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Current Affairs (11th July, 2024)

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 11-Jul-2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS

WORLD POPULATION DAY 2024

  • It is annually observed on 11th July.
  • Origin: 11th July 1987, when the world's population hit around 5 billion.
  • Objective: To increase awareness about the growing global population and its ongoing effects on sustainable development.
  • The theme of World Population Day varies annually and is set by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
  • Theme 2024: “Empowering Future Generations: Sustainable Development and Population Trends”.

THE UPPER SIANG PROJECT

Why in News?

  • Locals are protesting the formation of hydropower project on River Siang.

About Upper Siang Project

  • It is a proposed 11000-megawatt hydropower project.
  • River: Siang
  • Location: Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh

About River Siang

  • Origin: Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range in Tibet.
  • Different names of River when it enters different states
    • Tibet: River Tsangpo
    • Arunachal Pradesh: River Siang
    • Assam: River Brahmaputra
  • Tributaries: Dibang, Lohit, Burhi Dihing, Tista, and Dhansari.
  • It is a perennial river and has several peculiar characteristics due to its geography and prevailing climatic conditions.
  • It is flooded twice annually.
  • Reasons for flood
  • Melting of the Himalayan snow in summer.
  • Monsoon flow.

CSIR AND MSSRF

Why in News?

  • The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the M. S. A Research Foundation (MSSRF) entered a Memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Aim of MoU: To work together for livelihood generation among rural, tribal, and farming communities.

About CSIR

  • CSIR is the largest research and development (R&D) organisation in India.
  • CSIR has a pan-India presence and has a dynamic network of 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, 3 Innovation Complexes and 5 units.
  • Established: September 1942
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • CSIR is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and it operates as an autonomous body through the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

About MSSRF

  • Established: 1988
  • It is not-for profit trust.
  • Founder: Professor MS Swaminathan

Aim

  • To accelerate use of modern science for sustainable agricultural and rural development.
  • MSSRF focuses specifically on tribal and rural communities with a pro-poor, pro-women and pro-nature approach.

CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

Why in News?

  • The Supreme Court ruled that the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) has the authority to form benches within the transparency panel and allocate tasks within the commission.

About CIC

  • Establishment
    • CIC was established by the Central Government in 2005.
    • Under the provisions of the Right to Information Act (2005). 
    • It is a non-constitutional body.
    • It is a statutory body.
  • Members: It consists of a Chief Information Commissioner and not more than ten Information Commissioners.
  • Appointment: By the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Prime Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
  • Tenure: The Chief Information Commissioner and an Information Commissioner shall hold office for such term as prescribed by the Central Government or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
  • They are not eligible for reappointment.

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION (IMO) COUNCIL

Why in News?

  • India Leads Global Maritime Discourse at IMO Council Session in London.

About IMO

  • The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that is responsible for regulating shipping and preventing marine pollution from ships.
  • IMO was established in 1948 following a UN conference in Geneva and came into existence in 1958.

Members

  • IMO has 175 Member States and three Associate Members.
  • Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.
  • India joined the IMO in 1959.

Role

  • To create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.
  • Involves in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international maritime traffic.
  • IMO celebrates World Maritime Day every last Thursday of September, to highlight the importance of shipping and maritime activities.

FIRST BILATERAL TRADE BETWEEN INDIA AND TAIWAN

Why in News?

  • The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for organic products between India and Taiwan has been in effect since July 8, 2024.
  • Meeting Venue: New Delhi.
  • It is the first bilateral agreement concerning organic products between the two countries.
  • The agencies responsible for implementing the MRA are:
    • Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
      • Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Agriculture
    • Food Agency (AFA)
      • Ministry: Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

RUSSIA GEOGRAPHY

Climate

  • Climate of Russia can be described as highly continental influenced climate with warm to hot dry summers and (very) cold winters with temperatures of -30°C and lower and sometimes heavy snowfall.
  • Due to the vast size of the country, the climate varies in different parts.

