{"id":16807,"date":"2023-08-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/uncategorized\/11-08-2023\/daily-current-affairs-11-08-2023\/"},"modified":"2025-09-16T18:24:51","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T12:54:51","slug":"daily-current-affairs-11-08-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/11-08-2023\/daily-current-affairs-11-08-2023","title":{"rendered":"Daily Current Affairs &#8211; 11-08-2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:20pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Bill on Election Commission members\u2019 Appointments<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Indian Polity<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Government introduced the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">in the Rajya Sabha.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Background<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">A public interest litigation, challenging th<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>e constitutional validity of the practice of the Centre-appointed members<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> of the Election Commission was filed in SC.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The President makes the appointment on the advice of the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Union Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In March, the Supreme Court had ruled that the selection panel should comprise the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India (CJI).<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The court had said the order would hold good <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>until a law was made by Parliament.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Bill now seeks to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>address this vacuum<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> and set up a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>legislative process<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> to make appointments to the EC.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Key Provisions of the Bill<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It repeals the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Election Commission:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> As per <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Article 324<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> of the Constitution, the Election Commission consists of the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and such number of other Election Commissioners (ECs),<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> as the President may decide.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The CEC and other ECs are appointed by the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>President.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Bill specifies the same composition of the Election Commission.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It adds that the CEC and other ECs will be appointed by the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>President on the recommendation of a Selection Committee.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Selection Committee:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> The Selection Committee will consist of: (i) the Prime Minister as Chairperson, (ii) the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha as member, and (iii) a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister as member.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">If the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha has not been recognised, the leader of the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>single largest opposition party in Lok Sabha <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">will assume the role.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Search Committee:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> A Search Committee will prepare a panel of<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> five persons<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> for the consideration of the Selection Committee.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Search Committee will be headed by the<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> Cabinet Secretary.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> It will have two other members, not below the rank of<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> Secretary <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">to the central government, having knowledge and experience in matters related to elections.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Selection Committee may also consider candidates who have not been included in the panel prepared by the Search Committee.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Qualification of CEC and ECs:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> Persons who are holding or have held posts equivalent to the rank of Secretary to the central government will be eligible to be appointed as CEC and ECs. Such persons must have expertise in managing and conducting elections.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Salary and allowances: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The 1991 Act provides that the salary of the ECs will be equal to that of a Supreme Court judge.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Bill provides that salary, allowance, and service conditions of the CEC and other ECs will be the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>same as that of the Cabinet Secretary.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Term of office: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The 1991 Act mandates that the CEC and other ECs will hold office for a<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> term of six years<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> or until they reach the age of<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> 65 years<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, whichever is earlier. If an EC is appointed as the CEC, his total term cannot exceed six years.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Bill <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>retains the same tenure.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">\u00a0 Further, under the Bill, the CEC and other ECs will not be eligible for <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>re-appointment.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Conduct of business:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> All business of the Election Commission is to be conducted unanimously.\u00a0 In case of difference of opinion between the CEC and the other ECs on any matter, it shall be decided through <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>majority<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Removal and resignation: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the CEC can only be removed from his office in a manner<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> similar to that of a Supreme Court judge.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">This is done through an order of the President, based on a motion passed by<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> both Houses of Parliament<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> in the same session.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The motion for removal must be adopted with: (i) majority support of total membership of each House, and (ii) at least two-thirds support from members present and voting.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">An EC can only be removed from office on the<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> recommendation of the CEC<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>The Bill retains this removal procedure.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Further, the 1991 Act provides that the CEC and other ECs may submit their resignation to the President. The Bill has the same provision.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Concerns<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The bill <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>replaces the CJI with a cabinet minister<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> as one of the three members of the selection panel which will override the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Supreme Court\u2019s judgment<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> regarding the appointment of the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It will put a question mark on the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>neutrality of the Election Commission (EC)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> as the selection panel would effectively have two members of the ruling party &#8211;\u00a0 the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Minister.