January 2021 National Affairs

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs Virtually Launches “Shramshakti” Digital Data Solution for Migrant Workers
  The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the Shramshakti Digital Data Solution and ShramSaathi.
  
  Shramshakti is a National Migration Support Portal.
  
  Shram-Saathi is a training manual for migrant workers.
  
  Shramshakti and Shram-Saathi is a joint initiative of Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and Goa Government.
  
  The Chief Minister of Goa will also launch dedicated Migration cell in Goa on order to facilitate and support approximately 4 lakh migrants who come from different States to Goa.
  
  The MoTA has also sanctioned Tribal research Institute, Tribal Museum, Van DhanKendras and Tribal Lok Utsav in Goa.
  
  
• CBI books Cambridge Analytica over Facebook data theft
  The Central Bureau of Investigation has booked Cambridge Analytica (U.K.) Limited and Global Science Research Limited (U.K.) for alleged illegal harvesting of personal data of about 5.62 lakh Indian users on Facebook through an application, “thisisyourdigitallife”.
  As per Facebook’s platform policy, the app was authorised to collect certain specific data of users for academic and research purposes. It, however, illegally collected unauthorised data of users as well as their friends’ network on Facebook, as alleged in the FIR.
  
  The data was collected without the knowledge and consent of users.
  
  It stems from a preliminary enquiry launched by the agency in July 2018 on a complaint from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) following media reports alleging the illegal harvesting of personal data.
  
  MeitY had earlier sought details from Facebook and Cambridge Analytica about the alleged violations, the extent of leak of personal data of Indian users and their possible misuse by Cambridge Analytica for profiling and influencing elections in India.
  
  Facebook reported that the data of potentially 5.62 lakh Indian users might have been illegally harvested.
  
  Cambridge Analytica replied that it had received data from GSRL pertaining to U.S. citizens only. It did not respond to MeitY’s further correspondences. The Ministry then sought a legal opinion, based on which it referred the matter to the CBI.
  
  
• ‘Defamatory, offensive’ social media posts against Bihar govt now a cybercrime
  Bihar is set use the cyber-crime law to deter individuals and organisations from making “offensive comments” against the government, its officials, Ministers, MPs and MLAs.
  
  I t has regularly been coming to light that certain persons and organisations have been making offensive comments through social media against the government, honourable Ministers, MPs, MLAs and government officials, which is against the prescribed law.
  
  For this act, it seems appropriate to take action against such organisations and individuals.
  
  
• UK-Japan alliance to develop robotics and automation techniques for nuclear applications
  The LongOps project is a collaboration between the UK and Japan.
  In this operation, Japanese and British scientists will develop new safety technologies to dismantle old nuclear facilities such as Fukushima that were severely damaged by the tsunami and earthquake.
  
  The project will use remote robotic arms, so it is called the "LongOps Project". The project will reduce risks to human health and will accelerate the decommissioning of non-operating nuclear reactors.
  
  The implementation cost of the LongOps project is 12 million euros (1.2 billion rupees). It will focus on the rapid decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
  
  In addition to dismantling the nuclear fission field, the project will also focus on the partial automation of the nuclear fusion power generation process.
  
  The project will also help improve and dismantle nuclear fusion facilities, such as the European Union Circle. The United European Ring is a nuclear fusion experiment located at the Culham Fusion Energy Center in the United Kingdom.
  
  This is the first reactor produced using a 50-50 mixed fuel of the and deuterium. It was closed in 2009 to adopt the concepts used in the ITER project.
  
  ITER is the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. India is also part of ITER. The other countries participating in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor are China, Russia, Japan, the European Union, the United States and South Korea.
  
  Digital twin technology is part of the LongOps project. It will analyze data at the decommissioning site and predict operation and maintenance challenges.
  
  Between 1950 and 2000, there were more than 21 serious incidents of radioactive release in Sellafield. Sellafield is located in the United Kingdom. It is the former nuclear power plant. As of August 2020, activities at the site include nuclear fuel reprocessing, nuclear decommissioning and nuclear waste storage.
  
  In 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor was severely damaged in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The incident displaced more than 150,000 people. In addition, the animals and plants in the surrounding area are seriously polluted.
  
  
• Vice President launches book of poems of SreeNarayana Guru, ‘Not Many But One’
  Vice President of India launched a book of poems, “Not Many, But One” (Two Volumes), an English translation of poems of SreeNarayana Guru by Prof G.K. Sasidharan.
  
  SREE NARAYANA GURU (1856 – 1928)was a social reformer.
  
  Transformed the social fabric of Kerala and changed the beliefs of Keralites in ways unimaginable at that point in time.
  
  He was born into an Ezhava family in an era when people from such communities, which were regarded as Avarna, faced much social injustice in the caste-ridden society of Kerala.
  
  Rejected casteism, and promoted new values of spiritual freedom and social equality.
  
  Lent his support to the Vaikkom Satyagraha which was aimed at temple entry in Travancore for the lower castes. Mahatma Gandhi met Guru during this time.
  
  Preached the ‘oneness’ of humanity, crossing the boundaries of caste and creed.
  
  He composed AtmopadesaSatakam in 1897.
  
  Founded an Advaita Ashram in Kalady.
  
  His birth anniversary is observed on 2nd September.
  
  
• EC to soon begin mock trials for remote voting: CEC
  Chief Election Commissioner said address on the eve of the National Voters Day that the trials of the Election Commission’s remote voting project would be carried out soon.
  
  Election Commission of India has already started a research project on remote voting using cutting-edge technology with IIT-Chennai and other leading institutions and it has made good progress. Mock trials of this project will begin soon.
  
  The system being developed by the IIT-M uses blockchain for two-way remote voting at designated centres.
  
  Another significant change look forward to is grant of postal ballot facility to overseas electors”.
  
  The proposal was under “active consideration” of the Union Law Ministry.
  
  In another development, electors will be able to download electronic versions of the elector photo ID card, or e-EPIC.
  
  The digital version of EPICs would be available for download from the voter helpline app, voterportal.eci.gov.in and nvsp.in.
  
  The e-EPIC would be a non-editable PDF version of the EPIC that can be downloaded on the phone and stored on the DigiLocker app or printed from a computer.
  
  All general voters who have valid EPIC numbers would be able to do so from February 1 and those who applied in November and December will be able to download it from Monday till January 31.
  
  
• Indian billionaires increased their wealth by 35% during the lockdown, says Oxfam report
  A new report titled ‘The Inequality Virus’, by Oxfam has found that the Covid pandemic deeply increased existing inequalities in India and around the world.
  
  Oxfam India’s findings are part of the Oxfam International report released on the opening day of the World Economic Forum’s “Davos Dialogues”.
  
  The report has found that as the pandemic stalled the economy, forcing millions of poor Indians out of jobs, the richest billionaires in India increased their wealth by 35 per cent.
  
  The wealth of Indian billionaires increased by 35 per cent during the lockdown and by 90 per cent since 2009 to $422.9 billion ranking India sixth in the world after US, China, Germany, Russia and France.
  
  In fact, the increase in wealth of the top 11 billionaires of India during the pandemic could sustain the NREGS scheme for 10 years or the health ministry for 10 years.
  
  The report states that Covid has the potential to increase economic inequality in almost every country at once — the first time this has happened since records began over a century ago.
  
  Sectorally, India’s large informal workforce was the worst hit as it made up 75 per cent of the 122 million jobs lost.
  
  Informal workers had relatively fewer opportunities to work from home and suffered more job loss compared to the formal sector.
  
  The 40-50 million seasonal migrant workers, typically engaged working in construction sites, factories etc. were particularly distressed.
  
  
• When is the National Tourism Day observed?
  National Tourism Day is celebrated on January 25th every year. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of the importance of tourism to the country's economy. India offers tourism in the form of nature, culture, heritage, sports, rural, medical, education, business, cruise and eco-tourism.
  
  The purpose of commemorating "National Tourism Day" is to raise the international community's awareness of the importance of tourism and its political, cultural, social and economic value.
  
  The Ministry of Tourism promotes the country’s national policy of developing tourism. It coordinates central, state and public sector agencies. In 1948, the central government established a tourism committee for the first time to promote tourism in India.
  
  The FICCI-YES Bank's 2019 report pointed out that the tourism industry generated $247.3 billion in revenue in 2018, accounting for 9.2% of the country's GDP. Data from the Ministry of Tourism shows that more than 7.7% of Indian employees are engaged in tourism.
  
  Celebrate the United Nations World Tourism Day on September 27 every year.
  
  
• Sexual assault under POCSO needs skin to skin contact: Bombay HC
  The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court acquitted a man of sexual assault on the grounds that pressing the breasts of a child over her clothes without direct “skin to skin” physical contact does not constitute “sexual assault” under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
  
  It could have implications on a range of cases. It set aside the ruling of a lower court under Section 8 of POCSO applicable to “sexual assault” on children, against convict.
  
  Section 8 of POCSO provides for stringent punishment of five years’ of rigorous imprisonment (RI), the High Court observed that “stricter proof and serious allegations are required”.
  
  As such there is no direct physical contact i.e. skin to skin with sexual intent without penetration".
  
  The bench observed that "the act of pressing breast can be a criminal force to a woman/girl with the intention to outrage her modesty."
  
  This Court holds that the appellant is acquitted under Section 8 of the POCSO Act and convicted under minor offence u/s 354 of IPC and sentenced him to undergo RI. The maximum sentence is five years and the minimum one year for an offence under this section.
  
  POCSO's definition of sexual assault: As per the definition, the offence involves following necessary ingredients — act must have been committed with sexual intent, act must involve touching the vagina, penis, anus or breast of the child or making the child touch the vagina, penis, anus or breast of such person or any other person or doing any other act with sexual intent which involve contact without penetration."
  
  As per the definition of ‘sexual assault’, a ‘physical contact with sexual intent without penetration’ is an essential ingredient of the offence.
  
  The words ‘any other act’ encompasses within itself the nature of the acts which are similar to the acts which have been specifically mentioned in the definition on the premise of the principle of ejusdem generis (of the same kind). The act should be of the same nature or close to that."
  
  
• UP tops in disbursing vendor loans; Bengal, Kerala lowest
  Even as several state governments and their local administrations are pushing the PM SVANidhi Yojana, the Centre's micro-credit scheme for urban street vendors, there are stark differences in the pace of implementation of the scheme across states.
  
  Uttar Pradesh has disbursed over 3.5 lakh loans, and Telangana and Madhya Pradesh have given out over 2 lakh loans each over the past seven months, West Bengal, Assam, and Kerala have disbursed only a small fraction of those numbers.
  
  The PM Street Vendors' AtmanirbharNidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme, launched in June 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, provides street vendors collateral-free loans of Rs10,000 at concessional rates. All vendors who have been vending since March 24, 2020, and have a certificate of vending, can avail of the loan.
  
  UP tops the implementation list, with banks in the state having disbursed loans aggregating to Rs 347.4 crore to 3.54 lakh individuals as of 20 January 2021.
  
  West Bengal sits at the bottom of the list – a mere Rs 9 lakh has been disbursed during this period under the scheme to just 95 individuals across the state, data on the PM SVANidhi website show.
  
  The disbursal numbers in West Bengal are lower than states that are far smaller in area and population, such as Tripura, Mizoram, and Goa.
  
  Kerala is among the worst performers and it has so far disbursed a total Rs 6.09 crore to 6,144 individuals, scoring above only West Bengal and Assam among the bigger states.
  
  
• FM Nirmala Sitharaman launched "Union Budget Mobile App"
  The Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the "Union Budget Mobile App" before presenting the union budget on February 1, 2021.
  
  The launch of the mobile application is for members of the Indian Parliament and the public. Thereafter, the budget will be completely paperless. This decision was made in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
  
  The mobile application will provide access to 14 union budget documents, including annual financial statements or budgets, grant requirements (DG) and draft financial regulations.
  
  The interface of the application is designed in a user-friendly way. It includes functions such as downloading, printing, searching, zooming in and out, directories and external links. This is a bilingual application (English and Hindi).
  
  The National Information Center (NIC) developed the application under the guidance of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA).
  
  The word "joint budget" is not seen in the Indian constitution. But "annual financial statements" are often called budgets. This annual financial statement is prepared in accordance with Article 112 of the Indian Constitution.
  
  The league budget was announced at 5:00 pm on the last working day of February until 1999. Since the 1999 Budget, the time has been changed to 11 am. In 2016, NarendraModi changed the budget submission date to February 1. In 2016, the railway budget was also merged with the union budget.
  
  The printing of budget documents starts with the customary Halva ceremony, and the etiquette is performed by the Minister of Finance. In July 2019, when the Finance Minister was budgeting in Bahi-Khata, the tradition of using leather briefcases for budgeting also changed.
  
  
• Maharashtra begins Jail Tourism at Yerawada prison on Republic Day 2021
  The government of Maharashtra has decided to start a "prison tour" from Yelawada Prison in Pune. The event will start on January 26, 2021. The plan is being launched in the state to promote people to visit and visit the state’s historic prisons. This is done because it preserves the memories of many freedom fighters who were once imprisoned in prison.
  
  Yerwada jail in Pune is the largest prison in Maharashtra. The prison is also the largest prison in South Asia. It can hold 5,000 prisoners. The Yerwada prison was built in 1871 by the British.
  
  It is protected by four high walls and is divided into multiple security zones and barracks. It also includes egg-shaped cells for high-security prisoners. However, prisons are highly criticized for being overcrowded and poor living conditions.
  
  Mahatma Gandhi spent several years in the Yerwada Jail during India’s freedom struggle in 1932. When he was imprisoned in 1932, he went to jail indefinitely, protesting against the public award made up of depressed classes.
  
  Gandhi opened his eyes after signing an agreement called Poona Pact. Gandhi was released in May 1933. He was sentenced to prison again during the Indian quit smoking campaign in 1942.
  
  The Quit India Movement is also called the August Movement or the Leaving India Movement. The movement was initiated by Mahatma Gandhi at the Mumbai meeting of the All India Congress Committee in 1942. It was launched during the Second World War to end British rule in India.
  
  
• Bharat Parv begins on virtual platform showcasing glory of nation
  From January 26, 2021 to January 31, 2021, Bharat Parv 2021 was organized. The overall theme of Bharat Parv annual event is Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat.
  
  Under the virtual event, themed pavilions of the states and federal territories will showcase their tourist destinations, handicrafts, food and other specialties. Speaker of Lok Sabha Om Birla presided over the opening ceremony.
  
  Ministry of Tourism is organizing Bharat Parv every year. It started in 2016. During the Republic Day celebration, the event was held in front of the Red Fort city wall.
  
  The organization of these events aims to generate patriotic passion. It also showcases the rich and diverse culture of India.
  
  Central ministries and other organizations (such as the Ministry of Culture, Ayush, I&B, Railways, and Media) showcased handicrafts, music, dances, hand looms, paintings, literary materials and other features from all over the country.
  
  Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Archaeological Survey of India, Lalit Kara Institute, National Museum, National Museum of Modern Art, Hadi and Rural Industry Council.
  
  In the virtual event of Bharat Parv, there will also be a glimpse of the Republic Day parade and a recorded performance of the armed forces music band. In the event, Central Hotel Management Institute and Indian Culinary Institute will also show their cooking fun and recipes through videos. The online event will also showcase videos, films, images, brochures and other information.
  
  
• Over 40% of people have over 3 trigger factors for non-communicable diseases
  The Union Health Minister issued the "National Non-Communicable Disease Monitoring Survey (NNMS)", which is the largest comprehensive national survey on Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) risk factors and health system preparedness.
  
  Two in five adults in India have three or more risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCD), the status of health system in responding to the disease burden is also underscored
  
  Overweight or obese: more than 1 in 4 adults and 6.2% of adolescents
  
  Increased blood pressure: three out of ten adults
  
  Raised blood sugar: 9.3%.
  
  Insufficient physical activity: More than 2 in 5 adults and 1 in 4 adolescents
  
  In the past 12 months, One in every three adults and more than one-fourth proportion of men used any form of tobacco and alcohol, respectively.
  
  
• All about “Ayushman CAPF” scheme
  The “Ayushman CAPF” scheme was launched to extend the benefits of the central health insurance program to all members of the Country’s Armed Police Forces.
  
  According to this scheme, approximately 28 lakh personnel of CAPF, Assamese rifles and the National Security Guard (NSG) and their families will be covered by "Ayushman Bharat: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana" (AB PM-JAY).
  
  It is the world's largest health insurance/guarantee scheme fully funded by the government.
  
  It provides insurance of 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary nursing hospitalizations in public and private intensive hospitals in India.
  
  Insurance to More than 1.074 million poor and vulnerable eligible families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) are eligible for these benefits.
  
  Provide beneficiaries with cashless access to health services at the service point.
  
  There are no restrictions on the number of families, age or gender. From the first day, all pre-existing conditions are covered. Cover up to 3 days before hospitalization and up to 15 days after hospitalization, such as diagnosis and medicines.
  
  The benefits of the scheme can be used throughout the country. The service includes approximately 1,393 procedures, covering all costs related to treatment, including but not limited to drugs, supplies, diagnostic services, physician fees, room fees, surgeon fees, OT and ICU fees, etc. The health care service reimbursement of public hospitals is the same as that of private hospitals.
  
  
• Tripura aims to promote risa as Tripura's signature garment
  The aim of the Tripura State Government is to promote risa nationwide as Tripura’s signature garment.
  
