Explanation:

What is DDT?
Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane commonly known as DDT is a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless crystalline chemical compound.
It was developed as the first of the modern synthetic insecticides in the 1940s.
It was initially used with great effect to combat malaria, typhus, and other insect-borne human diseases among both military and civilian populations.
Why is it controversial?
DDT is a persistent organic pollutant that is readily adsorbed to soils and sediments, which can act both as sinks and as long-term sources of exposure affecting organisms.
Routes of loss and degradation include runoff, volatilization, photolysis and aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation.
Due to hydrophobic properties, in aquatic ecosystems DDT is absorbed by aquatic organisms and thus bio-accumulates in the food web.
Threats of DDT
The bioaccumulation of DDT has caused eggshell thinning and population declines in multiple North American and European bird of prey species.
DDT is an endocrine disruptor. It is considered likely to be a human carcinogen.
In use despite ban
A worldwide ban on agricultural use of DDT was formalized under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
But its limited and still-controversial use in disease vector control continues, because of its effectiveness in reducing malarial infections, balanced by environmental and other health concerns.

Explanation:

Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
Bioaccumulation and biomagnification are two different processes that often occur in tandem with one another.
Bioaccumulation is the process by which toxins enter the food web by building up in individual organisms.
Biomagnification is the process by which toxins are passed from one trophic level to the next (and thereby increase in concentration) within a food web.

Explanation:

Manodarpan Initiative
‘Manodarpan’ covers a wide range of activities to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing during the COVID outbreak and beyond.
It contains advisory, practical tips, posters, videos, do’s and don’ts for psychosocial support, FAQs and online query system.
It aims to provide psychosocial support to students for their mental health and well-being.
It has been included in the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, as a part of strengthening human capital and increasing productivity and efficient reform and initiatives for the education sector.
A toll-free helpline will also be launched as part of the initiative for a country-wide outreach to students from schools, colleges and universities.
Through this helpline, tele-counselling will be provided to the students to address their mental health and psychosocial issues.

Explanation:

RAISE Initiative

It aims to ensure cleaner and greener office spaces in the country.
This is a part of the larger initiative developed for healthy and energy-efficient buildings, in partnership with US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) MAITREE programme.
Why RAISE?
Poor air quality has been a concern in India for quite some time and has become more important in light of COVID pandemic.
As people return to their offices and public spaces, maintaining good indoor air quality is essential for occupant comfort, well-being, productivity and overall public health, the statement noted.

Explanation:

– Coverage and entitlement under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): Upto 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population will be covered under TPDS, with uniform entitlement of 5 kg per person per month.

– Corresponding to the all India coverage of 75% and 50% in the rural and urban areas, State-wise coverage will be determined by the Central Government. The then Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) has determined the State-wise coverage by using the NSS Household Consumption Survey data for 2011-12.

– Food grains under TPDS will be made available at subsidised prices of Rs. 3/2/1 per kg for rice, wheat and coarse grains for a period of three years from the date of commencement of the Act. Thereafter prices will be as fixed by the Central Government from time to time, not exceeding MSP. It has been decided by the Government to continue the above mentioned subsidized prices up to June, 2018.

– Within the coverage under TPDS determined for each State, the work of identification of eligible households is to be done by States/UTs.

– Pregnant women and lactating mothers and children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years will be entitled to meals as per prescribed nutritional norms under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal (MDM) schemes. Higher nutritional norms have been prescribed for malnourished children upto 6 years of age.

– Pregnant women and lactating mothers will also be entitled to receive maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000.

– Eldest woman of the household of age 18 years or above to be the head of the household for the purpose of issuing of ration cards.

– Grievance redressal mechanism at the District and State levels. States will have the flexibility to use the existing machinery or set up separate mechanism.

– Central Government will provide assistance to States in meeting the expenditure incurred by them on transportation of foodgrains within the State, its handling and FPS dealers’ margin as per norms to be devised for this purpose.

– Provisions have been made for disclosure of records relating to PDS, social audits and setting up of Vigilance Committees in order to ensure transparency and accountability.

– Provision for food security allowance to entitled beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals.

– Provision for penalty on public servant or authority, to be imposed by the State Food Commission, in case of failure to comply with the relief recommended by the District Grievance Redressal Officer.