1. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs signs MoU with RITES
Tags: National National News
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RITES Limited on 2 May to accelerate solid waste and used water management.
An overview of the news
The MoU was signed for technical assistance for Solid Waste Management (SWM) under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
The Technical Support Unit (TSU) of RITES will assist Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM-U) for a period of 3 years.
Under SWM, the areas of engagement will be process standardization and engineering design of waste management facilities, like Material Recovery Facility, legacy waste etc.
Under Urban Waste Management (UWM), RITES will provide technical support for standards & specification in the field of sewage and faecal sludge management.
RITES will assist with preparation of model tender documents and procurement in the field of sewage, wastewater management and Solid Waste Management.
Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the second phase of the 'Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban' on October 2, 2021, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
It has been designed to make all cities garbage free and achieve the goal of water conservation.
In this, a provision has also been made to store and filter waste water by adopting a complete liquid waste management system in cities with a population of less than 1 lakh.
Under this, 3.5 lakh individual, community and public toilets will be constructed for the population going to urban areas for employment in the next 5 years.
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched on October 2, 2014 with the objective of promoting 'cleanliness and Sanitation' in the society and the country.
2. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs signs MoU with RITES
Tags: National National News
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RITES Limited on 2 May to accelerate solid waste and used water management.
An overview of the news
The MoU was signed for technical assistance for Solid Waste Management (SWM) under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
The Technical Support Unit (TSU) of RITES will assist Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM-U) for a period of 3 years.
Under SWM, the areas of engagement will be process standardization and engineering design of waste management facilities, like Material Recovery Facility, legacy waste etc.
Under Urban Waste Management (UWM), RITES will provide technical support for standards & specification in the field of sewage and faecal sludge management.
RITES will assist with preparation of model tender documents and procurement in the field of sewage, wastewater management and Solid Waste Management.
Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the second phase of the 'Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban' on October 2, 2021, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
It has been designed to make all cities garbage free and achieve the goal of water conservation.
In this, a provision has also been made to store and filter waste water by adopting a complete liquid waste management system in cities with a population of less than 1 lakh.
Under this, 3.5 lakh individual, community and public toilets will be constructed for the population going to urban areas for employment in the next 5 years.
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched on October 2, 2014 with the objective of promoting 'cleanliness and Sanitation' in the society and the country.
3. India to hand-over fast Patrol Vessel ship & landing Craft to Maldives
Tags: International Relations International News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hand over a fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the Maldives as India’s “gift” during his visit to the island nation from May 1 to 3.
An overview of the news
It will be an “important landmark” in building “strong bonds” of friendship between the two countries.
Maldives is one of India's major maritime neighbors in the Indian Ocean region and overall bilateral relations between the two countries, including in the areas of defense and security, have been on the rise over the years.
Singh will also review the implementation of various India-aided projects in the Maldives and interact with the Indian expatriate.
India and Maldives are working together to effectively address common challenges including maritime security, terrorism, radicalism, piracy, smuggling, organized crime and natural disasters.
About Maldives
It is also called Maldives Islands, an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean.
It extends more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west.
Basis of economy -fisheries, tourism
Industries - handicraft or cottage including the making of coir (coconut-husk fibre) and coir products, fish canning, and boatbuilding.
Capital -Male
President -Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Official Language - Dhivehi (Maldivian)
Official Religion - Islam
Currency -Rufiyaa
4. India to hand-over fast Patrol Vessel ship & landing Craft to Maldives
Tags: International Relations International News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hand over a fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the Maldives as India’s “gift” during his visit to the island nation from May 1 to 3.
An overview of the news
It will be an “important landmark” in building “strong bonds” of friendship between the two countries.
Maldives is one of India's major maritime neighbors in the Indian Ocean region and overall bilateral relations between the two countries, including in the areas of defense and security, have been on the rise over the years.
Singh will also review the implementation of various India-aided projects in the Maldives and interact with the Indian expatriate.
