GoalTide Daily Current Affairs 2020

Jun 30, 2021

Current Affair 1:
Four important Principles announced by CJI Ramana

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While delivering the 17th Justice P D Desai memorial lecture on "Rule of Law", CJI Ramana on Wednesday stated that it is imperative to start a discourse as to how social media trends can affect the institutions.

With regards the concept of Rule of Law and the different principles that have been formulated, CJI emphasized the following 4 principles, in consideration of the current events across the globe.

Laws must be clear and accessible

CJI stated that it is a fundamental point that when laws are expected to be obeyed, the people at least ought to know what the laws are. There cannot therefore be secretive laws, as laws are for the society. Further, the laws should be worded in simple, unambiguous language.

Idea of Equality before the law

Referring to the second principle, CJI stated that Laws are to be applied on an equal basis in a non-arbitrary fashion.

"An important aspect of "equality before law" is having equal "access to justice". In a democratic country like ours, access to justice forms the bedrock of the "Rule of Law". However, this guarantee of equal justice will be rendered meaningless if the vulnerable sections are unable to enjoy their rights because of their poverty or illiteracy or any other kind of weakness."

Right to participate in the creation and refinement of laws:

CJI stated that the members of society have the "right to participate in the creation and refinement of laws" that regulate their behaviours. Very essence of a democracy is that its citizenry has a role to play, whether directly or indirectly, in the laws that govern them. In India, it is done through elections, where the people get to exercise their universal adult franchise to elect the people who form part of the Parliament which enacts laws.

Presence of a strong Independent Judiciary

CJI stated that the Judiciary is the primary organ which is tasked with ensuring that the laws which are enacted are in line with the Constitution.

"This is one of the main functions of the judiciary, that of judicial review of laws. The Supreme Court has held this function to be a part of the basic structure of the Constitution, which means that the Parliament cannot curtail the same."

However, CJI further opined that the importance of the Judiciary should not blind us to the fact that the responsibility of safeguarding constitutionalism, lies not just on the Courts, and all the three organs of the State, i.e., the executive, legislature and the Judiciary, are equal repositories of Constitutional trust

CJI stated that for the Judiciary to apply checks on governmental power and action, it has to have complete freedom. He added that the judges should not be swayed by the emotional pitch of public opinion either, which is getting amplified through social media platforms, and have to be mindful of the fact that the noise thus amplified is not necessarily reflective of what is right and what majority believes in.

"The new media tools that have enormous amplifying ability are incapable of distinguishing between right and wrong, good and bad and the real and fake. Therefore, media trials cannot be a guiding factor in deciding cases" CJI said.

It will help you in Prelims too. For example, if it is asked:

Safeguarding constitutionalism lies with? You won’t simply think about only Judiciary. These questions need interpretations, so such topics are important.

Current Affair 2:
Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme

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Introduction of any scheme is very important:

This scheme is designed to address the challenges faced by the micro enterprises and to tap the potential of groups and cooperatives in supporting the upgradation and formalization of these enterprises.

About the scheme:

Ministry of Food Processing Industry (MoFPI) has launched the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan with the aim to enhance the competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment of the food processing industry and promote formalization of the sector.

The scheme to be implemented over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with a total outlay of Rupees 10,000 crore. The expenditure under the scheme would be shared in 60:40 ratio between Central and State Governments, in 90:10 ratio with North Eastern and the Himalayan States, 60:40 ratio with UTs with the legislature, and 100% by the Center for other UTs.

Objectives

The objectives of the scheme are to build the capability of microenterprises to enable:

  • Increased access to credit by existing micro food processing entrepreneurs, FPOs, Self Help Groups and Co-operatives;
  • Integration with organized supply chain by strengthening branding & marketing;
  • Support for transition of existing 2,00,000 enterprises into formal framework;
  • Increased access to common services like common processing facility, laboratories, storage, packaging, marketing and incubation services;
  • Strengthening of institutions, research, and training in the food processing sector; and
  • Increased access for the enterprises, to professional and technical support.

Coverage

Under the scheme, 2,00,000 micro food processing units will be directly assisted with credit-linked subsidy. Adequate supportive common infrastructure and institutional architecture will be supported to accelerate the growth of the sector.

The Scheme adopts One District One Product (ODOP) approach to reap the benefit of scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of products. ODOP for the scheme will provide the framework for value chain development and alignment of support infrastructure.

Current Affair 3:
Energy Compact Goals

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NTPC Limited, India’s largest power generating company under the Ministry of Power has become the first energy company in the energy domain in India to declare its Energy Compact goals as part of the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE).

Energy Compacts:

Why do we need Energy Compacts?

Energy is key to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. However, we are falling behind and current actions on SDG7 are insufficient, too fragmented, and lacking accountability. There is no platform to bring together SDG7 related commitments and actions from all stakeholders. By bringing together all commitments and actions, we can increase accountability and identify gaps where more commitment is needed and help accelerate action by raising ambitions.

What’s the difference between Energy Compacts and NDCs?

