Inflation Data

the Office of the Economic Adviser(anantha nagashwaran), Department for

Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has released the Wholesale
Price Index (WPI) for the month of February, 2021.
 Wholesale Price-Inflation:

o It increased for the second consecutive month

to 4.17%.

 This is the highest since November

2018, when wholesale inflation was
at 4.47%.
 The WPI inflation was 2.03% in January
2021 and 2.26% in February 2020.
 Reason:

o Increase in inflation in food articles, fuel & power has

led to this surge.

 Food Inflation: The food articles in February

saw 1.36% inflation which in January stood at (-)
2.80%.
 Retail inflation: Based on the Consumer Price
Index (CPI), it was at 5.03% in February.
Wholesale Price Index
 It measures the changes in the prices of goods sold and
traded in bulk by wholesale businesses to other
businesses.
 Published by the Office of Economic Adviser, Ministry of
Commerce and Industry.
 It is the most widely used inflation indicator in India.
 Major criticism for this index is that the general public does
not buy products at wholesale price.
  The base year of All-India WPI has been revised from
2004-05 to 2011-12 in 2017.
Consumer Price Index
 It measures price changes from the perspective of a
retail buyer. It is released by the National Statistical
Office (NSO).
INS Surat and frigate INS Udaygiri
the Defence Minister launched the Indian Navy destroyer warship INS
Surat and frigate INS Udaygiri in Mumbai.

What is INS Surat?

 About:
o ‘Surat’ is the fourth ship of Project
15B Destroyers which heralds a significant
makeover of the P15A (Kolkata Class)
Destroyers.
o The first ship (Visakhapatnam) of this class
was commissioned in 2021. The second
(Mormugao) and third (Imphal) ships have been
launched and are at different stages of outfitting/
trials.
 Named After:
o It is named after the commercial capital of the state
of Gujarat and also the second largest commercial hub
of western India after Mumbai.
 Surat city has a rich maritime & ship building
history and vessels built at the city in the 16th and
18th centuries were known for their longevity (of
more than 100 years).
 The ship Surat has been built using the Block
construction methodology.
 This methodology includes hull
construction at two different
 geographical locations and has been
joined together at MDL, Mumbai.
What is Project 15B?
 Project-15B:
o These ships are amongst the most
technologically advanced Guided Missile
Destroyers of the world, with state-of-the-art
weapon/sensor package, advanced stealth
features and a high degree of automation.
o In 2011, the deal to build four warships
-- Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal, and
Surat -- was signed under the Project-15B
programme worth Rs 29,643.74 crore.
 However, the final cost escalated to Rs
35,000 crore.
o All four ships have been christened after cities
from four corners of the country and the
induction of ships will be completed by 2024.
 Features of the P-15B Ships:
o These ships are equipped with BrahMos
supersonic cruise missiles and long-
range Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM).
o The ship has several indigenous weapons
systems like medium range Surface-to-Air Missile
(SAMs), indigenous torpedo tube launchers, anti-
submarine indigenous rocket launchers and 76-
mm super rapid gun mount.
What is INS Udaygiri?
 About:
o It is the third ship of Project 17A frigates.
 Named After:
o The ship 'Udaygiri' is named after a mountain
range in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
  ‘Udaygiri’ is the reincarnation of
erstwhile ‘Udaygiri’, the Leander Class
ASW Frigate, which saw numerous
challenging operations in its illustrious
service to the country spanning over
three decades from 1976 to 2007.
 Progress under P17A:
o Under the P17A program, a total of seven ships,
with 04 at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL),
Mumbai and 03 at GRSE are under
construction.
o Various novel concepts and technologies like
Integrated Construction, Mega Block Outsourcing,
Project Data Management/ Project Lifecycle
Management (PDM/PLM) etc have been adopted
for the first time in indigenous Warship Design and
Construction in this project.
What is Project 17A Frigates?
 About:
o Project 17A frigates are follow-on of the P17
Frigates (Shivalik Class) with improved stealth
features, advanced weapons and sensors and
platform management systems.
o A total of seven ships are being constructed,
four at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL),
Mumbai and three at Garden Reach Ship
Builders Limited (GRSE), Kolkata.
 Features:
o The main advanced stealth features of P-17A
pertain to the smaller Radar cross-section of the
ship achieved through the use of a special super
structure shape which reduces radar wave
reflections.
o Another important feature is regarding the ship’s
low acoustic noise emanating from propellers,
operating machinery like Diesel Generators etc.,
 which helps sonars on other ships to detect its
presence.
 Such stealth features play an
important role in improving the ship's
survivability in any hostile environment
during operations.
HS200 Solid Rocket Booster for Gaganyaan Mission
Recently, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has
completed the static test of the human-rated solid rocket booster
(HS200) for Gaganyaan programme.

What is the HS200 Solid Rocket Booster?

