ART AND CULTURE                                                                         

1. A new museum of antiquities proposed to be opened in Purana Quila 

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE                                                        

1. Identifying Road Accident Prone Areas                                              

2. Pedestrian Deaths in Road Accidents                                                

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS                                                   

1. Saudi Arabia takes over G20 presidency from Japan                         

ECONOMY                                                                                           

1. Corporate Affairs Ministry Launches Independent Director’s Databank 

2. Government to set up National Company Law Appellate Tribunal Bench                                                                                             

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY                                              

1. Tiger corridors in Country                                                               

2. Blue Flag Certification for beaches                                                  

3. Minor Forest Produce (MFP)                                                          

SECURITY                                                                                         

1. Curtain Raiser Exercise Hand-in-Hand-2019                                    

ART AND CULTURE 

A new museum of antiquities proposed to be opened in Purana Quila

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 :

• The Government/Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will set up another museum to house objects excavated from across India which have been lying in the Central Antiquities Collection (CAC) at Purana Quila.

More in the news :

• The proposed museum will open in April 2020.

• The museum will be housed in the arched cells of Purana Quila.

• The objective to open a new museum is to display antiquities such as tools, potteries, terracotta, beads of semi-precious stones, sculptures, architectural fragments, etc. for the general public, students and research scholars.

• The objects to be displayed date from the pre-historic period to the medieval era such as Harappan seals, pre-historic animal and human figurines, coins and pottery from the Mughal period among several others.

• This is the third such museum at the Purana Qila.           

                                                                                                                                  Source :- PIB

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

Identifying Road Accident Prone Areas

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context :

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to take up a project “Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD)” with funding from World Bank.

Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD) :

• The main objective of this project is on-site collection of accident data through app-based software and analyse data for identification of black spots and other accident prone areas.

• 789 black spots have been identified based on accidents/fatality from the year 2011 to 2014. A total of 660 black spots are on the stretches of National Highways (NHs) and 129 black spots are under State Government. 395 black spots have already been rectified and 215 black spots are at implementation stage on stretches of NHs.

                                                                                                                                     Source :- PIB

Pedestrian Deaths in Road Accidents

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context :

• The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has formulated a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue of road safety based on Education, Engineering (both of roads and vehicles), Enforcement and Emergency Care.

Steps taken by government :

• The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has constituted a Parliamentary Constituency Committee on Road Safety in each district of the country to promote awareness amongst road users under the chairmanship of the MPs.

• The National Road Safety Policy outlines various policy measures such as promoting awareness, establishing road safety information database, encouraging safer road infrastructure including the application of intelligent transport, enforcement of safety laws with regard to road safety.

• The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 focuses on road safety and includes, among other things, stiff hike in penalties for traffic violations and electronic monitoring of the same, enhanced penalties for juvenile driving, computerization/automation of vehicle fitness and driving, tests, recall of defective vehicles, extending the scope of third party liability and payment of increased compensation for hit and run cases, etc.

• Some of the other initiatives of the Government:

  • Advocacy/Publicity campaign on road safety through the electronic media and print media to create awareness.

  • Issue of Guidelines for the protection of Good Samaritans. Read more about the Good Samaritan Law

  • Setting up of model driving training Institutes in States.

  • Launch of mobile app for highway users i.e. “Sukhad Yatra 1033” which enables highways users to report potholes and other safety hazards on National Highways including accidents.

  • Observance of Road Safety Week every calendar year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.

  • Safety standards for automobiles have been improved.

  • High priority has been accorded to identification and rectification of black spots (accident-prone spots) on national highways.

                                                                                                                                                         Source :- PIB

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Saudi Arabia takes over G20 presidency from Japan

GS PAPER - 02 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests

Context :

• Saudi Arabia has became the first Arab nation to take over the G20 Presidency on December 1,2019.

G20 Summit,2020:

• Saudi Arabia will host the G20 Summit in its capital, Riyadh on November 21,2020.

• The theme of Summit- “Realising Opportunities of the 21st Century for All”.

• Objectives :

  • Empowering People by creating the conditions in which all people mainly women and youth can live, work and thrive.

