Current Affairs-April 18, 2022

 

INDIA

– Atomic Energy Commission Chairman K. N. Vyas gets one year extension

– Alliance Air starts direct flight service between Mumbai and Keshod in Gujarat under UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme

 Indian Coast Guard gets new hoverport at Okha in Gujarat

– All India Radio launches weekly interactive programme ‘Abhyaas’ for competitive exams

– e-Sanjeevani Tele-consultation facility launched at one lakh Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

– Govt amends Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) rules to allow 20% foreign direct investment in LIC

– Sanmar Group’s chairman N. Sankar dies at the age of 76 in Chennai

WORLD

– South Africa: More than 400 killed in floods in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province

– UK enters into a deal with Rwanda to send illegal immigrants to the East African country

Dr Ambedkar Centre of Excellence to be launched nationally on April 22, will be set up in 31 central varsities

 The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) will play host to the national launch of Dr Ambedkar Centre of Excellence on April 22, 2022. The centre will be launched by the Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Government of India, Virendra Kumar. The centres are being launched to provide coaching facilities to scheduled caste (SC) students for civil services examination conducted by the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC).

The proposed centre is being set up in 31 central universities from all over the country, Banaras Hindu University, being one of them. The launch programme is scheduled to take place at the Shatabdi Krishi Prekshagrih, Institute of Agricultural Sciences. Vice-chancellors of all the other universities, where the centre is to be set up, will also participate.

Two MoUs shall also be signed between the Dr Ambedkar Foundation and implementing universities for setting up the centres and Dr Ambedkar Chairs.

Each centre will have 100 seats for coaching and over 33 per cent of total sanctioned seats may preferably be given to eligible female candidates of the scheduled caste (SC) category. As many as three faculty members are to be appointed in each centre. The centres are proposed to have separate classrooms, library, hi-speed WiFi connectivity and other required infrastructure for smooth functioning. For taking admission to the centre to avail coaching, candidates will have to clear an entrance test.

Source: Indian Express, 18/04/22

The significance of Nagaland govt’s green signal for 33% reservation for women in civic bodies

 Earlier this week, the Nagaland government informed the Supreme Court that it was ready to implement a 33 per cent reservation for women in the civic body polls. With that, the apex court said there was no longer any “impediment” in holding elections to the Urban Local Bodies (ULB), and asked the Nagaland Election Commission to schedule dates.

If implemented, ULB elections, a contentious subject in Nagaland, will be held in the state after more than a decade.

The civic body elections were first held in the state in 2004, in accordance with the Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001.

In 2006, the Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001 was amended to include a 33 per cent reservation for women in line with the 1992 Constitutional amendment.

Since then, there has been widespread opposition to the amendment, as many Naga groups contend that the reservations are in contravention with Naga customary laws as enshrined in Article 371(A) of the Constitution — which accords the state special status and protects its traditional way of life.

In February 2017, as the Nagaland government tried holding the elections as per a Supreme Court directive (to hold elections with 33 per cent reservation for women), the state was convulsed by violent protests that led to two deaths, and ouster of the then chief minister T R Zeliang.

Is everyone in Nagaland opposed to it?

Women’s groups like the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) stand on the other side of this debate, and have fought a long legal battle for elections to be held. They argue that reservations do not infringe upon Article 371(A) of the Constitution. Their rationale: Article 371 (A) related to laws made in the Parliament while the reservations had been effected through a Constitutional amendment.

The contention around the polls led the Nagaland government in December 2009 to indefinitely postpone municipal elections, which were due in 2010.

In 2011, the NMA petitioned the Gauhati High Court on the issue. Many leaders from the NMA, as well as other tribal womens’ groups in Nagaland, also formed the Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR) in the same year to press for the issue.

However, despite the high court directing the government to hold the elections in 2011, the Nagaland assembly, in 2012, adopted a resolution rejecting women’s reservation in ULBs.

Thereafter, the NMA filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court making its case for reservations. It was on the basis of this petition that the apex court ordered the state government to conduct elections in 2017. The state assembly revoked its 2012 resolution and agreed to hold elections.

However, as the elections were announced and the opposition to it turned violent leaving two dead in February 2017, the NMA withdrew its name for the petition. Thereafter, the People’s Union for Civil Liberties made itself a party to the case.

What happened thereafter?

In October 2021, a committee was formed by the state government to review the Municipality Act 2001.

In February 2022, the Supremer Court rapped the Nagaland state government for delaying the elections, saying that an “important aspect of gender equality seems to be getting postponed.”

Shortly after in March, the state government convened a meeting with all stakeholders, including civil society organisations, churches, tribal bodies, political parties and NGOs and “unanimously” adopted a resolution to hold ULB polls.

Mmhonlumo Kikon, state government spokesperson and advisor, described it as“historic day” for the people of Nagaland.

On April 12, 2022, the Nagaland government informed the Supreme Court of its resolution, after which the court directed the government to fix a date for the ULB elections with 33 per cent seats reserved for women. The next date of hearing is in July.

Is there a public consensus on the elections now?

Kikon said that there was “resistance” in the last term among various sections of the civil society. “However, the government has mobilised and discussed with all stakeholders and there is a consensus now,” he said.

The Naga Hoho, the apex tribal body of the state, said that there was no more “opposition”.

“As far as the tribal HOHO is considered, we have no objection,” said HK Zhimoni, President, Naga Hoho, adding that women “should be given equal position and privilege.”

