Dispute Resolution Mechanism for solar/wind sector                                              

Government proposes exemption of  Battery Operated Vehicles from paying registration fees                                                                                                           

Panel will study the ‘1 nation, 1 poll’ issue                                                                

PM’s panel rejects former CEA’s paper on GDP growth                                          

A water clinic for elephants opens in Mathura                                                          

Ozone pollution higher this summer, says CSE                                                       

U.P. site expected to get ‘national importance’ tag                                                  

India has highest data usage: Report                                                                      

World Refugee Day 2019                                                                                           

Dispute Resolution Mechanism for solar/wind sector

GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Context :

• Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy (IC) and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship has approved a proposal to set up a Dispute Resolution Committee to consider the unforeseen disputes between solar/wind power developers and SECI/NTPC, beyond contractual agreement.

Need :

• The Solar and Wind Industry have been demanding setting up of Dispute Resolution Mechanism by MNRE for quite some time,

  • To resolve expeditiously, unforeseen disputes that may arise beyond the scope of Contractual Agreements between solar power developers / wind power developers and SECI/ NTPC.

• The issue was considered and it was felt that there is need to erect a transparent, unbiased Dispute Resolution Mechanism, consisting of an independent, transparent and unbiased Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC),

  • For resolving the unforeseen disputes that may arise in implementation of contractual agreements

  • Also for dealing with issues which are beyond the scope of Contractual Agreements between solar power developers/ wind power developers and SECI / NTPC.

Significance :

• The move will give further fillip to the smooth implementation of solar/wind energy projects in India. It fulfils a long pending demand of the industry to resolve expeditiously, unforeseen disputes that may arise beyond the scope of Contractual Agreements.

Dispute Resolution Committee - Composition  :

• A three member Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) will be set up with the approval of Hon’ble Minister (NRE),

• consisting of eminent persons of impeccable integrity.

• The upper age for the DRC members shall be 70 years.

• The Committee members of DRC shall be chosen from the eminent persons located in NCR of Delhi so as to avoid expenditure on Air Travel & accommodation.

The DRC will consider following kinds of cases:

• All cases of appeal against decisions given by SECI on Extension of Time requests based on terms of contract:

• All requests of Extension of Time not covered under the terms of contract.

• All such cases referred to it, including the cases where the developer is not satisfied with the decision of SECI/NTPC and it decides to appeal after paying the required fee.

Decision :

• The recommendations of the ‘Dispute Resolution Committee’ (DRC) along with MNRE’s observations, will be placed before Hon’ble Minister (NRE) for final decision.

• The Ministry shall examine and put up such recommendations to Minister (NRE) with the comments of IFD within twenty one (21) days of receipt of recommendation from the DRC.

• To arrive at any decision, Committee will be free to interact with the relevant parties of the case and shall record their views. For presenting the case before the DRC, no lawyers shall be permitted.

                                                                                                                                    Source :- PIB

Government proposes exemption of  Battery Operated Vehicles from paying registration fees

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context :

• In order to give a boost to Battery-Operated or Electric Vehicles in the country, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has initiated steps for providing for differential registration fees under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989.

Key Highlights of the proposed Draft :

• The amendment proposes to exempt battery-operated vehicles fees for issue or renewal of registration certificate and assignment of the new registration mark

  • This means that electric vehicles would be exempted from such registration charges.

• Under the new rules, battery operated two, three and four-wheelers, will not have to pay fees for fresh registration or renewal of the certificate.

Significance :

• The move will promote the electric vehicles,

• It Helps to combat air pollution,

• Reduce dependence on expensive US dollar driven oil imports 

• Generate employment.

                                                                                                                                       Source :- PIB

Panel will study the ‘1 nation, 1 poll’ issue

GS PAPER - 02 POLITY - Salient features of the Representation of the People's Act.

Context :

• PM Narendra Modi said a committee will be set up to explore the possibility of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls even as several opposition parties kept away from a meeting he had called to discuss the "One Nation, One Election" proposal.

One Nation One Poll :

• One Nation One Poll means Conducting polls to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies together on a single day or in a phased manner, once in five years.

  • This excludes elections to panchayats and state municipalities as well as by-elections.

  • The initiative will need a constitutional amendment, which will have to be ratified by 50% of the states.

