Roads to be freed of toll booths in a year: Gadkari

MORTH= Minister for Road Transport and Highways informed the Lok Sabha that India will implement a GPS-based toll collection system and do away with all toll booths within a year.

• The new policy provides for fitness tests after the completion of 20 years in the case of privately owned vehicles and 15 years in the case of commercial vehicles. Any vehicle that fails the fitness test or does not manage the renewal of its registration certificate may be declared as an ‘End of Life Vehicle’.
• All government vehicles and those owned by PSUs will be de-registered after 15 years.
• According to the policy, the automobile industry in India will see a jump in turnover to ₹10 lakh crore from ₹4.5 lakh crore.

Timeline:

• The policy will kick in for government vehicles from April 1, 2022.
• Mandatory fitness testing for heavy commercial vehicles will start from April 1, 2023.
• For all other categories of vehicles, including personal vehicles, it will start in phases from June 1, 2024.

Delhi’s own DBSE

Insurance Amendment Bill 2021 passed in RS

The bill raises FDI in Insurance sector from 49% to 74%

‘Raise CAA, S-400 deal with India’

Chairman of the Senate Fo­reign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez, has written to U.S. Secretary of Defense
Lloyd Austin asking him to raise concerns about democ­racy and India’s purchase of the S­400 Russian missile de­fence system,

Cited crackdown on journalists and critics of the government, its handling
of the farmers’ protests and the use of sedition laws, and the Citizenship (Amend­ment) Act (CAA).

CAATSA sanctions India’s purchase of S­400 for just under $5.5 billion could attract sanctions under a 2017 law, the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions
Act (CAATSA).

Trump administration’s hand in December last year by requiring it to sanction Turkey for purchasing the
S­400. In 2018, China was sanctioned for purchase of Russian equipment.
While India is not a treaty ally of the U.S. and is increas­ing its purchase of U.S. arms— mitigating circumstances
as per U.S. law — the Menen­dez letter suggests that sanctions are still, at least in theo­ry, an option as India is
expected to take delivery of the S­400 later this year.

Bihar Assembly passes Lokayukta Amendment Bill

It proposes to punish people filing false cases before the anti­corruption body to prevent any waste of time.

Lokayukta is an anticorruption authority or ombudsman. It investigates allegation of corruption and mal- administration against public servants.

Selection of Lokayukta:

• The Chief Minister selects a person as the Lokayukta after consultation with the High Court Chief Justice, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Chairman of the Legislative Council, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council. The appointment is then made by the Governor.
• Once appointed, Lokayukta cannot be dismissed nor transferred by the government, and can only be removed by passing an impeachment motion by the state assembly.

What is Lokpal?

Lokpal is an anti-corruption organization or “Ombudsman” made to specially deal with the cases of corruption against alleged administrative as well as legislative officers.

The Motto of Lokpal in English is translated as: “Don’t be greedy for anyone’s wealth”

https://myrantbox.school.blog/jan_20/jan_19/

What is Lokayukta?

• Every state has to constitute a body named as Lokayukta to deal with the complaint of corruption against state public servant under section 63 of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013
• Some states like Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, West Bengal, and Arunachal Pradesh have not appointed any Lokayukta yet.

Exceptions of Lokpal Act:

• The allegation against the Prime Minister is regarding international affairs, external and internal security, public order, and space are prohibited.
•  There should be approval of at least two-thirds of the committee members for initiation of inquiry against the PM.
•  If the committee members approve such an inquiry, then it should be held in camera.
• If the charge against the PM is dismissed by the committee, then all the records shall be made confidential.

Difference Between Lokpal and Lokayukta: Current Affairs Booster for UPSC IAS

EU regulator backs AstraZeneca
vaccine after safety investigation

There is no bloodclot. MOre benefits than harms.

Samia Suluhu Hassan becomes Tanzania’s first woman president

capital – Dodoma + Currency- Shilling

El Salvador has become the first country in central America and the third in all Americas to get the malaria-free certificate from the World Health Organization (WHO) in recent years.

In India, Implementation has been started in four states i.e. West Bengal and Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh

USA vs China… Indian angle

Delhi HC stays Future on Reliance deal

Court hands Amazon a win, asks why Biyani, other FRL promoters should not be sent to prison.
Amazon had 49% share holding in Future Retail Limited (FRL). Kishore Biyani wanted to sell Big Bazar to Reliance without consulting Amazon breaching the contract.

