Frame rules for amicus curiae
Frame rules for amicus curiae Solicitor General Tushar Mehta made a strong appeal to the Supreme Court to frame guidelines to rein in lawyers appointed as the court’s amici curiae in various cases, especially sensitive ones. Appearing before a Bench led by Justice N.V. Ramana, Mr. Mehta said court-appointed amici curiae tended to even interfere in the “running” of organisations such as the CBI.“An amicusis appointed to assist the court… It is time the court frame guidelines to demarcate the role of an amicus curiae,” Mr. Mehta submitted. Amicus Curiae: Amicus curiae refers to a person who volunteers to help the court in deciding some matters however it is the discretion of the court whether to accept it or not, the information provided by the amicus curiae could be in the form of brief, testimony which has not been asked by any member of the case, or a learned treatise on the matter before the court. Procedure To Appoint The Amicus Curiae: An advocate appointed as Amicus Curiae by the court or from the panel of advocates at the cost of the state shall be entitled to fee at the rate of 6000/- at the admission hearing stage and Rs. 10000/- at the final disposal stage or the regular hearing stage as fixed by the chief justice, or as may be ordered by the court, wherefore a certificate in the form no. 10 shall be issued. Read Also Virtual court Role of Amicus Curiae 1. Acting as a counsel / an advocate may be appointed as Amicus Curiae: In the case of Md. Sukur ali v. State of Assam, for some reason the counsel for the accused did not appear before the court of law, and so one important question that lay before the court was whether they could appoint an amicus curiae for the purpose of defending the accused.Thus focus was put on the Article 21 and Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India.Article 21- Protection of life and personal liberty No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law. Article 22 (1) – No person who is arrested shall be detained in custody without being informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds for such arrest nor shall he be denied the right to consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice. Relying upon the two articles of the constitution of India and the judgment in the case of Powell v Alabama, Mr. Nariman held that the accused should not suffer merely because of the fault of counsel and rather he should be provided with Amicus Curiae to defend him in the case as, if the judgment is pronounced without a counsel to defend him that would be gross negligence of the rights which are provided by the Indian Constitution.Hence an Amicus Curiae was appointed by the court who was a lawyer practicing on the criminal side. 2. Providing assistance in deciding of a case: In the case of Ali Ibrahim v state of Kerala, the case related to some unknown persons who defrauded the plaintiff to the tune of 63 lakhs of rupees, all the transactions took place via Email and banking transactions, after which it was decided that since this particular case is of grave nature it should be sent to the CBI for further investigation and an Amicus Curiae was appointed, whereby the amicus curiae provided various important aspects of the case and as to how the investigation should be carried forward with respect to the resources and expertise to use in the investigation of the matter, also it suggested that the case should not be given to the National Investigation Agency as is provided under the National Investigation Agency act, 2008 that only the cases which have national ramifications such as terrorism shall be investigated by the NIA.All of which was accepted by the court. 3. Cases of great public importance: In the case of Manoj Narula v Union of India and ors. a point of great public importance was brought up before the court and the court appointed Amicus Curiae to assist the court. Broadly the point was about the legality of persons with criminal background or having committed criminal offences appointed as the ministers in the central and state governments. On the recommendations of who a notice was sent to the Union Government to file the affidavit within four weeks of the service of notice. Similarly in the case ofPublic Union for civil liberties v. state of T.N. and ors. wherein Kapil Sibal was appointed as the Amicus Curiae, the case related to the gravity of the problem of Bonded labor and steps to be taken to implement the Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act 1976. All the states were required to organize a survey and the affidavit of the same should be submitted to the Amicus Curiae. The amicus curiae was required to submit brief written statements and all the states were required to comply with the written statements. Read Also Sedition Law Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Rajya Sabha passes Bill to raise FDI limit in insurance sector
