Comprehensive Current affairs 9 October 2020

Centre decides to fix jurisdiction of river boards.

The Centre will determine the jurisdictions of the Krishna and Godavari river management boards (KRMB and GRMB), Union Water Resources Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Tuesday.

He was speaking after convening an apex council meeting involving the Centre, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the second since 2016. The meeting is primarily to resolve the conflict between the two States over executing irrigation projects and sharing water from the Krishna and Godavari rivers.

The key points on the agenda at Thursday’s meeting which was convened via videoconference are: jurisdiction of the KRMB and GRMB, submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) of new projects by the two governments for appraisal and sanction by the apex council, establishing a mechanism to determine the share of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the Krishna and Godavari waters, and shifting the headquarters of the Krishna River Management Board to Andhra Pradesh.

 The headquarters of the KRMB would be located in Andhra Pradesh, headded.With regards to sharing of river waters, the Telangana Chief Minister agreed to withdraw the case filed in Supreme Court, to allow the Centre to refer water sharing issues to the Krishna Godavari tribunal.

Regarding the sharing of Godavari waters, both the States were asked to send in their requests to the Centre so that it could refer them to the tribunal, a statement from the Water Resources Ministry said.

NCERT signs MoU to convert educational materials to sign language

A historic Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center and NCERT to make education materials accessible for Deaf children in their preferred format of communication, Indian Sign Language.

•This MoU was signed in the virtual presence of Indian Social Justice and Empowerment Minister and Education Minister.

•The signing of this MoU is said to be a historic step as availability of NCERT textbooks in Indian Sign Language will ensure that Hearing Impaired children can also now access educational resources in Indian Sign Language.

•It will be a useful and much needed resource for Hearing Impaired students, teachers, teacher educators and parents. This MoU is a step towards achieving common goal of fulfilling needs of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and New Education Policy, 2020.

Saansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana.

As the number of gram panchayats identified by Members of Parliament under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) remains “far below” the target, the Centre has directed State Govts.to ensure “diligent” Implementation of the scheme.

 Saansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana:

• Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) is a village development project launched by Govt. of India in October 2014, under which each Member of Parliament will take the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in three villages by 2019.

• The goal is to develop three Adarsh Grams by March 2019, of which one would be achieved by 2016. Thereafter, five such Adarsh Grams (one per year) will be selected and developed by 2024.

Identification of Gram Panchayat:

• A Gram Panchayat would be the basic unit. It will have a population of 3000-5000 in plain areas and 1000-3000 in hilly, tribal and difficult areas. In districts where this unit size is not available, Gram Panchayats approximating the desirable population size may be chosen.

• The MP would be free to identify a suitable Gram Panchayat for being developed as Adarsh Gram, other than his/her own village or that of his/her spouse.

• The MP will identify one Gram Panchayat to be taken up immediately, and two others to be taken up a little later. Lok Sabha MP has to choose a Gram Panchayat from within his/her constituency and Rajya Sabha MP a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of a

district of his/her choice in the State from which he/she is elected.

• Nominated MPs may choose a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of any district in the country. In the case of urban constituencies, (where there are no Gram Panchayats), the MP will identify a Gram Panchayat from a nearby rural constituency.

• The Gram Panchayats once selected by members of Parliament (whose tenures have ended on account of resignation or otherwise) would be continued as such under SAGY irrespective of whether activities have already been initiated in the GP under SAGY or not.

• The Newly Elected MPs will have the option to select the GP of their choice and two more subsequently by 2019.

 • Primarily, the goal is to develop three Adarsh Grams by March 2019, of which one would be achieved by 2016. Thereafter, five such Adarsh Grams (one per year) will be selected and developed by 2024.

Performance of the Scheme:

• A study Commissioned by the Rural Development Ministry and conducted as part of the 5th common review mission observed that the SAGY has not made “any perceptible impact” and the villages selected under it cannot be called “model (adarsh) villages”.

• Major reasons found by the commission were – :

✓ Low selection of Panchayats

✓ Lack of Funds

✓ Limited Impact

✓ Poor Quality of Roads and Infrastructure.

