Current Affairs (CONSOLIDaTION)

March 2021 (Part – II)

Drishti, 641, First Floor, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi-110009 Phone: 87501 87501, WhatsApp: 92058 85200, IVR: 8010-440-440 Email: [email protected] Contents

Polity and Governance...... 1 zz Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin...... 1 zz Shifting Health to the Concurrent List ...... 2 zz Electoral Bonds...... 4 zz Anti-Corruption Strategies...... 5 zz MPLAD Scheme...... 6 zz Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 ...... 7 zz Damages Recovery Bill...... 8 zz Supplementary Demand for Grants...... 10 zz Inter-Parliamentary Union...... 11 zz The Appropriation Bill ...... 11 zz UDAN 4.1...... 12 zz Vehicle Scrapping Policy...... 13 zz GRAM UJALA...... 14 zz Rising Cases of Diphtheria ...... 15 zz Gandhi Peace Prize...... 17 zz Reservation Quota Limit of States...... 18 zz The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2020...... 19 zz The Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019...... 20 zz N.V. Ramana: 48th Chief Justice of India...... 22

Economic Scenario...... 23 zz Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report ...... 23 zz Back Door Entry Closed for Defaulters: SC...... 24 zz MMDR Amendment Bill, 2021...... 25 zz Open Market Operations by RBI...... 26 zz New Committee to Screen New Bank Licences...... 27 zz Market Infrastructure Institutions...... 29 zz Recommendations to Amend the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 ...... 30 zz Helium Crisis for India...... 31 zz National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Bill, 2021 ...... 32 zz Tata - Mistry Judgement...... 34

International Relations...... 35 zz PM’s Visit to Bangladesh...... 35 zz Japan to Fund Projects in India...... 37 zz India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Women’s Forum Meeting ...... 38 zz India’s Act East Policy...... 40 zz Permanent Indus Commission...... 41 zz India-South Korea: Friendship Park...... 42 zz The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process...... 44

Science and Technology...... 46 zz Double Mutant Coronavirus Variant ...... 46 zz Moving Black Hole...... 47 zz Refrigeration System Pusa-FSF...... 48 zz US India Artificial Intelligence Initiative...... 49 zz NISAR: Joint Earth Observing Mission of NASA and ISRO...... 50 zz Asteroid Apophis...... 50

Environment and Ecology...... 52 zz World Air Quality Report 2020...... 52 zz Pilibhit Tiger Reserve: Uttar Pradesh...... 54 zz Ranthambore Tiger Sanctuary: Rajasthan...... 54 zz Removal of Heavy Metals from Water...... 55 zz Sundarbans...... 56 zz India: Transforming to a Net-Zero Emissions Energy System...... 57 zz Climate Finance...... 59 zz Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure...... 60

History...... 62 zz Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia...... 62 zz Anangpal II: Tomar Dynasty...... 63 zz General Lachit Borphukan of Ahom Kingdom...... 63 zz Maharaja Chhatrasal...... 64 zz Shaheed Diwas...... 65

Art & Culture...... 67 zz Haridwar Kumbh Mela ...... 67 zz Shigmotsav: Goa...... 67

Geography...... 69 zz Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project...... 69 zz Mullaperiyar Dam...... 70 zz Ken-Betwa Link Project...... 71 zz Suez Canal...... 72 zz Cape of Good Hope...... 73

Social Issues...... 74 zz Reservation Quota Limit of States...... 74 zz Amend the NCC Act: Kerala High Court...... 75 zz Stop TB Partnership Board...... 76 zz Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020...... 77 zz Covid Increased Poverty: Pew Report...... 79 zz World Happiness Report 2021...... 80 zz Right to Health...... 81 zz Global Water Crisis: UNICEF ...... 82 zz Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index 2020: Oxfam...... 84 zz The Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill, 2021...... 86

Security...... 88 zz Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR...... 88 www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH 2021 1 Polity and Governance

Highlights zz Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin zz UDAN 4.1 zz Shifting Health to the Concurrent List zz Vehicle Scrapping Policy zz Electoral Bonds zz GRAM UJALA zz Anti-Corruption Strategies zz Rising Cases of Diphtheria zz MPLAD Scheme zz Gandhi Peace Prize zz Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 zz Reservation Quota Limit of States zz Damages Recovery Bill zz The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions zz Supplementary Demand for Grants Bill, 2020 zz Inter-Parliamentary Union zz The Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019 zz The Appropriation Bill zz N.V. Ramana: 48th Chief Justice of India

upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha Pradhan Mantri houses by providing assistance in the form of Awaas Yojana-Gramin a full grant. €€Beneficiaries: People belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST categories, Why in News widows or next-of-kin of defence personnel killed Due to adverse impact of Covid-19, only 5.4% of the in action, ex servicemen and retired members sanctioned houses under the central government’s of the paramilitary forces, disabled persons and flagship rural housing scheme, Pradhan Mantri Awaas minorities. Yojana-Gramin, have reached completion for the year €€Selection of Beneficiaries:Through a three stage 2020-2021. validation - Socio Economic Caste Census 2011, Gram Sabha, and geo-tagging. Key Points €€Cost Sharing: The cost of unit assistance is shared ¾¾About the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin between Central and State Governments in the (PMAY-G): ratio 60:40 in plain areas and 90:10 for North €€Launch: To achieve the objective of“Housing for Eastern and hilly states. All” by 2022, the erstwhile rural housing scheme €€Features: Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) was restructured to zzThe minimum size of the house has been Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) increased to 25 sq.mt (from 20sq.mt) with a st w.e.f 1 April, 2016. hygienic cooking space. €€ Ministry Involved: Ministry of Rural development. zzThe unit assistance has been increased from €€Aim: To provide a pucca house with basic amenities Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 1.20 lakh in plain and from Rs. to all rural families, who are homeless or living 75,000 to Rs. 1.30 lakh in hilly states. in kutcha or dilapidated houses by the end of zzThe assistance for construction of toilets shall March 2022. be leveraged through convergence with Swachh zzTo help rural people Below the Poverty Line Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G), MGNREGS or (BPL) in construction of dwelling units and any other dedicated source of funding.

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zzConvergence for piped drinking water, electricity €€Affordable Housing in Partnership. connection, LPG gas connection etc.different €€Beneficiary-led individual house construction/ Government programmers are also to be enhancement. attempted. ¾¾Performance of the Scheme: €€Only 55% of the construction target has been Shifting Health to completed. the Concurrent List zzOf the 2.28 crore houses to be built for the rural poor, less than 1.27 crore had been built Why in News by January 2021. €€Money has been sanctioned to almost 85% of Fifteenth Finance Commission Chairman N.K. Singh beneficiaries. said that health should be shifted to theConcurrent list under the Constitution. Presently, ‘Health’ is under the €€This scheme has helped in employment generation. Many states provided employment to their migrant State List. labourers during lock down. ¾¾He also pitched for a Developmental Finance Institution (DFI) dedicated to healthcare investments. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban ¾¾Launch: 25th June 2015, intends to provide housing Key Points for all in urban areas by year 2022. ¾¾Arguments for Shifting ‘Health’ to the Concurrent List: ¾¾ Ministry of Implemented by: Housing and Urban €€Centre with Greater Flexibility: Bringing health Affairs into the Concurrent list would give the Centre ¾¾Features: greater flexibility to enact regulatory changes €€Addresses Urban housing shortage among and reinforce the obligation of all stakeholders the Urban Poor including the Slum Dwellers by towards providing better healthcare. ensuring a pucca house to eligible urban poor. €€Rationalisation and Streamlining of the Multiple €€The Mission covers the entire urban area Acts: There is a multiplicity of Acts, rules and consisting of Statutory Towns, Notified Planning regulations, and mushrooming institutions, yet Areas, Development Authorities, Special Area the regulation of the sector is far from adequate. Development Authorities, Industrial Development zzWith the health in the concurrent list, uniformity Authorities or any such authority under State of acts can be ensured. legislation which is entrusted with the functions €€ The Central government of urban planning & regulations. Centre Expertise to States: is also technically better equipped to come up with €€All houses under PMAY(U) have basic amenities the health schemes because it has the assistance like toilet, water supply, electricity and kitchen. of multiple research bodies and departments €€The Mission promotes women empowerment by dedicated to the management of public health. providing the ownership of houses in the name zzStates on the other hand do not have the of female members or in joint name. technical expertise to independently design €€Preference is also given to differently abled comprehensive public health policies. persons, senior citizens, SCs, STs, OBCs, Minority, ¾¾ single women, transgender and other weaker Arguments Against Shifting ‘Health’ to the Concurrent & vulnerable sections of the society. List: ¾¾Divided into Four Verticals: €€Right to Health: It is neither necessary nor sufficient to guarantee the provision of accessible, affordable €€In-situ Rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers and adequate healthcare for all. using land as a resource through private participation. zzBesides, the right to health is, arguably, already provided for via the Constitution’s Article 21 €€Credit Linked Subsidy. that guarantees protection of life and liberty.

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€€Challenges Federal Structure: Shifting ever more €€To have a standardisation of health care codes subjects from the states to the Centre would erode for both the Centre and states. India’s federal nature and impair efficiency by €€Forming an All India Medical and Health Service. abandoning the principle of subsidiarity, which zzGiven the inter-state disparity in the availability holds that any task should be left to the level of of medical doctors, it is essential to constitute government best placed to do it. the Service as is envisaged under Section 2A of zzTrust Cooperative Federalism: The centre the All-India Services Act, 1951. must direct its energies to designing policy that €€Emphasised the importance of universalising would help states deliver on their constitutional healthcare insurance, as a large section of the mandate to provide adequate, accessible and society still remain uncovered. affordable healthcare for all. ¾¾Need for Universalisation of Healthcare Insurance: €€More Burden With Centre: The Centre has onerous €€Existing Insurance Coverage:The Pradhan Mantri responsibilities of its own, for which it struggles to Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) covers the bottom two find resources. Taking more functions would help income quintiles and commercial insurance largely neither the states nor the Centre discharge their covers top-income quintiles, thereby creating a constitutional obligations. ‘missing middle’ class in between. €€Encourage States: The Centre devolves 41% of the €€Missing Middle: This refers to people in the middle taxes it collects to the states. The Centre should two income quintiles, where the population is not encourage the states to do what they are supposed rich enough to afford commercial insurance and to do, while the Centre optimises use of its own not poor enough to be covered under government- resources, focusing on its obligations. sponsored health insurance schemes. zzHealth being a state subject does not preclude Concurrent List the Centre offering constructive support. ¾¾The subject-wise distribution of legislative power zzThe NITI Aayog’s Health Index, financial assistance is given in the three lists of the Seventh Schedule through the insurance-based programme of the Constitution: Ayushman Bharat, improved regulatory €€List-I- the Union List environment for healthcare providers and medical €€List-II- the State List education are examples of such support that €€List-III- the Concurrent List can nudge states in the right direction. ¾¾Both, the Parliament and state legislature can make ¾¾Developmental Finance Institution (DFI) for Health laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated Care: in the Concurrent List. €€A health sector-specific DFI is much needed on ¾¾It includes the matters on which uniformity of the same lines as that of DFIs for other sectors legislation throughout the country is desirable like National Bank for Agriculture and Rural but not essential. Development -NABARD (agriculture), National ¾¾However State legislation operates to the extent Housing Bank- NHB (Housing) and Tourism Finance that it is not in conflict with the Central legislation. Corporation of India Ltd. - TFCI tourism( ). At times, the very presence of a central legislation €€Such a DFI would increase health care access in can negate the state’s ability to legislate. tier-2 and tier-3 cities and also come with technical ¾¾This list has at present 52 subjects (originally 47) assistance that ensures proper usage of funds. like criminal law and procedure, civil procedure, ¾¾Other Suggestions by N.K. Singh: marriage and divorce, population control and family €€Increase the government spending on health to planning, electricity, labour welfare,economic and 2.5% of GDP by 2025. social planning, drugs, newspapers, books and €€Primary healthcare should be a fundamental printing press, and others. commitment of all States in particular and should ¾¾The 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 transferred be allocated at least two-thirds of health spending. five subjects to Concurrent List from State List i.e

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education, forests, weights and measures, protection Key Points of wild animals and birds, and administration of ¾¾Background: The Electoral Bond Scheme acts as a justice; constitution and organisation of all courts check against traditional under-the-table donations except the Supreme Court and the High Courts. as it insists on cheque and digital paper trails of transactions, however, several key provisions of the Development Finance Institution scheme make it highly controversial. ¾¾These are specialized institutions set up primarily ¾¾ to provide development/ Project finance especially Misuse of Electoral Bonds as Pointed Out in the in developing countries. Supreme Court: €€ ¾¾These DFIs are usually majority-owned by national Anonymity: Neither the donor (who could be an individual or a corporate) nor the political party is governments. obligated to reveal whom the donation comes from. ¾¾The source of capital of these banks is national or €€ : Because the bonds are international development funds. Asymmetrically Opaque purchased through the State Bank of India (SBI), ¾¾This ensures their creditworthiness and their ability the government is always in a position to know to provide project finance at a very competitive rate. who the donor is. zzThis asymmetry of information threatens to Electoral Bonds colour the process in favour of whichever political party is ruling at the time. Why in News €€Chanel of Blackmoney: Elimination of a cap of 7.5% on corporate donations, elimination of requirement The flagged the Supreme Court possibility of misuse to reveal political contributions in profit and received by political parties through of money electoral loss statements and also the elimination of the for ulterior objects like funding terror or violent bonds provision that a corporation must be three years protests. in existence, undercuts the intent of the scheme. ¾¾The court also asked the government whether there zzA shell company can donate an unlimited is any “control” over how these donations were used amount anonymously to a political party giving by political parties. it a convenient channel for business to round- Electoral Bond trip its cash parked in tax havens for a favour or advantage granted in return for something. ¾¾Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties. ¾¾Government’s Defence: ¾¾The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs. 1,000, €€Conditions for Electoral Bonds: Only parties Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 1 crore registered under the Representation of the People without any maximum limit. Act 1951 could receive donations through electoral bonds, and they also should not have secured less ¾¾State Bank of India is authorised to issue and encash than 1% of the votes polled in the previous elections. these bonds, which are valid for fifteen days from the date of issuance. €€To Take on the Menace of Black Money in Politics: Only white money is involved in the Bonds as ¾¾These bonds are redeemable in the designated the amounts are paid only through cheque or account of a registered political party. demand draft. ¾¾The bonds are available for purchase by any zzKYC norms are also followed. person (who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India) for a period of ten days each €€Election Commision of India’s Support: ECI was in the months of January, April, July and October not opposed to the bonds but was only concerned as may be specified by the Central Government. about the aspect of anonymity. zzIt also urged the court not to stay the bonds and €€A person being an individual can buy bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals. said the scheme is one step forward compared to the old system of cash funding, which was €€Donor’s name is not mentioned on the bond. unaccountable.

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easy route for smuggling of weapons and terrorist Anti-Corruption Strategies elements into the country and money laundering. ¾¾Legal Framework for Fighting Corruption: Why in News €€Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 provides Recently, the Lokpal of India organized a Webinar for penalties in relation to corruption by public on ‘Bringing Synergies in Anti-Corruption Strategies’. servants and also for those who are involved in the abetment of an act of corruption. Key Points zzAmendment of 2018 criminalised both bribe- ¾¾Corruptioncan be defined as theabuse of entrusted taking by public servants as well as bribe giving power for private gain. It can impact a nation’s by any person. development in various ways. €€The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 aims to prevent instances of money laundering and ¾¾Impact of Corruption: prohibits use of the ‘proceeds of crime’ in India. €€Political Costs: The political costs of corruption are zzThe offence of money laundering prescribes manifested in weakened public trust in political strict punishment, including imprisonment of institutions, reduced political participation, up to 10 years and the attachment of property perversion of the electoral process, restricted of accused persons (even at a preliminary political choices available to citizens and loss of stage of investigation and not necessarily after legitimacy of the democratic system. conviction). €€Economic Costs: Corruption reduces economic €€The Companies Act, 2013 provides for corporate efficiency by misallocation of resources in favour governance and prevention of corruption and fraud of rent seeking activities, increasing the cost of in the corporate sector. The term ‘fraud’ has been public transactions, acting as an additional tax on given a broad definition and is a criminal offence business thereby reducing investment, reducing under the Companies Act. genuine business competition. zzIn cases involving fraud specifically, theSerious Rent Seeking Frauds Investigation Office (SFIO) has been set up under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, ¾¾It is a concept in public choice theory as well as in which is responsible for dealing with white collar economics, that involves seeking to increase one’s crimes and offences in companies. share of existing wealth without creating new wealth. zzThe SFIO conducts investigation under the ¾¾It results in reduced economic efficiency through provisions of the Companies Act. misallocation of resources, reduced wealth-creation, lost government revenue, heightened income €€The Indian Penal Code, 1860 sets out provisions inequality, and potential national decline. which can be interpreted to cover bribery and fraud matters, including offences relating to criminal €€Social Costs: Corruption distorts the value systems breach of trust and cheating. and wrongly attaches elevated status to occupations €€The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 that have rent seeking opportunities. This results regulates the acceptance and use of foreign in a disillusioned public, a weak civil society, which contributions and hospitality by individuals and attracts unscrupulous leaders to political life. corporations. €€Environmental Costs: Environmentally devastating zzPrior registration or prior approval of the projects are given preference in funding, because Ministry of Home Affairs is required for receipt they are easy targets for siphoning off public money of foreign contributions and in the absence of into private pockets. such registration or approval, receipt of foreign €€Issues of national security: Corruption within security contributions may be considered illegal. agencies can lead to a threat to national security, ¾¾Regulatory Framework: including through distortion of procurement, €€The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 provides for recruitment of ineligible persons, providing an an establishment of an ombudsman for the central

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and state governments (Lokpal and Lokayuktas, €€However, the jurisdiction of the Lokpal included respectively). the Prime Minister except on allegations of zzThese bodies are required to act independently corruption relating to international relations, from the government and have been empowered security, the public order, atomic energy and to investigate allegations of corruption against space. public servants, which include the prime minister €€The Lokpal does not have jurisdiction over and other ministers. Ministers and MPs in the matter of anything said €€The Central Vigilance Commission though created in Parliament or a vote given there. in 1964, became an independent statutory body only in 2003 by an Act of Parliament. zzIts mandate is to oversee the vigilance MPLAD Scheme administration and to advise and assist the executive in matters relating to corruption. Why in News Recently, funds from Members of Parliament Local Lokpal and Lokayukta Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) were disbursed ¾¾The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 provided to the village panchayats of Goa. for the establishment of Lokpal for the Union and ¾¾Due to Covid-19 pandemic MPLAD Funds Scheme is Lokayukta for States. currently suspended and the disbursed funds were €€The Bill was passed in 2013 in both the Houses allocated earlier. of Parliament and came into force on 16th January 2014. Key Points ¾¾ These institutions arestatutory bodies without any ¾¾About: constitutional status. €€MPLAD is a Central Sector Scheme which was ¾¾They perform the function of an ombudsman”“ announced in December 1993. and inquire into allegations of corruption against €€Initially, it came under the control of the Ministry certain public functionaries and for related matters. of Rural Development. Later, in October 1994, it ¾¾The term Lokpal and Lokayukta were coined by Dr was transferred to the Ministry of Statistics and L. M. Singhvi. Programme Implementation. ¾¾Composition: ¾¾Functioning: €€Lokpal is a multi-member body, that consists €€Each year, MPs receive Rs. 5 crore in two instalments of one chairperson and a maximum of 8 of Rs. 2.5 crore each. Funds under MPLADS are members. non-lapsable. €€Out of the maximum eight members, half to €€Lok Sabha MPs have to recommend the district be judicial members and minimum 50% of the authorities projects in their Lok Sabha constituencies, Members will be from SC/ ST/ OBC/ Minorities while Rajya Sabha MPs have to spend it in the state and women. that has elected them to the House. €€The Chairperson of the Lokpal should be €€Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha either the former Chief Justice of India or the and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere former Judge of Supreme Court or an eminent in the country. person with impeccable integrity and outstanding ability. ¾¾The term of officefor Lokpal Chairman and Members is 5 years or till the age of 70 years. ¾¾Jurisdiction of Lokpal includes Prime Minister, Ministers, members of Parliament, Groups A, B, C and D officers and officials of Central Government.

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¾¾Priority Projects: €€The projects include assets building such as drinking Government of NCT of water facilities, primary education, public health Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 sanitation and roads. €€Since June 2016, the MPLAD funds can also be Why in News used for implementation of the schemes such as Recently, the central government introduced the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), conservation of water Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha to amend the through rain water harvesting andSansad Aadarsh Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, Gram Yojana, etc. 1991. ¾¾Criticism: ¾¾It aims to “further define the responsibilities of the €€Implementation Lapses: The Comptroller and elected government and Lieutenant Governor (LG) Auditor-General of India (CAG) has flagged instances in Delhi”. of financial mismanagement and artificial inflation of amounts spent. €€No Statutory Backing: The scheme is not governed by any statutory law and is subject to the whims and fancies of the government of the day. €€Monitoring and Regulation: The scheme was launched for promoting participatory development but there is no indicator available to measure level of participation. €€Breach of Federalism: MPLADS encroaches upon the domain of local self governing institutions and thereby violates Part IX and IX-A of the Constitution. €€Conflict with Doctrine of Separation of Powers: MPs are getting involved in executive functions. ¾¾Debate over Constitutionality: Key Points €€National Commission to Review the Working of ¾¾Provisions of the Bill: the Constitution, 2002:Recommended immediate €€“Government” to mean “Lieutenant Governor discontinuation of the MPLAD scheme on the (LG)”: The expression ‘Government’ referred to ground that it was inconsistent with the spirit of in any law to be made by the Legislative Assembly federalism and distribution of powers between shall mean the Lieutenant Governor (LG). the centre and the state. €€Widening of Discretionary Powers of LG: The €€2nd Administrative Reforms Commission’s report Bill gives discretionary powers to the LG even in on “Ethics in Governance”, 2005: Opined that it matterswhere the Legislative Assembly of Delhi seriously erodes the notion of separation of powers, is empowered to make laws. as the legislator directly becomes the executive. €€Necessarily Granted an Opportunity to LG: It seeks €€Supreme Court Judgement, 2010: A five-judge to ensure that the LG is “necessarily granted an bench of the Supreme Court ruled that there opportunity” to give her/his opinion before any was no violation of the concept of separation of decision taken by the Council of Ministers (or the powers because the role of an MP in this case is Delhi Cabinet) is implemented. recommendatory and the actual work is carried €€Related to Administrative Decisions: The out by the Panchayats and Municipalitieswhich amendment also says that “Legislative Assembly belong to the executive organ. shall not make any rule to enable itself to consider

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the matters of day-to-day administration of the Government of National Capital or conduct inquiries in relation to the Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 administrative decisions”. ¾¾Delhi’s current status as a Union Territory with ¾¾Need of the Amendment: a Legislative Assembly is an outcome of the 69th €€For Structural Clarity: The Ministry of Home Amendment Act through which Articles 239AA Affairs’ statement on “objects and reasons” of and 239BB were introduced in the Constitution. the Bill stated that Section 44 of the 1991 Act ¾¾The Government of National Capital Territory of deals with conduct of business and there is no Delhi (GNCTD) Act was passed simultaneously to structural mechanism for effective time-bound supplement the constitutional provisions relating implementation of the said section. to the Assembly and the Council of Ministers in the zzAlso, there is no clarity as to what proposal national capital. or matters are required to be submitted to ¾¾For all practical purposes, the GNCTD Actoutlines Lieutenant Governor before issuing order the powers of the Assembly, the discretionary thereon. powers enjoyed by the LG, and the duties of the zzSection 44 of the 1991 Act says that all executive Chief Minister with respect to the need to furnish actions of the LG, whether taken on the advice information to the LG. of his Ministers or otherwise shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the LG. Damages Recovery Bill ¾¾Background of the Events: €€In its 2018 verdict, the five-judge Bench had held Why in News that the LG’s concurrence is not required on issues other than police, public order and land. Recently, the Government of Haryana has passed the Haraya Recovery of Damages to Property During zzIt had added that decisions of the Council of Disturbance to Public Order Bill, 2021 . Ministers will, however, have to be communicated to the LG. ¾¾It can be noted that earlier Uttar Pradesh Government too had passed a similar bill named “Uttar Pradesh zzThe LG was bound by the aid and advice of the Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Property council of ministers. Act, 2020. €€The court also said that the status of the LG of Delhi is not that of a Governor of a State, rather Key Points he remains an Administrator, in a limited sense, ¾¾About the Bill: working with the designation of Lieutenant €€Recovery of Damages: The Bill provides for Governor”. recovery of damages to properties caused by zzIt had also pointed out that the elected persons during disturbances to public order by government must keep in mind that Delhi is an assembly, lawful or unlawful, including riots not a state. and violent disorder. €€Encouraged by the Supreme Court verdict, €€Compensation to Victims: It also ensures the elected government had stopped sending compensation to the victims. files on executive matters to the LG before the €€Comprehensive Coverage: The recovery will not implementation of any decision. only be made from those who indulge in violence zzIt has been keeping the LG informed of but also from those who lead the protest, the all administrative developments, but not organizers, those involved in its planning and necessarily before implementing or executing provide encouragement and the participants. any decision. €€Establishes a Claim Tribunal: The provision for zzBut the amendment, if cleared, will force the the constitution of Claims Tribunal to determine elected government to take LG’s advice before the liability, to assess the damages caused and to taking any action on any cabinet decision. award compensation.

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€€Attachment of Property: The power to attach €€Despite a law against the destruction of property, property or bank account of any person against incidents of rioting, vandalism, and arson have whom an award has been passed by the Claims been common during protests across the country. Tribunal to pay compensation. ¾¾In 2007, the Supreme Court (SC) took suo motu €€Appeal against Tribunal: Any person aggrieved cognizance of the issue and set up two Committees by the award passed by the Claims Tribunal may headed by Justice K T Thomas and senior advocate file an appeal before the High Court of Punjab Fali Nariman to suggest changes to the law. and Haryana. ¾¾In 2009, the Supreme Court issued guidelines based on zzNo civil court shall have the jurisdiction to the recommendations of the two expert Committees. entertain any question relating to the claim for ¾¾Like the law, the guidelines too, have had a limited the compensation impact. In Koshy Jacob vs Union Of India, 2017 the ¾¾Government’s Stand: court reiterated that the law needed to be updated. ¾¾ €€Responsibility of Government: It is the responsibility Right to Protests vs Recovery of Damages: of the state government to protect the property €€Fundamental Rights vs. Order: of the state, whether it is private or government. zzWhile agitators point to their fundamental right €€Balance between Rights and Responsibility: In a to protest, the plight of the people affected democracy everyone has the right to speak and by agitations and their right to continue with protest peacefully, but no one has the right to normal activity often get ignored. damage property. €€Indian Scenario: €€Deterrence: There should be a legal framework to zzIndia’s history of public protests derives its cause deterrence in the minds of the perpetrators legitimacy from Mahatma Gandhi’s path of civil of violence as also the organisers, instigators disobedience and nonviolent protests, which etc. were an integral part of our freedom struggle. ¾¾Criticism: zzThis legacy continued and intensified over the €€Against SC Guidelines: Composition of Claim year and the acceptance of bandhs, and hartals Tribunal may violate SC judgement. became part of people’s lives in many parts of the country. zzThe SC, in 2019 struck down the Finance Act of 2017 which altered the appointments to 19 key zzIn fact agitations and disruptions are so steeped judicial tribunals for not being in conformity with into our culture that we often make a virtue of it. the principles delineated by the Supreme Court. €€Global Example: €€Against Fundamental Rights: Violates the zzThe United States has state-wise laws with fundamental rights enshrined in Article 19 of the heightened penalties for protesters who block Constitution of freedom of expression. traffic and authorises law enforcement agencies to recover costs from protesters who damage €€Vague and Unclear: The Supreme Court had only issued broad guidelines and many aspects like or obstruct “critical infrastructure”. identifying offenders, executing a plan to recover €€Suggestions: losses, and penalties for non-compliance remains zzEvery organiser of a protest must make a clear unclear. declaration ensuring his followers will not damage public property and if they do, must Legal Provisions in India be held financially liable. ¾¾India has no central legislation governing recovery of zzFacial recognition technology and the databases damages. At present, action against rioters is limited can help the police nail down vandals in a manner to the toothless Prevention of Damage to Public that can stand court scrutiny. Property Act, 1984, which prescribes a jail term and zzWith the increased deployment of surveillance fine for convicts but has no provision for recovery cameras, protest organisers and frontline leaders for damages. could be monitored, subject to privacy laws.

