VISION

VISION

Material For Exam

Recent Update

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Vision IAS Weekly Focus Sui Generis Indian Federalism: Evolving Dynamics and Emerging Concerns PDF

14:06

Vision IAS Weekly Focus Sui Generis Indian Federalism: Evolving Dynamics and Emerging Concerns PDF

Click Here to download Vision IAS Weekly Focus Sui Generis Indian Federalism: Evolving Dynamics and Emerging Concerns PDF

Click Here to Like our Facebook page for latest updates and free ebooks
Read More
at
Labels: , ,

The HINDU Notes – 14th September 2021

14:00

 


📰 Govt. curbs funding for 10 climate change, child labour NGOs

RBI note says U.S., Australian, European entities to be placed on PRC list for foreign contributions as per Home Ministry

•Five years after it cancelled the registration of international non-governmental organisation (NGO) Greenpeace to receive foreign funds, the government has moved to restrict the funding for a group of ten American, Australian and European NGOs dealing with environmental, climate change and child labour issues.

•An internal Reserve Bank of India note dated July 1, 2021, that was sent to all banks, said the government had specified a number of foreign entities to be placed on the “Prior Reference Category” (PRC list) using the stringent Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010, that was tightened in September 2020, making both banks and chartered accountants accountable for any unauthorised funds that come through.

80 agencies on list

•The NGOs, that add to more than 80 international voluntary agencies now on the government’s PRC list, include the European Climate Foundation, three U.S.-based NGOs: the Omidyar Network International, Humanity United and Stardust foundation, two Australia-based NGOs: Walk Free Foundation and Minderoo Foundation, and U.K.-based Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Freedom fund and Laudes foundation, as well as U.K./ U.A.E. based Legatum fund.

•“The RBI has instructed that any fund flow from the (specified) donor agencies to any NGO/Voluntary organisation/ persons in India should be brought to the Ministry of Home Affairs so that the funds are allowed to be credited to the recipients only after clearance/ prior permission from the MHA’s Foreigners Division of the FCRA wing,” the notice sent out recently by a private bank to its branches, which The Hindu obtained a copy of, said.

•The Reserve Bank didn’t respond to a request for a comment, but officials confirmed informally that the note had been sent out, in line with previous such circulars sent to banks warning them of NGOs banned or suspended from acquiring or disbursing foreign funds.

•Significantly all the NGOs on the latest list work on climate change and environmental projects and/or child rights and slavery projects, subjects where the government has been sensitive to international criticism in the past.

•When asked why so many environmental NGOs are on the list, given the government’s stated international commitments on fighting climate change, an official said that despite India’s record in complying with the Paris agreement, “global pressures are intensifying on India to raise the Nationally Determined Contributions”.

•“In order to create noise in the media, several pro-climate NGOs are focusing on advocacy against coal, which is considered a violation of FCRA provisions,” the official added.

•In 2017, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had also objected strongly to the International Labour Organisation’s Global Slavery Index, “questioning the credibility of data” which had ranked India 53rd of 167 countries where “modern slavery” was prevalent, and as the country with highest number of people in forced labour, according to a reply in Parliament. The index is part of the Australian Walk Free Foundation’s annual survey that is used by other NGOs working in the field. Both the Walk Free Foundation, and its founding agency Minderoo Foundation did not respond to emails from The Hindu requesting a response.

•The MHA too declined to comment on the PCR listing, which is not made publicly available, although the government has released numbers of NGOs under the scanner of security agencies.

•According to the MHA’s responses in Parliament, between 2016-2020, the government cancelled the FCRA licenses of more than 6,600 NGOs and suspended those of about 264. Among those who have been put on the PRC list or had to downsize or even shut down their Indian operations due to FCRA action by the government in the last few years are Greenpeace International, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Compassion International, National Endowment for Democracy, U.S. Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Open Society Foundation.

•A UK-based NGO Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has now taken the government to court for suspending its FCRA license, and won temporary relief in the High Court in Delhi in, allowing it to access 25% of its funds, and a final order is expected in October.

📰 India, U.S. to collaborate on reaching green energy targets
Read More
Read more »
at
Labels:

GS SCORE Current Affairs September 2021 Week 2 PDF

08:11

GS SCORE Current Affairs September 2021 Week 2 PDF

Click Here to download GS SCORE Current Affairs September 2021 Week 2 PDF

Click Here to Like our Facebook page for latest updates and free ebooks
Read More
at
Labels: , , ,

THE HINDU NEWSPAPER IMPORTANT ARTICLES 14.09.2021

07:59
th-important-articles-logo



Click Here to Like our Facebook page for latest updates and free ebooks
Read More
Read more »
at
Labels: , ,