India-Myanmar agree upon operationalization of Sittwe port.

India and Myanmar have agreed to work towards the operationalization of the Sittwe port in the Rakhine state in the first quarter of 2021. The announcement came post conclusion of the two-day visit of Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane and Foreign Secretary Harsh VardhanShringla to Myanmar.

The Indian delegation also presented 3000 vials of Remdesivir to the State Counsellor Aung San SuuKyi, as a symbol of cooperation between the countries to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both sides agreed to further strengthen their partnership in borderd security connectivity projects, capacity building, power and energy. They also agreed to deepen the economic and trade ties, further facilitate people to people and cultural exchanges and broad-base their defense exchanges across all the three services.

 They also discussed the progress in the ongoing Indian-assisted infrastructure projects such as the Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.

India announced a grant of two million US Dollars for the construction of the border haat bridge at Byanyu/Sarsichauk in Chin State that will provide increased economic connectivity between Mizoram and Myanmar.

India and U.S to work for stability of Indo-Pacific region.

External Affairs Minister of India Jaishankar met Secretary of State of the United States Mike Pompeo today ahead of his joint meeting with the Foreign Ministers of QUAD countries slated to be held later in the day.

•Jaishankar was on a two-day visit to Tokyo, Japan which began today. Jaishankar, in a tweet message, has said that he is pleased to see the progress of Indo-US partnership in many fields.

• Both the countries will work together for stability and prosperity in the Indo- Pacific. The Foreign Ministers of India, United States, Australia and Japan are likely to discuss the post-COVID-19 international order and the need for a coordinated response to the various challenges emerging from the pandemic.

•They will also discuss regional issues and collectively affirm the importance of maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.Jaishankar will be also meeting his Japanese and Australian counterpart for a bilateral consultation. The Ministers are expected to discuss bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.

•AIR correspondent reports, the meeting of Foreign Ministers of India, United States, Australia and Japan holds high significance amid the global pandemic.This is the second time the four foreign ministers will be meeting after their first such meeting last year on the sidelines of the United Nations meet.

  •In addition to the Quad meeting, details are also being worked out for the India-US 22 dialogue.The crucial meet will also embolden one of the most powerful and decisive union of nations in the recent times.

Rating agency forecasts tough times for banks.

Fitch Ratings on Tuesday said Indian banks face a tough operating environment in the near term as stressed loans and write-offs increase due to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Indian banks face a tough operating environment in the near term, as stressed loans and write-offs increase as a result of the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, but a swift economic recovery will be critical to limiting loan losses in what is likely to be a protracted period of weakness in the asset-quality cycle,” Fitch Ratings said.

Banks have been permitted by the Reserve Bank of India to undertake a one-time restructuring exercise of loans affected by the pandemic, which will provide relief in terms of bad loan recognition and provisioning, Fitch said.

“However, the exercise could leave the sector saddled with a high bad loan burden over the next few years if restructured loans do not perform according to agreed milestones,” it added. Fitch said the central bank’s data showed that Indian banks wrote off almost $85 billion over FY14-FY19.

Centre dedicated 42 CNG stations and 3 city gate stations.

India's Petroleum and Natural Gas dedicated 42 CNG stations and three City Gate Stations of Torrent Gas to the service of the community through video conference.

•Torrent Gas has the authorization to lay City Gas Distribution network in 32 Districts across 7 States and one Union Territory. These CNG stations are located across various states, including 14 in Uttar Pradesh, 8 in Maharashtra, 6 in Gujarat, 4 in Punjab and 5 each in Telangana and Rajasthan.

• GoI has visualized that consumers, as per their purchasing capacity and their choice of fuel, should be able to buy any type of fuel from the retail outlet- be it petrol, diesel, CNG, LNG or

electric charging. He also said that the Government wants to supply fuel through the mobile dispensers so that consumers can get the fuel at their doorstep, as per their convenience.

•India is going to become the largest energy consumer in the world in the coming years.

In the Solar energy sector, India has already become the role model. Mr Pradhan said that an investment of more than four lakh crore rupees is being made in the gas infrastructure which includes laying of pipelines, terminals and gas fields.