Rajya Sabha passes Bill to raise FDI limit in insurance sector The Rajya Sabha passed the Insurance Amendment Bill, 2021 that increases the maximum foreign investment allowed in an insurance company from 49% to 74%, amid criticism from the Opposition parties on the clause enabling “control and ownership” by foreign investors. Insurance Amendment Bill, 2021: The Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced in Rajya Sabha by the Minister of Corporate Affairs, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, on March 15, 2021. The Bill amends the Insurance Act, 1938. The Act provides the framework for functioning of insurance businesses and regulates the relationship between an insurer, its policyholders, its shareholders, and the regulator (the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India). The Bill seeks to increase the maximum foreign investment allowed in an Indian insurance company. Foreign investment: The Act allows foreign investors to hold up to 49% of the capital in an Indian insurance company, which must be owned and controlled by an Indian entity. The Bill increases the limit on foreign investment in an Indian insurance company from 49% to 74%, and removes restrictions on ownership and control. However, such foreign investment may be subject to additional conditions as prescribed by the central government. Investment of assets: The Act requires insurers to hold a minimum investment in assets which would be sufficient to clear their insurance claim liabilities. If the insurer is incorporated or domiciled outside India, such assets must be held in India in a trust and vested with trustees who must be residents of India. The Act specifies in an explanation that this will also apply to an insurer incorporated in India, in which at least: (i) 33% capital is owned by investors domiciled outside India, or (ii) 33% of the members of the governing body are domiciled outside India. The Bill removes this explanation. Read Office of Profit Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
BRO plans to open key pass to Leh ahead of schedule
BRO plans to open key pass to Leh ahead of schedule For the first time ever, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started work on reopening the crucial Baralacha Pass in Himachal Pradesh much before schedule to restore connectivity to Leh in Ladakh. Amid the stand-offwith China in eastern Ladakh last year, the BRO had kept crucial passes open for longer duration to enable the Army to undertake advanced winter stocking for the thousands of troops deployed in Ladakh. “The team has traversed a total distance of 20 km in super high-altitude conditions scrupulously crossing the Baralacha La in the Zanskar range on foot amidst sub-zero freezing conditions, frequent avalanches and slides with 15 to 20 feet snow accumulation,”. Adverse weather Stating that the air recce for air induction of the snow clearance team from Sitingiri to Sarchu was carried out on March 3. The aim of this induction was to clear Baralacha Pass using two attack points from Patsio and Sarchu side each to achieve connectivity to Leh. However, air induction of the team could not take place in the subsequent days due to inclement weather. To avoid further delay, it was decided to march the party on foot with rations, spare parts and communication equipment. After two failed attempts, it finally reached the destination on March 14. BRO – Vision Nation’s most reputed, multifaceted, transnational, modern construction Organisation committed to meeting the strategic needs of the armed forces with enlightened leadership, a strong, skilled and committed work force, a well ingrained value system and a strong environment conscience. Playing a national role in socio economic development through its large scale contribution to infrastructure development. Mission To support the armed forces meet their strategic needs by committed, dedicated and cost effective development and sustenance of the infrastructure. To achieve international levels of quality excellence and time consciousness in a diversified sphere of construction activity in a cost effective manner. Optimise potential and expertise through increased involvement in agency, transnational and national development projects. To attain leadership in development, adoption, assimilation and use of state of the art technology. To create the environment for accurate, real time and effective decision making through optimising use of information technology. Through a focus on core competencies; ensure highest level of skill and proficiency in construction activity. To sustain a sense of values in the Organisation that will ensure a high level of self esteem in each individual and immeasurable synergy in the Organisation To help enrich the quality of life of the community and ensure all round growth. Role of the BRO In Peace Develop & Maintain the Operational Road Infrastructure of General Staff in the Border Areas. Contribute to the Socio-Economic Development of the Border States. In War To Develop & Maintain Roads to Keep Line of Control through in Original Sectors and Re-Deployed Sectors. To Execute Addl Tasks as laid down by the Govt Contributing to the War Effort Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
6 tigers missing in Ranthambore
6 tigers missing in Ranthambore Six tigers—four adults and two sub-adults—have been unaccounted for since March 2020 in the Ranthambore tiger sanctuary, Rajasthan. Independent wildlife groups such as Tiger Watch have alleged that the tigers have been missing for over a year and that “negative human intervention being a cause [poaching]” could not be ruled out. The National Tiger Conservation Authority, a wing of the Union Environment Ministry, has constituted a committee over the disappearance of the tigers. Ranthambore tiger sanctuary Ranthambore National Park holds the significant status in the tourism sector of India with its distinct class and charm. However, the Ranthambore National Park is not one of the biggest National parks of India, but surely it is the most famous one. Situated in the vicinity of the Aravali hills and Vindhya plateau, the Ranthambore forest spreads over an area of 1334 sq km with having the 392 sq km of the area as the national park. Highly revered for the natural habitat to the significant number of Royal Bengal tigers. The Ranthambhore National Park not only boasts of its populous tiger reserve, but also the heritage sites which includes the mighty Ranthambore Fort, Jogi Mahal, Ancient temple and Rajbagh ruins which are the reminders of glory and grandeur of the Rulers of Ranthambore. Many picturesque lakes like Padam Talao, Malik Talao, Raj Bagh Talao and others are enriching the landscape of this forest which consists of deciduous forest, small hills, valleys and lush greenery. The park is enclosed by the Chambal River and Banas River from the two sides enhancing the wild ambience of the Ranthambhore forest. Read Also keoladeo national park Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Centre warns of COVID-19 spike at Kumbh