 The booster engine is part of the Geosynchronous
Satellite Launch Vehicle MkIII (GSLV Mk III) rocket that
will carry Indian astronauts to space.
o The GSLV Mk-III rocket which will be used for the
Gaganyaan mission will have two HS200
boosters which will supply the thrust for lift-off.
o The HS200 is a 20-metre-long booster with a
diameter of 3.2 metres and is the world’s second
largest operational booster using solid
propellants.
 The HS200 is the human-rated version of the S200 rocket
booster of satellite launch vehicle GSLV Mk III, popularly
known as LVM3.
o Since Gaganyaan is a crewed mission, the GSLV
Mk-III will have improvements to increase reliability
and safety to meet the requirements of 'human
rating.'
 The S200 motor - the first stage of the LVM3 launch
vehicle designed to deliver 4,000 kg satellites to
geosynchronous transfer orbit - was configured as a
strap-on rocket booster.
 This full-duration test of the first stage of the launch vehicle
marks a major milestone for the Gaganyaan programme.
  Design and development of the HS200 booster was
completed at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in
Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, and propellant casting was
completed at Sriharikota.
 Out of the three propulsion stages of LVM3, the human-
rated versions of the second-stage known as L110-G loaded
with liquid propellant and the third stage C25-G with
cryogenic propellant are in the final phase of qualification,
including tests with static firing.
What is GSLV?
 GSLV is a much more powerful rocket, meant to carry
heavier satellites much deeper into space. Till date, GSLV
rockets have carried out 18 missions, of which four ended in
failure.
 It can take 10,000-kg satellites to lower earth orbits.
 The indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS),
forms the third stage of GSLV Mk II.
 Mk-III versions have made ISRO entirely self-sufficient for
launching its satellites.
o Before this, it used to depend on the European
Arianne launch vehicle to take its heavier satellites
into space.
o GSLV-Mk III is a fourth generation, three stage
launch vehicle with four liquid strap-ons. The
indigenously developed CUS, which is flight
proven, forms the third stage of GSLV Mk III.
o The rocket has three-stages with two solid motor
strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage
(L110) and a cryogenic stage (C-25).
What is Gaganyaan Mission?
 About:
o Gaganyaan is a mission by the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO).
o Under the Gaganyaan schedule (to be launched in
2023):
  Three flights will be sent into orbit.
 There will be two unmanned flights and
one human spaceflight.
o The Gaganyaan system module, called the Orbital
Module will have three Indian astronauts, including
a woman.
o It will circle Earth at a low-earth-orbit at an altitude
of 300-400 km from earth for 5-7 days.
 Payloads:
o The payload will consist of:
 Crew module - spacecraft carrying
human beings.
 Service module - powered by two liquid
propellant engines.
 It will be equipped with emergency
escape and emergency mission abort.
 Launch:
o GSLV Mk III, also called the LVM-3 (Launch
Vehicle Mark-3,) the three-stage heavy lift launch
vehicle, will be used to launch Gaganyaan as it
has the necessary payload capability.
 Training in Russia:
o In June 2019, the Human Space Flight Centre of
the ISRO and the Russian government-owned
Glavkosmos signed a contract for the training,
which includes Russian support in the selection of
candidates, their medical examination, and space
training.
 The candidates will study in detail the
systems of the Soyuz manned
spaceship, as well as be trained in short-
term weightlessness mode aboard the Il-
76MDK aircraft.
  The Soyuz is a Russian spacecraft. The
Soyuz carries people and supplies to
and from the space station.
 The Il-76MDK is a military transport
plane specially designed for parabolic
flights of trainee astronauts and space
tourists.
Cryptocurrency
the Central African Republic (CAR) became the second country after
El Salvador to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender.

 The Union Budget 2022-2023 of India has also proposed to

introduce a digital currency in the coming financial year.
 It was also announced that “any income from transfer of any
virtual digital asset shall be taxed at the rate of 30%."
Twin Cyclones
Why in News?
Recent satellite images have Captured Twin Cyclones in the Indian
Ocean region, one in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern
hemisphere, named cyclone Asani and cyclone Karim respectively.

What are Cyclone Karim and Asani?

 Karim is classified as a category II hurricane, with a wind
speed of 112 kilometers per hour (kmph).
 Asani remains a Severe Cyclonic Storm over the Bay of
Bengal, with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120
kmph.
 Both were formed in the Indian Ocean region.
 Both cyclones originated in the same longitude and now
drifting apart.
 Cyclone Karim has created a path in the open seas west
of Australia.
  The name Karim was given by the South African country
Seychelles. The name Cyclone Asani was suggested by Sri
Lanka.
What are Twin Cyclones?
 The interplay of the wind and the monsoon
system combined with the Earth system produces these
synchronous cyclones.
 The twin tropical cyclones are caused by what are
called equatorial Rossby waves.
o Rossby waves are huge waves in the ocean
with wavelengths of around 4,000–5,000
kilometres.
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
India’s Prime Minister participated in an event in Tokyo to launch the Indo-
Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

 This economic initiative came a day before the second in-

person summit of the Quad leaders (India, the US,
Australia and Japan) in Tokyo.
 About:
 It is a US-led initiative that aims to strengthen economic
partnership among participating countries to enhance
resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic
growth, fairness, and competitiveness in the Indo-
Pacific region.
 The IPEF was launched with a dozen initial partners
who together represent 40% of the world GDP.
Trincomalee Port of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka plans to develop Trincomalee port into an industrial hub that
would spark global interest.

 The proposal is a long-standing plan to monetise land that

belongs to the Sri Lanka Port Authority, by getting foreign
and local investment for a special economic zone, an
industrial park, or an energy hub.
What are the Key Highlights?
 About Trincomalee Port:
o Trincomalee harbour is on the northeastern
coast of Sri Lanka. It is situated on a peninsula in
Trincomalee Bay—formerly called Koddiyar Bay.
o Trincomalee is the nearest port to
Chennai, India.
US-Taiwan Relations
 China-Taiwan Relations:
o Taiwan is an island territory across the Taiwan
Strait, located off the coast of mainland China.
o The ruling Kuomintang (Nationalist)
government of China fled to Taiwan after being
defeated by the communist forces in the
Chinese civil war of 1945-1949.
o Following the split of China and Taiwan in the
civil war, the Republic of China (ROC)
government was relocated to Taiwan. On the
other hand, The Communist Party of China
(CPC) established the People’s Republic of
China (PRC) in the mainland.
 Since then, the PRC observes Taiwan
as a traitor province and awaits
reintegration with Taiwan, if possible,
by peaceful means.
o Simultaneously, the United Nations membership
was continued by the ROC maintaining its
permanent seat at the UN Security Council
(UNSC).
o PRC allied itself with the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (USSR) and ROC with the
US in the cold war further straining the China-
Taiwan relations.
o Consequently, two Taiwan Strait crises of the
1950s happened.
  Reconciliation of the US with China and the Subsequent
Events:
o The US and China reconciled in the 1970s due
to the Cold War’s shifting geopolitics, so that
the growing influence of the USSR could be
countered.
o This was followed by the visit of the then US
President to the PRC in 1972.
o Subsequently, ROC was displaced by the PRC
as the official representative at the UN.
o Then, “One-China Principle” came into picture.
7th Annual Meeting of NDB
Recently, the Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs and India’s
Governor for the New Development Bank (NDB) chaired the 7th Annual
Meeting of Board of Governors of NDB (New Development Bank).

 The meeting was also attended by Governors/Alternate

Governors of Brazil, China, Russia, South Africa and the
newly joined members Bangladesh and United Arab
Emirates (UAE).
 Theme for the Annual Meeting was “NDB: Optimising
Development Impact”.
Highlighting that India is celebrating 75 years of Independence this
year, the Union Finance Minister mentioned that India’s economic
growth in the current financial year has been robust and is
estimated to be 8.9 % which is the highest among all large
economies.

