NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Supreme Court Upholds Constitutional Validity of EWS Quota In 3:2 Verdict: The Supreme Court (SC) upheld the 10 per cent reservation for the
economically weaker section (EWS) among forward castes in government jobs and
colleges across India. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) U U
Lalit and Justices Dinesh Maheshwari, S Ravindra Bhat, Bela M Trivedi, and J B
Pardiwala delivered the judgment.
About The
Verdict: Of the five judgments delivered, Justice Ravindra
Bhat and CJI Lalit gave dissenting judgment. Reading out the verdict, Justice
Maheshwari said that the 103rd constitutional amendment for the EWS quota was
valid and did not violate the basic structure of the Constitution. Reservation,
he said, is an instrument of affirmative action to ensure an all-inclusive
march towards the goals of an egalitarian society.
The
Majority View: Justice Dinesh Maheshwari said the 103rd
constitutional amendment cannot be said to breach the basic structure of the
Constitution.
The
Minority View: In his minority view, Justice Ravindra Bhat said
that what is described as benefits by the Union cannot be understood to be a
free pass, but as reparative mechanism to have a level playing field. Their
exclusion discriminates equality code and violates basic structure, he said.
Present
View: While upholding the validity of EWS quota,
Justice Pardiwala said reservation is not an end but a means to secure social
justice. He stated that it is necessary to review the method of identification
of backward classes for reservation. Reservation has been provided to
historically disadvantaged cannot be basis to contain other disadvantaged
groups unable to progress and say that provision can’t be made for EWS through
amendment. Reservation through economic criteria per se not violative, he held.
2.
Mathura-Vrindavan to become a carbon-neutral tourist destination by 2041: Uttar Pradesh government announced that Mathura-Vrindavan, one of India’s
largest pilgrimage centers, aims to become a “net zero carbon emission” tourist
destination by 2041. Tourist vehicles will be banned from the entire Braj
region, which includes famous pilgrim centers such as Vrindavan and Krishna
Janmabhoomi. Only electric vehicles used as public transport will be allowed
into the area. Key Points:
a) All 252 waterbodies and 24 forests in the area will also be revived.
b) According to the plan, the Braj region’s annual pilgrim-tourist footfall
is expected to multiply from the current level of 2.3 crores to six crores by
2041.
c) To attain a net zero carbon emission status, greenhouse gas emissions
must be reduced to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions
re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests for instance.
d) To facilitate this in Mathura-Vrindavan, the plan divides the entire
region into four clusters, each containing two of the eight key cities.
e) The plan proposes to form small circuits called ‘Parikrama Paths’ which
the pilgrim can undertake either on foot or using electric vehicles.
3. 17th
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention: Guyana President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali to
be chief guest: Guyana President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali will be
the chief guest at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention. It will be held
from 8th to 10th January next year in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The theme of the
17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s
Progress in Amrit Kaal. Member of Parliament of Australia, Zaneta Mascarenhas
will be the guest of honour at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas which will be
held on 8th January next year.
About the
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention: Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Ministry of
External Affairs and provides an important platform to engage and connect with
overseas Indians. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated once in every two years
to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community with the
Government of India and reconnect them with their roots. The 9th of January was
chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion because it was on this day in
1915, Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa. The first Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas was organized in 2003 to mark the contribution of the Overseas
Indian community in the development of India.
4. Law
Commission Constituted After 4 Years; Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi Appointed As
Chairperson: The central government appointed chairperson and
members of the Law Commission over two and a half years after it was
constituted. Retired Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Rituraj Awasthi
appointed as the chairperson of the commission.
22nd Law
Commission: The Law Commission is constituted for three years
and the 22nd Law Commission was notified on February 24, 2020. The law panel
has been lying vacant since the retirement of former Supreme Court judge
Justice BS Chauhan in 2018. The government has said the issue related to the
Uniform Civil Code might be taken up by the 22nd law panel.
Other
Members: Former Kerala High Court judge Justice KT
Sankaran, Professor Anand Paliwal, Professor DP Verma, Professor Raka Arya and
M Karunanithi have been appointed as members of the commission.
Law
Commission of India: Law Commission of India is neither a
constitutional body nor a statutory body, it is an executive body established
by an order of the Government of India. Its major function is to work for legal
reforms. The Commission is established for a fixed tenure and works as an
advisory body to the Ministry of Law and Justice.
5.
