DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: July 13, 2023

Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB):

Tags: Summits

On 13 July 2023, the 11th meeting of the Executive Board of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) was held in Cartagena, Colombia.

An Overview of the news:

• An International Conference on “A Global Perspective on the Challenges of the Regional Elections 2023” was also organized by the National Civil Registry, Colombia.
• In the Executive Board meeting, the participants discussed various issues including programs and activities to be undertaken by A-WEB during 2023-24, Annual Progress Report of A-WEB and its regional offices including A-WEB India Centre, budget and membership related issues were discussed.

India's leadership in A-WEB:

• A three-member delegation of the Election Commission of India (ECI) was led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in the meeting.
• On the sidelines of the 11th A-WEB Executive Board meeting, a bilateral meeting with the National Election Commission of the Republic of Korea on the ECI Electronic Postal Ballot System was also held.

A-WEB Chair in 2022:

• During the 5th General Assembly meeting of A-WEB in Cape Town in November 2022, after CEC Rajeev Kumar successfully led the EMB through the COVID pandemic (2019-2022), A-WEB from ECI to the Electoral Commission of South Africa was assigned the presidency.

Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB):

• It has become the largest global association of election management bodies giving a new impetus to the spread of electoral democracy.
• Established: 2013
• Objective: To make valuable contributions, professional support and advice by sharing innovations, experiences and skills with the participation and cooperation of its members.
• Members: 120 Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) from 111 countries and 21 international organizations.
• Functions of A-web:
• 
  
  • A-WEB to organize capacity building programs for its member EMBs.
  • To study election management practices.
  • Conducting election visitor and observation programs in various countries for knowledge sharing with other member EMBs.

India A-Web Centre:

• In the A-WEB Executive Board meeting held in Bengaluru in September 2019, it was decided to set up an India A-WEB Center in New Delhi.
• It conducts documentation and research for sharing the best knowledge of A-WEB members and for training and capacity building of officials.
• Journal published by India A-Web Centre: 'A-Web India Journal of Election'.

Sariska Tiger Reserve

Tags: place in news

Why in the News

The Supreme Court's concern regarding the high number of visitors to Pandupol temple within the core area of Sariska Tiger Reserve, a panel constituted to find a solution.

About Sariska Tiger Reserve

• It is situated in the Aravalli hills in the Alwar district of Rajasthan.

• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and a tiger reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger.

• Recognized as the first tiger reserve in the world to have successfully translocated tigers.

Attractions and Features:

• Ancient Temple: Pandupol Temple

• Architecture: Bhangarh Fort, Ajabgarh, Pratapgarh.

• Visible Lakes: Siliserh Lake, Jai-Samand Lake.

Topography and Vegetation:

• Varied topography: grasslands, dry deciduous forests, rocks and rocky landscapes.

• Dominant tree species: Dhok trees cover about 90% of the area.

• Other plant species: Salar, Kadaya, Gol, Ber, Banyan, Gugal, Bamboo, Kair, Adusta, etc.

Fauna:

• Iconic species: Tiger (successfully relocated), showcasing the reserve's conservation efforts.

• Other Wildlife: Leopard, Sambar deer, Chital deer, Nilgai, Four horned antelope, Wild boar, Rhesus macaque, Langur, Hyena, Jungle cats.

SAMARTH Scheme

Tags: Government Schemes

Why in the News

• The panel of implementation partners of SAMARTH scheme has been expanded by inducting 43 new implementation partners.

• The objective of this expansion is to enhance the reach and effectiveness of the scheme.

• Additionally, the scheme has set a new target of training around 75,000 beneficiaries, which will be allocated to training partners.

• With the increase in cost norms by 5%, the funding pattern of the scheme has also been revised. This amendment provides the much needed additional financial support to the industries involved in imparting skills under Samarth scheme.