Stagflation
o Stagflation means a situation characterized by
simultaneous increase in prices and stagnation of
economic growth.
 The term Stagflation was coined by Iain Macleod,
a Conservative Party MP in the United
Kingdom, in November 1965.
 o It is described as a situation in the economy where the
growth rate slows down, the level of unemployment
remains steadily high and yet the inflation or price level
remains high at the same time.
o It is Dangerous for the economy.
 In a usually low growth situation, central banks
and governments try to stimulate the economy
through higher public spending and low
interest rates to create demand.
 These measures also tend to elevate prices and
cause inflation. So, these tools cannot be
adopted when inflation is already running high,
which makes it difficult to break out of the low
growth-high inflation trap.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
What is PMAY-G Scheme?
 Launch: To achieve the objective of “Housing for All” by
2022, the erstwhile rural housing scheme Indira Awaas
Yojana (IAY) was restructured to Pradhan Mantri Awaas
Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) w.e.f 1st April, 2016.
 Ministry Involved: Ministry of Rural development.
 Aim: To provide a pucca house with basic amenities to all
rural families, who are homeless or living in kutcha or
dilapidated houses by the end of March 2022.
o To help rural people Below the Poverty Line
(BPL) in construction of dwelling units and
upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha
houses by providing assistance in the form of a
full grant.
What is PMAY-U Scheme?
 Launch:
o 25th June 2015, intends to provide housing for all in
urban areas by year 2022.
  Implemented by:
o Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Tomb of Sand’ won International Booker Prize
Tomb of Sand’, has become the first book written in an Indian
language to be awarded the International Booker Prize.

 Originally published in Hindi as Ret Samadhi, the book is

written by Author Geetanjali Shree and translated into
English by Daisy Rockwell.
 The book narrates the story of an 80-year-old woman who
experiences a deep depression after the death of her
husband. Eventually, she overcomes her depression and
decides to visit Pakistan to finally confront the past that she
left behind during the Partition.

What is the International Booker Prize?

 The International Booker Prize is awarded annually for a
single book, translated into English and published in
the UK or Ireland.
 The International Booker Prize began life in 2005 as the
Man Booker International Prize.
  This prize aims to encourage more reading of quality fiction
from all over the world and has already had an impact on
those statistics in the UK.
 The vital work of translators is celebrated, with the £50,000
prize money divided equally between the author and
translator.
 Each shortlisted author and translator also receive £2,500.
 Novels and collections of short stories are both eligible.
N-Habitat Plan For Jaipur
Recently, the UN-Habitat has identified issues associated with Jaipur
city like multi hazard vulnerabilities, weak mobility and Green-Blue
economy and has laid out a plan to increase sustainability in the city.

 The urban problems which persist in Jaipur are the same for
other cities.
 UN-Habitat has based its findings on sustainable cities
integrated approach pilot project and a “sustainable
urban planning and management” component was
implemented in partnership with the Jaipur Development
Authority and Jaipur Greater Municipal Corporation.
o The project has received funding from the Global
Environment Facility (GEF-6) to estimate the
carbon sequestration potential of Indian cities.
What is the Findings of the Project?
 Jaipur got an overall sustainability rating of three on
the Urban Sustainability Assessment Framework
(USAF) based on the information collected for 87 of its 131
parameters.
o The Urban Sustainability Assessment Framework
(USAF) developed under the Sustainable Cities
Integrated Approach Pilot (SCIAP) project,
implemented by United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO) and UN-
Habitat.
What is the UN-Habitat?
 The United Nations Human Settlements Programme is
the United Nations programme for human settlements and
sustainable urban development.
 It was established in 1978 as an outcome of the First UN
Conference on Human Settlements and Sustainable
Urban Development (Habitat I) held in Vancouver,
Canada, in 1976.
 UN-Habitat maintains its headquarters at the United
Nations Office at Nairobi, Kenya.
 It is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to
promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and
cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.
 It is a member of the United Nations Development
Group. The mandate of UN-Habitat derives from the Habitat
Agenda, adopted by the United Nations Conference on
Human Settlements (Habitat II) in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1996.
 The twin goals of the Habitat Agenda are:
o Adequate shelter for all
o The development of sustainable human
settlements in an urbanizing world
Bharat Drone Mahotsav 2022
Recently, India's biggest Drone Festival - Bharat Drone Mahotsav
2022 was inaugurated in New Delhi by the Prime Minister.

 A virtual award of drone pilot certificates, panel

discussions, product launches, display of a ‘Made in
India’ Drone Taxi prototype, flying demonstrations,
among others were the key events.
What are Drones?
 Drone is a layman terminology for Unmanned Aircraft
(UA).
 Originally developed for the military and aerospace
industries, drones have found their way into the mainstream
 because of the enhanced levels of safety and efficiency they
bring.
 A drone’s autonomy level can range from remotely piloted (a
human controls its movements) to advanced autonomy,
which means that it relies on a system of sensors
and LIDAR detectors to calculate its movement.
Agnipath Scheme
Recently, the government has unveiled Agnipath scheme for recruiting
soldiers across the Three services (Army, Navy and Airforce).

What is the Agnipath Scheme?

 About:
o It allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve
in the Armed Forces for a period of four years.
o Under this scheme, the youth joining the army
will be called Agniveer. Youth will be able to be
recruited into the army for a short duration.
o Under the new scheme, around 45,000 to 50,000
soldiers will be recruited annually, and most will
leave the service in just four years.
o However, after four years, only 25% of the batch
will be recruited back into their respective
services, for a period of 15 years.
 Eligibility Criteria:
o It is only for personnel below officer
ranks (those who do not join the forces as
commissioned officers).
 Commissioned officers are the army's
highest ranked officers.
 Commissioned officers hold an
exclusive rank in the Indian armed
forces. They often hold a commission
under the president's sovereign
power and are officially instructed to pro
 

 tect the country.

o Aspirants between the ages of 17.5 years and 23
years will be eligible to apply.
 Objectives:
o It aims at providing an opportunity to the
patriotic and motivated youth with the ‘Josh’ and
‘Jazba’ to join the Armed Forces.
o It is expected to bring down the average age
profile of the Indian Armed Forces by about 4 to 5
years.
o The scheme envisions that, the average age in the
forces is 32 years today, which will go down to 26
in six to seven years.
 Benefits for Agniveers:
o Upon the completion of the 4-years of service, a
one-time ‘Seva Nidhi’ package of Rs 11.71 lakhs
will be paid to the Agniveers that will include their
accrued interest thereon.
o They will also get a Rs 48 lakh life insurance cover
for the four years.
o In case of death, the payout will be over Rs 1
crore, including pay for the unserved tenure.
o The government will help rehabilitate soldiers
who leave the services after four years. They
will be provided with skill certificates and bridge
courses.
Sovereign Gold Bonds
Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, has
decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds-2018-19. The Sovereign Gold
Bonds will be issued every month from October 2018 to February 2019