National Butterfly Campaign .

Citizen campaign to drum up support for identifying a national butterfly has gained Momentum with close to half a lakh people joining the Movement from across the country.

• Spearheaded by butterfly researchers, scientists and enthusiasts, the National Butterfly Campaign has revived focus on the relevance of butterflies in enhancing biodiversity.

• Several countries, including Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia and Bhutan, have national butterflies.

• India is yet to designate a national butterfly despite being home to over 1,300 species belonging to six butterfly families.

• As part of identifying butterfly species that could make it to the coveted status, the National Butterfly Campaign Consortium prepared a long-list of 50 butterflies that was further trimmed to seven.

• A country-wide online poll that commenced on September 11 to identify the most-favoured butterfly species has currently generated 42,090 votes, with Maharashtra recording thehighest number — 16,210. Several people have also cast their votes in West Bengal (3,029) and Karnataka (2,435), while 786 from Kerala have also Joined the Campaign.

Key Contenders:

• Krishna Peacock (Papilio krishna), Indian Jezebel or Common Jezebel (Delias eucharis), Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus), Five-bar Swordtail (Graphium antiphates), Indian Nawab, Yellow

 Gorgon and Northern Junglequeen (Stichophthalma camadeva) are the Contenders for the Premier Position.

Virus researchers to receive nobel prize for medicine.

Two Americans and a Briton won the 2020 Nobel Prize for Medicine on Monday for identifying the Hepatitis C virus, in work spanning decades that has helped to limit the spread of the fatal disease and develop antiviral drugs to cure it.

•The discoveries by scientists Harvey J. Alter, Charles M. Rice and Briton Michael Houghton meant there was now a chance of eradicating the Hepatitis C virus.

•The three share the 10 million Swedish crowns ($1.1 million) award for discovering and proving that a blood -borne virus could cause Hepatitis C, which afflicts more than 70 million people and causes about 4,00,000 deaths each year.

•This virus, belonging to the Flavivirus family, was named Hepatitis C.Its identification made it possible to develop tests to screen bloodbank supplies and greatly reduce the spread of the disease, which can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer.

•The final piece of the jigsaw puzzle came when Dr. Rice, then at Washington University in St. Louis, was able to use genetic engineering to generate a version of the Hepatitis C virus and demonstrate that it alone could cause symptoms in a chimpanzee comparable to an infection in humans.

Focus on UPSC Mains:

Six states want 6k sq. km to be Taken Off Western Ghats Eco Zone.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed concern after six states asked the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to whittle down the size of eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) under the ecologically fragile Western Ghats by 6,386.65 sq km.

 • In 2014, the then MoEF issued a draft notification declaring 56,825 sq km in the Western Ghats as ESZ.

Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ):

• Areas around protected areas to prevent ecological damage caused due to developmental activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

• MoEFCC can designate any area as ESZ.

• Environment Protection Act, 1986 does not mention the word Eco-sensitive Zones.

• Act says that central government can prohibit or restrict the location of industries & carrying on certain operations on basis of considerations like:

✓ Biological Diversity of an Area,

✓ Maximum allowable limits of concentration of pollutants for an area,

✓ Environmentally compatible land use, and

✓ Proximity to Protected Areas.

• This clause have been used by govt. to ESZ or Ecologically Fragile Areas (EFA) & No Development Zones.

• MoEFCC has approved guidelines laying down criteria for declaring ESAs, include:

✓ Species Based (Endemism, Rarity etc),

✓ Ecosystem Based (Sacred Groves, Frontier Forests etc.,) and

✓ Geomorphologic Feature based (Uninhabited Islands, Origins of Rivers etc).

Western Ghats:

• The Western Ghats are also known as Sahyadri.

 • Western Ghats run around 1.6 lakh sq. km, from Kanyakumari to Gujarat and spread across six states. 

• Western Ghats is a treasure trove of biodiversity and source of major rivers, including Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery.

• The hills of this area run parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula and span Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

• The area is an important biological landscape and hosts a variety of endemic species of Flora and Fauna.