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Opposition see it as an attempt to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>control an institution<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> which must be independent.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_delhi\/issues\/47255\/OPS\/GBJBJPE53.1+G1HBJPEMQ.1.html\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><strong><u>TH<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:20pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Can states make laws on UCC?<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Polity and Governance<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Context<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution expressing its concern and over the \u201cUnion Government move to impose a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The resolution essentially strikes a cautious note that a proposed UCC could harm the secular nature of the country and federalism.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Which other states have opposed the idea of UCC?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Mizoram <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution opposing any move to implement the UCC in the country.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Its concerns about the proposed common code are primarily that it could clash with the customs and social practices of Mizos in the state.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>The Nagaland Tribal Council<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> has written to the Law Commission that if UCC is implemented, it will dilute the provisions of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Article 371A<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> of the Constitution which states special provisions for the state.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Tamil Nadu<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> has opposed the UCC by writing to the 22nd Law Commission that a UCC could violate an individual\u2019s religious freedom of the state.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse; border:none; table-layout:fixed; width:624px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #00ffff; border-left:1px solid #00ffff; border-right:1px solid #00ffff; border-top:1px solid #00ffff; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>What is Uniform Civil Code (UCC)?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The UCC refers to a common set of laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance and succession for all citizens, irrespective of religion.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Origin:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It dates back to colonial India when the British government submitted its report in 1835 stressing the need for uniformity in the codification of Indian law relating to crimes, evidence, and contracts, specifically recommending that personal laws of Hindus and Muslims be kept outside such codification.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">An increase in legislation dealing with personal issues at the far end of British rule forced the government to form the B N Rau Committee to codify Hindu law in 1941.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The committee, in accordance with scriptures, recommended a codified Hindu law, which would give equal rights to women.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Constitutional Provisions:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><em>Article 44<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">: The \u201cState shall endeavour to provide for its citizens a uniform civil code (UCC) throughout the territory of India.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><em>Article 37<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">: The \u201cstate shall endeavour by suitable legislation\u201d, while the phrase \u201cby suitable legislation\u201d is absent in Article 44.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Inclusion in DPSP:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) was included in the Directive Principles, not in the Fundamental Right which is enforceable by the Court of Law due to the following reasons:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Muslims members opposed it in the Constituent Assembly.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The pain of partition on the religious ground was still not diminished.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The stand taken by B.R. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly was that a UCC is desirable but for the moment should remain voluntary.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Can States bring their own personal laws?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">State laws on the issues related to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>personal laws<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> are mentioned in <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Entry 5 of the Concurrent List<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> will not have precedence over central legislation.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">On specific areas not covered by central legislation, states can legislate. But central legislation already covers all aspects of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>marriage, divorce, inheritance and succession.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">However, the<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> Constitution of India does not prevent states from exploring the feasibility of such a law<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><em>Article 162<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> of the Constitution indicates that the executive power of a State extends to matters with respect to which the Legislature of the State has power to make laws.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">On January 9, 2023, a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India refused to hear petitions of certain states to set up committees to explore the feasibility of implementing a uniform civil code in their respective administrative jurisdictions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">However, the Supreme Court of India observes in view of the provisions of Entry 5 of the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>the constitution of a Committee per se cannot be challenged as ultra vires.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">For example, a five-member panel was set-up by Uttarakhand headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai for preparing a draft on the implementation of a uniform civil code in the state. The committee is learnt to have finalised a draft framework.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">States like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam announced they would form their own committee for the implementation of the UCC.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Can the Centre make a law unilaterally on Uniform Civil Code (UCC)?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The UCC is often painted as<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> \u2018one law for one nation\u2019.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The issue of personal laws falls in <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>List III \u2014 the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> to the Constitution.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">As per the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Article 162 of the Constitution<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, State governments have the power to legislate on subjects where a central law does not occupy the field for entries in the Concurrent List.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">And, if there is a central law, it automatically gains precedence over the state law on the subject.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Entry 5 of the Concurrent lists<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><em>\u201cMarriage and divorce; infants and minors; adoption; wills, intestacy and succession; joint family and partition; all matters in respect of which parties in judicial proceedings were immediately before the commencement of this Constitution subject to their personal law.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">This allows states the power to legislate on the subject <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>but only in the absence of a central law.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955; the Shariat Act of 1937, are central legislations on Hindu and Muslim personal laws. When the Hindu personal laws were codified in 1955, it replaced several provincial legislations that existed on the issue.