  Various initiatives have been taken, such as providing risa uniforms to Anganwadi and ASHA workers, and providing training to making risa at Tripura Handloom and Handicraft Development corporations. The risa is being branded under the India Handloom Brand. This supports the “Vocal for Local” initiative of the central government.
  
  Risa is a hand-woven cloth used as a female upper garment. Risa is a part of Tripuri's traditional attire, including three parts-risa, rignai and rikutu.
  
  Rignai is mainly worn as a lower garment, literally means "to wear". It can be understood as an indigenous variety of sari in mainland India.
  
  Rituku is mainly used as a wrapping cloth for Indian saris, or like "chunri" or "pallu".
  
  Sometimes, Risa can also be used as headgear, a stole, or a present to show respect.
  
  Cultural Importance: In the event called Risa Sormani, Adolescent Tripuri girls between the ages of 12 and 14 were first to wear on risa clothes. During weddings and festivals, Risa is also used as a turban by men.
  
  Risa is common in almost all 19 indigenous tribal communities in Tripura. However, each community has its own design. Tribal communities use it on religious festivals such as Garia Puja.
  
  
• Gehlot government brings M-sand policy for construction works
  M-Sand policy, which is the government’s commitment to meet the amount of sand required for construction work.
  
  In order to reduce the reliance on traditional sand in rivers, a sand-rich policy has been initiated. Through this policy, the use and production of artificial sand or M sand will be encouraged in the state.
  
  Through this policy, the problem of waste generated by mines in Rajasthan’s mining areas will also be resolved. This will also create huge employment opportunities at the local level. This strategy designates M sand units as the industry state.
  
  In Rajasthan, the supply of sand is not determined by the requirements of construction projects. The demand for river sand for various construction work is about 70 million tons.
  
  However, the state only operates 20 M sand units. These 20 units produce 20,000 tons of M sand every day. Now, this new M-sand policy will promote it as a long-term alternative to gravel and will help establish new mining units.
  
  The policy defines M-Sand as artificial sand produced by crushing minerals. M sand conforms to the ISO code 383:2016 standard. Sand is extracted from locally available minerals, such as granite, silica, basalt, sandstone and quartiles.
  
  Sand is produced by crushing minerals into 150-micron-sized stones. The crushed materials are then separated and used in different ways according to their size. In order to reduce impurities, the sand is crushed and washed to make it more durable and suitable for the construction process.
  
  
• 2 in 5 adults have 3 or more risk factors for NCD: Government survey
  According to the National Non-communicable Disease Monitoring Survey (NNMS), while two in five adults have three or more risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCD) in India, the status of health system in responding to the disease burden is also underscored.
  
  NNMS, the largest comprehensive national Survey on risk factors and health systems preparedness of NCDs along with the framework on use of telemedicine for cancer, diabetes, heart diseases and stroke warned a ticking bomb to go off situation.
  
  The purpose of the survey was to collect reliable baseline data on key indicators (risk factors, select NCDs and health systems response) related to the National NCD monitoring framework and NCD Action Plan.
  
  This is the first of its kind of a comprehensive survey on NCDs using standardised tools and methods, covering the age groups of 15-69 years, males and females residing in urban and rural areas of the country.
  
  More than one in every four adults and 6.2% adolescents were overweight or obese; almost three out of ten adults had raised blood pressure and 9.3% had raised blood glucose.
  
  More than two in five adults and one in four adolescents were doing insufficient physical activity and their average daily intake of salt was 8 gms.
  
  One in every three adults and more than one-fourth proportion of men used any form of tobacco and consumed alcohol in past 12 months respectively.
  
  Telemedicine can bridge and link all these aspects. It can be adapted and used by medical practitioners from primary to tertiary health care level in India, through the national tele consultation network and other similar platforms.
  
  
• All about Ayodhya’s Dhannipur mosque project
  The Dhannipur mosque project was formally launched on Republic Day 2021.
  
  The plot was allotted by the Uttar Pradesh government on the directions of the Supreme Court.
  
  The construction work of the much-awaited Dhannipur mosque project will finally begin in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
  
  A blueprint has been released by the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF), according to which, the mosque will be of the same size as that of the Babri Masjid, however, the shape of the structure will be very different from that of other mosques.
  
  Although the blueprint suggests a circular mosque with a unique minaret over it, project architect SM Akhtar hinted that it may be square-shaped like the Kaaba Sharif in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
  
  
• 'Data privacy can take form of non-price competition'
  According to a study by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), data privacy can take the form of non-price competition and abuse of dominance can lower privacy protection.
  
  The study also made observations about other non-price factors such as quality of service (QoS), data speeds and bundled offerings, which are likely to be the new drivers of competitive rivalry between service providers in telecom sector in addition to just price.
  
  Much of the focus of the sector regulator, operators and consumers was on price and price-based competition.
  
  With the market moving towards data-based applications and services, there is a noticeable change in the demand for QoS.
  
  An aspect of data in the context of competition in digital communications market is the conflict between allowing access and protecting consumer privacy.
  
  Privacy can take the form of non-price competition. Abuse of dominance can take the form of lowering the privacy protection and therefore fall within the ambit of antitrust as low privacy standard implies lack of consumer welfare.
  
  On other non-price factors of competition, CCI found that consumers ranked network coverage at the top followed by customer service, tariff packaging and lower tariffs as the most important factors for the preference of a particular network.
  
  Lower data protection can also lead to the standard legal category of exclusionary behaviour which undermines the competitive process.
  
  
• Supreme Court stays Bombay HC order on ‘skin-to-skin’ contact for sexual assault under POCSO Act
  The Supreme Court stayed the Bombay High Court order that has freed a man of sexual assault charges under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for groping a child, and instead convicted him under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for a lesser offence.
  
  The allegation was not serious enough for the greater punishment prescribed under the law.
  
  The ruling, which drew criticism for its restricted interpretation of the offence, spotlights the concept of mandatory minimum sentencing in legislation, including POCSO.
  
  The court reasoned that since the offence under POCSO carried a higher punishment, a conviction would require a higher standard of proof, and allegations that were more serious.
  
  Section 7 of the Act says “Whoever, with sexual intent touches the vagina, penis, anus or breast of the child or makes the child touch the vagina, penis, anus or breast of such person or any other person or does any other act with sexual intent…”
  
  The court said that since the convict groped the prosecutrix over her clothes, this indirect contact would not constitute sexual assault.
  
  The court restrictively interpreted the lack of physical contact with sexual organs to mean that there was no physical contact.
  
  
• Centre gives green light to underwater study to determine Ram Setu origins
  The historicity and the date of ‘Ramayana’ remain a debatable subject among historians, archaeologists and scientists. Hence, the government has approved an underwater research project to ascertain the origins of the Ram Setu — a 48-km-long chain of shoals between India and Sri Lanka.
  
  Ram Setu’s age will be ascertained through the study of fossils and sedimentation to see if it correlates with the Ramayana period.
  
  Ram Setu, also known as Adam’s Bridge or NalaSetu, holds religious significance because of the Ramayana.
  
  The central advisory board on archaeology, which functions under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), has approved the proposal for this underwater exploration project.
  
  The study — to be conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Goa — will focus on the process behind Ram Setu’s formation and also whether there are any submerged habitations around the structure.
  
  The agency’s research vessel named Sindhu Sadhana will be deployed to collect samples of sediment from 35-40 metres below the water level. Sindhu Sadhana is an indigenous exploration vessel which can stay underwater for up to 45 days.
  
  The proposed study will be based on archaeological antiquities, radiometric and thermoluminescence (TL) dating for geological timescale and other supporting environmental data.
  
  
• SC questions government over delay in action on Collegium recommendations
  The Supreme Court expressed its concerns over the government delaying action on the recommendations of the Collegium to fill up vacancies in the High Courts
  
  System of appointment and transfer of judges that has evolved through judgments of the SC, and not by an Act of Parliament or by a provision of the Constitution
  
  The SC collegium Composition: Head- CJI and other four senior most judges of the court.
  
  A HC collegium Composition: Head- Chief Justice and four other senior most judges of that court.
  
  Names recommended for appointment by a HC collegium reaches the government only after approval by the CJI and the SC collegium.
  
  
• All about PRAGATI meeting
  The Indian Prime Minister chaired the 35th edition of Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation (PRAGATI).
  
  Ten projects including PradhanMantriBhartiya Jan AushadhiPariyojana were taken for review involving a total investment of Rs. 54,675 crore.
  
  PRAGATI is the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based multimodal platform, involving Central and State governments.
  
  Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) team with the help of the National Informatics Center (NIC)
  
  It is a three-tier system (PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States).
  
  It enables the PM to discuss the issues with the concerned central and state officials with full information and latest visuals of the ground-level situation.
  
  
• Reliance Jio ranked 5th strongest brand globally
  The Reliance Jio joint venture of billionaire Mukesh Ambani has become the world's fifth strongest brand. Now, it lags behind brands such as Ferrari and Coca-Cola. The Jio company achieved this milestone in just four years.
  
  The ranking is provided by the “Top 500 Global Brand Finance Rankings for 2021” of the strongest brands.
  
  This ranking determines the relative strength of the brand.
  
  According to WeChat, the annual report of the most valuable and strongest global brands ranks first.
  
  Reliance Jio was established in 2016 and has now become India's largest mobile network operator. It has also become the world's third-largest mobile network operator. As of now, the network operator has nearly 400 million users.
  
  The Ferrari brand ranked second, the Bank of Russia Sber ranked third, and Coca-Cola ranked fourth.
  
  Reliance Jio has a BSI score of 91.7 (out of 100) and has been awarded an AAA+ brand strength rating.
  
  The assessment of stakeholder rights is done through raw market research data. Analyzed data from more than 50,000 respondents from 30 countries and 20 industries.
  
  It is an Indian telecommunications company and a subsidiary of Jio Platforms. Its headquarters are located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The company operates a national LTE network, covering 22 telecommunications sectors.
  
  Operators do not provide 2G or 3G services. It only uses LTE voice to provide voice services on its 4G network. It was launched in December 2015 and provides a beta version for partners and employees. It was publicly released in September 2016. Jio also launched a fibre-to-the-home service that provides broadband, TV and telephone services.
  
  It is an independent brand business evaluation and consulting company, providing advice to brand organizations on how to maximize their value through effective management.
  
  
• Sewage action plan: Himachal walks different path, despite Centre`s push
  Himachal Pradesh has proposed a sewage management action plan that contrasts models suggested by the central government and international consultancies.
  
  Roughly 70 per cent of Himachal’s 57 cities are connected to underground pipes and, to connect the remaining, the state plans to build 23 more sewage treatment plants and convert septic tank services into networks.States have been pushed towards Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) following a major push from the Centre which came out with a FSSM policy in 2017.
  
  The Centre’s push for FSSM follows arguments from major international agencies, such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Gates Foundation, which provide significant funding for these projects. They say centralised, large-scale sewarage systems are time-consuming, expensive, and environmentally- disruptive. A February 2020 ADB report pushes strongly for a decentralized solution for sewage and fecal sludge management.
  
  The country has only 25 Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs), which treat sewage from septic tanks, but cities are building 400 more.
  
  Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have begun to lean towards FSSM in medium and small urban settings, others like Gujarat, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh have shown less inclination. In July last year, a National Mission for Clean Ganga webinar was also held for “mainstreaming” FSSM.
  
  Despite a concerted four-year push from the Centre towards individual septic tank solutions, even in urban areas, Himachal Pradesh plans to dig up more ground to enlarge its piped underground networks. The state submitted its action plan this month to the Central Monitoring Committee (CMC), which is overseeing compliance to a set of National Green Tribunal orders to make sewage 100 per cent treated by March 2021.
  
  In 2016, Shimla’s insufficiently treated sewage in the Ashwani Khud river system led to a Hepatitis E outbreak, which causes jaundice. It affected more than half of the total families in the city in three months.
  
  
• Kerala budget promises 20 lakh jobs in 5 years
  2021-2022 Kerala state Budget created “a new edition to the Kerala development model,” as it aims at a knowledge-based society with strides in new employment opportunities and industrial growth while consolidating the achievements made in the social sector.
  
  Welfare measures and provides for additional expenditure of Rs.1,164 crore and tax concessions of Rs.191 crore against additional revenue mobilisation of just Rs.200 crore, leaving a cumulative deficit of Rs.1,306.69 crore.
  
  In recognition of their role in COVID-19 management, ASHA workers’ allowance would be hiked by Rs.1,000. All welfare pensions were enhanced to Rs.1,600.
  
  A total of 4,000 new posts would be created in the Health Department. Local bodies will get an additional Rs.1,000 crore.
  
  As part of the biggest anti-recession infrastructure package being executed, projects worth Rs.15,000 crore will be completed through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) in 2021-2022.
  
  8,00,000 jobs — three lakh for the youth and five lakh for others — would be created in 2021-22.
  
  A scheme will come up to provide jobs to at least 20 lakh through digital platform in five years, the registration of which will begin from February 2021. The government employees, teachers and pensioners would get new salary and pension from April 1, 2021.
  
  The stamp duty on sale deed has been reduced, the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council would be registered as a society and Rs.200 crore has been earmarked for it to take up skill training of youth, thirty centres of excellence would be set up in universities.
  
  The first phase of Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) project will be completed in February. Distribute laptops at half the cost to children from fisherfolk, scheduled communities and Antyodaya households.
  
  The floor price of rubber was hiked to Rs.170; paddy procurement price increased to Rs.28 and that of coconut to Rs.32.
  
  
• Army inks $20 mn deal with ideaForge for UAV
  The Indian Army has signed a $20-million contract with ideaForge, a player in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology, to procure undisclosed quantities of a high-altitude variant of SWITCH UAV, an indigenous system used in surveillance operations.
  SWITCH UAV is an indigenous system built to cater to the most demanding surveillance operations of the Indian forces.This fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing UAV can be deployed at high altitudesand under harsh environments for day and night surveillance.
  
  UAV player ideaForge has been awarded this one-year contract after it qualified the operational requirements in an evaluation done in real-world conditions.The contract marks a strategic shift in the Indian defence procurement process.
  
  
• US National Rifle Association files for Bankruptcy
  The National Rifle Association recently filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. The association filed for bankruptcy to avoid being investigated by the New York Attorney General.
  
  The Attorney General of New York sued the National Rifle Association in August 2020 on the grounds that the association’s senior management embezzled millions of dollars for personal travel.
  
  The American Rifle Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1871 by Civil War veterans General George Wingate and Colonel William C. Church. The organization was established to promote and encourage scientific rifle shooting.
  
  It is considered the most influential gun organization in the United States. Critics believe that the organization is a contributing factor to gun violence in the country.
  
  NRA teaches gun safety and capabilities. It published several magazines and sponsored competitive marksmanship competitions. As of December 2018, the NRA consists of more than 5 million members.
  
  The NRA’s main efforts are the Gun Owners Protection Act, which reduces the restrictions of the Gun Control Act of 1968, and the Dickey Amendment that prevents the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from using federal funds to promote gun control.
  
  The establishment of the American National Rifle Association is consistent with the establishment of the British National Rifle Association, which was established a year and a half ago.
  
  The American Civil War happened from 1861 to 1865. The civil war was the result of long-term enslavement of blacks. NRA is considered a product of civil war.
  
  The National Rifle Association opposed the Arms Trade Treaty. The Arms Trade Treaty is a multilateral treaty regulating trade at international level. More than 109 states have ratified the treaty. The treaty attempts to regulate the international trade of conventional weapons.
  
  
• 10% of CSIR staff exposed to COVID-19, survey finds
  A first such pan-India survey tracking nearly 10,000 employees of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on the prevalence of COVID-19 found that nearly 10% of the staff were infected.
  
  Key neutralising antibodies that protect against the virus waned after infection, but were at “detectable levels” even after six months — a proxy for the period of effectiveness of future vaccination and general immunity.
  
  About three-fourths of the respondents could not recall having experienced a single one of the symptoms commonly associated with the disease, and a vegetarian diet and smoking appeared to be “protective” against the infection.
  
  This is a first-of-its-kind longitudinal study anywhere in the world. An association between smoking and protection against SARS-CoV-2, or lower odds of infection by the virus, has also been reported in studies in China and France.
  
  CSIR staff and family members who volunteered to be part of the survey filled out questionnaires on their lifestyle, food and disease histories. They were also tested with two different kinds of antibody tests to study the kinds of antibodies that were produced following infection.
  
  It usually takes a week to a fortnight after being infected for antibodies to be detected in the blood.
  
  A serology survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has estimated 7% exposure to SARS-CoV-2 until mid-August, and a modelling exercise by the National Supermodel Committee estimated that 30% may have been exposed by September.
  
  The study also revealed a distinct class bias in those affected. Those able to work from home and able to access private transport were nearly twice less likely to be exposed to the virus than the “outsourced staff” involved with sanitation and security, and using public transport.
  
  Higher sero-prevalence among outsourced staff and public transport users in our cohort is more likely to be representative of general population of cities and towns that are part of the cohort.
  
  Millions of migrant workers trapped in Indian cities during the lockdown returned to villages in June in packed public transport.
  
  Outsourced workers, with highest seropositivity, reflect the high infection rate of this subgroup and it can be reasonably assumed that the pandemic had already reached rural India by September 2020.
  
  There was even a distinction in blood groups. “Sero-prevalence was highest for blood group type AB, followed by group B, group O and the lowest for group A . Blood group O was observed to be protective”.
  