About Samarth Scheme

• Scheme Name: Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SAMARTH)

• Nature of the Scheme: Demand-driven and placement-oriented Umbrella Skill Program

• Objective: To encourage and supplement the efforts of the industry in generating employment in the organised textile and allied sectors, covering the entire value chain of textiles (excluding spinning and weaving).

• Focus Areas: Entry level skilling and upskilling/reskilling programs to improve the productivity of existing workforce in the apparel and garments sectors

• Implementation Period: Till March 2024

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Textiles

The skilling programs under the Samarth scheme are implemented through the following types of implementing agencies:

• Textile Industry

• Institutes/Organizations of Ministry of Textiles/State Governments having training infrastructure and placement tie-up with the textile industry.

• Reputed Training Institutes/NGOs/Society/Trusts/Organizations/Companies/Start-ups/Entrepreneurs operating in the textile sector with placement tie-up with the textile industry.

Chandrayaan-3 vs. Chandrayaan-2: A Comparison of India's Moon Missions

Tags: Science and Technology

Why in News?

India’s third mission to the moon - Chandrayaan-3 - will take off on 14th July, 2023. The mission aims to achieve what its predecessor - Chandrayaan-2 could not - land softly on the lunar surface and explore it with a rover. A last-minute glitch led to the failure of the lander's (Vikram) soft landing attempt after a successful orbital insertion.

About The Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

• Chandrayaan-3 ("mooncraft") is a planned 3rd lunar exploration mission by the ISRO to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing (through the lander Vikram) and roving (through the rover Pragyan) on the lunar surface. 

• Unlike Chandrayaan-2, it will not have an orbiter, and its propulsion module will behave like a communications relay satellite.

Comparing Chandrayaan 2 and 3 Missions:

• Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 have similar objectives of landing on the moon and exploring its surface with a rover. 

• However, there are several changes and improvements in the mission design of Chandrayaan-3 based on the lessons learned from Chandrayaan-2's failure.

Changes in the Mission Design:

• Expanded Landing Area: Chandrayaan-3 has been given instructions to land safely anywhere in a 4kmx2.4km area, unlike the specific 500mx500m patch targeted by Chandrayaan-2.

• Increased Fuel Capacity: The lander in Chandrayaan-3 has been provided with more fuel to travel longer distances to the landing site or an alternate landing site.

• Enhanced Landing Site Determination: Instead of relying solely on pictures taken during descent, high-resolution images from Chandrayaan-2's orbiter have been used to feed the lander with location information.

• Modified Lander Structure: Changes have been made to the lander's physical structure, including the removal of one thruster, strengthening of the legs for higher velocity landings, and the addition of more solar panels.

Chandrayaan-3 Payloads:

• Propulsion Module: It carries the Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to search for smaller habitable planets.

• Lander Payloads: Chandrayaan-3's lander carries four payloads - Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA), Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE), Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA), and Langmuir Probe (LP).

• Rover Payloads: The rover, Pragyan, is equipped with the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for analysing the elemental composition near the landing site.

How will the Mission be Implemented?

• The mission will be implemented by launching the lander-rover configuration into a 100-km lunar orbit using a propulsion module. 

• Once safely on the moon, the lander module (Vikram) will deploy the rover (Pragyan) to perform in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface.

Different Kinds of Moon Missions that have been Launched so far:

• Moon missions can be categorized into flybys, orbiters, impact missions, landers, rovers, and human missions. 

• Chandrayaan-3 falls under the landers and rovers category, aiming for a soft landing and mobile exploration on the lunar surface.

India to host ASEAN countries conference on traditional medicines

Tags: Summits

The Ministry of AYUSH in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Mission to ASEAN and ASEAN Secretariat, is organizing a Conference on Traditional Medicines for ASEAN Countries on 20th July, 2023.

An Overview of the News

• The aim of the conference is to strengthen cooperation and knowledge sharing between India and ASEAN countries in the field of traditional medicines.

