12th June - AAJ KA QUALITY ENRICHMENT

KEYWORDS
Accessible and Inclusive Infrastructure: For Equitable urban future:

• Meaning: An inclusive and accessible approach to urban infrastructure signifies an equitable, sustainable, and enjoyable cities for all residents, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds.
• This basically signifies the need of a “disabled-friendly” infrastructure/city.
• Usage: It It can be used in questions related to Divyangjans (or other section like Elderly, women), Urbanization or urban Infrastructure, Digital Urban Futures, Social Inclusion, etc.

Breaking vertical and horizontal silos:

• Meaning: It means breaking down barriers and fostering collaboration and communication across different departments, sectors, or levels of an organization or society. 
• Vertical silos: Between different hierarchical levels (Top to Down)
• Horizontal silos: Involves breaking down barriers between different departments, sectors, or disciplines within an organization or society (at the same level).
• Usage: It can be used in questions related to Civil services reforms, Good governance and policy making, inter-ministerial coordination, effectiveness of bureaucracy, service delivery, judiciary and tribunals, Cooperative & Competitive federalism, Gati Shakti & NIP etc.

From Gender Divide to Gender Neutrality:

• Meaning: Gender Divide:  Disparity between different genders in society, and in turn in the political, economic, technological, cultural etc. domains
• Gender Neutral: Equal treatment of men and women and people of any other gender with no discrimination whatsoever.
• Usage: Women-LGBTQ+ (Politics, economy etc.) and associated issues; Judiciary, Economic Planning (Gender Budgeting), Technology, Environmental Conservation etc.

From a Climate-denial to a Climate-focused government:

• Meaning: It signifies a transition from a government/society which ignores the importance of climate change to a one which takes climate as key focus of its policy/interest.
• Climate-denialist government: Climate change denial or global warming that contradicts the scientific consensus on climate change.
• Climate-focused government: Climate-focused governance uses institutions to address governance failures, strengthen incentives and build capability for climate action.
• Usage: Environment, Sustainable development, public infrastructure & mobility, Economy, Energy, Technology.

CASE STUDIES/ EXAMPLES
National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG):

• It has launched its first internship programme “NCGG Internship Programme” for students pursuing postgraduate degree or law and engineering graduate programmes or research scholars.
• Aim: To provide young and brilliant minds to carry out research, critical study, documentation and dissemination of best practices to develop a national repository, and establishing a platform for wider dissemination. 
• This will also provide opportunities for young students to learn as well as contribute in public policy. 
• It is based on hands-on approach that will not only enhance their understanding of governance challenges but also equip them with the skills required to overcome these challenges. 
• This symbiotic exchange of ideas between interns and experts will pave the way for citizen-centric governance.

Positive Impact of Tiger conservation:

• A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution: 
• Declaring new tiger reserves by the NTCA and their protection had an added benefit of preventing the release of more than 1MT of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, by keeping carbon in the ground through forest protection.
• If traded as carbon offsets, could represent over ?50 crore of potential revenue to help tiger conservation and climate change mitigation programmes.

Digitisation of Transportation:

• User-friendly interface making time efficient and hassle-free transportation: 
• Commuters can use UPI payments for purchasing RAPIDX tickets, which will make this service the first in the country to have UPI-enabled Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs).
• RAPIDX: India's first semi-high-speed train system on Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RAPIDX corridor.

KEY FACTS
ICMR study on life-style diseases:

• Lifestyle diseases carry an economic cost— could cost India $6 trillion by 2030 (WHO).
• More than 1/10th of the people in India has diabetes.
• 35 % have hyper tension and 28 % have high cholesterol levels.

PM/VP/PRESIDENT SPEECHES
PM Speech on Bureaucracy:

• Training should inculcate the importance of Jan Bhagidari in every government servant.
• Training should also inculcate a whole of government approach, adding that all efforts must be made to nurture the potential of the officials.
• There is a need to break vertical and horizontal silos and the shackles of hierarchy.
• The iGOT Karmayogi platform has brought about a level playing field as it provides opportunities to everyone for training. 
  
  

DEFINITION
Carbon Offsets:

• Definition: A carbon offset broadly refers to a reduction in GHG emissions or an increase in carbon storage (e.g., through land restoration or the planting of trees) i.e., used to compensate for emissions that occur elsewhere. 
• Carbon credit: It is a transferrable instrument certified by governments or independent certification bodies to represent an emission reduction that can then be bought or sold.

Cryptocurrency: 

• Definition: A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. 
• They are mainly decentralized networks based on blockchain technology; a distributed ledger enforced by a disparate network of computers.
• Three key-elements of crypto-currency: 
• It is a digital representation of value, 
• It can be transferred electronically and 
• It is recorded in a digital ledger (Blockchain Technology) that is widely accessible. 

QUOTES
Quote on importance of food: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” -   HIPPOCRATES                                                                                                                                                

• Meaning: It highlights the potential of food to promote health and well-being and suggests that a proper diet can have a significant impact on our overall health. 
• It provides for a balanced and nutritious diet.

Quote on need of law and stat: “Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame”. - BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

• Meaning: This quote highlights the negative consequences that often accompany actions driven by anger.
• It suggests that when individuals initiate or pursue something fueled by anger, the outcome is likely to be regrettable or shameful. Anger, as a powerful and intense emotion, can cloud judgment, impair rational thinking, and lead to impulsive or harmful behaviors.