16th December, 2024 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
Padma Bhushan Ustad Zakir Hussain Passes Away at 73

• Padma Bhushan Ustad Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla player, passed away at the age of 73 in a US hospital due to heart-related problems. His music and legacy will continue to inspire generations.
• Born in Mumbai in 1951, Zakir Hussain was the son of tabla legend Ustad Allah Rakha. From a young age, he showed extraordinary talent and started performing at just seven years old. Trained rigorously by his father, he became a master of the tabla, known for his passion and skill.
• Zakir Hussain elevated the tabla from being just an accompanying instrument to a powerful solo instrument. His technical brilliance and emotional playing redefined the way the world sees Indian classical music. He worked with famous musicians like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, leaving a lasting mark on Indian music.
• In 1970, Zakir Hussain co-founded Shakti, a music group blending Indian classical music and jazz. He worked with artists like John McLaughlin, George Harrison, and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead. His group Planet Drum even won a Grammy Award, proving his talent for bringing different musical styles together.
• Zakir Hussain also composed music for films like Heat and Dust and In Custody. He worked on international ballet and orchestra projects, taking Indian music to new audiences worldwide.

Taste Atlas Reveals 2024-25 Top Food Cities

• Food is a significant aspect of cultural exploration, with many travelers seeking out destinations known for their unique culinary experiences. In line with this, Taste Atlas, a renowned food and travel guide, has recently revealed its rankings for the Top 10 Best Food Cities in the World for 2024-25.
• European cities dominate the list, particularly from Italy, while Mumbai in India makes a notable appearance in the top 5, showcasing the global recognition of India’s diverse food culture.
• Italy stands out with six cities ranked in the Top 10, reflecting the country’s strong culinary influence.
• Mumbai secures 5th place, making it the highest-ranked Indian city on the list, with dishes like Vada Pav capturing international attention.

The New Nyaya Sanhita Mechanisms for Quick Justice Delivery

• The Nyaya Sanhita, a comprehensive legislative reform, aims to expedite the justice process in India, ensuring quicker and fairer resolution of cases. The law prioritizes the completion of crucial stages of investigation and trial within specific time frames. With a focus on expediting justice for women, children, and other marginalized sections of society, the Nyaya Sanhita introduces mechanisms that tackle delays in the judicial system. These reforms aim to restore public confidence in the legal system, reduce case backlogs, and deliver justice in a timely manner.
• The law prioritizes investigations, especially for sensitive cases such as those involving women and children.
• Investigation for Offenses Against Women and Children: Must be completed within two months of recording the information.
• To curb delays in the courtroom, the Nyaya Sanhita limits adjournments.
• A maximum of two adjournments will be allowed per case.
• This mechanism ensures that cases do not get prolonged unnecessarily and prevents the legal system from becoming a vehicle for delay tactics.
• This ensures that justice for vulnerable sections of society is not delayed, addressing pressing concerns about their safety and rights.
• The new Nyaya Sanhita mandates strict time limits for various stages of investigation and trial.

1. Preliminary Enquiry: Must be completed within 14 days.
2. Further Investigation: To be completed within 90 days.
3. Supply of Documents to Victim and Accused: Within 14 days.
4. Commitment of Case for Trial: Within 90 days.
5. Filing of Discharge Applications: Within 60 days.
6. Framing of Charges: Within 60 days.
7. Pronouncement of Judgment: Within 45 days.
8. Filing of Mercy Petitions: 30 days before the Governor and 60 days before the President.
9. These timeframes aim to ensure that cases progress without unnecessary delays, promoting swift justice.

India Maritime Heritage Conclave 2024

• The 1st India Maritime Heritage Conclave (IMHC 2024), organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) on December 11-12, marked a significant occasion to honor India’s rich maritime legacy while envisioning its future as a global maritime leader.
• India’s maritime history is embedded in ancient traditions, dating back to the Rig Veda and the Indus Valley Civilization, where maritime activities and trade played a pivotal role. The conclave explored India’s enduring maritime identity, from ancient shipbuilding techniques to historical trade routes that connected the country with the rest of the world. Modern India, with its extensive coastline and strategic ports, continues to dominate global trade, handling 95% of its trade volume and 70% of its value through maritime channels.
• Theme of IMHC 2024 is  “Towards Understanding India’s Position in Global Maritime History.”

INETRNATIONAL
Moldova signs ISA Framework Agreement, joins global efforts for clean energy & sustainability

• Moldova has signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement and officially joined the ISA.
• Randhir Jaiswal said that India welcomes Moldova for joining global efforts to promote clean energy and sustainability through the ISA platform.
• The ISA is a collaborative initiative between India and France aimed at uniting efforts to combat climate change by implementing solar energy solutions. It was conceptualized on the side lines of COP21 in Paris in 2015. Following a 2020 amendment to its Framework Agreement, all UN member states are now eligible to join the Alliance. Currently, 100+ countries are signatories, with 90+ countries having ratified to become full members. Its mission is to unlock $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 while reducing technology and financing costs.

Switzerland Suspends ‘Most Favoured Nation’ Status to India

• Switzerland has decided to suspend the application of the ‘Most Favoured Nation’ (MFN) clause in its tax treaty with India, a decision that could raise taxes on Indian companies operating in Switzerland.
• This decision follows a 2023 Indian Supreme Court ruling that altered the interpretation of the MFN clause, reversing a Delhi High Court decision favoring Nestlé. As a result, Switzerland will impose a 10% withholding tax on dividends paid to Indian companies starting January 1, 2025, instead of the previous 5%.
• The MFN clause, part of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Switzerland, was designed to offer lower tax rates on dividends between the two countries. Initially, Indian tax residents benefiting from Swiss dividends could avail of a reduced tax rate of 5%, a concession that followed the 2018 and 2020 OECD membership of Colombia and Lithuania, respectively, allowing India to offer similar benefits. However, Swiss authorities’ interpretation shifted when the Indian Supreme Court ruled that the MFN clause did not automatically apply when countries joined the OECD, particularly in the case of Nestlé.

ENVIRONMENT
Ratapani Declared India’s 57th Tiger Reserve

• India has expanded its tiger conservation footprint with the declaration of Madhya Pradesh’s Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary as its 57th tiger reserve.  The creation of these reserves highlights India’s commitment to protecting its tiger population, which constitutes over 70% of the global wild tiger population.
• Tiger reserves are specially designated areas established under the Project Tiger initiative of 1973 to conserve tigers and their habitats. Each reserve comprises:
• Core Areas: Legally designated as national parks or sanctuaries, where human activity is minimal.
• Buffer Zones: A mix of forest and non-forest land maintained as a transition zone for both wildlife and human activities.
• As of now, India’s 57 tiger reserves cover 82,000 sq. km, about 2.3% of its geographical area. These areas serve as crucial habitats for biodiversity conservation.
• The tiger population in India faced sharp declines due to hunting and habitat loss post-independence. In 1973, Project Tiger began with nine reserves, including Corbett (Uttarakhand) and Kanha (Madhya Pradesh). Today, initiatives like these have helped India host 3,167 wild tigers as per the 2022 NTCA estimation. The addition of Ratapani reflects the ongoing commitment to conservation, ensuring ecological balance and combating climate change impacts.