India 13 spots down in
global home price index

Property consultant Knight Frank–> Global House Price Index  Q4 2020: India Slips To 56th Rank from 43, Records 3.6% Drop In Home Prices.

Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat

The initiative ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ was announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 31st October 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

 Recently, It was decided by the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry to advance the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme by using innovative ways in view of the prevailing conditions of COVID-19.

Engagement matrix between states and UTs

1. Jammu & Kashmir
2. Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh
3. Himachal Pradesh & Kerala
4. Uttarakhand & Karnataka
5. Haryana  & Telangana
6. Rajasthan  & West Bengal
7. Gujarat & Chhaftisgarh
8. Maharashtra & Odisha
9. Goa & Jharkhand
10. Delhi  & Sikkim & Assam
11. Madhya Pradesh & Manipur & Nagaland
12. Uttar Pradesh & Arunachal Pradesh & Meghalaya
13. Bihar & Tripura & Mizoram
14. Chandigarh & Dadra & Nagar Haveli
15. Puducherry & Daman & Diu
16. Lakshadweep & Andaman & Nicobar

Bharat Dynamics signs defence contract worth Rs 1,188 cr to manufacture MILAN 2T anti-tank missiles

Other Anti tank missile– Amogha + Nag+ Helina + SAANT+ MPATGM

The Supreme Court prima facie found no harm in State Legislative Assemblies passing resolutions against Central laws.

Centre asks HC to stop WhatsApp’s new privacy policy

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in an affidavit, said the policy was not in tune with the IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2011.
  • Notably, the rules require a body corporate who collects, stores or otherwise deals with data to issue a privacy policy providing for certain safeguards, in addition to imposing various other obligations.
• According to MeitY, the impugned privacy policy violates the 2011 Rules.
• The Ministry also pointed out that WhatsApp’s policy fails to specify types of sensitive personal data being collected, highlighting that there was no distinction between personal data or sensitive personal data which would be collected.
• It added that WhatsApp also failed to notify users of details of the collection of sensitive personal information.
• Further, the new privacy policy fails to provide an option to withdraw consent retrospectively.

ISRO will establish a ‘Space Technology Incubation Centre’ (S-TIC) at NIT Rourkela to carry out research and product development in space technology and applications.

 LS passes MMDR amendment Bill 2021

MMDR= Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021.

 Bill amends the MMDR Act, 1957, which provides a framework for the regulation of the mining sector in India.

1. Bill removes the distinction between captive and non-captive mines
2. Seeks to introduce an index-based mechanism by developing a National Mineral Index (NMI) for statutory payments.
3. The National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) would see the functioning of the sector, and will be made an autonomous body.
4. The bill shall remove restrictions of end-use for future auctions of mineral mining rights, allow operators of existing captive mines to sell up to 50% of minerals extracted in a year.
5. It empowers the central government to conduct an auction of mines if state governments do not conduct auctions in a timely manner.

India has to import gold minerals even though we produce 95 minerals and same potential as South Africa+ Australia.

Mining sector right now contributes 1.75% to the country’s GDP but the proposed reforms will raise the contribution to 2.5% as it seeks to make a large number of mines available for auctions by resolving legacy issues.

572 inactive mines will be available for auction

Covaxin gets emergency nod in 3 countries

India+ Zimbabwe + Nepal.. 81% efficacy in last stage. Developed by Bharat Biotech +ICMR NIV Pune

International driver education company Zutobi South Africa has been ranked as  the world’s most dangerous country to drive in while India came in at 4th place.

The PM of India called 17th-century Ahom General Lachit Borphukan a symbol of India’s “atmanirbhar” military might.

• Ahom dynasty- located in present-day Assam.
• He showed exemplary leadership in the Battle of Saraighat (1671).
• The Battle of Saraighat was a naval battle fought between the Mughal Empire and the Ahom Kingdom.
• 24th November is observed as Lachit Diwas in Assam in honour of Lachit Borphukan

CPWD to lay three roads near China border in Ladakh

The projects are titled as roads to “Indo-China Border” from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police bases at Shilung La, Nyakmikle and Hena.

(CPWD) has floated tenders worth a total of ₹212.99 crore for laying and maintenance of three high-altitude roads near the India-China border in Ladakh.

