 3rd largest in production after China and USA.
- In India – Maharashtra is the leading producer.
Cotton growing States: Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Benefits of cotton:
1. clothing and bedsheet making
2. seed oil of cotton is used for food and cosmetics.
3. To make rubber and plastics.
Atal Bridge
Why in News?
PM Modi inaugurated Atal bridge in Ahmedabad.
About Atal Bridge:
- It is a foot over bridge (Bridge used by pedestrians).
- Named in the honor of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
- Bridge connects the eastern and Western sides of River Sabarmati.
- It is 300m long and 14m wide.
- 2,600 metric tons of steel pipe has been used in the construction of this bridge
- Bridge can be used by people from both the upper and lower levels of the river.
Prohibition of Employment as Manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act 2013
About Manual scavengers:
In India, Manual scavenging is described as lifting and removal of human excreta manually at both private residences and toilets maintained by municipal authorities.
Key Features:
- Prohibits employment of manual scavengers, manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks without protective equipment’s.
- Rehabilitate manual scavengers and provide for their alternative employment.
- Prohibits construction or maintenance of insanitary latrines.
- The local authority shall convert the latrine and recover the cost for its conversion from occupier of insanitary latrine.
- Offences under the act are non bailable
- Violation of the act leads to imprisonment or fine of Rs.50000 or both.
Tamil Nadu CM Fellowship Programme
The Tamil Nadu CM Fellowship programme aimed at harnessing the energy and talents of young professionals to improve governance process and enhance the service delivery of various programmes and policies.
- The Government has appointed Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Tiruchirapalli as its academic partner to conduct the fellowship programme.
- Duration – 2 years
- Stipend – Rs.75000 per month
Objectives:
- Create a pool of knowledgeable and action oriented resources for the Government to work on policy efficacy and build internationally referred benchmarks for policy and program outcomes.
- Develop Key Perform Indicators for service delivery and compare them against global best practices.
Thematic areas:
- Water resources
- Agricultural production
- Skill development
- Heritage and culture
- Education
- Entrepreneurship
- Health indicators
- Housing for All
Rajendra Chola I
About:
- Son of Rajaraja Chola I.
- Military expedition to North India in 1023 AD.
- Proclaimed himself as Gangaikondan (conqueror of the Ganga region).
- Constructed a temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram to commemorate the victories in North India which was recognised as World heritage sites by UNESCO.
- Invaded Malaya peninsula and Srivijaya kingdom with the help of naval forces.
- Established Vedic college at Ennayiram.
- Titles – Mudikonda Cholan, Gangaikondan, Kadaramkondan, Pandita Cholan.
Future Officers 