November 9: Legal Services Day observed in India
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) celebrates Legal Services Day on November 9 annually in India.
Legal Services Day
- The Day is celebrated to commemorate the enactment of Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 in India.
- This day is significant for raising awareness among people regarding several provisions under the Legal Services Authorities Act. It also raises awareness on rights of the litigants.
- The Day keeps citizens informed and works for encouraging free proficient legal services for the people belonging to weaker section of the society.
- It provides a perfect opportunity for raising issues and problems with the justice system of India.
Why is the day celebrated?
On October 11, 1987, the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 was enacted and it came into force on November 9, 1995. Accordingly, Legal Services Day was commenced by the Supreme Court of India in 1995 in order to assist and provide help & support to the weaker sections of the society as well as to commemorate the enactment of the Act.
Mandate
The National Legal Services Day was established with a mandate for offering support and help to the weaker and poor groups including women, disabled persons, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, victims of natural calamities and victims of human trafficking.
National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
NALSA was constituted in 1995 in accordance with the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987. It undertook the activities like free legal aid and advice to the needy. It disposes off the cases through mediation and amicable settlement. NALSA was set up with the objective of minimizing the backlogs of courts in India and afford access to justice for the needy.
NITI Aayog announces Top Aspirational Districts in Education Sector
NITI Aayog has announced the top five aspirational districts in education sector.
Important Points
- It has ranked the most improved aspirational districts in the education sector for September month.
- As per NITI Aayog’s delta rankings in education sector, Bhoopalpalli in Telangana has topped.
- Bhoopalpalli is followed by:
- Chatra & Sahibganj in Jharkhand
- Nuapada in Odisha and
- Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
Overall ranking
- In the Delta ranking 2021 for September month, Baramulla district in north Kashmir has secured 3rd rank among aspirational districts, in a significant development.
- Ranchi and Chatra districts in Jharkhand were ranked at 1st and 2nd position respectively.
- Wayanad in Kerala secured 4th and Shrawasti district in UP secured 5th spot.
What is Delta Ranking?
Delta ranking is released by NITI Aayog. It shows incremental progress in aspirational districts of India across developmental areas like health & nutrition, education, financial inclusion, agriculture & water resources, skill development and basic infrastructure.
Importance
These rankings are a yardstick of incremental progress in developmental indices like health & nutrition, agriculture & financial inclusion and water resource.
Aspirational Districts Programme
Aspirational District Programme was launched by prime minister Narendra Modi in January 2018. The programme is implemented by NITI Aayog with the help of several stakeholders for improving the living standards of people in aspirational districts. This programme was launched with the aim of bringing rapid transformation in districts that have made comparative progress across key social sectors.
Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs)
Recently, most of the developing nations like China, India and African countries, have asked around US $1.3 trillion per year from wealthy countries in climate finance which will start from 2030.
Important points
- This demand is likely to cause further consternation even as countries negotiate on this amount at COP26.
- Group of 24 nations, calling themselves Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs), and countries from Africa put forward this demand in a proposal to enhance finance flows.
- These countries are pushing for inclusion of proposal in the final decisions which will be agreed at the climate conference in Glasgow.
- India is part of the LMDC grouping along with countries like China, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Philippines.
Like Minded-Group of Developing Countries (LMDC)
LMDC is a group of developing countries, organised as a block negotiator in international organizations like United Nations and World Trade Organization. LMDC represent about 50% of the world’s population. Member countries of the Like-Minded Group include Bangladesh, Algeria, Bhutan, Belarus, Cuba, China, India, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Philippines, Syria, Sudan, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
COP26
The COP26 is the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference. It is being held in Glasgow, Scotland, under the presidency of United Kingdom. It started on October 31 and will conclude on November 12. The CoP comes under the United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention (UNFCCC). UNFCCC was established in 1994.
Goals of COP26
- To secure global net-zero by mid-century and to keep 1.5 degrees within limit.
- To protect communities and natural habitats.