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Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 Key Points ¾¾It punishes anyone “who commits mischief by ¾¾About: It is needed when the amount authorised by doing any act in respect of any public property” the Parliament through the appropriation act for with a jail term of up to five years and a fine or a particular service for the current financial year is both. Provisions of this law can be coupled with found to be insufficient for that year. those under the Indian Penal Code. €€This grant is presented and passed by the Parliament ¾¾Under this Act, public property includes “any building, before the end of the financial year. installation or other property used in connection ¾¾Constitutional Provisions: Article 115 pertains to with the production, distribution or supply of water, supplementary, additional or excess grants. light, power or energy; any oil installation; any ¾¾Other Grants: sewage works; any mine or factory; any means of €€Additional Grant: It is granted when a need public transportation or of telecommunications, or has arisen during the current financial year for any building, installation or other property used in additional expenditure upon some new service connection therewith”. not contemplated in the budget for that year. Thomas Committee €€Excess Grant : It is granted when money has been ¾¾The Thomas Committee recommended eversingr spent on any service during a financial year in the burden of proof against protesters. The court excess of the amount granted for that service should have the power to draw a presumption that in the budget for that year. It is voted by the Lok the accused is guilty of destroying public property, Sabha after the financial year. Before the demands and it would then be open to the accused to rebut for excess grants are submitted to the Lok Sabha such presumption. for voting, they must be approved by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. €€Such a reversal of the burden of proof is applicable in cases of sexual violence, among others. €€Vote of Credit: It is granted for meeting an unexpected demand upon the resources of €€Generally, the law presumes that the accused is India, when on account of the magnitude or the innocent until the prosecution proves its case. indefinite character of the service, the demand ¾¾The court accepted the suggestion. cannot be stated with the details ordinarily given Nariman Committee in a budget. Hence, it is like a blank cheque given ¾¾The recommendations of this committee dealt with to the Executive by the Lok Sabha. extracting damages for destruction. €€Exceptional Grant: It is granted for a special and forms ¾¾The court accepted them and ruled that the rioters purpose no part of the current service should be made strictly liable and compensation of any financial year. must be collected for the damage done. €€Token Grant: It is granted when funds to meet the proposed expenditure on a new service can be ¾¾Apart from this, the Supreme Court directed High made available by reappropriation. A demand for Courts to order suo motu action and to set up a the grant of a token sum (of Re 1) is submitted to machinery to investigate the damage caused and the vote of the Lok Sabha and if assented, funds award compensation wherever mass destruction to are made available. the property takes place due to protests. zzReappropriation involves transfer of funds from one head to another. It does not involve any Supplementary additional expenditure. Demand for Grants ¾¾Article 116 of the Constitution pertains to Votes on account, votes of credit and exceptional grants. ¾¾Supplementary, additional, excess and exceptional Why in News grants and vote of credit are regulated by the same The Lok Sabha has passed supplementary demand procedure which is applicable in the case of a regular for grants for the second batch (2020-2021). budget.

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¾¾Headquarters: Inter-Parliamentary Union €€Geneva, Switzerland.

Why in News The Appropriation Bill Recently, the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) addressed Members of Parliament at the Why in News Central Hall of the Indian Parliament. Recently, the Lok Sabha cleared the Appropriation Key Points Bill, allowing the Central government to draw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India. ¾¾About: €€IPU is an international organisation of national Key Points parliaments. It was established in 1889 in Paris. ¾¾About: zzIt was founded by statesmen Frédéric Passy €€Appropriation Billgives power to the government of France and William Randal Cremer of the to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund United Kingdom. of India for meeting the expenditure during the €€ It works with close co-operation with the United financial year. Nation (UN), regional parliamentary organisations, zzAs per Article 114 of the Constitution, the international intergovernmental organisations government can withdraw money from the and non-governmental organisations for the Consolidated Fund only after receiving approval arbitration of conflict. from Parliament. €€It is a unique platform for observing political zzThe amount withdrawn is used to meet the opinions and trends around the world. current expenditure during the financial year. ¾¾Aim: ¾¾Procedure Followed: €€To promote parliamentary dialogue world-wide €€The Appropriation Bill is introduced in the Lok and works for peace and cooperation among Sabha after discussions on Budget proposals and the peoples. Voting on Demand for Grants. €€To promote democratic governance, accountability, zzThe defeat of an Appropriation Bill in a and cooperation among its members. parliamentary vote would lead to the resignation ¾¾Slogan: of a government or a general election. €€ For democracy. For everyone €€Once it is passed by the Lok Sabha it is sent to the ¾¾Functions: Rajya Sabha. €€Promoting parliamentary action by addressing zzPower of Rajya Sabha: international concerns in six main areas: „„It has the power to recommend any zzRepresentative democracy. amendments in this Bill. However, it is the zzPeace and security. prerogative of theLok Sabha to either accept zzSustainable development. or reject the recommendations made by the Rajya Sabha. zzHuman rights and humanitarian law. €€After the bill receives assent from the President zzWomen in politics. it becomes an Appropriation Act. zzEducation, science, and culture. zzThe unique feature of the Appropriation Bill ¾¾ Members: is its automatic repeal clause, whereby the €€179 countries are members of the IPU. Act gets repealed by itself after it meets its €€13 regional parliamentary assemblies are associate statutory purpose. members. €€The government cannot withdraw money from €€India is a member. the Consolidated Fund of India till the enactment

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of the appropriation bill. However, this takes Consolidated Fund of India time and the government needs money to carry ¾¾It was constituted under Article 266 (1) of the on its normal activities. To meet the immediate Constitution of India. expenses the Constitution has authorised the Lok ¾¾It is made up of: Sabha to make any grant in advance for a part of the financial year.This provision is known as the €€All revenues received by the Centre by way of ‘Vote on Account’. taxes (Income Tax, Central Excise, Customs and other receipts) and all non-tax revenues. Vote on Account €€All loans raised by the Centre by issue of Public ¾¾About: notifications, treasury bills (internal debt) and €€A vote on account, as defined byArticle 116 of from foreign governments and international the Indian Constitution, is a grant in advance institutions (external debt). for the central government to meet short-term ¾¾All government expenditures are incurred from expenditure needs from the Consolidated Fund this fund (except exceptional items which are met of India, generally lasting for a few months till from the Contingency Fund or the Public Account) the new financial year kicks in. and no amount can be withdrawn from the Fund ¾¾Need: without authorization from the Parliament. €€During an election year the Government either ¾¾The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India opts for ‘interim Budget’ or for ‘Vote on Account’ (CAG) audits the fund and reports to the relevant as after the election the Ruling Government may legislatures on the management. change and so the policies. Stages of Budget in the Parliament ¾¾Amendment: ¾¾Presentation of Budget. €€No amendment can be proposed to an Appropriation ¾¾General discussion. Bill which will have the effect of varying the amount ¾¾Scrutiny by Departmental Committees. or altering the destination of any grant so made or ¾¾Voting on Demands for Grants. of varying the amount of any expenditure charged ¾¾Passing an Appropriation Bill. on the Consolidated Fund of India, and the decision ¾¾Passing of Finance Bill. of the Lok Sabha Speaker as to whether such an amendment is admissible is final. ¾¾Appropriation Bill vs Finance Bill: UDAN 4.1 €€While the Finance Bill contains provisions on financing the expenditure of the government, Why in News an Appropriation Bill specifies the quantum and On the commencement of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit purpose for withdrawing money. Mahotsav (India@75)’, the Ministry of Civil Aviation €€Both appropriation and finance bills are classified (MoCA) has proposed about 392 routes under UDAN 4.1 as money bills which do not require the explicit bidding process. consent of the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha only discusses them and returns the bills. Key Points zzMoney Bill: ¾¾About UDAN 4.1: „„A Bill is said to be a Money Bill if it only contains €€The UDAN 4.1 focuses on connecting smaller airports, provisions related to taxation, borrowing of along with special helicopter and seaplane routes. money by the government, expenditure from €€Some new routes have been proposed under the or receipt to the Consolidated Fund of India. Sagarmala Seaplane services. „„Bills that only contain provisions that are zzSagarmala Seaplane Services is an ambitious incidental to these matters would also be project under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping regarded as Money Bills. and Waterways with potential airline operators.

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„„One such seaplane service is already in ¾¾UDAN 4.0: operation between Kevadia and Sabarmati €€In 2020, 78 new routes were approved under Riverfront in Ahmedabad, which was started the 4th round of Regional Connectivity Scheme in October 2020. (RCS) - UdeDeshKaAamNagrik (UDAN) to further ¾¾About UDAN Scheme: enhance the connectivity to remote & regional €€Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) was launched as areas of the country. a regional connectivity schemeunder the Ministry €€Kavaratti, Agatti, and Minicoy islands of Lakshadweep of Civil Aviation in 2016. will be connected by the new routes of UDAN 4.0. €€It is an innovative scheme to develop the regional Aviation market. Vehicle Scrapping Policy €€The objective of the scheme is to create affordable yet economically viable and profitable flights on Why in News regional routes so that flying becomes affordable Recently, the Union Road and Transport Minister to the common man even in small towns. announced the Vehicle Scrapping Policy in the Lok Sabha. €€The scheme envisages providing connectivity to ¾¾It was first announced in the Union Budget for 2021-22. un-served and underserved airports of the country through the revival of existing air-strips and airports. ¾¾The policy is estimated to cover 51 lakh Light Motor The scheme is operational for a period of 10 years. Vehicles (LMVs) that are above 20 years of age and another 34 lakh LMVs above 15 years of age. zzUnder-served airports are those which do not have more than one flight a day, while unserved ¾¾India will also implement a Global Positioning System airports are those where there are no operations. (GPS)-based toll collection systemand do away with all toll booths within a year. €€Financial incentives from the Centre, state governments and airport operators are extended Key Points to selected airlines to encourage operations from ¾¾ unserved and under-served airports, and keep Aim: airfares affordable. €€Reducing the population of old and defective vehicles, bringing down vehicular air pollutants, €€Till date, 325 routes and 56 airports including improving 5 heliports and 2 water aerodromes have been road and vehicular safety. operationalised under the scheme. ¾¾Provisions: ¾¾UDAN 1.0: €€Fitness Test: zz €€Under this phase, 5 airlines companies were Old vehicles will have to pass a fitness test awarded 128 flight routes to 70 airports (including before re-registration and as per the policy 36 newly made operational airports). government commercial vehicles more than 15 years old and private vehicles which are ¾¾UDAN 2.0: over 20 years old will be scrapped. €€In 2018, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced zzOld vehicles will be tested at the Automated 73 underserved and unserved airports. Fitness Center and the fitness test of the vehicles €€For the first time, helipads were also connected will be conducted according to international under phase 2 of the UDAN scheme. standards. ¾¾ UDAN 3.0: „„Emission test, braking system, safety €€Inclusion of Tourism Routes under UDAN 3 in components will be tested and the vehicles coordination with the Ministry of Tourism. which fail in the fitness test will be scraped. €€Inclusion of Seaplanes for connecting Water „„The Ministry has also issued rules for Aerodromes. registration procedure for scrapping facilities, €€Bringing in a number of routes in the North-East their powers, and scrapping procedure to Region under the ambit of UDAN. be followed.

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slowdown triggered by the bankruptcy of IL&FS (Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services) and Covid-19 pandemic. zzThe government treasury is expected to get around Rs. 30,000 to 40,000 crores of money through Goods and Services Tax (GST) from this policy. €€Reduction in Prices: zzPrices of auto components would fall substantially with the recycling of metal and plastic parts. zzAs scrapped materials will get cheaper the production cost of the vehicle manufacturers will also reduce. €€Reduce Pollution: zzIt will help improve fuel efficiency and reduce pollution. „„As older vehicles pollute the environment 10 to 12 times more, and estimated that 17 €€Road Tax Rebate: lakh medium and heavy commercial vehicles zzThe state governments may be advised to offer are more than 15 years old. a road-tax rebate of up to 25% for personal ¾¾Other Initiatives to Curb Vehicular Pollution: vehicles and up to 15% for commercial vehicles €€Go Electric Campaign to provide incentive to ownersof old vehicles €€FAME India Scheme Phase II. to scrap old and unfit vehicles. €€Electric Vehicles (EV) Policy 2020 for Delhi. €€Vehicle Discount: €€Hydrogen Fuel Cell Based Bus and Car Project. zzVehicle manufacturers will also give a discount €€ of 5% to people who will produce the ‘Scrapping National Electric Mobility Mission 2020. Certificate’ and registration fees will be waived off on the purchase of a new vehicle. GRAM UJALA €€Disincentive: zzAs a disincentive, increased re-registration fees Why in News would be applicable for vehicles 15 years or Recently, the Government has launched the Gram older from the initial date registration. UJALA Programme - an ambitious scheme offering ¾¾Significance: the world’s cheapest LED bulbs in rural areas at a €€Creation of Scrap yards: mere Rs. 10. zzIt will lead to creation for more scrap yards in the country and effective recovery of waste Key Points from old vehicles. ¾¾Coverage: In its first phase launched from Arrah in €€Employment: Bihar, 15 million LED bulbs will be distributed across zzIn the new fitness centers, 35 thousand people villages of 5 districts - Aarah (Bihar), Varanasi (Uttar will get employment and an investment of Rs Pradesh), Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), Nagpur 10,000 crores will be pumped in. (Maharashtra), and villages in western Gujarat. €€Improved Revenue: €€The light-emitting diode (LED) is one of today’s zzThis will boost sales of heavy and medium most energy-efficient and rapidly-developing commercial vehicles that had been in the lighting technologies. contraction zone as a result of economic ¾¾Implementation:

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€€7 watt and 12-watt LED bulbs with 3 years warranty €€Through extra carbon credit, India will boost its will be given to rural consumers against submission position in global carbon trade. of working Incandescent bulbs. €€Boost to efforts to ensure 24-hour power supply. zzEach household will get up to 5 LEDs. zzThe Prime Minister of India, in his Independence zzParticipating rural households will also have Day speech of 2015, promised that all villages metres installed in their houses to account where electricity was yet to reach, will have for usage. power within 1,000 days. €€The LED bulbs are offered by state-run Energy zzTo create basic power infrastructure and Efficiency Services Ltd’s (EESL’s) subsidiary connectivity, the government had announced Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL). a scheme - the Deendayal Upadhyay Gram zzEESL is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under Jyoti Yojana. the Ministry of Power. €€Help in the growth of domestic LED markets. ¾¾Financing Mechanism: €€Meet the benefit of sustainable development €€The programme will be financedentirely through goals (SDG). carbon credits and will be the first such programme zzSpecially SDG7: To ensure universal access to in India. affordable, reliable and modern energy services. €€The revenue earned from carbon credits will ¾¾Other Schemes for Encouraging Use of LED Bulbs: contribute Rs. 60 per LED bulb piece, with the €€Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA). balance Rs. 10 to be paid by the rural consumer. €€Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP). zzCarbon credit (or “carbon offsets”) are certificates generated by projects or activities that reduce, avoid, or destroy greenhouse gases. Rising Cases of Diphtheria zzProject owners, such as solar and wind energy developers, or protectors of endangered Why in News forestlands can sell these certificates to an A recent study has found that Diphtheria, which is a individual or a company to earn revenues to relatively easily-preventable infection, could become a keep expanding their projects into the future. major global threat. zzWhen one purchases carbon offsets, one is funding the reduction or elimination of carbon. Key Points €€Further on, carbon credit documentationwill be ¾¾Data: sent to United Nations (UN) accredited validators €€Global Rise: The number of diphtheria cases for inclusion into the Shine Program of activities. reported globally has been increasing gradually. zzCarbon credits will be prepared under the In 2018, there were 16,651 reported cases, more Shine Program of Activities with an option for than double the yearly average for 1996-2017 verifying under the Voluntary Carbon Standard, (8,105 cases). depending on the needs of buyers. €€Indian Scenario: According to the World Health zzCarbon Credit Buyers will also be sought through Organization (WHO), India reported 2,365 cases an open process based on initial discussions in 2015. However, in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the with the market. numbers rose successively to 3,380, 5,293 and 8,788. ¾¾Significance: zzAs per the WHO, India accounted for 60% of €€Help in meetingintended nationally determined all diphtheria cases globally in 2017. contributions under paris climate accord. zzIn 2018, Delhi witnessed the death of more than zzIf all 300 million lights in India were replaced, 50 children because of Diphtheria. the total energy savings would be 40,743 ¾¾Reasons: million kWh/year, avoiding peak demand of €€Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Diphtheria has

22,743MW/year and CO2 reductions of 37 started to become resistant to several classes of million tons per year. antibiotics.

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zzAntimicrobial resistance is the resistance acquired ¾¾Target Population: by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, €€Diphtheria particularly affects childrenaged 1 to parasite, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs 5 years. (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, zzOccurrence of diphtheria cases in under-five antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are used children reflects low coverage of primary to treat infections. diphtheria vaccination. €€Covid-19 Impact: Covid-19 has severely impacted ¾¾Fatality Rate: vaccination schedules in different parts of the €€Diphtheria is fatal in only 5-10% cases. world. zzFatality Rate is the proportion of people who die zzAccording to the recently released UN Report from a specified disease among all individuals on the Impact of Covid-19 on Children, diagnosed with the disease over a certain suspension of immunization campaigns will period of time. set back the decades-long effort to eliminate ¾¾ various diseases. Treatment: €€Administering diphtheria antitoxin to neutralize €€Misunderstanding of Disease: Parents often the effects of the toxin, as well as antibiotics to misunderstand the disease as usual cough and kill the bacteria. cold and take medicines from a physician. Since the child has not been given diphtheria shots, with €€Diphtheria is preventable with use of antibiotics the passage of time, the toxin released from the and vaccines. bacteria starts hampering the functioning of the ¾¾Vaccination: kidney, heart and nervous system. €€The diphtheria vaccine is among the oldest €€Vaccine Hesitancy: It refers to delay in acceptance vaccines in India’s Universal Immunisation or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccine Programme. As per data from the National Family services. It is complex and context specific varying Health Survey-4, the coverage of diphtheria across time, place and vaccine. vaccine is 78.4%. zzIt is influenced by factors such as complacency, €€In 1978, India launched the Expanded Programme convenience and confidence. on Immunisation. zzThe first three vaccines in the programme were Diphtheria BCG (against TB), DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, ¾¾Caused by Bacteria: tetanus) and cholera. €€Diphtheria is primarily caused by the bacterium €€In 1985, the programme was converted to the Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). DPT ¾¾Symptoms: continues to be a part of UIP, which now includes 12 vaccines. €€Common cold , fever, chills, swollen gland in neck, sore throat, bluish skin etc. €€It is now incorporated as a pentavalent vaccine (containing a vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis, ¾¾Impact: tetanus, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae €€The primary infection is in the throat and type B). upper airways. Produces a toxin affecting other zzIt is also included among the combination of organs. eight vaccine doses which are administered in €€One type of diphtheria affects the throat and the first year of life under thefull immunisation sometimes the tonsils. programme. €€Another type causes ulcers on the skin. €€Recently, the Intensified Mission Indradhanush ¾¾Spread: (IMI) 3.0 scheme has been rolled out to cover €€It is mainly spread by coughs and sneezes, or children and pregnant women who missed routine through close contact with someone infected. immunisation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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€€He began his formal political career in 1949 as a Gandhi Peace Prize co-founder of the Awami League. €€He played a crucial role in advocating political Why in News autonomy for East Pakistan, the detached eastern part of Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The father of the nation of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the late Sultan of Oman, Qaboos €€He was chosen for Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 in bin Said Al Said are to be awarded the Gandhi Peace recognition of his outstandingcontributions towards Prize for 2020 and 2019 respectively. social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods. Key Points €€He was a champion of human rights and freedom, ¾¾About the Gandhi Peace Prize: and is a hero to Indians as well. zz €€Institution of Award: The annual The legacy and inspiration of Bangabandhu award was instituted by the has made the heritage of both countries more Government of India in 1995 comprehensive and deep-rooted, and that the during the commemoration path shown by Bangabandhu has laid a strong of the 125th birth anniversary foundation for the partnership, progress and of Mahatma Gandhi for prosperity of both countries over the last decade. those involved in social, economic and political ¾¾Qaboos bin Said Al Said: transformation through non-violence. €€He has been the Arab world’s longest-serving €€Rewards: The award carries an amount of Rs. 1 ruler. He ruled Oman for almost half a century. crore, a Citation in a scroll, a plaqueas well as an zzIn 1970, with the help of British, Qaboos exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item. overthrew his father in a bloodless coup, €€Conferred Upon: The prize can be given to individuals, emerging as the Sultan at age 29. associations, institutions or organizations. zzIt can be divided between two persons/ institutions who are considered by the Jury to be equally deserving of recognition in a given year. zzIt is open to all persons regardless of nationality, creed, race or sex. €€Selection Committee:The jury chaired by the Prime Minister and other members are the Chief Justice of India, the leader of the single largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Speaker and founder of Sulabh International. ¾¾Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: €€He was a visionary leader whose twin policy €€He was known as Bangabandhu. Also regarded as of moderation and mediation in addressing “Jatir Janak” or “Jatir Pita” (both meaning “Father international issues won him praise and respect of the Nation”) of Bangladesh. across the globe. €€ th He was born on 17 March 1920 in Tungipara, €€He was also the architect of the special ties India (now in Bangladesh) and passed away on between India and Oman. 15th August 1975 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. zzHe had studied in India and always maintained zzYear 2020 marked the birth centenary of a special relationship with India. Bangabandhu. €€The Gandhi Peace Prize 2019 recognises his €€He was a Bengali leader who became the first leadership in strengthening the ties between India prime minister of Bangladesh (1972–75) and and Oman and his efforts to promote peace in later became the president of the same in 1975. the Gulf region.

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€€The Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially Reservation and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act of Quota Limit of States 2018, which provides 12% to 13% quota benefits for the Maratha community, takes the reservation percentage in the State across the 50% mark, was Why in News enacted. Tamil Nadu told a Constitution Bench of the Supreme ¾¾States’ Concern: Court that the percentage of reservation should be left €€Tamil Nadu and Karnataka agreed with Maharashtra to the “subjective satisfaction” of individual States. that the 50% ceiling limit on reservation introduced ¾¾Subjective satisfactionrefers to the State’s discretion in the Indira Sawhney judgment was not “cast in to identify its socially and educationally backward stone (Permanently fixed or firmly established)”. classes and fix the percentage of reservation for them €€The Indira Sawhney judgment required a re-look. in State government jobs and educational admissions. The ground situation had changed a lot since that ¾¾A nine-judge bench in the Indra Sawhney case judgment in 1992. (famously known as the Mandal Commission case) €€Also, there is contention regarding theConstitution imposed the ceiling of 50% on total reservation. (One Hundred and Second Amendment) Act of Key Points 2018, which introduces the National Commission for Backward Classes, that it interferes with the ¾¾ Indra Sawhney & Others vs Union of India, 1992: authority of State Legislatures to provide benefit to €€The Supreme Court while upholding the 27% quota the social and educationally backward communities for backward classes, struck down the government (SEBCs) in their own jurisdiction. notification reserving 10% government jobs for zzHowever, in an affidavit, the Ministry of Social economically backward classes among the higher justice and Empowerment has saidthe power castes. to identify SEBCs lies with Parliament only €€SC in the same case also upheld the principle that with reference to the central list and states can the combined reservation beneficiaries should have a separate list of SEBCs for reservation. not exceed 50% of India’s population. €€The concept of ‘creamy layer’ also gained currency Constitution and Reservation through this judgment and provision that reservation ¾¾77th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1995: The for backward classes should be confined to initial Indra Sawhney verdict had held there would be appointments only and not extend to promotions. reservation only in initial appointments and not ¾¾Breach of the Limit by the States: promotions. €€Notwithstanding the judgement passed by the €€However, addition of the article 16(4A) to the Supreme Court, since Indira Sawhney judgment Constitution, empowered the state to make 1992, many states have passed laws breaching provisions for reservation in matters of promotion the limit of 50% such as Maharashtra, Telangana, to SC/ST employees, if the state feels they are Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and not adequately represented. Madhya Pradesh. ¾¾81st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2000: It €€Tamil Nadu Reservation Act, 1993 provides introduced Article 16(4B), which says unfilled SC/ 69% reservation in State government jobs and ST quota of a particular year, when carried forward educational institutions. to the next year, will be treated separately and not clubbed with the regular vacancies of that year. €€In January 2000, the Governor of the erstwhile th state of Andhra Pradesh declared 100% reservation ¾¾85 Constitutional Amendment Act, 2001: It to Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates in posts of provided for the reservation in promotion can school teachers in Scheduled Areas. be applied with ‘consequential seniority’ for the government servants belonging to the SCs and STs zzHowever, it was ruled as unconstitutional by the apex court. with retrospective effect from June 1995.

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¾¾103rd amendment to the Constitution (2019): 10% €€The Bill specifies certain categories of allied and reservation for EWS (Economically Weaker Section). healthcare professions as recognised categories. ¾¾Article 335: It says that the claims of SCs and €€These are mentioned in the Schedule to the Bill STs shall be taken into consideration constituently and include life science professionals, trauma and with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, burn care professionals, surgical and anaesthesia in the making of appointments to services and related technology professionals, physiotherapists, posts in connection with the affairs of the Union and nutrition science professionals. or of a State. zzThe central government may amend this Schedule after consultation with the National Commission The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Profession. ¾¾National Commission for Allied and Healthcare for Allied and Healthcare Professions: The Bill sets up the National Commission Professions Bill, 2020 for Allied and Healthcare Professions. €€Structure: zzIt will consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Why in News five members representing various Departments/ Recently, the National Commission for Allied and Ministries of the central government, one Healthcare Professions Bill, 2020 was passed unanimously representative from the Directorate General by the Lok Sabha. of Health Services, three Deputy Directors ¾¾The Bill seeks to regulate and standardise the education or Medical Superintendents appointed on a and practice of allied and healthcare professionals. rotational basis from amongst medical institutions ¾¾The group of allied professionals is large and the Bill and 12 part-time members representing State is trying to regulate this field by providing dignity Councils, among others. to their roles. €€Functions: The Commission will perform the following functions with regard to Allied and Key Points Healthcare Professionals: ¾¾Allied Health Professional: zzCreating and maintaining an online Central €€The Bill defines an ‘allied health professional’ as Register of all registered professionals. an associate, technician, or technologist trained zzProviding basic standards of education, courses, to support the diagnosis and treatment of any curriculum, staff qualifications, examination, train- illness, disease, injury, or impairment. ing, maximum fee payable for various categories. €€Such a professional should have obtained a diploma €€Professional Councils: or degree. zzThe Commission will constitute a Professional zzThe duration of the degree /diploma should Council for every recognised category of allied be at least 2,000 hours (over a period of two and healthcare professions. to four years). zzThe Professional Council will consist of a ¾¾Healthcare Professional: president and four to 24 members, representing €€A ‘healthcare professional’ includes a scientist, each profession in the recognised category. therapist, or any other professional who studies, zzThe Commission may delegate any of its advises, researches, supervises, or provides functions to this Council. preventive, curative, rehabilitative, therapeutic, ¾¾State Councils: or promotional health services. €€Within six months from the passage of the Bill, €€Such a professional should have obtained a degree. state governments will constitute State Allied zzThe duration of the degree should be at least and Healthcare Councils. 3,600 hours (over a period of three to six years). €€It will complement the functioning of the National ¾¾Allied and Healthcare Professions: Commission and maintain a State Register.

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¾¾Permission for Establishment of Institutions: „„The District Councils may make laws on €€Prior permission of the State Council will be various issues, including: required to: 1. Number of Village and Municipal Councils zzEstablish a new institution. to be formed, and their composition, zzOpen new courses, increase the admission 2. Delimitation of constituencies for election capacity, or admit a new batch of students to to the Village and Municipal Councils. existing institutions. 3. Powers and functions of Village and €€If such permission is not sought, then any Municipal Councils. qualification granted to a student from such an zzRules for Devolution of Powers: institution will not be recognised under the Bill. „„Governor may make rules for devolution ¾¾Offences and Penalties: of powers and responsibilities to the Village €€No person is allowed to practice as a qualified and Municipal Councils. allied and healthcare practitioner other than those „„Such rules may be framed in relation to: enrolled in a State Register or the National Register. 1. Preparation of plans for economic €€Any person who contravenes this provision will development. be punished with a fine of Rs. 50,000. 2. Implementation of land reforms. 3. Urban and town planning. The Constitution (125th 4. Regulation of land-use, among other Amendment) Bill, 2019 functions. €€State Finance Commission: zzThe Bill provides the appointment of a Finance Why in News Commission for these states, to review the Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) financial position of District, Village, and informed the Lok Sabha that presently, there is no Municipal Councils. proposal to implement Panchayati Raj System in Sixth zzThe Commission will make recommendations Schedule areas of Assam. regarding: th ¾¾In January 2019, the Constitution (125 Amendment) „„Distribution of taxes between states and Bill, 2019 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha to amend District Councils. the provisions related to the Finance Commission and „„Grants-in-aid to District, Village, and Municipal the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Councils from the Consolidated Fund of the ¾¾The Sixth Schedule relates to the administration state. of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, €€Elections to Councils: Tripura and Mizoram. zzAll elections to the District Councils, Regional Councils, Village Councils, and Municipal Key Points Councils will be conducted by the State Election ¾¾Proposed Amendments: Commission appointed by the Governor, for €€Village and Municipal Councils: these four states. zzVillage and Municipal Councils: €€Disqualification of Members of Councils: „„It provides for Village and Municipal Councils zzThe Sixth Schedule provides that the Governor in addition to the District and Regional may make rules for the constitution of District Councils. Village Councils will be established and Regional Councils, including qualifications for villages or groups of villages in rural areas, for being elected as members of these councils. and Municipal Councils will be established zzThe Bill adds that the Governor may make rules in urban areas of each district. for the disqualification of such members on zzStructure of the Village and Municipal Councils: the grounds of defection.

