Daily Current Affairs for UPSC

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Recently seen in news, the ‘PM-PRANAM’ scheme is best related to which one of the following?

Dealing with malnutrition in adolescent girls
Developing alternative sources of renewable energy
Reduce the use of chemical fertilizers
Converging all the old age pensions provided by the government

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 28 June April 2023

Explanation:

Option (3) is correct: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth) scheme. The scheme included a bouquet of various schemes which would boost farmers’ income, strengthen natural / organic farming, rejuvenate soil productivity, and ensure food security. The scheme aims to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers by incentivizing state. Under the scheme, the states, which will adopt alternative fertilizers, will be incentivized with the subsidy that is saved by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers. For instance, suppose a state is using 10 lakh ton of conventional fertilizer.If it reduces its consumption by 3 lakh ton, then the subsidy saving would be ₹3,000 crore. Out of that subsidy savings, the Centre will give 50% of it-₹1,500 crore to the state for promoting the use of alternative fertilizer and other development works. The scheme would promote use of nutrient-based, biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture.

Q) Consider the following statements about the Green Credit Scheme:

It aims to develop a market-based mechanism for promoting environmentally sound practices.
It has been launched under Mission LIFE to realise India’s nationally determined contributions.
Regenerative farming methods are also listed as an activity that qualifies for green credits under the scheme.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2 are correct: The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued the draft ‘Green Credit Programme Implementation Rules 2023’ under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The draft has proposed generation and trading of green credits. Green Credits Programme has been launched under Mission LiFE, one of India’s nationally determined contributions (NDC) to the UNFCC. Green Credits will be tradable outcomes and will act as incentives. In the beginning, Green Credits will be made available to individual and entities, engaged in selected activities and who undertake environmental interventions. These Green Credits will be made available for trading on a domestic market platform. Green Credit Programme aims to create a market-based mechanism for providing incentives in the form of Green Credits for environment positive actions.
Statement 3 is correct: The eight identified sectors under the Green Credit Scheme include:
Increasing the green cover across the country through tree plantation and related activities.
Water conservation and harvesting,
Water-use efficiency.
Natural and regenerative agricultural practices and land restoration,
Soil health and nutritional value of food produced.
Waste management and
Steps for reducing air pollution and other pollution abatement activities.

Q) With reference to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), consider the following statements:

It is a quasi-judicial body that was established under the Companies Act, 2013.
It acts as the appellate tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders of the Competition Commission of India.
The President of the NCLAT is appointed by the Chief Justice of India in consultation with the collegium of two Supreme Court judges.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2 are correct: National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) is a quasi-judicial body in India that was established under the Companies Act of 2013. The tribunal was established under the Companies Act 2013 based on the recommendation of the Balakrishna Eradi committee. It acts as the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders of
National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT),
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI),
Competition Commission of India (CCI), and
National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has upheld the penalty of Rs 1,338 crore imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Google for its anti-competitive conduct in the Android ecosystem.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The NCLAT includes a Chairperson, 3 judicial members, and 2 technical members appointed by the Central Government. It consists of a total of not more than eleven members. The bench of NCLT consists of a President and such number of other Judicial and Technical Members as may be prescribed. The President of the Tribunal shall be appointed by the Central Government after consultation with Chief Justice of India. The Members are to be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of a Selection Committee. A person who is or has been judge of a High Court for five years is eligible to be appointed as president of National Company Law Tribunal.

Q) Consider the following statements about Critical Minerals:

They are crucial from a strategic standpoint as there are few alternatives for these minerals.
Rare earth elements are also considered critical minerals.
India is a member of the Minerals Security Partnership, which aims to strengthen supply chains of critical minerals.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2 are correct: An expert committee set up by the Centre has identified 30 minerals as critical to India, which are largely used in the manufacturing of batteries. Critical minerals are mineral resources, both primary and processed, that are essential inputs in modern technologies, economies, and national security. They are characterized by the risk of supply chain disruption due to non-availability and price volatility. These minerals play a crucial role in various industries and sectors and have limited substitutes, making them of strategic importance. It includes metallic and non-metallic element such as Antimony, Beryllium, Cobalt, Germanium, Graphite, Indium, Lithium, Niobium, 17 Rare earths minerals (heavy and light), Rhenium, Tantalum, Silicon, Strontium, Vanadium, Zirconium etc.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) is an ambitious US-led partnership of 11 countries to secure and strengthen supply chains of critical minerals such as Cobalt, Nickel, Lithium, and other rare earth minerals. Members include US, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Republic of Korea, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the European Commission. The alliance is aimed at catalysing investment from governments and the private sector to ensure that countries realise the full economic development benefit of their geological endowments. It comes in the backdrop of recorded demand for critical minerals and dominance of China in supply chain of these minerals particularly the processing stage of production. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and People’s Republic of China (China) were responsible for approximately 70% and 60% of global production of cobalt and rare earth elements respectively in 2019.

Q) With reference to the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), consider the following statements:

NOTTO monitors the transplantation activities in the states to maintain a databank in this regard.
It was established by the Indian government’s Department of department of science and technology.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct but statement 2 is incorrect: The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has issued a warning against private websites and social media posts promoting and offering organs for trade. It is a national level organization set up under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Functions of NOTTO are as follows:

Network with similar regional and state level organizations.
All registry data from States and Regions would be compiled and published.
Creating awareness, promotion of organ donation and transplantation activities.
Co-ordination from procurement of organs and tissues to transplantation when organ is allocated outside the region.
Dissemination of information to all concerned organizations, hospitals and individuals.
Monitoring of transplantation activities in the Regions and States and maintaining databank in this regard.
To assist in data management for organ transplant surveillance & organ transplant and Organ Donor registry.
Consultancy support on the legal and non-legal aspects of donation and transplantation.
Coordinate and organize trainings for various cadre of workers.