  The overarching aim is to be able to build a medical cohort to give long-term perspective on the malaises that affect Indians, and determine if such a data bank can be used to help with predicting, say, the onset of diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
  
  
• PCRA launches ‘Saksham’ campaign in Guntur
  PCRA has launched a one-month mass awareness campaign "SAKSHAM" to spread awareness about "Green and Clean Energy".
  
  The SAKSHAM (SanrakshanKshamta Mahotsav) is a campaign launched by Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA).
  
  The main aim of this campaign is to make the public aware of the protection and effective use of petroleum products, which will bring better health and the environment.
  
  The campaign aims to raise awareness of the adverse health and environmental effects of increased carbon footprint.
  
  The idea behind the initiative is to persuade consumers to switch to cleaner fuels and make behavioural changes to use fossil fuels intelligently.
  
  The campaign carried out various pan-Indian activities, such as cyclothon, farmer workshops, seminars, painting competitions, CNG car driving competitions, etc., will popularize the benefits of using clean fuels among the general public.
  
  Key driving factors include: moving toward a gas-based economy, using fossil fuels more cleanly, relying more on domestic resources to drive biofuels, achieving renewable targets within a prescribed period, and increasing the use of electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, clean fuels such as hydrogen, and digital innovations in all energy systems.
  
  
• Henry Passport Index 2021; India ranks 85
  India takes the 85th position in the most powerful passport report "Henry Passport Index 2021". The Henry Passport Index is ranking of all passports in the world based on the number of destinations that the holder can enter without a prior visa.
  
  The Henry Index is an original ranking of all passports in the globe based on the number of destinations that the holder can enter without a prior visa.
  
  The ranking was originally created by Dr Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners. The Henry Index ranking is from the exclusive data from the IATA (International Air Transport Association). IATA maintains the world's largest and most accurate travel information database.
  
  Henry Passport Index was launched in 2006 and includes 199 different passports.
  
  Japan continues to rank first in the index, and passport holders can enter 191 destinations in the world visa-free.
  
  Singapore ranked second (with a score of 190), and South Korea tied for third with Germany (with a score of 189).
  
  Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan continue to be the countries with the worst passport holdings, with passport scores of 29, 28 and 26 respectively.
  
  India took 85th position with a visa-free score of 58. Indian passports rank higher in 2020 (84th) and 2019 (82nd). Pakistan ranks 107th and Nepal ranks 104th.
  
  
• Railways ministry nod to new iron ore policy
  The Ministry of Railways approved a new iron ore policy. This policy will take effect on February 10, 2021. The iron ore policy governs the distribution and transportation of iron ore.
  
  The rake distribution system module will be updated by the Centre Railway Information System (CRIS).
  
  The policy will give priority to shipping iron ore to domestic manufacturing. In the domestic movement, steel, sponge iron, pig iron, pellets or sinter plants with customers will be given higher priority and special sliding will be carried out at the loading and unloading end. These customers will follow closely, relying on private residences to slide on their own.
  
  The policy classifies the flow of iron ore based on the availability of railway infrastructure developed by customers. Similarly, the essence of movement will be to maximize the railway movement of iron ore.
  
  Iron ore is the second most important traffic flow for Indian Railways. Iron ore and steel together account for more than 17% of the total freight volume of Indian railways (data for 2019-20).
  
  The total freight volume of Indian Railways is 1,210 tons. Among them, iron ore is 15335 million tons and steel are 538.1 million tons.
  
  India’s total recoverable iron ore reserves are 9.602 billion tons of hematite and 3.408 billion tons of magnetite. The main states that produce iron ore in India are Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.
  
  
• India to send 20 lakh Covid-19 vaccines to Dhaka, Pakistan explores options
  India plans to send 20 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh and on the other hand, Pakistan is exploring options to get made-in-India vaccines, either through a global alliance for vaccines or through the bilateral route.
  
  On 20 January 2021, a specially equipped plane will carry 20 lakh doses of the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine—manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India under the name Covishield — to Dhaka.
  
  The consignment will be handed over to the Bangladesh government by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
  
  Pakistan's move to source Indian vaccines comes after the country's drug regulator, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), approved Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use.
  
  Pakistan is planning that it can get the vaccine through Covax, an alliance set up by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and World Health Organisation.
  
  The alliance has pledged free vaccines for 20 per cent of the population of around 190 countries, including Pakistan. Pakistan expects to get the first consignment from Covax just after the start of the second quarter of 2021.
  
  But, for the remaining population, the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine as well as Bharat Biotech-ICMR’s Covaxin can be procured through bilateral arrangements.
  
  Alternatively, Pakistan can procure the India-made vaccines through a third country, but that may push up costs.
  
  While tensions between India and Pakistan have impacted bilateral trade between the two countries, the supply of “life-saving medicines” is exempted from restrictions.
  
  Bilateral trade between the two neighbours has almost come to a standstill — first after the Pulwama terror attack in February 2019 and later, after the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was withdrawn.
  
  Given the tensions, vaccine diplomacy could be key to unlocking the ties.
  
  
• Government panel seeks waiver for IITs, panel writes to Ministry
  The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has sought an inquiry into a complaint against a government-appointed committee that recently recommended that IITs be exempt from reserving faculty positions.
  
  The committee was setup by the Ministry of Education (MoE) in April 2020 to look into "effective implementation of reservation "in student admissions and faculty positions at IITs.
  
  Instead of implementing quotas in faculty positions, the panel had suggested that the 23 IITs should be exempted from reservations altogether under the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act 2019.
  
  The 23IITs reserve posts while recruiting faculty at the entry level of Assistant Professor.
  
  There is no SC/ST/OBC quota for recruiting at senior faculty posts such as Associate Professor and Professor.
  
  Even at the entry-level, if the IITs cannot find suitable SC, ST and OBC candidates, they can de-reserve these posts after a year, as per guidelines notified by the government in 2008. However, in humanities and management courses at IITs, quotas are offered at all three levels.
  
  According to the panel, rather than specific quotas, diversity issues should be addressed through outreach campaigns and targeted faculty recruitment.
  
  IITs should be added to the list of “Institutions of Excellence” mentioned in the Schedule to the CEI Act. Section 4 of the Act exempts “institutions of excellence, research institutions, and institutions of national and strategic importance” mentioned in the Schedule and minority institutions from providing reservation.
  
  On the other hand, panel justified that that faculty positions cannot be kept vacant for long (in case no suitable SC, ST and OBC candidates are available) if the IITs have to break into the top global ranking.
  
  There are many IITs which were established more than 60-70 years ago but never obtained world ranknig even within top 200 despite being there more than 95% faculty of these institutions from unreserved categories.
  
  This will impact the diversity issues in these instutions, which will be against the spirit of the Constitution of India.
  
  
• Missing manual scavengers of India
  The survey of manual scavengers in 2018 was conducted by the National SafaiKaramcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) at the behest of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
  
  The number of manual scavengers dropped to 42,303 in 2018 from 770,338 in 2008, which shows gross underassessment rather than being reflective of their actual numbers in India.
  
  While the Indian government attributes this drop to the strict enforcement of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 and the impact of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
  
  There are many shortcomings in the implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan as well as procedures adopted to arrive at the official figure of manual scavengers.
  
  The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 aims to eliminate insanitary latrines (those not connected to pits/septic tanks/sewage lines) alongside tracking the rehabilitation of manual scavengers in other occupations and conducting periodic surveys.
  
  To eliminate this practice, the act has provisions for stringent penalties, for direct or indirect employment of any person in hazardous cleaning of sewers or septic tanks by any person, local authority or agency.
  
  On the other hand, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has made unprecedented and positive behavioural and infrastructural changes with regard to the usage of toilets, we need more effort and time to substantially reduce manual scavenging. Perhaps, at a policy level, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has addressed the issue of access to toilets, ignoring those cleaning them.
  
  The efforts to abolish manual scavenging have garnered momentum within the state machinery, advocacy groups and academia the last three decades, particularly since the constitution of the SafaiKaramchariAndolan (SKA) in 1994.
  
  Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge, launched last year, aims to completely mechanise all septic and sewage tank cleaning operations in 243 cities across India, by April 30, 2021.
  
  
• CRPF Gets 21 DRDO-Developed Bike Ambulances
  Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) hands over Motor Bike Ambulance ‘Rakshita’ to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
  
  Rakshita is handed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), Delhi based DRDO laboratory, to CRPF.
  
  Rakshita is a bike-based casualty transport emergency vehicle and is fitted with a customized reclining Casualty Evacuation Seat (CES), which can be fitted in and taken out as per requirement.
  
  The bike ambulance will help in overcoming the problems faced by Indian security forces and emergency healthcare providers.
  
  It will provide life-saving aid for evacuation of injured patients from low intensity conflict areas.
  
  This bike ambulance is useful not only for the paramilitary and military forces but has potential civil applications too.
  
  
• FIRST road safety month inaugurated
  The first-ever National Road Safety Month was inaugurated. The campaign for the same will continue till February 17.
  
  AIM is to build awareness about road safety & to reduce road accidents in India
  
  During the last few years, a road safety week was being organised, but considering the importance of the issue, a month-long programme has been made this year.
  
  The inaugural function was launched by Union Minister for Defence and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways.
  
  In India, a total of 1.5 lakh people died, while more than 4.5 lakh people got injured in road accidents every year, resulting in social-economic losses from accident deaths equivalent to a shocking 3.14% of GDP every year.
  
  70% deaths are in the age group of 18 to 45-year-old people, which is nearly 415 people dying per day in India.
  
  Government can succeed only when Road Safety would become a grass-routed mass movement only and only through ‘Jan-bhaagidari’ and ‘Jan-sahbhaag’. Governments at all levels, union, state and municipal authorities must play as facilitators to make this Jan-Sahbhaag successful.
  
  Several measures are being taken to reduce road accidents by Restructuring and Strengthening 4E’s of Road safety i.e. (1) Engineering, (2) Education, (3) Enforcement and (4) Emergency care Services.
  
  
• Aware of Chinese construction along the LAC, says MEA
  The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it was aware of infrastructure construction by China in the past several years “along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)” and that India has also stepped up its construction.
  
  Satellite images show the construction of a big village on the banks of Tsari Chu river in Upper Subansiri district between November 2019 and November 2020.
  
  Village lies south of the McMahon Line, the demarcation between Tibet and India's Northeast which New Delhi believes marks the boundary between India and China in the region. This line is disputed by Beijing.
  
  Construction of this village appears to be a violation of a key part of multiple agreements reached with India that ask both countries to "safeguard due interests of their settled populations in the border areas'' and decree that ''Pending an ultimate settlement of the boundary question, the two sides should strictly respect and observe the line of actual control and work together to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.''
  
  This is the first time the government has acknowledged Chinese construction, although the land has been under the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) control since 1959.
  
  Prior to that, there was an Assam Rifles post there which was overrun. They have been doing construction there on and off. There were some temporary constructions few years back. They have now done permanent construction there.
  
  
• Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha to have 5-hour sessions with Question Hour, Zero Hour: Speaker
  Budget session of Parliament is going to start on 29 January 2021, Lok Sabha Speaker said both Houses will have five-hour sessions each with Question Hour and Zero Hour.
  
  On January 29, President will address a joint session of Parliament in the Central Hall, for which MPs will be seated also in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers.
  
  Lok Sabha will sit 30 minutes after the presidential address for the tabling of the presidential address and Economic Survey. Rajya Sabha will sit later for the same.
  
  The Union Budget will be presented on 1 February 2021 in Lok Sabha.
  
  The budget session will break for a recess on February 15 to meet again on March 8. The budget session is scheduled to conclude on April 8.
  
  During the monsoon session held during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was cut short, each house sat for four hours and had no question hour.
  
  Private Members’ business, which usually takes place on Friday afternoons, was not taken up during the monsoon session and has made a comeback in the budget session.
  
  
• Explore crowdfunding to help two children with rare disease
  Delhi High Court (HC) has ordered the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to explore “crowdfunding” to help two children, who are suffering from a Rare Disease known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
  
  HC also give a specific timeline to the Ministry in respect of the finalisation and notification of the Draft Health Policy for Rare Diseases, 2020. The draft policy has a section where the government proposed crowdfunding for treatment of high-cost Rare Diseases.
  
  ‘Right to Health and Healthcare’ is a fundamental right and it has been recognised by the Supreme Court to be a part of the ‘Right to life’ under Article 21.
  
  HC directed the society in general and authorities in particular to ensure that the life of such children is not compromised, even if there is a small window of improving their chances of survival or even providing a better quality of life.
  
  
• Notice to Haryana government over Panchayati Raj Act
  The Punjab and Haryana High Court issued a notice to the Haryana government over certain amendments on reservation system to the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment) Act, 2020.
  
  The petition was filed by two women member in Panchayati Raj institutions and they have challenged the recently passed Haryana Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment) Act, 2020, particularly relating to the scheme of reservation provided therein.
  
  The Act has inter alia amended sections 9, 59 and 120 of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, that deals with the reservation of seats in Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad.
  
  As per the amended sub section (1) of sections 9, 59 and 120 of the Amendment Act, all wards are to be sequentially numbered viz. odd and even for the purposes of reservation of seats.
  
  Also, as per amended sub sections (3) and (6) of Sections 9, 59 and 120, the posts of Sarpanch, Members and Chairman falling in even numbered wards have been reserved for women — falling in both categories viz. reserved and general.
  
  In so far as the odd numbered wards are concerned, the Act provides that “persons other than women” can contest from such wards.
  
  The term “persons other than woman” has not been defined under the amendment and would logically include males and transgenders and exclude women.
  
  The amendment thus restricts women candidates from contesting from odd numbered wards which are otherwise open or general wards.
  
  The amendment discriminates between eligible women and their male counterparts, which is in violation of Articles 14 and 15 of Constitution.
  
  
• GI tag sought for India's costliest mushroom
  Jammu and the Kashmir government sought a GI label for Gucchi mushrooms. Gucchi mushrooms are expensive and good for health. The price of 500 grams of Gucchi mushrooms is 18,000 rupees. Recently, GI tags were provided to saffron in Jammu and Kashmir.
  
  Gucchi mushroom is a fungus belonging to the Morchellaceae family. They are light yellow, with large ridges and pits on the hat. They grow on large white stems. Gucchi mushrooms are called "Thuntoo" locally.
  
  Gucchi mushrooms prefer limestone-based soils. They also grow in acid soil. Gucci mushrooms are usually found in early spring.
  
  They are called "May mushrooms" in North America. The fruiting time of mushrooms varies from February to July. In Canada, they only appeared after June.
  
  Gucci mushrooms cannot be grown commercially. They grow in the coniferous forests of North Akanchar, Himalayas, Chamu and Kashmir. It takes villagers several months to collect these mushrooms, dry them and bring them to the market.
  
  Gucchi mushrooms grow in clusters on rotting wood, humus soil and leaves of logs. They may not grow in the same place next season. This makes the collection process more cumbersome. For these reasons, Gucchi mushrooms are very expensive.
  
  Gucci mushrooms cannot be grown commercially due to their germinating nature. They germinate and grow in low temperature soil. They usually appear after a fire. The fruit of Gucchi mushroom requires alkaline conditions, that is, wood ash is mixed with water. These standards make Gucci's commercial cultivation extremely challenging.
  
  Gucchi mushrooms are rich in nutrients like vitamins, potassium and also rich in copper. They are also rich in vitamin D. In addition, they are also rich in antioxidants, which can prevent health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
  
  
• Telangana, Gujarat sign MoU to support women entrepreneurs
  WE Hub recently announced a partnership with i-Hub. I-Hub operates under the leadership of the Gujarat government. WE Hub operates under the leadership of the Telangana government.
  
  WE Hub is a centre for women entrepreneurs. This is a business incubator, that is, it provides an environment for women entrepreneurs to develop their business. It aims to provide female entrepreneurs with solutions, innovative ideas, and qualified to focus on emerging fields.
  
  It also supports undeveloped and undeveloped departments and service departments. The main goal of WE Hub is to eliminate economic and social barriers for women.
  
  i-Hub is a centre for student entrepreneurship and innovation. It aims to develop an end-to-end innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Gujarat.
  
  In addition, it also provides facilities such as future and advanced technology laboratories, technical business guidance, networking, and regulatory and consulting services. It was created based on the "Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy" of Gujarat.
  
  The "Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy" aims to assist student-led entrepreneurship. It aims to create a common platform for students to demonstrate their innovative capabilities and establish an end-to-end support system in educational institutions.
  
  According to the "Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy", a student startup company is a student-led innovation-based startup company founded by one or more students or alumni (no more than five years from graduation).
  
  These centres were created to achieve the goals of the Startup India mission.
  
  Indian startups were launched in Red Fort in 2015. It was introduced to establish 75 startup support centres in the country. According to the 2019 Indian Startups Ranking, Gujarat has the best performance. Karnataka and Kerala rank the highest.
  
  
• Government launches regulatory compliance burden portal
  Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched a regulatory compliance portal.
  
  First-of-its-kind central online repository of all central and State-level compliances.
  
  All Central Ministries/Departments and States/UTs would examine laws/regulations/rules under their purview
  
  Then they will implement an Action Plan to rationalize and simplify all the processes and remove burdensome compliances, decriminalize laws and repeal redundant Acts.
  
  These details would be captured and tracked on the Regulatory Compliance Portal.
  
  The steps taken will be instrumental in achieving the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and help usher ease of doing business for industry and ease of living for citizens.
  
  AIM is to act as a bridge for citizens, industries and the government to minimise burdensome compliances.
  