• The "Act East Policy" launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a new impetus to the strategic partnership between India and ASEAN.

Growth and Achievements of Ministry of AYUSH:

• The Ministry of AYUSH has seen significant growth since it became an independent ministry in 2014.

• Collaboration with international organizations and national institutions has allowed high-quality research on AYUSH systems in various health conditions, including non-communicable diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cancer, mental health, and infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

• The ASEAN conference will serve as a platform for sharing research results and experiences in the field of traditional medicine.

Conference Goals:

• To facilitate exchange of best practices and recent developments in the regulatory framework for the promotion of traditional medicine in ASEAN member countries.

• Strengthening international cooperation in AYUSH through collaboration and establishment of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ASEAN countries and other countries.

Participant Details:

• A total of 75 participants will participate in the conference, including international delegates from eight ASEAN countries and two international delegates participating virtually.

• Delegates will brainstorm and share ideas on traditional medicine during the one-day conference held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

About Ministry of AYUSH

• It is a government ministry in India.

• It is responsible for the development, promotion and regulation of traditional systems of medicine.

• AYUSH is the abbreviation of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Society and aims to promote education and research of the above.

• The ministry provides educational and training programs.

Establishment - 2014

Responsible Ministers - Sarbananda Sonowal, Cabinet Minister and Mahendra Munjapara, Minister of State

Ministry Executive - Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary

Ministry of Motherhood - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India

PM Narendra Modi's visit to France and United Arab Emirates

Tags: International Relations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached France on the first leg of his official visit to France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 13 to 15 July 2023. This is the sixth visit of Prime Minister Modi to France.

An Overview of the news:

• The Prime Minister is on a visit to Paris from 13-14 July 2023 at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.
• The Prime Minister is the Chief Guest at the Bastille Day Parade on 14 July 2023, in which a contingent of the Indian Armed Forces from the three Services is also participating.
• During his visit, he will meet the Prime Minister of France as well as the Presidents of the French Senate and the National Assembly.

25th Anniversary of India-France Strategic Partnership:

• This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership and the Prime Minister's visit will provide an opportunity to chart out a roadmap for the future of the partnership in various areas such as strategic, cultural, scientific, educational and economic cooperation.

Travel to United Arab Emirates:

• The Prime Minister will visit Abu Dhabi on 15th July.
• The Prime Minister will hold talks with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
• The India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to grow from strength to strength and the Prime Minister's visit will provide an opportunity to identify means of taking it forward in various sectors such as energy, education, healthcare, food security, fintech, defense and culture.
• The Prime Minister's visit to the UAE will also provide an opportunity to discuss establishing cooperation on global issues.

France:

• Capital: Paris
• Currency: Euro
• President: Emmanuel Macron

United Arab Emirates (UAE): 

• Capital: Abu Dhabi
• Currency: UAE Dirham
• President: Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan;

Collegium System of the Supreme Court: Appointments and Judicial System

Tags: Popular

Supreme Court collegium system

• Introduction: The collegium system of the Supreme Court is an important aspect of the appointment of Supreme Court judges and understanding of the judicial system.

• Evolution: The system of appointment and transfer of judges has evolved through decisions of the Supreme Court rather than through an Act of Parliament or provision of the Constitution.

Structure of the Collegium System

• Head: The collegium system is headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), who plays a key role in the appointment process.

• Members: The Collegium consists of the four other senior-most judges of the Supreme Court. They collectively participate in taking decisions regarding appointments and transfers of judges.

• High Court Collegium: In the case of High Courts, the collegium is headed by the Chief Justice of the concerned court, along with two other senior-most judges.

Appointment Process

• Exclusive authority: Judges of the higher judiciary are appointed solely through the collegium system. This is the primary mechanism of selection of judges for the Supreme Court and the High Courts.

• Government's role: The government's involvement comes into play after the collegium finalizes the names of potential candidates. The role of the government includes carrying out the appointment process and issuing formal appointment orders.