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¾¾Sixth Schedule: 1. The district and regional councils administer €€About: the areas under their jurisdiction. zzThe Sixth Schedule was originally intended for 2. The district and regional councils within the predominantly tribal areas (tribal population their territorial jurisdictions can constitute over 90%) of undivided Assam, which was village councils or courts for trial of suits categorised as “excluded areas” under the and cases between the tribes. They hear Government of India Act, 1935 and was under appeals from them. the direct control of the Governor. 3. The jurisdiction of the high court over zzIt provides for the administration of tribal areas these suits and cases is specified by the in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram to Governor. safeguard the rights of the tribal population in €€Sixth Schedule Areas: these states. „„This special provision is provided under Article 244 (2) and Article 275 (1) of the Constitution. zzIt provides for autonomy in the administration of these areas through Autonomous District Councils (ADCs). „„ADCs are empowered to make laws in respect of areas under their jurisdiction, which cover the land, forest, cultivation, inheritance, indigenous customs and traditions of tribals, etc. and also to collect land revenues and certain other taxes. „„ADCs are like miniature states having specific powers and responsibilities in respect of all Panchayati Raj Institutions the three arms of governance: Legislature, ¾¾About: executive and judiciary. €€Panchayats were included in Article 40 under €€Autonomous Districts: the Directive Principles of the Constitution of zzAbout: India. „„The Governor is empowered to organise €€Government in 1992 introduced the 73rd and re-organise the autonomous districts. Amendment to make the Panchayati Raj Thus, he can increase or decrease their Institutions (PRIs) Constitutional machinery. areas or change their names or define their ¾¾Scheduled Areas: boundaries and so on. €€The tribal dominated states under 5th and 6th „„If there are different tribes in an autonomous schedules of the Constitution were, however, given district, the governor can divide the district the option either to introduce Panchayati Raj . into several autonomous regions institutions or to continue with their traditional zzComposition: self-government institutions. „„ Each autonomous district has a district €€All the states of India including 5th and 6th schedule council consisting of30 members, of whom states except Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, four are nominated by the governor and Meghalaya, Mizoram and the autonomous areas the remaining 26 are elected on the basis of Assam and Tripura amended their Panchayati and they hold office for of adult franchise Raj Act to accommodate the provisions of the five years. 73rd Amendment Act. „„Each autonomous region also has a separate ¾¾Provisions of PRIs: regional council.

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€€The Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the €€Establishment of a three-tier structure (Village Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti or intermediate Supreme Court (SC) are appointed by the President level Panchayat and Zilla Parishad or district under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution. level Panchayat). €€As far as the CJI is concerned, the outgoing CJI €€Establishment of Gram Sabhas at the village level. recommends his successor. Regular elections to Panchayats every five years. zzThe Union Law Minister forwards the €€Proportionate seat reservationfor SCs/STs. recommendation to the Prime Minister who, in turn, advises the President. €€Reservation of not less than1/3 seats for women. €€SC in the Second Judges Case (1993), ruled that €€Constitution of State Finance Commissions to recommend measures to improve the finances the senior most judge of the Supreme Court should of Panchayats. alone be appointed to the office of the CJI. €€The ¾¾Power to Panchayats: Supreme Court collegium is headed by the Chief Justice of India and comprises four other €€The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 senior most judges of the court. vests power in the State Government to endow Panchayats with such powers and authority as zzThe collegium system is the system of may be necessary to enable them to function as appointment and transfer of judges that has institutions of self-government such as: evolved through judgments of the Supreme Court (Judges Cases), and not by an Act of Parliament zzPreparation of plans and their execution for or by a provision of the Constitution. economic development and social justice in relation to 29 subjects listed in the XI schedule ¾¾Administrative Powers of CJI (Master of Roster): of the Constitution. €€It is common to refer to the office as primus inter zzTo levy, collect and appropriate taxes, duties, pares – first amongst equals. tolls and fees. Transfer of taxes, duties, tolls €€Besides his adjudicatory role, the CJI also plays and fees collected by the States to Panchayats. the role of the administrative head of the Court. €€In his administrative capacity, the Chief Justice N.V. Ramana: exercises the prerogative of allocating cases to particular benches. th 48 Chief Justice of India €€The Chief Justice also decides the number of judges that will hear a case. Why in News zzThus, he can influence the result by simply N.V. Ramana, the senior most judge of the Supreme choosing judges that he thinks may favour a Court, has been recommended as the next top judge by particular outcome. the present Chief Justice of India (S A Bobde). €€Such administrative powers can be exercised ¾¾Justice Ramana will take over as the48 th Chief Justice without collegial consensus, and without any of India (CJI) from 24th April 2021. He would be the stated reasons. CJI till 26th August, 2022. ¾¾Recent Development: €€In 2019, the SC ruled that the office of Chief Justice Key Points of India (CJI) comes under the purview of the ¾¾Appointment of the CJI: Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

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Economic Scenario

Highlights zz Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report zz Recommendations to Amend the Consumer Protection zz Back Door Entry Closed for Defaulters: SC (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 zz MMDR Amendment Bill, 2021 zz Helium Crisis for India zz Open Market Operations by RBI zz National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development zz New Committee to Screen New Bank Licences Bill, 2021 zz Market Infrastructure Institutions zz Tata - Mistry Judgement

„„To calculate a company’s market cap, multiply Business Responsibility the number of outstanding shares by the and Sustainability Report current market value of one share. ¾¾About Business Responsibility and Sustainability Why in News Report (BRSR): €€BRSR, which is from an Environmental, Social and The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Governance (“ESG”) perspective,is intended to has decided to introduce new requirements for business enable businesses to engage more meaningfully sustainability reporting by listed entities. with their stakeholders. ¾¾This new report will be called the Business Responsibility €€It will encourage businesses to go beyond regulatory and Sustainability Report (BRSR) and will replace the financial compliance and report on their social existing Business Responsibility Report (BRR). and environmental impacts. Key Points €€The BRSR will be applicable to the top 1000 listed entities (by market capitalization), for reporting ¾¾Background: on a voluntary basis for FY 2021 – 22 and on a €€SEBI, in 2012, mandated the top 100 listed mandatory basis from FY 2022 – 23. entities by market capitalisation to file Business ¾¾Sustainability Reporting: Responsibility Reports (BRR) as per the disclosure requirement emanating from the ‘National €€It is the disclosure and communication of Voluntary Guidelines on Social, Environmental environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and Economic Responsibilities of Business’ (NVGs). goals—as well as a company’s progress towards them. zzIn 2019, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs revised NVGs and formulated the National Guidelines €€The benefits of sustainability reporting include on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC). improved corporate reputation, building consumer €€In December 2019, SEBI extended the BRR confidence, increased innovation, and even requirement to the top 1000 listed entities improvement of risk management. by market capitalisation, from the financial year ¾¾Environmental, Social, and Governance Goals: 2019-20. €€Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals zzListed Entity: A company whose shares are are a set of standards for a company’s operations traded on an official stock exchange. that force companies to follow better governance, zzMarket Capitalization: It refers to how much a ethical practices, environment-friendly measures company is worth as determined by the stock and social responsibility. market. It is defined as the total market value €€Environmental criteria consider how a company of all outstanding shares. performs as a steward of nature.

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€€Social criteria examine how it manages relationships zzThe Companies Act 2013 is an Indian company with employees, suppliers, customers, and the law which regulates incorporation of a company, communities where it operates. responsibilities of a company, directors, €€Governance deals with a company’s leadership, dissolution of a company. executive pay, audits, internal controls, and „„Company means a company incorporated shareholder rights. under this Act or under any previous Company Law. Responsible Business zzSection 230 of the Companies Act allows ¾¾The philosophy of responsible business is based on promoters or creditors of the company to the principle of business being accountable to all its propose a scheme of arrangement or compromise stakeholders towards global developments which are under which the debt of the company can be increasingly seeking businesses to be responsible and restructured. sustainable towards their environment and society. ¾¾Recent Ruling of the SC: ¾¾In light of ever-increasing global challenges €€SC upholded NCLAT’s decision and said that while relating to climate change, environmental risks, Section 230 would be applicable for promoters growing inequality, etc., business leaders have and creditors in the normal course of the workings been compelled, and have also found it to be in of the company, it would not be applicable if the their interest, to reimagine the role of businesses in company is facing liquidation under IBC. the society and not view them merely as economic ¾¾Reason Given by SC: units for generating wealth. €€The company has to be protected from its ¾¾The performance of a company must be measured management and a corporate death. not only on the return to shareholders, but also on €€It would lead to a manifest absurdity if the very how it achieves its environmental, social, and good persons who are ineligible for submitting a governance objectives. resolution plan, participating in the sale of assets of the company in liquidation or participating Back Door Entry in the sale of the corporate debtor as a ‘going concern’, are somehow permitted to propose a Closed for Defaulters: SC compromise or arrangement under Section 230 of Companies Act 2013. Why in News ¾¾Significance of the Judgement: Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has closed the €€Speed up the Resolution: back-door entry of defaulting promoters by using a zzThe clarification by the SC with respect to special provision of compromise or arrangement during participation of promoters in the liquidation the liquidation phase of the insolvency proceeding. process of an insolvent company will speed up ¾¾The ruling reaffirms the spirit of the Insolvency and the corporate insolvency resolution process. Bankruptcy Code (IBC). €€Maximisation of the Asset Value: zzSince the objective of the IBC is to find a Key Points suitable buyer for the company and liquidation ¾¾Background: is ordered only in cases where there are no €€In a case involving the liquidation of a Limited viable plans submitted, experts believe that a Company, the National Company Law Appellate quick liquidation is of utmost importance to Tribunal (NCLAT) in 2019 held that any person who maximise the value of assets of the company. was ineligible, under Section 29A of Insolvency €€Settled Conflicting Judgements: and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), to bid for his company, zzIt settles down the conflicting judgments given was also barred from proposing a scheme of by different benches of the NCLT, wherein these compromise and arrangement under Section 230 forums had, in order to follow the IBC’s principle of the Companies Act 2013. of value of asset maximisation, allowed some

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of the promoters to re-bid for the company or ¾¾It is also the appellate tribunal for orders passed by propose some arrangement when it was sent the NCLT(s) under Section 61 of the IBC, 2016, and to liquidation. for orders passed by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under Sections 202 and 211 Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 of the IBC. ¾¾About: ¾¾Any person aggrieved by any order of the NCLAT €€It provides a for resolving time-bound process may file an appeal to the SC. insolvency in companies and among individuals. €€It covers all individuals, companies, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) and partnership MMDR Amendment Bill, 2021 firms. ¾¾Objective: Why in News €€To streamline and speed up the resolution Recently, the Coal and Mines Minister introduced process of failed businesses. the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) €€To consolidate provisions of the existing (MMDR) Amendment Bill, 2021 in Lok Sabha. legislative framework to form a common forum ¾¾The Bill seeks to amend the Mines and Minerals for debtors and creditors of all classes to resolve (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 which insolvency. regulates the mining sector in India. €€To stipulate that the resolution process of a Key Points stressed company will have to be completed ¾¾ in a maximum of 270 days. Proposed Changes: €€Removal of restriction on end-use of minerals: ¾¾Section 29A: zzThe Act empowers the central government €€It is a restrictive provision, it specifically lists to reserve any mine (other than coal, lignite, down the persons who are not eligible to be and atomic minerals) to be leased through an resolution applicants. auction for a particular end-use (such as iron ore €€It in its entirety not only restricts promoters mine for a steel plant). Such mines are known but also the people related/connected with as captive mines. the promoters. zzThe Bill provides that no mine will be reserved €€This section was introduced to disqualify those for particular end-use. who had contributed in the downfall of the €€Sale of minerals by captive mines: corporate debtor or were unsuitable to run zzThe Bill provides that captive mines (other than the company. atomic minerals) may sell up to 50% of their ¾¾Adjudicating Authority: annual mineral production in the open market €€National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for after meeting their own needs. companies and LLPs. „„The central government may increase this €€Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) for individuals threshold through a notification. and partnership firms. „„The lessee will have to pay additional charges for minerals sold in the open market. National Company Law Appellate Tribunal €€Auction by the central government in certain cases: ¾¾The NCLAT was constituted under Section 410 of zzThe Bill empowers the central government to the Companies Act, 2013 to hear appeals against specify a time period for completion of the the orders of the National Company Law Tribunal auction processin consultation with the state government. (NCLT). zzIf the state government is unable to complete the €€NCLT is a quasi-judicial body that adjudicates auction process within this period, the auctions issues relating to companies. may be conducted by the central government.

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€€Transfer of statutory clearances: ¾¾Significance: zzIt provides that transferred statutory clearances €€Transparency: will be valid throughout the lease period of zzIt would lead to greater transparency in the the new lessee. auction process as there is a perception that „„Currently the new lessee has to apply for state governments may in some cases prefer fresh clearances within two years of the some bidders, and try to delay or cancel mining transfer from the previous lessee. rights if their preferred bidders do not win €€Allocation of mines with expired leases: mining rights. zzThe Bill adds that mines whose lease has expired, €€Maximization of Output: may be allocated to a government company in zzIncreased flexibility would allow miners to certain cases. maximise output from captive mines as they zzThis will be applicable if the auction process for would be able to sell output in excess of their granting a new lease has not been completed, own requirements. or the new lease has been terminated within €€Ease of Doing Business: a year of the auction. zzIt will provide ease of doing business, zzThe state government may grant a lease for simplification of procedure and benefit all the such a mine to a government company for a parties in areas where minerals are located. period of up to 10 years or until the selection zzIt will also speed up the process of implementation of a new lessee, whichever is earlier. of projects. €€Extension of leases to government companies: €€Efficient Energy Market: zzThe Act provides that the period of mining zzIt will create an efficient energy market and leases granted to government companies will bring in more competition as well as reduce be prescribed by the central government and coal imports. may be extended on payment of additional amounts prescribed in the Bill. €€Access to High-End Technology: €€Conditions for lapse of mining lease: zzIt would also help India gain access to high-end technology for underground mining used by zzIf the lessee is not able to start mining operations within two years of the grant of a lease. miners across the globe. zzIf the lessee has discontinued mining operations for a period of two years. Open Market „„The lease will not lapse at the end of this Operations by RBI period if a concession is provided by the state government upon an application by the lessee. Why in News „„The Bill adds that the threshold period for The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to lapse of the lease may be extended by the conduct simultaneous purchase and sale of government state government only once and up to one securities (G-Sec) under Open Market Operations (OMOs) year. for an amount of Rs. 10,000 crore each. €€Non-exclusive reconnaissance permit: Key Points zzThe Act provides for a non-exclusive reconnaissance permit (for minerals other ¾¾About: than coal, lignite, and atomic minerals). €€Simultaneous purchase and sale of government „„Reconnaissance means preliminary securities under OMOs, popularly known as prospecting of a mineral through certain operation twist, involves purchasing G-Sec of surveys. The Bill removes the provision for longer maturities and selling equal amounts of this permit. G-Sec of shorter maturities.

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¾¾Open Market Operations: agreement is called a reverse repurchase €€Meaning: Open Market Operations refers to buying agreement or reverse repo. The rate at which and selling of bonds issued by the Government the money is withdrawn in this manner is in the open market. called the reverse repo rate. €€One of the Quantitative Tools:OMO is one of the „„The Reserve Bank of India conducts repo quantitative tools that RBI uses to smoothen the and reverse repo operations at various liquidity conditions through the year and minimise maturities: overnight, 7-day, 14- day, etc. its impact on the interest rate and inflation rate These types of operations have now become levels. the main tool of monetary policy of the zzQuantitative tools control the extent of money Reserve Bank of India. supply by changing the Cash Reserve Ratio Government Securities (CRR), or bank rate or open market operations. ¾¾A G-Sec is a tradable instrument issued by the central zzQualitative tools include persuasion by the government or state governments. It acknowledges Central bank in order to make commercial banks the Government’s debt obligation. discourage or encourage lending which is done ¾¾Short term securities (with original maturities through moral suasion, margin requirement, etc. of less than one year) are usually called Treasury €€Impact on Money Supply: Bills. zzWhen RBI buys a Government bond in the ¾¾Long term securities (with original maturities of open market, it pays for it by giving a cheque. more than one year or more) are usually called This cheque increases the total amount of Government Bonds or Dated Securities. reserves in the economy and thus increases ¾¾In India, the Central Government issues both the money supply. treasury bills and bonds or dated securitieswhile zz (to private individuals Selling of a bond by RBI the State Governments issue only bonds or dated or institutions) leads to reduction in quantity securities, which are called the State Development of reserves and hence the money supply. Loans (SDLs). €€ Outright and Repo. Two Types of OMOs: ¾¾G-Secs carry practically no risk of default and, hence, zzOutright OMOs are permanent in nature: when are called risk-free gilt-edged instruments. the central bank buys these securities (thus €€Gilt-edged securities are high-grade investment injecting money into the system), it iswithout bonds offered by governments and large any promise to sell them later. Similarly, when corporations as a means of borrowing funds. the central bank sells these securities (thus ¾¾ withdrawing money from the system), it is Recently, the Reserve Bank of India has proposed without any promise to buy them. to allow retail investors to open gilt accounts with the central bank to invest in Government zzRepo: securities (G-secs) directly and without the help „„This is a type of operation in which when the of intermediaries. central bank buys the security, the agreement of purchase also has specification about date and price of resale of this security. This New Committee to type of agreement is called a repurchase Screen New Bank Licences agreement or repo. The interest rate at which the money is lent in this way is called the repo rate. Why in News „„Similarly, instead of outright sale of The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up a five- securities the central bank may sell the member Standing External Advisory Committee (SEAC), securities through an agreementwhich has headed by former RBI Deputy Governor Shyamala a specification about the date and price at Gopinath, for evaluating applications for universal banks which it will be repurchased. This type of and Small Finance Banks (SFBs).

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¾¾The Standing External Advisory Committee (SEAC) €€The entities focus on leveraging their large branch will be comprising eminent persons with experience network and offer a wide range of services under in banking, financial sector and other relevant areas. a single brand name/Bank’s name. €€According to the guidelines on on-tap licensing of Key Points universal banks issued in August 2016, resident ¾¾About the Committee: individuals and professionals having 10 years of €€Tenure: The committee will have a tenure of experience in banking and finance at a senior level three years. are eligible to promote universal banks. zz €€Secretariat of the Committee: The secretarial However, large industrial houses are excluded support to the committee would be provided by as eligible entities but are permitted to invest RBI’s Department of Regulation. in the banks up to 10%. zzA non-operative financial holding company €€Functions: The applications for universal banks and SFBs will first be evaluated by the RBI to ensure (NOFHC) has been made non-mandatory in case prima facie eligibility of the applicants, after which of promoters being individuals or standalone promoting/converting entities who/which do the SEAC will evaluate the applications. not have other group entities. ¾¾Small Finance Banks (SFBs): ¾¾Related Development: €€Small Finance Banks are the financial institutions €€Earlier, an internal working group of the RBI in which provide financial services to the unserved 2020 had proposed an overhaul of licensing policy and unbanked region of the country. for private banks and suggested allowing large €€They are registered as a public limited company corporate and industrial houses to float banks in under the Companies Act, 2013. India after suitable amendments to the Banking €€Scope of Activities: Regulation Act, 1949. zzThe small finance bank shall primarily undertake zzHowever, former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan basic banking activities of acceptance of deposits has criticised the proposal saying it would lead and lending to small business units, small and to “connected lending (a situation in which marginal farmers, micro and small industries the bank’s controlling owner extends loans and unorganised sector entities. of inferior quality at lower interest rates to zzIt can also undertake other non-risk sharing himself or his connected parties)”. simple financial services activities, not requiring Non-Operative Financial Holding Company any commitment of own funds, such as the ¾¾ distribution of mutual fund units, insurance Non-Operative Financial Holding Company (NOFHC) products, pension products, etc. means a non-deposit taking NBFC. ¾¾As per the Banking Guidelines, promoter or promoter zzThe small finance bank can also become an group will be permitted to set up a new bank only Authorised Dealer in foreign exchange business through a wholly-owned Non-operative Financial for its clients’ requirements. Holding Company (NOFHC). zzThere will not be any restriction in the area of ¾¾Such NOHFC holds the Bank as well as all other operations of SFBs; however, preference will financial services companies regulated by RBI or be given to those applicants who, in the initial other financial sector regulators based on permissible phase, set up the bank in a cluster of under- regulatory prescriptions. banked States/districts, such as in the North- East, East and Central regions of the country. On-tap Licensing of Universal Bank ¾¾Universal Banks: ¾¾An ‘on-tap’ facility means the RBI will accept applications and grant licenses for banks throughout €€Universal Banks are the financial entities likethe the year. commercial banks, Financial Institutions, Non- Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), which ¾¾The policy allows aspirants to apply for universal undertake multiple financial activities under one bank license at any time, subject to the fulfillment roof, thereby creating a financial supermarket. of the set conditions.

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work at its usual locationor a new permanent Market location. Infrastructure Institutions „„Mobile- and cloud-based disaster recovery sites are becoming increasingly popular. Why in News zzThe new guidelines should be implemented within 90 days. The Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has ¾¾Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs): asked Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) to begin operations from disaster recovery sites within 45 minutes €€Stock exchanges, depositories and clearing of a disruption to critical systems, including trading. corporations are collectively referred to as securities Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs). ¾¾The directive comes against the backdrop of a technical glitch at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on 24th €€According to the Bimal Jalan Committee (2010), February that halted trading for nearly four hours. these institutions are systemically important for the country’s financial development and serve as the Key Points infrastructure necessary for the securities market. ¾¾SEBI’s Latest Directive: €€The stock exchange in India serves as a market €€New Framework for MIIs: where financial instruments like stocks, bonds and commodities are traded. zzSEBI has come out with a new framework for Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Disaster €€Depositories may be organizations, banks, or Recovery (DR) of Market Infrastructure institutions that hold securities and assist in the Institutions (MIIs) - stock exchanges, clearing trading of securities. corporations and depositories. SEBI zzBusiness Continuity (BC) and Disaster Recovery ¾¾The Securities and Exchange Board of India was (DR) are closely related practices thatsupport established on 12th April, 1992 in accordance with an organization’s ability to remain operational the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board after an adverse event. of India Act, 1992. €€Guidelines: ¾¾Major Function: zzIn the event of disruption of any one or more of €€To protect the interests of investors in securities. the ‘critical systems’, the MII would, within 30 minutes of the incident, declare that incident €€To regulate the securities market. as ‘disaster’. NSE „„Critical systems for an exchange or clearing ¾¾The National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) corporation would include trading, risk is India’s largest financial market. management, collateral management, ¾¾Incorporated in 1992, the NSE has developed into clearing and settlement and index a sophisticated, electronic market, which ranked computation. fourth in the world by equity trading volume. „„Critical systems’ for a depository shall include €€NSE was the first exchange in India to provide systems supporting settlement process and modern, fully automated electronic trading. inter-depository transfer systems. €€The NSE is the largest private wide-area network zzMIIs have been directed to move to disaster in India. recovery sites within 45 minutes of declaring an incident a ‘disaster’. ¾¾The NIFTY 50 is the flagship index on the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE). The Index tracks „„A disaster recovery site is a place that a the behavior of a portfolio of blue chip companies, company can temporarily relocate to following a security breach or natural disaster. the largest and most liquid Indian securities. It includes 50 of the approximately 1600 companies „„It ensures that a company can continue listed on the NSE. operations until it becomes safe to resume

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€€A clearing corporation is an organisation/entity specifically Multinational Companies (MNCs) affiliated with a stock exchange whose primary and Kirana Small Vendors. objective is to oversee the handling of confirmation, zzClearly define‘drip pricing’ wherein the final cost settlement, and delivery of transactions. of the product goes up due to additional charges, and provide for protecting consumers against Recommendations to Amend this by including penal provisions for violation. €€Fixing Delivery Charges: the Consumer Protection zzThe Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 Distribution shouldissue broad guidelines for the fixation of delivery charges charged by the Why in News e-commerce entities along with a cap on the highest limits of the delivery charges in peak Recently, a parliamentary panel on the Consumer hours of service. has recommended Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 zzIt should clearly distinguish in the Rules itself that the government should amend the rules to provide the cases of misinformation, no information better protection to consumers rights and stop unfair and the information which is otherwise correct practices. but creates a false impression and provides for ¾¾Electronic commerce or e-commerce is a business penal provision for each case in the Rules itself. model that lets firms and individuals buy and sell €€Categorization of Personal Data: things over the Internet. zzFor protection of privacy of users and security Key Points of their data, the panel has recommended that users’ personal data may be categorised ¾¾Issues: as per the level of sensitivity and appropriate €€Predatory Pricing: protection may be assigned for each level. zzPredatory pricing as a short-term strategy, €€Payment Security: adopted by some of the market giants,may zzA secured and robust system of payment lead to wiping out competition from the market gateway should be made available to the and could be detrimental to the consumers in consumers so that the transaction-related data the long run. of the users is not compromised in any way. „„Predatory Pricing: It is the pricing of goods €€Local Data Centres: or services at such a low level that other zzAll major e-marketplace entitiesshould establish firms cannot compete and are forced to their data centre in India, so that consumer leave the market. data are not hosted on a server outside the €€Unfair Practices: borders of the country, which may be misused zzWhile e-commerce enterprises offer many by an enemy country. benefits, the development of the segmentation €€Customer Care: has rendered consumers vulnerable to new zzE-commerce entities should provide a dedicated forms of unfair trade practices, violation of customer care number as well as a mechanism and privacy issues of unattended grievances. to monitor the time taken by customer care zzThere are increasing cases of fake reviews and executives to resolve an issue. unfair favouritism in the display of goods. €€Protection to Small/Local Vendors: ¾¾Major Recommendations: zzThere is a need to devise some regulatory €€Clear Definition: mechanism to protect the local vendors/kirana, zzThere should be a more clear-cut definition therefore, sufficient protection to such small/ of what constitutes Unfair Trade Practice local vendors and ways in which such small and practical legal remedy to tackle such retailers may also become part of e-commerce circumventing practices by e-commerce entities should be given by the Ministry.

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€€Discourage Deceptive Techniques: price of goods or services to gain unreasonable zzSome corrective mechanisms to discourage profit or discriminate between consumers of the deceptive tactics including manipulation of same class or make any arbitrary classification of algorithms, fake product reviews & ratings must consumers affecting their rights. be created so that the consumer interest is not ¾¾Should not Post Fake Reviews or Mislead: harmed in any way. €€No seller or inventory e-commerce entity shall falsely represent itself as a consumer and post Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 reviews about goods or services or misrepresent ¾¾About: the quality or the features of any goods or services. zzThe Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, ¾¾No Cancellation Charges: 2020 are mandatory and are not advisories. €€No e-commerce entity shall impose cancellation ¾¾Applicability: charges on consumers. €€Apply to all e-commerce retailers, whether €€Sellers should not refuse to take back goods, or registered in India or abroad, offering goods and withdraw or discontinue services if such goods services to Indian consumers. and services are defective, deficient or spurious. ¾¾Nodal Officer: ¾¾Record Information of Sellers Selling Counterfeit €€E-commerce entities need to appoint a nodal Products: person, resident in India to ensure compliance €€E-commerce entities need to maintain a record with the provisions of the act or rules. of information for the identification of all sellers ¾¾Prices and Expiry Dates: who have repeatedly offered goods or services €€The sellers through the e-commerce entities that have previously been removed or restricted will have to display the total price of goods and under the Copyright Act, 1957, the Trade Marks services offered for sale along with the break-up Act, 1999 or the Information Technology Act, 2000. of other charges. ¾¾Penalty: €€Expiry date of the good needs to be separately €€The violation of the rules will attract penal action displayed. under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. ¾¾Importer and Relevant Details: €€All relevant details about the goods and services Helium Crisis for India offered for sale by the Seller includingcountry of origin and in case of imported goods the name and details of the importer, and guarantees Why in News related to the authenticity or genuineness of the India imports helium for its needs, and with the USA imported products need to be provided to enable appearing set to cut off exports of helium since 2021, the consumer to make an informed decision at the Indian industry stands to lose out heavily. pre-purchase stage. ¾¾The Federal Helium Reserve which is the major helium ¾¾Grievance Redressal Mechanism: reserve of the USA is set to close down production €€Marketplaces, as well as sellers, need to appoint in 2021, and scientists are looking for new reserves a grievance officer. to replace it. zzMarketplace Model of E-commerce: It means providing an information technology platform by Key points an e-commerce entity on a digital and electronic ¾¾About Helium: network to act as a facilitator between buyer €€Helium is a chemical element with the symbol He and seller. and atomic number 2. ¾¾Restriction on Unfair Trade Practice, Manipulation €€It is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic, and Discrimination: inert, monatomic gas, the first in the noble gas €€No e-commerce entity shall manipulate the group in the periodic table.

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¾¾Indian Reserves: €€India’s Rajmahal volcanic basin in Jharkhand is the storehouse of helium trapped for billions of years, since the very birth of Earth from the Sun. €€At present, researchers are mapping the Rajmahal basin extensively for future exploration and harnessing of helium. ¾¾Need for India: €€To Reduce Import Burden: zzEvery year, India imports helium worth Rs. 55,000 crores from the USA to meet its needs. €€Vast Use: zzHelium is used in medicine, scientific research, for blimp inflation, party balloons as well as for welding applications. zzIt finds many applications, mainly in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, in rockets and in nuclear reactors. ¾¾ €€Its boiling point is the lowest among all the USA’s Monopoly: elements. €€After discovering that helium was concentrated ¾¾Discovery of Helium: in large quantities under the American Great Plains. €€Atmosphere Surrounding the Sun: €€The USA became the most important exporter zzHelium was discovered in the gaseous of helium across the world. atmosphere surrounding the Sun by the French astronomer Pierre Janssen, who detected a €€It was soon realized that the USA was also the bright yellow line in the spectrum of the solar biggest storehouse of helium. chromosphere during an eclipse in India in the ¾¾Other Option: year 1868. €€Qatar is a possible exporter but acute political and zzJoseph Norman Lockyer recorded the same diplomatic wrangles have made Qatarunreliable . line by observing the sun through London smog and, assuming the new element to be a metal, he named it helium. National Bank for €€On Earth: Financing Infrastructure zzThe British chemist Sir William Ramsay and Development Bill, 2021 discovered the existence of helium on Earth in 1895. Why in News €€In India: zzIn 1906 a young Englishman by the name Recently, the Rajya Sabha cleared the National Bank of Morris Travers extracted helium in small for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NBFID) quantities by heating up monazite sand Bill, 2021. abundantly available in Kerala beach, in a ¾¾The Bill seeks to establish the National Bank for pioneering effort. Financing Infrastructure and Development (NBFID) „„Monazite is a primarily reddish-brown as the principal Development Financial Institution phosphate mineral that contains rare-earth (DFIs) for infrastructure financing. elements. ¾¾NBFID was announced in the Budget 2021.

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Development Financial Institution banks, mutual funds, and multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development ¾¾DFIs are set up for providing long-term finance for such Bank. segments of the economy where the risks involved are beyond the acceptable limits of commercial €€Initially, the central government will own 100% banks and other ordinary financial institutions. shares of the institution which maysubsequently be reduced up to 26%. €€Unlike banks, DFIs do not accept deposits from people. ¾¾Management of NBFID: ¾¾They source funds from the market, government, €€NBFID will be governed by a Board of Directors. as well as multilateral institutions, and are often The Chairperson will be appointed by the central supported through government guarantees. government in consultation with RBI. €€A body constituted by the central government Key Points will recommend candidates for the post of the ¾¾About: Managing Director and Deputy Managing Directors. €€The Board will appoint independent directors based €€NBFID will be set up as a corporate body with authorised share capital of one lakh crore rupees. on the recommendation of an internal committee. ¾¾ ¾¾Objective: Support from the Central Government: €€The central government will provide grants worth €€Financial Objective: Rs. 5,000 crore to NBFID by the end of the first zzTo directly or indirectly lend, invest, or attract financial year. investments for infrastructure projects located entirely or partly in India. €€The government will also provide guarantee at a concessional rate of up to 0.1% for borrowing €€Developmental Objective: from multilateral institutions, sovereign wealth zzIncludes facilitating the development of the funds, and other foreign funds. market for bonds, loans, and derivatives for €€Costs towards insulation from fluctuations in infrastructure financing. foreign exchange (in connection with borrowing ¾¾Functions of NBFID: in foreign currency) may be reimbursed by the €€Extending loans and advances for infrastructure government in part or full. projects. €€Upon request by NBFID, the government may €€Taking over or refinancing such existing loans. guarantee the bonds, debentures, and loans €€Attracting investmentfrom private sector investors issued by NBFID. and institutional investors for infrastructure projects. ¾¾Prior Sanction For Investigation And Prosecution: €€Organising and facilitating foreign participation €€No investigation can be initiated against employees in infrastructure projects. of NBFID without the prior sanction of the central €€Facilitating negotiations with various government government in case of the chairperson or other authorities for dispute resolution in the field of directors, and the managing director in case of infrastructure financing. other employees. €€Providing consultancy services in infrastructure €€Courts will also require prior sanction for taking financing. cognisance of offences in matters involving ¾¾Source of Funds: employees of NBFID. ¾¾Other Development Financial Institutions: €€It may raise money in the form of loans or otherwise both in Indian rupees and foreign currencies, or €€The Bill also provides for any person to set up a secure money by the issue and sale of various DFI by applying to RBI. financial instruments including bonds and €€RBI may grant a licence for DFI in consultation with debentures. the central government. €€It may borrow money from the central government, €€RBI will also prescribe regulations for these Reserve Bank of India (RBI), scheduled commercial DFIs.

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of listed companies by asking such companies to Tata - Mistry Judgement have on their board at least one director elected by such small shareholders. Why in News €€Since the Mistry family and the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group are not small shareholders, but minority Recently, the Supreme Court overturned the National shareholders, there is no statutory provision which Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) decision and gives them the “right to claim proportionate upheld Tata Group’s decision to remove Cyrus Pallonji representation,” on the board of Tata Sons. Mistry as the Executive Chairman and Director of Tata Sons. €€Private companies, which have minority shareholders, are free to make an enabling Key Points provision but are under no statutory obligation to give minority shareholder seats on the board. ¾¾Supreme Court Observations: ¾¾Significance of the Judgement: €€Minority shareholders or their representatives are not automatically entitled to a seat on the €€Though the judgment does not directly impact the private company’s board like a small shareholder’s right of minority shareholders, such shareholders representative. will have to ensure that they have a contract with the majority shareholders or the promoters Minority Shareholders of the company to ensure they have adequate ¾¾They are the equity holders of a firm who do not representation on the board. enjoy the voting power of the firm by virtue of his or her below 50% ownership of the firm’s equity National Company Law Appellate Tribunal capital. ¾¾It was constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013 for hearing appeals against the Small Shareholders orders of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). ¾¾According to the Companies Act, small shareholders ¾¾NCLAT is also the Appellate Tribunal for hearing is a shareholder or group of shareholders who hold appeals against the orders passed by NCLT(s) under shares of nominal value of not more than Rs. 20,000. the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). The Companies Act 2013 €€NCLAT also hears appeals against the orders passed ¾¾It is an Indian company law which regulates by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India. incorporation of a company, responsibilities of a ¾¾NCLAT is also the Appellate Tribunal to hear and company, directors, dissolution of a company. dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the Competition €€The provisions contained in the Companies Act . 2013 only protects the rights of small shareholders Commission of India (CCI)

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International Relations

Highlights zz PM’s Visit to Bangladesh zz Permanent Indus Commission zz Japan to Fund Projects in India zz India-South Korea: Friendship Park zz India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Women’s Forum Meeting zz The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process zz India’s Act East Policy

€€Bangladesh reiterated its long-pending request for PM’s Visit to Bangladesh concluding the interim agreement on the sharing of the waters of the Teesta river. Why in News zzThe draft agreement has already been agreed upon by both Governments in January 2011. The Prime Minister of India paid a State Visit to Bangladesh to join the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee €€India also requested for early finalization of the of the Independence of Bangladesh, the Birth Centenary draft of the interim agreement for sharing of water of the Father of the NationBangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur of Feni River, pending with the Bangladesh side Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic which had been agreed upon by both sides in 2011. relationsbetween India and Bangladesh. zzAlso, requested working towards an early conclusion of the Framework of Interim Key Points Agreement on sharing of waters of six common rivers, namely, ¾¾Joint Celebrations of Historical Links: Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar. €€Bangladesh thanked India for conferring Gandhi €€Directed the Joint Technical Committee to Peace Prize for the year 2020 on Bangabandhu expeditiously commence the feasibility study of the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Ganges-Padma barrage for optimum utilization of €€Jointly inaugurated the Bangabandhu - Bapu the Ganges waters received by Bangladesh as per in Dhaka. Digital Exhibition the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, 1996. th €€To mark the 50 anniversary of India-Bangladesh ¾¾Trade for Growth: friendship: €€Stressed the need for predictability of trade zzBoth sides released respectivecommemorative policies, regulations and procedures and the need postage stamps. for removal of non-tariff barriers. zz th Decided to commemorate 6 December as €€Stressed the urgent need for up-gradation of Maitri Diwas, the day when India recognized infrastructure and facilities of the Land Customs Bangladesh in the year 1971. zzIndia announced the establishment of the Bangabandhu Chair at the University of Delhi. €€Bangladesh thanked India for naming the historic road from Mujib Nagar to Nadia on the Bangladesh-India border as “Shadhinota Shorok” commemorating the historic significance of the road during Bangladesh’s Liberation War. ¾¾Water Resources Cooperation:

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Stations (LCSs) / Land Ports in a coordinated manner €€Bangladesh offered the use of Chattogram and to facilitate trade between the two countries. Sylhet International Airport, by the people of €€Reiterated the importance of harmonization of North East India, especially of Tripura. standards and mutual recognitionof agreements ¾¾Cooperation in Public Health: and certificates for enhancing bilateral trade. €€Bangladesh thanked the Government of India for zzBangladesh Standards and Testing Institute giving 3.2 million doses of Oxford Astra Zeneca (BSTI) and the Bureau of Indian Standards Covishield vaccine made in India. (BIS) would collaborate for the capacity building ¾¾Border Management and Security Cooperation: and development of testing and Lab facilities. €€Bangladesh reiterated the request for 1.3 km €€India congratulated Bangladesh on its upcoming Innocent Passage through river route along with graduation from the Least Developed Country River Padma, on humanitarian grounds. (LDC) status. zzIndia requested for completion of border fencing €€Emphasized on expeditious conclusion of the at all pending sectors at the international border ongoing joint study on the prospects of entering at the earliest, beginning from the Tripura into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership (India) - Bangladesh sector. Agreement (CEPA). €€Defence Cooperation:Emphasized on the frequent €€Bangladesh invited Indian investment in the jute exchange of programs and enhancing cooperation to revitalize and modernize mills of Bangladesh in training and capacity building. the jute sector. zzIndia has offereda USD 500 million line of credit €€India requested early finalization of modalities for defence imports from India into Bangladesh for implementation of theKatihar – Parbotipur – and thus requested for early operationalization Bornagar cross border electricity interconnection. of this defense Line of Credit. €€Took stock of progress in the implementation of €€Welcomed the signing of an MoU on Disaster the India Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline and unit- Management, Resilience and Mitigation. 1 of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project. ¾¾New Areas of Cooperation: ¾¾Connectivity for Prosperity: €€Acknowledged the potential of new and emerging €€India expressed gratitude for Bangladesh’s initiative areas of cooperation in cutting edge areas of of revitalizing the pre-1965 rail connectivity. science, artificial intelligence, peaceful uses of €€Bangladesh reiterated its eagerness to partner in nuclear technology, big data and technology the ongoing initiative of the India – Myanmar - enabled services in health and education. Thailand trilateral highway project. €€50 young entrepreneurs from Bangladesh were €€Also agreed to an early operationalization of invited to visit India and present their ideas to the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement through venture capitalists. expeditious signing of the Enabling MoU for Bangladesh, India, and Nepal to commence the ¾¾Partners in the Region and the World: movement of goods and passengers, with provision €€Agreed to continue working together for common for Bhutan to join at a later date. objectives in the United Nations and other €€India urged for early operationalization of the trans- multilateral fora. shipment Agreement on the use of Chattogram and €€Emphasized that the regional organizations, Mongla Ports for the Movement of Goods to and such as SAARC and BIMSTEC have an important from India (Kolkata to Agartala via Chattogram). role to play, particularly in the post-Covid-19 zzIndia also requested for trans-shipment arrange- situation. ment in Munshiganj and Pangaon as part of the €€Bangladesh thanked India for convening the SAARC Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade. leaders Video Conference in March 2020 and zzRecently, Maitree Setu (between India and for proposing creation of the SAARC Emergency Bangladesh) over River Feni in South Tripura Response Fund to counter effects of the global has been inaugurated. pandemic in the South Asian region.

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€€Bangladesh highlighted that the country would assume chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for the first time in October 2021 and requested the support of India for working towards greater maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean region. €€India welcomed the decision of Bangladesh to join the New Development Bank (NDB). ¾¾The two Prime Ministers also announced/ unveiled the following: €€Foundation stone laying ceremony for amemorial in the honour of the Martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives during Liberation to allow better utilisation of solar power War of 1971 at Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria. generated in South Andaman. €€Foundation stone for five packages out of total eight zzThis grant is Japan’s first ever Official packages of Rooppur Power Evacuation Project. . Development Assistance (ODA) to a project €€Inauguration of3 border haats, Nalikata (India) - in the A&N islands.

Saydabad (Bangladesh), Ryngku (India) - Bagan Bari €€About Official Development Assistance (ODA): (Bangladesh) and Bholagunj (India) – Bholagunj zzODA is defined as government aid designed (Bangladesh). to promote the economic development and zzBorder Haats aim at promoting the wellbeing welfare of developing countries. of the people dwelling in remote areas across „„Loans and credits for military purposes are the borders of two countries, by establishing excluded. a traditional system of marketing the local zzIndia has been the top recipient of the Japanese produce through local markets. government’s financial aid under the ODA. €€Inauguration of‘Mitali Express’ - passenger train ¾¾Japan’s Aid for Other Projects: connecting Dhaka on Bangladesh side and New Jalpaiguri on the Indian. €€For Delhi Metro’s fourth phase. €€For Metro lines under Namma Metro’s second Japan to Fund Projects in India phase in Bengaluru. €€For crop diversification in Himachal Pradesh. €€For mitigating fluorosis in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu Why in News and Barmer districts. Japan has finalised loans and a grant totalling around ¾¾Other Recent Developments Between India and Japan: 233 billion yen for several key infrastructure projects in €€Recently, the first summit of the leaders’ of the India, including for a project in the Andaman and Nicobar QUAD (Quadrilateral Framework) was held virtually. islands. zzQUAD is a four-nation alliance of India, Australia, Key Points USA and Japan. €€In 2020, India and Japan signed a logistics ¾¾Grant for Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI): agreement that will allow armed forces of both €€About the Grant: sides to coordinate closely in services and supplies. zzA grant of 4.01 billion yen for a project for the The agreement is known as the Acquisition and improvement of power supply in strategically Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). located Andaman and Nicobar Islands. €€In 2019, India and Japan held the first-ever „„The grant would be used to procure 15MWh ministerial-level 2+2 dialogue. This dialogue batteries as well as power system stabilisers involved the Defence and Foreign Ministers on both

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sides and is seen as an endorsement of the special ¾¾Recently, the Prime Minister has declared that the strategic partnership between India and Japan. ANI will be developed as a “maritime and startup €€A “India-Japan Digital Partnership (I-JDP)” was hub”. launched during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Japan in October 2018, furthering existing areas of cooperation as well as new initiatives within the scope of cooperation in S&T/ICT, focusing more on “Digital ICT Technologies”. €€In 2014, India and Japan upgraded their relationship to ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’. €€The India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that came into force in August 2011 covers trade in goods, services, movement of natural persons, investments, Intellectual Property Rights, custom procedures Fluorosis and other trade related issues. ¾¾Fluorosis is a cosmetic condition that affects the €€India and Japan defence forces organize a series of teeth. bilateral exercises namely, JIMEX (naval), SHINYUU ¾¾It’s caused by overexposure to fluoride during the Maitri (Air Force), and Dharma Guardian (Army). first eight years of life. This is the time when most Both countries also participate inMalabar exercise permanent teeth are being formed. (Naval Exercise) with the USA. ¾¾After the teeth come in, the teeth of those affected Significance of Andaman and Nicobar Islands by fluorosis may appear mildly discolored. ¾¾The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) are located at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) the Andaman Sea. Women’s Forum Meeting ¾¾It is a group of 572 islands, which straddles some of the busiest trade routes in the world. ¾¾ANI spans 450 nautical miles in a roughly north-south Why in News configurationadjacent to the western entrance to Recently, the Sixth India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) the Malacca Strait, which is itself a major Indian Women’s Forum meeting was held virtually. Ocean chokepoint. ¾¾India is the current chair of IBSA Dialogue Forum. ¾¾Geopolitically, the ANI connects South Asia with South-East Asia. While the northernmost point Key Points of the archipelago is only 22 nautical miles from ¾¾Highlights from the Meeting: Myanmar, the southernmost point, Indira Point, is €€Recalled that the Year 2020 marked a mere 90 nautical miles from Indonesia. zzThe 25th anniversary of Beijing Declaration and ¾¾The islands dominate the Bay of Bengal, the Six Platform for Action (BDFA): The 1995 Beijing Degree and the Ten Degree Channels that more Platform for Action flagged 12 key areaswhere than sixty thousand commercial vessels traverse urgent action was needed to ensure greater each year. equality and opportunities for women and men, ¾¾The Andaman and Nicobar Islands constitute just girls and boys. It also laid out concrete ways for 0.2% of India’s landmass but provide near 30% of countries to bring about change. its Exclusive Economic Zone. zzThe 5th anniversary of adoption of 2030 Agenda ¾¾Due to the presence of ANI in the Bay of Bengal, for Sustainable development & Sustainable India has a better position to play a vital role in Development Goals (SDG): Goal 5 aims to Indo-Pacific. eliminate all forms of discrimination and

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violence against women in the public and zzWhile India has taken some measures on human private sphere. development, its global standing on gender zzThe 20th anniversary of UNSC RESOLUTION equality remains low. India’s ranking in the 1325 on women, peace and security. Global Gender Gap Report, commissioned by th zzA Decade since UN WOMEN was established: the World Economic Forum, declined from 108 UN Women is the United Nations (UN) in 2018 to 112th in 2020. organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was established India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum in 2010. ¾¾About: The IBSA Dialogue Forum is a tripartite €€Lauded the efforts of Government of India in helping grouping (India, Brazil, South Africa) for promoting out other countries to overcome the challenges cooperation among these countries. posed by Covid-19 pandemic by providing vaccines, masks, sanitizers, PPE Kits etc. ¾¾India’s Effort for Women Empowerment: €€Equal rights for men and women are enshrined under Articles 14 to 16 in the Indian constitution. €€It signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1980 and ratified it in 1993 with some reservations. €€The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 have been enacted to criminalise instances of dowry and domestic violence. €€The government also increased maternity leave ¾¾Formation:The grouping was formalized and named from 12 weeks to 26 weeks under the Maternity the IBSA Dialogue Forum when the Foreign Ministers Benefit Act in 2017 for the private sector. of the three countries met in Brasilia (Brazil) on 6th €€The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace June 2003 and issued the Brasilia Declaration. (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 ¾¾Headquarters: IBSA does not have a headquarters has been enacted covering all the women, in spite or a permanent executive secretariat. At the highest of their age and employment status, and protects level, it counts on the Summits of Heads of State them from sexual harassment at workplaces, in and Government. both the public and private sectors of the industry where the women are employed. €€So far Five IBSA Leadership Summits have been held. The 5th IBSA Summit was held in Pretoria €€Another milestone was reached when the Supreme th Court upended the government’s position on (South Africa) in 2011. The 6 IBSA Summit is to women serving as army commanders in 2020. be hosted by India. ¾¾ €€Efforts to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill IBSA Fund for Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger, which gives 33% reservation for women seats in established in 2004, is a unique Fund through which all levels of Indian politics. development projects are executed with IBSA funding in fellow developing countries. €€Flagship schemes to promote gender equality, including Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Save the €€Till date IBSA has supported 31 projects in 20 Daughter, Educate the Daughter), Pradhan partner developing countries in the areas of safe Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (a scheme to provide gas drinking water, agriculture and livestock, solar connections to women from below the poverty energy, waste management, health etc., with the line households) and Mahila-E-Haat (which uses aim of contributing to the achievement of the technology to support female entrepreneurs). SDGs (earlier MDGs).

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€€The IBSA Fund has been the recipient of several Look East Policy key recognitions including the UN South-South ¾¾In order to recover from the loss of the strategic Partnership Award in 2006 (for projects in Haiti partner - USSR (end of the Cold war 1991), India and Guinea-Bissau), an MDG Award for South- sought to build up a relationship with the USA and South Cooperation in 2010 and the South-South allies of the USA in Southeast Asia. Champions Award in 2012 recognizing the work of the three countries in using innovative approaches ¾¾In this pursuit, former Prime minister of India P V to share development experiences in other parts Narasimha Rao launched Look East policy in 1992, of the world. to give a strategic push to India’s engagement with ¾¾Joint naval exercise IBSAMAR (IBSA Maritime the South-East Asia region, to bolster its standing Exercise) is an important part of IBSA trilateral defence as a regional power and a counterweight to the cooperation. Six editions of IBSAMAR have been held strategic influence of the People’s Republic of China. so far, the latest one being off the coast of South „„India became a dialogue partner of ASEAN Africa in October, 2018. in 1996 and summit level partner in 2002. „„In 2012 the relationship gotup-graded into India’s Act East Policy a Strategic Partnership. „„The time when India launched the Look East Why in News Policy in 1992, India’s trade with ASEAN was USD 2 billion. After signing the Free Trade Recently, the Union Minister of State Development Agreement in 2010 with ASEAN, the trade of North Eastern Region (DoNER) said that connectivity has grown to USD 72 billion (2017-18). is an important element of Act East Policy. „„India is also an active participant in several Key Points regional forums like the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) etc. ¾¾ : About €€Act East: €€The ‘Act East Policy’ announced in November, 2014 zzAct East Policy focused on ASEAN countries + is the upgrade of the “Look East Policy”. Economic Integration + East Asian countries + €€It is a diplomatic initiative to promote economic, Security cooperation. with the vast Asia- strategic and cultural relations „„Prime minister of India highlighted 4C’s of Pacific region at different levels. Act East Policy. €€It involves intensive and continuous engagement 1. Culture with Southeast Asian countries in the field of 2. Commerce connectivity, trade, culture, defence and people- to-people-contact at bilateral, regional and 3. Connectivity multilateral levels. 4. Capacity building ¾¾Aim: zzSecurity is an important dimension of India’s €€To promote economic cooperation, cultural ties Act East Policy. and developing a strategic relationship with „„In the context of growing Chinese assertiveness countries in Indo-pacific region with a proactive in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, and pragmatic approach and thereby improving securing freedom of navigation and India’s the economic development of the North Eastern own role in the Indian Ocean is a key feature Region (NER) which is a gateway to the South East of Act East Policy. Asia Region. „„In pursuance of this, India has been engaged ¾¾Difference Between Look East and Act East: under the narrative of Indo-pacific and €€Look East: informal grouping called Quad. ¾¾ zzLook East policy focused on the Association of Initiatives to Enhance Connectivity: Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries + €€Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link between India and Economic Integration. Bangladesh.

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€€Intermodal transport linkages and inland waterways €€Scholarships with offers of 1000 PhD fellowships through Bangladesh. have been offered at IITs for ASEAN countries €€Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project participants. and the Trilateral Highway Project connecting the €€India is also implementingQuick Impact Projects North East with Myanmar and Thailand. in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to €€Under India-Japan Act East Forum, projects such provide development assistance to grass-root as Road and Bridges and modernization ofHydro- level communities in the fields of education, water electric power projects have been undertaken. resources, health etc. zzIndia-Japan Act East Forum was established zzQuick Impact Projects (QIPs) are small-scale, low in 2017 which aims to provide a platform for cost projects that are planned and implemented India-Japan collaboration under the rubric of within a short timeframe. India’s “Act East Policy” and Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy”. Permanent Indus Commission zzThe Forum will identify specific projects for economic modernization of India’s North-East region including those pertaining to connectivity, Why in News developmental infrastructure, industrial linkages The 116th Meeting of Permanent Indus Commission as well as people-to-people contacts through (PIC) between India and Pakistan is underway in New tourism, culture and sports-related activities. Delhi. ¾¾Other Initiatives: ¾¾The first day of the Meeting coincided with the €€Assistance extended in the form of medicines/ National Day of Pakistan (marks Lahore Resolution medical supplies to ASEAN countries during the of 23rd March, 1940). pandemic. Key Points ¾¾About the Latest Meeting: €€The meeting is being held after a gap of more than two-and-a-half years, a period that witnessed: zzPulwama attack (14th February, 2019), Balakot air strike (26th february, 2019), and zzAbrogation of special provisions underArticle 370 that gave special status to J&K. €€A discussion on Pakistan’s objections about two India Projects - Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai - is expected to be held. zzIndia is building Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project (1,000 MW) on river Marusudar, a tributary of the Chenab. The project is located in Kishtwar district of J&K. zzThe second project – Lower Kalnai – is being developed on the Chenab. €€Routine issues such as flood data exchange mechanisms are also expected to be discussed. €€The meeting is being seen as a positive stepafter both countries agreed to “strict observance of all agreements, understanding and ceasefire along the Line of Control and all other sectors” last month.

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¾¾About the Permanent Indus Commission: €€There have been disagreements and differences €€It is a bilateral commission of officials from India between India and Pakistan over dams. For eg. In and Pakistan, created to implement and manage 2010, Pakistan instituted international arbitration goals of the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960. proceedings over India’s 330-megawatt hydropower project on a small Indus tributary, the €€The Commission, according to the treaty, shall Kishenganga meet regularly at least once a year, alternately (known as Neelum in Pakistan). in India and Pakistan. €€Though Indus originates from Tibet, China has If China decides to €€The functions of the Commission include: been kept out of the Treaty. stop or change the flow of the river, it will affect zzTo study and report to the two Governments both India and Pakistan. on any problem relating to the development on the waters of the rivers. €€Climate change is causing melting of ice in Tibetan plateau, which scientists believe will affect the zzTo solve disputes arising over water sharing. river in future. zzTo arrange technical visits to projects’ sites and critical river head works. Lahore Resolution zzTo undertake, once in every five years, a general ¾¾A historic session of the All-India Muslim League tour of inspection of the Rivers for ascertaining was held at Lahore in March 1940. the facts. €€Muhammad Ali Jinnah explained how Hindus zzTo take necessary steps for the implementation and Muslims cannot co-exist peacefully. of the provisions of the treaty. ¾¾On 23rd March, an epoch-making resolution was €€The 115th meeting of the PIC was held in Lahore moved at that session demanding that areas of the in August, 2018. subcontinent of India in which the Muslims were ¾¾Indus Water Treaty, 1960: numerically in a majority, as in the North-Western €€It is a treaty brokered by the World Bank and and Eastern Zones, should be grouped to constitute signed by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and independent States. Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan which administers ¾¾Having regard to the place of its adoption, how the waters of the Indus and its tributaries the resolution was originally referred to as the that flow in both the countries will be utilised. Lahore Resolution. The Hindu Press, however, €€According to the treaty, waters of the eastern dubbed it as the Pakistan Resolution and eventually, rivers — Sutlej, Beas and Ravi had been allocated in popular parlance, it came to be called as to India, while the western rivers — the Indus, such. Jhelum and Chenab to Pakistan. ¾¾The Lahore Resolution was thebeginning of the end of €€Under the treaty, India has been given the right the administrative unity of the entire sub continent, to generate hydroelectricity through a run of the which had been created by the Muslim Emperors river projects on the western rivers subject to and continued by the British;within eight years of specific criteria for design and operation. its adoption the subcontinent was partitioned and Pakistan appeared as an independent sovereign zzIndia has cleared several hydropower projects in Ladakh: Darbuk Shyok (19 MW), Shankoo (18.5 State on its map. MW), Nimu Chilling (24 MW), Rongdo (12 MW), Ratan Nag (10.5 MW) for Leh; and Mangdum India-South Korea: Sangra (19 MW), Kargil Hunderman (25 MW) and Tamasha (12 MW) for Kargil. Friendship Park €€It also gives Pakistan the right to raise concerns on the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on Why in News western rivers. Recently, Indian Defence Minister and his South €€The Treaty also provides an arbitration mechanism Korean counterpart inaugurated the India - Korea to solve disputes amicably. Friendship Park in a ceremony at the Delhi Cantonment.

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zzOne pillar also encompasses Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s narration of Korea as “The Lamp of the East” which was published in Korean daily “Dong-A-ilbo” in 1929. ¾¾Developed By: €€The park has been developed in joint consultation with the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Indian Army, Delhi Cantonment Board, Embassy of Korea and Korean War Veterans Association of India. ¾¾Significance: €€The park’s significance is not only because of it being a symbol of strong India-South Korea friendly relations, but also as a monument to ¾¾Later on both the ministers concluded a bilateral India’s contributions as part of 21 countries which meeting and explored different areas of cooperation. participated in Korean war 1950-53, under the ¾¾Earlier in February 2019, the Prime Minister of India aegis of the United Nations. visited South Korea (Republic of Korea). ¾¾Issues Discussed at the Meet: Key Points €€Discussed maritime cooperation as part of the Indo-Pacificstrategy and also cooperation in the ¾¾About: defense industry and future technologies. €€Spread across a green area of six acres, the park zzThe two countries have a logistics agreement includes an entrance gate made in Korean style, helping the Indian navy while operating in the a jogging track, well landscaped garden and an Indo-Pacific region. amphitheatre. €€Has an imposing handshake artifact standing tall India-South Korea Relations at the entrance bearing flags of India and South ¾¾Political: Korea. €€During the Korean War (1950- 53), India played €€Has statue of General KS Thimayya, a celebrated a major role in a cease-fire agreement signed soldier who led the Indian contingent in the Korean between both the warring sides (North Korea and War as Chairman of Neutral Nations Repatriation South Korea) and the ceasefire was declared on Commission (NNRC) in Korea headed by India. 27th July 1953. zzNeutral Nations Repatriation Commission: €€In May 2015, the bilateral relationship wasupgraded „„One of the follow-up actions to the Armistice to ‘special strategic partnership’. Agreement in the Korean War was the establishment of a NNRC which was to decide €€India has a major role to play in South Korea’s on the fate of over 20,000 prisoners of war Southern Policy under which Korea is looking at from both sides. expanding relations beyond its immediate region. €€ „„India was chosen as the Chair of the NNRC, Similarly, South Korea is a major player in India’s with Poland and Czechoslovakia representing Act East Policy under which India aims to promote the Communist bloc and Sweden and economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop Switzerland representing the Western world. strategic relationships with countries in the Asia- Pacific. €€The five pillars raised in the backdrop of General Thimayya’s statue are embossed with details of ¾¾Economic: operations carried out by 60 Parachute Field €€The current bilateral trade between India and Ambulance (deployed by India) during the Korean South Korea is at USD 21 billion and the target war where they had treated about 1,95,000 cases, that has been set is USD 50 billion by the year and performed about 2,300 field surgeries. 2030.

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€€India and South Korea have signed the Comprehensive €€It provides a platform for sincere and results- Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), 2010 oriented regional cooperation by placing which has facilitated the growth of trade relations. Afghanistan at its center, in recognition of the fact €€To facilitate investment from Korea, India has that a secure and stable Afghanistan is vital to the launched a “Korea Plus” facilitation cell under prosperity of the Heart of Asia region. ‘Invest India’ to guide, assist and handhold investors. €€This platform was established toaddress the shared €€India’s share in Korea’s global trade was 1.72% challenges and interests of Afghanistan and its in 2020 and India’s contribution in Korea’s global neighbors and regional partners. imports increased from 0.78% in 2001 to 1.05% €€The Heart of Asia comprises 15 participating in 2020. countries, 17 supporting countries, and 12 ¾¾Cultural: supporting regional and international organizations. €€Korean Buddhist Monk Hyecho or Hong Jiao zzIndia is a participating country. visited India from 723 to 729 AD and wrote the €€Since its inception the process has become a travelogue “Pilgrimage to the five kingdoms of cardinal element in regional cooperation and has India” which gives a vivid account of Indian culture, created a platform for Afghanistan’s near and politics & society. extended neighbors, international supporters and €€Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore had composed organizations to engage in constructive dialogue a short but evocative poem– ‘Lamp of the East’ - in and to address the existing and emerging regional 1929 about Korea’s glorious past and its promising challenges through regional cooperation with bright future. Afghanistan at its core. €€To further enhance cultural exchanges between ¾¾Intra-Afghan Negotiations (IAN): India and Korea, Indian Cultural Centres (ICC) were €€It refers to the talks between the Afghan gov- established in Seoul in April 2011and in Busan in ernment and Taliban insurgents with the goal of December 2013. bringing an end to nearly two decades of a conflict ¾¾Multilateral Platforms Shared by Both the Countries: that has laid waste to the country and killed tens €€United Nations. of thousands of combatants and civilians. €€ World Trade Organization. €€The participants of intra-Afghan negotiations will €€ASEAN Plus. discuss the date and modalities of a permanent €€East Asia Summit (EAS). and comprehensive ceasefire, including agreement €€G-20. over the future political roadmap of Afghanistan. €€The negotiations will cover a variety of issues, The Heart of including the rights of women, free speech, and changes to the country’s constitution. Asia-Istanbul Process €€The talks would also lay out the fate of tens of thousands of Taliban fightersas well as the heavily Why in News armed militias belonging to Afghanistan’s warlords External Affairs Minister of India attended the9th who have amassed wealth and power since the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Taliban were ousted from power in 2001. ¾¾He called for a “double peace” which means peace ¾¾Regional Connectivity Initiatives: within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan €€During the conference, the Afghanistan President and also said India supports the Intra-Afghan appreciated the number of regional connectivity Negotiations (IAN). initiatives including theChabahar port project, as well as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan- Key Points India (TAPI) pipeline. ¾¾The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP): ¾¾India’s Stand: €€It was founded in November, 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey. €€India believes any peace process must be Afghan-

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led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled, has to (Turkmenistan), Afghan Gas (Afghanistan), Interstate respect the national sovereignty and territorial Gas Service (Pakistan), and Gas Authority of India and preserve the progress integrity of Afghanistan and Indian Oil (India). made in the establishment of a democratic Islamic ¾¾The four countries signed an Inter Government Republic in Afghanistan. Agreement (IGA) and Gas Pipeline Framework €€The interests of minorities, women and vulnerable Agreements (GPFA) in December 2010 for the sections of society must be preserved and the issue development of the pipeline. of violence across the country and its neighbourhood has to be effectively addressed.

TAPI Pipeline ¾¾TAPI Pipeline, also called Peace pipeline, is a 1,814km natural gas pipeline that originates from Turkmenistan and passes through Afghanistan and Pakistan to reach India. ¾¾It aims to monetise Turkmenistan’s gas reserves and supply them to neighbouring countries to promote the use of natural gas and improve energy security. ¾¾The project is being developed by TAPI Pipeline Company (TPCL), a consortium established by four individual state-owned gas companies Turkmengaz

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Science and Technology

Highlights zz Double Mutant Coronavirus Variant zz US India Artificial Intelligence Initiative zz Moving Black Hole zz NISAR: Joint Earth Observing Mission of NASA and ISRO zz Refrigeration System Pusa-FSF zz Asteroid Apophis

Double Mutant Variant of Concern ¾¾These are variants for which there is evidence of Coronavirus Variant an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease (increased hospitalizations or deaths), significant Why in News reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced A unique “double mutant” coronavirus variant with effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic a combination of mutations, not seen anywhere else in detection failures. the world, has been found in India. €€The double mutation in key areas of the virus’ Key Points spike protein may increase the risks and allow the virus to escape the immune system. ¾¾Meaning of Mutation: zzThe spike protein is the part of the virus that it €€Mutationis an alteration in the genetic material uses to penetrate human cells. (the genome) of a cell of a living organism or of a virus that is more or less permanent and that can be €€Presence of a VOC or suspected VOC does not transmitted to the cell’s or the virus’s descendants. automatically mean that they are causing the outbreak, but rather suggests challenges to public €€The genomes of organisms are all composed health measures for containment. of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), whereas viral genomes can be of DNA or Ribo Nucleic €€While the double mutants have been associated Acid (RNA). with a reduction in vaccine efficacy as well as infectivity, their combined effect and biological ¾¾Double Mutant: implication has not yet been understood. €€Genome sequencing of a section of virus ¾¾Other Variant: samples by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG), revealed the presence €€Also genome variation studies from Kerala have of two mutations, E484Q and L452Rtogether, in revealed the presence of other mutations. virus samples from states such as Maharashtra, zzIt is associated with the ability to help the Delhi, Punjab and Gujarat. coronavirus evade antibodies. €€The INSACOG will submit details of this variant €€The N440K mutation that is associated with to a global repository called Global Initiative on immune escape has also been reported from Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) and, if it 16 other countries, including the UK, Denmark, merits, classify it as a Variant of Concern (VOC). Singapore, Japan and Australia. zzSo far, only three global VOCs have been ¾¾Solution: identified: theU.K. variant (B.1.1.7), the South €€It would require the same epidemiological and African (B.1.351) and the Brazilian (P.1) lineage. public health response of increased testing, ¾¾Challenges of Double Mutant: comprehensive tracking of close contacts, prompt

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isolation of positive cases & contacts as well as treatment as per “National Treatment Protocol” Moving Black Hole by the States/UTs. ¾¾Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics Why in News (INSACOG): Scientists have discovered the first moving super- €€INSACOG is a multi-laboratory, multi-agency, pan- massive black hole whose mass is about three million India network to monitor genomic variations in times that of our Sun. the SARS-CoV-2. ¾¾The black hole was travelling within its own galaxy €€It helps in the understanding of how the virus (J0437+2456) which is around 228 million light years spreads and evolves. away from Earth. €€Genomic surveillance can generate a rich source of Key Points information for tracking pathogen transmission and evolution on both national and international levels. ¾¾Study Conducted by the Scientists: €€Scientists studied 10 faraway galaxies with Genomic Sequencing supermassive black holes in the centre, expecting ¾¾It is a testing process to map the entire genetic code them to have the same velocity as that of the of an organism, in this case, the virus. galaxies they reside in. ¾¾The genetic code of the virus works like its instruction €€Focus of their study was the water in the accretion manual. disk (the spiralling mass around a supermassive ¾¾Mutations in viruses are common but most of them black hole made of matter that is eventually are insignificant and do not cause any change in ingested by the black hole). their ability to transmit or cause serious infection. zzAs the water circles around the black hole before ¾¾But some mutations, like the ones in the UK or falling into it like liquid in a sink, it produces South Africa variant lineages, can make the virus a laser-like beam of radio light known as a more infectious and in some cases even deadlier. maser. These masers can tell the velocity of black holes very accurately. Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data ¾¾About the Moving Supermassive Black Hole: ¾¾The Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data €€Of the 10 black holes they studied, (GISAID) Initiative promotes the rapid sharing of only the one at the center of J0437+2456 was unusual. It was not data from all influenza viruses and the coronavirus moving at the same velocity as its home galaxy. causing Covid-19 zzBesides the empirical evidence, the enormous ¾¾The fast and open sharing of genetic sequences size of these black holes had led people to has allowed researchers to continuously track the imagine them to be stationary objects planted spread of the virus. in the middle of galaxies as opposed to objects ¾¾GISAID has also catalysed the development of floating around in space. diagnostic kits, prototype viruses for research, €€It is moving with a speed of about 1,10,000 miles and medical countermeasures like vaccines and per hour inside its galaxy. antibodies. €€Possible Causes for the Motion: ¾¾The GISAID platform was launched on the occasion of zzTwo Supermassive Black Holes Merging: the Sixty-firstWorld Health Assembly in May 2008. Scientists might have spotted the resulting €€Since its launch, GISAID has played an essential black hole moving in a rearward motion after role in the sharing of data among the World the merger before settling down in a position. Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centers zzOne in a Binary System of Black Holes, where and National Influenza Centers for the bi-annual not one but two supermassive black holes might influenza vaccine virus recommendations by exist within the host galaxy held together by the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and a shared centre of gravity, which they might Response System (GISRS). be orbiting.

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„„The twin of the newly-discovered wandering refrigeration system (Pusa-FSF) and a technology for black hole might not be emitting masers, extraction of gluten from wheat doughand its regener- keeping it from being detected by the radio ation in bajra (pearl-millet) and makka (maize) flour. antenna network. Key Points Black Hole ¾¾Pusa-FSF: ¾¾It refers to a point in space where the matter is so €€Pusa Farm Sun Fridge (Pusa-FSF) is a 100% solar- compressed as to create a gravity field from which powered battery-less cold store that can preserve even light cannot escape. around 2 tonnes of freshly-harvested produce ¾¾The concept was theorized by Albert Einstein in at 3-4°C during the day and 8-12°C at nighttime. 1915 and the term ‘black hole’ was coined in the zzIt has rooftop solar panels that generate 5 mid-1960s by American physicist John Archibald , which helps in running Wheeler. kilowatt (KW) power air conditioning. ¾¾Usually, the black holes belong to two categories: €€The panels also power a 105-watt submersible €€One category ranges between a few solar masses pump circulating about 1,000 litres of water from and tens of solar masses. These are thought to a tank through overhead PVC pipes. form when massive stars die. €€At night, there is only passive evaporative cooling, €€The other category is of supermassive black with the water chilled during the day acting as a holes. These range from hundreds of thousands natural heat sink. to billions of times that of the sun from the Solar system to which Earth belongs. €€All farmers with solar pumps are a potential market for the Pusa-FSF. India has an estimated ¾¾In April 2019, the scientists at the Event Horizon four lakh-plus installed solar water pumps. Telescope Project released the first-ever image of a Black Hole (more precisely, of its shadow). zzAn average 5-horsepower pump costing Rs. 2.5 lakh attracts 70-90% subsidy. €€The Event Horizon Telescope is a group of 8 radio telescopes (used to detect radio waves from €€Benefits: space) located in different parts of the world. zzFarmers can store and preserve their own ¾¾Gravitational waves are created when two black produce. It can avoid distress sales and help holes orbit each other and merge. improve prices. zzIt will help minimise post harvest losses. zzMore room to grow perishable items such as tomatoes, fruits, other than Paddy and Maize. ¾¾Technology for Extraction of Gluten from Wheat Dough: €€Need: Bajra, maize, jowar (sorghum), ragi and other millets contain comparable levels of protein and more vitamins, minerals, crude fibre and other nutrients than wheat. But they don’t have any gluten proteins, which results in poor dough quality. Refrigeration €€About the Technology: The technology imparts System Pusa-FSF elasticity and structural strength to bajra and maize dough, making their chapattis as soft as from regular wheat atta flour. Why in News zzThe proteins extracted and dried into powder Scientsts from the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research have the capacity for regeneration or forming Institute (IARI)have developed an on-farm green energy gluten networks in non-wheat dough.

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zzScientists havedeveloped gluten based ‘Hallur’ €€Example: Healthcare, smart cities, materials, soft bajra flour, with the help of technology. agriculture, energy, and manufacturing. ¾¾Other Technological Developments in the Field of ¾¾It will bring together key stakeholders from India and Agriculture: the United States to create synergies that address €€Happy Seeder - machine for in-situ management challenges and opportunities at the interface of of paddy stubble (straw). science, technology, and society. €€Precision Agriculture Technologies - Precision ¾¾This will provide an opportunity to discuss the Agriculture (PA) is an approach to farm management emerging AI landscape, and address the challenges that uses information technology to ensure that of developing an AI workforce. crops and soil receive exactly what they need for ¾¾Related Recent Initiative: optimum health and productivity. €€India has launched National AI Strategy (NITI Aayog) and National AI Portal (Ministry of Electronics Gluten and Information Technology) and has also started ¾¾ Gluten is a family of storage proteins — formally leveraging AI across various sectors such as known as prolamins — that are naturally found education, agriculture, healthcare, e-commerce, in certain cereal grains, such as wheat, barley etc. finance, telecommunications, etc. €€The two main proteins in gluten are glutenin zzRecently MyGov Corona Helpdesk Chatbot and gliadin. bagged two awards under categories (1) “Best ¾¾Gluten offers a variety of functional culinary benefits Innovation for Covid-19 – Society” and (2) and is responsible for the soft, chewy texture that “People’s Choice Covid-19 Overall Winner” at the is characteristic of many gluten-containing, grain recently held CogX 2020. CogX is a prestigious based foods. Global Leadership Summit and Festival of ¾¾When heated, gluten proteins form an elastic network Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technology that can stretch and trap gas, allowing for optimal held annually in London. leavening or rising and maintenance of moisture in €€Recently, India joined the ‘Global Partnership on breads, pasta, and other similar products. Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)’ as a founding member ¾¾Celiac disease, also spelled as coeliac disease, is the to support the responsible and human-centric most severe form of gluten intolerance. development and use of AI. €€As per a recent report,India reported a 45% US India Artificial increase in the use of Artificial Intelligence, the highest among all countries, because of shift in Intelligence Initiative buying behaviour and new business challenges (owing to Covid-19 pandemic). Why in News €€RAISE 2020 – ‘Responsible AI for Social Recently, US India Artificial Intelligence (USIAI) initi- Empowerment 2020’ was jointly organised by ative has been launched to scale up the science and tech- the NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Electronics nology relationship between India and the United States. and Information Technology (MeitY). €€Vaishwik BhartiyaV aigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit was Key Points organised in 2020 to discuss key areas like quantum ¾¾US India Artificial Intelligence (USIAI) is an initiative technologies, artificial intelligence among others. of Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) which was established in March 2000. Artificial Intelligence ¾¾It describes the action of machines accomplishing tasks €€The Department of Science & Technology (DST), that have historically r Government of India, and the U.S. Department of equired human intelligence. State are respective nodal departments forIUSSTF . ¾¾It includes technologies like machine learning, pattern recognition, big data, neural networks, ¾¾The USIAI will focus on AI cooperation in critical areas that are priorities for both countries. self algorithms etc.

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¾¾AI is different from hardware driven robotic €€NISAR will be equipped with the largest reflector automation. Instead of automating manual tasks, antenna ever launched by NASA. AI performs frequent high volume computerised ¾¾Role of ISRO: tasks reliably. €€Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) ¾¾AI is often misunderstood for machine learning. AI is will provide the spacecraft bus, the second type of a broader concept with a bunch of technologies that radar (called the S-band radar), the launch vehicle include machine learning and other technologies like and associated launch services. natural language processing, inference algorithms, ¾¾Primary Goals: neutron networks etc. €€Tracking subtle changes in the Earth’s surface, ¾¾ AI techniques now have become an essential part €€Spotting warning signs of imminent volcanic of the technology industry helping to solve many eruptions, challenging problems in computer-science. From €€Helping to monitor groundwater supplies, and Apple Siri to self driving cars, AI is progressing rapidly. €€Tracking the rate at which ice sheets are melting. ¾¾ NISAR: Joint Earth Observing Expected Benefits: €€NISAR’s data can help people worldwide better Mission of NASA and ISRO manage natural resources and hazards, as well as providing information for scientists to better Why in News understand the effects and pace of climate change. NASA and ISRO are collaborating on developing an zzThe images will be detailed enough to show SUV-sized satellite called NISAR, which will detect local changes and broad enough to measure movements of the planet’s surface as small as 0.4 inches regional trends. over areas about half the size of a tennis court. €€As the mission continues for years, the data will ¾¾The satellite will be launched in 2022 from the Satish allow for better understanding of the causes and Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) consequences of land surface changes. into a near-polar orbit. €€It will also add to our understanding of our planet’s hard outer layer, called its crust. Key Points ¾¾The Name ‘NISAR’: The name NISAR is short for S-Band Radar NASA-ISRO-SAR. ¾¾S band radars operate on a wavelength of 8-15 cm €€SAR here refers to the Synthetic Aperture Radar and a frequency of 2-4 GHz. that NASA will use to measure changes in the ¾¾Because of the wavelength and frequency, S-band surface of the Earth. radars are not easily attenuated. This makes them €€It refers to a technique for producing high-resolution useful for near and far range weather observation. images. Because of the precision, the radar can ¾¾The drawback to this band of radar is that it requires penetrate clouds and darkness, which means that a large antenna dish and a large motor to power it can collect data day and night in any weather. it. It is not uncommon for a S-band dish to exceed ¾¾Function: It will scan the globe every 12 days over the 25 feet in size. course of its three-year mission of imaging the Earth’s land, ice sheets and sea ice to give an unprecedented Asteroid Apophis view of the planet. ¾¾Role of NASA: Why in News €€National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA - space agency of the USA) will provide Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space one of the radars for the satellite, a high-rate Administration (NASA) has ruled out the possibility of communication subsystem for science data, GPS the dreaded asteroid Apophis causing any damage to receivers and a payload data subsystem. the Earth for the next 100 years.

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Key Points ¾¾Categorization:Asteroids are divided into three classes: ¾¾Size: €€First Group: €€Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid with a relatively zzThose found in the main asteroid belt between large size (about 335 meters wide). Mars and Jupiter, which is estimated to contain ¾¾Name & Discovery: somewhere between 1.1-1.9 million asteroids. €€ €€Named after the ancient Egyptian god of chaos and Second Group: darkness, it was discovered in 2004, after which zzIt is that of trojans, which are asteroids that NASA had said that it was one of the asteroids that share an orbit with a larger planet. NASA posed the greatest threat to Earth. reports the presence of Jupiter, Neptune and zzApophis was predicted to come threateningly Mars trojans. In 2011, they reported an Earth close to us in the years 2029 and 2036, but trojan as well. NASA later ruled these events out. €€Third Group: zzHowever, there were stillfears about a possible zzIt is Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA), which have collision in 2068. orbits that pass close by the Earth. Those that ¾¾Near Earth Flight: cross the Earth’s orbit are called Earth-crossers. th More than 10,000 such asteroids are known, out €€Recently, the asteroid flew past Earth on 5 March 2021, coming within 17 million km of our of which over 1,400 are classified as Potentially planet. During this approach, scientists used radar Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). observations to study in detail the asteroid’s orbit zzNASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Study around the sun. (CNEOS) determines the times and distances ¾¾Impact if it Hits Earth: of these objects, when their approach to the Earth is close, through the Asteroid Watch Widget.

Potentially Hazardous Asteroids ¾¾It means that an asteroid has the potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth. ¾¾Specifically, all asteroids with a Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) of 0.05 AU (which is about 7,480,000 Km) or less and an Absolute Magnitude (H) of 22.0 (about 150 mt in diameter) or less are considered PHAs. €€Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance is a method for calculating the minimum distance between Asteroids two almost overlapping elliptical orbits. ¾¾About: €€The Astronomical Unit (AU) is the distance between the Earth and the Sun and is roughly €€Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the Sun, much smaller than planets. 150 million km. €€The is a measure of the zzThey are also called minor planets. absolute magnitude star’s luminosity i.e. the total amount of energy €€According to NASA, 9,94,383 is the count of known radiated by the star every second. asteroids, the remnants from the formation of the solar system over 4.6 billion years ago. ¾¾Apophis is categorised as a PHA.

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Environment and Ecology

Highlights zz World Air Quality Report 2020 zz Sundarbans zz Pilibhit Tiger Reserve: Uttar Pradesh zz India: Transforming to a Net-Zero Emissions Energy System zz Ranthambore Tiger Sanctuary: Rajasthan zz Climate Finance zz Removal of Heavy Metals from Water zz Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

¾¾World Country Ranking: World Air Quality Report 2020 €€Bangladesh has been ranked as the most polluted country followed by Pakistan and India. Why in News €€The least polluted country is Puerto Rico, followed The World Air Quality Report, prepared by Swiss by New Caledonia, US Virgin Islands respectively. organisation IQAir,mentions that22 of the top 30 most ¾¾World City Ranking: polluted cities globally are in India. €€Hotan in China is the most polluted city with an ¾¾The Report aggregated PM2.5 data from 106 countries. average concentration of 110.2 µg/m³ followed by Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh at 106. PM 2.5 ¾¾Indian Scenario: ¾¾It is an atmospheric particulate matter of diameter €€Shows a boost in Delhi’s air quality by approximately of fewer than 2.5 micrometres, which is around 3% 15% from 2019 to 2020. the diameter of a human hair. zzDelhi has been listed as the 10th most polluted ¾¾ It causes respiratory problems and also reduces city and the top polluted capital city in the world. visibility. It is an endocrine disruptor that can €€Ghaziabad is the second most polluted city in affect insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, thus the world followed by Bulandshahar, Bisrakh contributing to diabetes. Jalalpur, Bhiwadi, Noida, Greater Noida, Kanpur ¾¾It is very small and can only be detected with the and Lucknow. help of an electron microscope. €€Compared to north Indian cities, the cities in the ¾¾Some are emitted directly from a source, such as Deccan recorded relatively better air quality, construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks remaining above the daily WHO limits of 25 µg/ or fires. m3 for most part of 2020. ¾¾Most particles form in the atmosphere as a result zzHowever, every city in India observed air of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur quality improvements compared to 2018 and dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants earlier, while 63% saw direct improvements emitted from power plants, industries and against 2019. automobiles. €€Major sources of India’s air pollution include transportation, biomass burning for cooking, Key Points electricity generation, industry, construction, ¾¾World Capital City Ranking: waste burning, and episodic agricultural burning. €€Delhi has been ranked as the world’s most polluted zz2020 was a particularly severe year for capital city followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), agricultural burning in which farmers set fire Ulaanbaatar, (Mongolia), Kabul (Afghanistan), to crop residue after a harvest. Farm fires in Doha (Qatar) respectively. Punjab increased 46.5% over 2019.

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¾¾ Covid and Its Impact: ¾¾Dust Storms: €€In 2020, the spread of Covid-19 raised new €€Dust storms from Gulf countries enhance the concerns as exposure to particle pollution was already worse condition. Dry cold weather means found to increase vulnerability to the virus and dust is prevalent in the entire region, which its impact on health. does not see many rainy days between October €€Early reports suggest that the proportion of Covid-19 and June. deaths attributed to air pollution exposure ranges €€Dust pollution contributes to around 56% of PM10 from 7% to 33%. and the PM2.5 load. Air Pollution in Delhi ¾¾Dip in Temperatures: €€As temperature dips, the inversion height is ¾¾Air pollution in Delhi-NCR and the Indo Gangetic lowered and the concentration of pollutants in Plains is a complex phenomenon that is dependent the air increases when this happens. on a variety of factors. zzInversion height is the layer beyond which ¾¾Change in Wind Direction: pollutants cannot disperse into the upper layer €€October usually marks the withdrawal of monsoons of the atmosphere. in Northwest India and during this time, the ¾¾ predominant direction of winds is northwesterly. Firecrackers: €€Despite the ban on cracker sales, €€The direction of the wind is northwesterly in firecrackers are summers as well, which brings the dust from a common sight on Diwali. It may not be the top northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. reason for air pollution, but it definitely contributed to its build-up. ¾¾Reduced Wind Speed: ¾¾Construction Activities and Open Waste Burning: €€High-speed winds are very effective at dispersing pollutants, but winters bring a dip in wind speed €€Large-scale construction in Delhi-NCR is another overall as compared to in summers which makes culprit that is increasing dust and pollution in the the region prone to pollution. air. Delhi also has landfill sites for the dumping €€Also, Delhi lies in a landlocked region which does of waste and burning of waste in these sites also not have a geographical advantage that eastern, contributes to air pollution. western or southern parts of the country enjoy where the sea breeze disperses the concentrated Major Measures Taken pollutants. ¾¾Subsidy to farmers for buying Turbo Happy Seeder ¾¾Stubble Burning: (THS) which is a machine mounted on a tractor that €€Stubble burning in Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana cuts and uproots the stubble, in order to reduce is blamed for causing a thick blanket of smog in stubble burning. Delhi during winters. ¾¾The introduction ofBS-VI vehicles, push for electric zzIt emits large amounts of toxic pollutants in the vehicles (EVs), Odd-Even as an emergency measure and atmosphere which contain harmful gases like construction of the Eastern and Western Peripheral methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile Expressways to reduce vehicular pollution. organic compounds (VOC) and carcinogenic ¾¾Implementationof the Graded Response Action Plan polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. (GRAP) to tackle the rising pollution in the Capital. It €€Farm fires have been an easy way to get rid of includes measures like shutting down thermal power paddy stubble quickly and at low cost for several plants and a ban on construction activities. years. ¾¾Development of the National AQIfor public information ¾¾Vehicular Pollution: under the aegis of the Central Pollution Control €€It is one of the biggest causes of dipping air quality Board(CPCB). AQI has been developed for eight in Delhi in winters and around 20% of PM2.5 in pollutants viz. PM2.5, PM10, Ammonia, Lead, nitrogen winters comes from it. oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.