  Reduce the compliance burden
  
  Simplify further the citizen-government interface whether online or offline
  
  Remove antiquated and obsolete acts which don’t add value
  
  
• Indian military personnel for Moscow soon for S-400 training
  The first Indian group of military specialists will soon depart for Moscow (Russia) to undergo training courses on the S-400 Triumf missile defence system.
  
  Despite objections from the US and the threat of sanctions under Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), India signed a 5.43 billion USD deal with Russia for the S-400 Triumf missile system in October 2018.
  
  S-400 TRIUMF MISSILE SYSTEM is mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM) designed by Russia.
  
  Engage all types of aerial targets including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and ballistic and cruise missiles within the range of 400km, at an altitude of up to 30km.
  
  Track 100 airborne targets and engage six of them simultaneously.
  
  It is Most dangerous operationally deployed modern long-range SAM (MLR SAM) in the world
  
  Considered much ahead of the US-developed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD)
  
  India’s acquisition is crucial to counter attacks in a two-front war, including even high-end F-35 US fighter aircraft.
  
  
• Govt planning to open up coal marketing to streamline process
  The Government is considering opening up coal marketing.
  
  Production by Coal India is allocated through a number of different methods, including multiple sector-based auctions and coal linkages based on recommendations by the Union government, and Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs).
  
  India produced about 729 million tonnes of coal and imported about 248 million tonnes in the previous fiscal.
  
  Coal India accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic production.
  
  Freeing up of coal marketing would give an assurance to buyers that they will be able to get the product, if they want it, without having to go through multiple processes.
  
  The government, in June 2020, opened up coal mining for commercial use.
  
  
• Panel to study NFHS-5 finding
  The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has set up a technical expert group chaired by Joint Secretary Preeti Pant and includes experts from medicine and nutrition to examine the adverse findings from the National Family Health Survey (NHFS)-5.
  
  Panel aims to recommend programmatic and policy interventions to improve” indicators pertaining to malnutrition, stunting, anaemia, and C-section.
  
  The survey gives data of States and UTs on over 130 parameters. On various parameters, major number of states has worsened over the last round of survey (NFHS 4 – 2015-16).
  
  Increase in rising levels of anaemia and child malnutrition in women and pregnant women show that the children born during 2015-2019 might be suffering from deficiencies.
  
  
• After Tamil, Delhi govt nod to set up Konkani language academy
  Delhi Government approved the setting up of a Konkani language academy in the capital.
  
  The academy will seek to facilitate the growth and promotion of the Konkani language and culture in the city.
  
  Currently, there are eight functional language academies in Delhi covering Urdu, Sanskrit, Punjabi, Hindi, Maithili-Bhojpuri, Garhwali-Kumaoni-Jaunsari, Sindhi and Tamil. Tamil was notified recently.
  
  Konkani is the official language of India’s western and coastal state, Goa. However, the language is spoken widely across four states- Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala, albeit in different dialects, its use is somewhat limited to coastal regions only. It is the only Indian language written in five different scripts - Devnagari, Roman, Kannada, Malayalam and Persian-Arabic.
  
  Though Konkani was recognized as the official language of Goa on January 4, 1987, it was only after five more years, on August 20, 1992, it was given status of a national language in India, through the 71st Amendment to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Konkani now features in the 15 languages in which the value is printed on Indian Rupee currency notes.
  
  However, a lot of ambiguity, sometimes controversial, exists over the origin of Konkani. While Konkani stands classified as language of Indo-Aryan origin, doubts persist over these claims.
  
  Generally, Konkani is called as a colloquial version of Marathi, the official language of Maharashtra state.
  
  
• Hyderabad city cluster project launched, to link research, industry
  The Centre launched the Hyderabad iteration of its city cluster project to create a platform to bring together academia, R&D labs, industry and government to tackle challenges facing the city.
  
  The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized this need and has also been an example of how successful these collaborations can be as science, industry and government came together to tackle the problem.
  
  There are over 39 labs in Hyderabad but the present challenge is that they don’t work together but in silos. It is also important for all these institutions to work together for the social and economic development of the city.
  
  Like other countries, there needs to be a stress on cross-functional course credits. There are numerous instances in the US of a humanities student eventually becoming a doctorate in biotechnology.
  
  Two of the major challenges facing India are the lack of investment in R&D as compared to other countries, and the lack of investment by private enterprises.
  
  Also, as of 2018, India had 156 researchers per million citizens, far lower than the global average of 1,500. India’s patent office ranked sixth by total number of patent applications received, with 46,582 applications.
  
  
• Think tank claims over half of 13L Indian soldiers under severe stress, deletes report later
  According to the findings of a study by United Service Institution of India (USI), a Service think tank, more than half of Indian Army personnel seem to be under severe stress and the Army has been losing more personnel every year due to suicides, fratricides and untoward incidents than in response to any enemy or terrorist activities.
  
  The research was undertaken during 2019-20, which shows that there has been a significant increase in stress levels amongst Indian Army personnel during approximately last two decades due to operational and non-operational stressors.
  
  While operational stressors are well understood and accepted by Army personnel, but the non-operational stressors that add on “have compounding adverse effects on health and combat efficiency of soldiers and thus affecting their respective units too.”
  
  Prolonged exposure of Indian Army personnel to Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism (CI/CT) environment has been one of the contributory factors for increased stress levels.
  
  The overall job satisfaction and pride in uniform remains high amongst Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO) and Other Ranks (OR).
  
  Various management measures implemented by the Army and Defence Ministry in the last 15 years have not been able to achieve the desired results.
  
  
• J&K: Heavy snowfall declared state-specific natural calamity
  To expedite disbursement of relief and ex-gratia for damage caused by snowfall, Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor declared ‘Heavy Snowfall’ as a state-specific natural calamity under the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) norms.
  
  Earlier, ‘Heavy Snowfall’ did not figure in the list of Natural Calamities under SDRF norms, due to which disbursement of relief and ex-gratia for damage due to heavy snowfall was not possible for the districts’ disaster management authorities.
  
  Now, processing of ex-gratia relief under SDRF will become faster, thereby giving huge relief to the affected people living in snowbound areas.
  
  It has been constituted by each state under the provisions of the Disaster Management act 2005.
  
  It was constituted based on the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission.
  
  Heads: The state executive committee headed by the Chief Secretary is authorized to decide on all matters relating to the financing of the relief expenditure from the SDRF.
  
  Funding: The government of India contributes 75% and 90% of the total yearly allocation of SDRF to general states and special category states respectively.
  
  Disaster (s) covered under SDRF: Cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloudburst, pest attack, frost and cold waves.
  
  
• "Period Room" set up for women at a public toilet in Maharashtra
  In a bid to help the women, residing in congested slums, during their menstruation days, a ‘period room’ has been set up at a public toilet by the Thane Municipal Corporation in collaboration with an NGO Muse Foundation, at a slum in Shanti Nagar locality of Wagle Estate area in Thane.
  
  The period room is equipped with several basic facilities, and it aims to facilitate menstrual hygiene among women dwelling in slums.
  
  Claimed to be the first-of-its-kind initiative, the ‘period room’ set up at a public toilet in a slum in Thane, was opened recently for women.
  
  The facility is set up keeping in mind the women living in small houses, who do not have a separate bathing section.
  
  Many times they find it difficult to change during periods. This facility will be a boon for such women and go a long way in promoting good hygiene.
  
  The NGO would be taking up the task of informing the women of the slum about the existence of such a room when they hold one of their regular sessions on menstrual hygiene.
  
  
• SC stays three new farm laws; forms committee to resolve crisis
  The Supreme Court has put a stay on the implementation of the three farm laws until further orders. It has also set up a committee of agricultural experts to facilitate talks between the Centre and farmer unions to resolve the impasse. The Apex Court said, it was trying to solve the problem in the best way and had the power to suspend the laws.
  
  The bench headed by Chief Justice of India, S. A. Bobde and comprising Justices A. S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, said those genuinely interested in finding a solution would appear before the committee. The bench was hearing a batch of petitions regarding the Constitutional validity of three farm laws passed by Parliament and a plea to disperse the protesting farmers.
  
  Cabinet approves MoU between India and UAE for scientific and technical cooperation
  
  The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Memorandum of Understanding on scientific and technical cooperation between National Centre of Meteorology of the United Arab Emirates and Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  
  The MoU will enable sharing of knowledge, data and operational products for meteorological, seismological and oceanic services between both the countries.
  
  This MoU will facilitate exchange of scientific and technical information, deployment of Meteorological observation networks over ocean, mutual cooperation in the development of special capacities and research of Tsunami models for faster and more reliable forecasts of Tsunamis. Sharing the real-time seismic data and cooperation in early warnings of sand and dust storms are the other key elements of the MoU.
  
  
• Supreme Court ‘intends’ to stay farm laws
  The Supreme Court on 15th January, 2021 said it intended to stay the implementation of the controversial agricultural laws.
  
  It also proposed to form an independent committee chaired by a former Chief Justice of India to “amicably resolve” the stand-off between the protesting farmers and the Union government.
  
  A three-judge Bench led by CJI underlined its “disappointment” at the Centre’s handling of the farmers’ protest, including the string of failed talks, States “up in rebellion”, suicides among protestors and the sight of aged farmers, women and children suffering.
  
  Farmers, from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting heavily against the Farm Bills 2020.
  
  The Farm Bill allows farmers to directly sell to private companies without relying on the APMC Mondays. Farmers fear this could lead to scrapping of MSP.
  
  The government has removed most agricultural products from the Essential Commodities List. Farmers expect this to lead to price volatility and hoarding.
  
  Effectively, the bills permit private sector investment into farm infrastructure. Farmers are skeptical that large corporates may squeeze out the traditional farmer.
  
  
• PM Kisan payout went to 20 lakh undeserving beneficiaries: RTI info
  PM-KISAN payments worth Rs.1,364 crore have been wrongly made to more than 20 lakh ineligible beneficiaries and income tax payer farmers, according to information provided by the Agriculture Ministry in response to an RTI request from activist Venkatesh Nayak.
  
  There are 11 crore beneficiaries registered under the scheme.
  
  Punjab tops the list of States, accounting for 23% of those who wrongly received the money.
  
  Maharashtra and Assam also saw large numbers of such payments.
  
  A number of State Agriculture Departments have now been tasked with recovering the money wrongly paid.
  
  Until July 2020, 20.5 lakh people who should have been excluded had wrongly received PM-Kisan payouts.
  
  According to the Agriculture Ministry data, 56% of these undeserving persons belonged to the “income tax payee” category, while the remainder belongs to the “ineligible farmers” category.
  
  However, 72% of the payout amount was paid to the income tax payees, indicating that this category continued to receive money for multiple installments before their ineligible status was discovered and they were weeded out of the scheme’s beneficiary database.
  
  Punjab (23%), Maharashtra (17%) and Assam (14%) account for more than half of the beneficiaries of wrong payments, followed by Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh with 8% each.
  
  Almost all the wrong payments in Punjab and Assam went to those in the “ineligible farmers” category, while Maharashtra had the highest number of payouts to “income tax payee” farmers.
  
  
• Education reforms have impacted learning outcomes
  The seven-day Delhi Education Conference began on 14 January, 2021 with an independent report on the Delhi government’s education reforms since 2015 being released by the Boston Consulting Group.
  
  Over the week, the conference will see 22 education experts from India and seven other countries, who will discuss the public education systems around the world.
  
  These include experts from India, the U.S., Finland, England, Germany, Singapore, Netherlands and Canada.
  
  In its report, the American management consulting committee said that the education reforms have definitely had an impact on learning outcomes.
  
  CBSE Board results have shown a steady increase and that there is improvement in Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) outcomes in Classes 6 to 8 as well, although much remains to be done.
  
  “New curricular elements such as Happiness Curriculum (HC) and Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum (EMC) have been received positively.
  
  Student attendance is improving and students also attested to increased teacher attendance and engagement during focus group discussions (FGDs),” the report said.
  
  It pointed out that the true impact of Delhi’s reforms has been vitalizing the entire system and infusing a sense of renewed aspiration, belief, and deep motivation into every stakeholder.
  
  
• Government defends in SC rules for animals’ seizure for cruelty
  The Central government on 14 January, 2021 defended law to deprive owners possession of their animals, including cattle, on the suspicion that they are being subject to cruelty or illegally transported for slaughter.
  
  The Centre dismissed the argument that taking the animals from their owners divested them of their livelihood even before they were found guilty of cruelty by a court of law.
  
  The argument that owners are deprived of their right to livelihood is not sustainable. They have no right to do their business illegally.
  
  They have to transport the animals as per the requirements of the Transport of Animals Rules of 1978.
  
  A Bench led by Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde was hearing a petition filed by the Buffalo Traders Welfare Association challenging the validity of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Care and maintenance of case property animals) Rules 2017.
  
  In the previous hearing, the court had asked the government to delete the Rules, saying the law stripped people of their means to live.
  
  But the government said the Rules were in consonance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960.
  
  
• Manipur becomes the 4th State to complete urban local bodies reforms Additional borrowing permission of Rs.75 crore issued
  Manipur has become the 4th State in the country to successfully undertake “Urban Local Bodies (ULB)” reforms stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, becoming eligible to mobilize additional financial resources of Rs 2,508 crore through open market borrowings.
  
  The State has become eligible to mobilize additional financial resources of Rs.75 crore through Open Market Borrowings.
  
  The reforms stipulated by the Department of Expenditure to achieve these objectives are:
  
  The State will notify (a) floor rates of property tax in ULBs which are in consonance with the prevailing circle rates (i.e. guideline rates for property transactions) and (b) floor rates of user charges in respect of the provision of water-supply, drainage and sewerage which reflect current costs/ past inflation.
  
  The State will put in place a system of periodic increase in floor rates of property tax/ user charges in line with price increases.
  
  The four citizen-centric areas identified for reforms:
  
  Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System,
  
  Ease of doing business reform,
  
  Urban Local body/ utility reforms and
  
  Power Sector reforms.
  
  Andhra Pradesh become the first state completion of Urban Local Bodies reform, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Manipur and Telangana.
  
  
• School attendance low after reopening: 3 states to House panel
  A meeting was called to discuss “plans for bridging the learning gap caused due to school lockdown as well as review of online and offline instructions, examinations and plans for reopening schools”.
  
  During this meeting, it was reported by Assam, UP and J&K representatives to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on education headed by Vinay Sahasrabuddhe that schools continue to report low attendance after reopening.
  
  Assam: Schools recorded around 50% attendance
  
  Uttar Pradesh: 40%
  
  Jammu and Kashmir too reported low attendance during the interaction2.It leads to learning loss that may have taken place due to the long absence of students from classrooms.
  
  Pupils missing out on almost half the year of schooling last year and then a patchwork of inequalities of missed schooling this term will impact on children's education.
  
  There'll be a widening of existing inequalities - particularly as it's tended to be quite disadvantaged council areas where pupils have missed out on most schooling.
  
  Though most absence during the term was due to disruption as a result of positive Covid cases, some families have been anxious about children going to school.
  
  Digital initiatives taken to continue learning during classroom lockdown and innovative measures adopted by different states to help students who lack access to online classes.
  
  
• Free drinking water scheme launched in water-scarce Hyderabad
  Telangana Municipal Administration launched the free drinking water scheme in Rahmat Nagar and nine lakh families would stand to gain from it.
  
  In Hyderabad, water was being supplied from the Krishna and Godavari rivers.
  
  The government would bear an expenditure of ?400 crore to ?500 crore towards it.
  
  Even as the State dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, welfare measures including rice to the poor, pension payments, RythuBandhu and the 2BHK scheme had witnessed minor delay.
  
  
• 30-day notice period not mandatory under Special Marriage Act: Allahabad High Court
  Allahabad High Court (HC) has ruled that couples seeking to solemnise their marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 can choose not to publish the mandatory 30-day notice of their intention to marry. Before that, in a judgment, the HC also removed hindrances to inter-faith marriages.
  
  Section 5 of the Special Marriage Act: The legislation that allows solemnisation of marriages irrespective of the religion of the couple, requires parties to give a 30-day public notice of their intention to marry. The public notice is displayed at the office of the marriage officer, inviting potential objections to the marriage.
  
  Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, which declares conversion of religion by marriage to be unlawful, mandates a 60-day notice to the District Magistrate and also requires the Magistrate to conduct a police inquiry to ascertain the real intention behind the conversion.
  
  By interpreting Sections 6 and 7 read with Section 46 which contains the procedure of publication of notice and inviting objections to the intended marriage in Act of 1954, it has to be such that would uphold the fundamental rights of liberty and privacy, including within its sphere freedom to choose for marriage without interference from state and non-state actors, of the persons concerned and not violate the same.
  
  In case such individuals applying to solemnize their marriage under the Act of 1954 themselves by their free choice desire that they would like to hve more information about their counterparts, they can definitely opt for publication of notice under Section 6 and further procedure with regard to objections to be followed.
  
  Such publication of notice and further procedure would not be violative of their fundamental rights as they adopt the same of their free will.
  
  As the Special Marriage Act is a central legislation, couples across the country seeking to marry under the law would benefit from the liberal reading of the provisions by the Allahabad High Court ruling.
  
  The Special Marriage Act to provide a framework for inter-caste and inter-religious marriages was originally enacted in 1872. Despite changes and versions, the 1954 law retained the Victorian-era protectionist provisions.
  