India and Maldives are working together to effectively address common challenges including maritime security, terrorism, radicalism, piracy, smuggling, organized crime and natural disasters.
About Maldives
It is also called Maldives Islands, an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean.
It extends more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west.
Basis of economy -fisheries, tourism
Industries - handicraft or cottage including the making of coir (coconut-husk fibre) and coir products, fish canning, and boatbuilding.
Capital -Male
President -Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Official Language - Dhivehi (Maldivian)
Official Religion - Islam
Currency -Rufiyaa
5. ED raids Byju's premises, alleges FEMA violation
Tags: National National News
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The Directorate of Foreign Exchange (ED) carried out searches at three premises linked to edtech firm Byju's in Bengaluru in connection with its probe into alleged foreign exchange violations.
An overview of the news
ED recovered several incriminating documents and digital data during its searches.
“FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) searches have also revealed that the company has received Foreign Direct Investment of Rs 28,000 crore (approx) during the period 2011 to 2023.
Apart from this, the company has also remitted Rs 9,754 crore (approx) to various countries during the same period in the name of Foreign Direct Investment.
About Foreign Exchange Management Act
It is an act which mainly deals with the provisions relating to cross border trade and payments.
It defines the procedures, formalities and practices of all foreign exchange transactions in India.
It was brought in in 1999 as a replacement to the earlier Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA).
This act came into force on 1 June 2000.
The head office of FEMA is known as Directorate of Enforcement which is situated in Delhi.
Its primary objective is to help facilitate external trade and payments in India.
FEMA is applicable in all parts of India.
This applies equally to offices and agencies located outside India.
6. ED raids Byju's premises, alleges FEMA violation
Tags: National National News
The Directorate of Foreign Exchange (ED) carried out searches at three premises linked to edtech firm Byju's in Bengaluru in connection with its probe into alleged foreign exchange violations.
An overview of the news
ED recovered several incriminating documents and digital data during its searches.
“FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) searches have also revealed that the company has received Foreign Direct Investment of Rs 28,000 crore (approx) during the period 2011 to 2023.
Apart from this, the company has also remitted Rs 9,754 crore (approx) to various countries during the same period in the name of Foreign Direct Investment.
About Foreign Exchange Management Act
It is an act which mainly deals with the provisions relating to cross border trade and payments.
It defines the procedures, formalities and practices of all foreign exchange transactions in India.
It was brought in in 1999 as a replacement to the earlier Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA).
This act came into force on 1 June 2000.
The head office of FEMA is known as Directorate of Enforcement which is situated in Delhi.
Its primary objective is to help facilitate external trade and payments in India.
FEMA is applicable in all parts of India.
This applies equally to offices and agencies located outside India.
7. "Supreme Court confirms power to issue official decree of divorce in cases of irretrievable breakdown of marriage"
Tags: National National News
The Supreme Court is empowered to exercise its absolute powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to issue official orders of divorce to the consenting parties in cases of irretrievable breakdown of marriage.
An Overview of the News
In such cases the period of six months prescribed under the Hindu Marriage Act may be waived.
The judgement in a batch of petitions related to the exercise of absolute powers of the apex court to dissolve marriages between consenting parties without reference to family courts to wait for the mandatory period prescribed under Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act I went.
Article 142 empowers the apex court to pass such orders as may be necessary for "doing complete justice" in any matter pending before it.
The matter was referred to a five-judge bench nearly five years ago on June 29, 2016, by a division bench of Justices Shiv Kirti Singh and R Bhanumathi (both retired) in a transfer petition.
The Constitution Bench had reserved the decision on 29 September 2022 after hearing the arguments.
Hindu Marriage Act:
It is a law that regulates marriages of Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs.
It was enacted in 1955 and has been amended several times.
This act defines the conditions for a Hindu marriage to be considered legally valid.
These include monogamy, minimum age of marriage, stability of mind, absence of prohibited degrees of relationship, and ability to consummate the marriage.