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-law\/kerala-assembly-resolution-against-uniform-civil-code-8885558\/\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><u>IE<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:20pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>India, Japan to restart trilateral cooperation with Sri Lanka<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/International Relations<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Context:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Sri Lanka, India and Japan are studying ways of restarting trilateral cooperation on the East Container Terminal (ECT) project in Colombo.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>About:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The cancellation of the MoU between Sri Lanka and Japan and the suspension of the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Japanese-funded Light Rail Transit (LRT)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> project by the previous government of Sri Lanka, had led to a freeze in ties between Tokyo and Colombo.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">With India and Japan coming to Sri Lanka\u2019s rescue during last year\u2019s economic crisis, and offering assistance with Sri Lanka\u2019s debt restructuring process, and the return of infrastructure project plans and investment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>About East Container Terminal (ECT):<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In May 2019, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) agreed on a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> with <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Sri Lanka, India and Japan<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> to develop the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>East Container Terminal (ECT).<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) would retain 100% ownership, while a jointly-owned Terminal Operations company would run the terminal <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>51% stake with Sri Lanka and 49% with India and Japan<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In Feb 2021, Sri Lanka booted India and Japan out of a 2019 deal to jointly develop the East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo Port, as trade unions and sections of the Buddhist clergy vehemently opposed foreign involvement in the strategic national asset.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">As an alternative, Sri Lanka offered the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>West Container Terminal (WCT)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> at the Port to India and Japan for joint development on new terms, with higher stakes of 85 % for the foreign partners.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In March 2021, the government approved a joint venture with the Adani consortium to develop the WCT,<strong> on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis<\/strong> for 35 years.<\/span><span style=\"color:#000000\"><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Way Forward:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">India and Japan share a vision of a Free Open and Inclusive Indo-Pacific, which is of relevance to all countries in the region including Sri Lanka. Some projects in Sri Lanka which were to be executed jointly by India and Japan did not progress due to several reasons, but that should not deter us in exploring new cooperation.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">India and Japan need to work together on renewable energy and grid connectivity projects, development of Trincomalee as an oil pipeline hub, connectivity and people-centric projects.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_delhi\/issues\/47255\/OPS\/GBJBJPE5I.1+GK5BJR1N3.1.html\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><u>TH<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:20pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>\u2018Sponge cities\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><strong>Syllabus:GS1\/Geography,GS3\/Infrastructure<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><strong><u>News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">The recent devastating floods and infrastructural damage in China have raised concerns\u00a0 about the effectiveness of its \u201csponge city\u201d initiative aimed at reducing urban flood risks.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><strong><u>Background<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><strong>The sponge city initiative was launched in 2015<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"> in China to boost flood resilience in major cities and make better use of rainwater through architectural, engineering and infrastructural tweaks.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">However the cities of China remain vulnerable to heavy rain. In July floods and related geological disasters caused 142 deaths and disappearances, destroyed 2,300 homes and caused direct economic losses of 15.78 billion yuan ($2.19 billion).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><strong><u>What are \u2018sponge cities\u2019?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">The term \u201csponge cities\u201d is used to describe urban areas with abundant natural areas such as trees, lakes and parks or other good design intended to absorb rain and prevent flooding.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">It is designed to make greater use of lower-impact \u201cnature-based solutions\u201d to better distribute water and improve drainage and storage.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">It includes the use of permeable asphalt, the construction of new canals and ponds and also the restoration of wetlands, which would not only ease waterlogging, but also improve the urban environment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><strong><u>Steps taken by India for sponge cities<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban): <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">While primarily focused on sanitation, this mission also emphasizes solid waste management and pollution control, which contribute to preventing waterlogging and flooding.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><strong>National smart cities mission:I<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">t promotes the measures to manage urban flooding through rainwater harvesting,green spaces and proper drainage system.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><strong>Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT):<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">The Mission focuses on development of basic infrastructure, in the cities and towns, in the sectors of water supply; sewerage and septage management; storm water drainage.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><strong>Guidelines and Regulations: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">The government has issued guidelines for sustainable urban development, encouraging the incorporation of features like permeable pavements, green roofs, and retention ponds to enhance water absorption.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><strong><u>Limitations of sponge cities<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">Sponge city infrastructure can handle no more than 200 millimeters (7.9 inches) of rain per day. Also they may face challenges with high upfront costs for infrastructure changes, maintenance requirements, and potential disruptions during construction.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">Additionally, their effectiveness can be influenced by factors like climate variability and urban development patterns.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">Source:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-global\/china-sponge-cities-floods-explained-8885495\/\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><u>IE<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:20pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Restoration of Old Pension Scheme (OPS)<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: GS-2\/Government Policies &amp; intervention, GS3\/ Economy<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Context<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Central government has warned its employees against participating in strikes or protests over demand for <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>What is an Old Pension Scheme?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Old Pension Scheme (OPS), is a post-retirement benefit for employees in the public sector that guarantees a set sum to be paid to the employee following their superannuation.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is also known as the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>&#8220;Defined Benefit Scheme\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, providing government employees with a future guarantee in the form of a payment equal to 50% of their base income.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Therefore, if the person&#8217;s basic salary is Rs. 10,000, the government will pay them a set pension of Rs. 5,000 each month.