  
• Adultery can’t be decriminalised for armed forces, govt. tells SC
  The Centre has sought a clarification from the Supreme Court to the effect that the 2018 order decriminalising adultery would apply only to civilians and not defence personnel because not prosecuting soldiers for adultery could cause “instability” in the armed forces.
  
  Maintaining that “honour is the sine quo non of the services,” and adultery must remain a valid ground to prosecute defence personnel under army laws.
  
  “Adultery can be defined as an ‘unbecoming act’ or punishable under “good order and discipline” rule under the army act. Such officers can be court martialed and cashiered.
  
  The armed forces required a completely different standard of discipline and that, therefore, the army act and other pertinent laws must be treated as outside the scope of the 2018 judgment.
  
  Personnel of the Army, Navy and the Air Force were a “distinct class”. They were governed by special legislation, the Army Act, the Navy Act and the Air Force Act.
  
  The special laws imposed restrictions on the fundamental rights of the personnel, who function in peculiar situation requiring utmost discipline.
  
  The three laws were protected by Article 33 of the Constitution, which allowed the government to modify the fundamental rights of the armed forces personnel. The judgment of 2018 created ‘instability’.
  
  It allowed a personnel charged with carrying on an adulterous or illicit relationship to take cover under the judgment.
  
  In September 2018, a five-judge constitution bench struck down Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, declaring it to be unconstitutional and violative of right to equality of women in treating them as “chattel” (an item of property) and inferior to their husbands.
  
  Section 497 made adultery an offence only with respect to a man, who has a relationship with wife of someone else.
  
  The wife was considered neither adulterous nor an abettor in law, while the man could be jailed for up to five years. In that case, the Centre defended the law, saying it protected sanctity of marriages.
  
  
• Lumpy skin disease: The deadly pandemic that has taken root among India’s bovines
  A Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) has been infecting India’s bovines. The disease is being reported for the first time in India.
  
  The LSD is caused by infection of cattle or water buffalo with the poxvirus Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV).
  
  The virus is one of three closely related species within the genus capripoxvirus, the other two species being Sheeppox virus and Goatpox virus.
  
  It appears as nodules of two to five centimetre diameter all over the body, particularly around the head, neck, limbs, udder (mammary gland of female cattle) and genitals.
  
  The lumps gradually open up like large and deep wounds.
  
  Other clinical signs include general malaise, ocular and nasal discharge, fever, and sudden decrease in milk production.
  
  According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) the mortality rate is less than 10%.
  
  It spreads through mosquitoes, flies and ticks and also through saliva and contaminated water and food.
  
  Control and prevention of lumpy skin disease relies on four tactics - movement control (quarantine), vaccination, slaughter campaigns and management strategies.
  
  There is no treatment for the virus, so prevention by vaccination is the most effective means of control.
  
  Secondary infections in the skin may be treated with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs) and also antibiotics when appropriate.
  
  LSD is endemic to Africa and parts of West Asia, where it was first discovered in 1929.
  
  In Southeast Asia the first case of LSD was reported in Bangladesh in July 2019.
  
  In India, which has the world’s highest 303 million heads of cattle, the disease has spread to 15 states within just 16 months.
  
  
• Centre notifies modified financial assistance scheme to ramp up ethanol distillation
  Department of Food & Public Distribution has notified the modified scheme for extending financial assistance to project proponents for enhancement of their ethanol distillation capacity or to set up distilleries for producing 1st Generation (1G) ethanol from feed stocks such as cereals (rice, wheat, barley, corn & sorghum), sugarcane, sugar beet etc. or converting molasses-based distilleries to dual feedstock.
  
  It aims to achieve 20% blending by 2025 as well as to meet out the requirement of ethanol production capacity in the country.
  
  Under the scheme, Government would bear interest subvention for five years including one-year moratorium against the loan availed by project proponents from banks for setting up of new distilleries or expansion of existing distilleries or converting molasses-based distilleries to dual feedstock.
  
  Due to upcoming investment in capacity addition / new distilleries, various new employment opportunities will be created in rural areas.
  
  For production of ethanol, there is sufficient availability of feed stocks; & Government has also fixed remunerative prices of ethanol derived from various feed stocks.
  
  
• All about NCAVES India Forum 2021
  The Ministry of Statistics &Programme Implementation is conducting three live sessions of “Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services” (NCAVES) India Forum 2021 are scheduled to be held on January 14, 21 and 28, 2021 in collaboration with United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), European Union and UN Environment.
  
  It aims to disseminate the activities taken up by the Ministry under the Project and to highlight the uses to which natural capital accounts can be put, especially in the areas of decision making and policy analysis.
  
  The first session of the event on 14 January 2021 was dedicated to the discussions on the efforts made by India and the international agencies in the domain of natural capital accounting and valuation of the ecosystem services.
  
  Through the forum, the Ministry targets to showcase Government’s efforts in making environment a key dimension in our policy paradigm and welcomes active participation of all stakeholders in the NCAVES India Forum 2021.
  
  In 2017, the European Union initiated a project, NCAVES in 2017 to help nations advance the knowledge on environmental-economic accounting, in particular ecosystem accounting that can help in ensuring sustainable economic growth.
  
  The NCAVES Project is being implemented in five countries – India, Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa - by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD).
  
  The Ministry of Statistics &Programme Implementation has taken up several initiatives under the NCAVES Project during the past three years.
  
  
• 3rd phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana launched in 600 districts across the country
  The Third Phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 3.0) will be launched in 600 districts across the country.
  
  Spearheaded by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, this phase will focus on new-age and COVID-related skills.
  
  Skill India Mission-PMKVY 3.0 envisages training of eight lakh candidates over a scheme period of 2020-2021 with an outlay of 948.90 crore rupees.
  
  The 729 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras, empaneled non-PMKK training centres and more than 200 ITIs under Skill India will be rolling out PMKVY 3.0 training to build a robust pool of skilled professionals.
  
  On the basis of the learning gained from PMKVY 1.0 and PMKVY 2.0, the Ministry has improved the newer version of the scheme to match the current policy doctrine and energize the skilling ecosystem affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  The Skill India Mission launched by Prime Minister on 15 July 2015 has gained tremendous momentum through launch of its flagship scheme PMKVY to unlock the vision of making India the Skill Capital of the world.
  
  
• Concentration of power in India Inc: Regulator reviews seven key sectors
  The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has launched a set of detailed investigations on the market dynamics of each sector amid the unprecedented concentration of power in at least seven core sectors in corporate India, from pharma and telecom to airports and ports.
  
  CCI has started a review of all model concession agreements — the legal contract that forms the basis of the public-private partnership — across four key infrastructure sectors: airports, ports, electricity and railways.
  
  The goal is to ensure that competition remains “vibrant” and “there are enough players who are able to participate in the award of concessions.
  
  In sectors such as airports, ports and highways, and electricity, concentration of power by itself was not a concern.
  
  The policy of the government is to make the economy more efficient, and, in that process, what the CCI can do is look at whether the dominance is abused or not. If there is abuse of dominance, CCI can take action under Section 4 of the Competition Act.
  
  Section 4 bars an enterprise from abusing its dominance and defines abuse through a range of steps that include denial of access, predatory pricing, limiting goods or services in a particular market.
  
  
• Expert panel gives nod to Covaxin for restricted use
  A subject expert committee (SEC) of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approved Covishield, the vaccine candidate from the Pune based Serum Institute of India.
  
  Bharat Biotech has been asked to furnish more data demonstrating the effiicacy of its candidate, Covaxin.
  
  The SEC gives its recommendation to the DCGI which is the approving authority for drugs and vaccines.
  
  The recommendation is enormously significant, as it paves the way for India to get its first vaccine against the novel coronavirus.
  
  Covishield is similar to the ‘Oxford vaccine’ that is developed by the Oxford University vaccine group and marketed by AstraZeneca.
  
  ‘Oxford vaccine’ was recently approved by the health regulator in the U.K. under emergency use conditions. Under this, the company is allowed to deploy its vaccines to priority groups and then the larger public, even though a full safety assessment hasn’t been completed.
  
  The Union Ministry of Health of India has also introduced an elaborate communication strategy.
  
  The idea is to make sure that the information on the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination process reaches all people, across all States in the country. The strategy also seeks to build trust and enable greater confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine amongst all people by employing transparency in communication, while also managing any mis/disinformation and rumours around it.
  
  
• PM unveils project for affordable housing
  Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of six Light House Projects in six cities as part of the Global Housing Technology Challenge India (GHTC-India) initiative.
  
  Aim is to build around 1,000 houses each in Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Agartala (Tripura) and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) over a period of 12 months.
  
  Modern construction practices from countries such as France, Germany and Canada would be adopted.
  
  The GHTC provided the scope for incubating new technologies for construction and innovation, and called upon planners, architects and students to visit the project sites, learn from the technologies, and mould them for use in accordance with the local requirements.
  
  Major initiative — the Central rental housing complex project — was conceived last year, for migrant labourers. The project was being implemented in coordination with industrialists and other investors.
  
  
• Rajya Sabha saw the lowest number of sittings ever in 2020
  The government refused to call the winter session of Parliament, and the Rajya Sabha sat for just 33 days in 2020, its lowest ever tally of sittings in a year.
  
  The Budget and the monsoon sessions had to be cut short due to COVID-19.
  
  The Budget session was reduced from 31 sittings to 23 sessions.
  
  Similarly, the monsoon session was reduced from 18 sittings to 10 sittings amid strict restrictions, as the number of COVID-19 positive cases among parliamentarians and the supporting staff increased.
  
  There are only three other occasions when the Rajya Sabha met for fewer than 50 sittings in a year — 48 in 1999 and 46 each in 2004 and 2008.
  
  The last time the winter session was cancelled was 36 years ago in 1984 after other two other instances in 1979 and 1975.
  
  As per an analysis by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, the limited number of sittings did not hurt the productivity. During the year 2020, the annual productivity has been 82.7%, the highest annual productivity during the last 11 years.
  
  A total of 39 Bills have been passed by the House during 2020, including 12 during the Budget session and 27 during the monsoon session including recent the three controversial farm laws.
  
  Year 2020 also saw an unprecedented suspension of eight Opposition MPs and the Opposition moving a notice for the removal of Deputy Chairman.
  
  
• NSTL conducts trial of air droppable container
  The Defense Research and Development Organization - DRDO and the Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of "SAHAYAK-NG" along the coast of Goa. This is India's 1st indigenously designed and developed Air Dropped Container from IL 38SD aircraft (Indian Navy)
  
  The trial was conducted by the IN -Indian Navy to enhance its combat logistics capabilities and provide critical engineering warehouses for ships deployed more than 2,000 kilometers from the coast.
  
  Reduced the requirement for ships to collect spare parts and warehouses near the coast.
  
  SAHAYAK-NG is the advanced version of SAHAYAK Mk I.
  
  The newly developed GPS-assisted airdrop container can carry a payload of up to 50 kg and can be dropped from a heavy aircraft.
  
  
• Chinese firm to build stretch of Delhi-Meerut RRTS project
  Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company will build a 5.6-km underground stretch of the upcoming Delhi-Meerut RRTS project between New Ashok Nagar and Sahibabad.
  
  The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is executing the country’s first Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) project.
  
  The 82-km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor is being funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and procurement is governed by the guidelines of the bank and the government.
  
  The 17-km priority corridor of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS from Sahibabad to Doha will be operational in 2023 and the entire corridor will be operational in 2025.
  
  The cost of the entire corridor has been pegged at Rs 3,0724 crore out of which, the UP government’s share will be Rs 6,500 crore. Once completed, trains with an average speed of 100kmph will cover the 82km distance in 55 minutes
  
  
• Deaths due to lightning strikes dip by 37%: CROPC Report
  According to a report published by the Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC), the number of deaths due to lightning strikes reduced by nearly 37 percent.
  
  The deaths have been reduced from 2,800 deaths between April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019, to 1,771 during the same period in 2019-20.
  
  The report has pointed out several loopholes in the government’s approach towards the problem while praising certain measures taken by the authorities.
  
  According to the report, lightning-linked fatalities formed 33 percent of total deaths in natural disasters, according to data for the corresponding period in 2019-20.
  
  More than 60 percent of deaths in lightning incidents in 2019-20 were reported from Uttar Pradesh (293), Madhya Pradesh (248), Bihar (221), Odisha (200) and Jharkhand (172). Despite the casualties, the Centre has not notified lightning as a disaster.
  
  
• Government sets up academy to promote Tamil culture
  The Department of Art, Culture & Language of the Delhi government set up and notified Tamil academy to promote Tamil language and culture.
  
  The Tamil language and culture have a long tradition in the history of Indian culture as well as in Delhi.
  
  The new academy will introduce various awards to promote and reward the good works of people in the Tamil language and culture.
  
  The government will also provide language courses through this academy.
  
  The Delhi government will also celebrate and organize cultural festivals for the people of Tamil Nadu.
  
  The culture of the Tamil people is rooted in several forms of expression such as dance, music, literature, folk arts.
  
  Being the birthplace for one of the oldest civilizations, the Tamil identity and its culture is strongly center around its language which is fondly referred to as the Tamilannai (The Tamil Mother).
  
  The Tamil language is recognized as a classical language by the Indian government and a lot of Tamil literature is centuries old. Works of Kambar and Thiruvalluvar have gained an international reputation.
  
  The most prominent visual art forms of the region are the Chola bronze sculptures and the Tanjore painting.
  
  Most Tamil dance forms have origins in the older temple dances, which were performed by Devadasis and courtesans. One of such dance forms is Bharatanatyam, which is a modern form of the ancient dance of Carter Kacceri.
  
  Some other important dances from the culture are Oliyattam, Puliyattam, Karakattam, and Koothu.
  
  
• Banana Grit from Nendran for the health-conscious
  Scientists at the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) in Kerala introduced a new product, Banana Grit, developed from raw Nendran bananas.
  
  Banana Grit can be used for making a wide range of dishes. It bears a resemblance to ‘Rava’ and broken wheat.
  
  Nendran banana is consumed ripe and it also used in typical Kerala dishes such as ‘evil’ and ‘thoran’ The grit, or granules, can be used for making up, or it can be mixed with banana powder for making porridge with milk or coconut milk for use as a health drink. The banana powder can be used in cake and bread preparation, along with refined wheat flour.
  
  The concept was introduced to utilize the presence of resistant starch in bananas, which is reported to improve gut health. Hence, the dishes prepared with Banana Grit and its byproduct banana powder incline to the new focus on gut health.
  
  Developing new uses for Nendran also comes as a boon to farmers who have often been struggling against falling prices.
  
  
• Cabinet approves Industrial Corridor nodes at Krishnapatnam and Tumakuru at estimated cost of 7,725 crore
  The Cabinet approved the Industrial Corridor nodes at Krishnapatnam and Tumakuru under Chennai Bangalore Industrial Corridor (CBIC). The Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Industry and Internal Trade Promotion (DPIIT) proposal for the construction of various trunk line infrastructure components.
  
  The Cabinet has approved the proposal by the Ministry of Industry and Internal Trade Promotion (DPIIT) to build various trunk line infrastructure components for use in:
  
  Krishnapatnam Industrial Zone, Andhra Pradesh
  
  Tumakuru Industrial Zone, Karnataka
  
  Multi-Modal Logistics Hub - MMLH and Multi-Modal Transport Hub -MMTH in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
  
  In November 2019, the government approved the creation of five industrial corridor projects, which will be implemented via National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust - NICDIT.
  
  Krishnapatnam Industrial Zone and Tumakuru Industrial Zone are under the Chennai Bangalore Industrial Corridor (CBIC).
  
  These greenfield industrial cities will be self-sufficient through world-class infrastructure, road and rail connections, in order to achieve freight transportation to and from ports and logistics hubs, as well as reliable electricity and high-quality social infrastructure.
  
  Multi-Modal Logistics Hub project will be developed into a world-class facility that can provide effective food storage for the dedicated freight channel (DFC).
  
  It will provide a one-stop destination for freight companies and customers. The facility provides standard container handling activities.
  
  It provides various value-added services to reduce logistics costs and increase operational efficiency.
  
  Multi-Modal Transport Hub - MMTH project will be located near the already existing Indian railway station in Boraki.
  
  It will serve as a transportation hub, providing passengers with rail, road and MRTS accessibility in a seamless manner.
  
  MMTH will provide space for interstate bus terminal (ISBT), local bus terminal (LBT), subway, commercial, retail and hotel spaces, and green open spaces.
  
  The project will provide world-class passenger transportation facilities for the growing population of the catchment area to cater to the upcoming development of the United States. The NCR sub-region thus eliminates the congestion in Delhi.
  
  This will also increase employment opportunities.
  
  
• Change rules on confiscation of animals, SC tells Centre
  The Supreme Court asked the Centre to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals) Rules, 2017 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017.
  
  These rules of 2017 allow the confiscation of the animals of traders and transporters during the pendency of trials in cases under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. In other words, these rules allow confiscation of animals before the accused is convicted under the legislation.
  
  This show that the contrary nature of the Rules, 2017 as compared to the provisions of the Act, 1960 as provisions of the very law allow such confiscation only in case of conviction.
  
  Animals are a source of livelihood. People live on the basis of their animals.
  
  The 2017 rules allow a magistrate to forfeit the cattle of an owner facing trial under the Act and send them to infirmaries, gaushalas etc.
  
  Section 29 of the Act says that a person tried for an offence under the Act can be deprived of the ownership of the animal only upon conviction.
  
  The Rules 2017 were being used to forcibly deprive even legitimate owners of cattle and that it had emboldened “anti-social elements” to take matters into their own hands and loot cattle traders.
  
