Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 28 August 2015

:: National ::

A to Z about Smart City

The Centre on Thursday declared the names of 98 cities selected for the 'Smart City Project'. This is a flagship project which was announced by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi after his government was sworn into power last year.
PM Modi's Union Cabinet announced the approval of Rs 48,000 crore that will be allocated to the Smart cities Project.
The Union Development Ministry said that they will provide Rs 100 crore per city per year over the next five years.
While Uttar Pradesh has maximum of 13 cities, followed by 12 by Tamil Nadu and 10 by Maharashtra to be developed as Smart Cities, Madhya Pradesh has seven cities in the project.
Karnataka and Gujarat have six cities each while Bihar and Andhra Pradesh has three each and rest of the states have two and one cities respectively in the project.
All Union Territories, including Delhi have found place in the list.

Here are some pointers about what is a 'Smart City':

What is a 'Smart City'?

Smart City is nothing but a vision of a city that will be equipped with basic infrastructure.
The urban planners ideally aim at developing the entire urban eco-system which will comprise of institutional, physical, social and economic infrastructure.

Objective of a 'Smart City'

The main objective of a smart city is to promote the already existing cities and to provide the citizens core infrastructure and a decent quality of life with clean and sustainable environment.

What are the core elements of a 'Smart City'?

The smart city project will provide the citizens with these core elements which will in turn benefit the society:

1. It will provide the citizens with adequate water.
2. Electricity supply will be assured to the citizens.
3. Proper Solid waste management and sanitation will be provided.
4. Public transport will be provided to the citizens which will help in efficient urban mobility.
5. This project will also provide affordable housing for the citizens especially for the poor.
6. Information Technology connectivity and digitization will be given a push.
7. This project will also ensure that the citizens enjoy good governance especially e-Governance.
8. Sustainable environment is also an essential part of the smart city project.
9. Safety and security of citizens especially women, children and the elderly will be given priority.
10. Health and educational aspects will also be kept in mind.

Purpose of a 'Smart City'

According to the Smart City Mission, this project will drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of people and enable development of local areas.
It will help harness technology which will lead to smart outcomes. The government aims to redevelop slums and convert them into better planned ones which will in turn improve the livelihood of the entire city.
To accommodate expanding population of the country, new areas will also be developed around the already existing cities.
A smart city will be the one which will be able to use technology, information and data to improve infrastructure and services.
It will also focus on employment and that the poor and the disadvantaged have some source of income.

NITI Aayog Unveils Second Version of Energy Tool

NITI Aayog has launched the second version of the India Energy Security Scenarios 2047 calculator (IESS 2047), an open source Web-based tool which can be used to explore different energy scenarios.
According to the statement, the tool aims to scan a range of potential future energy scenarios for India for diverse energy demand and supply sectors leading up to 2047.
The energy supply sectors in focus are solar, wind, bio fuels, oil and gas, coal and nuclear power and the demand sectors include transport, industry, agriculture, cooking and lighting appliances.
The model allows users to interactively make energy choices and explore a range of outcomes for the country -- from carbon dioxide emissions and import dependence to land use.
The tool was unveiled by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya in the presence of a select gathering at a function at the Federation House in New Delhi yesterday.
It will support the government's vision of achieving power for all and 175 GW of renewables by 2022, rural electrification and reducing import dependency.
The purpose of IESS is to engage various stakeholders in energy planning and facilitate informed debate at different levels.

:: Sports ::

Novak Djokovic in a new role as global goodwill ambassador

Top-ranked tennis star Novak Djokovic has a new title — goodwill ambassador for the UN children's agency, UNICEF.
The world No. 1 men's player has worked on children's issues for UNICEF in his native Serbia since 2011. UNICEF has now appointed him a global goodwill ambassador.
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Yoka Brandt said Wednesday Djokovic's new job recognized his work in Serbia to improve the lives, particularly of marginalized children, and to promote early childhood education.
Djokovic grew up in Serbia during the Balkan wars and became a top tennis player there. He has gone on to win nine tennis majors and is considered one of the sport's all-time greatest players. He is a favorite to win New York's U.S. Open, which begins next week.
Djokovic said he is honored to be a UNICEF goodwill ambassador "and to continue to help defend and uphold children's rights."