Daily Current Affairs for IAS Exam– 12 Nov 2021

Punjab Assembly adopts resolution against Farm laws

Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution against Centre’s three contentious farm laws on November 11, 2021.

Important Points

• This resolution was passed after claiming that firm laws had unlawfully ventured into state government’s domain.
• This is the second resolution adopted by Vidhan Sabha against three agriculture laws.
• First resolution was passed in October 2020.
• New resolution was moved by state Agriculture Minister Randeep Singh Nabha.

Background

• As per resolution, Vidhan Sabha of Punjab strongly deprecates and condemns the efforts of Union government. It was aimed at systematic dismantling of regulated mandis and replacing mandis with trader-friendly unregulated mandis.
• Resolution showed concerned about unfair concessions which was extended to the traders and corporations to allow purchases from unregulated markets without paying market fee and rural development fee etc.
• Resolution will lead to shifting of trade from APMC mandis to private mandis apart from causing fiscal loss to state government.

Three Farm laws

1.   The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020

This act was launched with the aim of opening agricultural sale and marketing outside notified Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis for farmers. The act removes barriers to inter-State trade as well as provides a framework for electronic trading of agricultural produce. It also expands the scope of trade areas of farmers’ produce from select areas. It seeks to break monopoly of government-regulated mandis and allows farmers to sell directly to private buyers.

2.   Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020

This act creates a national framework for contract farming. It provides a legal framework for farmers to enter into written contracts with companies and produce for them.

3.   Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020

The act removes pulses, cereals, edible oils, oilseeds, onions and potatoes from the list of essential commodities. It seeks to deregulate the production, movement, storage, and distribution of these food commodities.

India and Sri Lanka revive Parliament Friendship Association

India and Sri Lanka have revived their “Parliamentary Friendship Association” for which Minister Chamal Rajapaksa has been selected as its president.

Important Points

• This association was there in the past.
• It is being revived for current Parliament which was elected in August 2020.
• At the revival event, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris noted the “close civilisational ties” between India & Sri Lanka. He observed that greatest gift of India to Sri Lanka was Buddhism.
• This association will help in “reinvigorating” Parliamentary exchanges and strengthening bilateral ties between both the countries.

Background

Sri Lanka formed India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship group, after deciding to buy fertiliser from India on November 11, 2021. The Indian Parliament proposed to form Parliamentary Friendship Group with the friendly nations to strengthen the bilateral relations.

India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship group

• This association comprises of senior members of Lankan parliament to rejuvenate ties in spite of its close relations with China.
• This association was established for 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka.
• It was established at the Parliament complex in the presence of Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the Speaker of Parliament.

This meeting was attended by about 100 Members of Parliament. It was attended by several MPs, Ministers, State Ministers. During the meeting Chambal Rajapaksa was elected as the President of this Association.

PM launches two RBI initiatives for investors

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched two customer-centric initiatives of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for investors on November 12, 2021.

Important Points

• The two initiatives are- RBI Retail Direct Scheme and Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme.
• With the launch of these scheme, India has opened up Government bond market for retails investors.

Significance

• RBI Retail Direct Scheme will act as a safe medium of investment for small investors in government securities.
• Both the innovative customer-centric initiatives will help in increasing investment avenues and thus make accessing capital market easier & safer.

RBI Retail direct Scheme

Under this scheme, retail investor will get access to the government securities market. It offers a new avenue for investing directly in securities issued by Centre and state governments. Investors will be able to open and maintain government securities account online easily & free of cost, with the RBI.

RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme

This scheme was launched to help in improving grievance redress mechanism to resolve customer complaints against regulated entities of RBI. It will do away with the jurisdictional limitations and limited grounds for complaints. This scheme based on the principle of ‘One Nation-One Ombudsman’ comprising of “one portal, one email, and one address” for customers to file their complaints.

Egypt to host COP27 Climate Summit next year

During COP26 conference in Glasgow, it was decided that Egypt will host COP27 United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2022.

Important Points

• Egypt will host the conference in Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.
• This decision was taken after Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi showed in September Egypt’s interest in hosting COP27 on behalf of the African continent.
• Apart from that, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was selected to host COP28 international climate conference in the year 2023.