  Such incidents act as “triggers for communal polarisation of society”.
  
  
• 2020 8th warmest year in India in 121 years: IMD
  The Climate Research and Services (CRS) of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Statement on Climate of India during 2020 and highlighted that 2020 was the eighth warmest year India recorded in the last 121 years.
  
  As per the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), 2020 was on the way to becoming one of the warmest years recorded in the last 15 years.
  
  Temperature: Last year, the annual mean land surface air temperature average was 0.29 degrees Celsius above normal, for the period average considered between 1981 and 2010. However, it was much lower than 2016 (+0.71 degrees Celsius), which remains the warmest ever year the country has recorded since 1901.
  
  The other warm years over India, all of them post 2005 have been — 2009, 2017, 2010 and 2015.
  
  The monsoon (+0.43 degrees Celsius) and the post-monsoon (+0.53 degrees Celsius) seasons contributed towards this warming.
  
  The global mean surface temperature (till October 2020) was 1.2 degrees Celsius above normal, making it the warmest ever decade (2011 – 2020) recorded, globally.
  
  Rainfall: Rainfall during the June to September 2020 over the country remained 9 per cent above normal, but several high-impact events like extremely heavy rain, floods, cold wave and thunderstorms led to significant loss of lives and properties.
  
  Tropical Storms in the Indian Seas: The Indian Ocean region — the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, together reported five cyclones — three of which were of either severe or above in intensity category. Five cyclones — Amphan, Nisarga, Gati, Nivar and Burevi — were reported in 2020. Super cyclone Amphan remained the strongest, which hit the West Bengal coast. Maharashtra, too, had braved cyclone Nisarga in early June 2020.
  
  High Impact Weather Events: The country also experienced other high impact weather events like, extremely heavy rainfall, floods, landslide, thunderstorm, lightning, cold waves, etc. Bihar & Uttar Pradesh were the most adversely affected states during the year due to thunderstorm, lightning & cold wave events.
  
  
• Aurangabad renamed as Sambhaji Nagar
  Shiv Sena's demand to rename Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar (Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who killed SambhajiRaje is buried near Aurangabad, hence the city should be called Sambhajinagar) has caused unease in the Government in Maharashtra.
  
  English poet and playwright William Shakespeare famously quoted that “what is in the name?” It seems to hold much relevance for modern India. Names in India are never just names as there seems to be a lot in the name.
  
  The naming and renaming of places is not new in India. For example, the British renamed Kochi to Cochin, derived the name Calcutta from Kolkata and affirmed their power through urban planning and architecture.
  
  The current renaming of historical cities named after Muslim personalities or of Urdu dialect is mostly based on the cultural and ethnoreligious grounds rather than linguistic one - even though the Urdu language is one of the official languages. In, renaming the city, the government has to spend crores of rupees.
  
  This campaign to rename city is being seen by many as an attempt to rewrite history and undermine the historical personalities of a particular community.
  
  Sometimes renaming is not only about religion, but this comes as an outcome of unspoken custom and culture of the particular place. Political parties also use the name-game for creating vote banks.
  
  Raise a request in form of a resolution by any Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) which proposes the renaming of any particular city or street.
  
  Then there is a deliberation over the request of the renaming of the city or the street.
  
  Then comes, voting of the validity of the resolution. The majority here involves a simple majority.
  
  The State Legislation on the basis of the majority view shall make the necessary changes in the name of the state or city.
  
  
• COVID-19 restrictions to continue for budget session of Parliament
  The budget session of Parliament is expected to be held under similar COVID-19 safety measures and restrictions, including strict physical distancing norms, that were in place for the monsoon session.
  
  The Parliament is expected to be convened in the fourth week of January. The Budget as a norm is presented on February 1.
  
  For the first time ever, the Members of Parliament are likely to be seated in three different places — the Rajya Sabha chamber, the Lok Sabha chamber and the central hall — for President Ram Nath Kovind’s address at the beginning of the session.
  
  So far there is no clarity on whether the Question Hour which was suspended during the monsoon session as part of the COVID-19 restrictions will resume in the budget session.
  
  The Rajya Sabha chamber can accomodate 60 members, while the Lok Sabha chamber can seat 132. The remaining members will be accommodated in the visitors’ gallery of both the Houses.
  
  The government had canceled the winter session of Parliament citing the COVID-19 situation.
  
  The two sessions that were held last year — the budget session and the monsoon session — also had to be cut short. The budget session, which was scheduled to have 31 sittings, was brought to a close after 23 sittings. Similarly, the monsoon session could manage only 10 sittings instead of the scheduled 18.
  
  
• Vietnam buys Indian rice for first time in decades
  Vietnam purchased Indian Rice for first time in decades. In December 2020, China started buying Indian rice for the first time in at least three decades.
  
  Vietnam, the world's third biggest exporter of rice, has started buying the grain from rival India for the first time in decades due to limited domestic supplies and high prices.
  
  The purchases highlight tightening supplies in Asia, which could lift rice prices in 2021 and even force traditional buyers of rice from Thailand and Vietnam to switch to India - the world's biggest exporter of the grain.
  
  The shrinking supplies will heighten concerns about food insecurity with sub-Saharan Africa among the areas where import demand has been increasing due partly to population growth.
  
  According to the World Bank, chronic and acute hunger is on the rise, impacting vulnerable households in almost every country, with the COVID-19 pandemic reducing incomes and disrupting supply chains.
  
  Global pandemic has also prompted Vietnam and other countries to stockpile rice to ensure food availability amid coronavirus-driven supply chain disruptions worldwide.
  
  Robust demand from Asian and African countries has also been lifting Indian prices but they are still very competitive due to ample stocks.
  
  In December 2020, the world's biggest rice importer China started buying Indian rice for the first time in at least three decades due to tightening supplies from Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam and an offer of sharply discounted prices. In 2020 India exported a record 14 million tonnes of rice.
  
  
• Government looks to launch seaplane services with airline operators: Ports Min
  The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is starting the ambitious Project of Sagarmala Seaplane Services (SSPS) with potential airline operators.
  
  A seaplane is a fixed-wing aeroplane designed for taking off and landing on water.
  
  The project is being initiated under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) framework through prospective airline operators.
  
  The project execution and implementation would be through Sagarmala Development Company Ltd (SDCL), which is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
  
  Airline operators will be invited to form a SPV with SDCL.
  
  The routes may be operated under the government’s subsidised udedesh ka aamnagrik (UDAN) scheme.
  
  The seaplanes services will provide a supplementary means of faster and comfortable transportation in India.
  
  It will provide infrastructure enhancements at the places of operations.
  
  It will provide air connectivity to various remote religious/tourist places.
  
  It will save travel time and stimulate localized short distance travelling especially in the hilly regions or across the rivers/lakes etc.
  
  It will generate employment opportunities.
  
  It will boost tourism for domestic and international holiday makers.
  
  
• To ‘educate students on cows’, govt to hold national cow science exam on Feb 25
  The government is planning to conduct a nationwide voluntary online examination, Kamdhenu Gau-Vigyan Prachar-PrasarPareeksha, on cow science to “infuse curiosity” among people about the importance of cows, and to “sensitise and educate” them about the bovine species.
  
  The examination will be held on 25 February 2021.
  
  The exam will be conducted by Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA), an agency established for protection of cows under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
  
  The exam will be conducted in four categories: primary level (up to class VIII); for students between classes IX and XII; a third category for college and university students; and the fourth will be open to all, in which not only Indian citizens but anyone can appear.
  
  The examination will be based on multiple choice questions (MCQs), and students can take the one-hour exam on mobile phone or computer.
  
  Cow provides us with milk, dung and urine. Milk is an important part of our diet and plays a key role in making us healthy.
  
  Cow urine is considered as an disinfectant, Cow dung is used in fields as manure and now in biogas plants. Thus through its products cow takes care of us like a mother and therefore hindus personify her as "gaumata".
  
  Also the mythological ties of Lord Krishna with Cow adds to her sacredness. Thus cow is closely connected with the religious sentiments of Hindus.
  
  Realizing this our constitution fathers carefully made provisions for cow and other mulch animals under Article 48 as part of Directive Principles of State Policy.
  
  
• Bombay High Court permits transgender to contest polls from women's category
  The Bombay High Court has allowed a transgender to contest village panchayat polls in women’s category, as such persons have the right to “self-perceived gender identity”.
  
  Union government has introduced the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and has permitted a transgender person to have a right to self-perceived gender identity.
  
  Act defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth. It includes transmen and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra.
  
  It seeks to ensure the fundamental rights of those who do not conform to the binary notions of gender identity.
  
  It seeks to provide rights of health facilities to transgender persons including separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex reassignment surgeries.
  
  It states that the government shall review medical curriculum to address health issues of transgender persons, and provide comprehensive medical insurance schemes for them.
  
  It calls for establishing a National Council for Transgender persons (NCT).
  
  The Act is progressive in that it allows self perception of gender identity, but regresses by mandating that each person would have to be recognised as ‘transgender’ on the basis of a certificate of identity issued by a district magistrate, rejecting the recommendation from the 2016 Standing Committee to have a screening committee.
  
  
• Govt launches 'ToyCathon 2021' to make India a global hub for toy manufacturing
  The government launched ''Toycathon'' -- a hackathon for students, teachers, experts and startups to crowdsource ideas for developing innovative toys and games based on Indian culture and ethos.
  
  The ministries of education; women and child development (WCD); textiles; commerce and industry; MSME; information and broadcasting; and the All India Council for Technical Education have jointly launched Toycathon-2021.
  
  India imports most of its toys and the government is working towards promoting the indigenous toy industry for making the country self-reliant in the sector.
  
  The size of the toy market in India is about USD 1 billion but unfortunately 80 per cent of the toys are imported.
  
  The launch of Toycathon is an endeavour by the government to create an ecosystem for the domestic toy industry and the local manufacturers, tapping the untapped resources and utilising their potential.
  
  This Toycathon is aimed to conceptualize innovative toys based on the Indian value system which will inculcate the positive behaviour and good values among the children.
  
  The Toycathon is based on nine themes -- Indian culture, history, knowledge of India and ethos; learning, education and schooling; social and human values; occupations and specific fields; environment; divyang ; fitness and sport; out-of-the-box, creative and logical thinking and rediscovering traditional Indian toys.
  
  The Toycathon will have three levels -- junior, senior and startup.
  
  While this will greatly help India develop into a global hub for toys and games, it will also help our children to understand the ethos and values of Indian culture as envisaged in the National Education Policy 2020.
  
  National Education Policy-2020 also lays emphasis on innovation and research in learning, starting from primary education.
  
  Aligned with the goals of National Education Policy, the Toycathon aims to capture innovative prowess of 33 crore students across the country.
  
  The collaboration with the Ministry of Education paves the way for the participation of students, faculties from all schools, colleges and universities with regards to needs of the MSME industry.
  
  This is the first time when school children will innovate, design and conceptualise toys also for specially-abled ''divyang children''.
  
  
• Centre to form panel to resolve issues relating to Ladakh land, culture
  The Centre has decided to form a committee to find a solution to issues associated with preservation of Ladakh’s land, culture and language apart from demands from the region to be included under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
  
  The delegation have expressed concern over threat to the region’s unique culture, language and demography due to recent changes brought about by the Centre to the status of the region in August 2019.
  
  In order to find an appropriate solution to the issues related to language, culture and conservation of land in Ladakh, a committee was constituted under the leadership of G.Kishan Reddy, Minister of State (Home).
  
  The committee would comprise of elected members from Ladakh, members of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) and ex-officio members representing the Government of India and the Ladakh administration.
  
  
• Meeting India’s air quality targets across South Asia may prevent 7% of pregnancy losses: Lancet study
  According to a modelling study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal, pregnant women in South Asia like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh are exposed to poor air quality, and may be at higher risk of stillbirths and miscarriages.
  
  Air pollution could be a major contributor to pregnancy loss in south Asia, so controlling air pollution is vital for improving maternal health.
  
  The study was unable to distinguish between natural pregnancy loss and abortions, which may have led to an underestimation of the effect of air pollution on natural pregnancy loss.
  
  This is the first study to quantify the burden in south Asia, which is the most populous region in the world and has the highest rate of pregnancy loss. Therefore, understanding the risk factors for pregnancy loss in south Asia is crucial to improving maternal health regionally and globally.
  
  South Asia has the highest burden of pregnancy loss globally and is one of the most PM2.5 polluted regions in the world. Poor air quality could be responsible for a considerable burden of pregnancy loss in the region.
  
  Losing a pregnancy can have knock-on mental, physical and economic effects on women, including increased risk of postnatal depressive disorders, infant mortality during subsequent pregnancy, and increase the costs related to pregnancy, such as loss of labour. Therefore, reducing pregnancy loss may also lead to knock-on improvements in gender equality.
  
  The increase in risk was greater for mothers from rural areas or those who became pregnant at an older age, compared to younger mothers from urban areas.
  
  Pregnancy loss associated with air pollution was more common in the Northern plains region in India and Pakistan. Although the total burden of pregnancy loss was predominantly borne by rural women aged under 30 years old in recent years, the burden attributable to PM2.5 also affected older mothers (aged 30 years or over) in rural areas because of their high susceptibility to the adverse effects of PM2.5.
  
  Although WHO's guidelines aims for a safer level of air pollution, India's standard is a more realistic target level, given the high average levels of air pollution in the region and there is a need to balance practical governance and public health.
  
  
• Supreme Court: Fixing notional income for homemaker step towards social equality, dignity
  The Supreme Court has ruled that household work is no mean feat and fixing notional income for a non-earning “homemaker is a step towards the constitutional vision of social equality and ensuring dignity of life to all individuals”.
  
  The ruling pointed out that according to the 2011 Census, nearly 159.85 million women stated that “household work” was their main occupation, as compared to only 5.79 million men.
  
  On an average, women spend nearly 299 minutes a day on unpaid domestic services for household members versus 97 minutes spent by men on average. Thus, women spend more time on "unpaid care giving services for household members" as compared to men.
  
  There are legal complexities regarding the calculation of notional income of a non-earning homemaker. Women dedicates sheer amount of time and effort to household work as they perform plethora of activities like cooking food for the entire family, manages the procurement of groceries and other household shopping needs, cleans and manages the house and its surroundings, undertakes decoration, repairs and maintenance work, looks after the needs of the children and any aged member of the household, manages budgets and so much more.
  
  In rural households, they often also assist in the sowing, harvesting and transplanting activities in the field, apart from tending cattle.
  
  There is a conception that housemakers do not ‘work’ or that they do not add economic value to the household is a problematic idea that has persisted for many years and must be overcome. The issue of fixing notional income for a homemaker serves extremely important functions.
  
  
• SC to study anti-conversion laws of Uttarakhand and U.P
  The Supreme Court (SC) agreed to examine the constitutional validity of laws enacted by States, such as Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, that criminalise religious conversion via marriage and mandate prior official clearance before marrying into another faith.
  
  SC did not stay the implementation of the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020 and the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018.
  
  Those who are found guilty under these laws stare at a 10year prison sentence. The offences are non-bailable.
  
  Laws passed by the states violates fundamental rights of dignity and liberty enshrined under Article 21. They had been enacted despite a series of judgments by the SC, including in the Hadiya case, that right to marry a person of one’s choice was part of an adult’s privacy.
  
  A series of Supreme Court verdicts underline that the choice of a life partner, whether by marriage or outside it, was part of an individual’s “personhood and identity”.
  
  Under the laws, a person marrying into another faith should give a month’s prior notice to the authorities. There will be an inquiry. The provisions are oppressive.
  
  These laws will create fear in society and become a potent tool in the hands of bad elements to falsely implicate anyone. A grave injustice will be done by the ordinances. They will create a chaotic situation.
  
  The court had said in its Hadiya case judgment, “Matters of dress and of food, of ideas and ideologies, of love and partnership are within the central aspects of identity.
  
  Neither the State nor the law can dictate a choice of partners or limit the free ability of every person to decide on these matters.”
  
  In the K.S. Puttaswamy case, or ‘privacy,’ judgment, a Constitution Bench said the autonomy of the individual was the ability to make decisions in vital matters of concern to life.
  
  Any interference by the State in an adult’s right to love and marry had a “chilling effect" on freedom. Intimacies of marriage lie within a core zone of privacy, which is inviolable.
  
  “The absolute right of an individual to choose a life partner is not in the least affected by matters of faith”.
  
  
• Using God’s name to sell articles illegal, rules Bombay High Court
  The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has declared that advertisement of any article using the name of any God and claiming that it has supernatural qualities, is “illegal” and falls under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, EvilandAghori Practices and Black Magic Act.
  
  Telemarketers change the names of companies, Gods and Babas to show that each was a different Yantra.
  
  With the representation that these articles have special, miraculous and supernatural properties and that they will help people to become happy, make progress in business, see advancement in career, show improved performance in education, recover from disease etc., is illegal.
  
  The court directed the State and Vigilance Officers to register such crimes, giving reports against persons who make such advertisements and sell such articles.
  
  The court also directed the State and Central governments to create separate cells in Mumbai to ensure that no such features were telecast, either as advertisement or in the name of programmes, in Maharashtra.
  
  
• Karnataka CMlays foundation stone for ‘New AnubhavaMantapa’ at Basavakalyan
  Karnataka CM laid the foundation stone for the ‘New AnubhavaMantapa’ in Basavakalyan, the place where 12th century poet philosopher Basaveshwara lived for most of his life.
  
