11th December, 2023 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
SC upholds validity of Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 of Constitution, which provided special status to J&K

• In a significant move, Supreme Court has upheld the validity of Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution of India, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre in 2019 scrapped the Article 370 and split the state into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
• The verdict from a five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud comes in response to a bunch of petitions challenging the Centre's move to abrogate Article 370 four years ago.
• The apex court said the Article 370 was a temporary provision brought for some specific purposes and there is no mala-fide in President’s order abrogating it. Supreme Court said, Jammu and Kashmir did not enjoy any sovereignty after it joined the Union of India. The apex Court said Jammu and Kashmir does not have internal sovereignty different from other states.

Project ARTHA Ganga

• Arth Ganga is an initiative added recently to the Namami Ganga Program launched by the Government in 2014. It was decided in the meeting of National Ganga Council (NGC) held on 14th December 2019 to launch a new concept as the name Arth Ganga, which is a sustainable and viable economic development model to strengthen the river-people connect through an economic bridge. Accordingly, it was decided that the Namami Gange mission should lead the concept of Arth Ganga with the involvement of different ministries/departments and other stakeholders, institution & community organization. So it was added as a vertical of Namami Ganga Program, in addition to the 4 verticals – Nirmal Ganga, Aviral Ganga, Jan Ganga and Gyan Ganga, existing till then.
• Six pillars of Arth-Ganga identified are: Promotion of Natural Framing on 5 kms band either side of River Ganga; Monetisation and reuse of Treated water and sludge from the STPs; Improvement of Livelihood opportunities, particularly for women; Promotion of Tourism and Cultural heritage; People’s Participation and Building of capacities and institutions. Implementation of these initiatives is aimed to develop sustainable development model with focus on economic activities related to river Ganga. Several activities under Arth Ganga have been taken up by National Mission for Clean Ganga in coordination with various ministries/departments and other stakeholders, to achieve the goal.
• While no specific short-term goals have been set, however, the long-term objective of Arth Ganga is to link people and Ganga through the economic bridge in line with river rejuvenation, by garnering people’s participation for Ganga conservation and promoting sustainable development.

Also Read: Weekly Current Affairs (Sports) 4-10 November 2023 Bitbank: Who is the highest wicket-taker for India in ODI World Cup history?

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ENVIRONMENT
UN Climate Change Leader Criticizes "Tactical Blockades" and "Strategic Landmines" in Cop28 Negotiations

• As the Cop28 negotiations near their conclusion, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell has strongly condemned the use of "tactical blockades" and "strategic landmines" in the ongoing discussions. He underscored the critical need for securing a meaningful agreement and outlined two pivotal concerns: the ambition levels in mitigating climate change and the commitment of nations to support the necessary transition.
• Stiell emphasized that achieving high ambition in both areas is feasible, but compromising on one weakens the potential for success in the other. He called on negotiators to eliminate unnecessary obstacles and stressed the necessity for the Global Stocktake to benefit all countries, cautioning that challenges affecting one nation would have far-reaching consequences.
• Rejecting incrementalism and urging respect for each party's position, Stiell underscored the importance of maintaining focus on the overall objective. He warned against adopting a "win-lose" mentality, emphasizing that such an approach would lead to failure and jeopardize the security of 8 billion people.
• As the negotiations approach their final stages, the world eagerly awaits the outcome, recognizing the critical importance of the agreement in shaping the trajectory of climate action and the future of our planet.

India Climbs to 7th Place in Global Climate Performance Index, Emphasizing Renewable Energy Gains

• In a significant stride towards sustainable practices, India has ascended to the 7th position in this year's Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), showcasing a commendable improvement from its previous ranking. The announcement came during the global COP-28 held in Dubai, where India reaffirmed its status among the top performers for the fifth consecutive year.
• The spotlight is on India's exceptional performance in renewable energy, outpacing fellow developing nations and solidifying its position in the top tier. This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the ease of comparing countries within the same timeframe. The country's prowess in the greenhouse gas emissions category is evident, marked by a low level of emissions and minimal travel-related impact.
• India's success is attributed to its robust performance in the greenhouse gas category, with a notable emphasis on the food sector, which holds significant weight in the CCPI. The Policy Evaluation, rated in the upper range of medium, further contributes to India's commendable standing. However, a critical observation emerges regarding India's heavy reliance on fossil fuels, prompting speculation about its future ranking if emission rates continue to escalate.
• The report underscores the pivotal role of renewable energy in influencing emissions, highlighting the potential impact on India's standing in the next assessment. A comparative analysis with China reveals India's per capita emissions at half the global average, while China's figures already surpass the world average. The report concludes with a call for international collaboration and support for India's transition to renewable energy. The shared responsibility among nations to prioritize sustainable practices echoes throughout the narrative, emphasizing the urgency of global efforts in addressing climate change and curbing emission growth.
• Published annually since 2005, the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) tracks countries’ efforts to combat climate change. As an independent monitoring tool it aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate protection efforts and progress made by individual countries.Germanwatch, the NewClimate Institute and the Climate Action Network publish the index annually.

SPORTS
In Women's Cricket, India defeats England by five wickets in third & final T20 International at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

• In Women's Cricket, India defeated England by five wickets in the third and final T20 International at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai last night. Chasing the target of 127 runs, Indian eves achieved the score for the loss of five wickets in 19 overs. Smriti Mandhana with 48 runs, Jemimah Rodrigues with 29 runs were the top scorers for India. For England, Freya Kemp and Sophie Ecclestone took two wickets each while Charlotte Dean bagged one wicket.
• Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, England posted 126 in the stipulated 20 overs, before they were all out in the last ball of the innings. Heather Knight with 52 runs, Amy Jones with 25 runs and Charlie Dean with 16 runs were top scorers for England.
• Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque clinched three wickets each while Amanjot Kaur and Renuka Singh took two wickets each. Shreyanka Patil was declared Player of the Match and Nat Sciver-Brunt was declared Player of the Series.

Published date : 12 Dec 2023 11:17AM