 Sovereign Gold Bonds are government securities

denominated in grams of gold. They are substitutes for
holding physical gold.
 The sovereign gold bond scheme was launched in
November 2015 to reduce the demand for physical gold and
shift a part of the domestic savings, used for the purchase of
gold, into financial savings.
 Gold and crude oil have significant role in India’s widening
current account deficit. The government, however, chose
not to increase import duty on gold when it raised duty on
non-essential imports to narrow the current account deficit,
fearing a surge in gold smuggling.
 The main objective of the scheme is to develop a financial
asset as an alternative to purchasing metal gold. 
24th ASEAN-India Meeting
the 24th ASEAN-India Senior Official's Meeting (SOM) was hosted in
Delhi.

 India and ASEAN celebrated the 30th anniversary of their

Dialogue Relations.
 Earlier, the 2nd ASEAN Digital Ministers' (ADGMIN)
Meeting with India held, where two sides finalized India-
ASEAN Digital work plan 2022 for future collaboration in
the field.
What is Association of Southeast Asian Nations?
 About:
o It is a regional grouping that promotes
economic, political, and security cooperation.
o It was established in August 1967 in
Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN
Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the founding
 fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
o Its chairmanship rotates annually, based on the
alphabetical order of the English names of
Member States.
o ASEAN countries have a total population of 650
million people and a combined Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) of USD 2.8 trillion. It is India’s
4th largest trading partner with about USD 86.9
billion in trade.
8th International Day of Yoga
Why in News?
Eighth International Day of Yoga (21st June 2022) is being celebrated across the
world.

 Theme 2022: ‘Yoga for Humanity’.

What is Historical Background and Significance?
 Background:
o The idea of International Day of Yoga (IDY) was
proposed by India during the opening of the
69th session of the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA), held in 2014.
o The UN proclaimed 21st June as IDY by passing
a resolution in December, 2014.
o The first Yoga Day celebrations in 2015 at
Rajpath in New Delhi created two Guinness
World Records.
 It was the world's largest yoga
session with 35,985 people.
 84 nationalities participated in it.
Jal Jeevan Mission
 the Jal Shakti Ministry has announced that the labourers returning to
their home states due to covid-19, will be deployed for the Jal Jeevan
Mission.
  The Jal Jeevan Mission aims for providing piped drinking
water to all rural households by 2024.
 The Jal Shakti Ministry is the nodal ministry for the
implementation of the scheme.
Key Points
 The Jal Shakti Ministry has directed various States that
returning labour, especially those working in the
construction sector (skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled),
may be deployed to expedite the completion of works under
the scheme.
14th BRICS Summit
Recently, Prime Minister of India attended the 14th BRICS summit which
was virtually hosted by China.

 Theme of the 14th BRICS Summit: Foster High-quality

BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global
Development.
 BRICS Plus virtual conference was also held as part of the
main meeting with ministers from countries, including
the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Indonesia,
Argentina, Nigeria, Senegal, and Thailand.
What are the Key Highlights of the Summit?
 Adopting the Beijing Declaration:
o It states that BRICS supports talks between
Russia and Ukraine.
o The grouping is willing to support the United
Nations’ and the International Committee of the
Red Cross’s (ICRC) efforts to deliver
humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
o Countries also expressed concerns about the
situation in Taliban-held Afghanistan.
 Discussions on the Issues:
o Humanitarian Situation in Ukraine:
  Concerns over the humanitarian situation
in and around Ukraine and
expressed their support to efforts of
the UN Secretary-General, UN
Agencies and International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide
humanitarian assistance in accordance
with the basic principles of humanity,
neutrality and impartiality.
o Terrorism:
 While discussing terrorism and terror
cooperation, the BRICS countries said
that only the UN Security council has
the authority for imposing sanctions.
 On Afghanistan, BRICS countries called
for “Afghanistan authorities to
achieve national reconciliation through
dialogue and negotiation, and to
establish a broad-based and inclusive
and representative political structure”,
adding that Afghan territory must not
be used to shelter terrorists or attack
any other country.
o Initiative on Denial of Safe Haven to
Corruption:
 The BRICS Initiative on Denial of Safe
Haven to Corruption aims to
further strengthen anti-corruption
capacity building through education
and training programs and enhance
anti-corruption exchanges and
cooperation within multilateral
frameworks.
o Framework for Consumer Protection in E-
commerce:
 The declaration welcomed the
establishment of the Digital Economy
 Working Group by upgrading the E-
commerce Working Group.
 And the BRICS nations have agreed to
promote consumer protection in e-
commerce by advancing the
implementation of BRICS Framework for
Consumer Protection in E-commerce.
o More Focus on Combating Transnational Drug
Trafficking:
 The summit also expressed concern
over the serious drug situation in the
world. BRICS declaration
appreciate BRICS Anti-Drug Working
Group's active role in combating
transnational drug trafficking and
promoting global drug
governance and will further strengthen
drug control cooperation.
Eco-Sensitive Zones
 Recently, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change stated that the Ministry will file a review
petition in the Supreme Court urging a relook into its
judgment on eco-sensitive zones.
o In June 2022, the Supreme Court directed that
every protected forest, national park and wildlife
sanctuary across the country should have a
mandatory eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of a
minimum one km starting from their demarcated
boundaries.
 The judgment came on a petition
instituted for the protection of forest
lands in the Nilgiris district of Tamil
Nadu.
What are Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs)?
 The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) of
the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
 (MoEFCC) stipulated that state governments should declare
land falling within 10 km of the boundaries of national parks
and wildlife sanctuaries as eco-fragile zones or Eco-
Sensitive Zones (ESZs) under the Environmental
(Protection) Act, 1986.
 While the 10-km rule is implemented as a general
principle, the extent of its application can
vary. Areas beyond 10 km can also be notified by the
Union government as ESZs, if they hold larger ecologically
important “sensitive corridors”.
 The basic aim is to regulate certain activities
around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries so as to
minimise the negative impacts of such activities on the
fragile ecosystem encompassing the protected areas.
UN Report on the Taliban Regime
According to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s Analytical
Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, foreign terrorist organisations
continue to enjoy safe haven under the new Taliban regime.