However, the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) on urban local bodies continues to demand a review of the Municipal Act. Following the March resolution of the government, the JCC said that “all stakeholders were not consulted”.

“We are not against reservation but we still feel many aspects of the Act need to be reviewed. There may still be conflicting views among the public on the reservation issue and proper discussion is needed,” said Rainbow Ngullie, Secretary, JCC.

Written by Tora Agarwala

Source: Indian Express, 16.04.22

Quote of the Day April 13, 2022

 

“All men who have achieved great things have been great dreamers.”
Orison Swett Marden

“ऐसे सभी व्यक्ति जिन्होंने महान उपलब्धियां हासिल की हैं, वे महान स्वप्नदृष्टा भी होते हैं।”
ओरिसन स्वैट मार्डेन

Current Affairs-April 13, 2022

 

INDIA

– India and US reaffirm their commitment to promote regional stability and rule of law at fourth 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in Washington; participants: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh & External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and Secretary of State Antony Blinken & Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

– UGC allows students to pursue two full-time degree programmes simultaneously in physical mode

 Jharkhand: All tourists trapped in cable cars in ropeway on Trikut Hills in Deoghar district rescued by IAF helicopters; death toll rises to 3

– Nepal Army chief Prabhuram Sharma holds talks with the Director General of Assam Rifles Lt Gen Pradeep Chandran Nair in New Delhi

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

– Retail inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rises to 6.95% in March, highest in 17 months

– Index of industrial production (IIP) grows at 1.7% in February compared with 1.3% in January.

– India, ADB sign 2 million Project Readiness Financing Loan to support municipal resource mobilization in Nagaland

– Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah addresses National Conference on Cooperation Policy in New Delhi

WORLD

– Crisis-hit Sri Lanka announces debt default due to low forex reserves

– UNDP and partners of the Adaptation Innovation Marketplace (AIM) announce $2.2 million in climate action grants for 22 local innovators across 19 countries, including India

– International Day of Human Space Flight celebrated on April 12; commemorates historic space flight of Soviet Union’s Yuri Gagarin on 12 April, 1961

– Philippines: 25 killed in landslides and flooding after Tropical Storm Megi

International Day of Human Space Flight

 On the 12^th of April, the International Day of Human Space Flight is celebrated annually. This day is celebrated to commemorate humankind’s beginning of the space era and also highlights the importance of space technology and science.

History of the day

On 12^th April 1961, the first human space flight was carried out by Yuri Gagarin, a citizen of the Soviet Union. On the Vostok 1 mission, he completed one orbit around the planet for over 108 minutes. The spacecraft on which he orbited around the planet was named Vostok 3KA and it was launched on a rocket named Vostok-K. The launch took place from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, USSR.

Resolution passed by UNGA

On 7^th April 2011, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution declaring 12^th April to be celebrated as the International Day of Human Space Flight while the USSR decided to celebrate 12^th April as Cosmonautics Day. Even today in Russia and some parts of the former Soviet Union this day is celebrated. On 12^th April, World’s Space Party or Yuri’s Night is also organized to commemorate the milestones achieved in space exploration.

Significance of this day

This day is observed to celebrate that exploring outer space added a new dimension to the existence of humanity. It also highlights the unique benefits of outer space-related experiments that can be utilized for the betterment of all humankind. Space exploration has helped in various fields like navigation, communication, weather forecasting, etc. Space scientists have also made developed advanced technologies to detect potential hazardous objects that are approaching Earth and roaming in our solar system. Also, due to the advancements in space technologies that first image of a Blackhole was also captured.

NASA Data on India’s Space Debris

 According to the latest data by NASA, the space debris that was created after India conducted anti-satellite tests in March 2019 seems to have disintegrated or decayed. Due to this the country’s contribution to space debris has reduced to the lowest levels in the time period of the last four years.

What are space debris?

In space, there are lots of unwanted objects of various sizes floating around. They are produced from the remains of rockets, out-of-operation satellites, and other kinds of junk.  These junks are collectively known as space debris.

Threat from Space Debris

These pieces that are moving around in space at very high speeds are considered a threat to other space assets and the functional satellites. A collision with even millimetre-sized debris can destroy satellites.

The total amount of space debris

The latest issue of Orbital Debris Quarterly News, which is published by the Orbital Debris Program Office of NASA has stated that there are 25,182 pieces of space debris, in the earth’s lower orbits. Out of these, space debris due to India is only 114 which is the lowest among the major space-faring nations of the world. Also, the nation has 103 defunct and active spacecraft orbiting the Earth.

The largest contribution of Space Debris

The United States, China and the former Soviet Union countries have the highest number of defunct and active satellites. This also causes the said countries to produce the largest number of space debris.

Rise of Indian Space Debris

In 2019, the country’s contribution to space debris increased after the anti-satellite test. The test made India only the fourth country on the planet to have the ability for the destruction of space-based enemy infrastructure. The test conducted had created a large amount of space debris. Around 400 pieces of various sizes were created. Within weeks around 90 per cent of the pieces had disintegrated and NASA had flagged around 50 large remaining pieces.

Fall of Indian Space Debris

Before the anti-satellite test conducted by India, about 115 pieces of space debris were attributed to the country. After the test, the number had risen to 160. Later, many of these pieces got destroyed or decayed over time. Some of the pieces from the tests might still be remaining in space while other pieces even from earlier years have decayed. Thus, the space junk that is attributable to the nation has declined even lower than what was calculated before the anti-satellite test.