Current Affairs 4th Sep 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

StudyIQ offers Daily Current Affairs and Important News for the UPSC Exam 2024. Check here for Current Affairs of 4th Sep 2024 for the UPSC Exam and State PSC Exam.

Table of Contents

Triple Test Formula (TTF) for Reservation

Context

The Supreme Court has directed the Telangana State government to conduct a Triple Test for providing reservations to OBCs in Local Body elections.
Due to the absence of elected representatives, Telangana has become ineligible for funds from the 15th Finance Commission for the development of local bodies.

What is a Triple Test?

It requires the government to complete three tasks for the finalisation of reservations to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the local bodies.
Procedure:
- Setup a Dedicated Commission:
  - A special commission will be created to collect data on the conditions (economic and educational), nature, and impact of the backwardness of OBCs in local body elections in the state.
- Specify the Proportion of Reservation required:
  - Specify the proportion of reservations required in local bodies on the basis of the commission’s recommendations.
- 50% Ceiling:
  - Ensure that reservations for SCs/STs/OBCs taken together should not go beyond the total reservation limit of 50%. (Indra Sawhney case,1992)

Did You Know?

The Triple test was first given by the Supreme Court in 2010.
It was again reiterated by SC in the case of Vikas Kishanrao Gawali vs. State of Maharashtra and others (March, 2021)
Articles for Reservation in Local Bodies
- Article 243-D: Panchayats
- Article 243-T: Urban Local Bodies

Law Commission of India

Context: The Union government has released a notification to set up the 23rd Law Commission of India.

About Law Commission of India (LCI)

It is an independent body set up by the government.
Objective:
- To identify laws that have become obsolete and can be repealed.
- To propose legislation necessary for implementing the Directive Principles and achieving the objectives mentioned in the Preamble of the Constitution.
Status: Executive Body (It is neither Constitutional nor a Statutory Body)
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Law & Justice.
Structure of LCI:
- Chairperson: usually a retired judge of the Supreme Court.
- Ex-Officio members: Secretaries of the Legal Affairs and Legislative departments.
- Full-time members: 4
- Part-time members: 5
Tenure: 3 Years (From September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027)
Terms of Reference:
- To examine the impact of globalisation on food security, and unemployment and recommend measures for the protection of the interests of the marginalised.
- Review the judicial administration system to make it more responsive to the demands of the time.
- Simplifying High Court rules and implementing a framework for case flow management.

Facts

First Law Commission: (Pre-Independence)
- It was established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833 under the Chairmanship of Lord Macaulay.
- It recommended codification of the Criminal Procedure Code.
First Law Commission (Post-Independence)
- It was set up in 1955, under the chairmanship of Motilal Chimanlal Setalvad (the first Attorney General of India)
Chairman of 22nd Law Commission: Ritu Raj Awasthi

Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO)

Context: The Union Government is planning to bring out a national policy on Farmer Producer Organisations.

What is FPO?

It is a voluntary association of farmers including cultivators, dairy producers, fishers, plantation owners and others engaged in primary production in the agriculture sector.
FPOs are legal entities that can be companies, cooperative societies or mutually aided cooperative societies.
Benefits of FPO’s:
- Better prices: FPOs help farmers negotiate better prices by selling their produce collectively and accessing larger markets. It improves their bargaining power.
- Easy access to credit: FPOs help farmers access credit and agricultural extension services, which can improve farm management and productivity.
- Skill development: FPOs promote skill development and sustainable farming practices among their members
- Enabling economies of scale: FPOs also help small producers benefit from economies of scale.

Government Efforts to Promote FPO’s

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF): It will provide interest subvention of 3% for credit extended to develop post-harvest infrastructure to FPOs.
Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs: A Central Sector scheme was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to form and promote 10,000 new FPOs till 2027-28.

Defence Acquisition Council

Context: The Defence Acquisition Council has approved acceptance of necessity (AoN) for 10 capital acquisition proposals. These include the procurement of seven stealth frigates under Project-17B.

About Defence Acquisition Council

Highest decision-making body in the Ministry of Defence for procurement.
Established: 2001, Post Kargil War
Chairman: Defence Minister
Members: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Chiefs of Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Functions:
- To Categorise acquisition proposals into ‘Buy’, ‘Buy & Make’, and ‘Make’.
- Decide on ‘offset’ provisions for acquisition proposals above Rs 300 crore.
- Make decisions on the Transfer of Technology under the ‘Buy & Make’ category.
- Oversee field trial evaluation.
- Approve the 15-year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) for defence forces.

Facts

Project 17-A

It aims to design and build advanced stealth frigates for the Indian Navy.
These frigates have advanced weapons, sensors, and platform management systems, and are an improvement on the Project 17 (Shivalik Class) frigates.

Project 17-B

It is a new project to construct 8 Advanced Stealth Frigates with an estimated cost of $7.5 Billion.

What are Stealth Frigates?

They are warships that use stealth technology to reduce their radar and underwater noise signatures, making them harder to detect by enemy systems.
They are designed to operate in all three dimensions of naval warfare (air, surface, and sub-surface).

Presbyopia

Context: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given its final approval for ENTOD Pharmaceuticals PresVu eye drops specifically developed for individuals affected by presbyopia.

What is Presbyopia ?

It refers to the gradual loss of eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects.
It is a normal part of ageing which is experienced around the age of 40 Years.
Diagnosis: Simple eye test
Treatment: Contact lenses, glasses, refractive surgery etc.

Related Terms

Myopia:

It is a vision condition where objects close to you appear clear, but those far away get blurred.
It is commonly known as nearsightedness.
It is corrected using a concave lens.