Centre warns of COVID-19 spike at Kumbh A Health Ministry team has reported that nearly 10 to 20 pilgrims and 10 to 20 locals at the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, are being reported positive every day. Negative COVID-19 test wouldn’t be a requirement for those intending to visit the festival at Haridwar. Kumbh Mela Kumbh Mela, also called Kumbha Mela, in Hinduism, religious festival that is celebrated four times over the course of 12 years, the site of the observance rotating between four pilgrimage places on four sacred rivers—at Haridwar on the Ganges River, at Ujjain on the Shipra, at Nashik on the Godavari, and at Prayag (modern Prayagraj) at the confluence of the Ganges, the Jamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati. Each site’s celebration is based on a distinct set of astrological positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Jupiter, the holiest time occurring at the exact moment when these positions are fully occupied. The Kumbh Mela at Prayag, in particular, attracts millions of pilgrims. In addition, a Great Kumbh Mela festival is held every 144 years at Prayag. Background Tradition ascribes the Kumbh Mela’s origin to the 8th-century philosopher Shankara, who instituted regular gatherings of learned asceticsfor discussion and debate. The founding mythof the Kumbh Mela—attributed to the Puranas (collections of myth and legend)—recounts how the gods and demons fought over the pot (kumbha) of amrita, the elixir of immortality produced by their joint churning of the milky ocean. During the struggle, drops of the elixir fell on the Kumbh Mela’s four earthly sites, and the rivers are believed to turn back into that primordialnectar at the climactic moment of each, giving pilgrims the chance to bathe in the essence of purity, auspiciousness, and immortality. The term Kumbh comes from this mythic pot of elixir, but it is also the Hindi name for Aquarius, the sign of the zodiac in which Jupiter resides during the Haridwar Mela. Read FATF Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG)
Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG) The government has launched the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG), comprising 10 labs namely DBT-NIBMG Kalyani, DBT-ILS Bhubaneswar, ICMR-NIV Pune, DBT-NCCS Pune, CSIR-CCMB Hyderabad, DBT-CDFD Hyderabad, DBT-InSTEM/ NCBS Bengaluru, NIMHANS Bengaluru, CSIR-IGIB Delhi, and NCDC Delhi. Features of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium : The overall aim of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium is to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 on a regular basis through a multi-laboratory network. This vital research consortium will also assist in developing potential vaccines in the future. The consortium will ascertain the status of new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01) in the country, establish a sentinel surveillance for early detection of genomic variants with public health implication, and determine the genomic variants in the unusual events/trends (super-spreader events, high mortality/morbidity trend areas etc. Coordinated by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) along with MoH&FW, ICMR, and CSIR, the strategy and roadmap of the National SARS CoV2 Genome Sequencing Consortium (INSACOG) has been prepared. SARS-CoV-2 Virus ICTV announced “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)” as the name of the new virus. This name was chosen because the virus is genetically related to the coronavirus responsible for the SARS outbreak of 2003. While related, the two viruses are different. In the backdrop of the emergence of a newly identified variant of the novel SARS-CoV-2 Virus in the UK, South Africa and some other parts of the world, the Government has taken action to accelerate VirusSurveillance, Genome Sequencing and Characterization. A new variant, which that was found in the UK, especially in the London region, is defined by multiple mutations in the Spike region, as well as mutations in other genomic regions. As per DBTDBT, these mutations are rapidly increasing the number of variants of the virus. This variant is significantly more transmissible than previously circulating variants, with an estimated potential to increase the reproductive number with an estimated increased transmissibility of up to 70%. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) will monitor the genomic variations on a regular basis through the multi-laboratory network. Knowledge generated though this vital research consortium will also assist in developing diagnostics and potential therapeutics and vaccines in the future. DBT-NIBMG DBT-NIBMG as the Co-ordinating Unit of Genome Sequencing Consortium and will closely work with a Nodal Unit of NCDCon activities like SOPs, data annotation, data analysis, data release etc. NCDC will maintain a database of all samples of the new variants of public health significance. The data will be epidemiologically analysed, interpreted and shared with state/district for investigation, contact tracing and planning response strategies. All the genomic sequencing data will be maintained in a National database at two sites, DBT-NIBMG, Kalyani and CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi. The virus isolated will be deposited in the notified SARS-CoV-2 virus repository etc RCB, Faridabad and NIV, Pune. Source: PIB Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
