Karnataka Bitcoin scam
Central Crime Branch Police of Bengaluru, arrested 26-year-old Srikrishna Ramesh alias Sriki, on November 4, 2020.
Background
- He was arrested as per provisions of Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in a drug case.
- Sriki has been accused of procuring drugs using bitcoins via darknet and peddling to high-profile clients.
- This arrest has uncovered a series of crimes because police found that he was involved in several other crimes, like hacking of eProcurement site of Karnataka government in 2019.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, which is not controlled by any central bank or single administrator. It can be sent from user to user on through peer-to-peer bitcoin network any intermediaries. Transactions are verified using the network nodes by cryptography. The coin is recorded in a public distributed ledger called blockchain.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency is the collection of binary data, designed to work as a medium of exchange. It stores individual coin ownership records in a ledger. It is a computerized database that uses strong cryptography to secure transaction records. Cryptocurrencies are usually fiat currencies and are not backed by or convertible into a commodity.
Cryptocurrency was invented in 2008 by an unknown person or group of people. It was invented using the name Satoshi Nakamoto. The currency started use in 2009.
October WPI at 5-month high
Ministry of Commerce & Industry released its data on Wholesale Price Index (WPI) on November 15, 2021.
Important Points
- As per Ministry’s data, provisional Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation have been accelerated to a five-month high to 12.54% in October 2021 as against 66% recorded in September.
- This rise was attributed to an increase in fuel and manufacturing prices.
- Report notes that, benchmark inflation print has remained in double digits for seven consecutive months.
Benchmark inflation Print
The benchmark inflation print for October 2020 was 1.31%. The high rate of inflation in October 2021 is due to an increase in prices of mineral oils, basic metals, crude petroleum & natural gas, food products, chemicals and chemical products etc as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.
Consumer Price Inflation index-based inflation
The consumer price inflation index-based inflation in India, increased to 4.48% in October 2021 as compared to October 2020. It was higher than 4.35% recorded in September 2021.
Fuel & Power component of Index
Sharpe increase was witnessed in Fuel & Power component of the index. It increased 37.18% on a yearly basis in October 2021 as compared to 24.8% increase in the September 2021. Prices of manufactured products in October 2021 increased by 12.04% as compared to same period in 2020.
Food Inflation and LPG prices
Food inflation decreased by 1.7% October as compared to 7.05% in 2020. LPG prices increased by 54.3% in October 2021 as compared to 2020.
Celebration of First Audit Diwas
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is set to address the event of first Audit Diwas on November 16, 2021.
Audit Diwas
First edition of the Audit Diwas will be celebrated to mark the historic origins of the institution of CAG and the contribution made by it to the governance, transparency and accountability.
Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)
CAG is the Constitutional Authority in India. It was established in accordance with Article 148 of the Constitution of India. CAG is empowered to Audit all receipts and expenditure of the central as well as state governments. The CAG is the statutory auditor of Government-owned corporations. It conducts supplementary audit of government companies, where Government is having an equity share of 51 per cent.
Reports of CAG
Reports of the CAG are laid before Parliament or Legislatures. They are being taken up for discussion by Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and Committees on Public Undertakings (COPUs). PACs and COPUs are special committees in the Parliament and state legislatures.
Order of precedence
The CAG has been ranked at 9th place in the order of precedence. It enjoys same status as the sitting judge of Supreme Court.
Current CAG
Currently, former Lt. Governor of UT of Jammu Kashmir G. C. Murmu is serving as CAG of India. He is the 14th CAG of India. His tenure started in August 2020.
Kaiser-i-Hind: Arunachal’s State butterfly
State Cabinet of Arunachal Pradesh, headed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, approved “Kaiser-i-Hind” as state butterfly on November 13, 2021.
Inportant Points
- Kaiser-i-Hind’ is a large and brightly coloured butterfly.
- It is an elusive swallowtail butterfly, which carries ‘India’ in its name.
- It is found in China and now it has been approved as the State butterfly of Arunachal Pradesh.
Kaiser-i-Hind
Kaiser-i-Hind is scientifically known as Teinopalpus imperialis. In literal terms, it means Emperor of India. The butterfly is having a wingspan of 90-120 mm.