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Previously, the budget for pensions was disclosed each year during the presentation of the budget. Additionally, the annual DA rise in the pension was funded by both the federal and state governments.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Why was OPS discontinued?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It was a financial liability for the government because there was no way for it to make money from the corpus that government employees had saved up.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In December 2003, the government said that the New Pension Scheme (NPS) would take the place of the Old Pension Scheme as of April 1, 2004.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>What is the New Pension Scheme (NPS)?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">New Pension Scheme (NPS), a government-sponsored pension scheme, was launched in January 2004 for government employees.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The NPS was for prospective employees; it was made mandatory for all new recruits joining government service from January 1, 2004.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Contributions:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The defined contribution comprised 10 percent of the basic salary and dearness allowance by the employee and a matching contribution by the government this was Tier 1, with contributions being mandatory.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In 2019, the government increased its contribution to 14 percent of the basic salary and dearness allowance.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Schemes under the NPS are offered by nine pension fund managers<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is sponsored by SBI, LIC, UTI, HDFC, ICICI, Kotak Mahindra, Adita Birla, Tata, and Max.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Key Differences Between Old Pension Scheme(OPS) and New Pension Scheme (NPS)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse; border:none; table-layout:fixed; width:624px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Heads<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Old Pension Scheme (OPS)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>New Pension Scheme (NPS)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:decimal\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Employees who are eligible<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Government Employees Only<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Government employees, citizens between the age of 18 and 60, and NRIs<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type:decimal\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Payment of Pension<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Provides pension to employees on the basis of their last salary withdrawn and DA.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Pension on the basis of the investment done in NPS during their employment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type:decimal\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Amount of pension<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">A pension is given equal to 50% of the last received salary + DA or the average salary received in previous 10 months of service, whichever is greater.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">40% put in annuities and 60% received as a lump sum upon retirement<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type:decimal\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Contribution<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">No amount is contributed by employees<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Government employees are required to contribute 10% of their basic pay + DA, while the government is required to contribute 14%.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type:decimal\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Income Tax Benefits&nbsp;<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">No Tax benefits<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Employees may deduct up to Rs. 1.5 lakh from their income tax under Section 80C and Rs. 50,000 from other investments under Section 80CCD (1b).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type:decimal\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Tax on pension amount<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The pension amount is tax free.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">60% of NPS corpus is tax free while 40% is taxable.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>OPS v\/s NPS: Which is better?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Flexibility:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> The NPS gives people more freedom to choose their fund managers, investment options, and the order in which they make their investments. Depending on their risk tolerance, people can select from a variety of classes like equities, government bonds, and corporate bonds.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The NPS is a transferable program, so members can maintain their account even if they switch jobs.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Market-linked: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The NPS is a market-linked scheme, and the returns on investments are determined by how well pension fund managers perform their investments.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Low management fees: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In comparison to the OPS, the NPS offers cheaper management fees. As a result, more of the investment money goes toward creating the retirement corpus, and the investor keeps a larger percentage of the profits.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/central-govt-employees-warned-against-participating-in-rally-to-demand-old-pension-scheme-restoration\/article67177938.ece\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><strong><u>TH<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:20pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>NavIC to link to Aadhaar enrolment devices<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Science and Technology<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>The Navigation with Indian Constellation or (NavIC<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">) will soon be integrated into <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Aadhaar enrolment devices,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:11pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> the Department of Space (DoS) told the Parliamentary Committee of Science and Technology.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>About<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The department has facilitated <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>successful conduction of field trials,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> and is providing technical expertise in finalisation of procurement specification of the devices.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Currently the Aadhaar enrolment kits that are used to collect and verify personal details are linked to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>GPS<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>About NavIC<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is a<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> regional navigation satellite system<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> established by <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">\u00a0NavIC was erstwhile known as<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">NavIC is designed with a constellation of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>7 satellites<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> and a network of ground stations operating 24 x 7.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Three satellites <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">of the constellation are placed in<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> geostationary orbit<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> and <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>four satellites<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> are placed in <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>inclined geosynchronous orbit.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>ground network<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> consists of control centre, precise timing facility, range and integrity monitoring stations, two-way ranging stations, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>NavIC offers two services:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> Standard Position Service (SPS) for <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>civilian users<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> and Restricted Service (RS) for <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>strategic users.