Indian-Israeli collaboration testing oral COVID vaccine

Philippines accuses China of ‘incursion’ in disputed sea

The Philippines has accused China of incursion after more than 200 militia boats were spotted near a disputed reef in the South China Sea.

• The Philippine coast guard detected the boats in line formation at the boomerang-shaped Whitsun Reef, around 320 km (175 nautical miles) west of Palawan Island.
• Philippines Defence Secretary asserted that these territories were well within Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone 

Doubling down on a resilient India

• Despite India experiencing economic contractions due to covid-19, India saw the fastest growth in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows among all the major economies in 2020.
• Google, Facebook, Walmart, Samsung, Foxconn, and Silver are some of the companies which have placed trust in the Indian markets.

India an essential part of their growth story

1. First, sheer demographics.
   • What India offers through its nearly 1.4 billion people and their growing purchasing power is uniquely valuable for multinationals with global ambitions.
   • No other country outside of China has a market that houses nearly one in six people on the planet and a rising middle class of 600 million.

2. Second, shifting geopolitics.
   • Trade war and rising tensions between the USA and China are making companies rethink on its strategies as they are moving to different production hubs.
   • Savvy countries such as Vietnam have capitalised on this opportunity to great effect, but India is only finally getting serious about attracting large-scale production and exports.
   • Major multinational companies such as Samsung have invested billions in the Indian market, and manufacturers such as Cisco, Nokia, Ericsson, and Flex are reportedly weighing new investments that take advantage of fresh incentive programs.
3. Third, rising digital connectivity.
   • India’s digital landscape has further expanded due to cheap mobile data and India has an estimated 700 million active internet users.
   • This is the primary reason why leading global tech companies are investing in India and weathering acute policy pressure.
   • Domestic Indian companies have also demonstrated their ability to innovate and deliver high-quality services at scale.
   • The partnerships and FDI flows linking multinationals and Indian tech firms will continue to unlock shared market opportunities for years to come.

4. Fourth, national resilience.
   • Despite facing the scourge of the novel coronavirus head-on, India has managed the pandemic better than many of its western peers and restored economic activity even before implementing a mass vaccination programme.

Covid Increased Poverty: Pew Report

Pew Research Center has found that the coronavirus pandemic has pushed about 32 million Indians out of the middle class and increased poverty in the country.

• The report is based on an analysis of World Bank data.
• Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world.

• Poverty Rate:
  • The poverty rate in India likely rose to 9.7% in 2020, up sharply from the January 2020 forecast of 4.3%.
• Increased Poverty:
  • From 2011 to 2019, the number of poor in India was estimated to have reduced to 78 million from 340 million.
  • In 2020, the number increased by 75 million.
    • Poor: People with incomes of USD 2 or less a day.
    • Increase in India accounts for nearly 60% of the global increase in poverty.
  • Record increase in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) participants as proof that the poor were struggling to find work.
• Reduced Middle Class:
  • The middle class in India is estimated to have shrunk by 3.2 crore in 2020.
    • Middle Class: Includes people with incomes of approximately Rs. 700-1,500 or USD 10-20 per day.
  • The middle income group is likely to have decreased from almost 10 crore to just 6.6 crore.
• Shrinked Low Income Group:
  • The vast majority of India’s population fall into the low income group.
  • This group shrank from 119.7 crore to 116.2 crore per day, with about 3.5 crore dropping below the poverty line.
    • Low Income Group: Includes people earning about Rs.150 to 700 per day.
• Rich Population:
  • The richer population also fell almost 30% to 1.8 crore people.
    • Rich: Includes the people who earn more than Rs.1,500 a day.

https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-increased-poverty-pew-report

MoSDE= Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has asked all government departments to ensure that workers executing government contracts must have official certification for their skills.

 10% of the strength of workers utilized in 2021-22 can be certified. This can be progressively increased to 100% by 2026-27.

India’s skill regulator, the National Council for Vocational Education and Training, has standardised skill certification systems for 4,000-odd job roles.

 Periodic Labour Force Survey of 2018-19–>2.4% of India’s workforce is formally trained 

Informal and Low Wage: Government contractors prefer to rely on informal workers with low salaries for meeting their labour needs.

