Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS

Daily Current Affair - UPSC/KAS Exams - 22nd June 2021

KARNATAKA ISSUES

DRIP PROJECT-KARNATAKA

What is in news : Honnali in Davangere district received clearance for Detailed Project Report (DPR) of two projects worth Rs 582 crore under Phase-II and Phase-III of the World Bank-sponsored Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP).

Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project

It was started in 2012 and was scheduled to be completed in 2018.
In September 2018, the Government approved its revised cost estimates along with a two-year time extension from 2018 to 2020, for the completion.
Apart from its general objectives, it also aims at ensuring the safety of downstream population and property that are affected in the case of a dam failure or operational failure.
It was initially taken up for the repair and rehabilitation of dam projects across the seven states of India, namely Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.

DRIP PHASE 3

Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II and Phase III.
It envisages comprehensive rehabilitation of 736 existing dams located across the country and complements the Dam Safety Bill, 2019.
Objectives:
- To improve the safety and performance of selected existing dams and associated appurtenances in a sustainable manner.
- To strengthen the dam safety institutional setup in participating states as well as at the central level.
- To explore the alternative incidental means at few of selected dams to generate the incidental revenue for sustainable operation and maintenance of dams.
Project Cost and Funding: Rs. 10,211 crore.
Financial assistance of Rs. 7,000 from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Rs. 3,211 crore is to be borne by the concerned implementing agencies in the states.
Implementation Period: Over a period of 10 years from April 2021 to March 2031, in two phases of six years duration with two years overlapping.

PARLIAMENTARY RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACIES ( PRIDE )

What is in news : In a fresh notification issued on June 20, Kannada has been included in the list of Indian languages in which training would be imparted to Members of Parliament, legislators and officials. It will be taken up by PRIDE

PRIDE

Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies(Erstwhile BPST) was set up on the 1st of January 1976 as an integral part of the Lok Sabha Secretariat to provide parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and others with institutionalized opportunities for systematic training in the various disciplines of parliamentary institutions, processes and procedures.

The PRIDE`s activities include conducting/organizing:

Orientation Programmes, Lectures and Seminars for members of Parliament and of State Legislatures.
Lecture Series for Members of Parliament.
Round Table Discussions on topical parliamentary themes.
Prof. Hiren Mukerjee Memorial Annual Parliamentary Lecture.
Training, Attachment and Study Visits/tours of Presiding Officers, members and officers of foreign Parliaments.
International Training Programmes, held annually, for foreign parliamentary officials, viz. Parliamentary Internship Programme and International Training Programme in Legislative Drafting.
Orientation Programmes and Seminars for Media Personnel accredited to the Press Galleries of Parliament.
Appreciation Courses for Probationers of All India and Central Services and Middle Level officers of the Government of India.
Study Visits for Government officers, academics, scholars, students and others.
Training, attachment and study tour opportunities for parliamentary officials from India to foreign Parliaments and training institutions.

FAIR AND REMUNERATIVE PRICE (FRP)

What : Fair and remunerative price (FRP) is the minimum price at which rate sugarcane is to be purchased by sugar mills from farmers.

Who calculates : Commission of Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP)

How is sugarcane prices determined :

With the amendment of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 on 22.10.2009, the concept of Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) of sugarcane was replaced with the ‘Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP)’ of sugarcane for 2009-10 and subsequent sugar seasons. The cane price announced by the Central Government is decided on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) in consultation with the State Governments and after taking feedback from associations of sugar industry. The amended provisions of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 provides for fixation of FRP of sugarcane having regard to the following factors:-

cost of production of sugarcane;
return to the growers from alternative crops and the general trend of prices of agricultural commodities;
availability of sugar to consumers at a fair price;
price at which sugar produced from sugarcane is sold by sugar producers;
recovery of sugar from sugarcane;
the realization made from sale of by-products viz. molasses, bagasse and press mud or their imputed value
reasonable margins for the growers of sugarcane on account of risk and profits

Under the FRP system, the farmers are not required to wait till the end of the season or for any announcement of the profits by sugar mills or the Government. The new system also assures margins on account of profit and risk to farmers, irrespective of the fact whether sugar mills generate profit or not and is not dependent on the performance of any individual sugar mill.
In order to ensure that higher sugar recoveries are adequately rewarded and considering variations amongst sugar mills, the FRP is linked to a basic recovery rate of sugar, with a premium payable to farmers for higher recoveries of sugar from sugarcane.

What is in news : Farmers of Karnataka have asked for higher FRP

KARNATAKA COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

What is in news : Union ministry of Environment, forest & Climate Change has notified about constituting a Karnataka Coastal Zone Management Authority. Notification was issued under Environment Protection Act, 1986.

DETAILS

Karnataka Coastal Zone Management Authority

Is a 15-member body which will be constituted to protect & improve the quality of coastal environment.
Aims to prevent, abate and control environmental pollution in Coastal Regulation Zone of Karnataka.
Headed by Additional Chief Secretary, State Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Bengaluru.

Term of office of present members is for three years.

Functions of authority

Authority will examine the application received for approval of project proposal, if it is in accordance with approved Coastal Zone Management Plan.
It will also regulate all developmental activities in CRZ areas as specified in the 2011 notification.
It is responsible for enforcing and monitoring provisions of notification.
It will examine the proposals received from Karnataka government for changes or modifications in classification of CRZ areas.
It will inquire into cases of alleged violation of provisions of Act or rules and review cases involving violations or contraventions of provisions of the act or rules.
It will inquire or review cases of violations or contraventions of notification suo moto.
Authority has been authorised to file complaints under Section 19 of Act.

POLITY

CONSUMER PROTECTION (E-COMMERCE) RULES, 2020- AMENDMENTS

What is in news: For the purposes of preventing unfair trade practices in e-commerce, the Central Government had notified the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 with effect from 23 July 2020.

The proposed amendments are as follows:

(a) Chief Compliance Officer: To ensure compliance of the rules, the appointment of Chief Compliance Officer, a nodal contact person for 24×7 coordination with law enforcement agencies, officers to ensure compliance to their orders and Resident Grievance Officer for redressing of the grievances of the consumers on the e-commerce platform, has been proposed. This would ensure effective compliance with the provisions of the Act and Rules and also strengthen the grievance redressal mechanism on e-commerce entities.

(b) Registration of e-coms: Putting in place a framework for registration of every e-commerce entity with the DPIIT for allotment of a registration number which shall be displayed prominently on the website as well as invoice of every order placed by the e-commerce entity. This would help create a database of genuine e-commerce entities and ensure that the consumers are able to verify the genuineness of an e-commerce entity before transacting through their platform.

(c) Prohibition of miss-selling: The goods and services entities selling goods or services by deliberate misrepresentation of information have been prohibited.

(d) Expiry dates: This would ensure that consumers are aware of the expiry date of the products they are buying on the e-commerce platform. It compels all sellers on marketplace e-commerce entities and all inventory e-commerce entities to provide the best before or use before the date to enable consumers to make an informed purchase decision.

(e) Fair and equal treatment: It has been provided that where an e-commerce entity offers imported goods or services, it shall incorporate a filter mechanism to identify goods based on country of origin and suggest alternatives to ensure fair opportunity to domestic goods.

(f) Fall-back liability: This would ensure that consumers are not adversely affected in the event where a seller fails to deliver the goods or services due to negligent conduct by such seller in fulfilling the duties and liabilities.

Why need such an amendment?

It was observed that there was an evident lack of regulatory oversight in e-commerce which required some urgent action.
Manipulating search results: Moreover, the rapid growth of e-commerce platforms has also brought into the purview the unfair trade practices of the marketplace e-commerce entities engaging in manipulating search result to promote certain sellers.
Preferential treatment: This includes preferential treatment to some sellers, indirectly operating the sellers on their platform, impinging the free choice of consumers, selling goods close to expiration etc.
Flash sales: Certain e-commerce entities are engaging in limiting consumer choice by indulging in “back to back” or “flash” sales. This prevents a level playing field and ultimately limits customer choice and increases prices.

ECONOMY

TAKEOVER PANEL

What is in news : Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has reconstituted its Takeover Panel.

What is a TAKEOVER PANEL: An acquirer who proposes to acquire shares through a mode which is not specifically covered under takeover regulations may seek exemption from the applicability of the provisions of the offer process by making an application. SEBI has constituted a panel consisting of independent persons to examine such applications which is called the Takeover Panel.

Details

N Venkatram MD and CEO of Deloitte India has been appointed as the new member of Takeover Panel.
Panel is chaired by N K Sodhi, former chief justice of high courts of Karnataka and Kerala. He was also the former presiding officer of Securities Appellate Tribunal.
Panel was constituted in accordance with regulation 11(5) of SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011.

Function of takeover panel: This panel makes its recommendations to Sebi on applications following which SEBI gives an opportunity to concerned parties before passing any order.