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">These two services are provided in both <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>L5<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> (1176.45 MHz) and<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> S band<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> (2498.028 MHz).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The NavIC coverage area includes <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>India and a region up to 1,500 km<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>beyond the Indian boundary.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> Newer satellites will have an additional band called<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> L1 <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">that will be <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>compatible with civilian use.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">NavIC SPS signals are <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>interoperable with the other global navigation satellite<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>system (GNSS)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> signals namely GPS, Glonass, Galileo and BeiDou.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Applications<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Transportation (terrestrial, aerial and marine)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Location based services<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Personal mobility<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Resource monitoring<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Surveying and geodesy<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Scientific research<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Time dissemination and synchronisation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Safety-of-life alert dissemination: T<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>he National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">) was already utilising NavIC as an alert dissemination system for major <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>natural disasters<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> like landslipSs, earthquakes, floods, and avalanches.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information System (INCOIS)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> relies on it to broadcast cyclones, high waves, and tsunamis alert messages to fishermen venturing into the deep sea.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Centre has been pushing <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>cell phone makers<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> in India to make their instruments compatible with NavIC, a process that will involve hardware alterations.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">To meet the navigation requirements of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>civil aviation<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI) have implemented the GPS Aided GAGAN as a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>satellite based augmentation system (SBAS) <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">for the Indian airspace.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">GAGAN system is interoperable with other international SBAS systems like US WAAS, European EGNOS, Japanese MSAS etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">GAGAN provides the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>additional accuracy, availability, and integrity<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> necessary for various phases of flight, from en-route through approach for all qualified airports within the GAGAN service volume.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/technology\/indian-gps-navic-to-link-to-aadhaar-enrolment-devices\/article67181022.ece\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><strong><u>TH<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:20pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>China\u2019s economy slides into deflation<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus:GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">China&#8217;s economy has slipped into deflation as consumer prices declined in July for the first time in more than two years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>What is Deflation?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Deflation is a general decline in prices for goods and services, typically associated with a contraction in the supply of money and credit in the economy.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">During deflation, the purchasing power of currency rises over time.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Causes of Deflation<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Declining prices can be caused by a number of factors: a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>decline in aggregate demand<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> (a decrease in the total demand for goods and services) and<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> increased productivity.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>A decline in aggregate demand <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">results in subsequent lower prices. Causes of this shift include reduced government spending, stock market failure, consumer desire to increase savings, and tightening monetary policies (higher interest rates).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Increased productivity<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> is caused by <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#111111\"><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">technological advancement.Companies operate more efficiently as technology advances which lead to lower production costs and cost savings transferred to consumers in the form of lower prices.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Impact of Deflation<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Deflation benefits consumers <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">because they can purchase more goods and services with the same nominal income over time.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Deflation can harm borrowers,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> who are bound to pay their debts in money that is worth more than the money they borrowed, as well as any financial market participants who invest or speculate on the prospect of rising prices.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Impact of China&#8217;s deflation on World Economy<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Flood global markets with Chinese goods:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">China produces a large proportion of the goods sold around the world.Cut-price Chinese goods flood global markets<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">and it could have a negative impact on manufacturers in other countries. That could hit investment by businesses and cause unemployment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Effect on global exports: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">A period of falling prices in China could also hit company profits and consumer spending. This may then lead to higher unemployment.It could also result in a fall in demand from the country &#8211; the world&#8217;s largest marketplace &#8211; for energy, raw materials and food, which would hit global exports.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Impact of China&#8217;s deflation on Indian Economy<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Positive effect:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> If investment in the Chinese economy is lowered owing to the increasing slowing rate of their economy,India could potentially emerge and take over as the manufacturing hub for the developed economies. For India, if economic reforms are accelerated, India can become the next manufacturing hub.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Negative effect:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> China remains one of the biggest importers of iron ore from India.Therefore, a slower economy for China would mean the amount of import into China could fall, spelling somewhat doom from India&#8217;s economy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Impact on China&#8217;s economy<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">China&#8217;s economy is already facing other hurdles.It is recovering from the impact of the pandemic at a rate that is slower than expected.China&#8217;s exports fell by 14.5% in July compared with a year earlier, while imports dropped 12.4%.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">China is also dealing with an ongoing property market crisis after the near-collapse of its biggest real estate developer Evergrande.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_delhi\/issues\/47118\/OPS\/G7BBJKJT2.1+GERBJM7ET.1.html\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><strong><u>TH<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:20pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>World Biofuel Day<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: GS-3\/Environment<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Context<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>World Biofuel Day<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> is observed every year on<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> 10th August <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">to create <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>awareness<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> about the importance of<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> non-fossil fuels<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> as an alternative to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>conventional fossil fuels.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The day was first observed in 2015 by the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Ministry of Petroleum and Gas.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>What is Biofuel?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Biofuels are defined as fuels made from organic materials such as plants, crops, and animal manure, offering a persuasive and eco-friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuels.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">These energy sources are created from biomass, including plants, agricultural residues, green growth and crops.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Renewable biofuels emerge as a crucial catalyst in the reduction of carbon emissions by up to 90%, confirming their crucial role in the shift to a more sustainable and ecologically aware world.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> Crops used to make biofuels are generally either high in sugar (such as sugarcane, sugarbeet, and sweet sorghum), starch (such as maize and tapioca) or oils (such as soybean, rapeseed, coconut, sunflower).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Significance of Biofuels<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The day\u00a0 emphasizes encouraging sustainable energy and the inherent benefits of biofuels.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Compared to non-renewable fossil fuels, biofuels are less harmful to the climate.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The use of renewable energy slows global warming and promotes sustainable energy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">\u00a0Biofuel also diminishes the emissions of greenhouse gas.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">\u00a0Decrease the contamination of air and water.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The necessity of securing a cleaner environment for the benefit of future generations<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Important Bio-Fuel Categories in India<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Bioethanol <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">is ethanol produced from biomass, which includes sugar and starch containing plants like corn, cassava, rotten potatoes, and algae, as well as cellulosic materials like bagasse, wood waste, agricultural and forestry residues, as well as other renewable resources like industrial waste.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Biodiesel:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> a methyl or ethyl ester of fatty acids made from bio-oil, used cooking oil, acid oil, and non-edible vegetable oils;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Bio-CNG: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">a refined form of biogas produced from food waste, MSW, animal manure, and sewage water. Its energy potential and composition are comparable to those of natural gas derived from fossil fuels.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Drop-in fuel:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> Any liquid fuel made from biomass, agricultural residues, wastes, such as Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW), plastic wastes, industrial wastes, etc. that satisfies Indian standards for MS, HSD, and jet fuel, in pure or blended form, for use in vehicles without requiring engine system modifications and that can use the existing petroleum distribution system is referred to as a drop-in fuel.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Advanced Biofuels:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> Fuels which are made of agricultural and forest residues (rice, wheat, straw, corn, woody biomass) and non food crops (grasses and algae). Such types of biofuels have low CO2 emission and are classified as Green Fuels. Examples: Ethanol, Drop in fuels, Bio-Hydrogen, Bio-Methanol, Algae based 3G biofuel, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse; border:none; table-layout:fixed; width:624px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color:#fff2cc; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Roadmap of Biofuel in India<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">India has set a target to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025-26.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The target of petrol supplies with 10% ethanol blending was achieved in June last year, ahead of the original schedule of November 2022.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">India restricted the import and export of biofuels in a bid to increase domestic capacity.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Initiatives of Government to Promote Biofuel in India<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>National Biofuel Policy, 2018: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">By 2030, 20% ethanol blending is expected under Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program. By allowing the use of sugarcane juice, sugar-containing materials, and starch-containing materials for ethanol production, it broadens the range of raw materials available for ethanol production.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Program for Ethanol-Blended Petrol (EBP):<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It wants to reduce fuel imports, save money, and classify ethanol as a biofuel by blending it with gasoline.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, 2019: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It aims to provide financial support to Integrated Bioethanol Projects using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstock.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In order to maintain the cleanliness of villages, the 2018 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>GOBAR DHAN initiative<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources) focuses on managing and converting agricultural wastes, such as animal manure and crop waste, into usable compost and bio-CNG.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO): <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Under this\u00a0 with the goal of developing an ecosystem that will allow used cooking oil to be collected and converted into biodiesel. It is launched by The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.business-standard.com\/lifestyle\/world-biofuel-day-2023-theme-history-importance-future-of-biofuel-123081000278_1.html\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><strong><u>BS<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:20pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Renewable Energy Microgrid<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Energy, Infrastructure<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Ministry of Electronics &amp; Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Renewable Energy Microgrid Power Plant for Electrical energy requirements of rural communities.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>What are microgrids?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Microgrids are local power grids<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> that can be operated independently of the main (generally much bigger) electricity grid in an area.<\/span><\/span><\/span><a style=\"text-decoration:none\" href=\"https:\/\/www.c2es.org\/content\/microgrids\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><u>\u00a0<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Microgrids can be used<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> to power a single building or a collection of buildings, like an industrial park, university campus, military base or neighborhood. Groups of microgrids that are linked together can also power bigger areas, like towns or cities.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Renewable energy Microgrid:&nbsp;<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">A renewable energy microgrid is an autonomous, localized and self-contained energy system that incorporates<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> renewable energy sources as its primary generation inputs.