Some Schemes Related to Skill Development

1. Industrial Training Centres (ITIs)
2. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Launched in 2015,
   1. PMKVY 3.0 in 2021–> 300+ skill courses available to them.
3. National Career Service Project: Launched in 2015 to offer free online career skills training through its National Career Service (NCS) 
4. Recognition of Prior Learning: It was launched in 2015 to recognize the prior skills acquired by individual
5. Skill Management and Accreditation of Training Centres (SMART): It provides a single window IT application that focuses on the accreditation, grading, Affiliation and Continuous monitoring of the Training Centres 
6. Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood (SANKALP): Its focus is on district-level skilling ecosystem through convergence and coordination. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme which is collaborated with the World Bank.
7. Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE): Launched in 2016, the main focus of the scheme is to improve the performance of ITIs. 
8. Pradhan Mantri YUVA Yojana (Yuva Udyamita Vikas Abhiyan): Launched in the year 2016, it aims at creating an enabling ecosystem for Entrepreneurship development 
9. Kaushalacharya Awards: Launched to recognize the contribution made by skill trainers and to motivate more trainers to join the Skill India Mission.
10. Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS): The scheme is to provide industry apprenticeship opportunities to the general graduates exiting in April 2019 through the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).
11. Atma Nirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping (ASEEM): Launched in 2020, it is a portal to help skilled people find sustainable livelihood opportunities.

SEBI has asked MIIs to begin operations from disaster recovery sites within 45 minutes of a disruption to critical systems, including trading.

• The directive comes against the backdrop of a technical glitch at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on 24^th February that halted trading for nearly four hours
• SEBI=  Securities & Exchange Board of India
  MII= Market Infrastructure Institutions–
  Stock exchanges, depositories and clearing corporations are collectively referred to as securities Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs).
  NSE= India’s largest financial market.
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SEBI’s Directive:

• New Framework for MIIs:
  • For Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Disaster Recovery (DR) of Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) – stock exchanges, clearing corporations and depositories.
  • Business Continuity (BC) and Disaster Recovery (DR) are closely related practices that support an organization’s ability to remain operational after an adverse event.

the MII would, within 30 minutes of the incident, declare that incident as ‘disaster’— in an event of disruption of any one or more of the ‘critical systems‘.

• Critical systems for an exchange or clearing corporation would include trading, risk management, collateral management, clearing and settlement and index computation.
• Critical systems’ for a depository shall include systems supporting settlement process and inter-depository transfer systems.
• MIIs have been directed to move to disaster recovery sites within 45 minutes of declaring an incident a ‘disaster’.
  • A disaster recovery site is a place that a company can temporarily relocate to following a security breach or natural disaster.

Open Market Operations by RBI

RBI has decided to conduct simultaneous purchase and sale of government securities (G-Sec) uṭder Open Market Operations (OMOs) for an amount of Rs. 10,000 crore each.
Popularly known as operation twist

Two Types of OMOs: Outright and Repo.

• Outright OMOs are permanent in nature: when the central bank buys these securities (thus injecting money into the system), it is without any promise to sell them later. Similarly, when the central bank sells these securities (thus withdrawing money from the system), it is without any promise to buy them.
• Repo: This is a type of operation in which when the central bank buys the security, the agreement of purchase also has specification about date and price of resale of this security. This type of agreement is called a repurchase agreement or repo. The interest rate at which the money is lent in this way is called the repo rate.

5 membered SEAC= New Committee to Screen New Bank Licences

RBI has set up a 5-member Standing External Advisory Committee (SEAC), headed by former RBI Deputy Governor Shyamala Gopinath, for evaluating applications for universal banks and Small Finance Banks (SFBs).

• Tenure: 3 years.
• Secretariat of the Committee: The secretarial support to the committee would be provided by RBI’s Department of Regulation.
• Functions: The applications for universal banks and SFBs will 1st be evaluated by RBI to ensure prima facie eligibility –> after which the SEAC will evaluate the applications.

SFB

• SFB are the financial instituṭions which provide financial services to the unserved and unbanked region of the country.
• Registered as a public limited company under the Companies Act, 2013.
• primarily undertake basic banking activities of acceptance of deposits and lending to small business units, small and marginal farmers, micro and small industries and unorganised sector entities.
• also become an Authorised Dealer in foreign exchange business for its clients’ requirements.
• will not be any restriction in the area of operations of SFBs;

Universal Banks

• The financial entities like the commercial banks, Financial Institutions, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), 
• A non-operative financial holding company (NOFHC) has been made non-mandatory in case of promoters being individuals or standalone promoting/converting entities who/which do not have other group entities.
• NOFHC= means a non-deposit taking NBFC.