• Alongside such biodiversity, the Ghats also support about 50 million people.

• The range runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain ‘Konkan’ along the Arabian Sea.

• The range starts near the Songadh town of Gujarat and ends at Marunthuvazh Malai, near the Southern Tip of India.

• The Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas.

• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s ten hottest biodiversity hotspots. At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats.

• They influence Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the south-west during late summer.

Kasturirangan Committee:

• The Kasturirangan committee was headed by Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation.

• This committee’s report watered down the focus on preserving the environment and recommended that only 37% of the Western Ghats region be classified as an ESA.

• The report essentially split the Ghats into two landscapes – cultural and ecological, with the percentage of ecological landscape standing at 37%.

• The report removed the system of gradation recommended by the Gadgil commission.

• Instead, the former banked on an existing system of ‘red’, ‘orange’ and ‘green’ categorization of activities according to their polluting effects.

• Kasturirangan recommended that ‘red’ category industries (like mining and quarrying) be banned, ‘orange’ ones (like food processing, hotels and restaurants, automobile servicing) be regulated and ‘green’ (like processing of grains, apparel-making) be allowed to function as usual. With respect to activities like sand-mining and Quarrying, which fall in the ‘red’ category, the Kasturirangan report provided some relief: existing operations would be allowed to continue until their lease expired but that the lease would not be renewed.

• However, conservationists had issues with the dilutions of the Gadgil report. Because only 37% of the Western Ghats were to be regarded as an ESA, the threat posed to the region by developmental activities like hydropower projects remained because they could be setup in the remaining 63%, and still fragment and degrade the landscape.

• The Kasturirangan report was submitted to the environment ministry in 2013 and was quickly met with resistance from politicians as well as members of local communities.

Polygraph and Narcoanalysis tests

The Uttar Pradesh government has recently decided to conduct polygraph and narcoanalysis tests of the accused and all Involved Police Personnel as part of the investigation into the Alleged gangrape and murder of a 19-year old in Hathras last month.

About Polygraph or Lie Detector Test:

• It is a procedure that measures and records several physiological indicators such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while a person is asked and answers a series of Questions.

 • It is based on the assumption that physiological responses that are triggered when a person is lying are different from what they would be otherwise.

• A Numerical value is assigned to each response to conclude whether the person is telling the Truth, is Deceiving, or is Uncertain.

• It is similar to Polygraph was first done in the 19th century by the Italian criminologist Cesare Lombroso, who used a machine to measure changes in the blood pressure of criminal suspects during interrogation.

About Narcoanalysis Test:

• It involves the injection of a drug, sodium pentothal, which induces a hypnotic or sedated state in which the subject’s imagination is neutralized, and they are expected to divulge information that is true.

• Its drug is also referred to as truth serum, was used in larger doses as anesthesia during surgery, and is said to have been used during World War II for intelligence operations.

•The investigating agencies have sought to employ these tests in the investigation,and are sometimes seen as being a softer alternative to torture or “third degree” to extract the truth from suspects. Brain Mapping Test or P-300 test is the activity of the brain of a suspect is measured during interrogation to find out whether he is concealing Any Information.

Limitations:

• None of these methods has been proven scientifically to have a 100% success rate, and remain contentious in the medical field as well.

• The consequences of such tests on individuals from weaker sections of society who are unaware of their fundamental rights and unable to afford legal advice can be adverse.

• It may involve future abuse, harassment, and surveillance, even leakage of the video material to the Press for a trial by the media.

 Important Constitutional Aspects:

• In the Selvi vs State of Karnataka & Anr case (2010), the Supreme Court ruled that no lie detector tests should be administered without the consent of the accused.

• Also, those who volunteer must have access to a lawyer and have the physical, emotional, and legal implications of the test explained to them by police and the lawyer.

• The results of the tests cannot be considered to be "confessions", but any information or material subsequently discovered with the help of such a voluntarily-taken test can be admitted as evidence

• The SC cited Article 20 (3) or Right against self-incrimination which states that no accused can be compelled to be a witness against himself.