What is the Mission of the UNSC’s Monitoring Team?

 The monitoring team assists the UNSC sanctions
committee and its report, circulated among committee
members, informs the formulation of UN strategy in
Afghanistan.
 India is currently the chair of the sanctions committee,
which comprises all the 15 UNSC members.
 This report is the first since the Taliban returned to
power in August 2021.
o This is the first of its reports not informed by
official Afghan briefings.
 The team collected data by consulting with UN member
states, international and regional organisations, private
sector financial institutions, and the work of bodies such as
the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
(UNAMA).
 o UNAMA is a UN Special Political Mission
established to assist the state and the people
of Afghanistan in laying the foundations for
sustainable peace and development.
Prev   Next

SHRESHTA Scheme
    

Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has
launched the scheme ‘SHRESHTA.’ This scheme is known as Scheme for
residential education for students in High school in Targeted Areas.

 The scheme ‘SHRESHTA’ was created with the goal of

providing quality education and opportunity to students
of SC Category.
What is the scheme ‘SHRESHTA’?
 About:
o Its basic motive is to uplift the socio-economic
status of the Scheduled Castes peoples by
providing high quality education to their children
in best private residential schools in the
country.
o Admission will be provided in Class 9 and Class
11 of CBSE affiliated private schools.
 Objective:
o To make easy delivery of the Governmental
initiatives and schemes.
o To create a conducive atmosphere for the
‘Scheduled Castes' socioeconomic advancement
and overall growth.
o Collaborating with volunteer groups to bridge the
gap in service-deprived Scheduled Castes
(SCs) dominating regions in the education
sector.
 o To enable bright Scheduled Caste (SC)
students with high-quality education so that
they can pursue future opportunities.
 Eligibility:
o The students, belonging to Scheduled Castes,
studying in class 8th and 10th in the current
academic year (2021-22) are eligible for availing
the benefits of the scheme.
o Students from the SC community who come from
a marginalized income group with an annual
income of up to Rs.2.5 lakh are eligible.
o The selection will be done through a transparent
mechanism which is known as National Entrance
Test for SHRESHTA (NETS).
 It will be conducted by the National
Testing Agency (NTA) for admission
in class 9th and 11th.
 Beneficiaries:
o Government has targeted that every year
around 3000 students belonging to SC
category will be admitted to Class 9 and Class
11 under this system.
o The Ministry will cover the whole cost of their
school fees and accommodation fees till they
have completed their academics in class 12th.
India’s First Liquid Mirror Telescope
Why in News?
Recently, Devasthal Observatory campus owned by Aryabhatta
Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital in
Uttarakhand has set-up the International Liquid-Mirror Telescope
(ILMT).
What are the Key Highlights about ILMT?
 It has become the world's first Liquid-Mirror Telescope
(LMT) to be commissioned for astronomy and also one of
its kind to be operational anywhere in the world.
 Asteroids, supernovae, space debris and all other
celestial objects will be observed using ILMT from an
altitude of 2,450 metres in the Himalayas.
 Previously built telescopes either tracked satellites or were
deployed for military purposes.
 ILMT will be the third telescope facility to come up at
Devasthal.
o Devasthal is one of the world’s original sites for
obtaining astronomical observations.
o Devasthal Optical Telescope
(DOT) and Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope
(DFOT) are the other two telescope facilities at
Devasthal.
 In October 2022, full-scale scientific operations of ILMT
will be started.
 It will be working along with India’s largest operating
Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT).
 The countries involved in ILMT’s development are India,
Belgium, Canada, Poland and Uzbekistan.
How is LMT Different from Conventional Telescope?
 A LMT is a stationary telescope whereas a conventional
telescope moves along the direction of the object of
interest in the sky.
 A LMT will survey and capture any and all possible
celestial objects such as stars, galaxies, supernovae
explosions, asteroids and even space debris. However, a
conventional captures just a piece of sky at a given point
of time.
 LMT comprises mirrors with a reflective liquid (ILMT has
mercury as reflective liquid). On the other hand, a
 conventional telescope uses highly-polished glass
mirrors.
 While ILMT will be capturing images of the sky on all
nights, conventional telescopes observe specific objects in
the sky for fixed hours only.
Election to the Office of the Vice-President of India
the Election Commission announced the Vice-Presidential election to be held in
August, 2022.

What are the Provisions Related to the Vice-President?

 Vice President:
o The Vice President is the second highest
constitutional office in India. He/She serves
for a five-year term, but can continue to be in
office. irrespective of the expiry of the term,
until the successor assumes office.
o The Vice President may resign his office by
submitting his resignation to the President of India.
The resignation becomes effective from the day it
is accepted.
o The Vice President can be removed from office
by a resolution of the Council of States (Rajya
Sabha), passed by a majority of its members at
that time and agreed to by the House of the
People (Lok Sabha). A resolution for this purpose
may be moved only after a notice of at least
a minimum of 14 days has been given of such
an intention.
o The Vice President is the ex-officio Chairperson
of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and does
not hold any other office of profit.
I2U2 Summit and Food Security
 first I2U2 (India, Israel, United States and the United Arab
Emirates) leaders' Summit was held virtually.
What is I2U2?
 About:
o I2U2 stands for India, Israel, the UAE, and the US,
and was also referred to as the ‘West Asian
Quad’.
o I2U2 was initially formed in October,
2021 following the Abraham Accords, to deal
with issues concerning maritime security,
infrastructure and transport.
 The Abraham Accord is the first Arab-
Israeli peace deal in 26 years mediated
by the USA.
 Objectives:
o Its stated aim is to discuss “common areas of
mutual interest, to strengthen the economic
partnership in trade and investment in our
respective regions and beyond”.
o Six areas of cooperation have been identified by
the countries mutually, and the aim is
to encourage joint investments in water,
energy, transportation, space, health, and food
security.

2 nd volume

National Emblem
The Prime Minister of India unveiled the 6.5 metre-tall National Emblem on top of the
under-construction new Parliament building recently.

 About:
o The State Emblem of India is the national emblem
of the Republic of India and is used by the union
government, many state governments, and other
government agencies.
 History:
 o The State emblem is an adaptation from the Sarnath
Lion Capital of Ashoka (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh).
 In the original, there are four lions, standing back
to back, mounted on an abacus with a frieze
carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant,
a galloping horse, a bull and a lion separated
by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped lotus.
 Carved out of a single block of polished
sandstone, the capital is crowned by the Wheel of
the Law (Dharma Chakra).
 Emblem Adopted:
o In the State emblem, adopted by the Government of
India on 26th January 1950, only three lions are
visible, the fourth being hidden from view.
o The wheel appears in relief in the centre of the abacus
with a bull on right and a horse on left and the outlines
of other wheels on extreme right and left.
o The bell-shaped lotus has been omitted.
What are the salient features of the National Emblem of
India?
 The State emblem of India is the official seal of the
Government of India
Global Gender Gap Index 2022
Why in News?
Recently, the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked India at 135 out of 146
countries in its Global Gender Gap (GGG) Index for 2022.

 India’s overall score has improved from 0.625 (in 2021) to

0.629, which is its seventh-highest score in the last 16
years.
o In 2021, India was ranked 140 out of 156
countries.
 The gender gap is the difference between women and men
as reflected in social, political, intellectual, cultural, or
economic attainments or attitudes.
What is the Global Gender Gap Index?
 About:
o It benchmarks countries on their progress towards
gender parity in four Key dimensions with Sub
Metrices.
 Economic Participation and Opportunity
 Educational Attainment
 Health and Survival
 Political Empowerment
o On each of the four sub-indices as well as on the
overall index the GGG index provides scores
between 0 and 1, where 1 shows full gender parity
and 0 is complete imparity.
o It is the longest-standing index, which tracks
progress towards closing these gaps over
time since its inception in 2006.
What is World Economic Forum?
 About:
o The World Economic Forum is the International
Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.
o It was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit
foundation and is headquartered in Geneva,
Switzerland

James Webb Space Telescope

hy in News
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is scheduled to be rocketed
into orbit later this year (2021).
Key Points
 About:

o It is the most powerful infrared

telescope of National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA).
o It is also considered a successor of the Hubble
Telescope and will extend and complement its
discoveries.

 Launched into low Earth orbit in 1990,

the Hubble Space Telescope has made
more than 1.4 million observations,
including tracking interstellar objects,
capturing a comet colliding with Jupiter,
and discovering moons around Pluto.
 Hubble has captured galaxies merging,
probed supermassive black holes and
has helped us understand the history of
our universe.
o The telescope is the result of an international
collaboration between NASA, the European Space
Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency.
o Webb will reveal new and unexpected discoveries,
and help humanity understand the origins of the
universe and our place in it.
o The telescope will study the atmospheres of
a wide diversity of exoplanets.
o It will also search for atmospheres similar to
Earth’s, and for the signatures of key substances
such as methane, water, oxygen, carbon dioxide,
and complex organic molecules, in hopes of
finding the building blocks of life. 
 Launch:

o It will be launched on an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from

French Guiana in South America.

 The Ariane 5 is believed to be one of the most

reliable launch vehicles.
 Goal:

o To search for the first galaxies that formed after the Big

Bang.
o To determine how galaxies evolved from their earlier
formation until now.
o To observe the formation of stars from the first stages
to the formation of planetary systems.
o To measure the physical and chemical properties of
planetary systems and investigate the potential for life in
such systems.
 Webb Vs Hubble Telescope:

o Wavelength:

 The JWST will observe primarily in the infrared

range and provide coverage from 0.6 to 28
microns.
 The instruments on Hubble see mainly in the
ultraviolet and visible part of the spectrum. It
could observe only a small range in the infrared
from 0.8 to 2.5 microns.

 The infrared region of the electromagnetic

spectrum covers the wavelength range
 from approximately 0.7 to a few 100
microns.
o Size:

 Webb’s primary mirror has a diameter of 6.5

metres while Hubble’s mirror was much smaller
– 2.4 metres in diameter.

 So, Webb will have a larger field of view

compared to the camera on Hubble.
 Webb also carries a large sun shield.
o Distance:

 Webb’s near- and mid-infrared instruments

will help study the first formed galaxies,
exoplanets and birth of stars.

 Hubble can see the equivalent of “toddler

galaxies” while Webb Telescope will be
able to see “baby galaxies”

Kargil Vijay Diwas

Why in News
The 22nd anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was observed on the 26th of July
2021.

 The day is dedicated to the martyred soldiers of the Kargil

war.
Key Points
 About:
 o After the Indo-Pak war of 1971, there had been
many military conflicts. Both the countries
conducted nuclear tests in 1998 which further
escalated tensions and finally the Kargil War in
1999.
o Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict, was
fought between May-July of 1999 in the
Kargil (now a district in the UT of Ladakh) district
of Jammu and Kashmir along the Line of Control
(LoC) in which India got the victory.
 Operation Vijay:

o In the year 1999, India and Pakistan signed the

Lahore Agreement to mutually resolve the
Kashmir issue in a peaceful manner.
o However, the Pakistani troops began infiltrating
toward Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC)
under Operation Badr, hoping to cut off Indian
Troops in Siachen. Indian Army responded by
launching Operation Vijay.
o On 3rd May 1999, Pakistan started this war when it
had infiltrated into the high altitudes in the rocky
mountainous region of Kargil with around 5000
soldiers and captured it.
o When the Indian Government got the information
about it, ‘Operation Vijay’ was launched by the
Indian army to throw back the intruders who had
treacherously occupied Indian Territory.

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

What is CPEC?
 CPEC is a 3,000-km long route of infrastructure projects
connecting China’s northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
 Region and the Gwadar Port in the western province of
Balochistan in Pakistan.
 It is a bilateral project between Pakistan and
China, intended to promote connectivity across Pakistan
with a network of highways, railways, and pipelines
accompanied by energy, industrial, and other infrastructure
development projects.
 It will pave the way for China to access the Middle East and
Africa from Gwadar Port, enabling China to access the
Indian Ocean and in return China will support development
projects in Pakistan to overcome the latter’s energy crises
and stabilising its faltering economy.
 CPEC is a part of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The BRI, launched in 2013, aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia,
the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea
routes

What is One Belt One Road (OBOR)?

 About:
o It is a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched in
2013.
o It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the
Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of
land and sea routes.
o It has been launched to undertake big
infrastructure projects in the world which in turn
would also enhance the global influence of China

MiG-21 Crash
Why in News?
 Recently, a MiG-21 Bison aircraft of the Indian Air Force
(IAF) crashed in Barmer, Rajasthan killing the two pilots
aboard the trainer version of the fighter aircraft.
 Currently, the IAF has around 70 Mig-21 aircraft and 50 Mig-
29 variants.
 There are four squadrons of MiG-21 Bison aircraft currently
in service in the IAF with each squadron comprising 16-18
aircraft, including two trainer versions.