Economy Yearly Compilation Jan 2020 – Aug 2021 PDF Download

07:34

Economy Yearly Compilation Jan 2020 – Aug 2021 PDF Download

Click Here to download Economy Yearly Compilation Jan 2020 – Aug 2021 PDF

Click Here to Like our Facebook page for latest updates and free ebooks
Read More
at
Labels: , , ,

Insights IAS Prelims Exclusive 2021 International Relations-2 PDF

at
Labels: , , , ,

Monday, September 13, 2021

International Relations Yearly Compilation Jan 2020 – Aug 2021 PDF Download

17:24

International Relations Yearly Compilation Jan 2020 – Aug 2021 PDF Download

Click Here to download International Relations Yearly Compilation Jan 2020 – Aug 2021 PDF

Click Here to Like our Facebook page for latest updates and free ebooks
Read More
at
Labels: , , , , ,

Daily Current Affairs, 13th September 2021

17:16

 


1)  United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation: 12 September

•International Day for South-South Cooperation is observed globally on 12th September every year. The day celebrates the economic, social and political developments made in recent years by regions and countries in the south. It also highlights the UN’s efforts to work on technical cooperation among developing countries.


2)  BJP’s Bhupendra Patel named as new Gujarat Chief Minister

•Bhupendra Patel has been chosen as the new Chief Minister of Gujarat at the BJP legislature meeting. He is a BJP MLA from the Ghatlodia assembly seat in Ahmedabad. This comes after the resignation of Vijay Rupani from the post of CM of Gujarat.


3)  India’s first long-range nuclear missile tracking ship INS Dhruv commissioned

•India’s first nuclear-missile tracking ship, named INS Dhruv, has been commissioned from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The 10,00 tonnes satellite and ballistic missile tracking ship has been built by the Hindustan Shipyard Limited in collaboration with the DRDO and National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO).


4)  India-Australia holds inaugural 2+2 ministerial dialogue

•NEW DELHI, SEP 11 (UNI):- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External AFfairs Minister S Jaishankar with their Australian counterparts Peter Dutton and Marise Payne before the inaugural session of 2+2 ministerial dialogue in New Delhi on Saturday. UNI PHOTO-3U


•India and Australia are undertaking their first-ever 2+2 ministerial dialogue at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The high-level foreign and defence ministerial-level dialogue will further ramp up the overall defence and strategic cooperation between the two countries, including in the Indo-Pacific cooperation amid China’s increasing military assertiveness in the region.


•The Indian delegation at inaugural ‘two-plus-two’ talks is being led by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with their Australian counterparts Marise Payne and Peter Dutton, respectively. India has a 2-2 Ministerial-level meetings framework with very few countries, including the USA and Japan.


5)  PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Sardardham Bhavan

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Sardardham Bhavan in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, via video conferencing. He also performed the “Bhoomi Pujan” of the Sardardham Phase-II Kanya Chhatralaya (girls’ hostel) project. Both these establishments are dedicated to the “Iron Man of India,” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The project is developed by the Vishwa Patidar Samaj.


6)  India’s largest open air fernery opened in Uttarakhand

•India’s largest open-air fernery has been inaugurated in Ranikhet of Uttarakhand. The new centre will serve the dual objective of ‘conservation of fern species as well as ‘create awareness about their ecological role and promote further research. The fernery is home to a large number of fern species, some of which are endemic to the state, some hold medicinal value while some are threatened species that demand care and conservation.


7)  Jeev Milkha Singh becomes first golfer in world to be granted Dubai Golden Visa

•Star Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh has become the first professional golfer in the world to receive the prestigious 10-year Dubai Golden Visa in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the sport. The 49-year-old Jeev has had a long association with Dubai, having featured in several tournaments and making many friends in the city.


•During the 2001 Dubai Desert Classic, Jeev had established a world record at that time when he completed the four rounds with just 94 putts while finishing tied sixth. Jeev, winner of four titles on the European Tour, four on Japan Golf Tour and six on the Asian Tour, has received the 10-year ‘Gold card’ for being an elite professional athlete.


8)  Yahoo Appoints Jim Lanzone as its new CEO

•The web service provider, Yahoo has named Jim Lanzone as its new chief executive officer (CEO). He was currently serving as the CEO of the Dating app Tinder. Jim Lanzone will replace Guru Gowrappan, to the post of Yahoo CEO. As for Tinder, Renate Nyborg has been appointed as the new CEO of the dating app to replace Lanzone.


•Prior to his stint as CEO of the dating app Tinder, Lanzone had led the digital operations of CBS Corporation as Chief Digital Officer and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Interactive. He had joined CBS after its acquisition of Clicker Media in 2011, where he was co-founder and CEO. He served in multiple executive roles at search engine Ask.com, including as CEO after the company’s acquisition by IAC/InterActiveCorp from 2001 to 2008. Lanzone is also a member of the board of directors of GoPro.