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belt, having a width of about 8 to 16 km and Pilibhit Tiger lying parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks. Reserve: Uttar Pradesh €€All the streams disappear in this bhabar belt. South of this belt, the streams and rivers re- Why in News emerge and create a wet, swampy and marshy A carcass of a five-year-old tigress was found in the region known as terai. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (Uttar Pradesh). ¾¾It is spread across the Indian states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and the low lying hills Key Points of Nepal. ¾¾About: ¾¾It boasts of some of India’s most well-known Tiger €€It is located in Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur district Reserves and Protected Areas such as Corbett of Uttar Pradesh. Tiger Reserve (Uttarakhand), Rajaji National Park (Uttarakhand), Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (Uttar Pradesh), €€It was notified asTiger Reserve in 2014. Valmiki Tiger Reserve (Bihar). zzIn 2020, it bagged international award TX2 for ¾¾ doubling up the number of tigers in the past In total, the landscape has 13 Protected Areas, 9 in four years. India and 4 in Nepal, covering a total area of 49,500 km2, of which 30,000km2 lies in India. €€It forms the part of Terai Arc Landscape in the ¾¾ upper Gangetic Plain. The forests are home to three flagship species, the Bengal tiger( Panthera tigris), the greater one €€The northern edge of the reserve lies along the horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) and the Asian Indo-Nepal border while the southern boundary elephant (Elephas maximus). is marked by the river Sharada and Khakra. ¾¾Flora and Fauna: €€It is home to a habitat for over 127 animals, 326 Ranthambore Tiger bird species and 2,100 flowering plants. Sanctuary: Rajasthan €€Wild animals include tiger, swamp deer, bengal florican, leopard, etc. Why in News €€It has high sal forests, plantation and grasslands Six tigers are missing in Ranthambore Tiger Sanctuary with several water bodies. (Rajasthan). ¾¾ Other Protected Areas in Uttar Pradesh: Key Points €€Dudhwa National Park ¾¾About: €€National Chambal Sanctuary €€Ranthambore Tiger Reserve lies in the eastern €€Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary part of Rajasthan state in Karauli and Sawai €€Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary Madhopur districts, at the junction of the Aravali Terai Arc Landscape and Vindhya hill ranges. ¾¾The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) is an 810 km stretch €€It comprises the Ranthambore National Park as between the river Yamuna in the west and the well as Sawai Mansingh and Kailadevi Sanctuaries. river Bhagmati in the east. €€The Ranthambore fort, from which the forests derive their name, is said to have a rich history €€Bhagmati River is a river in south-central Nepal and northern Bihar state. of over 1000 years. It is strategically located atop a 700 feet tall hill within the park and is believed ¾¾Comprises the Shivalik hills, the adjoining bhabhar to have been built in 944 AD by a Chauhan ruler. areas and the Terai flood plains. €€This isolated area with tigers in it represents the €€The bhabhar is that part of the Indian Northern north-western limit of the Bengal tiger’s distribution Plains where the rivers, after descending from range and is an outstanding example of Project the mountains, deposit pebbles. It is a narrow Tiger’s efforts for conservation in the country.

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zzIndia has 2,967 tigers, a third more than in Technology (IIT) Mandi has developed a new method for 2014, according to results of a census made efficient removal of heavy metals from water. public in July 2020. Ranthambore, according to this exercise, had 55 tigers. Key Points ¾¾Features: ¾¾Background: €€The reserve consists of highly fragmented forest €€Several methods like chemical precipitation, ion patches, ravines, river streams and agricultural land. exchange, adsorption, membrane filtration, reverse €€It is connected to Kuno-Palpur Landscape in osmosis, solvent extraction, and electrochemical Madhya Pradesh, through parts of Kailadevi Wildlife treatment have been used to remove heavy metals Sanctuary, the ravine habitats of Chambal and the from contaminated water. forest patches of Sheopur. €€Many of these methods suffer from high capital €€Tributaries of River Chambal provide easy passage and operational costs. for tigers to move towards the Kuno National Park. €€Therefore, adsorption is one of the best-suited ¾¾Vegetation and Wildlife: methods, due to its high efficiency, low-cost, and ease of operation. €€The vegetation includes grasslands on plateaus and dense forests along the seasonal streams. ¾¾About the Research: €€ zzThe forest type is mainly tropical dry deciduous A research team has developed a fibrous membrane with ‘dhak’ (Butea monosperma), a species of filter using a biopolymer-based material that tree capable of withstanding long periods of helps to separate out the heavy metals from drought, being the commonest. water samples. zz zzThis tree is also called as ‘Flame of forest’ and These membranes contain adsorbents materials is one of the many flowering plants that add that attract and hold the metals. colour to the dry summers here. zzThese adsorbents contain a large amount of a biopolymer, , derived from crab shells €€The park is rich in wildlife with tigers at the apex Chitosan of the food chain in mammals. that is mixed with a well-known polymer, Nylon. €€Funding of Research:The study was funded by the €€Other animals found here are leopards, striped hyenas, common or hanuman langurs, rhesus Ministry of Mines, Government of India. macaques, jackals, jungle cats, caracals, blackbuck, ¾¾Process Used: Blacknaped hare and chinkara, etc. €€The researchers have used a process called “solution €€The park is rich in birds with about 272 species blowing”, while regular fibre-based adsorbents are recorded so far. produced through a method called “melt blowing”. ¾¾Other Protected Areas in Rajasthan: €€Melt Blowing: €€Sariska National Park, Alwar zzIt is a special technique for manufacturing material with very fine fibers, down to 0.5 μm €€Desert National Park, Jaisalmer (in range of micrometers). €€Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur zzThe fibers are elongated by blowing hot air €€Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary, Udaipur at high speed concentrically along the fibers. €€ (on tri-junction of National Chambal Sanctuary €€Solution Blowing: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh) zzIt starts from dissolving the polymer in solvent, e.g. cellulose in ionic liquid. Removal of Heavy zzThe solution is pumped through a spin nozzle Metals from Water where air is blown at high speed concentrically. zzSolution blowing produces fibres that are nanometres in diameter, a hundred thousand Why in News times thinner than a single human hair. Finer Recently, a research team at the Indian Institute of than those produced through the process of

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Melt Blowing. This increases the surface area €€Anthropogenic Sources: of fibers tremendously, resulting in better zzSuch as mining, manufacturing, electroplating, adsorption of heavy metals. electronics, discharge from auto exhaust, zzThis method also enables blending of higher domestic waste, agricultural waste and fertilizer concentration of natural polymers like chitosan production. and lignin with synthetic polymers like Nylon. zzThe Central Water Commission (CWC) has €€Advantages: reported that the samples from two-thirds zzHigher Metal Removal Efficiency: The normal of the water quality stations spanning India’s absorbent fibres bind to the target metal only major rivers are contaminated by one or more at their surface, in their nanofiber membranes. heavy metals, exceeding safe limits set by the „„The biopolymer-based material adsorption Bureau of Indian Standards. was seen to happen at the sub-surface scale zzSeveral villagers in West Bengal are suffering as well, which translates to higher metal from sores and ulcers due to arsenic poisoning removal efficiency. from drinking water. According to a recent report, zzReuse of Membrane: The membranes could the number of arsenic-affected habitations in be reused at least eight times before there India has increased by 145% in the last five was considerable reduction in the efficiency years (2015-20). of metal adsorption. ¾¾Effect of Heavy Metals on Human: zzRecovery of Adsorbed Metal: The adsorbed €€There are some essential heavy metals which metal in a metal-hydroxyl nitrate form can be the human body requires in trace amounts such easily recovered. It is a value-addition to the as Cobalt, copper, zinc, and manganese but in the membrane filter. excessive amount, it can be detrimental to health. zzIndustrial Production: The researchers have €€The heavy metals found in drinking water such provided a method to produce fibre-based as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium have no adsorbents at large scale for handling larger beneficial effects on your body. volumes of metal-contaminated water. zzIn fact, their accumulation inside the body can zzEnvironmentally Efficient: Using the solution cause severe health problems. blowing technique could replace the synthetic polymers with natural polymers. „„It will be a welcome move in this era of environmental consciousness. Heavy Metals ¾¾About: €€The term heavy metal refers to any metallic chemical element that has a relativelyhigh density (> 5 g/ Sundarbans cm3) and is toxic or poisonous at low concentrations. €€Examples of heavy metals include mercury (Hg), Why in News cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), thallium Promises related to development of Sundarbans are (Tl), and lead (Pb). being made by different political parties, ahead of West ¾¾Source of Heavy Metals: Bengal assembly elections. €€Heavy metals are introduced into the environment ¾¾Sunderbans region was badly damaged by Cyclone either by natural means or by human activities. Amphan in 2020. €€Natural Sources: Key Points zzGeographical phenomena like volcanic eruptions, weathering of rocks, leaching into rivers, lakes ¾¾It is a vast contiguous mangrove forest ecosystem in and oceans due to action of water. the coastal region of Bay of Bengal spread over India

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and Bangladesh on the delta (world’s largest) of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers. €€It contains the world’s largest mangrove forests. ¾¾Much of the area has long had the status of a forest reserve, but conservation efforts in India were stepped up with the creation of the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve in 1973. ¾¾Sundarbans National Park, established in 1984, constitutes a core region within the tiger reserve; it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. ¾¾Sunderbans was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2001. ¾¾Sundarban Wetland, India was recognised as the India: Transforming to a Net- ‘Wetland of International Importance’ under the Zero Emissions Energy System Ramsar Convention in January 2019. ¾¾Sunderban National Park is known for its wide range Why In News of fauna, including 260 bird species and is home to many rare and globally threatened wildlife species Recently, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) such as the Estuarine Crocodile, Royal Bengal Tiger, and Shell have released a report titled“India: Transforming Water Monitor Lizard, Gangetic Dolphin and Olive to a Net-Zero Emissions Energy System’’. Ridley Turtles. ¾¾It illustrates a pathway to steer the domestic energy ¾¾The Sunderbans Delta is the only mangrove forest system towards net-zero emissions by 2050, while in the world inhabited by tigers. achieving India’s sustainable economic development ambitions. €€For its preservation, Discovery India and World Wide Fund (WWF) India partnered with the Key Points Government of West Bengal and local communities in the Sundarbans in 2019. ¾¾Possible yet Challenging: India needs a suitable policy and innovation-driven context to deploy clean energy Mangroves technologies on a massive scale. ¾¾Mangroves are the plant communities occurring in ¾¾Increase Renewables: The share of renewables in the inter-tidal zones along the coasts of tropical and power mix needs to increase to 90% for India to meet subtropical countries. its net-zero goal. This is around 11% in 2019-2020. ¾¾Mangrove forests perform multiple ecological ¾¾Coal-fired Power Plants:India must phase out its coal- functions such as production of woody trees, fired power plants and remove it altogether by 2050. provision of habitat, food and spawning grounds ¾¾Technology Access: The availability, or absence, of for fin-fish and shellfish, provision of habitat for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) would define the birds and other valuable fauna; protection of shape of India’s energy systems. If CCS technology coastlines and accretion of sediment to form new were commercially unviable: land. €€Biofuels would have to account for 98% of India’s ¾¾Among the states and Union Territories, West oil, compared to a negligible share currently. Bengal has the highest percentage of area under €€Over two-thirds of India’s industrial and transport total Mangrove cover followed by Gujarat and energy use would have to be electrified, compared Andaman and Nicobar Islands. to less than 20% share of electricity in industrial ¾¾The India State of Forest Report gives the energy use and negligible share in transport energy data about mangroves and their conditions in the use as of now. country. ¾¾Suggestion by TERI:

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€€Focus on Energy Efficiency: €€First, human-caused emissions (like those from zzWill need energy efficient buildings, lighting, fossil-fueled vehicles and factories) should be appliances and industrial practices to meet reduced as close to zero as possible. Second, the net-zero goal. any remaining GHGs should be balanced with an equivalent amount of carbon removal, for example €€Use of Biofuels: by restoring forests. zzCan help reduce emissions from light commercial vehicles, tractors in agriculture. ¾¾Time-Frame: €€ zzIn aviation, the only practical solution for The time frame for reaching net-zero emissions differs significantly if one is referring to CO alone, reducing emissions is greater use of biofuels, 2 until hydrogen technology gains scale. or referring to all major GHGs (including methane, nitrous oxide, and HFCs). €€Carbon Sequestration: zzFor non-CO emissions, the net-zero date is zzIndia will still be left with emissions of 1.3 2 later because some of these emissions — such billion tons by 2050. It will have to rely on as methane from agricultural sources — are natural and man-made carbon sinks to soak somewhat more difficult to phase out. up those emissions. zzIn scenarios that limit warming to 1.5 degrees zzTrees can capture 0.9 billion tons, the country C, carbon dioxide (CO ) reaches net-zero on will need carbon capture technologies to 2 average by 2050. Total GHG emissions reach sequester the rest. net-zero between 2063 and 2068. €€Carbon Pricing: zzIndia, which already taxes coal and petroleum fuels, should consider putting a tax on emissions to drive change. €€Deploying lower-carbon Energy: zzThere are four main types of low-carbon energy: wind, solar, hydro or nuclear power. The first three are renewable, which means these are good for the environment – as natural resources are used (such as wind or sun) to produce electricity. ¾¾Global Scenario: zzDeploying lower carbon energy would help €€As of June 2020, twenty countries and regions have address both domestic and international climate adopted net-zero targets. This list only includes challenges while simultaneously improving the countries that adopted a net-zero target in law economic well-being of India’s citizens. or another policy document. €€The Kingdom of Bhutan is already carbon-negative,

i.e. absorbs more CO2 than it emits. ¾¾Indian Scenario: €€ Emissions: India’s per capita CO2 emissions – at 1.8 tonnes per person in 2015 – are around a ninth of those in the USA and around a third of the global average of 4.8 tonnes per person. zzHowever, overall, India is now the planet’s third- Net-Zero Emissions largest emitter of CO2, behind China and the USA. ¾¾About: €€Debate around Commitment: There is global pres- €€‘Net zero emissions’ refers to achieving an overall sure on India to commit net-zero emissions by 2050. balance between greenhouse gas emissions zzOn one hand, few argue that India should produced and greenhouse gas emissions taken pledge to reduce its “net” emissions (emissions out of the atmosphere. minus uptake of emissions) to zero by 2050,

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backed by a climate law. This will make India transnational financing—drawn from public, private “hypercompetitive”, attract investment and and alternative sources of financing. create jobs. For example, more ambitious €€It seeks to support mitigation and adaptation policies to promote electric vehicles along with actions that will address climate change. cleaner electricity and hydrogen electrolysis can €€The UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris create jobs in the auto manufacturing industry Agreement call for financial assistance from and in the electricity and construction sectors countries with more financial resources to those zzWhile, on the other hand, there is a long- that are less endowed and more vulnerable. standing principle of “common but differentiated €€It is in accordance with the principle of “common responsibility” that requires richer countries but differentiated responsibility and respective to lead and argue against any pledge that risks capabilities”. prematurely limiting Indian energy use for development. €€Climate finance is critical to tackle the issues posed by climate change and achieve the goal of €€Sectors that are the largest emitters: limiting the rise in earth’s average temperature to zzEnergy > Industry > Forestry > Transport > below 2 degree Celsius over pre-industrial levels, Agriculture > Building. something the 2018 IPCC report has predicted. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) ¾¾Commitment of Advanced Economies: ¾¾TERI is a non-profit research institution in New €€Through the Cancun Agreements in 2010 developed Delhi that conducts research work in the fields of countries committed to a goal of mobilizing jointly energy, environment and sustainable development. USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to address the ¾¾Established in 1974 as Tata Energy Research Institute needs of developing countries. and was renamed The Energy and Resources zzThe Green Climate Fund (GCF) was established Institute in 2003. in the Cancun Agreement and in 2011, it was ¾¾It aims to focus on formulating local and national designated as an operating entity of the financial level strategies for shaping global solutions to mechanism. critical issues. €€Under the Paris Agreement in 2015, developed ¾¾It conducts research work in the fields of energy, countries confirmed this goal and agreed that environment and sustainable development. prior to 2025, a new collective quantified goal from ¾¾Its key focus lies in promoting clean energy, water a floor of USD 100 billion per year shall be set. management, pollution management, sustainable zzThe Paris Agreement reaffirms the obligations agriculture and climate resilience of developed countries, while for the first time also encourages voluntary contributions by Climate Finance other Parties. ¾¾Challenges: €€Almost 75% of the funds raised by the developed Why in News countries for climate finance are used domestically, The Finance Minister of India urged the advanced despite developing countries bearing a significant economies to scale up their commitments to climate burden of the emissions and loss of natural finance and transfer of technologies - which are important ecosystems as a result of the industrialisation-drive for achieving climate-related commitments and goals. in the developed world. ¾¾The Minister was addressing the International €€The total pledges to GCF was only USD 10.3 Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI). billion till July 2019, which is highly inadequate considering the estimated cost for developing Key Points countries to implement their Nationally Determined ¾¾Climate Finance (Meaning): Contributions (NDCs) is USD 4 trillion. €€Climate finance refers to local, national or €€Most climate funds have flown into mitigation,

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rather than adaptation (mitigation refers to devising ¾¾About: new solutions and way of doing things, while €€The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure adaptation refers to managing the current issues). (CDRI) is a multi-stakeholder globalpartnership €€Climate finance has mostly concentrated on of national governments, UN agencies and renewable energy, green buildings and urban programmes, multilateral development banks transport, because it is easier to estimate their and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and cash-flow cycles. Other sectors which hold knowledge institutions. implications of equal magnitude to our natural and zzThe Prime Minister of India launched CDRI social ecosystems, like agriculture, degradation during his speech at the UN Climate Action of land, water, etc. have seen a muted interest. Summit on 23rd September 2019. ¾¾Climate Financing in India: €€It aims to promote the resilience of new and existing €€The largest source of climate financing in India is infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks public funding, which is routed through budgetary in support of sustainable development. allocation and several funds and schemes related €€Members: 22 countries and 7 organisations. to climate change established by the Government of India such as National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) €€Thematic Areas: Governance and Policy, Risk and National Adaptation Fund (NAF). Identification and Estimation, Standards and Certification, Capacity building, Innovation & €€The Government of India also provides funding Emerging Technology, Recovery and Reconstruction, through eight missions established under the Finance and Community based approaches. National Action Plan for Climate Change. €€The CDRI Secretariat is based in New Delhi, €€It has established a Climate Change Finance Unit (CCFU) in the Ministry of Finance, which is the nodal India. agency for all climate change financing matters. ¾¾Need: zzHowever, public funding in India is inadequate €€The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and misused. For example, NCEF funds have (SFDRR) highlights the role of improved disaster been used to meet budgetary shortfalls in the resilience of infrastructure as a cornerstone for Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MoNRE). sustainable development. zzAdditionally, there is no assessment of climate €€The SFDRR includes four specific targets related relevance of publicly funded projects in India, to loss reduction: making it difficult to evaluate financial allocation 1. Reduce global disaster mortality; towards climate action. 2. Reduce the number of affected people; 3. Reduce direct disaster economic loss; and Coalition for Disaster 4. Reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure. Resilient Infrastructure €€Target (4) on infrastructure is an important prerequisite to achieving the other loss reduction Why in News targets set out in the framework. €€Between 2016 and 2040, the global annual Recently, the Prime Minister addressed the opening infrastructure investment needs are estimated ceremony of International Conference on Disaster at USD 3.7 trillion per year. Thus, there is a clear Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) through video conference. case for ensuring that all future infrastructure ¾¾ICDRI is the annual international conference of the systems are resilient in the face of disasters in Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) order to protect our investments. in partnership with member countries, organizations ¾¾Significance for India: and institutions to strengthen the global discourse on disaster and climate resilient infrastructure. €€Provide a platform for India to emerge as a global leader on climate Action and Disaster Key Points Resilience.

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zzCDRI boosts India’s soft power, but more €€Facilitate India’s support to resilient infrastructure importantly it has wider connotation than in Africa, Asia, etc. just economics, as synergy between disaster €€Provide access to knowledge, technology and risk reduction, Sustainable Development capacity development for infra developers. and Climate Accord provides for Goals (SDGs) €€Create opportunities for Indian infrastru- sustainable and inclusive growth. cture & technology firms to expand services €€Complement the International Solar Alliance (ISA). abroad.

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Note: 62 CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com History

Highlights zz Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia zz Maharaja Chhatrasal zz Anangpal II: Tomar Dynasty zz Shaheed Diwas zz General Lachit Borphukan of Ahom Kingdom

zzRevolution for civil liberties against unjust Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia encroachments on private life and zzRevolution for non-violence ,for renunciation Why in News of weapons in favour of Satyagraha. The Prime Minister of India paid tribute to Dr. Ram €€These were the seven revolutions or Sapta Kranti which for Lohia was the ideal of socialism. Manohar Lohia on his birth anniversary (23rd March). ¾¾Education: Key Points zzBachelor’s degree (1929) from the University ¾¾Birth: 23rd March, 1910 in of Calcutta and a doctorate (1932) from the , where he studied economics Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh. University of Berlin and politics. ¾¾Brief Profile: ¾¾Pre-Independence Role: €€Indian politician and activist €€In 1934, he became actively involved in theCongress who was a prominent figure Socialist Party (CSP), founded that year as a left- in socialist politics and in the wing group within the Indian National Congress. movement towards Indian €€A vehement opponent of Indian participation on independence. the side of Great Britain in World War II (1939-45), €€Much of his career was devoted to combating he was arrested for anti-British remarks in 1939 injustice through the development of a distinctly and again in 1940. Indian version of socialism. €€With the emergence in 1942 of the Quit India zzSocialism refers to a set of political ideas that movement—a campaign initiated by Mahatma emerged as a response to the inequalities Gandhi to urge the withdrawal of British authorities present in, and reproduced by, the industrial from India—Lohia and other CSP leaders (such as capitalist economy. Jaya Prakash Narayan) mobilized support from ¾¾Lohia’s Idea of Socialism: the underground. For such resistance activities, he was jailed again in 1944–46. €€Lohia identified five kinds of inequalities that need to be fought against simultaneously: ¾¾Post-Independence Role: €€ zzInequality between man and woman, Lohia and other CSP members left the Congress in 1948. zzInequality based on skin colour, €€He became a member of the Praja Socialist Party zzCaste-based inequality, upon its formation in1952 and served as general zzColonial rule of some countries over others, and secretary for a brief period, but internal conflicts zzEconomic inequality. led to his resignation in 1955. €€For him struggle against these five inequalities €€He established a new Socialist Party (1955), for constituted five revolutions. He added two more which he became chairman as well as the editor revolutions to this list: of its journal, Mankind.

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zzHe advocated for various socio-political reforms €€The history of the family spans the period between in his capacity as party leader, including the the reign of Anangpal, who founded the city of Delhi abolition of the caste system, stronger protection in the 11th century CE, and the incorporation of of civil liberties, etc. Delhi within the Chauhan (Chahamana) kingdom €€In 1963, Lohia was elected to the Lok Sabha, in 1164. where he was noted for his sharp criticism of €€Although Delhi subsequently became decisively government policies. a part of the Chauhan kingdom, numismatic and ¾¾Some of his works include: ‘Wheel of History’, comparatively late literary evidence indicates that ‘Marx, Gandhi and Socialism’, ‘Guilty Men of India’s Tomara kings such as Anangapala and Madanapala Partition’, etc. continued to rule as feudatories, presumably ¾¾Death: 12th October, 1967. until the final conquest of Delhi by the Muslims in 1192–93. Anangpal II: Tomar Dynasty General Lachit Why in News Borphukan of Ahom Kingdom Recently, a seminar highlighted the legacy of the long-forgotten Tomar king - Anangpal II. Why in News Recently, the Prime Minister called 17th century Ahom Key Points general Lachit Borphukan a symbol of India’s “Atma ¾¾About Anangpal II: Nirbhar military might”. €€Anangpal II, popularly known as Anangpal Tomar, belonged to the Tomar dynasty. Key Points €€He was the founder of Dhillika Puri, which eventually ¾¾Lachit Borphukan: became Delhi. €€Born on 24th November, 1622, Borphukan was zzEvidence about the early history of Delhi is known for his leadership in the Battle of Saraighat, inscribed on the iron pillar of Masjid Quwaatul 1671 in which an attempt by Mughal forces to Islam, adjacent to Qutub Minar. capture Assam was thwarted. €€Multiple inscriptions and coins suggest Anangpal €€He was the inspiration behind strengthening Tomar was the ruler of present-day Delhi and India’s naval force and revitalising inland water Haryana in between the 8th-12th centuries. transport and creating infrastructure associated with it due to his great naval strategies. zzHe had built the city from ruins and under his supervision, Anang Tal Baoli and Lal Kot were €€The Lachit Borphukan gold medal is awarded to the constructed. best cadet from the National Defence Academy. €€Anangpal Tomar II was succeeded by his grandson zzThe medal was instituted in 1999 to inspire Prithviraj Chauhan. defence personnel to emulate Borphukan’s heroism and sacrifices. zzDelhi Sultanate was established in 1192 after th Prithviraj Chauhan’s defeat in the Battle of Tarain €€He died on 25 April, 1672. (present-day Haryana) by the Ghurid forces. ¾¾Ahom Kingdom: ¾¾About Tomar Dynasty: €€Founder: th €€Tomara dynasty is one of the minor early medieval zzChaolung Sukapha was a 13 century ruler who ruling houses of northern India. founded the Ahom kingdom that ruled Assam €€Puranic evidence (writings of the Puranas) gives its for six centuries. The Ahoms ruled the land till early location in the Himalayan region. According the province was annexed to British India in to bardic tradition, the dynasty wasone of the 36 1826 with the signing of the Treaty of Yandaboo. Rajput tribes. €€Political Setup:

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zzAhoms created a new state by suppressing the zzFew important forts: Chamdhara, Saraighat, older political system of thebhuiyans (landlords). Simlagarh, Kaliabar, Kajali and Pandu. zzThe Ahom state depended upon forced labour. zzThey also learnt the technique of constructing Those forced to work for the state were called boatbridges in the Brahmaputra. paiks. zzAbove all, the mutual understanding among €€Society: the civil and military wings, unity among the zzAhom society was divided into clans or khels. nobles always worked as strong weapons of A khel often controlled several villages. the Ahoms. zzAhoms worshipped their own tribal gods, yet Battle of Saraighat they accepted the Hindu religion and the ¾¾The battle of Saraighat was fought on the banks of Assamese language. the Brahmaputra in Guwahati in 1671. „„ However, the Ahom kings did not completely ¾¾It is considered as one of the greatest naval battles give up their traditional beliefs after adopting on a river which resulted in the victory of Ahoms Hinduism. over the Mughals. zzIntermarriage with local also increased assimilation processes of Ahoms in Assamese culture. €€Art and Culture: zzPoets and scholars were given land grants and theatre was encouraged. zzImportant works of Sanskrit were translated into the local language. zzHistorical works, known as buranjis, were also written, first in the Ahom language and then in Assamese. €€Military Strategy: zzThe Ahom king was the supreme commander of the state as well as the Military. The Ahom king himself led the state forces in the time of Maharaja Chhatrasal wars. The Paiks were the main army of the state. „„There were two types of Paiks i.e. serving Why in News and nonserving. The non-serving Paiks The has constituted a standing militia which could Maharaja Chhatrasal Convention Centre be mobilized at a short notice by thekheldar been inaugurated at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. (an expert military organizer). ¾¾The Convention Centre, named after the legendary zzThe full contingent of the Ahom Army consisted Bundelkhand King Maharaja Chhatrasal, was built of infantry, navy, artillery, elephantry, cavalry under the Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Ministry and spies. The main war weapons consisted of of Tourism. bows and arrows, swords, Javelins discus, guns, Khajuraho match-locks and cannons. ¾¾It is one of the nineteen identified iconic destinations zzThe Ahoms sent spies to the enemy’s camp in the country. to study the strength and the war strategies of the enemies before leading an expedition. €€The Ministry of Tourism has framed ‘Development of Iconic Tourist Destinations Scheme’, a Central zzThe Ahom soldiers were experts in guerilla Sector Scheme for development of nineteen fighting. Sometimes they allowed the enemies identified iconic destinations in the country to enter the country, then cut off their com- following a holistic approach. munications and attack them in front and rear.

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¾¾The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is listed as a €€He fought for 50 years against Mughals and UNESCO world heritage site. captured a large part of Bundelkhand with his seat of power at Panna. €€The temples are famous for their nagara- ¾¾ style architectural symbolism and their erotic Relation with Baji Rao I: sculptures. €€Baji Rao I helped Chhatrashal against the Mughals. He sent military aid against the Mughal force led €€Most Khajuraho temples were built between by Muhammad Khan Bangash in 1728. 885 AD and 1050 AD by the Chandela dynasty. €€The Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I’s second wife Swadesh Darshan Scheme Mastani was Chhatrasal’s daughter. ¾¾ Swadesh Darshan, a Central Sector Scheme, was €€Before his death, Chhatrasal transferred Mahoba launched in 2014 -15 for integrated development and the surrounding area to Baji Rao I in return of theme based tourist circuits in the country. for his assistance against the Mughals. €€Currently, there are 15 theme based circuits ¾¾Patron of Literature: - Buddhist, Coastal, Desert, Eco, Heritage, €€His court housed several noted poets. His eulogies Himalayan, Krishna, North-east, Ramayana, Rural, written by Kavi Bhushan, Lal Kavi, Bakhshi Hansaraj Spiritual, Sufi, Tirthankara, Tribal and Wildlife. and other court poets helped him gain lasting fame. €€Theme-based tourist circuits are developed on the ¾¾Religious View: principles of high tourist value, competitiveness €€Disciple of Mahamati Prannathji. and sustainability in an integrated manner €€Swami Prannathji also guided him in political, to enrich tourist experience and enhance social, and economic matters. employment opportunities. €€Swami Prannathji told Chhatrasal regarding ¾¾Under the scheme, the Ministry of Tourism Diamond mines of Panna and thus helped him provides ) to State Central Financial Assistance (CFA in strengthening his financial position. Governments/Union Territory Administrations for ¾¾Legacy: infrastructure development of circuits. €€The Chhatarpur town and its district in Madhya ¾¾This scheme is envisioned to synergise with other Pradesh are named after Chhatrasal. schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, Make in India etc. with the idea of positioning the €€Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum in Madhya Pradesh tourism sector as a major engine for job creation, and the Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi are also named after the driving force for economic growth and building Maharaja Chhatrasal. synergy with various sectors to enable tourism to realise its potential. Shaheed Diwas Key Points Why in News ¾¾Brief Profile: Prime Minister of India paid €€ Born on th to Champat Rai and Birth : 4 May 1649, tributes to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Lal Kunwar, into the Bundela Rajput clan. Rajguru on Shaheed Diwas (23rd €€Medieval Indian warrior, fought against the March). Mughal Empire, and established his own kingdom ¾¾The Day is also known as in Bundelkhand. Martyrs’ Day or Sarvodaya Day. €€ of Orchha. Descendant of Rudra Pratap Singh ¾¾This Day should not be confused with the Martyrs’ €€Ancestors were vassals of the Mughal emperor. Day observed on 30th January, the day Mahatma €€Death: 20th December, 1731. Gandhi was assassinated. ¾¾Power Struggle Against the Mughal: Key Points €€He started his struggle in 1671, and first captured Naugaon region of Chhatarpur district. ¾¾About:

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€€Every year on 23rd March, Shaheed Diwas is observed. institutions run by the Government, bringing €€It was on this day that Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and to the field of education the idea of Swadeshi. Rajguru were executed by the British government €€In 1924 in Kanpur, he became a member of the in 1931. Hindustan Republican Association, started by zzThey were hanged to death for assassinating Sachindranath Sanyal a year earlier. The main John Saunders, a British police officer in organiser of the Association was Chandra Shekhar 1928. They had mistook him for British police Azad and Bhagat Singh became very close to him. superintendent James Scott. zzIt was as a member of the HRA that Bhagat „„It was Scott who had ordered lathi charge, Singh began to take seriously the philosophy which eventually led to the death of Lala of the Bomb. Lajpat Rai. zzArmed revolution was understood to be the only zzWhile Singh, who had publicly announced weapon with which to fight British imperialism. avenging Rai’s death, went into hiding for many €€In 1925, Bhagat Singh returned to Lahore and months after this shootout, he resurfaced along within the next year he and his colleagues started with an associate Batukeshwar Dutt, and the a militant youth organisation called the Naujawan two, in April 1929, set off two explosive devices Bharat Sabha. inside the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi. €€In April 1926, Bhagat Singh established contact with „„Allowed themselves to be arrested, while Sohan Singh Josh and through him the ‘Workers shouting the famous slogan: “Inquilab and Peasants Party’ which brought out the monthly Zindabad“, or “Long live the revolution”. magazine Kirti in Punjabi. €€Their lives inspired countless youth and in their zzFor the next year Bhagat Singh worked with death, they set an example. They carved out their Josh and joined the editorial board of Kirti. own path for independence, where individual €€In 1927, he was first arrested on charges of heroism and their aggressive need to do something association with the Kakori Case, accused for an for the nation stood out, departing from the path article written under the pseudonym Vidrohi (Rebel). followed by the Congress leaders then. He was also accused of being responsible for a ¾¾Bhagat Singh: bomb explosion at Lahore during the Dussehra fair. €€Born as Bhaganwala on the 26th September, 1907, €€In 1928, Bhagat Singh changed the name of Bhagat Singh grew up in a petty-bourgeois family Hindustan Republican Association to Hindustan of Sandhu Jats settled in the Jullundur Doab district Socialist Republic Association (HSRA). In 1930, of the Punjab. when Azad was shot, the HSRA collapsed. zzHe belonged to a generation that was to zzNaujawan Bharat Sabha replaced HSRA in Punjab. intervene between two decisive phases of the €€His time in the prison was spent protesting, seeking Indian national movement - the phase of the better living conditions for inmates. During this time, ‘Extremism’ of Lal-Bal-Pal and the Gandhian he gained the sympathy of the public, especially phase of nonviolent mass action. when he joined fellow defendant Jatin Das in a €€In 1923, Bhagat Singh joined the National College, hunger strike. Lahore which was founded and managed by Lala zzThe strike ended with Das’ death from starvation Lajpat Rai and Bhai Parmanand. in September 1929. Two years later, Singh was zzThe College was set up as an alternative to the convicted and hanged at the age of 23.

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Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH 2021 67 Art & Culture

Highlights zz Haridwar Kumbh Mela zz Shigmotsav: Goa

dates. In fact, this is the first time in 80 years that Haridwar Kumbh Mela such a phenomenon has happened. ¾¾The event encapsulates the science of astronomy, Why in News astrology, spirituality, ritualistic traditions, and social The Centre has written to the Uttarakhand government and cultural customs and practices, making it extremely about the need for stringent measures to control the rich in knowledge. spread of Covid-19 during the ongoing Kumbh Mela in ¾¾The teacher-student relationship of the sadhus in the the state (at Haridwar). ashrams and akhadas remains the most important method of imparting and safeguarding knowledge Key Points and skills relating to Kumbh Mela. ¾¾Kumbh Mela comes under UNESCO’s Representative UNESCO List of Intangible List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Cultural Heritage of Humanity €€Kumbh Mela is the largest peaceful congregation ¾¾This coveted list is made up of those intangible of pilgrims on earth, during which participants heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity bathe or take a dip in a sacred river. of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its ¾¾It takes place on the banks of the Godavari river importance. in Nashik, the Shipra river in Ujjain, the Ganges in ¾¾The list was established in 2008 when the Convention Haridwar, and the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the mythical Saraswati river in Prayag. The came into effect. confluence is referred to as the ‘Sangam‘. ¾¾Intangible Cultural Heritage of India, recognized €€As it is held in four different cities in India, it involves by UNESCO: different social and cultural activities, making this a culturally diverse festival. ¾¾While technically, it is to be held in each of the aforementioned locations once every 12 years, sometimes, the mela can happen only a year apart at the sites. ¾¾It should also be known that in between, around the sixth year, the Ardh Kumbh Mela (also known as the half mela) is held. In addition to that, in Allahabad, every year the Maagh Mela is celebrated in the month of Maagh (mid-January to February, as per the Hindu Shigmotsav: Goa calendar) at the Sangam. €€This Maagh Mela is also referred to as the Ardh Why in News Kumbh Mela and Kumbh Mela when it happens The Goa government has limited the Shigmotsav in the sixth and twelfth years, respectively. (Shigmo festivities)parades to three locations only (Panaji, ¾¾Kumbh Mela in Haridwar is being held after 11 years Ponda and Mapusa), owing to rising cases of Covid-19 in — not the usual 12 — because of specific auspicious the state.

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Key Points „„It is called the ‘romta mell’ that moves from one village to another. ¾¾About: €€Dances: €€Shigmo is the celebration of a ‘rich, golden harvest of paddy’ by the tribal communities of Goa. zzFolk dances like Ghode Modni (a dance of equestrian warriors), Gopha and Phugadi. €€Agricultural communities including the Kunbis, Gawdas and Velips celebrate the festival thatalso €€Shigmo Street Parade: marks the onset of spring. zzShigmo street parade floats as the highlight. It ¾¾Two Variants of the Festival: is held as an annual affair in the state capital, Panjim and other major cities like Margao, €€Dhakto Shigmo: It is celebrated by the rural Mapusa, Vasco, and Ponda. population, farmers and the labour class. zzThese colour-parties usually see people dressed €€Vhadlo Shigmo: It is of greater importance and is celebrated by everyone. in vibrant clothing performing traditional folk dances to depict the historical legacy of the ¾¾Celebrations: Maratha War that backs this festival. €€Time: zzThe float parades have, over the years, been zzShigmo celebrations last over a fortnight in a draw for tourists both domestic and inter- the months of Phalgun-Chaitra months of the national. Hindu calendar that correspond with March- ¾¾Other Names: April every year. €€Shigmo is celebrated all over India but in different €€Invocation of Deities: names: zzThe festival begins with ‘Naman’ that is the zzNorth India - Holi. invocation of the local folk deities on the village zz - Dolyatra. ‘maand’ or the village stage to the beats of Assam and Bengal percussion instruments like the Ghumat, Dhol, zzSouth India - Kamadahan. Mhadle and Tashe by the male folk. zzMaharashtra - Shimga.

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Highlights zz Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project zz Suez Canal zz Mullaperiyar Dam zz Cape of Good Hope zz Ken-Betwa Link Project

zzSuch as Chambal and its tributaries, including Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project Kunnu, Parvati, Kalisindh, and zzUse this water in south-eastern districts of Why in News the state, where there is scarcity of water for drinking and irrigation. The Chief Minister of Rajasthan has demanded the national project status for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal €€ERCP is planned to meet drinking and industrial of the southern and south eastern Project (ERCP). water needs Rajasthan, for humans and Livestock till the year ¾¾ The main advantage of a project which has received 2051. national project status is that90% of the funding for €€It proposes to provide drinking water to 13 districts the project will be given by the central government. of Rajasthan and provide irrigation water for 2.8 ¾¾The estimated cost of the ERCP is around Rs. 40,000 lakh hectares of land through 26 different large crore. and medium projects. Key Points zz13 districts: Jhalawar, Baran, Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Tonk, Jaipur, Karauli, Alwar, ¾¾Background: Bharatpur, Dausa and Dholpur. €€According to the state Water Resources Department, ¾¾Benefits: Rajasthan, the largest state of India with a €€A significant area of land will getirrigation facilities. geographical area of 342.52 lakh hectares which €€It intends to improve the ground water table in amount to 10.4% of the entire country, holds the rural areas of the state. only 1.16% of India’s surface water and 1.72% zzPositively influencing the socio-economic of groundwater. conditions of the people. €€Among the state’s water bodies, only the €€It adds special emphasis on the Delhi Mumbai but this Chambal river basin has surplus water Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and envisages that water cannot be tapped directly because the sustainable water sources will enhance and help area around the Kota barrage is designated as a industries grow in these areas. crocodile sanctuary. zzResulting in investment and revenue. €€Through the help of diversion structures, interbasin water transfers, linking channels and construction Chambal River of pumping main feeder channels, the ERCP aims ¾¾It is one of the most pollution-free rivers of India. to create a network of water channels which will ¾¾It originates at the Singar Chouri peak in the northern cover 23.67 % area of Rajasthan along with 41.13 slopes of the Vindhya mountains (Indore, Madhya % population of the state. Pradesh). From there, it flows in the North direction ¾¾About the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project: in Madhya Pradesh for a length of about 346 km €€It aims to harvest surplus water available during and then follows a north-easterly direction for a rainy season in rivers in Southern Rajasthan. length of 225 km through Rajasthan.

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¾¾It enters U.P. and flows for about 32 km before earthquakes and floods in the area as monsoon joining the Yamuna River in Etawah District. progresses in the State. ¾¾It is a rainfed river and its basin is bounded by the €€The petitioner contended that the Supervisory Vindhyan mountain ranges and the Aravallis. The Committee had become “lethargical” about the Chambal and its tributaries drain the Malwa region safety inspection and survey of the dam. of northwestern Madhya Pradesh. zzIt had delegated its duties to a sub-committee ¾¾The Hadauti plateau in Rajasthan occurs in the upper of local officials. catchment of the Chambal River to the southeast zzThe instrumentation scheme, safety mechanism, of the Mewar Plains. etc, have not been finalised for the past six years. ¾¾Tributaries: Banas, Kali Sindh, Sipra, Parbati, etc. ¾¾Tamil Nadu’s Stand: ¾¾Main Power Projects/ Dam: Gandhi Sagar Dam, €€Blamed Kerala for delaying the finalisation of the Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, Jawahar Sagar Dam, and rule curve for the dam. Kota Barrage. zzRule curve in a dam decides the fluctuating ¾¾The National Chambal Sanctuary is located along storage levels in a reservoir. The gate opening river Chambal on the tri-junction of Rajasthan, schedule of a dam is based on the rule curve. Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It is known for zzIt is part of the “core safety” mechanism in critically endangered gharial, the red-crowned roof a dam. turtle, and the endangered Ganges river dolphin. zzThe rule curve level is fixed to avoid emergency opening of dam shuttersin case of a flood-like situation. It helps in controlling the water level in the dam during peak monsoon. €€Kerala has made consistent efforts to obstruct Tamil Nadu from operating the dam. €€Tamil Nadu is not able to access data which is in Kerala’s terrain. There is no road built, the power supply has not been restored although Tamil Nadu has paid for it. ¾¾Kerala’s Stand: €€Accused Tamil Nadu of adopting an “obsolete” gate Mullaperiyar Dam operation schedule dating back to 1939. ¾¾SC’s Ruling: Why in News €€Tamil Nadu’s Chief Secretary shall be “personally Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the responsible” and “appropriate action” will be Mullaperiyar Dam Supervisory Committee to issue taken on failure to give information on the rule directions on issues concerning the dam’s safety. curve for Mullaperiyar dam to the SC -appointed Supervisory Committee. ¾¾The SC constituted a permanent Supervisory Committee in 2014 to oversee all the issues concerning €€Directed the Supervisory Committee to issue Mullaperiyar dam. The dam is a source of friction directions or take steps to address the three core between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. safety issues and submit a compliance report in four weeks. Key Points zzCore Issues: ¾¾Background: „„Monitoring and performance of the .A pettionwas filed by a resident of Idukki district instrumentationof the dam€€ of Kerala to lower the water level of Mullaperiyar „„Finalising the rule curve. dam to 130 feet saying there is a danger of „„Fixing the gate operating schedule.

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zzReason: „„The three core issues are directly concerned Ken-Betwa Link Project with the safety of the dam and will have a cascading effect on persons residing in the Why in News nearby areas. Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh signed a memorandum of agreement to implement the Mullaperiyar Dam Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP), the first project of the ¾¾The Mullaperiyar, a 123-year-old dam, is located on National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers. the confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers ¾¾The two states signed a tripartite agreement with the in Kerala’s Idukki district. Centre on World Water Day (22nd March) to finally €€The dam stands at the height of 53.66 metres implement this ambitious project. and 365.85 metres in length. ¾¾It is operated and maintained by the Tamil Nadu Key Points for meeting the drinking water and irrigation ¾¾Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP): requirements of five of its southern districts. €€The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the River €€According to a 999-year lease agreement made interlinking project that aims to transfer surplus during the British rule the operational rights water from the Ken river in MP to Betwa in UP to were handed over to Tamil Nadu. irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region. ¾¾The dam intends to divert the waters of the west- zzThe region spread across the districts of two flowing river Periyar eastward to the arid rain states mainly Jhansi, Banda, Lalitpur and shadow regions of the Tamil Nadu. Mahoba districts of UP and Tikamgarh, Panna and Chhatarpur districts of MP. Periyar River zzThe project involves building a 77-metre tall ¾¾ The Periyar River is the longest river in the state and a 2-km wide Dhaudhan dam and a 230- of Kerala with a length of 244 km. km canal. ¾¾It is also known as as it is one of ‘Lifeline of Kerala’ zzKen-Betwa is one of the 30 river interlinking the few perennial rivers in the state. projects conceived across the country. €€ A perennial river is a channel that has continuous zzThe project has been delayed due to political flow in parts of its stream bed all year round. and environmental issues. ¾¾Periyar River originates from Sivagiri hills of ¾¾Advantage of Interlining of Rivers: Western Ghats and flows through the Periyar €€Reducing Drought: River linking will be a solution National Park. to recurring droughts in Bundelkhand region. ¾¾The main tributaries of Periyar are Muthirapuzha, zzFarmers’ Benefit: It will curb the rate of farmers Mullayar, Cheruthoni, Perinjankutti. suicide and will ensure them stable livelihood by providing sustainable means of irrigation and reducing excessive dependence on groundwater. zzElectricity Production: It will not only accelerate the water conservation by construction of a multipurpose dam but will also produce 103 MW of hydropower and will supply drinking water to 62 lakh people. zzRejuvenate Biodiversity: Few are of the view that the introduction of dams inside the water scarce regions of panna tiger reserve (MP), will rejuvenate the forests of the reserve that in turn will pave the way for rich biodiversity in the region.

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¾¾Issues: Component and 14 under the Himalayan Component) €€Environmental: Because of certain environmental for the preparation of feasibility reports (FRs). and wildlife conservation concerns likepassing of €€The NPP for transferring water from water-surplus the project though critical tiger habitat of panna basins to water-deficit basins was prepared in tiger reserve, the project is stuck in for the approval August 1980. from National Green Tribunal (NGT), and other higher authorities. Suez Canal €€Economic: There is a huge economic cost attached with the project implementation and maintenance, which has been rising due to delays in project Why in News implementation. A large cargo ship named ‘Ever Given’ got stuck near €€Social: Reconstruction and rehabilitation caused due the southern end of the Suez Canal due to a mishap caused to displacement resulting from the implementation by bad weather. of the project will involve social cost as well. ¾¾This is causing a huge jam of vessels at either end of the vital international trade artery. Ken and Betwa Rivers ¾¾Ken and Betwa rivers originate in MP and are the Key Points tributaries of Yamuna. ¾¾About: ¾¾Ken meets with Yamuna in Banda district of UP and with Betwa in Hamirpur district of UP. €€The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-levelwaterway running north to south across the Isthmus of Suez ¾¾Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams are over Betwa in to river. Egypt, connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. ¾¾Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve. €€The canal separates the African continent from ¾¾National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers: Asia. €€The National River Linking Project (NRLP) formally €€It provides the shortest maritime route between known as the National Perspective Plan, envisages Europe and the lands lying around the Indian and the transfer of water from water ‘surplus’ basins western Pacific oceans. where there is flooding, to water ‘deficit’ basins €€It is one of the world’s most heavily used shipping where there is drought/scarcity, through inter-basin lanes, carrying over 12% of world trade by volume. water transfer projects. zzIt provides a crucial link for oil, natural gas and €€Under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), the cargo being shipped from East to West. National Water Development Agency (NWDA), zzAs per Suez Canal Authority (SCA) data, in 2020, has identified 30 links (16 under the Peninsular nearly 19,000 ships, or an average of 51.5 ships per day, with a net tonnage of 1.17 billion tonnes passed through the canal. €€The canal is a major source of income for Egypt’s economy, with the African country earning USD 5.61 billion in revenues from it last year. zzIn 2015, Egypt announced plans to further expand the Suez Canal, aiming to reduce waiting times and double the number of ships that can use the canal daily by 2023. ¾¾History: €€The Suez Canal is actually the first canal that directly links the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It was opened for navigation in November 1869.

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€€The 150-year-old canal was controlled by British zzA headland is a narrow piece of land which and French interests in its initial years, but was sticks out from the coast into the sea. nationalised in 1956 by Egypt. €€The Cape of Good Hope route joins Eastern Asia zzSuez Crisis, international crisis in the Middle East, and Europe to southern parts of Africa. precipitated in July 1956, when the Egyptian €€The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 provided a president, Gamal Abdel Nasser, nationalized much shorter route from the Mediterranean Sea the Suez Canal. The canal had been owned by to the Indian Ocean, making the long trip around the Suez Canal Company, which was controlled Africa inefficient. by French and British interests. zzThe Cape of Good Hope route is 8900 km €€The Canal was closed five times; the last time was longer than the Suez canal route and can take the most serious one since it lasted for 8 years. additional two weeks. The Canal was then reopened for navigation in €€A common misconception is that the Cape of Good June 1975. Hope is the southern tip of Africa. zzContemporary geographic knowledge instead states the southernmost point of Africa is Cape Agulhas about 150 km to the east-southeast. zzThe warm-water Agulhas current (Indian Ocean) meets the cold-water Benguela current (Atlantic ocean) between Cape Agulhas and Cape Point (about 1.2 km east of the Cape of Good Hope). ¾¾History: €€The Cape was originally named the Cape of Storms in 1488 by the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias. €€It was later renamed to Cape Good Hope to attract more people to the Cape Sea Route that passed the southern coast of Africa. €€The Cape eventually became a significant port and waypoint for sailors traveling from Europe Cape of Good Hope to Asia.

Why in News Due to the recent blockage of the Suez Canal, the option of re-routing ships via the Cape of Good Hope was explored.

Key Points ¾¾About: €€The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa.

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Social Issues

Highlights zz Reservation Quota Limit of States zz World Happiness Report 2021 zz Amend the NCC Act: Kerala High Court zz Right to Health zz Stop TB Partnership Board zz Global Water Crisis: UNICEF zz Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 zz Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index 2020: Oxfam zz Covid Increased Poverty: Pew Report zz The Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill, 2021

1992, many states have passed laws breaching Reservation the limit of 50% such as Maharashtra, Telangana, Quota Limit of States Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. €€Tamil Nadu Reservation Act, 1993 provides Why in News 69% reservation in State government jobs and Tamil Nadu told a Constitution Bench of the Supreme educational institutions. Court that the percentage of reservation should be left €€In January 2000, the Governor of the erstwhile to the “subjective satisfaction” of individual States. state of Andhra Pradesh declared 100% reservation ¾¾Subjective satisfactionrefers to the State’s discretion to Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates in posts of to identify its socially and educationally backward school teachers in Scheduled Areas. classes and fix the percentage of reservation for them zzHowever, it was ruled as unconstitutional by in State government jobs and educational admissions. the apex court. ¾¾ A nine-judge bench in the Indra Sawhney case €€The Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially (famously known as the Mandal Commission case) and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act of imposed the ceiling of 50% on total reservation. 2018, which provides 12% to 13% quota benefits for the Maratha community, takes the reservation Key Points percentage in the State across the 50% mark, was ¾¾Indra Sawhney & Others vs Union of India, 1992: enacted. €€The Supreme Court while upholding the 27% quota ¾¾States’ Concern: for backward classes, struck down the government €€Tamil Nadu and Karnataka agreed with Maharashtra notification reserving 10% government jobs for that the 50% ceiling limit on reservation introduced economically backward classes among the higher in the Indira Sawhney judgment was not “cast in castes. stone (Permanently fixed or firmly established)”. €€SC in the same case also upheld the principle that €€The Indira Sawhney judgment required a re-look. the combined reservation beneficiaries should The ground situation had changed a lot since that not exceed 50% of India’s population. judgment in 1992. €€The concept of ‘creamy layer’ also gained currency €€Also, there is contention regarding theConstitution through this judgment and provision that reservation (One Hundred and Second Amendment) Act of for backward classes should be confined to initial 2018, which introduces the National Commission appointments only and not extend to promotions. for Backward Classes, that it interferes with the ¾¾Breach of the Limit by the States: authority of State Legislatures to provide benefit to €€Notwithstanding the judgement passed by the the social and educationally backward communities Supreme Court, since Indira Sawhney judgment (SEBCs) in their own jurisdiction.

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zzHowever, in an affidavit, the Ministry of Key Points Social justice and Empowerment has said the ¾¾Background: power to identify SEBCs lies with Parliament €€A writ petition was filed in 2020 by a student only with reference to the central list and opposing her exclusion from the NCC unit at the states can have a separate list of SEBCs for college on the basis of her gender (Transgender). reservation. €€The petition challenged Section 6of the NCC Act, Constitution and Reservation 1948 which only allows either ‘male’ or ‘female’ ¾¾77th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1995: The cadets. Indra Sawhney verdict had held there would be €€Central government argued that transgender reservation only in initial appointments and not persons cannot be allowed into the NCC as there promotions. is no provision for the same. €€However, addition of the article 16(4A) to the ¾¾High Court’s Order: Constitution, empowered the state to make €€The court took exception to the position and stressed provisions for reservation in matters of promotion that it goes contrary to Kerala’s Transgender Policy to SC/ST employees, if the state feels they are and other applicable statutes. not adequately represented. zzThe provisions of the NCC Act, 1948 cannot ¾¾81st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2000: preclude the operation of the Transgender It introduced Article 16(4B), which says unfilled Rights Act, 2019. SC/ST quota of a particular year, when carried zzThe Transgender Rights Act Act was intended to forward to the next year, will be treated separately give effect to the rights of transgenders under and not clubbed with the regular vacancies of Article 14, 15, 19, and 21 of the Constitution. that year. €€Observed that a transgender person is entitled ¾¾85th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2001: It to enroll in the NCC in accordance with her self- provided for the reservation in promotion can perceived gender equality. be applied with ‘consequential seniority’ for the €€Ordered the central government to amend Section government servants belonging to the SCs and STs 6 of the NCC Act 1948 within six months so that with retrospective effect from June 1995. the law offers equal opportunities for everyone. ¾¾103rd amendment to the Constitution (2019): ¾¾Kerala’s Transgender Policy: 10% reservation for EWS (Economically Weaker €€About: Section). zzKerala was one of the first states in the country ¾¾Article 335: It says that the claims of SCs and to formulate and implement a welfare policy STs shall be taken into consideration constituently for transgender persons in 2015. with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, „„The move followed the Supreme Court in the making of appointments to services and verdict in National Legal Services Authority posts in connection with the affairs of the Union v Union of India 2014 in which the right to or of a State. equality and equal protection for transgender persons under articles 14, 15 and 16 was Amend the NCC upheld and the bracket of a ‘third gender’ allotted to transgender persons. Act: Kerala High Court €€Justice Board: zzA Transgender Justice Board, aimed to monitor Why in News and address concerns where necessary in the Recently, the Kerala High Court ordered the Central implementation of the policy, was formed. government to amend the National Cadet Corps Act (NCC €€No Discrimination: Act) 1948 which excludes transgender persons from zzThe policy asked for all government offices joining the National Cadet Corps (NCC). and public functionaries to extend non-

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and discriminatory treatment to transgender zzCurrently, it has a strength of around 14 lakh help provide them with easy access to education, cadets from Army, Navy and Air Force wings. health, transport and social security. €€The NCC falls under the purview of the Ministry €€Social Benefits: of Defence and is headed by a Director General zzProviding free legal aid to those fighting discrim- of three-star military rank. ination, recording statistics at the local police €€It enrolls cadets at high school and college level station level for crimes against transgenders, a and also awards certificates on completion of 24×7 helpline and crisis management centre, various phases. a monthly pension scheme for destitutes and zzThe NCC cadets receive basic military training those above the age of 55 and establishing shel- at various levels and also have academic ter homes were some of the policy promises. curriculum basics related to Armed forces €€Educational Programs: and their functioning. zzIn 2018, the government decided to set aside two zzVarious training camps, adventure activities additional seats for all transgender applicants and military training camps are an important for courses in universities and arts and science aspect of NCC training. colleges under it. ¾¾Significance: zzThere is also a literacy aid programme for €€NCC cadets have played an important role transgender under which a monthly scholarship over the years in relief efforts during various of up to Rs. 1,250 and shelter home accommo- emergency situations. dation is provided. €€During the ongoing pandemic, over 60,000 NCC National Cadet Corps cadets have been deployed for voluntary relief ¾¾The National Cadet Corps Act, 1948: work in coordination with district and state €€About: authorities across the country. zzIt is an Act to provide for the constitution of a National Cadet Corps. Stop TB Partnership Board zzIt extends to the whole of India and applies to all persons enrolled or appointed under Why in News this Act, wherever they may be. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and €€Section 6: Family Welfare, has been appointed Chairman of the zzAny student of the male sex of any university Stop TB Partnership Board. may offer himself for enrolment as a cadet in ¾¾He will serve a three year term, commencing July the Senior Division, and any student of the 2021, as the Chair of the Board of Stop TB Partnership. male sex of any school may offer himself for enrolment as a cadet in the Junior Division if Key Points he is of the prescribed age or over. ¾¾About the Stop TB Partnership Board: zzAny student of the female sex of any university €€It was established in 2000 and is mandated to or school may offer herself for enrolment as eliminate Tuberculosis as a public health problem. a cadet in the Girls Division: €€The organization was conceived following the „„Provided that in the latter case she is of meeting of the First Session of the Ad Hoc the prescribed age or over. Committee on the Tuberculosis Epidemic held ¾¾About NCC: in London in March 1998. €€ The NCC was formed in 1948 (on the recom- €€In its inaugural year itself, the Stop TB Partnership mendation of H. N. Kunzru Committee-1946), through the Amsterdam Declarationgave a call for and has its roots to British era uniformed youth collaborative action from ministerial delegations entities like University Corps or University Officer from 20 countries that bear the highest burden Training Corps. of TB.

