Environment “Harit Diwali-Swasth Diwali” Campaign

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CL’s Connect to Current-Daily Current Capsules (Prelims Prep. Prominence) 23rd October 2018 Environment “Harit Diwali-Swasth Diwali” campaign

Launched by  Ministry of Environment Why  Air pollution is a serious health issue in the country especially in the northern parts during winter seasons. Rise in air pollution in northern states  The air pollution in the northern region is attributed to dust, burning of crops in certain states, burning of garbage construction and prevailing climatic conditions.  Diwali which is a festival of lights falls during the same period. As a matter of practice people have been celebrating Diwali by bursting crackers.  Crackers contains combustible chemicals that include potassium chlorate powdered aluminum, magnesium, salts of barium, copper, sodium, lithium, strontium etc. and emits smoke on combustion of these chemicals along with sound.  This smoke and sound has health impacts on children, aged people and also animal and birds.  Keeping in view the above detrimental effects and also the importance of the festival, Ministry has initiated a “Harit–Diwali” campaign. Connect to Harit–Diwali campaign  This campaign was initiated in 2017-18 wherein large number of school children especially from eco-clubs participated and took pledge to minimize bursting of crackers and also discouraged the neighborhood and their friends from bursting of crackers.  During this intensive campaign, the children were advised to celebrate Diwali in an environment-friendly manner  The above campaign was extremely successful and the air quality had not deteriorated post Diwali in 2017 unlike what was experienced in 2016.  On the above lines, the Ministry has initiated the similar campaign, but this year the campaign has been extended Pan-India.

Harit Diwali-Swasth Diwali merged with Green Good Deed  The “Harit Diwali-Swasth Diwali” campaign is now merged with “Green Good Deed” movement that has been initiated as a social mobilization for conservation and protection of environment.  The Ministry encourages all schools and colleges to be part of this campaign. Jainism Doctrine

Vishwashanti Ahimsa Sammelan (world peace and non-violence conference)

Organised by

The Bhagwan Rishabhdev Murti Nirmaan Samiti.

What  The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the Vishwashanti Ahimsa Sammelan at Mangi Tungi, Nasik, Maharashtr

Connect to Jain tradition  Jain tradition, the principle of ‘Ahimsa Paramodharma’ is distinguished for human welfare and compassion - not just for the absence of physical violence.  Bhagwan Mahavir gave special importance to ‘Apirigraha’ - not taking what is more than essential to live.  Humankind is exploiting nature indiscriminately. Ruthless consumption and accumulation of resources is increasing. Due to this, phenomena like climate change are emerging as challenges. Following the Jain tradition shows us a way out.

108-foot tall statue of Jain Tirthankar Bhagwan Rishabhdev

 Rishabhanatha (also Rishabhadeva, Ṛṣabhadeva or Ṛṣabha which literally means "bull") is the first Tirthankara in Jainism.  Jain legends depict him as having lived millions of years ago.  He is also known as Ādinātha which translates into "First (Adi) Lord (nātha)",as well as Adishvara (first ishvara), Yugadideva (deva of yuga, lord of an era), Prathamaraja (first king), and Nabheya (son of Nabhi).  Along with Mahavira, Parshvanatha and Neminatha, Rishabhanatha is one of the four Tirthankaras that attract the most devotional worship among the Jains. Women and Child Development Women of India Organic Festival

From 26th October to 4th November, 2018

What  The Ministry of Women and Child Development is organizing the 5th edition of the Women of India Organic Festival from 26th October to 4th November, 2018 Why  This is aimed to boost organic culture and promote Women Organic Farmers and Entrepreneurs.  Being the country's largest organic festival, it bears witness to the fact that women are the torchbearers of the nation's organic movement. Enlighten about the fest  The WOI Festival has given a successful platform to empower women farmers and entrepreneurs in a festive and fruitful manner for the past 4 years.  With over 500 women entrepreneurs coming together from across the country with their organic products such as cereals, rice, pulses, skin-care products, fabric, jewellery, etc, this is the perfect example of how the festival is creating a revolution and making women self-reliant.  For the first time, ‘The Vegan Project’ and Food Court with cooked-onsite delicacies will also be available.

Corporate Affairs Cross Border Insolvency ILC recommends adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law of Cross Border Insolvency, 1997