Giriraj Singh Unveiled Panchayati Raj’s Rural Development Agenda Booklet: Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Giriraj Singh
unveiled the booklet ‘Agenda for Members of Panchayati Raj Institutions for
Rural Development’. The ‘Agenda for Members of Panchayati Raj Institutions for
Rural Development” booklet will provide information about all the schemes such
as MGNREGA, Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojna- National Rural Livelihood Mission, PM
Awas Yojna- Grameen, PM Gram Sadak Yojna, etc. will be available to the
representative and the general public. Key Points:
a) The ‘Agenda for Members of Panchayati Raj Institutions for Rural
Development’ book will be brought in regional languages soon.
b) The Minister said that the booklet will be made available at each Gram
Panchayat in the country.
c) The book can form the basis for an informed discussion on the different
schemes of the Ministry of Rural Development among members of the Gram
Panchayats.
d) This book will help everyone including the elected members of Gram
Panchayats in understanding the schemes and their eligibility, which will
further strengthen transparency and public participation.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 2015
to 2022 Likely to Be 8 Warmest Years on Record: WMO Report: The global mean temperature in 2022 is estimated to be 1.15 degree
Celsius above the pre-industrial (1850-1900) average, likely making the eight
years from 2015 the warmest on record, the World Meteorological Organisation
said in a report. The report titled ‘WMO Provisional State of the Global
Climate 2022’ released at the 27th Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC stated
that the rate of sea level rise has doubled since 1993 and has risen by nearly
10 mm since January 2020 to a new record high this year.
The
Report Pointed: The past two-and-a-half years account for 10 per
cent of the overall rise in sea level since satellite measurements started
nearly 30 years ago, the report stated. “The global mean temperature so far in
2022 has been 1.15 degree Celsius above the 1850-1900 average. If the current
anomaly continues to the end of the year, the analysis would place 2022 as
either the fifth or sixth warmest year on record (from 1850), and in each case
marginally warmer than 2021. The eight years — 2015 to 2022 — are likely to be
the eight warmest years on record,” the report read. Rise In Sea Level:
a) The rate of sea level rise has doubled in the past 30 years. Although
still measured in terms of millimetres per year, it adds up to half to one
meter per century and that is a long-term and a major threat to millions of
coastal dwellers and low-lying states.
b) With global warming increasing the rate of ice melt, the global mean sea
level has risen by an estimated 3.4 mm per year over the 30 years (1993-2022)
of the satellite altimeter record.
c) The rate has doubled between 1993-2002 and 2013-2022 and the sea level
increased by about 5 mm between January 2021 and August 2022, the report said.
d) Since January 2020, the global mean sea level has risen by nearly 10 mm,
approximately 10 per cent of the overall rise in sea level since satellite
measurements began in 1993.
e) Overall, 55 per cent of the ocean surface experienced at least one
marine heatwave in 2022. Compared to this, only 22 per cent of the ocean
surface experienced a marine cold spell.
2. World
Science Day for Peace and Development: 10th November: World Science Day for Peace and Development was proclaimed by the UN
Educational, Scientific and UNESCO in 2001 under the UNESCO 31 C/Resolution 20.
It is celebrated every year on November 10, around the globe, marking the
significance of science in society. The day highlights the significant role of
science in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on
emerging scientific issues. It also underlines the importance and relevance of
science in our daily lives. This year’s theme for World Science Day for Peace
and Development is “Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development”. According to
the United Nations’ official website, it has been noted in the UNGA in December
2021 that ‘We need more basic science to achieve The 2030 Agenda and its 17
Sustainable Development Goals’.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Indian
batter Suryakumar Yadav becomes 1st Indian player to score 1,000 T20 runs: Star Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav has became the first Indian player
to score 1,000 T20 International runs in a calendar year. The batter
accomplished this feat in his side’s final Super 12 stage match against
Zimbabwe in Melbourne cricket ground (MCG), Australia. In the match, Suryakumar
put his perfect finishing touches to make sure India finished their innings on
a high. He scored 61 not out of just 25 balls, consisting of six fours and four
sixes. In 28 innings this year, Suryakumar has scored 1,026 runs at an average
of 44.60.
Surya made his
T20I debut for India against England in March last year, and since then he has
been on a roll. He has played a total of 39 T20I matches in total for India, in
which he has scored 1270 runs.
2. Virat
Kohli and Nida Dar named as ICC Player of the Month award for October 2022: The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the winners of the
ICC Player of the Month awards for October 2022. India veteran batter Virat
Kohli has been named as the ICC men’s Player of the Month for October.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s veteran all-rounder Nida Dar has been selected as ICC
Women’s Player of the Month, thanks to her sensational form in the Women’s Asia
Cup.
Virat
Kohli: Virat Kohli has been in phenomenal touch this
past month, delivering brilliant performances throughout the ongoing ICC T20
World Cup and has been an integral part of India’s semifinal qualification. The
34-year-old played four innings in October and had 205 runs in his kitty,
including a match-winning 53-ball unbeaten 82 against Pakistan in India’s
Super-12s opener.