United Nations Climate Change Conferences

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was signed at the United Nations Conference on Environment & Development in 1992.
• United Nations Conference on Environment & Development is also known as Rio Summit, Rio Conference or Earth Summit.
• India is among few countries to have hosted the COP of all three Rio conventions on climate change, biodiversity and land.
• UNFCCC was enforced on March 21, 1994.
• Till date, it has been ratified by 197 countries.
• UNFCCC is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Agreement as well as 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
• UNFCCC secretariat is a United Nations entity that has been tasked with supporting global response to the threat of climate change.
• It is headquartered in Bonn, Germany.

Conference of the Parties (COP)

COP is the apex decision-making authority of UNFCCC. It meets every year. The first COP meeting was held in March 1995 in Berlin, Germany. COP meets in Bonn, seat if the secretariat. The office of the COP President rotates among five United Nations regional groups namely, Asia, Africa, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America & the Caribbean, and Western Europe & Others. President of COP is usually the environment minister of home country, who is elected by acclamation after opening of COP session.

Shirdi airport declared as Major Airport

Civil Aviation Ministry declared Shirdi airport as a major airport on November 10, 2021 under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Act, 2008.

Important Points

• The approval was given by exercising the powers conferred by sub-section (i) of section 2 of the 2008 act.
• President Ramnath Kovind had inaugurated the Shirdi Airport on October 2, 2017.
• This airport became very popular in short period of time because it was a great option to go to Sai Nagar.
• On this airport, more than 9 lakh passengers have availed the airline services in just three years.
• Shirdi airport provides services across airports in Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, and many other states.

Authority

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has declared Shirdi Airport as a major Airport. With this declaration, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) will now determine tariff for aeronautical services at this airport.

Tariff

AERA has been mandated to determine the tariff for aeronautical services across major airport, in accordance with Section 13 of the Act. Amount of the passenger’s service fee and amount of development fees including user development fee are levied under Rule 88 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. These rules were made under the Aircraft Act, 1934.

Criteria

Central government can designate any airport as a major airport, under the AERA Act, if the airport is entertaining annual passenger traffic of at least 35 lakh.

CNG, LNG, 98 other advanced techs included under auto PLI scheme

The Union government added more than 100 advanced technologies, including alternate fuel systems like compressed natural gas (CNG) & Liquified natural gas (LNG) under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for automobiles.

Important Points

• Now the scheme will also cover Bharat Stage VI compliant flex fuel engines, advanced driver assist system, e-quadricyle and electronic control units (ECU) for safety.
• Before this move, government has included only two-wheelers and four-wheelers under PLI scheme.

PLI Scheme for automobiles

Union Cabinet had approved the PLI scheme for automobiles with an outlay of Rs 25,938 crore, in September 2021. This scheme aims to incentivise high-value advanced automotive technology vehicles and products like adaptive frontlighting, sunroofs, tyre pressure monitoring system, automatic braking, and collision warning systems, for auto industry. It also aims to boost manufacturing capability in the automobile sector, including hydrogen & electric fuel cell vehicles.

Aim

The incentive structure under the PLI Scheme aims to encourage industry for making fresh investments for the purpose of indigenous global supply chains of advanced automotive technology products.

Who are all covered

The PLI scheme for automobile sector is open to both existing automotive companies and new investors who are not in automobile or auto component manufacturing business.

PLI Scheme

PLI scheme aims to provide incentives to the companies on the basis of incremental sales from products manufactured in domestic units. It invites foreign companies to set up their units in India as well as encourage local companies to expand or set up manufacturing units.

Climate Change Performance Index- India’s Rank

German-watch in collaboration with Climate Action Network (CAN) and New Climate Institute, published the “Climate Change Performance Index 2022” on November 10.

Important Points

• Report was released on the side-lines of COP26 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• CCPI 2022 finds that, major emitting economies which announced their Net Zero emission release targets poorly in climate change performance over 2021.

India’s Rank

• In the index, India maintained its 10th rank.
• India continued to be among top-performing countries within G20.

World Scenario

• As per report, while United States has been ranked at 55^th position among 66 countries with very low rating, despite USA is improving since it re-entered global climate negotiation process after President Joe Biden came to power.
• China has moved down four places as compared to 2020 ranking. It is ranked at 37^th
• European Union is ranked at 22^nd position, six places down as compared to 2020 ranking. It has been given ‘medium’ rating.
• UK is occupying 7th slot.
• Denmark emerged as the topper in the list with 76.92 per cent score.
• Denmark is followed by Sweden and Norway.

Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)

CCPI is an independent monitoring tool, playing a leading role in providing information on implementation phase of Paris Agreement. It has provided analysis of climate protection performance of countries since 2005. The index evaluates 60 countries and European Union, which generate about 90 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. It analyses countries in four categories comprising of 14 indicators:

1. Greenhouse gas emissions (40 per cent of total score),
2. Renewable energy (20 per cent),
3. Energy use (20 per cent) and
4. Climate policy (20 per cent).

National Education Day observed

National Education Day is celebrated on November 11, to mark the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Important Points

• This day is usually observed across schools by organising several functions and programs.
• The day is celebrated since 2008.

Background

Ministry of Human Resources Development had announced on September 11, 2008 to celebrate the National Education Day, commemorating the birthday of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad by recalling his contribution towards education in India. Since then, November 11 is observed as National Education Day without any holiday.

Significance

This day is celebrated every year in schools by organising several interesting and informative seminars, essay-writing, rallies, symposia, etc. On this day, students and teaches come together and talk about the significance of literacy and nation’s commitment across all aspects of education. The day is marked as a tribute to contributions of Maulana Abul Azad in education system of Independent India.

Maulana Abul Azad

Maulana Abul Azad was an Indian independence activist, writer, Islamic theologian, and a senior leader of Indian National Congress (INC). He became the First Minister of Education of Independent India and served from 1947 to 1958 in Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet.

Works of Maulana Azad

He composed poetry in Urdu and treatises on religion & philosophy, in young age. He became prominence through his work as a journalist and publishing works critical of the British Raj. Later, he became the leader of Khilafat Movement. During the movement, he came into close contact with Mahatma Gandhi and became enthusiastic supporter of Gandhi’s ideas of non-violent and civil disobedience. He actively took part in non-co-operation movement. At 35, he became the youngest person to serve as President of INC in 1923.

Sela Tunnel 

World’s longest bi-lane road tunnel called “Sela Tunnel” is being built on Balipara-Charduar-Tawang (BCT) road by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), under Project Vartak.

Important Points

• The Sela tunnel is being constructed at an altitude of 13,800ft near the Indo-China border.
• It is being constructed on 317km long BCT road. The BCT road connects East Kameng, West Kameng, and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh to the rest of India.
• It is being constructed to provide all weather connectivity to Tawang.
• The tunnel would also ensure better movement of troops and weaponry to different locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Sela Tunnel

Sela Tunnel is an under-construction road tunnel, being constructed at 3,000 metres. It is being built to provide all-weather connectivity between Guwahati in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. It is being excavated below the 4,200 metres Sela Pass on NH 13 section of Trans-Arunachal Highway system. The tunnel will be connected with NH 13 by a new 12.4 km road. It will reduce the distance between Dirang and Tawang by 10 km. Its constructed started in 2019 and is scheduled to be completed in February 2022. This project comprises of two 1,790 m & 475 m long tunnels and an escape tube of 980 m. It will cut down the travel time by an hour.

Sela Tunnel cuts through Sela–Charbela ridge, separating Tawang district from West Kameng district.

Karnataka observes Onake Obavva Jayanti

Karnataka government started celebration of ‘Onake Obavva Jayanti’ on the 11th of November from the year 2021.

Important Points

• The proposal to celebrate birth anniversary of Onake Obavva was made by Kannada and Culture Department.
• Onake Obavva was a woman-soldier who had fought against Hyder Ali forces in Chitradurga in 18th century.
• The events will be state-sponsored.

Onake Obavva

Onake Obavva was a brave woman who fought against the forces of Hyder Ali with a pestle single-handedly. She fought in the kingdom of Chitradurga in Karnataka. Her husband was a guard of a watchtower in fort of Chitradurga. She is celebrated in the state of Karnataka, along with Abbakka Rani, Kittur Chennamma and Keladi Chennamma. She belonged to Holayas (Chalavadi) community.

Background

She is considered as ‘epitome of Kannada female pride’. The hole through which she sneaked Hyder Ali’s soldiers is called Onake Obavva Kindi. Her heroic effort is depicted in a famous song-sequence in Nagarahavu picture. The sports stadium in Chitradurga, Veera Vanithe Onake Obavva Stadium, has been named after her. The brave woman is commemorated with a statue sculpted by Ashok Gudigar. Her statue has been erected in front of the office of District Commissioner in Chitradurga.

Reason for observance

Obavva died in fight with soldiers of Tipu Sultan’s father (Hyder) while protecting the fort of Chitradurga. She fought with her ‘Onake’, due to which she was given the name ‘Onake Obavva’.