What drives the Phase out of Aircrafts?

 The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to phase out the four MiG-
21 fighter squadrons with one of them set to retire from
service in September 2022.
 The IAF also plans to start the phasing out of the three
squadrons of MiG-29 fighter jets in the next five years.
 It is part of the IAF's modernization drive.
 The plan is to retire all four MiG-21 squadrons by 2025.
What is MiG-21?
 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 21 is a supersonic jet fighter
and interceptor aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich
Design Bureau in the Soviet Union.
o MiG is a product of the Soviet Union which entered
into service in 1959.
 Approximately 60 countries on four continents have flown
the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations six decades
after its maiden flight.
 India inducted the MiG-21 in 1963 and got full technology
transfer and rights to license-build the aircraft in the
country.
  Russia stopped producing the aircraft in 1985, while India
continued operating the upgraded variants.
What is Chabahar Port?
o The port of Chabahar is located in southeastern Iran in the
Gulf of Oman.
o  It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the ocean.
o It’s located in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-
rich Iran’s southern coast.
o The Chabahar port is considered a gateway to golden
opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with
central Asian countries.
hat is INSTC?
 About:
o The International North-South Transport
Corridor (INSTC) project was originally decided
between India, Iran, and Russia in 2000 in St
Petersburg, and subsequently included 10 other
central Asian and west Asian countries:
 Azerbaijan Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz
Republic, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine,
Belarus, Oman, Syria, and Bulgaria are
observers. 
 Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan
are not party to the INSTC agreement but
are interested in using the transport
corridor.
o It envisions a 7,200-km-long multi-mode network
of ship, rail, and road routes for transporting
freight, aimed at reducing the carriage cost
 between India and Russia by about 30% and
bringing down the transit time from 40 days by
more than half.
o The route primarily involves moving freight from
India, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia.

International Tiger Day

29 july
Theme- india launches project tiger to revive tiger
population
The day was taken in tio account in st petersberg
in 2010 tiger summit in Russia\
Scientific name- panthera tigers
Status- endangered
Population- around 3000
Weight- 220-660 pounds
The govt launched project tiger in 1973

 The Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam has 2.4 tigresses for

every tiger, the annual wildlife monitoring results of the
trans-boundary wildlife preserve has revealed.
There are currently between 3,726 and 5,578 tigers in the wild
worldwide, according to the latest figures by the International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
 Tiger Reserves in India
o Total Number: 53
o Largest: Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve,
Andhra Pradesh
o Smallest: Bor tiger reserve in Maharashtra
Iran nucleur deal

Why us withdraw

New START Treaty

Why in News?
Recently, Russia suspended United Stated of America’s on-site inspections
under New START Treaty with Washington due to Western sanctions and
coronavirus infections.
What is New START Treaty?
 New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) was the last
remaining arms reduction pact between the former Cold War
rivals and caps to 1,550 the number of nuclear warheads
that can be deployed by Russia and United States of
America.
 It entered into force on 5th February, 2011.
 It continues the bipartisan process of verifiably reducing
U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals by limiting both
sides to 700 strategic launchers and 1,550 operational
warheads.
 Its duration was for ten years that is till 2021, but it was
extended by five more years till 2026.

Jal Jeevan Mission

Recently, the Jal Shakti Ministry has announced that the labourers
returning to their home states due to covid-19, will be deployed for the Jal
Jeevan Mission.

 The Jal Jeevan Mission aims for providing piped drinking

water to all rural households by 2024.
 The Jal Shakti Ministry is the nodal ministry for the
implementation of the scheme.

Small Satellite Launch Vehicle

Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman has
mentioned the launch of an “SSLV-D1 Micro SAT in April 2022”.

 The SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) aims to cater to

the market for the launch of small satellites into Earth’s low
orbits that has emerged in recent years to cater to the needs
of developing countries, universities for small satellites, and
private corporations.
 About:
  It is the smallest vehicle weighing only 110-tonne. It will
take only 72 hours to integrate, unlike the 70 days taken
now for a launch vehicle.
 It can carry satellites weighing up to 500 kg to a low
earth orbit while the tried and tested Polar Satellite
Launch Vehicle (PSLV) can launch satellites weighing in
the range of 1000 kg.
 SSLV is a three-stage all solid vehicle and has a
capability to launch up to 500 kg satellite mass
into 500 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 300 kg to
Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
 It is perfectly suited for launching multiple
microsatellites at a time and supports multiple orbital
drop-offs.
 The key features of SSLV are low cost, with low turn-
around time, flexibility in accommodating multiple
satellites, launch on demand feasibility, minimal launch
infrastructure requirements, etc.
 The Government has sanctioned a total cost of Rs. 169
Crores for the development project including the
development & qualification of the vehicle systems and
the flight demonstration through three development
flights (SSLV-D1, SSLV-D2 & SSLV-D3).
 ISRO’s new chairman Dr Somanath is credited with
designing and developing the SSLV during his tenure as
director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in
Thiruvananthapuram since 2018.
 The maiden flight of the SSLV was scheduled to
launch in July 2019 but that has since been
delayed due to setbacks from Covid-19 and other
issues.

HIV Drugs Shortage 

Recently, India is witnessing the shortage of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency
Virus) Drugs, certain Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in Anti-Retroviral Therapy
(ART) centres.

 The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) under the Ministry of

Health and Family Welfare is the nodal agency responsible for overlooking
and coordinating activities of the National AIDS Control Programme
(NACP) along with the Central Medical Services Society, which is
responsible for centralised tendering and pooled procurement of different
HIV product

What is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)?

 HIV attacks CD4, a type of White Blood Cell (T cells) in the body’s immune
system.
o T cells are those cells that move around the body detecting
anomalies and infections in cells.
 After entering the body, HIV multiplies itself and destroys CD4 cells, thus
severely damaging the human immune system.
o Once this virus enters the body, it can never be removed.
 The CD4 count of a person infected with HIV reduces significantly. In a
healthy body, CD4 count is between 500- 1600, but in an infected body, it
can go as low as 200.
 If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome).

Why is the shortage Concerned?

 People living with HIV need access to treatment with a combination of

drugs known as antiretroviral therapy to suppress the virus, preserve their
health, and prevent transmission of the virus to an HIV-negative partner.
 Staying on antiretroviral therapy continuously is crucial to keep the virus
suppressed.