Zimbabwe’s
Sikandar Raza and South Africa’s David Miller were the other nominees for the
award along with Kohli, but the Indian batter beat them to claim the title.
Nida Dar: For her key contributions to Pakistan’s semi-final surge in the
Women’s Asia Cup in Bangladesh, Nida Dar takes home the ICC Women’s Player of
the Month award for October. Scoring 145 valuable runs at an average of 72.50
during the month and taking eight key wickets, the influential all-rounder
underlined her importance to the Pakistan cause despite falling short in the
knockout stages.
Dar claims her
inaugural ICC Women’s Player of the Month win by edging out Indian duo
Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma, who each produced impressive displays during their
winning Women’s Asia Cup triumph.
Note: ICC
Founded: 15 June 1909; ICC Chairman: Greg Barclay; ICC CEO: Geoff Allardice;
ICC Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. GoI
appointed non-executive Chairman in four Public Sector Banks: Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India and Punjab &
Sind Bank are the four banks where Non-executive Chairman has been appointed on
their Boards. The approval is given by the Appointments Committee of the
Cabinet (ACC). Name the new chairman’s:
a) Vijay Srirangam has been appointed as part-time Non-Official Director as
well as Non-Executive Chairman of Canara Bank for three years,
b) K G Ananthakrishnan has been appointed as part-time Non-Official
Director as well as Non-Executive Chairman of Punjab National Bank for a term
of three years.
c) Srinivasan Varadarajan has been appointed as part-time Non-Official
Director as well as Non-Executive Chairman of Union Bank of India for a term of
three years, according to an order issued by the Department of Personnel &
Training.
d) The Centre has also appointed Charan Singh as a part-time Non-Official
Director as well as Non-Executive Chairman of Punjab & Sind Bank for a term
of two years.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1. ADB
Provides $40 million Loan to GreenCell Express to Produce e-Busses: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $40 million financing package
with GreenCell Express Private Limited (GEPL) to develop 255 electric
battery-powered buses (e-buses) to serve 5 million people a year on 56
intercity routes in India and enhance the safety of passengers, especially
women, through improved security features including panic buttons connected to
command controls for immediate response.
About The
Financial Package: The financial package comprises $20.5 million
loan (in equivalent Indian rupee) from ADB’s ordinary capital resources, ADB’s
administration of a $14 million loan from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF),
grants worth $325,000 from the CTF and $5.2 million from Goldman Sach’s and
Bloomberg’s the Climate Innovation and Development Fund (CIDF). ADB also
assisted in mobilizing an additional parallel loan of $20.5 million from the
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
About
GreenCell Mobility Private Limited: GEPL is a wholly
owned subsidiary of GreenCell Mobility Private Limited (GreenCell), a platform
company of Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF). GGEF is an Indian alternative
investment fund in India managed by EverSource Capital with a mandate to
mobilize institutional capital into green infrastructure in India.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
President Droupadi Murmu presents National Florence Nightingale Awards 2021: The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu presented the National
Florence Nightingale Awards (NFNA) for the year 2021 to the Nursing
professionals at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The National Florence Nightingale Awards
were instituted in the year 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Government of India as a mark of recognition for the meritorious services
rendered by the nurses and nursing professionals to the society.
Nine from the
North Eastern states also received the award, they include– three from Manipur,
two from Sikkim, one each from Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and
Meghalaya.
2. 15
Films eye the coveted Golden Peacock at 53rd International Film Festival of
India: A total of 15 films will compete for the coveted
Golden Peacock at the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India
(IFFI) in Goa. The IFFI will be held from the 20th to the 28th of this month.
From the very first Golden Peacock awarded in the 3rd edition of IFFI, the
prize has been amongst the most sought-after film awards in Asia.
The jury tasked
with the impossible job of picking a winner this year comprises of Israeli
writer and film director Nadav Lapid, American producer Jinko Gotoh, French
film editor Pascale Chavance, French documentary film-maker, film critic and
journalist Javier Angulo Barturen and India’s very own film director Sudipto
Sen.
The films
which are in the competition this year include:
1. Perfect Number (2022)
2. Red Shoes (2022)
3. A Minor (2022)
4. No End (2021)
5. Mediterranean Fever (2022)
6. When the waves are gone (2022)
7. I have Electric Dreams (2022)
8. Cold as Marble (2022)
9. The Line (2022)
10. Seven Dogs (2021)
11. Maariya: The Ocean Angel (2022)
12. The Kashmir Files (2022)
13. Nezouh (2022)
14. The Storyteller (2022)
15. Kurangu Pedal (2022)
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