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>In the off-grid mode<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> of operation of a microgrid, it generates, stores, and distributes electricity within a specific area or community while prioritizing the use of renewable energy to minimize reliance on fossil fuels and reduce environmental impact.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>In the on-grid mode<\/strong> of operation, the microgrid will be able to interact with the utility grid and export power if the generation is excess of what is locally needed.<\/span><span style=\"color:#000000\"><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Why are microgrids needed?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">During storms or power outages the main electricity grid in an area is shut down. Microgrids can switch away from them and continue to provide power during emergencies like these.This process is known as<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> \u2018islanding\u2019.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Microgrids can also <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>provide power in remote places<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> that have no access to electricity.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Source:<\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1947596\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><u>PIB<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:20pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Facts In News&nbsp;<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:16pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Select Committee<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Structure and Functioning of the Parliament<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Four MPs\u00a0 from Rajya sabha recently complained that their names had been included in a proposed Select Committee for the Delhi Services Bill without their consent.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>What is a Select Committee?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">India\u2019s Parliament has several types of committees including <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>12 Standing Committees that are permanent<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> in nature, with their members <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>nominated <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">from time to time by the Chairman.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Then there are<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> ad hoc or temporary committees<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, which are set up for a specific purpose(Eg. Examining a Bill) and are dissolved once that purpose has been served. A <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Select Committee belongs to this category.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Under Rule 125 of the Rajya Sabha Rules and Procedures, any <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>member may move an amendment that a Bill be referred to a Select Committee.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The motion to refer a Bill to a Select Committee can either be moved by the member in-charge of the Bill, or by any other MP, as happened in the case of the Delhi Services Bill.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Selection of members of Select Committee<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The members are specifically named in the motion itself. The mover has to ascertain whether the member proposed by him is willing to serve on the Committee.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The members of the Select Committee on a Bill are appointed by the House when the motion that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee is made.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The actual number of membership of the Select Committee is <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>not fixed;<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> it varies from Committee to Committee.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>If it is a Joint Committee, the proportion of members from the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha is 1:2.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>The Chairman of the Committee is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> from among the members of the Committee.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The member or Minister in-charge of the Bill is generally included as a member of the Committee.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Working of a Select Committee<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>The quorum <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">for each sitting needs to be <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>one-third <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">of the total number of members of the committee.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Committee\u2019s job is to go through the text of the Bill, clause by clause, in order to see that the Bill \u201creflects clearly the intention behind the measure and the object proposed to be achieved is adequately brought out,\u201d Rajya Sabha rules say.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>In case of equality of votes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> on any matter, the chairman (or any other person presiding) will have a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>second or casting vote<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The report will be signed on behalf of the committee by the chairman. Any member can record dissent. The report, along with notes of dissent, will be presented to the Rajya Sabha, printed and circulated among all members.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Committee may also visit organisations and institutions, etc. for on-the-spot study of a matter connected with the Bill.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Aftermath of submission of report by Select Committee\u2019s<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The report of the committee is of a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>recommendatory nature. <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The government can choose to accept or reject its recommendations.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">A Select Committee <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>can also include its version of the Bill. <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">If they do so, the minister in charge of that particular Bill can move for the committee\u2019s version of the Bill to be discussed and passed in the House.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-politics\/select-committee-delhi-services-bill-raghav-chadha-amit-shah-8882535\/\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><strong><u>IE<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:16pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Welfare Schemes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Context<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Bioethanol projects are under Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>About Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">To facilitate production of ethanol, Government had notified the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>\u201cPradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan &#8211; Vatavaran Anukool Fasal Awashesh Nivaran) Yojana\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> for providing financial support <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>for setting up Second Generation (2G) ethanol projects<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> in the country <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstock<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The total financial outlay for the scheme is Rs. 1969.50 crore for the period from 2018-19 to 2023-24.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Objectives<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The current scheme envisages setting up of 12 Commercial scale Second Generation (2G) Bioethanol projects and 10 demonstration scale 2G Bioethanol projects based on non-food biomass feedstocks and other renewable feedstocks.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The projects have been envisaged to increase ethanol availability for Ethanol Blending Petrol Programme in the country consequently reducing dependency on import of fossil fuel.