Supreme Court Of India

• Headquarters: New Delhi

• Established: 26 January 1950

World's largest International Temple Convention and Expo organized in Varanasi

Tags: National News

The world's largest International Temple Convention and Expo (ITCX) will be organized from 22 to 24 July 2023 at the Rudraksh Convention Center in Varanasi.

An Overview of the news:

• Conceived by Temple Connect (India), it is the world's first event solely dedicated to the management of temples.
• The conference will focus on nurturing and empowering the governance, management and operations of the world and temple ecosystem.

Conference Participation:

• More than 450 temple functionaries from 25 countries are expected to participate in the conference.
• Along with Hindus, office bearers of Math-Temples and Gurudwaras belonging to Sikh, Buddhist and Jainism have also been invited.

Launch of the conference:

• The conference will be inaugurated by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on July 22.
• The event will be held at Rudraksh Convention Centre.
• For the first time, the International Temples Convention & Expo is being organized by Temple Connect.

Conference organized under Incredible India:

• The three-day event is being organized as part of the Incredible India campaign in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Tourism.
• In this, development, empowerment of temple management, operation and administration will be discussed.
• According to the founder of Temple Connect, best practices will be created for the teams of the leading places of worship in the world.

Theme of the conference:

• During this conference, the experience of pilgrims visiting temples, monasteries and gurudwaras will be asked, topics like crowd management, solid waste management and what should be improved in basic facilities will also be discussed.
• The conference will serve as a platform to introduce the world to India's rich heritage of places of worship, while learning about the diverse cultures, traditions, arts and crafts of places of worship around the world.

DGCA approves Tamil Nadu's first flying training school

Tags: State News

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved EKVI Air Training Organization Pvt Ltd to set up the first Flying Training Organization (FTO) in Tamil Nadu, India.

An Overview of the News

• This approval is for aviation education in India, as it is the 36th flight training school in the country and the first in Tamil Nadu.

• EKVI Air Training Organization Pvt Ltd will operate from Salem airport, providing an opportunity to aspiring pilots in the region to get professional training and fulfill their dreams of becoming skilled aviators.

• FTO's training programs will include comprehensive theoretical classes, flight simulator sessions and practical flight experience, providing students with a sound education that will prepare them for the dynamic aviation industry.

About Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

• DGCA is the regulatory authority for civil aviation in India.

• Its main focus is to ensure safety in air transport services.

• It enforces civil air regulations and air safety standards.

• It coordinates its operations with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

• In the mid-1990s, the Indian government allowed private operators in the aviation industry.

• DGCA registers civil aircraft and sets airworthiness standards.

• It licences pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, flight engineers and air traffic controllers.

• It certifies airports and communication, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management facilities.

• It grants air operator certificates to Indian carriers and regulates air transport services.

Inauguration of 'Sagar Sampark' DGNSS by Sarbananda Sonowal

Tags: Science and Technology

Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, inaugurated the 'Sagar Sampark' Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) to strengthen the maritime sector in India.

An Overview of the News

Background and Importance of the DGNSS System:

• The DGNSS system is a terrestrial-based enhancement system that corrects errors and inaccuracies in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), providing more accurate positioning information. 

• It helps mariners navigate safely and reduces the risk of collisions, groundings, and accidents in port and harbour areas.

Enhancing Maritime Sector Capability with 'Sagar Sampark':

• The launch of 'Sagar Sampark - Differential Global Navigation Satellite System' at six locations enhances the capability of the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) in the field of Radio Aids to Marine Navigation. 

• This initiative reflects the Ministry's commitment to innovation, infrastructure development, and strengthening the Indian Maritime sector.

Benefits of the DGNSS System for Safe Navigation:

• The DGNSS system provides more accurate information to ships, enabling safe navigation and efficient movement of vessels. 