• In the D.K. Basu vs. State of West Bengal case, 1997, the SC ruled that involuntary administration of the polygraph and narcos test will amount to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment in the context of Article 21 or the Right to Life and Liberty.

• It may also be violative of the Right to Privacy which is a part of the Right to Life.

• The Indian Evidence Act, 1871 does not admit the results of these tests as evidence.

• The National Human Rights Commission in 1999 adopted a set of guidelines relating to the administration of the Polygraph Test which included consent, recording of the test, etc.

Way Ahead:

• The government should encourage the use of scientific techniques in the otherwise long investigative procedures and trials but should also come up with strict rules for their use in a decent, and Consensual Manner.

• These methods cannot be used as incriminating evidence or confessions due to their limited Reliability and scientific proofs. They can be used as useful tools to solve Complicated Cases as Investigative Tools.

Comprehensive Current affairs 8 October 2020

SC quizzes centre and RBI over implementation of Kamalnath committee recommendations.

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India about the steps taken to implement the K.V. Kamath Committee report on recommendations to bail out sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Bench led by Justice Ashok Bhushan noted that an additional affidavit filed by the government late last week did not address “several issues” raised in writ petitions highlighting the plight of borrowers, small and big, who were being charged compound interest, post the pandemic moratorium which expired on August 31.

During the hearing, the court asked the government whether it had so far issued any circulars, policy decisions and so on, based on the Kamath panel report, which has made suggestions for a loan resolution or restructuring scheme for 26 pandemic-distressed sectors.

 The court said it was not just about placing the report on record, but implementing it. The RBI and the government should issue circulars so that people knew what benefits had been extended to them. “It will be done,” the government and RBI sides responded.

Survey finds majority rural consumers unaware of transfat.

Despite an increase in cardiovascular diseases in the rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, 61% of consumers in the villages in Rajasthan are unaware of the hazards of trans fats, which are responsible for heart ailments by raising the cholesterol levels. Very few consumers know about the sources of trans fats, according to a survey.

The sample survey, conducted by the Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS)-International in 12 districts of the State recently, has found that the consumption of industrially produced partially hydrogenated vegetable oils had increased by 19% from its pre-lockdown level in the rural areas.

In the urban areas, 46% of the consumers were found unaware of the health harms associated with trans fats, though 21% of them had heard the term.

India-South Korea to expand cooperation in health sectors.

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey and United Kingdom’s Minister of State for South East Asia Affairs Lord Tariq Ahmed discussed bilateral relations in the health sector of the two countries through video conference today.

The two Ministers discussed in detail the current status of the COVID-19 vaccine, its efforts to reach the public and the efforts being made by both countries to stop the pandemic.

Mr.Choubey said that COVID-19 has given humanity an opportunity to come together and fight this pandemic with full force and resolve.

Highlighting the need to include the theme of "Ayushman Bharat" in the agenda of the next joint working group meeting to enhance cooperation between the two countries, Mr.Choubey suggested to further cooperation in the fields of e-health, drug regulations, regulatory cooperation, pharma exports, collaborative research, capacity building, among others to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

UK's Minister of State for South East Asia, Lord Tariq Ahmed took this occasion to discuss the work being done by India and the United Kingdom on the COVID-19 vaccine. He thanked Prime Minister NarendraModi for India's critical help in the form of medicines during this transition period.

New Caledonia votes to remain within French territory

The South Pacific territory of New Caledonia chose to remain French on Sunday, narrowly rejecting independence in a tightly-fought referendum marked by a high turnout.

The vote rejecting a breakaway from France after almost 170 years came in at 53.26 percent, down from 56.7 percent in a referendum two years ago.

Sunday's vote was part of a carefully negotiated decolonisation plan agreed in 1998 which ended a deadly conflict between the mostly pro-independence indigenous Kanak population and the descendants of European settlers.

New Caledonia, situated between Australia and Fiji and sometimes called "The Pebble", was seized by France in 1853 and is home to 270,000 people.

The economy's mainstays are the production of metals, especially nickel of which New Caledonia is a major global producer, as well as tourism and financial support from mainland France.