- To mobilise finance and
- To work together to deliver
Covid: 96 countries recognise India’s vaccination certificate
According to Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, about 96 countries have agreed to mutually recognise India’s Covid-19 vaccination certificate.
Important points
- With this recognition, persons travelling from these countries will be provided certain relaxations as mentioned in Union health ministry’s guidelines on international arrivals.
- Government is further communicating with other countries for the recognition so that beneficiaries of the world’s largest Covid-19 vaccination programme are accepted and recognised in order to travel for the purposes of education, business and tourism.
- India has so far administered around 109.08 crore jabs.
- The international travel vaccination certificate can be downloaded from CoWIN portal.
CoWIN Portal
CoWIN stands for Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network. It is a web portal in India for COVID-19 vaccination registration. It is owned and operated by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The portal displays booking slots of COVID-19 vaccine in the nearby areas. People can book their slot using through the portal.
Currently, three vaccines can be registered on the platform namely Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V.
CoWIN started offering Covid-19 vaccines to the Frontline workers in India on January 16, 2021. From March 2021 onwards, vaccination was offered to all residents aged over 60. Eligibility was extended to all residents aged over 45 from April 1, 2021 and to residents aged over 18 from May 1, 2021.
Chilean President impeached
President of Chile, Sebastian Pinera, was impeached on November 9, 2021 by the lower house of Chile’s congress, due to allegations regarding Pandora Papers.
Important points
- This impeachment has set a trial in the Chile’s Senate on whether to remove him because of allegations that he favoured the sale of family property while being in office.
- Trial received the bare minimum of 78 votes in favour in the 155-member Chamber of Deputies.
- Sixty-seven legislators, including members of the opposition, have voted against the constitutional accusation.
- Others abstained or were absent.
Background of the issue
Chilean President have been accused after publication of Pandora Papers, that revealed offshore financial dealings of prominent figures across the world including Sebastian Pinera.
What is Pandora papers issue?
- Leaked documents revealed that one of his sons used offshore companies in British Virgin Islands to sale Dominga mining project, which is co-owned by his family.
- When case was being investigated, Pinera denied his involved in managing the companies and his connection with Dominga.
- President’s office further noted that, Pinera’s first term as president in between 2010-2014, hadn’t started when the sale of Dominga mining project was agreed to.
- Pinera’s holdings are now managed in a blind trust.
- However, the case is being investigated once again by national prosecutor’s office.
Chile
Chile is located in western South America. It occupies a long, narrow strip of land in between Andes and Pacific Ocean. The country covers an area of 756,096 square kilometres. Chile is the southernmost country of the world, located near Antarctica. It shares border with Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Drake Passage.
Russia’s new Forest Plan
Russia has revealed its new Forest Plan, in an effort to deal with climate change. This plan highlights a changed mindset of Russia on climate change
Important points
- Sakhalin Island in Russia, located north of Japan has become a testing ground for Russia’s efforts to reconcile its prized fossil fuel industry with the requirement to do something about climate change.
- Around two-thirds of Sakhalin Island is forested.
- Russian authorities have set an ambitious goal to make the island, carbon neutral by 2025.
- New forest plan was unveiled as tree growth will absorb much of the planet-warming carbon dioxide that half-million residents of the Island & its businesses produce.
Sakhalin Island
Sakhalin is the largest island in Russia. It is the northernmost island of Japanese archipelago. The island is administered as part of the Sakhalin Oblast. It is located in the Pacific Ocean in between Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Japan. The island is located just off Khabarovsk Krai and north of Hokkaido in Japan. The island is home to around 500,000 residents, majority of which are Russians.
Background
Name of Sakhalin Island has been derived from Manchu word Sahaliyan. The island was once a part of China during Qing dynasty, however Chinese control was lax at times. Sakhalin was later claimed by both Russia and Japan during 19th and 20th centuries. In 1875, Japan ceded its claims to Russia in return for northern Kuril Islands. After Russo-Japanese War in 1905, the island was divided and its southern part was given to Japan.