The Act provides for the registration of Hindu marriages. Registration of marriage is not mandatory but it is advisable as it serves as proof of marriage and facilitates settlement of disputes.
The Act also recognizes the validity of prenuptial agreements.
The Act provides for punishment for bigamy, dowry and cruelty to married women.
8. "Supreme Court confirms power to issue official decree of divorce in cases of irretrievable breakdown of marriage"
Tags: National National News
The Supreme Court is empowered to exercise its absolute powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to issue official orders of divorce to the consenting parties in cases of irretrievable breakdown of marriage.
An Overview of the News
In such cases the period of six months prescribed under the Hindu Marriage Act may be waived.
The judgement in a batch of petitions related to the exercise of absolute powers of the apex court to dissolve marriages between consenting parties without reference to family courts to wait for the mandatory period prescribed under Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act I went.
Article 142 empowers the apex court to pass such orders as may be necessary for "doing complete justice" in any matter pending before it.
The matter was referred to a five-judge bench nearly five years ago on June 29, 2016, by a division bench of Justices Shiv Kirti Singh and R Bhanumathi (both retired) in a transfer petition.
The Constitution Bench had reserved the decision on 29 September 2022 after hearing the arguments.
Hindu Marriage Act:
It is a law that regulates marriages of Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs.
It was enacted in 1955 and has been amended several times.
This act defines the conditions for a Hindu marriage to be considered legally valid.
These include monogamy, minimum age of marriage, stability of mind, absence of prohibited degrees of relationship, and ability to consummate the marriage.
The Act provides for the registration of Hindu marriages. Registration of marriage is not mandatory but it is advisable as it serves as proof of marriage and facilitates settlement of disputes.
The Act also recognizes the validity of prenuptial agreements.
The Act provides for punishment for bigamy, dowry and cruelty to married women.
9. Government of India blocked 14 messenger mobile applications for spreading terror
Tags: National National News
The Government of India blocked 14 messenger mobile applications widely used in Jammu and Kashmir for spreading terror.
An Overview of the News
The banned apps were primarily used as communication platforms to disseminate information in the field.
The messenger applications that have been banned include Crypvisor, Enigma, SafeSwiss, Vikrame, Mediafire, Briar, Beechat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Elementor, Second Line, Jangi and Threema.
The Indian government found that these apps were being used by terrorists to communicate with their supporters and on-ground workers.
The Center had earlier also banned several Chinese apps for being prejudicial to India's sovereignty and integrity.
The ban on these apps has been implemented under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which empowers the government to block access to any website or mobile application that poses a threat to national security or public order.
About Jammu and Kashmir
It was a state of India until August 2019, which was bifurcated as two union territories namely Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on 31 August 2019.
Capital- Srinagar (May-October), Jammu (November-April)
Lieutenant Governor - Manoj Sinha
Legislative Council - 36 seats
Legislative Assembly - 89 seats
Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Justice - Koteshwar Singh
10. Government of India blocked 14 messenger mobile applications for spreading terror
Tags: National National News
The Government of India blocked 14 messenger mobile applications widely used in Jammu and Kashmir for spreading terror.
An Overview of the News
The banned apps were primarily used as communication platforms to disseminate information in the field.
The messenger applications that have been banned include Crypvisor, Enigma, SafeSwiss, Vikrame, Mediafire, Briar, Beechat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Elementor, Second Line, Jangi and Threema.
The Indian government found that these apps were being used by terrorists to communicate with their supporters and on-ground workers.
The Center had earlier also banned several Chinese apps for being prejudicial to India's sovereignty and integrity.
The ban on these apps has been implemented under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which empowers the government to block access to any website or mobile application that poses a threat to national security or public order.
About Jammu and Kashmir
It was a state of India until August 2019, which was bifurcated as two union territories namely Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on 31 August 2019.
Capital- Srinagar (May-October), Jammu (November-April)
Lieutenant Governor - Manoj Sinha
Legislative Council - 36 seats
Legislative Assembly - 89 seats
Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Justice - Koteshwar Singh