  • Safeguarding the Planet by fostering collective efforts to protect our global common-pool resources.

  • Shaping New Frontiers by adopting long-term and bold strategies to share the benefits of innovation and technological advancement.​

                                                                                                                Source :- Indian Express

ECONOMY

Corporate Affairs Ministry Launches Independent Director’s Databank

GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context :

• The Ministry of Corporate Affairs,  launched the Independent Directors Data Bank in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and the rules made there under.

Independent Directors Data Bank :

• Objective : 

  • To strengthen the institution of Independent Directors under the Companies Act.

• Data Bank Portal :

  • The Databank portal which has been developed and will be maintained by the Indian Institute for Corporate Affairs (IICA), is a first of its kind initiative from the Ministry.

  • The databank can be accessed at the official website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

  • IT is a pioneering initiative of the Ministry to provide an easy to access & navigate platform for the registration of existing Independent Directors as well as individuals aspiring to become independent directors.

  • It provides for a wide array of e-learning courses on various topics including the Companies Act, Securities laws, basic accountancy, board practices, board ethics and board effectiveness.

  • Powered by an Integrated Learning Management System, the various e-learning capsules and videos available in the system will enable individual users to easily acquire knowledge from diverse resources, develop distinct skills and assess their understanding of company operations, regulations and compliances.

• Companies also may register themselves with the databank to search, select and connect with individuals who possess the right skills and attitude for being considered for appointment as Independent Directors as the Databank is expected to become a comprehensive repository of both existing independent directors as well as individuals eligible and willing to be appointed as Independent Directors.

                                                                                                                                                                       Source :- PIB

Government to set up National Company Law Appellate Tribunal Bench

GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - 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 pursuance of judgement of Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Government has decided to set up a bench of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) at Chennai.

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) :

• National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) was constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013.

Functions :

• It hears appeals against the orders of National Company Law Tribunal(s) (NCLT), with effect from 1st June, 2016.

• It is the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by NCLT(s) under Section 61 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).

• It is the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India under Section 202 and Section 211 of IBC.

• It is the Appellate Tribunal to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Composition :

• The President of the Tribunal and the chairperson and Judicial Members of the Appellate Tribunal shall be appointed after consultation with the Chief Justice of India.

• The Members of the Tribunal and the Technical Members of the Appellate Tribunal shall be appointed on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of:

  • Chief Justice of India or his nominee—Chairperson.

  • A senior Judge of the Supreme Court or a Chief Justice of High Court— Member.

  • Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs—Member.

  • Secretary in the Ministry of Law and Justice—Member.

  • Secretary in the Department of Financial Services in the Ministry of Finance— Member.

                                                                                                                                    Source :- PIB

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Tiger corridors in Country

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

Context :

• Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister has said that the tiger population has increased by 750 in the last four years to 2,976.

  • Earlier, the count was 2,226.

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India has published a document titled “Connecting Tiger Populations for Long-term Conservation”.

Connecting Tiger Populations for Long-term Conservation - document :

• It mapped out 32 major corridors across the country, management interventions for which are operationalised through a Tiger Conservation Plan, mandated under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The list of macro/landscape level tiger corridors are as under:

3 pronged strategy to manage human-tiger negative interactions :

• Material and logistical support:

  •  Funding support through the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger, is provided to tiger reserves for acquiring capacity in terms of infrastructure and material, to deal with tigers dispersing out of source areas.

•  Restricting habitat interventions:

  •  habitat interventions should be limited so that there is no excessive spill over of wildlife including tigers thereby minimizing man-animal conflict. 

  • Further, in buffer areas around tiger reserves, habitat interventions are restricted such that they are sub-optimal vis-à-vis the core/critical tiger habitat areas, judicious enough to facilitate dispersal to other rich habitat areas only.

•   Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs):

  • To deal with emergency arising due to straying of tigers in human dominated landscapes

  • To deal with tiger depredation on livestock

  • For active management towards rehabilitation of tigers from source areas at the landscape level.