  • This will make it incumbent on all future governments to implement the provision and not leave the process of holding elections to political convenience.

Is this the first time the idea is being tried?

• The concept is not new.

• After the adoption of the Constitution in 1950, polls to the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies were held simultaneously every five years between 1951 and 1967.

• Premature dissolution of some legislative assemblies in 1968 and 1969 disrupted the cycle.

When was the idea first mooted?

• It was first suggested in 1999 by the Law Commission.

• The parlia-mentary standing committee on personnel, public grievances, law and justice, in a report to Parliament in 2015, examined the feasibility of holding simultaneous polls.

• The Law Commission then released its draft report in August. The report studied the legal and constitutional questions related to the holding of simultaneous polls.

                                                                                                                                                          Source :- The Hindu

PM’s panel rejects former CEA’s paper on GDP growth

GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Growth, development and employment

Context :

• PM Economic Advisory Council(PMEAC) rejected former chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian's claims of overestimation and asserting that his paper "would not stand the scrutiny of academic or policy research standards."

Background :

• Recently,former CEA had said that India’s GDP growth in the period 2011-12 to 2016-17 is likely to have been overestimated.

  • He said that the growth during that period was actually 4.5% rather than the 7%.

• He said this because India had changed its data sources and methodology for estimating real gross domestic product(GDP) for the period since 2011-12.

• The problems with the new methodology was that the growth numbers no longer correlated with other indicators of economic growth such as :-electricity consumption, two-wheeler sales , airline passenger traffic, index of industrial production and export figures.

‘Lacks vigour, won’t stand up to scrutiny’ :

• However,the EAC asserted that India’s GDP estimation methodology is on par with its global standing while highlighting that former CEA used 17 high-frequency indicators but ignored the representation of the services sector (60% in GDP) and the agriculture sector (18%) in the analysis.

• Further,EAC said that there was an institutional bias against the Central Statistical Organisation(CSO) as majority of the 17 indicators have been taken directly from Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy(CMIE) which is a private agency that is not a primary source of information but collects it from different sources.

• PMEAC is a non-constitutional, non-permanent and independent body constituted to give economic advice to the Government of India, specifically the Prime Minister.

• The council serves to highlight key economic issues facing the country to the government of India from a neutral viewpoint.

• It advises the Prime Minister on economic issues like inflation, microfinance, and industrial output.

                                                                                                                       Source :- The Hindu

A water clinic for elephants opens in Mathura

GS PAPER - 03 ENVIRONMENT - Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Context :

• India has opened its first specialized hydrotherapy treatment for elephants suffering from arthritis, joint pain and foot ailments at a wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital, Mathura, UP.

Hydrotherapy Treatment for Elephant :

• The facility has been opened on the banks of the Yamuna in Mathura.

• It is a collaboration between Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the NGO Wildlife SOS.

• The jumbo hydrotherapy pool installed at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital is equipped with high-pressure water jets that massage the elephants’ feet and body which is a critically important component of the treatment as it also helps oxygen and vital minerals to reach the muscle tissues.

• Hydrotherapy helps in relieving chronic muscle aches as well as rebuild muscle memory with its natural resistance.

• NGO Wildlife SOS works towards protecting Indian wildlife, conserving habitat, studying biodiversity, conducting research and taking action against animal cruelty, rescuing wildlife in distress, working to resolve man-animal conflictswhile promoting and educating the public about the need for habitat protection.

                                                                                                                                                        Source :- The Hindu

Ozone pollution higher this summer, says CSE

GS PAPER - 03 ENVIRONMENT - Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Context :

• According to the air quality index (AQI), released everyday by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), ozone is emerging as a dominant pollutant along with particulate matter (PM), especially in Delhi and NCR areas, said environment think tank CSE.

Key Findings :

• The study said the highest concentration in 2019 went up to 122 microgram per cum, which is 1.22 times higher than the eight-hour average standard. During 2018, it had gone up to 106 microgram per cu m which is 1.1 times higher than the standard.

Ozone :

• Ozone is made up of three atoms of oxygen. It is highly reactive gas and is represented by O3.

• It occurs naturally as well as a man-made product in the Earth's upper atmosphere i.e. stratosphere and lower atmosphere i.e. troposphere.

• Naturally it is formed through the interactions of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation with molecular oxygen O2. It reduces the harmful UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface.