Different Temperature Ranges

  • Northern & Central European Russia
    • Summer is typically dry and sunny, with up to nine hours of sunshine daily, although local showers or thunderstorms may occur in the afternoon and evening.
    • Winters are extremely cold with frost and snowfall, with the first snow often arriving in early October.
    • Spring and autumn can be quite variable, as low-pressure systems occasionally bring frequent rain or snowfall and strong winds.
  • Southern European Russia
    • Winter is shorter than in the north Russia.
    • The Russian Steppes, located in the southeast, experience hot, dry summers and very cold winters.
    • In contrast, the northern and northeastern areas around the Black Sea have milder winters but receive frequent rainfall throughout the year.
    • The climate in this region is slightly like the Mediterranean climate.
  • Siberia
    • This region of Russia is renowned for its extreme climate, with very cold winters and warm to hot summers, although the latter are typically short and wet.
    • Average annual precipitation is about 500 mm, mostly falling as rain in spring and autumn.
    • Winters are generally dry, with snow covering the ground from late October to mid-March in some years.
    • During winter temperatures drop below -35°C.
    • The coldest place in Russia is Oymyakon.
    • The Arctic Sea remains ice-bound from November to late March.

PRIME MINISTER (PM)

  • He is the head of the government and the real executive authority in the Indian system.

Appointment

  • The Constitution does not specify a formal appointment process of the PM.
  • Article 74 provides for a council of ministers with the Prime Minister at the head to aid and advise the President in the exercise of his functions.
  • He is appointed by the President of India under Article 75.
  • There are no direct elections for the post of PM.
  • The President designates the head of the greater party or the alliance of gatherings that orders a greater part in the majority in Lok Sabha as Prime Minister.
  • If a single party or alliance does not achieve a majority, the person with the best chance of gaining majority support is picked by the President.

Term

  • The Prime Minister’s term is not fixed.
  • As long as he is the head of the majority party or coalition, he remains in power.

Note:

  • After the PM’s appointment, the President appoints other ministers based on the PM’s recommendations.
  • The PM can select ministers from among the members of Parliament.
  • In case a person who is not a member of Parliament may be appointed as a minister.
  • However, this individual must be elected to one of the Houses of Parliament within six months of their appointment.

Powers

  • He has the authority to remove ministers from office.
  • If the PM resigns, the entire cabinet resigns as well.
  • He is the de facto commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

 FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

  • The Fundamental Rights are enshrined in Part III of the Constitution (Articles 12-35).
  • Part III of the Constitution is described as the Magna Carta of India.
  • The model of Fundamental Rights is taken from USA.

Note: ‘Magna Carta’, the Charter of Rights issued by King John of England in 1215 was the first written document relating to the Fundamental Rights of citizens.

  • The Constitution of India provides for six Fundamental Rights:
    • Right to equality (Articles 14–18)
    • Right to freedom (Articles 19–22)
    • Right against exploitation (Articles 23–24)
    • Right to freedom of religion (Articles 25–28)
    • Cultural and educational rights (Articles 29–30)
    • Right to constitutional remedies (Article 32)

Article 31

  • Originally the constitution also included Right to property (Article 31).
  • However, it was deleted from the list of Fundamental Rights by the 44th Amendment Act, 1978.
  • It is made a legal right under Article 300-A in Part XII of the Constitution.

Provision for Laws Violating Fundamental Rights:

  • Article 13 of the Indian Constitution declares that all laws that are inconsistent with or in derogation of any of the fundamental rights shall be void.
  • This power has been conferred on the Supreme Court (Article 32) and the high courts (Article 226).
  • The Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) held that a Constitutional amendment can be challenged if it violates a basic structure including fundamental right.

Writ

`Consumer Price Index (CPI)

  • It measures price changes from the perspective of a retail buyer.
  • Released by: National Statistical Office (NSO).
  • The CPI calculates the difference in the price of commodities and services such as food, medical care, education, electronics etc.
  • The CPI has several sub-groups including food and beverages, fuel and light, housing and clothing, bedding and footwear.
  • Four types of CPI are as follows:
    • CPI for Industrial Workers (IW).
    • CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL).
    • CPI for Rural Labourer (RL).
    • CPI (Rural/Urban/Combined).
  • Of these, the first three are compiled by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
  • Fourth is compiled by the NSO in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.