NDCs address Member State’s national climate ambitions and targets that are legally required under the Paris Agreement, focusing on a country’s emissions profile from the economy as a whole. On the other hand, recognizing energy’s fundamental role in emissions, Energy Compacts are intended to reinforce and complement the achievement of the Paris Agreement, and contribute to Member State’s enhanced NDC and long-term goals.

So, there is Energy Compact.

 

Current Affair 4:
NATRAX- the High-Speed Track (HST)

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India gets Asia’s longest and world’s fifth longest High-Speed Track for automobiles. NATRAX, developed in an area of 1000 acres of land, is a one stop solution for all sorts of high-speed performance tests for widest categories of vehicles from 2 wheelers to heavy tractor trailers.

Speaking at the e-inauguration of the world class 11.3 km High Speed Track, Shri Javadekar stated that India is destined to become a hub of automobiles, manufacturing, and spare parts. The Minister said, we are fast moving towards an ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ and all round efforts are being made in this direction. He said, his ministry is committed to fulfil Prime Minister’s dream of ensuring that India becomes a hub of auto manufacturing. He said, expanding automobiles and manufacturing industries will help generate the employment.

The Minister further said that projects in railways, highways and waterways which were languishing for years are today getting completed because of the strong political will.

 

The NATRAX centre has multiple test capabilities like measurements of maximum speed, acceleration, constant speed fuel consumption, emission tests through real road driving simulation, high speed handling and stability evaluation during manoeuvred such as lane change, high speed durability testing, etc. and is a Centre of excellence for Vehicle Dynamics.

High Speed Track (HST) is used for measuring the maximum speed capability of high-end cars like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Tesla and so forth which cannot be measured on any of the Indian test tracks.

It is one stop solution for all sorts of high-speed performance tests, being one of the largest in the world. It can cater to widest category of vehicles; say from two wheelers to the heaviest tractor trailers. Vehicle can achieve max speed of 375 Kmph on curves with steering control and it has less banking on ovals making it also one of the safest test track globally.

Current Affair 5:
Biomedical Waste Rules, 2016

Today, we will learn all the important provisions of Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016.

Before proceeding, just remember that these Rules are promulgated under Environment Protection Act, 1986. It simply means, under this Act, the central government has been empowered to do anything for Bio-Medical Waste Management. So, the center formulates these Rules. For example, see section 6 of the EPA Act, 1986.

Now, we will proceed towards Rules.

First of all, you should be very clear that legislation for the first time on Biomedical Waste Management Rules came in 1998, not in 2016, see below. Then we did several changes to it gradually.

After 1998, new rules were promulgated, called the Bio Medical Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules 2011. It is not required to study 2011 Rules in detail. We will just see few differences between both the above- mentioned Rules.

Once again, new rules were formulated after 2011, called Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016.

  1. The first distinction between the new rules and those prescribed in 2011 is their range of application. While in 2011, the 1998 rules were amended to include all persons who generate, collect, receive, store and transport biomedical waste, the 2016 rules bring more clarity by specifying that vaccination camps, blood donation camps, surgical camps and all other HCFs have been included.
  2. These Rules shall not apply to:

 

  1. Pre-treatment of the laboratory waste, microbiological waste, blood samples and blood bags through disinfection or sterilization on-site in the manner as prescribed by WHO or NACO.

  1. Establish a Bar-Code System for bags or containers containing bio-medical waste for disposal.

  1. The 2011 draft demarcated eight categories of biomedical waste (down from ten categories in the 1998 notification). The 2016 notification further brings down the number of categories to four. “Reduction in categories does not mean that a particular kind of biomedical waste is not being adhered to. What it means is that all types of wastes have been compiled in four categories for ease of segregation at a healthcare facility
  2. State Government to provide land for setting up common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facility

  1. Inclusion of emissions limits for Dioxin and furans

  1. No occupier shall establish on-site treatment and disposal facility, if a service of `common bio-medical waste treatment facility is available at a distance of seventy-five kilometer.

 

  1. Use of chlorinated plastic bags, gloves and blood bags is to be phased out by the HCF within two years to eliminate emission of dioxins and furans from burning of such wastes.         
  1. Another improvement in the new rules is in the monitoring sector. While the 2011 rules have no provision for a monitoring authority, the 2016 rules state that the MoEF will review Health care facilities (HCFs) once a year through state health secretaries, the SPCB and the CPCB. The SPCB, in its turn, will oversee implementation through district level monitoring committees that will report to the State advisory Committee or the SPCB.

Moreover, according to the new rules, the advisory committee on biomedical waste management is now mandated to meet every six months.

 

So, we are still left with some portion, Bio-Medical Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2018. Pib Link.

Salient features of Bio-Medical Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2018 are as follows:

  1. Bio-medical waste generators including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensaries, veterinary institutions, animal houses, pathological laboratories, blood banks, health care facilities, and clinical establishments will have to phase out chlorinated plastic bags (excluding blood bags) and gloves by March 27, 2019.
  2. All healthcare facilities shall make available the annual report on its website within a period of two years from the date of publication of the Bio-Medical Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2018.
  3. Operators of common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facilities shall establish barcoding and global positioning system for handling of bio-medical waste in accordance with guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board by March 27, 2019.

Hope so, we don’t get more amendments and by reading all points above, you can solve any question now.

 

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