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€€In 2019, it launched the updated Global Plan to €€World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is observed on End TB 2018-2022. 24th March to raise public awareness about €€The Kochon Prize is awarded annually by Stop TB the devastating health, social and economic Partnership to individuals and/or organizations consequences of TB. that have made a significant contribution to Tuberculosis combating TB. ¾¾Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium zzThe , which is endowed by the Kochon Prize tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. Kochon Foundation, a non-profit foundation ¾¾Transmission: TB is spread from person to person registered in the Republic of Korea, consists of through the air. When people with lung TB cough, a USD 65,000 award. sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. €€Its secretariat is based at Geneva, Switzerland. ¾¾Symptoms: Cough with sputum and blood at times, ¾¾High TB Burden Countries: chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night €€In 2019, the 30 high TB burden countries accounted sweats. for 87% of new TB cases. ¾¾Treatment: TB is treatable and curable disease. €€Eight countries account for two thirds of the It is treated with a standard 6 month course of total, with India leading the count, followed by 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, information, supervision and support to the patient Bangladesh and South Africa (Global Tuberculosis by a health worker or trained volunteer. Report: WHO) ¾¾Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is a form of TB ¾¾Scenario in India: caused by bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid €€With an estimated 2.64 million TB patients, India and rifampicin, the 2 most powerful, first-line anti- has the largest burden of TB globally in terms of TB drugs. MDR-TB is treatable and curable by using absolute numbers. second-line drugs. €€Recently, the “Step Up for TB 2020” report by the ¾¾Extensively drug resistant TB (XDR TB) is a rare Stop TB Partnership and Médecins Sans Frontières/ type of MDR TB that is resistant to isoniazid and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has highlighted rifampin, plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one India’s conservative approach regarding the new of three injectable second-line drugs (i.e., amikacin, medicines for Drug Resistant TB, putting lives of kanamycin, or capreomycin). patients including children in danger. ¾¾Steps Taken by India: Medical €€India has committed to eliminating TB in the country by 2025. Termination of Pregnancy zzFive years ahead of the global deadline of 2030. (Amendment) Bill, 2020 €€National Strategy Plan for TB Elimination 2017- 2025: Why in News zzThe requirements for moving towards TB Recently, the Rajya Sabha passed the Medical elimination in India have been arranged infour Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020. The strategic areas of Detect, Treat, Prevent & Build. Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha in March 2020. zzThere is also across all four areas, an overarching ¾¾The Bill seeks to amend the Medical Termination of theme of the Private Sector. Another overarching Pregnancy Act, 1971. theme is that of Key Populations. €€TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign, Nikshay Key Points Poshan Yojana, etc. ¾¾Provisions: ¾¾Global Efforts: €€Termination due to Failure of Contraceptive €€The End TB Strategy of WHO. Method or Device:

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zzThe “name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed”, except to a person authorised in any law that is currently in force.

Note: ¾¾Before 1971, abortion was criminalized under Section 312 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, describing it as intentionally ‘causing miscarriage’.

¾¾Benefits: €€Termination in Case of Anomaly: zzA number of foetus abnormalities are detected th zzUnder the Act, a pregnancy may be terminated after the 20 week, often turning a wanted up to 20 weeks by a married woman in the case pregnancy into an unwanted one. of failure of contraceptive method or device. The €€Helps Special Category Women: Bill allows unmarried women to also terminate zzThe law will help the rape victims, ill and a pregnancy for this reason. under-age women to terminate the unwanted €€Opinion Needed for Termination of Pregnancy: pregnancy lawfully. zzOpinion of one registered medical practitioner €€Beneficial for Unmarried Women: (instead of two or more) for termination of zzThe Bill also applies to unmarried women and pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation . therefore, relaxes one of the regressive clauses „„Gestationis the foetal development period of the 1971 Act, i.e., single women couldn’t cite from the time of conception until birth. contraceptive failure as a reason for seeking zzOpinion of two registered medical practitioners an abortion. for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks zzAllowing unmarried women to medically of gestation. terminate pregnancies and a provision to protect zzOpinion of the State-level medical board is the privacy of the person seeking an abortion essential for a pregnancy to be terminated will bestow reproductive rights to the women. after 24 weeks in case of substantial foetal ¾¾Challenges: abnormalities. €€Viability of the Foetus: €€Medical Boards: zzA key aspect of the legality governing abortions zzEvery state government is required to constitute has always been the ‘viability’ of the foetus. a Medical Board. „„Viability implies the period from which a zzThese Medical Boards will consist of the following foetus is capable of living outside the womb. members: (i) a gynaecologist, (ii) a paediatrician, „„As technology improves, with infrastructure (iii) a radiologist or sonologist, and (iv) any other up-gradation, and with skilful professionals number of members, as may be notified by the driving medical care, this ‘viability’ naturally state government. improves. €€Upper Gestation Limit for Special Categories: „„Currently, viability is usually placed at about zzIt enhances the upper gestation limit from 20 seven months (28 weeks) but may occur to 24 weeks for special categories of women earlier, even at 24 weeks. which will be defined in the amendments to the „„Thus, late termination of pregnancy may get MTP Rules and would include survivors of rape, in conflict with the viability of the foetus. victims of incest and other vulnerable women €€Preference for a Male Child: (like differently-abled women, minors) etc. zzThe preference for a male child keeps sex €€Confidentiality: determination centres in business in spite of

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their illegal status. There are concerns that a zzThe poverty rate in India likely rose to 9.7% more liberal abortion law can aggravate this in 2020, up sharply from the January 2020 state-of-affairs. forecast of 4.3%. €€Change of Choice: €€Increased Poverty: zzThe current Bill does not consider factors zzFrom 2011 to 2019, the number of poor in India such as personal choice, a sudden change in was estimated to have reduced to 78 million circumstances (due to separation from or death from 340 million. of a partner), and domestic violence. zzIn 2020, the number increased by 75 million. €€Medical Boards: „„Poor: People with incomes of USD 2 or less zzThe present healthcare budgetary allocation a day. makes setting up a board across the country, „„Increase in India accounts for nearly 60% of both financially and practically impossible. the global increase in poverty. zz Access to the board by pregnant women in zzRecord increase in Mahatma Gandhi National remote areas of the state is a matter of concern. Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGN- zzNo time limit set to respond to the requests. REGS) participants as proof that the poor were zzThe board will subject women to multiple struggling to find work. examinations before allowing her to terminate €€Reduced Middle Class: her pregnancy. This is a violation of right to zzThe middle class in India is estimated to have privacy and right to live with dignity. shrunk by 3.2 crore in 2020. „„Middle Class: Includes people with incomes Covid Increased of approximately Rs. 700-1,500 or USD Poverty: Pew Report 10-20 per day. zzThe middle income group is likely to have decreased from almost 10 crore to just 6.6 Why in News crore. Recently, a new research conducted by Pew Research €€Shrinked Low Income Group: has found that the has Center coronavirus pandemic zzThe vast majority of India’s population fall into pushed about 32 million Indians out of the middle class the low income group. and increased poverty in the country. zzThis group shrank from 119.7 crore to 116.2 ¾¾The report is based on an analysis of data. World Bank crore per day, with about 3.5 crore dropping ¾¾Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that below the poverty line. informs the public about the issues, attitudes and „„Low Income Group: Includes people earning trends shaping the world. about Rs.150 to 700 per day. Key Points €€Rich Population: zzThe richer population also fell almost 30% to ¾¾Indian Scenario: 1.8 crore people. €€Poverty Rate: „„Rich: Includes the people who earn more than Rs.1,500 a day. ¾¾Comparison with China: €€Like India, China has a large population of around 1.4 billion people. But the pandemic’s effect on poverty was much smaller in China. €€It was the only major economy to grow in 2020 and that has helped poverty levels to remain “virtually unchanged”.

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zzIn January 2021, the International Monetary €€It claws back several years of progress on the Fund in its World Economic Outlook Report, economic front. estimated India’s economy to contract 8% in the zzAt least 271 million people were lifted out of Financial Year (FY) 2020 while China’s economy multi-dimensional povertybetween 2005-06 was expected to expand by 2.3% in 2020. and 2016-17, claimed India’s Voluntary National €€China’s middle class is likely to see a miniscule Review (VNR) of Sustainable Development dip of just one crore, while the number of poor Goals (SDG). people may have gone up by 10 lakh. ¾¾Indian Initiatives to Mitigate the Effects of Covid: ¾¾Global Scenario: €€Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. €€Poverty Rate: €€Reserve Bank of India’s Covid-19 Economic Relief zzThe global poverty rate also increased to 10.4% Package. last year after witnessing a steady decline over €€Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (self-reliant India). the years. zzIt was previously expected that the poverty rate would decrease to 8.7% in 2020. World Happiness Report 2021 €€Poor Class: Why in News zzThe number of ‘global poor’ are estimated to have increased to 803 million in 2020, which The Sustainable Development Solutions Network is a significant increase from 672 million, the for the United Nations released the World Happiness pre-pandemic prediction. Report 2021, a day before the International Happiness €€Middle Class: Day. ¾¾ zzFrom 2011 to 2019, the middle class population This year it focuses on the effects of Covid-19 and globally had increased to 1.34 billion from 899 how people all over the world have fared. million. Further, it was expected to increase by International Happiness Day 54 million annually on average. ¾¾About: €€South Asia: €€It is celebrated every year on 20th March to zzSouth Asia saw the greatest reduction in highlight the importance of happiness in the the number of middle class and the largest diurnal lives of people. ‘expansion’ in poverty in 2020. €€The United Nations started to celebrate the „„This could be attributed to South Asia International Day of Happiness in 2013 but a experiencing sharp decrease in economic resolution for the same was passed in July, 2012. growth during the pandemic. zzThis resolution was first initiated by Bhutan ¾¾Reason: which emphasised on the importance of €€The lockdown triggered by the pandemic resulted national happiness over national income in shut businesses, lost jobs and falling incomes, since the early 1970s, thereby adopting the plunging the Indian economy into a deep recession. Gross National Happiness (GNH) over Gross €€Sharp rise in global poverty was owing to the fact National Product (GNP). that many under the low income tier prior to the „„Gross National Happiness: The phrase pandemic were living on the margin of poverty. ‘gross national happiness’ was firstcoined ¾¾Effect: by the 4th King of Bhutan, King Jigme Singye €€India and China also account for more than a third Wangchuck, in 1972. of the global population, with about 1.4 billion 1. The concept implies that sustainable people each, the course of the pandemic in these development should take a holistic two countries and how each recovers will have a approach towards notions of progress substantial effect on changes in the distribution and give equal importance to non- of income at the global level. economic aspects of wellbeing.

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€€ 84. „„GNP is the total value of all finished goods China- and services produced by a country’s citizens ¾¾India: in a given financial year, irrespective of €€India has been ranked 139, out of 149 countries their location. evaluated. ¾¾Theme of 2021: “Happiness For All, Forever”. €€In 2020, India was ranked 144 out of 156 countries surveyed. Key Points ¾¾About: Right to Health €€The World Happiness Report ranks 149 countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be. Why in News €€The rankings are based on polling (Gallup World Recently, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan announced Poll) which looks at six variables: the implementation of the Rajasthan Model of Public that would include a as well as zzGross Domestic Product Per Capita (Purchasing Health Right to Health Power Parity). measures for preventive, primary and curative care as envisioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO). zzSocial Support. zzHealthy life expectancy at birth. Key Points zzFreedom to make life choices. ¾¾Rajasthan Model of Public Health: zzGenerosity. €€The Mukhya Mantri Chiranjeevi Yojana will also zzPerceptions of corruption. be launched as a Universal Health Care scheme as €€Respondents are asked to rate their own current part of measures to reinforce health infrastructure lives on a 0-10 scale. and ensure accessibility to all citizens. ¾¾Top Performers: zzThe scheme stipulates cashless health services €€Finland has been ranked as the happiest country up to Rs. 5 lakh to every family in the State. in the world for the fourth consecutive year. €€The Indian Institute of Health Management €€Followed by Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland, The Research (IIHMR) has recommended setting Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and Norway. of standards in accordance with the resources ¾¾Worst Performers: available in the State to match with the rights of €€Afghanistan (149) is the most unhappy country. patients as well as the service providers. €€Followed by Zimbabwe (148), Rwanda (147), zzThe Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) Botswana (146) and Lesotho (145). set by the Union government, have also been ¾¾India’s Neighbours: revised keeping in view the changing protocols of the existing programmes. €€Pakistan-105. ¾¾Right to Health: The right to health, as with other €€Bangladesh-101. rights, includes both freedoms and entitlements: Sustainable Development Network Solution €€Freedoms include the right to control one’s health ¾¾The SDSN, launched in 2012, mobilizes global scientific and body (for example, sexual and reproductive and technological expertise to promote practical rights) and to be free from interference (for problem solving for the Sustainable Development example, free from torture and non-consensual Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. medical treatment and experimentation). ¾¾It was established under the auspices of the United €€Entitlements include the right to a system of Nations Secretary-General. health protection that gives everyone an equal ¾¾The SDSN and the Bertelsmann Stiftung have been opportunity to enjoy the highest attainable level publishing the annual SDG Index & Dashboards of health. Global Report since 2016. ¾¾Provisions Related to Right to Health n India:

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Indian Public Health Standards are entitled to the right to health and it puts a compulsion for the government to take steps ¾¾IPHS are a set of uniform standards envisaged to toward this. improve the quality of health care delivery in the country. €€Wide Access to Health Services: Enables everyone to access the services and ensures that the quality ¾¾The IPHS documents have been revised keeping of those services is good enough to improve the in view the changing protocols of the existing health of the people who receive them. programmes and introduction of new programmes especially for Non-Communicable Diseases. €€Reduce Out of Pocket Expenditure: Protects people from the financial consequencesof paying for health ¾¾Flexibility is allowed to suit the diverse needs of services out of their own pockets and reduces the the States and regions. risk of people getting pushed into poverty. ¾¾The IPHS guidelines act as the main driver for ¾¾Challenges: continuous improvement in quality and serve as the benchmark for assessing the functional status €€Lack of Primary Healthcare Services: The existing of health facilities. public primary health care model in the country is limited in scope. ¾¾States and UTs adopt these IPHS guidelines for strengthening the Public Health Care Institutions. zzEven where there is a well-functioning public primary health centre, only services related to €€International Conventions: India is a signatory pregnancy care, limited childcare and certain of the Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of services related to national health programmes Human Rights (1948) by the United Nations that are provided. grants the right to a standard of living adequate €€Inadequate Funding: Expenditure on public for the health and well-being to humans including health funding has been consistently low in India food, clothing, housing and medical care and (approximately 1.3% of GDP). necessary social services. zzAs per OECD, India’s total out-of-pocket €€Fundamental Rights: Article 21 of the Constitution expenditure is around 2.3 % of GDP. of India guarantees a fundamental right to life & €€Sub-optimal Public Health System: Due to this, it is personal liberty. The right to health is inherent to challenging to tackle Non-communicable Diseases, a life with dignity. which is all about prevention and early detection. €€Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP): Articles zzIt diminishes preparedness and effective 38, 39, 42, 43, & 47 put the obligation on the management for new and emerging threats state in order to ensure the effective realization such as pandemic like Covid-19. of right to health. €€Judicial Pronouncements: Supreme Court in Paschim Bangal Khet Mazdoor Samity case Global Water Crisis: UNICEF (1996) held that in a welfare state, primary duty of the government is to secure the welfare of the Why in News people and moreover it is the obligation of the According to a new report released by the United government to provide adequate medical facilities Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), one in five children for its people. worldwide reside in areas of high or extremely high water zzAlso in its landmark judgment in Parmanand vulnerability. Katara Vs Union Of India (1989), Supreme ¾¾The Report was released ahead of World Water Day Court had ruled that every doctor whether at (22nd March). a government hospital or otherwise has the professional obligation to extend his services Key Points with due expertise for protecting life. ¾¾About the Report: ¾¾Significance of Right to Health for India: €€The new report is part of UNICEF’s ‘Water security €€Right Based Healthcare Services: The people for all’ initiative that identifies areas where

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physical water scarcity risks overlap with poor €€Due to accumulation of sediments in the water water service levels. storage area of major and medium irrigation €€The initiative aims to mobilise resources, dams that are currently in use, the total storage partnerships, innovation and global response to capacity has fallen significantly. identified hot spots. zzThis is clearly underlined in the report €€UNICEF identified 37 hot-spot countries where ‘Compendium of Silting of Reservoirs in India’, children faced especially distressing circumstances in released by the Central Water Commission in terms of absolute numbers, where global resources, 2020. support and urgent action had to be mobilised. €€Climate change is causing major changes in rainfall €€Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, levels. Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sudan, ¾¾Measures Taken by the Central Government: Tanzania and Yemen were especially vulnerable. €€“Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” Campaign: ¾¾Findings: zzThe campaign will be implemented during the €€Children in more than 80 countries live in areas period 22nd March, 2021 to 30th November, with high or extremely high water vulnerability. 2021 - the pre-monsoon and monsoon period €€Eastern and Southern Africa has the highest in the country. proportion of children living in such areas, with zzThe campaign is intended to nudge the State more than half of children – 58% – facing difficulty and all stakeholders to create Rain Water accessing sufficient water every day. Harvesting Structures (RWHS) suitable to the €€It is followed by West and Central Africa (31%), climatic conditions and subsoil strata to ensure South Asia (25%), and the Middle East (23%). storage of rainwater. €€More than 155 million children in South Asia „„Rains falling in the four/five months of lived in areas with high or even extremely high monsoon are the only source of water for water vulnerability. most parts of the country. ¾¾Water Crisis in India: €€Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): €€India has 4% of the world’s freshwater which has zzIn the Budget 2021-22, Jal Jeevan Mission to cater to 17% of the world’s population. (Urban) has been announced under the Housing €€As per NITI Aayog report released in June 2018, and Urban Affairs Ministry to provide universal India is facing the worst-ever water crisis in history. coverage of water supply to all households Approximately 600 million people or roughly around through functional taps in all statutory towns 45% of the population in India is facing high to in accordance with Sustainable Development severe water stress. Goal- 6. €€The report says that nearly 40% of the population zzIt complements the Jal Jeevan Mission (Rural) will have absolutely no access to drinking water which envisages supply of 55 litres of water by 2030 and 6% of India’s GDP will be lost by per person per day to every rural household 2050 due to the water crisis. through Functional Household Tap Connections ¾¾Causes of Water Crisis in India: (FHTC) by 2024. €€ €€The Central Groundwater Board’s estimates show Ministry of Jal Shakti: that the groundwater table in most parts of the zzThe Government of India established the Ministry country has been declining every year because of Jal Shakti in 2019 to consolidate interrelated of over-exploitation. functions pertaining to water management. zzIf the groundwater continues to decline unabated, zzThe Ministry launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan – a meeting the country’s agricultural and drinking campaign for water conservation and water water requirements will become a big challenge. security. zz85% of rural water supply, 45% of urban water ¾¾Measures Taken by State Governments: supply and over 64% of irrigation now rely on €€Uttar Pradesh – Jakhni Village (water village), groundwater. Bundelkhand.

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€€Punjab – Pani Bachao Paise Kamao ¾¾UNICEF became a permanent part of the United €€Madhya Pradesh – Kapil Dhara Yojana Nations in 1953. €€Gujarat – Sujalam Sufalam Yojana €€The name was shortened to the United Nations €€Telangana – Mission Kakatiya Program Children’s Fund but it is still referred to as UNICEF. €€Maharashtra – Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan ¾¾UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights €€Andhra Pradesh – Neeru Chettu Programme of the Child, 1989. €€Rajasthan – Mukhya Mantri Jal Swalambhan €€It strives to establish children’s rights as enduring Abhiyan (MJSA) ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children. World Water Day ¾¾Awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1965 for ¾¾About: “promotion of brotherhood among the nations”. nd €€It is observed annually across the globe on 22 ¾¾Headquarters: New York City. with the purpose of highlighting the March, €€It works in over 190 countries and territories importance of water, and raising awareness about with 7 regional offices. the water crisis that the world faces. €€According to the United Nations (UN) website, the main focus of the day is to support the Commitment to achievement of sustainable development goals Reducing Inequality (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. ¾¾History: Index 2020: Oxfam €€The resolution to observe World Water Day was first adopted by the UN General Assembly on Why in News 22nd December 1992. Recently, the Labour and Employment Minister has €€After which 22nd March was declared as World informed the Lok Sabha that Oxfam Commitment to Water Day and is being celebrated around the Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index 2020 lacked clarity and world since 1993. did not take into account provisions of the four new labour codes. ¾¾Theme of World Water Day 2021: €€“Valuing Water” - To highlight the value of water Key Points in our daily lives. ¾¾About: ¾¾A new World Water Development Report is €€The Index ranked countries measuring their policies released each year on or near World Water Day, and actions in three areasthat it said are proven to provide decision-makers with tools to formulate to be directly related to reducing inequality: and implement sustainable water policies. This report is coordinated by UNESCO’s World Water Development Programme (WWAP) on behalf of UN-Water. UNICEF ¾¾United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) isa special program of the United Nations (UN) devoted to aiding national efforts to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general welfare of children. ¾¾UNICEF was created in 1946 as the International Children’s Emergency Fund (ICEF) by the UN relief Rehabilitation Administration to help children affected by World War II.

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zzPublic services (health, education and social Inequality Reduction Plans under Sustainable protection) Development Goal (SDG) 10. zzTaxation zzSDG 10: zzWorkers’ rights „„It calls for reducing inequalities in income as €€Nigeria, Bahrain and India, which experienced the well as those based on age, sex, disability, world’s fastest-growing outbreak of Covid-19, were race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic among the world’s worst-performing countries or other status within a country. in tackling inequality going into the pandemic. „„It also addresses inequalities among countries, ¾¾India’s Position on the Index: including those related to representation, €€Overall, India ranked 129 in the CRI index out of migration and development assistance. 158 countries on government policies, and actions ¾¾Some Recent Indian Initiatives to Reduce Inequality: in areas of public services of education, health, €€Increased allocation for health inBudget 2021-22 social protection, taxation, and workers’ rights. by 137%. €€India slipped from rank 141 in the year 2018 to €€Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Act, 2020 to provide 151 in the year 2020 with weak labour rights and for resolution of pending tax disputes. high incidence of vulnerable employment. €€Transparent Taxation - Honoring The Honest’ zzHighest presence of the informal sector for men platform to honour the honest taxpayers of the was in Uttar Pradesh at 86.9% and for women country. was in Andhra Pradesh at 73.6%. €€Introduced Industrial Relations Code, 2020, Code €€In terms of its public services, it ranked 141. on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational €€India has been ranked 19 on the taxation pillar. Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. ¾¾Reasons for India’s Poor Performance: €€E-PG Pathshala: An initiative of the Ministry of €€Exploiting Labours in Covid: Education to provide e-content for studies. zzSeveral state governments in India have used €€SWAYAM: it provides for an integrated platform Covid-19 as a pretext to increase daily working for online courses. hours from 8 to 12 hours a day and suspend €€National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. minimum pay legislation, devastating the livelihoods of millions of poor workers now Oxfam International battling hunger. ¾¾About: €€Low Health Budget: €€Oxfam International is a group ofindependent formed in 1995. zzIndia’s health budget was the fourth lowest non-governmental organisations with half of its population having access to €€The name “Oxfam” comes from the Oxford most essential health services, and more than Committee for Famine Relief, founded in Britain 70% of health spending being met by people in 1942. themselves. zzThe group campaigned for food supplies €€Informal Jobs: to starving women and children in enemy- occupied Greece during the Second World War. zzMost workers earn less than half of the minimum wage, 71% don’t have any written job contract €€It aims to maximize efficiency and achieve greater while 54% do not get paid leave. impact to reduce global poverty and injustice. zzOnly around 10% of the workforce in India is €€The Oxfam International Secretariat is based in formal. Nairobi, Kenya. ¾¾Recommendation: ¾¾Other Reports: €€In response to the coronavirus pandemic, €€The Global Inequality Crisis Report by Oxfam governments must dramatically improve their in January 2021 claimed that India’s richest 1% efforts on progressive spending, taxation and hold more than four-times the wealth held by workers’ pay and protection as part of National the bottom 70% of the country’s population.

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zzJuvenile Justice Board inquires about a child €€The Inequality Virus Report in January 2021 also found that the Covid pandemic deeply who is accused of a serious offence. increased the existing inequalities in India and €€Non-cognizable Offences: around the world. zzThe present Act provides that an offence which is punishable with imprisonment between three to seven years to be cognizable (where arrest The Juvenile Justice is allowed without warrant) and non-bailable. Amendment Bill, 2021 „„The Bill amends this to provide that such offences will be non-cognizable. Why in News €€Adoption: Presently, the adoption order issued by the court establishes that the child belongs to Recently, the Lok Sabha passed the Juvenile Justice the adoptive parents. The Bill provides that instead (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021 of the court, the District Magistrate (including that seeks to strengthen and streamline the provisions Additional District Magistrate) will issue such for protection and adoption of children. adoption orders. ¾¾The Bill amends the Juvenile Justice (Care and €€Appeals: The Bill provides that any person and contains Protection of Children) Act, 2015 aggrieved by an adoption order passed by the provisions related to children in conflict with law District Magistrate may file an appeal before the and children in need of care and protection. Divisional Commissioner, within 30 days from the date of passage of such order. Key Points zzSuch appeals should be disposed within four ¾¾Need of the Amendment: weeks from the date of filing of the appeal. €€ The National Commission for Protection of Child €€Additional Functions of the District Magistrate: Rights (NCPCR) audit of Child Care Institutions These include: (i) supervising the District Child (CCIs) in 2020, 90% of which are run by NGOs, Protection Unit, and (ii) conducting a quarterly found that 39% CCIs were not registered, even review of the functioning of the Child Welfare after the 2015 amendment was brought in. Committee. €€It also found that less than 20% CCIs, especially €€Designated Court: The Bill proposes that all offences for girls, had not been set up in some states, 26% under the earlier Act be tried in children’s court. child welfare officers were not there. €€Child Welfare Committees (CWCs): It provides €€Moreover, three-fifths haveno toilets, one-tenth that a person will not eligible to be a member of have no drinking water and 15% homes don’t the CWC if he/she have provisions of separate beds, no diet plans. zzhas any record of violation of human rights €€Rehabilitation of children is not a priority for or child rights, childcare homes and children are reportedly kept zzhas been convicted of an offence involving in such institutions to get funds. moral turpitude, ¾¾Key Amendments Proposed by the Bill: zzhas been removed or dismissed from service of €€Serious offences: Serious offences will also the central government, or any state government, include offences for which maximum punishment or a government undertaking, is imprisonment of more than seven years, and zzis part of the management of a child care minimum punishment is not prescribed or is of institution in a district. less than seven years. €€Removal of Members: The appointment of any zzSerious offences are those for which the member of the committee shall be terminated by punishment under the Indian Penal Code or any the state government after an inquiry if they fail to other law for the time being is imprisonment attend the proceedings of the CWCs consecutively between three and seven years. for three months without any valid reason or if

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they fail to attend less than three-fourths of the ¾¾Mandatory Constitution of the JJ Board: sittings in a year. €€It mandates setting up Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees in every district. Both Juvenile Justice must have at least one woman member each. (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 ¾¾Adoption Related Clauses: ¾¾The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) €€A separate new chapter on Adoption to streamline Act, 2015 replaced the Juvenile Justice (Care and adoption procedures for an orphan, abandoned Protection of Children) Act, 2000. and surrendered children. ¾¾Change in Nomenclature: €€Also, the Central Adoption Resource Authority €€The Act changes the nomenclature from ‘juvenile’ (CARA) was granted the status of a statutory body to ‘child’ or ‘child in conflict with law’. Also, it to enable it to perform its function more effectively. removes the negative connotation associated with €€The Act states that the adoption of a child is final the word “juvenile”. on the issuance of an adoption order by the court. €€It also includes several new and clear definitions Currently, there are 629 adoption cases pending such as orphaned, abandoned and surrendered in various courts. children; and petty, serious and heinous offences ¾¾Child Care Institutions (CCI): committed by children. €€All Child Care Institutions, whether run by State ¾¾Special Provisions for Age 16-18 years: Government or by voluntary or non-governmental €€Included special provisions to tackle child offenders organisations are to be mandatorily registered committing heinous offences in the age group of under the Act within 6 months from the date of 16-18 years. commencement of the Act.

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Highlights zz Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR

forces that undertake covert, counterterrorist, Exercise and other specialized operations. VAJRA PRAHAR €€This is the 11th editionof the exercise conducted at Special Forces Training School located at Bakloh, Why in News Himachal Pradesh. zzThe 10th editionof VAJRA PRAHAR was held in Recently, Special Forces of India and the USA 2019 at Seattle, USA. conducted the joint military exercise ‘VAJRA PRAHAR ¾¾Aim: 2021’ in Himachal Pradesh. €€To share the best practices and experiences in areas ¾¾Earlier, India and the US navy had carried out a two- such as joint mission planning and operational day Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in the eastern Indian tactics as also to improve interoperability between Ocean Region. the Special Forces of both nations. Key Points ¾¾Other Exercises of India with the USA: ¾¾About the Exercise: €€Exercise Yudh Abhyas (Army). €€ €€The joint exercise by the Special Forces of both Cope India (Air Force). the countries is conducted alternatively between €€Red Flag (USA’s multilateral air exercise). India and the United States. €€Malabar Exercise (trilateral naval exercise of India, zzSpecial Forces are the units of a country’s armed USA and Japan).

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Note: Key Points Details

Summary Key Points Details

Summary