Toxic Foam in Yamuna River
On November 8, 2021 devotees offered prayers as a part of their four-day Chhath Puja celebrations at the banks of foam-coated Yamuna near Kalindi Kunj. The visuals have worried environmentalists and led political war of words between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and other state governments.
Important points
Between Wazirabad and Okhla, Yamuna runs for 22-kilometre. It is less than 2 per cent of its length of 1,370 kilometres between Yamunotri and Allahabad. But this stretch accounts for 80 per cent of the total pollution load in the river.
What is froth formation?
Phenomenon of froth formation takes place on several lakes and streams. These Foam bubbles are produced on the decomposition of organic matter. The foam-producing molecules comprises of two ends. Its one end repels water while another attracts water. These molecules work to reduce the surface tension on the surface of water. Foam bubbles are lighter as compared to water. Thus, they float on the surface as a thin film and gets accumulated over time.
What are the reasons for froth?
Major reason behind froth formation is presence of phosphates and surfactants in untreated sewage generating from Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Phosphates and Surfactants components comprise of 1 percent of the froth, while 99 per cent is air and water.
Sources of pollution causing foam formation
Sources of pollution that cause foam formation include untreated sewage containing soap-detergent particles, organic matter from decomposing vegetation, industrial effluents and presence of filamentous bacteria. Pollution from paper and sugar industries in Uttar Pradesh travel through Hindon canal is also a major reason of pollution in the Yamuna.
‘HARBINGER 2021 – Innovation for Transformation’ – RBI’s first global hackathon
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is set to organise its first global hackathon called ‘HARBINGER 2021–Innovation for Transformation’ focusing on digital payments.
Important points
- The global hackathon will be organised under theme of ‘Smarter Digital Payments’.
- It will witness participants to identify and develop solutions which can be used:
- To make digital payments accessible to the under-served
- To enhance the ease of payments & user experience
- To strengthen the security of digital payments and
- to promote customer protection.
- The hackathon is inviting innovative ideas in payment & settlement system.
- Registration for the hackathon can be done till November 15, 2021.
What this hackathon is about?
Through this hackathon, RBI seeks ideas on easy-to-use, innovative, non-mobile digital payment solutions to convert small-ticket cash transactions into digital mode to remove physical act of payment. It also seeks to develop alternate authentication mechanism for digital payments. Under the hackathon, RBI will also seek social media analysis monitoring tool to detect digital payment fraud and disruption.
Prize Money
The participants of the hackathon will get an opportunity to be mentored by industry experts and exhibit their innovative solutions. Their solutions will be analysed by eminent jury. They will win prizes in each category. Winner will get Rs 40 lakh while runner-up will get Rs 20 lakh.
Srinagar airport declared as ‘Major airport’
The Ministry of Civil Aviation declared “Srinagar International airport” as a “Major Airport” on November 6, 2021.
Important points
- Airport was declared as major airport by exercising powers conferred by Sub-Section (i) of Section 2 of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
- Earlier on October 23, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had inaugurated international flight operations at Srinagar airport. First direct international flight was inaugurated between Srinagar, Sharjah and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
With this decision, tariff for aeronautical services at the Srinagar Airport will be determined by Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA).
Determination of tariffs
- AERA has been mandated to determine tariff for aeronautical services provided at major airports, under section 13 of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
- Amount of the development fees including user development fee and amount of passenger’s service fee are levied under Rule 88 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 which were formulated under Aircraft Act, 1934.
Major airports-criteria
Central government can designate an airport as a major airport as per AERA Act, if it entertaining an annual passenger traffic of at least 35 lakhs. Centre is empowered to designate an airport as major airport by a notification.
Tariffs
For non-major airports, tariffs are determined by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). AAI is a body working under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA)
AERA is a regulatory agency working under Government of India, as a statutory body. It regulates tariff and other expenditure & fees for major airports. It was established under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act (AERA), 2008. The body regulates tariffs and fees charged to airports and passengers. It also monitors the quality of service.