What  The Insolvency Law Committee (ILC) constituted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to recommend amendments to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code of India, 2016, has submitted its 2nd Report to the Government, which deals with cross border insolvency. What’s the committee suggested  The ILC has recommended the adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law of Cross Border Insolvency, 1997, as it provides for a comprehensive framework to deal with cross border insolvency issues.  The Committee has also recommended a few carve outs to ensure that there is no inconsistency between the domestic insolvency framework and the proposed Cross Border Insolvency Framework. Connect to the UNCITRAL  The UNCITRAL Model Law has been adopted in as many as 44 countries and, therefore, forms part of international best practices in dealing with cross border insolvency issues.  The advantages of the model law are the precedence given to domestic proceedings and protection of public interest.  The other advantages include greater confidence generation among foreign investors, adequate flexibility for seamless integration with the domestic Insolvency Law and a robust mechanism for international cooperation.  The model law deals with four major principles of cross-border insolvency, namely direct access to foreign insolvency professionals and foreign creditors to participate in or commence domestic insolvency proceedings against a defaulting debtor; recognition of foreign proceedings & provision of remedies; cooperation between domestic and foreign courts & domestic and foreign insolvency practioners; and coordination between two or more concurrent insolvency proceedings in different countries.  The main proceeding is determined by the concept of centre of main interest (“COMI”). Why its needed  The necessity of having Cross Border Insolvency Framework under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code arises from the fact that many Indian companies have a global footprint and many foreign companies have presence in multiple countries including India.  Although the proposed Framework for Cross Border Insolvency will enable us to deal with Indian companies having foreign assets and vice versa, it still does not provide for a framework for dealing with enterprise groups, which is still work in progress with UNCITRAL and other international bodies.  The inclusion of the Cross Border Insolvency Chapter in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code of India, 2016, will be a major step forward and will bring Indian Insolvency Law on a par with that of matured jurisdictions.

State Specific

Gaming Garage

What  The Andhra Pradesh government has set its sights on the gaming industry to generate employment and encourage entrepreneurs and game developers in view of its growing importance. Connect to Gaming Garage  It has chalked out plans to launch the ‘Gaming Garage’ in Vijayawada very soon.  The ‘Model Guest House’ located near the foothill of the Indrakeeladri is being spruced up for the Garage.  Companies such as the Unity Technologies, Denmark/San Francisco would provide the software.  The Kajaani University of Applied Sciences of Finland would be knowledge/operational partner.  Any creative thinker could walk into the Garage to develop a game of choice.  The government would provide them with “the necessary software and infrastructure free of cost.  The Cabinet in April gave its nod to animations and visual effects, gaming and comics policy to attract the best from the sector and an investment of about ₹6,400 crore by 2020  Hackathons, game jams, capacity building, creating intern opportunities were some of the activities around the Garage.  It will be a sustainable step towards nurturing and building the ecosystem for aspiring youth to learn these technologies through project-internship and hackathon-based learning environment

Chikkamagaluru hill station

 Neelakurinji flowers, a shrub belonging to the genus Strobilanthes, blossom once in 12 years.  Kurinji or Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthianus) is a shrub that is found in the shola forests of the Western Ghats in South India.  Nilgiri Hills, which literally means the blue mountains, got their name from the purplish blue flowers of Neelakurinji that blossoms only once in 12 years.  Of all long interval bloomers (or plietesials) Strobilanthes kunthianus is the most rigorously demonstrated, with documented bloomings in 1838, 1850, 1862, 1874, 1886, 1898, 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970 [1] 1982, 1994, 2006 and 2018

Energy Security The 27th Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2018)

Where  FEC was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Organised by  The event is organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and hosted by Department of Atomic Energy and Gandhinagar- based Institute of Plasma Research. Connect to FEC 2018  The aim of FEC 2018 was to provide forum for discussion of key physics and technology issues as well as innovative concepts of direct relevance to the use of nuclear fusion as a source of energy.  Nuclear fusion as a sources of energy  Experts from across the world discussed innovative concepts on using nuclear fusion as source of energy.

Clean India Mission Centre for Science and Environment Report In urban U.P., 87% of waste from toilets goes to rivers, farmlands

Toilets and septic tanks are built without a proper sewer systems

What  While urban Uttar Pradesh has an 80% coverage of toilets, inefficient sanitation systems ensure that almost 87% of the excreta being generated by these toilets is being dumped in waterbodies or agricultural lands, according to a new analysis of 30 cities by the Centre for Science and Environment. Connect to the CSE report  The report argues that building more toilets will only worsen the environmental, sanitation and manual scavenging situation, unless sewerage connections increase from the current 28% of households in the 30 cities studied.  Onsite sanitation systems — such as septic tanks or pit latrines — are far more prevalent, and are used by 47% of households.  CSE’s analysis found that half of all emptying work in these cities is done manually, despite the legal prohibition of the employment of manual scavengers.  As there is no designated site for disposal, the emptied faecal sludge ends up in open drains/nullahs/open fields, which eventually lead to polluting the Ganga and other rivers and surface water bodies  In cities with a population over 10 lakh, such as Lucknow, Kanpur and Agra, the sewerage system covers 44% of the population. The situation is much worse in smaller cities. Connect to CSE  Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is a not-for-profit public interest research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi, India.  Established in 1980, CSE works as a think tank on environment- development issues in India, poor planning, climate shifts devastating India's Sundarbans and advocates for policy changes and better implementation of the already existing policies.  CSE uses knowledge-based activism to create awareness about problems and propose sustainable solutions.

Factoids The Migingo Island

 Island rises out of the waters of Lake Victoria like an iron-plated turtle.  The densely populated island is barely a quarter of a hectare large.  For over a decade, Migingo has been a source of tension between Uganda and Kenya, who have been unable to decide to whom it really belongs.

Sources – PIB ,The Hindu , livemint