20th September, 2023 Current Affairs

20th September, 2023 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
Cabinet approves Women Reservation Bill granting 33% seats to women in Parliament

• On September 18, the Union Cabinet took a historic step by approving the Women Reservation Bill, which mandates a 33 percent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies of India. This monumental legislation aims to ensure equal representation for women in the highest legislative bodies of the country.

Key Provisions of the Women Reservation Bill

• 33% Reservation for Women
• The Women Reservation Bill mandates that one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will be reserved for women candidates.
• This provision aims to promote gender equality and increase women’s representation in India’s legislative bodies.
• Rotational Reservation
• To ensure fairness and equitable distribution, the reserved seats will be rotated after each general election.
• This mechanism prevents the monopolization of reserved seats by specific political parties or individuals.
• Sub-Reservation for Marginalized Groups
• The Bill also proposes sub-reservation within the 33 percent quota for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Anglo-Indians.
• This sub-reservation recognizes the importance of addressing intersectional inequalities and promoting diversity in political representation.

Old Parliament Building To Be Called As ‘Samvidhan Sadan

• As the proceedings of the Indian Parliament shift to a new, state-of-the-art building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the new name for the old Parliament building: “Samvidhan Sadan” or “Constitution House.” This iconic structure, designed by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker and completed in 1927, has witnessed some of the most pivotal moments in Indian history, including the drafting and passing of India’s constitution.
• The renaming of the old Parliament building to “Samvidhan Sadan” is not just a symbolic gesture; it represents a commitment to preserving India’s democratic heritage and passing it on to future generations. As India moves forward, the new Parliament building will serve as a symbol of modernity and progress, while the “Samvidhan Sadan” will remain a timeless reminder of the nation’s democratic roots and its enduring commitment to the principles enshrined in its constitution.

INTERNATIONAL
India-Canada Relations Strained Over Allegations of Sikh Separatist Involvement

• Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, announced that there was “credible” information linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia.
• Recently, there was a tragic incident where Hardeep Singh Nijjar was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Nijjar had been advocating for the creation of an independent Sikh nation called Khalistan within India’s Punjab state. He was wanted by Indian authorities and was officially labeled as a “terrorist” in July 2020. Nijjar held a prominent position as the leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force, an organization that India has designated as a terrorist group.

G77+China summit concludes with emphasis on empowering Global South

• The two-day Summit of the G77+China recently concluded, marking a significant moment for the Global South’s aspirations in the international governance system. This summit brought together delegations from over 100 nations, including more than 30 heads of state and government.
• The Group of 77 (G77), established in 1964, consists of over 130 member nations, with its leadership rotating among member nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Notably, G77 member countries collectively represent over 80 percent of the world’s population and comprise more than two-thirds of UN member nations. China, while not a member of the G77, has been actively cooperating and supporting the group’s objectives within the framework of “G77+China.”
• One significant development at the summit was the declaration by developing countries of September 16 as the annual “Day of Science, Technology, and Innovation in the South.” This initiative aims to rally support from the world, the UN system, and global financial institutions to bolster the efforts of Southern nations in advancing their national science and innovation systems.

ECONOMY
African Union to launch own credit ratings agency

• The African Union is set to launch its own credit ratings agency in the coming year as a direct response to concerns regarding what it perceives as biased credit assessments given to African nations. This move aims to provide a more balanced evaluation of lending risks associated with African countries and bolster investment in the continent.
• The African Union, along with its member nations’ leaders, has long criticized the “big three” credit ratings agencies—Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P Global Ratings—for what they perceive as unfair assessments of lending risks related to African countries. They argue that these agencies are often too quick to downgrade African nations, particularly during crises such as the global health pandemic.

ART and CULTURE
Hoysala Temples now India’s 42nd UNESCO’s World Heritage site

• The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala, the famed Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebid and Somananthpura in Karnataka have been added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage list. This inclusion marks the 42nd UNESCO World Heritage Site in India and comes just a day after Rabindranath Tagore’s Santiniketan also received this distinguished recognition.
• The temples were finalised as India’s nomination for consideration as World Heritage for the year 2022-2023. The ‘Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala’ have been on UNESCO’s Tentative list since April 15, 2014. All these three Hoysala temples are already protected monuments of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• The Hoysala temples are known for their intricate carvings and exquisite architecture. They were built by the Hoysala Empire, which ruled over a large part of southern India between the 10th and 14th centuries. The three temples that have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List are:
• Chennakeshava Temple at Belur
• Hoysaleshwara Temple at Halebidu
• Keshava Temple at Somanathapura

SPORTS
Elavenil Valarivan Wins Air Rifle Gold In Rio World Cup

• Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan secured a remarkable victory in the women’s 10m air rifle event at the ISSF World Cup 2023 held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on a thrilling Saturday. The 24-year-old Olympian showcased her exceptional skills and nerves of steel as she outperformed her competitors to clinch the coveted gold medal.
• The ISSF World Cup 2023 in Rio de Janeiro marked the last rifle and pistol event of the year. The competition in the Brazilian city will be followed by the finals scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 18 to 27.

AGRICULTURE
MoA&FW Unveils Game-Changing Initiatives for Farmers

• The Government of India's dedication to innovation and efficient service delivery for agriculture, with the aim of sustaining and doubling farmers' income.
•  Initiatives like the Kisan Rin Portal (KRP), Ghar-Ghar KCC Abhiyaan, and WINDS Manual embody the government's commitment to farmers' prosperity, innovation, technology infusion, and objective service delivery.
• These efforts will further the goal of agricultural transformation and sustainable economic growth for the farming community across the nation.

BACKGROUND
Kisan Rin Portal (KRP)

• Developed collaboratively by MoA&FW, the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAH&D), Department of Fisheries (DoF), RBI, and NABARD, KRP is poised to revolutionize access to credit services under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC). It will also assist farmers in availing subsidized agriculture credit through the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS).
• The KRP portal serves as an integrated hub, offering a comprehensive view of farmer data, loan disbursement specifics, interest subvention claims, and scheme utilization progress. By fostering seamless integration with banks, this pioneering portal enables proactive policy interventions, strategic guidance, and adaptive enhancements for more focused and efficient agriculture credit and optimum utilization of interest subvention.

Ghar-Ghar KCC Abhiyaan: Door to Door KCC Campaign

• The event also marks the commencement of the "Ghar Ghar KCC Abhiyaan,". MoA&FW's commitment to universal financial inclusion is underscored by this campaign, ensuring that every farmer has unhindered access to credit facilities that drive their agricultural pursuits. The campaign will begin from 1st October 2023 to 31st December 2023.
• MoA&FW has diligently verified existing KCC account holders' data against the PM KISAN database, identifying account holders who match with the PM KISAN database and those who, although PM KISAN beneficiaries, do not have KCC accounts. This campaign plays a pivotal role in reaching out to non-KCC account holder PM KISAN beneficiaries and fostering the saturation of KCC Accounts among eligible PM Kisan beneficiary farmers.

Launch of WINDS Manual

• The Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) initiative stands as a pioneering effort to establish a network of Automatic Weather Stations & Rain Gauges at the taluk/block and gram panchayat levels. This initiative creates a robust database of hyper-local weather data, supporting various agricultural services.
• This comprehensive WINDS manual launched today provides stakeholders with an in-depth understanding of the portal's functionalities, data interpretation, and effective utilization. It guides States and Union Territories in establishing and integrating with the WINDS platform, fostering transparent and objective data observation and transmission. It also offers practical insights into leveraging weather data for improved crop management, resource allocation, and risk mitigation.

Published date : 21 Sep 2023 11:49AM