• It significantly improves the accuracy of GPS positioning by reducing errors caused by atmospheric interferences, satellite clock drift, and other factors.

Fulfilling International Obligations and Standards:

• The DGNSS system aligns with the international obligations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), and the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). 

• It serves as an important Radio Aid to Navigation, ensuring compliance with international standards.

Advanced Features of the DGNSS System:

• The DGNSS system incorporates multiple satellite constellations, including GPS and Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), increasing availability and redundancy. 

• It utilizes modern technology receivers and advanced software to transmit corrections, improving positioning accuracy within a range of 5 meters.

Improved Error Correction and Positioning Accuracy:

• The latest DGNSS system achieves higher accuracy in GPS positioning by significantly reducing errors. 

• It corrects atmospheric interferences, satellite clock drift, and other factors that affect accuracy. 

• The system's error correction accuracy has been improved from 5 to 10 meters to less than 5 meters for 100 nautical miles from the Indian coastlines.

Uttar Pradesh cabinet approves construction of two "Obra D" thermal power projects in partnership with NTPC

Tags: State News

The Uttar Pradesh government approved 800 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power projects in Sonbhadra district in partnership with NTPC. 

An Overview of the News

• Each thermal power project will have a capacity of 800 MW, resulting in an increase in the combined capacity of Uttar Pradesh by 1,600 MW.

• Use of ultra-supercritical technology: The "Obra D" thermal power projects will use ultra-supercritical technology, operating at high temperature and pressure, to achieve high efficiency and reduce coal consumption for power generation.

• Contribution to power generation capacity: These projects are expected to contribute about 25% of Uttar Pradesh's current thermal power generation capacity, which is around 7,000MW.

• Timeline and Implementation: The construction of the first unit is estimated to take 50 months, while the second unit is expected to be completed in 56 months. The government has already allotted 500 acres of land for the projects, there is a possibility of allotting additional land if required.

• Partnership and funding: The Government of Uttar Pradesh and NTPC will execute the projects on a 50:50 basis. Thirty percent equity will be provided for project implementation, while the remaining 70% will be sourced from financial institutions.

• Development of Power Hub: The decision to set up power plants in the Obra region is aimed at developing them as power hubs to meet the growing energy demands in Uttar Pradesh.

• Objective: Reliable Power Supply: The "Obra D" thermal power projects aim at ensuring a stable and reliable power supply to meet the growing demands of industries, businesses and households in the state.

• The Chairman and Managing Director of National Thermal Power Corporation is Gurdeep Singh.

Appointment of Chief Justice of Telangana and Kerala to the Supreme Court

Tags: Person in news

Telangana Chief Justice Ujjwal Bhuiyan and Kerala Chief Justice S Venkatanarayana Bhatti were appointed as Supreme Court judges based on the recommendation of their names by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.

An Overview of the News

• With the appointments of Justice Bhuiyan and Justice Bhatti, the total strength of judges in the Supreme Court has gone up to 33, with only one vacancy remaining.

Background of Justice Ujjwal Bhuiyan:

• Justice Bhuiyan was appointed as a judge of the Gauhati High Court on October 17, 2011.

• From June 28, 2022, he is serving as the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court.

• His appointment to the Supreme Court comes after his tenure and experience as the Chief Justice of Telangana.

Background of Justice S. Venkatanarayana Bhatti:

• Justice Bhatti was appointed as a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on April 12, 2013.

• In March 2019, he was transferred to the Kerala High Court, where he serves as the Chief Justice from June 1, 2023.

• The appointment of Justice Bhatti to the Supreme Court also addresses the absence of representation from the High Court of Andhra Pradesh from August 2022.

Reason for the selection of Justice Bhatti:

• The Supreme Court Collegium noted that Justice Bhatti's judgments cover a wide variety of legal issues and reflect his legal acumen and competence.

• The appointment recognizes his experience and addresses the lack of representation from the Andhra Pradesh High Court in the Supreme Court.