What has Driven the Shortages of These drugs?

 The failure of the pooled procurement mechanism. The tender for pooled
procurement of life-saving antiretroviral medicines has faced bureaucratic
delays in 2014, 2017, and now again in 2022.
 Although the state is not facing an acute shortage, medicines are running low,
with some stocks set to expire.

Officials are forced to compromise, for example, by portioning drugs meant

for adults and giving them to children.


What is the Relevance of Arctic Region for India?

 About:
o India’s interests in the Arctic region are scientific,
environmental, commercial as well as strategic.
o India became the observer of Arctic Council in
2013 and its membership as an observer
was renewed in 2018 for another five years.
o The National Centre for Polar and Ocean
Research (NCPOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences,
Government of India, is the nodal agency for
India’s Polar research programme, which includes
Arctic studies.
o India’s Ministry of External Affairs provides the
external interface to the Arctic Council.
 Research Station:
o India’s engagement with the Arctic dates back to
1920 with the signing of the Svalbard Treaty in
Paris.
o Since July 2008, India has a permanent research
station in the Arctic called Himadari at
NyAlesund, Svalbard Area in Norway.
o It has also deployed a multi-sensor moored
observatory called IndARC in the Kongsfjorden
fjord since 2014.

Constitution Bench of Supreme Court

why in News?
Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, 49th Chief Justice of India (CJI), assured there
will be at least one Constitution Bench functioning throughout the year in
the Supreme Court.

What is the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court?

 About:
o A Constitution Bench is a bench of the Supreme
Court having five or more judges on it.
o These benches are not a routine phenomenon.
o A vast majority of cases before the Supreme Court
are heard and decided by a bench of two judges
(called a Division Bench), and sometimes of three.
 Circumstances for Constitutional Bench to Exist:
o Article 145(3):
 Article 145(3) provides, “The minimum
number of Judges who are to sit for the
purpose of deciding any case involving a
substantial question of law as to the
interpretation of this Constitution or for
the purpose of hearing any reference
under Article 143 shall be five.”
o Article 143:
 When the President seeks the Supreme
Court’s opinion under law under Article
143 of the Constitution.
 As per the provision, the President of
India has the power to address
questions to the Supreme Court, which
he deems important for public welfare.
  The Supreme Court upon reference
advises the President by answering the
query. However, such referral advice by
the apex court is not binding on the
President, nor is it ‘law declared by the
Supreme Court’.
o Conflicting Judgments:
 When two or more three-judge benches
of the Supreme Court have delivered
conflicting judgments on the same point
of law, necessitating a definite
understanding and interpretation of the
law by a larger bench.
 The Constitution benches
are set up on ad hoc basis as
and when the above-mentioned
conditions exist.
Why does CJI seek a Permanent Constitutional Bench?
 Presently, Constitution Benches are set up on an ad hoc
basis (particular purpose) as and when the need arises.
 It aims to help the judges identify, hear and provide relief in
cases which need their urgent attention and also
help litigants and lawyers to avoid delay in getting their
cases listed for hearing before judges due to the long-
winded processes of the Supreme Court Registry.
 It is also imperative because the Supreme Court's pendency
has crossed over 71,000 from a little over 55,000 in 2017.
o This is despite the fact that the sanctioned judicial
strength of the court was increased to 34 judges in
August 2019.

India Bangladesh Agreements

Recently, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh has visited India and held talks
with Indian Prime Minister.

 India and Bangladesh have signed seven

agreements for cooperation in areas ranging from sharing
of river waters to space and unveiled new connectivity and
energy initiatives.
International Relations

Prev   Next

India Bangladesh Agreements

    
 07 Sep 2022
 

 10 min read
Tags: 

 GS Paper - 2

 India and its Neighbourhood

 Bilateral Groupings & Agreements

For Prelims: Geography of Bangladesh, India Bangladesh Agreements, Trends in

India Bangladesh Relations

For Mains: Economic Significance of Bangladesh for India, Trends of

Agreements signed between India and Bangladesh, Challenges in relations
Why in News?
Recently, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh has visited India and held talks with
Indian Prime Minister.

 India and Bangladesh have signed seven

agreements for cooperation in areas ranging from sharing of
river waters to space and unveiled new connectivity and energy
initiatives.
What are the Key Highlights of the Meeting?
 The two sides have signed seven Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU), which includes:

o The withdrawal of water from the cross-

border Kushiyara river.
 The agreement will benefit southern
Assam in India and the Sylhet region of
Bangladesh.
o Cooperation in space technology.
o Collaboration on Information Technology systems
used by railways in areas such as movement of
freight.
o Science and technology cooperation.
o Training of Bangladesh Railway
personnel and Bangladeshi judicial officers in
India.
o Cooperation in broadcasting between Prasar
Bharati and Bangladesh Television.
  Thermal Power Project:
o The two nations unveiled the first unit of
the Maitree super thermal power project being
built in Khulna division of
Bangladesh with concessional funding from India.
o The unit was synchronized with Bangladesh’s
power grid in August 2022, and the project will
generate 1,320MW, when completed.
 Rushpa Rail Bridge:
o The 5.13-km Rupsha rail bridge was also
inaugurated, a key part of the 64.7-km Khulna-
Mongla port broad gauge railway project.
o The bridge was constructed with an Indian line of
credit of $389 million.
o It will increase connectivity with Mongla,
Bangladesh’s second largest port.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Why in News?
Recently, Germany launched the world’s first fleet of fully hydrogen-
powered trains, these are emissions-free trains that can reach speeds of
140 kilometres per hour and can run about 1,000 km before the tank runs
dry.

What are the Key Points of Hydrogen Fuel Cell?

 About:
o Hydrogen fuel cells are a clean, reliable, quiet, and
efficient source of high-quality electric power.
o They use hydrogen as a fuel to drive an
electrochemical process that produces electricity,
with water and heat as the only by-products.
  Hydrogen is one of the most abundant
elements on earth for a cleaner
alternative fuel option.

What are the Types of Hydrogen based on the process of its

formation?
 Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water using
renewable energy (like Solar, Wind) and has a lower carbon
footprint.
o Electricity splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.
o By Products: Water, Water Vapor.
 Brown hydrogen is produced using coal where the
emissions are released into the air.
 Grey hydrogen is produced from natural gas where the
associated emissions are released into the air.
 Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas, where
the emissions are captured using carbon capture and
storage.