National Population Register
National Population Register (NPR) The National Population Register (NPR) is a Register of usual residents of the country. It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR. A usual resident is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more. Objectives of National Population Register The objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country. The database would contain demographic as well as biometric particulars. WHO IS USUAL RESIDENT OF INDIA A usual resident is defined, for the purposes of the NPR, as a person who has resided in a local area for the past six months or more, or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next six months. The law compulsorily seeks to register every citizen of India and issue a national identity card. Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2020 WHO WILL CONDUCT NPR ? The process of updating NPR will be carried out under the aegis of the Registrar General and ex-Officio Census Commissioner, India. Demographic Particulars: The following demographic details of every individualare required for every usual resident: · Name of person · Relationship to head of household · Father’s name · Mother’s name · Spouse’s name (if married) · Sex · Date of Birth · Marital status · Place of birth · Nationality (as declared) · Present address of usual residence · Duration of stay at present address · Permanent residential address · Occupation/Activity · Educational qualification WHEN AND WHERE NPR WILL BE CONDUCTED The process of collecting information for NPR will start in April 2020and will be completed by September.NPR will be conducted across India, exceptAssam as the state has already gone through the National Register of Citizens. Present Status: The data for National Population Register was collected in 2010 alongwith the houselisting phase of Census of India 2011. The updation of this data was done during 2015 by conducting door to door survey. The digitisation of the updated information has been completed. Now it has been decided to update the National Population Register along with the Houselisting phase of Census 2021 during April to September 2020 in all the States/UTs except Assam. Implementation of the Code on Wages Act, 2019 Challenges: The concerns over the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) has prompted several state governments to halt the ongoing data collection process for a National Population Register (NPR). The fear is that the information sought under NPR is much wider in scope and could potentially be used to target a section of the society. NPR is not just a census exercise, but a larger data convergence project that can result in the government putting its citizens under surveillance, that is unwarranted and dangerous to the secular and constitutional credentials of the country. NPR Vs Census: While the process of NPR and Census will begin simultaneously, the two databases are not same. The decennial census is the largest single source of a variety of statistical information on different characteristics of the people of India. While NPR only contains demographic information, more details are required for census like information on demography, economic activity, literacy and education, and housing and household amenities besides others. The census is the basis for reviewing the country’s progress in the past decade, monitoring the ongoing schemes of the government and plan for the future. The census provides detailed and authentic information on demography, economic activity, literacy and education, housing and household amenities, urbanisation, fertility and mortality, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, language, religion, migration, disability besides others. The enumerators also collect data related to cultivators and agricultural labourers, their sex, occupational classification of workers in the non-households industry, trade, business, profession or service by class of worker and sex. There will be a detailed survey on gender and literacy rate, a number of towns, slum households and their population. Information is also collected on sources of potable water, energy, irrigation, method of farming, whether a house is a concrete, thatched or others. HOW IS NPR DIFFERENT THAN NRC ? National Population Register is a database of people living in India, citizens or not, but National Resgiter of Citizens is a database of Indian citizens. The NRC process demands proof of citizenship from the respondents. Those who found in wnat of the proof may face deportation or detention in long run. But in NPR, there is no need to provide any document. Conclusion: NPR data helps identify the demographics of actual residents who will be direct beneficiaries of any schemes launched in the area. The NPR data will help government design and adapt schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Jandhan Yojna, or medium of instruction in schools as per the current demographics, thus making the schemes more effective. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Galathea Bay