                                                                                                                                 Source :- PIB

Blue Flag Certification for beaches

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

Context :

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has embarked upon a programme for ‘Blue Flag’ Certification for select beaches in the country.

Blue Flag Certification :

• The Blue Flag Certification is a certification by the Copenhagen-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

•  It is awarded to a beach, marina or sustainable boating tourism operator for meeting its stringent standards.

• The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization consisting of 65 organizations in 60 member countries in Europe, Africa, Oceania, Asia, North America and South America.

• Only local authorities or private beach operators can apply for a Blue Flag for beaches.

• The Blue Flag is sought for beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators as an indication of their high environmental and quality standards.

• Certificates, which are referred to as awards by FEE, are issued on an annual basis to beaches and marinas of FEE member countries.

• FEE’s Blue Flag criteria include standards for

  • Water quality

  • Safety

  • Environmental education and information

  • The provision of services and general environmental management criteria.

• Spain has held the 1st position for nearly three decades since the awards began in 1987

Blue Flag Certification for Indian Beaches :

• 13 Indian beaches have been shortlisted for the Blue flag certification.

• In 2017, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change had started a pilot project under a Unified Coastal Areas Management Programme to develop the Indian beaches according to the Blue Flag.

• The project aims to improve the aquatic habitat by cleaning the growing pollution and garbage in the Indian beaches, develop ecological tourism with constant progress and development of tourist facilities.

• Chandrabhaga beach of Odisha’s Konark coast was the first to complete the tag certification process will be the first in Asia to get the Blue Flag certification.

• Besides, 12 other beaches across are also being developed by the Society for Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) as blue flag beaches which include two beaches in Maharashtra and one beach each from Puducherry, Goa, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.

• An integrated coastal management scheme referred to as Beach Management Service (BeaMS) has also been introduced by the ministry to reduce existing pollutants on beaches and achieve such high international standards.

                                                                                                                                Source :- PIB

Minor Forest Produce (MFP)

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

Context :

• Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs has informed Lok Sabha about the Minor Forest Produce(MFP).

Minor Forest Produce(MFP) :

• Minor Forest Produce(MFP) is a subset of forest produce.The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act,2006 defines minor forest produce as all non-timber forest produce of plant origin.

• These include bamboo, brushwood, stumps, canes, cocoon, honey, waxes, Lac, tendu leaves, medicinal plants and herbs, roots among others.

MSP for Minor Forest Produce :

• The Minimum Support Price(MSP) for MFP scheme was started by the Government of India in 2013 to ensure fair and remunerative prices to MFP gatherers.

• It is a Central Sector scheme.

• Objective :

  • To provide a fair price to the MFP gatherers for the produce collected by them and enhance their income level

  • To ensure sustainable harvesting of MFPs.

  • The Scheme will have a huge social dividend for MFP gatherers, majority of whom are tribals.

Implementation :

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs,Government of India is the Nodal Ministry for implementation of the scheme.

• TRIFED acts as the Central Nodal Agency for implementation and monitoring of the scheme through State level implementing agencies.

• Further,the State designated agencies will undertake procurement of notified MFPs directly from MFP gatherers at haats notified procurement centers at grass root level at prefixed Minimum Support Price.

                                                                                                                               Source :- PIB

SECURITY

Curtain Raiser Exercise Hand-in-Hand-2019

GS PAPER - 03 SECURITY - India and its neighborhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests

Context :

• The 8th India-China joint training exercise 'HAND-IN-HAND 2019' with the theme counter terrorism under United Nations mandate is scheduled to be conduct at Umroi, Meghalaya from 07 to 20 December 2019.

Exercise Hand-in-Hand 2019:

• The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and conduct of counter terrorist operations in semi urban terrain

• The exercise schedule is focused upon training on various lectures & drills associated with counter terrorist handling & firing with each others weapons, special heliborne operations and case studies of various operations carried out in counter terrorist environment.

•  Two tactical exercises

  • Counter terrorism

  • Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.

• The exercise was suspended in 2017 amid strained bilateral ties after the Doklam standoff.

• In 2018, the exercise was held in China.

                                                                                                                           Source :- PIB

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------