India, Denmark sign MoU on Intellectual Property Cooperation.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Danish Patent and Trademark Office, Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs,

Denmark for intellectual property cooperation.

• The MoU Aims at increasing IP Cooperation between the Two Countries by Way of:

 • Exchange of best practices, experiences and knowledge on IP awareness among public,authorities, businesses and research and educational institution of both countries.

• Collaboration in training programmes, exchange of experts, technical exchanges and outreach activities.

• Exchange of information and best practices on processes for disposal of applications for patents, trademarks, industrial designs and Geographical Indications, as also the protection, enforcement and use of IP rights.

• Cooperation in the development of automation and implementation of modernization projects, new documentation and information systems in IP and procedures for the management of IP.

• Cooperation to understand how Traditional Knowledge is protected; including the use of traditional knowledge related databases and awareness raising of existing IP systems.

• This MoU is expected to go a long way in fostering the cooperation between India and Denmark, and provide opportunities to both countries to learn from the experience of each other, especially in terms of best practices followed in the other country.

Centre decides to take street food vendors online under PM SVANIDHI scheme.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has entered into anMoU with Swiggy, one of the leading food delivery platforms, to onboard street food vendors on its e-commerce platform.

The MoU aims at giving the street food vendors online access to thousands of consumers and help them grow their businesses. The arrangement has been facilitated under the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNibharNidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme.

The Ministry and Swiggy will run a pilot programme by on-boarding 250 vendors across five cities namely - Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi, Indore, and Varanasi. The street vendors will be helped with PAN and FSSAI registration, training on technology, menu digitization and pricing along with hygiene and packaging best practices.

 Upon the successful completion of the pilot programme, Urban Affairs Ministry and Swiggy plan to expand this initiative across the country in phases.

In a first of its kind initiative, the Urban Affairs Ministry has coordinated with the key stakeholders including Municipal Corporations, FSSAI, Swiggy and GST officials to ensure that necessary pre-requisites are completed for this initiative.

GST council fails to decide upon state compensation.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council was deadlocked on the issue of compensation to be paid to states on account of the shortfall stemming from the transition to the levy in 2017. It however decided to extend the compensation cess beyond 2022—the five-year period that had been agreed originally. The council will meet again on October 12 to discuss the issue.

The Centre will immediately disburse Rs 20,000 crore collected in the cess fund in the current financial year to states, Union finance minister NirmalaSitharaman, also the council chairman, told reporters after its Monday meeting.

The Centre proposed to raise the borrowing limit to Rs 1.1 lakh crore from Rs 97,000 crore as suggested by some states in their feedback, pruning the expected revenue growth to 7% instead of the 10% previously estimated over the last financial year.

DRDO test fires ASW missile system.

Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo, SMART was successfully flight tested today from Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha.

Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO said, all the mission objectives including missile flight upto the range and altitude, separation of the nose cone, release of Torpedo and deployment of Velocity Reduction Mechanism (VRM) have been met perfectly.

SMART is a missile assisted release of lightweight Anti-Submarine Torpedo System for Anti-Submarine Warfare or ASW operations far beyond Torpedo range.

 The launch and demonstration are significant in establishing Anti-Submarine warfare capabilities. A number of DRDO laboratories including DRDL, RCI Hyderabad, ADRDE Agra, NSTL Visakhapatnam have developed the technologies required for SMART.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO Scientists and other stake holders for the important feat. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy, said that SMART is a game changer technology demonstration in the Anti-Submarine Warfare.

JIMEX 2020 be in North Arabian sea.

The 4th edition of India - Japan Maritime bilateral exercise JIMEX will be held in the North Arabian Sea.

About JIMEX Exercise:

• It is a series of exercises commenced in January 2012 with special focus on maritime security cooperation.

• It is conducted biennially between the Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

• The last edition of JIMEX was conducted in October 2018 off Visakhapatnam, India.

• The Multi-faceted tactical exercises involving weapon firings, cross deck helicopter operations and complex surface, anti-submarine and air warfare drills will consolidate coordination developed by the two navies.

