UPSC Prelims Bits For Today 15 June 2022

Table of Contents

”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” is every day published in the morning between 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and contains selective current affairs articles. ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” covers various topics from UPSC Prelims Syllabus and is very helpful and time managing for UPSC Aspirants. The framing of this daily current affairs compilation article is easy to read and understandable also.

In the ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” article, we focus on UPSC Preliminary exam-oriented current affairs covering various sections from leading National Newspapers, PIB, and other various official sources.

AGNIPATH Scheme

In News

The Union Cabinet has approved an attractive recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces.

Key Points About AGNIPATH Scheme

The scheme is called AGNIPATH and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers.
AGNIPATH allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years.
The AGNIPATH scheme has been designed to enable a youthful profile of the Armed Forces.
It will provide an opportunity to the youth who may be keen to don the uniform by attracting young talent from the society who are more in tune with contemporary technological trends and plough back skilled, disciplined and motivated manpower into the society.
It is envisaged that average age profile of Indian Armed forces would come down by about 4-5 years by implementation of this scheme.
The nation stands to immensely benefit by infusion of highly inspired youth with deeper understanding of self-discipline, diligence and focus who would be adequately skilled and will be able to contribute in other sectors.
The dividends of a short military service to the nation, society and the youth of the nation are immense. This includes inculcation of patriotism, team work, enhancement of physical fitness, ingrained loyalty for the country and availability of trained personnel to boost national security in times of external threats, internal threats and natural disasters.
This is a major defence policy reform introduced by the Government to usher in a new era in the Human Resource policy of the three Services. The policy, which comes into immediate effect, will hereafter govern the enrolment for the three services.

Benefits to the Agniveers

Agniveers will be given an attractive customised monthly package along with Risk and Hardship allowances as applicable in the three services.
On completion of the engagement period of four years, Agniveers will be paid one-time ‘SevaNidhi’ package which shall comprise their contribution including accrued interest thereon and matching contribution from the Government equal to the accumulated amount of their contribution including interest.

Overall Advantages

A transformative reform of the recruitment policy of the Armed Forces.
A unique opportunity for the youth to serve the country and contribute to Nation Building.
Armed Forces profile to be youthful and dynamic.
The attractive financial package for the Agniveers.
Opportunity for Agniveers to train in the best institutions and enhance their skills & qualifications.
Availability of well-disciplined and skilled youth with military ethos in civil society.
Adequate re-employment opportunities for those returning to society and who could emerge as role models for the youth.

Sant Tukkaram

In News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated to the nation the Shila Mandir – a rock temple in honour of the 17th-century saint, Sant Tukaram at Dehu near Pune.

About Shila Mandir

Built with a special type of Rajasthani stone, Shila Mandir is a temple dedicated to a slab of stone (shila) on which Sant Tukaram had meditated for 13 days.
Devotees of Tukaram, the warkaris, offer prayers at the Shila Temple before starting their pilgrimage to Pandharpur.

Key Points

The 17th century Bhakti poet and Saint Tukaram was famous for his devotional poetry known as ‘abhangas’ and spiritual songs known as ‘kirtanas’.
His work are central to the Warkari sect in Maharastra.
Dehu, on the banks of the Indrayani River is the birth place of the poet saint.
He lived in Dehu. A Shila Mandir was built after his demise. But it was not formally structured as a Temple. It has now been rebuilt in stone masonry with 36 peaks and carries an idol of Sant Tukaram.
His message about a casteless society and his denial of rituals had led to a social movement.
Sant Tukaram is credited with starting the Wari pilgrimage.
Sant Tukaram and his work are central to the Warkari sect spread across Maharashtra.

The formula for Electing Rajya Sabha Members

In News

The fresh elections for 15 Rajya Sabha seats were held on June 10, 2022.

The Formula

Since MLAs choose members of the Rajya Sabha, one can assume that political parties with a higher strength in the Lok Sabha will send more MPs to the Upper House. However, that is not always the case.
In the voting system, MLAs don’t vote for each seat. If that were the case, then only ruling party candidates would make it through.
Instead, the MLAs have to list different candidates in order of their preference.
If a qualifying number of voters choose a candidate as their first choice, he or she is elected. The remaining votes go to the next candidates, but with a lesser value.
So, MLAs also vote for candidates from other parties.
The candidate that gets rank 1 from an MLA secures a first preference vote. In order to win, a candidate needs a specific number of such first preference votes. This number depends on the strength of the state Assembly and the number of MPs it sends to Rajya Sabha.
To win, a candidate should get a required number of votes which is known as quota or preference vote. The formula is = [Total number of votes/(Number of Rajya Sabha seats + 1)] + 1.
However, the formula is changed in case more than one seat needs to be filled. The total number of votes required for a candidate in the case is = [(Number of votes x 100) / (Vacancies + 1)] + 1.