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Implementation<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Under this Yojana, 12 Commercial and Demonstration scale Second Generation (2G) ethanol Projects will be provided a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support in two phases:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Phase-I\u00a0 (2018-19\u00a0 to\u00a0 2022-23): <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">\u00a0wherein\u00a0 six\u00a0 commercial\u00a0 projects\u00a0 and five demonstration projects will be supported.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Phase-II (2020-21 to 2023-24): <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">wherein remaining six commercial projects and five demonstration projects will be supported.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Project developers interested in availing benefits of the scheme, shall be submitting their proposal for review by the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of Ministry of Petroleum &amp; Natural Gas (MoP&amp;NG).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1947504\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><u>PIB<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:16pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>MALABAR-2023<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Internal Security<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Indian Navy&#8217;s indigenous frontline warships INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata will participate in Exercise MALABAR 2023.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>About<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The MALABAR series of maritime exercises commenced in<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> 1992<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> as a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>bilateral exercise<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> between the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Indian Navy and US Navy.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Japan<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> joined the Naval Exercises in<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> 2015.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> Malabar <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>2020<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> saw the participation of the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Australian Navy<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">This year marks the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>27th edition <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">of MALABAR which is being hosted by Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and will see participation from the US Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">INS Sahyadri is the third ship of the indigenously designed and built <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Project-17 <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">class multi-role stealth frigates.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">INS Kolkata is the first ship of the indigenously designed and built <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Project-15A <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">class destroyers.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Both ships have been built at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai and are fitted with a state-of-the-art array of weapons and sensors to detect and neutralise threats in surface, air and underwater domains.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1947436\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:16pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Jeddah&nbsp;<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: Places in News<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>In News&nbsp;<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Saudi Arabia hosted a conference for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine war\u00a0 in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color:#000000\"><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>About Jeddah&nbsp;<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is Saudi Arabia\u2019s port city.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is situated on the eastern shore of the Red Sea.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is\u00a0 situated on the maritime trade route connecting the Mediterranean with India, the Arabian Peninsula and southeast Asia.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">From the 7th century AD it was established as a major port for Indian Ocean trade routes, channeling goods to Mecca.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">\u00a0It was also the gateway for Muslim pilgrims to Mecca who arrived by sea.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:16pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Papua New Guinea.<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: Places in News<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Kolkata arrived at Port Moresby for enhancing maritime partnership and cooperation with Papua New Guinea.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>About Papua New Guinea<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Papua New Guinea, an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">\u00a0Capital\u00a0 :<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Port Moresby<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It shares a land-border with Indonesia; its other near neighbours are Australia and Solomon Islands .<\/span><span style=\"color:#000000\"><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It occupies the eastern half of New Guinea and includes numerous offshore islands.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Major River : <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Sepik river\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Papua New Guinea has several volcanoes and is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size:16pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Batagaika crater<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: Places in News<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>In News&nbsp;<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Batagaika crater is expanding at an alarming rate due to the thawing of the permafrost.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>About Batagaika crater<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is situated in Russia\u2019s Far East.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is located in the Sakha Republic and reaches depths of up to 100 metres.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is the world\u2019s largest one kilometre-long permafrost crater.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">\u00a0It began forming in the 1960s after deforestation led to the melting of the underground permafrost, causing the land to sink.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"font-size:16pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Kuril islands<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: Places in News<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Kuril Islands dispute between Russia and Japan has gained attention amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>About Kurils Island&nbsp;<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">These are a set of four islands situated between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean near the north of Japan&#8217;s northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Image Source: <\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/international\/the-quarrel-over-kuril-islands\/article65353309.ece\" style=\"text-decoration:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\"><u>TH<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">\u00a0Both Russia and Japan claim sovereignty over them though the islands have been under Russian control since the end of World War II.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Soviet Union had seized the islands at the end of World War II and by 1949 had expelled its Japanese residents.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Japan claims that the disputed islands have been part of Japan since the early 19th century.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bill on Election Commission members\u2019 Appointments Syllabus: GS2\/Indian Polity In News Background Key Provisions of the Bill Concerns Source: TH Can states make laws on UCC? Syllabus: GS2\/Polity and Governance Context Which other states have opposed the idea of UCC? What is Uniform Civil Code (UCC)? The UCC refers to a common set of laws [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16356,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[76],"class_list":["post-16807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-gs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/09\/6616468images.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16807"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54259,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16807\/revisions\/54259"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}