Distribution of Kaiser-i-Hind
It is found across six States along Eastern Himalayas at the elevations from 6,000-10,000 feet in a well-wooded terrain. They also flutter in Bhutan, Nepal, Laos, Myanmar, southern China and Vietnam.
Background
In January 2020, State Wildlife Board accepted the proposal from Koj Rinya, which is the divisional forest officer of Hapoli Forest Division in Lower Subansiri district. The proposal was made in a bid to boost butterfly tourism and to save the species from extinction in the State.
Protection status of the butterfly
Protected areas under the Hapoli Forest Division are popular among butterfly enthusiasts. The Kaiser-i-Hind is protected under Schedule II of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Despite that, they are hunted for the supply to butterfly collectors.
IUCN Status
International Union for Conservation of Nature has red-listed the Kaiser-i-Hind.
Ordinance to extend terms of CBI, ED chiefs
Government of India has brought two ordinances to extend tenure of directors of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for up to five years.
Important Points
- Presently, the tenure for the chiefs of both the agencies is two years.
- Government promulgated ‘The Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 as well as Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021’ on November 14, 2021.
- As per the ordinance, directors of CBI and ED cannot be removed before the end of their tenure.
- A CBI or ED director can be appointed first for a period of two years. However, the tenure can be extended for three more years, if needed.
- Extended three years terms will require three separate annual extensions.
- No extension will be granted to an ED or CBI chief after completing a period of five years.
Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Ordinance 2021
As per this ordinance, period for which the Director of Enforcement holds the office, can be extended up to one year at a time on recommendation of the Committee under clause(a) of the ordinance. The reason for the same needs to be recorded in writing. No extension will be granted after a period of five years in total, adding the period mentioned in initial appointment.
Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Ordinance 2021
This ordinance also provides similar amendment with respect to the director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
World’s largest solar power park in Bhadla
Bhadla Solar Park, located in Rajasthan, is the World’s largest solar power park.
Important Points
- The solar park is located in Bhadla, a dry & sandy region in Rajasthan.
- It spans over 14,000 acres.
- The Park comprises of 10 million solar panels at the park. These solar panels contribute to an operational capacity of 2245 MW.
Bhadla Solar Park
As of 2020, Bhadla solar park is largest solar park worldwide. It is spread over an area of 5,700 hectares in Bhadla, Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. Park has a total capacity of 2245 MW. It had witnessed the lowest bid for solar power in India at Rs 2.44 per kilowatt-hour.
Bhadla region
Bhadla region of the jodhpur district is officially recognized as sandy, dry, and arid region with an area of around 45 km2. It is located around 200 km north of Jodhpur and 320 km west of Jaipur. Because of its climate, this region is described as “almost unlivable”. Normal temperatures of the region are between 46-48 °C while, hot winds & sand storms occur frequently.
Background
NTPC had announced the commissioning of the 115 MW of capacity at this solar park on February 22, 2017. Currently, its full capacity is of 2,245 MW, making it world’s largest solar park, with its investment rising to Rs 100 billion.
ICRI report on Stubble Burning Incidents
ICRI-Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) recently published its data on stubble burning incidents.
Important Points
- This report was published at the time when Delhi and its adjoining states are reeling from a thick blanket of smog and deadly fumes.
- As a result of this, government has shut schools and take emergency measures to control pollution.
- The Supreme Court also noted that, it has become a trend to blame farmers and their practice of stubble burning for all the pollution in Delhi.
Important Findings
- As per report, stubble burning incidents in the year 2021 are considerably lower in most states, with exception in Haryana.
- In Haryana, stubble burning incidents has increased by 48.5 per cent in between September 15 and November 13, 2021.
- In Punjab, the cumulative number of such incident is 21 per cent lesser as compared to However, since October 13, Punjab witnessed a 53.3 per cent jump in stubble burning incidents.
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)
IARI is commonly known as the Pusa Institute. It is the national Institute for agricultural research, education & extension in India. The institute is originally called as Pusa Institute because it was located in Pusa Bihar in 1911 with the name “Imperial Institute of Agricultural Research”. In the year 1919, it was renamed as Imperial Agricultural Research Institute. The institute was located to Delhi in 1936, after a major earthquake in Pusa. The IARI was responsible for research leading to “Green Revolution in India” in 1970s. IARI is financed and administered by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