Members of the panel

Darius Khambata, who was former advocate general in Maharashtra and
Thomas Mathew T who was former chairman of Life Insurance Corporation of India.

Background: First ever takeover panel was constituted in November 2007. It was a four-member panel under chairmanship of former Bank of Baroda chairman, K Kannan.

DRAFT NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

What is in news : Ministry of tourism has released three draft strategies in order to boost tourism sector in aftermath of covid-19 pandemic. Draft strategies were put forward with roadmaps to promote India as a rural and medical tourism destination.

National Strategy and Roadmap for Development of Rural Tourism

It seeks to position India as a place for conferences, meetings and exhibitions.
It seeks to develop and promote local products through tourism in order to generate income and jobs in rural areas and empower local communities.
It will also help in reducing migration from rural areas, poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

Draft National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism

It seeks to promote India as an accessible and affordable destination of medical treatments and wellness courses.
Key drivers for growth of medical tourism and wellness tourism includes affordability & accessibility of good healthcare services, minimal waiting time, facilitation around hospitality services, availability of latest medical technologies & accreditations.
This draft is in line with government of India’s recognition to medical value travel and wellness tourism as an important sector which is having potential of accelerating India’s development & attaining objective of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Why : National strategy was released with the aim of providing an institutional framework which can strengthen the ecosystem for medical & wellness tourism and develop a brand & ensuring quality assurance.

MICE destination

Draft to position India as a MICE destination was also put forward. MICE stand for “Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions”. It is recognised as a significant market segment and a significant contributor to national economies.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

M-YOGA APP

What is in news :Prime Minister Narendra Modi launch mYoga app on the occasion of international day of Yoga and gave the mantra of “Yog se Sahyog Tak”. This app is a great example of fusion of modern technology & ancient science.

About

mYoga App was launched to provide yoga training videos which will be available across the world in different languages.
Currently it is available in English, Hindi and French languages. It will be launched in other UN languages soon.
This app will play a great role in expanding yoga worldwide.
App was launched in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO).

What is the purpose of app: This app has been launched to provide users with collection of videos and audio practice sessions which can be practiced “in comfort of their own homes, whenever they wish.” App can be used for daily yoga companion for persons aged 12-65 years.

Who developed the app: WHO and Ministry of AYUSH

ICMED 13485 SCHEME

Full form : Indian Certification of Medical Devices Plus (ICMED) Scheme.

By : Quality Council of India

About

This scheme will undertake verification of quality, safety and efficacy of medical devices.
Scheme has been designed to integrate Quality Management System components and product related quality validation processes by witness testing of products with respect to the defined product standards and specifications.
This is the first such scheme across the world in which quality management systems & product certification standards are integrated with regulatory requirements.
It will be an end-to-end quality assurance scheme for medical devices sector in India and much-needed institutional mechanism to assure the product quality and safety.

Significance of scheme: Scheme will assist procurement agencies to tackle challenges related to counterfeit products and fake certification. It will also eliminate circulation and use of sub-standard medical products or devices of doubtful origin.

Quality Council of India (QCI): QCI was set up in 1997 as public private partnership model based on the model existing in Netherlands. QCI was organized as an independent autonomous body which worked for assuring quality standards across all spheres of economic and social activities. It was established under Societies Registration Act in 1997 to provide accreditation services across different sectors for product, services and persons.

NATIONAL SICKLE CELL CONCLAVE

What is in news : Second sickle cell conclave was conducted recently

Details :

This conclave is held to mark world Sickle Cell Day every year.
It is being organised by Ministry of Tribal Affairs in association with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Apollo Hospitals, Novartis, Piramal Foundation etc.
It will arrange discussions about latest advances and future trends in treatment of SCD on vulnerable patient population.

What is Sickle cell disease (SCD):

SCD is the most prevalent inherited blood disorder or a genetic red blood cell disorder. People with sickle cell disorders don’t have enough healthy red blood cells which carry oxygen throughout the body.
It is widespread amongst many tribal population groups in India. Several cost-effective interventions have reduced morbidity and mortality from SCD in India. However, access to care for SCD in tribal regions limited. SCD is prevalent predominantly in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, western Odisha, eastern Gujarat and Nilgiri Hills of north Tamil Nadu & Kerala.

World Sickle Cell Awareness Day 2021: World Sickle Cell Day is observed every year on June 19. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to recognise sickle cell disease as a public health problem on December 22, 2008.

REPORTS

WORLD INVESTMENT REPORT 2021

By : UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).