• But at ground level ozone is considered as a major air pollutant.

Health Effects :

• Make it more difficult to breathe deeply and vigorously

• Cause shortness of breath, and pain when taking a deep breath

• Cause coughing and sore or scratchy throat

• Inflame and damage the airways

• Aggravate lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis

• Increase the frequency of asthma attacks

• Make the lungs more susceptible to infection

• Continue to damage the lungs even when the symptoms have disappeared

• Cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

                                                                                                                                                   Source : - Down To Earth

U.P. site expected to get ‘national importance’ tag

GS PAPER - 01 ART AND CULTURE - Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Context :

• Sadikpur Sinauli, located in Baraut tehsil, Baghpat district could be declared a site of national importance by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Sinauli :

• According to ASI, Sinauli was the largest necropolis of the late Harappan period of the early 2nd millennium BCE.

• ASI has conducted excavations in Sinauli in 2005-06 and in mid-2018.

• The excavations have so far brought to light a number of burials all in north-south orientation; most of them are primary burials.

• Further, in 2018, chariots, copper swords, and helmets have been found.

• The artefacts are supposed to belong to a period between 2000-1800 BCE.

•  The ASI has also approved second phase of excavation at Sinauli.

                                                                                                                                                         Source :- The Hindu

India has highest data usage: Report

GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Context :

• A report titled “Ericsson Mobility Report” by Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson has said that India has the world’s highest data usage per smartphone at an average of 9.8GB per month.

Key Findings :

• North East Asia comes second with 7.1GB per month while West Asia and Africa region is the lowest at 3GB per month.

• The report has further added that the data usage in India will double to 18GB by 2024. This will be fuelled by rich video content.

• The report has predicted that total mobile data traffic per month will grow at a CAGR of 23% from 4.6 exabytes in 2018 to 16 exabytes in 2024.

• Smartphone user base in India will reach 1.1 billion by 2024, whereas mobile broadband subscriptions are expected to grow from about 610 million in 2018 to 1.25 billion in 2024.

• The report also claims that Indian smartphone users are willing to pay more than 66% premium for futuristic 5G services.

• The findings of the report come at a time when the Indian government is in the process of finalising a road-map for the roll-out of 5G services.

Drivers for this Growth :

• Improved device penetration,

• Affordable data tariff plans, and

• Increase in data-intensive content such as videos

                                                                                                                                                     Source :- Livemint

World Refugee Day 2019

GS PAPER - 01 SOCIETY - Population and Associated issues .

Context :

• The World Refugee Day is observed on 20th June every year. The day seeks to draw the public’s attention to the millions of refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide.

World Refugee Day :

• In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly decided that, from 2000, 20 June would be celebrated as World Refugee Day.

• The main aim of celebrating this day is to increase awareness among the people by sharing the experiences of refugees and their stories.

  • It also reminds people about the failures of the international community or home conflicts due to which people are forced to leave their homes.

World Refugee Day 2019: Theme

• The theme for World Refugee Day 2019 is #StepWithRefugees — Take A Step on World Refugee Day.

  • The theme focuses on that there is a need to take big and small steps in solidarity with refugees from around the world.

1951 Refugee Convention :

• The 1951 UN’s Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol sets out the rights of refugees and also highlights the obligations of refugees towards their host country. India is not a party to the Refugee Convention.

• The cornerstone of the 1951 Convention is the principle of non-refoulement.

  • According to this principle, a refugee should not be returned to a country where he or she faces serious threats to his or her life or freedom.

• According to the Refugee Convention, A refugee is someone who fled his or her home and country owing to a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

• Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are people who have not crossed an international border but have moved to a different region than the one they call home within their own country.

• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, established in 1950 is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide.

India’s Stand on Refugee :

• India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 or the 1967 Protocol, which protects refugee rights.

• “India does not have a national refugee protection framework.

• However, it continues to grant asylum to a large number of refugees from neighbouring states and respects UNHCR’s mandate for other nationals, mainly from Afghanistan and Myanmar,” says the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

• While the Government of India deals differently with various refugee groups, in general it respects the principle of  non - refoulement for holders of UNHCR documentation.

• There are some laws that govern refugees, including the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Passport Act, 1967.

                                                                                                                        Source :- AIR

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