Galathea Bay The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) denotified the entire Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary to allow for the port there. The NBWL committee seemed unaware that India’s National Marine Turtle Action Plan that was under preparation then (it was released on February 1, 2021) had listed Galathea Bay as one of the ‘Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas’ and ‘Important Marine Turtle Habitats’ in the country. It is included in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-I, the zone with maximum protection. Environment Ministry expert committee approved a “zero extent” Ecologically Sensitive Zone (ESZ) for the Galathea NP to allow use of land in the south-eastern and south-western part of the island for the NITI Aayog plan. Read Also Kaziranga National Park Flora and Fauna: Zero extent ESZ had ironically listed out in great detail the park’s ecological uniqueness – that it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, houses a range of forest types, has one of the best preserved tropical rainforests in the world. The park is home to 648 species of flora and hosts 330 species of fauna including rare and endemic ones such as the Nicobar wild pig, Nicobar tree shrew, the Great Nicobar crested serpent eagle, Nicobar paradise flycatcher and the Nicobar megapode. It also notes that the park is home to the indigenous Shompen community. The beaches here, like at the mouth of the river Galathea in South Bay are among the most prominent nesting sites globally of the Giant leatherback. It for this reason that the bay was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1997, but has now been denotified to allow for the transhipment port. Way Forward: ESZ is needed to protect the park from an ecological, environmental and biodiversity point of view, but goes on in the very next para to propose a zero extent ESZ for nearly 70% of the periphery of the park. It is almost as if the unique diversity of life just listed suddenly disappeared because of an arbitrary line drawn to allow a slew of high value projects. This is illustrated in the case of the Giant leatherback turtle and the Nicobar megapode, two charismatic species for whom Great Nicobar is very important. Source: The Hindu Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Teesta River
Teesta River The Teesta river originates in Sikkim and flows through West Bengal as well as Bangladesh. India claims a share of 55 percent of the river’s water. Bangladesh wants a higher share than it gets now. Currently, its share is lower than that of India’s. How has the Teesta dispute progressed? The two countries were on the verge of signing a water-sharing pact in September 2011, when Prime Minister was going to visit Bangladesh. But, West Bengal Chief minister objected to it, and the deal was scuttled. Bangladesh PM confident they could reach a “fair solution” on the Teesta through cooperation between central and state governments. Five years later, the Teesta issue remains unresolved. How has India’s relationship with Bangladesh played out over the years? New Delhi has had a robust relationship with Dhaka, carefully cultivated since 2008. India has benefited from its security ties with Bangladesh, whose crackdown against anti-India outfits has helped the Indian government maintain peace in the eastern and Northeast states. Bangladesh has benefited from its economic and development partnership. Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia. Bilateral trade has grown steadily over the last decade: India’s exports to Bangladesh in 2018-19 stood at $9.21 billion, and imports from Bangladesh at $1.04 billion. India also grants 15 to 20 lakh visas every year to Bangladesh nationals for medical treatment, tourism, work, and just entertainment. A weekend shopping trip to India by Bangladesh’ elite is quite common .For India, Bangladesh has been a key partner in the neighbourhood first policy — and possibly the success story in bilateral ties among its neighbours. What are these irritants? These include the proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens(NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed in December last year. Bangladesh had cancelled visits by ministers, and Hasina has expressed reservations about CAA. She had said that while the CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC are “internal matters” of India, the CAA move was “not necessary”. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who has served as India’s envoy in Dhaka, flew to Dhaka in early March to assuage such concerns. Amid discussions between Bangladesh and China, Shringla went to Bangladesh this week, too. He was the first visitor Hasina has met since the Covid-19 pandemic How have relations between Bangladesh and China been developing? “China is the biggest trading partner of Bangladesh and is the foremost source of imports. In 2019, the trade between the two countries was $18 billion and the imports from China commanded the lion’s share. The trade is heavily in favour of China,”. Recently, China declared zero duty on 97% of imports from Bangladesh. The concession flowed from China’s duty-free, quota-free programme for the Least Developed Countries. This move has been widely welcomed in Bangladesh, with the expectation that Bangladesh exports to China will increase. India too has provided developmental assistance worth $10 billion, making Bangladesh the largest recipient of India’s total of $30 billion aid globally. China has promised around $30 billion worth of financial assistance to Bangladesh. Additionally, Bangladesh’s