• It is indigenously built stealth destroyer Chennai, Teg Class stealth frigate Tarkash and Fleet Tanker Deepak will represent the Indian Navy. P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft will also participate in the exercise.

• The exercise is taking place in the backdrop of growing concerns over China's military muscle flexing in the Indian Ocean Region as well as in the Indo-Pacific.

 • It will be the first military exercise after the two countries signed a landmark agreement (Acquisition and Cross- Servicing Agreement - ACSA), that will allow their militaries to access each other's bases for logistics support.

• India has significantly expanded its deployment in the Indian Ocean Region with a plethora of warships and submarines following the border row with China. The maritime space around the Malacca Strait is critical for China's supply chain through sea routes.

• Indian and Australian navies conducted a passage exercise in the eastern Indian Ocean Region (IOR). A passage exercise is normally undertaken whenever an opportunity arises, in contrast to pre-planned maritime drills.

• The Indian Navy carried out a military exercise with a USA Navy carrier strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz off the coast of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

• The USS Nimitz is the world's largest warship. Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the Indian Ocean in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

• Other Military Exercises between India and Japan are Annual joint land military exercise named 'Dharma Guardian', Joint Air Force exercise 'Shinyuu Maitri' and Trilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar with the USA.

Vishnu pandian wins gold in online shooting championship.

India's VisnuShivarajPandian won the 10m air rifle event at the fifth edition of the International Online Shooting Championship yesterday. The 16-year-old Visnu shot 251.4 to win the title by a clear margin of two points.

The second place was won by world no. 27 Etienne Germond of France while Olympic quota winner Martin Strempfl of Austria took the third place.

Shooters from 15 countries are participating in the two-day competition. The 10m air pistol event will be held today. Leading India's challenge will be Olympic quota winner Yashaswini Singh Deswal.

 Focus on UPSC mains.

Document on UCBs’ Cybersecurity

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has come out with ‘Technology Vision for Cyber Security for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) 2020-2023’ to enhance cybersecurity of urban co-Operative Banks (UCBs).

Highlights:

• It plans to achieve its objective through a five-pillared strategic approach GUARD, viz.

Governance Oversight, Utile Technology Investment, Appropriate Regulation and

Supervision, Robust Collaboration and Developing necessary IT, cybersecurity skill sets.

• The vision document, with its 12 specific action points, aspires to involve more board oversight over cybersecurity; enable UCBs to better manage and secure IT assets; develop a forum for UCBs so that they can share best Practices etc.

What are Co-operative Banks?

• Co-operative banks are financial entities established on a co-operative basis and belonging to their members. This means that the customers of a co-operative bank are also its owners.

• These banks provide a wide range of regular banking and financial services.

Background:

• The problem of rural credit was the key reason behind the advent of the co-operative movement in India, which began with the passage of the Co-operative Societies Act in 1904.

• The next addition was the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912, which focussed on the need for regulation of such societies and hence the establishment of appropriate bodies to oversee their Functioning.

 Structure of Co-operative Banks in India:

• Broadly, co-operative banks in India are divided into two categories – urban and rural.

• Rural cooperative credit institutions could either be short-term or long-term in nature.

✓ Short-term cooperative credit institutions are further sub-divided into State Co-operative Banks, District Central Co-operative Banks and Primary Agricultural Credit Societies.

✓ Long-term institutions are either State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (SCARDBs) or Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (PCARDBs).

• Urban Co-operative Banks (UBBs) are either scheduled or non-scheduled. Scheduled and non-scheduled UCBs are again of two kinds- multi-state and those operating in single state.

Who Oversees these Banks?

• In India, co-operative banks are registered under the States Cooperative Societies Act.

They also come under the regulatory ambit of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under two laws, namely, the Banking Regulations Act, 1949, and the Banking Laws (Co-operative Societies) Act, 1955.

• They were brought under RBI in 1966, a move which brought the problem of dual regulation along with it.

Difference between Scheduled Commercial Banks and Co-operative Banks:

• Primary Function: Commercial bank’s primary function is to accept deposits from the public and provision loans to individuals or businesses. A cooperative bank’s primary business is to accept deposits from members and the public, and grant loans to farmers and Small Businessmen.