  It is a 500 crore project and will be completed within two years on a 7.5 acre area.
  
  This project highlights the teachings of Basaveshwara (an icon of the Veerashaiva Lingayat community).
  
  The Project was first proposed back in 2016. Basavakalyan, an important pilgrim centre for Lingayats.
  
  The New AnubhavaMantapa, as envisaged now, will be a six floor structure.
  
  It will showcase the 12th Century AnubhavaMantapa (often referred to as the “first Parliament of the world”) established by him in Basavakalyan, where philosophers and social reformers held debates.
  
  The building will adopt the KalyanaChalukya style of architecture.
  
  
• India begins 8th term as non-permanent member of UNSC, promises to promote peace
  Together with Norway, Mexico, Ireland and Kenya, India formally serves as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for a two-year term. On June 17, 2020, India was elected to the Security Council with a total of 192 votes and 184.
  
  India formally serves as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for a two-year term. On June 17, 2020, India was elected to the Security Council with a total of 192 votes and 184.
  
  A member state needs to obtain a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly to become a non-permanent member. This is the 8th time for India to be elected as a non-permanent member.
  
  India will serve as a permanent member of the UN Security Council in August 2021, and will also serve as a permanent member of the UN Security Council for another month in 2022. According to the English alphabetical order of the member states, each member of the Security Council will serve as the President of the Security Council for one month. name.
  
  
• Centre approves Rs 28,400 crore industrial developmental scheme to boost J&K economy
  The Centre has approved a new industrial development scheme with an outlay of Rs 28,400 crore for Jammu and Kashmir that will focus on generating employment, developing skills and attracting new investment, especially in far-flung areas of the Union Territory.
  
  The scheme will come into force from the date of its notification till 2037, and “give direct and indirect employment to about 4.5 lakh persons”.
  
  It will also provide interest subvention on working capital loans that will indirectly support 35,000 people.
  
  This is the first such scheme by the Centre that aims to take industrial development to the block level in J&K.
  
  The new initiative will nurture existing schemes in the manufacturing and service sectors, and attract “unprecedented investment”.
  
  The scheme will offer incentives on the basis of location: capital incentive at the rate of 30 per cent in Zone-A, which will cover far-flung areas, and 50 per cent in Zone-B on investment made in plant and machinery (manufacturing), or construction of buildings and other durable physical assets (service).
  
  Units with investment up to Rs 50 crore will be eligible for the incentive -- the maximum incentive available in areas under Zone A is Rs 5 crore and under Zone B Rs 7.5 crore.
  
  The scheme provides for 6 per cent interest subvention for a maximum of seven years on loans up to Rs 500 crore for investment in plant and machinery (manufacturing), or ten years for construction in building and all other durable physical assets (service).
  
  Government has provided for a GST-linked approach under which financial incentive will be based on Gross GST to ensure less compliance burden without compromising on transparency.
  
  Existing units can avail working capital interest incentive at the annual rate of 5 per cent for a maximum of five years, with a cap of Rs 1 crore.
  
  Even smaller units with an investment upto Rs 50 crore in plant and machinery will get capital incentive upto Rs 7.5 crore and capital interest subvention at the rate of 6 per cent per annum for a maximum of seven years.
  
  
• Centre merges J&K cadre officers with AGMUT
  The Centre merged Jammu and Kashmir cadre IAS, IPS and IFS officers with that of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT), also called the Union Territory cadre, through an ordinance.
  
  The move will allow officers posted in these states and UTs to work in J&K and vice versa.
  
  President has promulgated an ordinance to amend J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019. It’s a follow-up to J&K turning into UT and merging into the mainstream.
  
  The ordinance has replaced sub-sections 2-6 of the law with two sub-sections, which say that members of IAS, IPS and IFS for the existing J&K cadre “shall be borne and become part of the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union territories cadre, and all future allocations of All India Services Officers for the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union territory of Ladakh shall be made to Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union territories cadre.
  
  Officers “so borne or allocated” on AGMUT cadre shall function in accordance with rules framed by the Centre.
  
  The move was also necessitated by paucity of officers in Ladakh. Since the region is harsh, most officers are unwilling to serve there.
  
  Section 13 of the Act: “On and from the appointed day, the provisions contained in article 239A, which are applicable to “Union territory of Puducherry”, shall also apply to the “Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir”.
  
  The ordinance is likely to have significant bearing on the administration of the two UTs. It will give the government access to a larger talent pool at a time it is trying to quicken the pace of development in the erstwhile state.
  
  The merger of the existing J&K cadre of IAS, IPS and IFS officers is both a political and administrative move. It sends the message of total integration of J&K with the Centre while putting a question mark on the time it may take to return the region’s statehood.
  
  
• Karnataka’s Brahmin marriage schemes
  Karnataka State Brahmin Development Board has obtained approvals to launch two marriage schemes (Arundhati and Maitreyi) on a pilot basis – one offering financial bonds of Rs3 lakh to 25 Brahmin women who marry priests from economically weak background and the other offering Rs 25,000 each for the marriage of 550 women from economically weak families from the community.
  
  These two schemes aim to assist weaker sections of the community.
  
  Arundhati scheme: 550 Brahmin women from poor background will be given Rs 25,000 each for their marriage.
  
  Maitreyi scheme: A financial bond of Rs 3 lakh, which is to be used over three years, will be created for 25 women who marry Brahmin priests from poor background. Initially, this scheme with the Rs 3 lakh financial bond was proposed in the name of the bride who marries BPL Brahmin farmers or cooks or priests. This scheme will require the couples to stay married for three years to avail the entire bond of Rs 3 lakh. Installments of Rs 1 lakh will be paid at the end of each year of the marriage.
  
  Around three per cent of the six crore population in Karnataka belongs to the Brahmin community.
  
  The marriage assistance scheme is on the lines of another scheme– Shaadi Bhagya – that was launched in 2013 to provide Rs 50,000 for the marriage of women from economically weak minority families.
  
  Rs 14 crore has also been set aside to help students from poor Brahmin families in the form of scholarships, payment of fees and providing training to those who have passed the preliminary stage of examinations such as the UPSC.
  
  To avail benefits of the schemes, applicants have to certify that they do not own five or more acres of agricultural land, a residential flat that is more than 1,000 sq ft, that they do not belong to backward classes or scheduled castes and that the family income is below Rs 8 lakh per annum.
  
  
• Number of India’s elderly to triple by 2050
  Union Ministry for Health & Family Welfare released INDIA REPORT on Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Wave-1 today on the virtual platform.
  
  In 2011 census, the 60+ population accounted for 8.6% of India’s population, accounting for 103 million elderly people. Growing at around 3% annually, the number of elderly age population will rise to 319 million in 2050.75% of the elderly people suffer from one or the other chronic disease.
  
  40% of the elderly people have one or the other disability and 20% have issues related to mental health.
  
  Around 23 per cent of the elderly population (age 60 years and above) have multi-morbidities; elderly women are more likely to have multi-morbidity conditions.
  
  The results of the survey encapsulated data from more than 42,000 households, covering over 72,000 older adults across all states and union territories except Sikkim.
  
  Self-reported presence of major chronic health conditions and multi-morbidities among those aged 45 and above increased with age.
  
  The chronic health conditions are pronounced among those aged 75 and above and are dominated by cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and hypertension.
  
  The percentage of people without morbidity consistently declined with age. About 73 per cent of the population below age 45 are found to be having no morbid conditions and this share is reduced to 44 per cent in the age group 75 and above. The decline, however, is slower from age 60 onward.
  
  One fifth of the population below 45 years had a single morbid condition and amongst the oldest old, one out of every three possessed a morbid condition.
  
  A tenth of the people in the age group 45-49 had multi-morbidity while 26 per cent among the elderly of age 70-74 have these conditions. However, this reduced by two percentage points for the next age group of 75-79.
  
  Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the most prominent among those above 45.
  
  Bone or joint diseases and diabetes are also observed to be high among the elderly.
  
  Chronic lung diseases show a fluctuating pattern with rise in age. Neurological or psychiatric conditions constitute small part of the morbid conditions found among the elderly and the rate sees a noticeable rise after age 74.
  
  Share of people living with cancer was only around 0.7 per cent among the senior citizens. The prevalence of high cholesterol and stroke among the same demographic is about 2.5 and 2.7 per cent respectively.
  
  By 2030, 45 per cent of the total burden of diseases, majorly non-communicable, is expected to be borne by the old-age population. Adequate investment in elderly healthcare and efficacious policies and their timely management are thus imperative.
  
  The evidence from LASI will be used to further strengthen and broaden the scope of National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly and also help in establishing a range of preventive and health care programmes for older population and most vulnerable among them.
  
  This report will provide base for national and state level programmes and policies for elderly population.
  
  LASI data shall assist in addressing the broad aims of the Decade of Healthy Ageing and will lead to convergence within various national health programs and also promote inter-sectoral coordination with other line Departments/Ministries.
  
  For the best medical care to elderly, India has one of the ambitious programme of the world, Ayushman Bharat Yojana which focuses on expansion of the healthcare facilities.
  
  
• Irdai to introduce standard home insurance policy Bharat Griha Raksha
  The policy introduced is to replace the Standard Fire and Special Perils Policies. It has 3 key components which include Bharat LaghuUdyam Suraksha, Bharat Griha Raksha, and Bharat SookshmaUdyam Suraksha.
  
  According to the Bharat Griha Raksha policy, IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India) will introduce a standard housing insurance policy that will cover fire risks and other related hazards.
  
  The policy will cover various hazards such as Natural catastrophs like cyclone, storm, tsunami, Hurricane, floods, earthquake, landslide, fires, bushfires, impact damages of any kind, strike, riot, acts of terrorism, malicious damage of, overflowing of water tanks, pipe leakage from automatic sprinkler installations, bursting of water tanks and tested within 7 days after the occurrence.
  
  In addition to housing construction insurance, the policy will also provide “General Home Content Insurance”. The policy will provide 20% of the insurance amount of the building, up to 10 lakh rupees.
  
  Bharat LaghuUdyam Suraksha will cover companies with insurable asset classes in the region whose total risk value exceeds Rs 5 crores.
  
  Bharat SookshmaUdyam Suraksha is a standard product for enterprises, and its total value at risk does not exceed Rs 5 crore. It will cover machinery, buildings, factories, stocks and other assets.
  
  
• E-Sampada- New Web Portal & Mobile App Launched to Simplify Processes & Bring Uniformity In Systems Across India
  In line with the objectives of boosting transparency and accountability while ensuring ease of living for the citizens, the Directorate of Estates, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched a new Web Portal and Mobile App, e-Sampada.
  
  The new application provides a single window for all these services including allotment for over one lakh government residential accommodations, office space allotment to government organisations, booking of 1,176 holiday home rooms and venues like 5, Ashoka Road for social functions etc.
  
  In its endeavour to provide ‘One Nation, One System’.
  
  This is a significant step towards promotion of e-governance to boost transparency and accountability in providing various Estate Services like allotment, retention, regularisation, no dues certificate etc.
  
  E-Sampada will promote ease of living for Government of India officers / Departments as all services can be availed online on a single window with a live tracking of applications.
  
  The automated processes will minimize human intervention and will lead to greater transparency.
  
  The new Web Portal and Mobile App have been developed by NIC.
  
  The portal provides online facility to users across India to lodge complaints, submit documents and appear for virtual hearing. It will reduce administrative cost and will save time and resources by reducing visits to Directorate of Estate.
  
  E-Sampada Mobile App and Chatbot facility has been provided for better user experience.
  
  
• Union Home Secretary and Secretary DoPT Shri A.K.Bhalla releases e-HRMS brochure
  Home Secretary and Secretary DoPT, released the progress report of e-HRMS (Electronic-Human Resource Management System).
  
  e-HRMS was launched by Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions on 25th December, 2017 and it had 25 applications of 5 modules of the system
  
  Through e-HRMS, government employees are accessing their service-related information and it has digitized HR processes in the Government of India, leading to several benefits for the employees and increasing efficiency.
  
  With the advanced version of e-HRMS, employees will be able to not only see all their details w.r.t service book, leave, GPF, Salary etc., but also apply for different kind of claims/reimbursements, loan/advances, leave, leave encashment, LTC advances, Tour etc. on a single platform.
  
  This system has various advantages such as providing dashboard for employee and management, d service records, E-governance in office procedures, reduced file movement, faster service delivery, assistance in decision making, common document repository of employees, Standardization of Master Data, minimize manual entry of data, ease of sharing information among stakeholders, e-Sign for accountability or authenticity, PFMS and e-HRMS integration for faster payment of GPF, advances, loans and reimbursements.
  
  
• National Jal Jeevan Mission Launches Innovation Challenge for Developing Portable Devices to Test Drinking Water Quality
  National Jal Jeevan Mission has launched an innovation challenge in partnership with Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade to develop portable devices for water testing.
  
  The main objective of the exercise is to bring an innovative, modular, and cost-effective solution to develop portable devices that can be used at the household level to test the drinking water quality instantly, easily and accurately.
  
  The aim of the innovation challenge is to ensure that water sources are tested at various locations, at different levels; thereby, helping the policy framers to design programs which address the water contamination issues.
  
  Water quality testing is one of the priority areas under Jal Jeevan Mission.
  
  Since announcement of the Jal Jeevan Mission, there has been increase in the tap water supply from 3.23 Crore (17%) in August, 2019 to 6.13 Crore (32%) rural households of the country.
  
  Every household in 20 districts, 425 blocks, 34 thousand Gram Panchayats and 64 thousand villages of the country now have access to tap water connection.
  
  People receiving piped water supply in their homes do not have any means to test the potability of water coming from their taps.
  
  People in urban areas also end up installing household water treatment units incurring additional expenditure.
  
  Drinking water supply in rural areas is from both from groundwater (80%) and surface water (20%) sources.
  
  However, due to the depleting groundwater level, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, the use of surface water is on the rise.
  
  The Uniform Drinking Water Quality Protocol, 2019 has specified some important parameters to be monitored for assuring portability of drinking water as per BIS IS 10500:2012 and subsequent amendments.
  
  
• Jharkhand Cabinet nod to loan waiver for 9 lakh farmers
  The Jharkhand government in a cabinet meeting decided to waive all agriculture and farm loans up to Rs 50,000, benefiting about 9.07 lakh farmers in the state.
  
  Drop in income, rising costs and increasing incidence of indebtedness are increasing farmer suicides especially among small and marginal farmers. The loan waivers will bring in temporary relief.
  
  According to the All-India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey of NABARD, the major sources of income of farmers are wages and cultivation. The survey says that the monthly income of Agricultural households from cultivation remained almost constant between 2013 and 2017. It was 3081 rupees in 2013 and 3140 rupees in 2017.
  
  The large agricultural farms usually receive that way was through loan restructuring or one-time settlement. However, the small and marginal farmers are not benefited through these measures. Therefore, it is essential to bring in loan waiver.
  
  
• PM Modi launches Ayushman Bharat PMJAY SEHAT scheme for residents of J-K
  The Prime Minister of India launched the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT to extend coverage to all residents of J&K via video conference.
  
  The SEHAT scheme stands for Social, Endeavour for Health and Telemedicine, which is a health insurance scheme for the Union Territory.
  
  The scheme provides free insurance to all the residents of the UT of J&K.
  
  It provides financial protection of up to Rs.5 Lakh per family to all residents of the UT of J&K by means of floating cash.
  
  It provides for an operational extension of PM-JAY to 15 lakh (approximately) additional families.
  
  PM-JAY is a type of health insurance, fully funded by the central government. The scheme provides insurance coverage of 500,000 rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary medical inpatients in public and private hospitals in India.
  
  The benefit of 5 million rupees is based on family floater basis, which means that one or all members of the family can use it. The family limit for RSBY is 5 members. However, based on the experience gained from these schemes, PM-JAY's design approach does not limit family size or age of members.
  
  PM-JAY provides cashless access to health care services for beneficiaries at service points (i.e, hospitals). PM-JAY’s vision is to help alleviate catastrophic medical expenditures, which will plunge nearly 60 million Indians into poverty every year.
  
  The scheme will ensure Universal Health Coverage and focus on providing financial risk protection and ensuring that all individuals and communities are provided with high-quality and affordable basic health services. The scheme will operate under the insurance model integrated with PM-JAY. The benefits of the scheme will be promoted nationwide. Hospitals established under the PM-JAY scheme must also provide services under the scheme.
  
  
• TRIFED Signs MoU with MOFPI For Upliftment of Tribal Lives Through the Implementation of the PM- FME Scheme
  The Union Minister for Food Processing Industry virtually inaugurated the capacity building part of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises scheme (PM-FME Scheme), and also launched the GIS One District One Product (ODOP) digital map of India.
  
  The Ministry of Food Processing Industry (MoFPI), in cooperation with the State/ UT Governments, initiated an all India Centrally Sponsored PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises Scheme (PM FME Scheme)
  
  The scheme aims to provide financial, technical, and business support for the upgrading of existing micro-food processing enterprises.
  
  Objectives:
  Increase access to funds
  
  Increase in revenue of the target company
  
  Strengthen compliance with food quality and safety standards
  
  Strengthen the capacity of the support system
  
  Pay special attention to female entrepreneurs and Aspirational Districts
  
  Encourage Waste to Wealth activities
  
  Focus on minor forest products in tribal areas
  
  Transition from the unorganized sector to the formal sector
  
  
• When is the Good governance day observed?
  Good governance day is celebrated annually on 25 December, the anniversary of the birth of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Good Governance Day was established in 2014.
  
  Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25 December 1924 – 16 August 2018) was an Indian statesman who served three terms as the Prime Minister of India, first for a term of 13 days in 1996, then for a period of 13 months from 1998 to 1999, followed by a full term from 1999 to 2004.
  
  He was also noted as a poet and a writer.
  
  He was a member of the Indian Parliament for over five decades, having been elected ten times to the Lok Sabha, and twice to the Rajya Sabha.
  
  During his tenure as prime minister, India carried out the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998.
  
  After the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan, he sought to restore relations through engagement with President Pervez Musharraf, inviting him to India for a summit at Agra.
  
  In 2015, he was conferred India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee.
  
  He died on 16 August 2018 of age-related illness.
  
  
• Umba Village in Ladakhreceived electricity connection
  Five Mohallas in Umba village received electricity connection.
  
  The village which is 60 KM away from district headquarter Kargil, is situated in toughest terrain at 13,000 thousand feet height and remains cut off for five months during winters.Umba village had no electricity till now.
  
  Under the guidance of Kargil Renewable Energy Development Authority (KREDA), the Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE) in partnership with the CSR project of Royal Enfield has installed a 17.5kW Solar Electricity system in Umba.
  
  Daring the freezing minus 25 degrees temperatures, a team worked round the clock to set up 103 Solar Grids.
  
  A total of 97 Households and 7 Masjids with more than 500 LED Lights, along with street lighting for the community.
  
  Each solar grid was provided with a battery back-up that will enable 4 days of continuous grid running even in cloudy conditions.
  
  GHE has come up with an innovative Solar Micro Grid solution using energy efficient LED lights and DC appliances that has changed the electrification scenario in the region.
  
  Over 100 remote villages, monasteries and hamlets of Leh, Kargil and Zanskar have been provided electricity in the last 5 years by GHE.
  
  
• Madhya Pradesh cabinet approves Dharma Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill 2020
  Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved the Dharma Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill 2020. The ordinance outlaws marriages with an aim of religious conversions.
  
  This approval comes after Uttar Pradesh’s governor’s assent to the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, against forcible or fraudulent religious conversions.
  
  If the bill passed, No one will be able to convert anyone from one religion to another through marriage or “any other fraudulent means by seducing or intimidating anyone”.
  
  Under the new Bill, forcing religious conversion on someone will attract 1-5 years of imprisonment and a minimum Rs 25,000 fine.
  
  Attempt to hide one’s religion will be punishable by imprisonment of three to 10 years and a fine of at least Rs 50,000.
  
  If a minor or a woman from Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste categories is forced into conversion, the perpetrator will be imprisoned for two to 10 years and fined up to Rs 50,000. Blood relatives of victims of such religious conversion can file a complaint.
  
  Provision for the imprisonment of five to 10 years and fine of at least Rs 100,000 is being made for attempting mass religious conversion (of two or more persons).
  
  
• Indian Railways 'Kisan Rail' transforming small stations into major farm produce loading hubs
  Prime Minister will flag off the 100th Kisan Rail from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal.
  
  Indian Railways will establish the "Kisan Rail" through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
  
  Kisan Rail has become a game-changer in ensuring rapid transportation of agricultural products across the country. It provides fast transport of perishable goods.
  
  The multi-commodity train service will transport vegetables and fruits. It is allowed to load and unload perishable goods at all stops on the way, and does not limit the consignment's size.
  
  The Government of India provides a 50% subsidy for the transportation of fruits and vegetables.
  
  The Indian Railways and Kisan Rail have developed a national cold supply chain for transporting perishable goods.
  
  The Minister of Finance announced in the general budget (2019-20): "The Indian Railways will establish a 'Kisan Rail' through PPP arrangements. The express trains and freight trains should be equipped with refrigerated coaches to establish a seamless national cold supply chain for perishables, inclusive of milk and meat”.
  
  
• President Lays The Foundation Stone For Various Developmental Projects In Diu
  The President of India laid the foundation stone for various development projects in Diu.
  
  Daman and Diu ranked first in the 2019 "Swachh Survekshan".
  
  Diu has been working hard to establish and maintain civic facilities in the Union Territory.
  
  As a result of these efforts, the Union Territory has received approximately 40 awards and honours in social development from various ministries of India's Government in the past 4 years.
  
  Through these efforts, Diu has become the first city in India, which can meet 100% of its energy needs during solar energy.
  
  All three districts of the Union Territory are declared “Open Defecation Free”.
  
  Daman and Diu ranked first in the 2019 "Swachh Survekshan".
  
  
• Army to restore the grave of Naushera ka Sher
  After it came to light that the grave of Naushera ka Sher Brigadier Mohammad Usman, the senior-most officer killed in the first India-Pakistan war of 1947-48, was damaged, an Army source said it was looking into the issue and the grave will be restored soon. The grave is located on the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) campus.
  
  Brig. Usman was one of only 18 Brigadiers in the Army at the time of Independence and was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his gallant action during the 1947-48 war.
  
  
• Four States begin a dry run for the roll-out of the vaccine
  The dry run to test preparedness for the nationwide roll-out of a COVID-19 vaccine kicked off in four States — Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab — on Monday.
  
  Intended beneficiaries of each State, who had registered on the Co-WIN app, the Union government’s digital platform for vaccine delivery, were on Monday sent text messages informing them about the time and place of their “COVID-19 vaccination” under a mock drill to administer the shots at designated centres.
  
  The actual [potential] vaccine shots will not be administered to people during the dry run.
  
  
• Govt proposes to make airbag mandatory for front passenger seat
  In a significant measure to boost passenger safety, the government has proposed to make airbag mandatory for the passenger on the front seat of a vehicle seated next to the driver.
  
  The proposed timelines for implementation are 1st April next year for new models and 1st June for existing models.
  
  
• Newly designed Vistadome tourist coach successfully completes 180 km/hour during speed trial
  The newly designed Vistadome tourist coach successfully completed 180 kilometre per hour during speed trial. Mr Goyal said these coaches will make train journey memorable for the passengers and give further boost to tourism.
  
  The UNESCO world heritage site Nilgiri Mountain Railway in Tamil Nadu will resume operations from 31st December this year.
  
  Indian Railways has conducted successful trial run of electric loco on newly electrified line between Bangaon-Petrapole in West Bengal.
  
  
• Indian Railways completes speed trial of Vistadome coach
  Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced that Indian Railways has successfully completed the new Vistadome tourist coach's trial operation. The overall coaching factory in Chennai manufactures these coaches.
  
  Currently, 13 Vistadome coaches are operating in India.
  
  They operate in Araku Valley, Dadar and Madgaon, Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway, Kangra Valley Railway, Kalka-Shimla Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Matheran Mountain Railway.
  
  The Vistadome coach's glass roof and large windows provide unobstructed views. The glass roof of the coach is also equipped with a controlled milky white.
  
  The coach is equipped with a passenger information system, rotatable seats, automatic sliding doors, white doors for the disabled, and mini kitchens. The cost of manufacturing a Vistadome coach is Rs. 4 crore.
  
  The coach also provides safety measures. The glass used has to shatter resistance and coating function.
  
  The Kalka-Simla Railway is one of the few traditional railways in the world. UNESCO recognizes it. Kalka-Shimla Railway was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008.
  
  It was built under Herbert Septimus Harington's direction between 1998 and 1903 to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India and Latin America, with the rest of India section.
  
  It is one of the three mountain railway lines in India. The other two are the Darjeeling Himalaya Railway and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. All 3 mountain railways have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, named "Indian Mountain Railway".
  
  The fourth mountain railway called the Marseland Mountain Railway has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The four mountain railways are narrow gauge railways. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is the only cog railway in India. A rack railway is a steep slope railway with a rack guide rail. Usually run on steep slopes higher than 10%.
  
  
• Gujarat announces its new Solar Power Policy-2021
  On December 29, 2020, the Gujarat government announced a new solar policy for 2021. According to this policy, any developer, individual or industry can establish solar projects in Gujarat.
  
  This policy's main aim is to reduce the electricity cost of industrial units by approximately 50%. This can be achieved by removing the cap on the production capacity of solar projects in Gujarat.
  
  This policy allows electricity consumers to install solar projects on the roof and backyard. Consumers can also provide their space to third parties for power generation and utilization.
  
  The security deposit provided to the power company has been reduced to 500,000 rupees per megawatt. It used to be 25.5 million rupees per megawatt.
  
  The policy aims to increase the market share of the "Made in Gujarat" brand globally. This policy allows consumers to set up solar projects as collective ownership projects to achieve self-consumption.
  
  To encourage small-scale solar projects to generate electricity, the new policy is to purchase electricity at a price of 20 paise per unit. Small solar projects are those that generate up to 4 megawatts.
  
  According to this policy, the state government will purchase surplus electricity. The project owner will set the remaining power limit. For MSME and residential consumers, the Gujarat government will purchase the remaining Tower at a price of Rs 2.25 per unit.
  
  Gujarat has achieved 11,000 megawatts of green energy production capacity. Currently, the state has set a goal of producing 30,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2022. This mainly includes solar and wind energy.
  
  The policy is to reduce the cost of electricity from Rs 8 per unit to Rs 4.50 per unit. In addition, the policy is expected to reduce the production cost of solar energy. In turn, this will help national manufacturers stand out as global competitors.
  
  
• Prahlad Singh Patel takes a review meeting of “Adopt a Heritage: ApniDharohar, ApniPehchaan” Project
  The Minister of State for Tourism & Culture has undertaken a review meeting of the Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan Project.
  
  This is a joint effort of the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Survey of India and the State/UTs Government.
  
  Adopt a Heritage project was launched by the President of India on the occasion of World Tourism Day on 27th September, 2017.
  
  It aims to develop tourism amenities at heritage/ natural/ tourist sites spread across India for making them tourist-friendly, in a planned and phased manner.
  
  The project aims to encourage companies from the public sector, private sector, trusts, non-governmental organisations, individuals and other stakeholders to become "Monument Mitras".
  
  The successful bidders selected for adopting heritage, natural, tourist sites/monuments by the Oversight and Vision Committee shall be called as Monument Mitras.
  
  The Private and Public Sector Companies, Trusts, NGOs and Individuals are eligible for adopting heritage sites/ monuments under this project.
  
  This is a well-conceived initiative by using CSR, and the project will help provide basic amenities such as cleanliness, safe drinking water, light and sound in the lesser-known monuments. It stipulates that stakeholders should bear the responsibility of developing and upgrading basic and advanced tourist facilities in heritage sites based on their interest and viability in the sustainable investment model under CSR.
  
  
• Centre orders 83 crore syringes for COVID-19 vaccination; Nationwide dry run to begin tomorrow (Jan 2nd)
  Government has ordered 83 crore syringes for COVID-19 vaccination drive and Universal Immunization Programme in the country. The Union Health Ministry said the centre has also invited bids for 35 crore more syringes.
  
  Government has prioritized 30 crore people for COVID vaccine which includes health workers, frontline workers and sanitation staff.
  
  Earlier, the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration of COVID-19 has recommended three prioritised population groups including Healthcare Workers of about one crore, Frontline Workers about 2 crore and Prioritized Age Group about 27 crore.
  
  As vaccines are temperature sensitive and need to be stored in specific temperature, the present cold chain system consisting of 85 thousand 634 equipment for storage of vaccines at about 28 thousand 947 cold chain points across the country will be used for the cold chain administration.
  
  
• Govt extends deadline for 100% collection of toll charges on National Highways through FASTag till February 15
  The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has extended the deadline for 100 percent collection of toll charges on the National Highway (NH) network through FASTag till February 15.
  
  Earlier, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had announced to completely do away with cash transactions for paying toll charges from January 1.
  
  Currently, the share of transactions by FASTag is hovering around 75 to 80 percent. In a communication to NHAI, the ministry has said the highways authority can obtain the needed regulatory requirement from it for ensuring 100 percent cashless fee collection from February 15. In order to discourage cash transactions at toll plazas, all lanes barring one on each side have been made dedicated "FASTag lanes" and any vehicle entering these lanes without FASTag are liable to pay double the normal toll fee.
  
  
• Law and Justice Ministry notifies elevation of four judges
  Law and Justice Ministry has notified the elevation of four judges as Chief Justices of Odisha, Telangana, Madras and Jammu and Kashmir High Courts.
  
  The notification issued by the Ministry said that President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Dr. Justice S. Muralidhar as Chief Justice of Odisha High Court and Kumari Justice Hima Kohli as Chief Justice of Telangana. Justice Pankaj Mithal will be Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court and Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Chief Justice of Madras.
  
  
• Gujarat Government Announces New Solar Power Policy, 2021
  The Gujarat government has announced a new solar power policy comprising provisions to encourage small and medium scale solar projects on residential, commercial and industrial premises.
  
  Under the new policy, the state government has scrapped the condition that the installed capacity of a solar project needs to be 50 per cent of the sanction load or contract demand.
  
  Now, an individual or industry can produce solar power in their premises as per their requirements and without any limit on the capacity, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said, while unveiling the "Gujarat Solar Power Policy 2021".
  
  The policy will remain in effect for five years and solar projects, which come up during this period will be eligible for various benefits for a period of 25 years, a government release about the policy stated.
  
  This policy will make Made in Gujarat products more competitive globally, he said.
  
  To encourage people to opt for solar panels, the state government has also announced that additional electricity from roof-top residential projects and captive MSME units will be purchased at ? 2.25 per unit for a period of five years, it was stated.
  
  Moreover, a group of industries can also come together to set up a captive solar project at one place and distribute power as per their share in the investment, state energy minister Saurabh Patel said.
  
  
• INCOIS launches ‘Digital Ocean’
  The Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan on December 29, 2020, virtually inaugurated ‘Digital Ocean’, a web-based application. It has been developed by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services which comes under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  
  Highlights:
  The government launched the ‘Digital Ocean’ platform of Indian National Centre for Oceanic Information Services (INCOIS) here as a one-stop-solution for all data related needs of a wide range of users, including research institutions, operational agencies, strategic users, the academic community, maritime industry, and the public.
  
  Digital Ocean will play a central role in the sustainable management of our oceans and expanding our ‘Blue Economy’ initiatives.
  
  It will facilitate an online interactive web-based environment for data integration, 3D and 4D data visualization, data analysis to assess the evolution of oceanographic features obtained from multiple sources like on-site monitoring devices, remote sensing and model data.
  
  INCOIS provides ocean information and advisory services to various stakeholders in the country, including Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories, Ocean State Forecast (OSF), high wave alerts, tsunami early warnings, storm surge and oil-spill advisories, among others, using state-of-the-art technologies and tools to get real-time information on oceanographic and marine meteorological data.
  
  
• NGT wants underground power lines, bird diverters at Great Indian Bustard habitat
  The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and five other states to install bird diverters on all existing power lines within four months and that new power lines be laid underground to prevent death of the critically-endangered species Great Indian
  Bustard.
  
  Highlights:
  The National Green Tribunal December 23, 2020, ordered that all power transmission lines should be underground for new renewable power projects in marked habitats of the Great Indian Bustard.
  
  It also asked the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as well as concerned states to install bird diverters on “existing solar and wind power lines”, preferably within four months.
  
  The tribunal directed the ministry to ensure that environmental impact assessments (EIA) of solar energy projects cover impacts on biological diversity. Green energy projects (wind, solar, etc) lie outside the purview of EIAs.
  
  
• Drying Sea of Galilee swells after years of drought
  The Sea of Galilee, well-known in Jewish, Christian and Islamic lore, has swelled up due to recent rains, according to reports in the Israeli media.
  
  The lake lies in northern Israel, between the occupied Golan Heights and the Galilee region. It is fed by underground springs but its major source is the Jordan River.
  
  The Jordan flows into the lake, Israel’s largest freshwater body and then exits it before ending in the Dead Sea, the saltiest and the lowest point on the planet.
  
  Water is not extracted from the Sea of Galilee. But it is considered to be an important barometer of the water situation in Israel.
  
  
• Govt publishes draft Model Standing Orders for Manufacturing Sector, Mining Sector & Service Sector in official gazette
  Government has published the draft Model Standing Orders for the Manufacturing Sector, Mining Sector and Service Sector in the official gazette. It has invited suggestions or objections from the stakeholders within a period of thirty days. Separate Model Standing Orders for Services Sector has been prepared first time keeping in view the needs of the services sector.
  
  Uniformity has been maintained in all the three Model Standing Orders while providing some flexibility considering the sector-specific requirements.
  
  All the three Model Standing Orders encourage employers for use of information technology in dissemination of information to the workers through electronic mode.
  
  
• PM Modi lays foundation stone of permanent campus of IIM Sambalpur in Odisha
  Today's startups are the multinational companies of tomorrow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after laying the foundation stone for the permanent campus of IIM Sambalpur, Odisha.
  
  From the farming sector to space sector, the scope for startups is increasing, and most startups are coming up in tier II and III cities of the country, PM Modi said. The permanent campus of IIM Sambalpur will represent the great heritage of Odisha, the Prime Minister stated.
  
  IIM Sambalpur is the first IIM to implement the idea of the flipped classroom where the basic concepts are learnt in digital mode and experiential learning takes place in the class, through live projects from the industry.
  
  The Institute also outscored all other IIMs in terms of the highest gender diversity with 49 per cent girl students in MBA 2019-21 batch and 43 per cent in MBA 2020-22 batch.

Published date : 20 Jan 2021 01:03PM