What are the most effective strategies for mitigating the impact of climate change on urban areas, and how can cities integrate these strategies into their development plans?
One of the key steps in India’s journey towards financial inclusion is the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched in 2014. This program aimed to provide every household in India with a bank account and access to other financial services like insurance and pensions. It helped people receiveRead more
One of the key steps in India’s journey towards financial inclusion is the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched in 2014. This program aimed to provide every household in India with a bank account and access to other financial services like insurance and pensions. It helped people receive government benefits directly into their bank accounts, reducing losses and improving efficiency in delivering welfare.
The Aadhaar system, India’s biometric identification program, has been crucial in this effort. Aadhaar makes it easier to open bank accounts with less paperwork. Linking Aadhaar to bank accounts has made it simpler for people to access various financial services.
Recently, India has seen a boom in digital payments, thanks to systems like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). UPI, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has revolutionized digital payments. In one year, UPI transactions grew by 54% in volume and 42% in value. This widespread use of UPI has made digital payments accessible to many, allowing easy peer-to-peer and merchant transactions.
The rapid growth of UPI transactions shows how quickly India is moving towards a cashless economy. Up to 2022, this trend was driven by more people using smartphones, government incentives, and the convenience of UPI. However, challenges like cybersecurity risks, gaps in digital literacy, gender disparities, and connectivity issues in remote areas remain. Overcoming these challenges is essential to maintaining the growth of UPI and ensuring everyone benefits from digital payments.
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Climate Change is concerning issue for people all around the world. The reasons for that are high levels of air pollution due to vehicle exhaust gases and factories, lack of trees, more construction activities, etc. Delhi is one such urban city in India where the impact is so high. The air quality iRead more
Climate Change is concerning issue for people all around the world. The reasons for that are high levels of air pollution due to vehicle exhaust gases and factories, lack of trees, more construction activities, etc.
See lessDelhi is one such urban city in India where the impact is so high. The air quality index(AQI) of Delhi is very severe and is leading to many health issues. This affects animals as well adversely.
The mitigating strategies that can be implemented in urban areas are:
1) Reduce the usage of private vehicle and choose public transport for shorter distances.
2) Regular check on the air particles composition. Regulate it as much as possible.
3) Increase the green area around the city with plantation.
4) Installation of solar panels in houses and factories.
5) Avoid using of lake areas for construction. Water Bodies help in absorbing the heat in the surroundings.
The integration of these strategies in the urban schemes needs to be done in a controlled and efficient way. Government has introduced a solar scheme which provides free installation for certain number of houses and extra energy from that houses will be transferred to government usage. Construction of bicycle lanes as like in Hyderabad city inspires people towards green vehicles. The air composition check and purification vehicle in Delhi is trying to make air there more clearer and breathable. Such policies aligned with reduction of trapped heat in air that leads to climate change can be implemented by the government.