Motive: Commercial banks can be considered as joint stock companies, incorporated as a banking company that operates for profit. Cooperative banks work for service (Financial Inclusion, Community Service) motive.

 • Regulation: Unlike commercial banks, UCBs are only partly regulated by the RBI. While their banking operations are regulated by the RBI, their management and resolution in the case of distress is regulated by the Registrar of Co- operative Societies either under the

State or Central government.

• Area of Operation: The area of operation of a commercial bank is comparatively larger than a cooperative bank, as opposed to the cooperative banks which are confined to a limited area.

• Voting Powers: The borrower in a commercial bank do not have any voting power.

Cooperative banks borrowers influence the credit policy through their voting power.

• Inters Rates: Commercial bank’s interest rate on deposits is relatively lesser than a cooperative bank.

• However, in the event UCBs fail, deposits with them are covered by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation of India up to a sum of ₹1 lakh per depositor, the same as for a Commercial Bank.

EC Announces New Rules for Postal Ballot.

Seeking to make the procedure to opt for postal ballot more convenient for those above 80 years of age and people with disabilities, the Election Commission has come out with a set of New Instructions.

About the News:

• The form required to opt for the postal ballot would be delivered at the residence of all those above 80 years of age and people with disabilities by the booth level officer under his polling station. It would be up to these two category of voters to opt for postal ballot.

• "If he/she opts for postal ballot, then the BLO will collect the filled-in form 12-D from the house of the elector within five days of the notification and deposit it with the returning officer forthwith".

 • The Fresh Instructions would be applicable to all elections and by -elections, including the by Polls Announced last week to 56 assembly and one Lok Sabha seat.

• The Returning officer would deploy polling teams, who will deliver and collect the postal ballot on pre-informed dates and thereafter deposit it with the RO.

• This postal Ballot Facility is different from the one extended to service voters. Here, those willing to use the facility have to fill up a form. Officials then carry the ballot to the residence of such voters and Videograph the voting to ensure transparency.

What is Postal Voting?

• A Restricted set of Voters can Exercise Postal Voting.

• Through this facility, a voter can cast her vote remotely by recording her preference on the Ballot Paper and sending it back to the Election Officer before counting.

Who can Avail of this Facility?

• Members of the armed forces like the Army, Navy and Air Force, members of the armed police force of a state (serving outside the state), government employees posted outside India and their spouses are entitled to vote only by post.

• In other words, they can’t vote in person. Voters under preventive detention can also vote only by post.

• Special voters such as the President of India, Vice President, Governors, Union Cabinet ministers, Speaker of the House and government officers on poll duty have the option to vote by post.

• But they have to apply through a prescribed form to Avail this Facility.

What about Absentee Voters?

• Recently, the Law Ministry, at the Election Commission’s behest, introduced a new category of ‘absentee voters’, who can now also opt for postal voting.

 • These are voters employed in essential services and unable to cast their vote due to their service conditions.

• Currently, officials of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Northern Railway (Passenger and Freight) Services and media persons are notified as absentee voters.

• Senior citizens above the age of 65 and voters who test positive for COVID19 or are suspected to be COVID-affected were allowed to cast their vote by post.

How are Votes Recorded by Post?

• The Returning Officer is supposed to print ballot papers within 24 hours of the last date of nomination withdrawal and dispatch them within a day.

• This is done so that the ballot papers reach the concerned voter well before the polling date and she has enough time to send it back before the counting day.

• Postal ballot papers for members of the Armed Forces are sent through their record offices.

• For members of the armed police force of a state (serving outside the state), government employees posted outside India and their spouses, the ballot paper can be sent through post or electronically.

• For remaining categories ballot papers can be delivered personally or through the post.

Issues with the Recent Move:

• Allowing those aged 80 and above to vote by postal ballot violates secrecy in voting as a large Segment of the Population is uneducated and they might seek assistance from others.

• This will end up Disclosing their Preferred Candidate.

• This also exposes them to “administrative influence or influence by the Government or the ruling party”.