9)  Vijay Goel named as Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti

•Former Union Minister, Vijay Goel has been appointed as the Vice-Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS). It is the site of the Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS) was formed in September 1984 as an autonomous body. It is functioning under constructive advice and financial support from the Ministry of Culture. It is located in New Delhi.


•The Prime Minister of India is the Chairperson of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS). The objective of the Samiti is to propagate the life, mission and thought of Mahatma Gandhi through various socio-educational and cultural programmes.


10)  Pawan Goenka appointed chairperson of In-SPACe

•Former managing director of Mahindra & Mahindra Pawan Kumar Goenka has been appointed as the chairperson of the Indian National Space Promotion Authorization Centre (In-SPACe). During his R&D tenure in M&M, he led the development of the Scorpio SUV. IN-SPACe functions as an independent nodal agency under the Department of Space, Government of India.


•Goenka, an IIT alumnus, had been associated with two major automobile companies – General Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra – in his professional career that spanned over four decades. He retired as the MD of the company on April 1, 2021, after spending 27 years with the Mahindra Group.


11)  Daniel Ricciardo wins Italian Grand Prix 2021

•Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren, Australian-Italian) has won the Formula One Italian Grand Prix 2021 title held at Autodromo Nazionale Monza track, Italy. This is the first victory for McLaren in 9 years. Lando Norris came second while Valtteri Bottas came third in the F1 race. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen crash out of Italian Grand Prix 2021 due to collision.
Read More
at
Labels: , ,

The HINDU Notes – 13th September 2021

17:03

 


📰 LCA-Mk2 to roll out next year, first flight in 2023, says scientist

‘Detailed design has been completed and metal cutting is to start shortly’

•The configuration for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk2 has been frozen and steel cutting is expected to begin soon while configuration for the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) has been frozen and preliminary design completed, a senior scientist from the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has said.

•“The detailed design is complete. In fact, we are in the critical design review stage and metal cutting should start very shortly. Roll-out of the aircraft (Mk2) is planned next year and the first flight in early 2023. We are well on track to achieve these goals,” Girish S. Deodhare, Programme Director (Combat Aircraft) & Director, ADA, said at an event by the Centre for Air Power Studies and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers.

Enhabced range

•The aircraft features enhanced range and endurance including an onboard oxygen generation system, which is being integrated for the first time, Dr. Deodhare said.

•Heavy weapons of the class of Scalp, Crystal Maze and Spice-2000 will also be integrated on the Mk2. The LCA-Mk2 will be a heavier and much more capable aircraft than the current LCA variants.

•The Mk2 is 1,350 mm longer featuring canards and can carry a payload of 6,500 kg compared to 3,500 kg the LCA can carry.

•In February, the Defence Ministry signed a ₹48,000-crore deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) to supply 83 LCA-Mk1A to the Indian Air Force. In August, the HAL signed a $716 million deal with GE Aviation of the U.S. for 99 F404 aircraft engines and support services to power the Mk-1A. The Mk2 will be powered by a more powerful GE-414 engine.

•The Indian Air Force (IAF) has one squadron of the LCA in initial operational clearance and deliveries of the second squadron in final operational clearance configuration are under way.

•The HAL has already set up a second assembly line to ramp up production from eight aircraft a year to 16. Order for 83 Mk-1A is expected to be completed by 2028-29, Dr. Deodhare said.

Stealth aircraft

•Stating that the initial design of the AMCA was started way back in 2009, Dr. Deodhare said that it would be a twin engine stealth aircraft with an internal weapons bay and a diverterless supersonic intake, which has been developed for the first time for which the design is complete.

•It will be a 25-tonne aircraft with internal carriage of 1,500 kg of payload and 5,500-kg external payload with 6,500 kg of internal fuel.

•On the current status of the AMCA, Dr. Deodhare said the configuration had been frozen, preliminary service quality requirements finalised and preliminary design review completed.

•“We are moving to critical design review by the middle of next year with the roll-out planned in 2024 and first flight planned in 2025.”

•The AMCA will have stealth and non-stealth configuration and will be developed in two phases, AMCA Mk1 with existing GE414 engine and an AMCA Mk2 with an advanced, more powerful engine to be developed later along with a foreign partner, Dr. Deodhare added.

•The manufacturing and production of the aircraft will be through a special purpose vehicle, which will also have participation of private industry.

•Simultaneously, the project for development of a twin-engine deck-based fighter jet meant to fly from the Navy’s aircraft carriers is also making progress. On the various programmes under way, Dr. Deodhare said there was commonality of systems and technologies.

📰 Medical ethics, simulation find place in revamped nursing syllabus
Read More
Read more »
at
Labels: