Prelim Snippets- 26-12-2019

1. Universal Postal Union (UPU)

Why in News?
  • The Union Cabinet chaired gave its approval to the ratification of the Tenth Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
Universal Postal Union (UPU):
  • The UPU established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874 is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system.
  • The UPU’s headquarters are located in Bern, Switzerland.
  • The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration (CA), the Postal Operations Council (POC) and the International Bureau (IB).
  • It also oversees the Telematics and Express Mail Service (EMS) cooperatives. Each member agrees to the same terms for conducting international postal duties.
Significance:
  • The approval enables the Postal Administration of India to have the Instrument of Ratification signed with the Director-General of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union through diplomatic channels along with the approval of other Acts of the Union.
  • It will also enable the Department of Posts to bring out any administrative orders to implement the provisions of the UPU Convention in India.

2. Jal Jeevan Mission

Why in News?
  • Prime Minister releases operational guidelines for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission.
Jal Jeevan Mission:
  • The Mission was announced in August 2019.
  • The chief objective of the Mission is to provide piped water supply (Har Ghar Jal) to all rural and urban households by 2024.
  • It also aims to create local infrastructure for rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household waste water for reuse in agriculture.
  • According to the data published in various reports, about half of the country’s households don’t have access to piped water supply.
  • It is an urgent requirement of water conservation in the country because of the decreasing amount of groundwater level.Therefore, the Jal Jeevan Mission will focus on integrated demand and supply management of water at the local level.
Benefits:
  • Household pipeline Water Supply
  • Clean and Drinkable Water
  • Recharge of Groundwater Level
  • Better Local Infrastructure
  • Less water-borne diseases
  • Less Water Wastage

3. Oxygen Parlour

Why in News?
  • Recently, the Nashik Railway Station has Initiated “Oxygen Parlour” to Combat Air Pollution.
About Oxygen Parlour:
  • It aims to provide an experience of breathing clean air to the commuters.
  • Its objective is to expand this initiative to every railway station as well as every home.
  • Its initiative comes with the efforts of the Airo Guard in collaboration with the Indian Railways.
  • It contains some unique plants that better absorb the five most harmful pollutants from the air.
  • There are nearly 1500 plants in Oxygen Parlour, so, these plants can directly and effectively bring down the pollution in the air at the railway station and allow the people to breathe cleaner air.
  • It is totally based on the recommendation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

4. Universal Postal Union (UPU)

Why in News?
  • Recently, the Cabinet has given its approval to the ratification of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
About UPU:
  • It is established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874.
  • Its headquarters is located in Bern, Switzerland.
  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).
  • It contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration (CA), the Postal Operations Council (POC) and the International Bureau (IB).
Functions of UPC:
  • It coordinates postal policies among member of nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system.
  • It oversees the Telematics and Express Mail Service (EMS) cooperatives.
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