strong defence ties with China make the situation complicated. China is the biggest arms supplier to Bangladesh and it has been a legacy issue — after the liberation, officers of Pakistan Army — who were well-versed with Chinese arms — joined Bangladesh Army and that’s how they preferred Chinese weapons As a result, Bangladesh forces are equipped with Chinese arms including tanks, missile launchers, fighter aircraft and several weapons systems. Recently, Bangladesh purchased two Ming class submarines from China. In the wake of the Ladakh standoff, India has become more sensitive to Chinese defence inroads into Bangladesh. How has India been engaging with Bangladesh post CAA? Over the last five months, India and Bangladesh have cooperated on pandemic-related moves. Hasina supported Modi’s call for a regional emergency fund for fighting Covid-19 and declared a contribution of $1.5 million in March 2020. India has also provided medical aid to Bangladesh. The two countries have also cooperated in railways, with India giving 10 locomotives to Bangladesh. The first trial run for trans-shipment of Indian cargo through Bangladesh to Northeast states under a pact on the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports took place in July. However, in recent weeks, Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s call to Hasina raised eyebrows in Delhi. While Islamabad portrayed it as a conversation on Kashmir, Dhaka said it was about cooperating to deal with Covid-19. How has India sought to address China’s latest move? During Shringla’s recent meeting with Hasina, “security-related issues of mutual interest” were discussed. The visit tried to address issues on areas that have emerged as potential irritants in the relationship. Bangladesh expressed “deep concern” at the rise in killings at the Indo-Bangladesh border by “BSF or Indian nationals” during the first half of this year, and the Indian side assured that the BSF authorities have been sensitised of the matter and it will be discussed in detail at the DG-level talks between Border Guards Bangladesh and BSF to be hosted by Dhaka next month. Among other issues: The two sides agreed that Implementation of projects should be done in a timely manner, and that greater attention is required to development projects in Bangladesh under the Indian Lines of Credit. Bangladesh sought return of the Tablighi Jamaat members impacted by the lockdown in India, and also early release of the 25 Bangladeshi fishermen in custody in Assam. India assured Bangladesh that its nationals would be able to return soon. Bangladesh requested for urgent reopening of visa issuance from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, particularly since many Bangladeshi patients need to visit India. India was also requested to reopen travel through Benapole-Petrapole land port which has been halted by the West Bengal government in the wake of the pandemic. Bangladesh told Shringla that it is ready to collaborate in the development of a Covid-19 vaccine, including its trial, and looks forward to early, affordable availability of the vaccine when ready. What is the way ahead? While the Teesta project is important and urgent from India’s point of view, it will be difficult to
Gram Ujala Scheme
Gram Ujala Scheme State-run EESL arm Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) launched the Gram Ujala Scheme under which high quality energy efficient LED bulbs will be given for Rs 10 per piece in certain villages of five states in the first phase. The Gram Ujala programme was launched by Power & New and Renewable Energy Minister in Bihar. First phase: In the first phase of this programme, 15 million LED bulbs will be distributed across villages of Aarah (Bihar), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Vijaywada (Andhra Pradesh), Nagpur (Maharashtra), and villages in western Gujarat. The programme will be financed entirely through carbon credits and will be the first such programme in India. Gram Ujala programme: Under the programme, 7 watt and 12-watt LED bulbs with three years of warranty will be given to rural consumers on submission of working incandescent bulbs. The Gram Ujala programme will be implemented in villages of the five districts only and consumers can exchange a maximum of five LED bulbs. These rural households will also have metres installed in their houses to account for usage.The programme will have a significant impact on India’s climate change action energy savings of 2025 million KWh/year and CO2 reductions of 1.65 million tonnes CO2/year.It will also enable better illumination, at an affordable price. This will usher in a better standard of life, financial savings, more economic activity, and better safety for rural citizens. 36 crores LED bulbs have been distributed as well as 1.15 crores street lights have been replaced with the LED lights all over the country. The step resulted in energy savings of thousands of megawatts. Under the Shine Program of Activities, carbon credits will be prepared. There will be an option for verifying under the Voluntary Carbon Standard which will depend on the need of the buyers. Benefit: Fight against climate change Increasing energy efficiency A better standard of life Financial savings Better safety for the citizens in rural areas Conclusion: The Gram Ujala program has been designed to support widespread distribution by removing the chief barrier for rural consumers. In addition, the energy savings garnered will reduce household’s energy outlay, enabling higher disposable income and savings. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
