Daily Current Affairs 4 March 2020 | UPSC Current Affairs 2020

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    1) Kunjali Marakkar

    A descendant of Kunjali Marakkar has filed a writ petition in the Kerala High Court seeking to stop the release of the upcoming Mohanlal­starrer Arabikadalinte Simham (Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea) based on the life of the 16th-century naval chieftain of the Zamorin of Calicut, for allegedly “distorting history”

    Kunjali Marakkar

    The Kunjali Marakkar or Kunhali Marakkar was the title given to the Muslim naval chief of the Zamorin of Calicut (Samoothiri of Kozhikode), by King of Calicut, in the present-day state of Kerala, India during the 16th century. There were four major Kunjalis who played a part in the Zamorin's naval wars with the Portuguese from 1507 to 1600. The Marakkars are credited with organizing the first naval defense of the Indian coast.

    Marakkar inexistent

    The title of Marakkar was given by the Zamorin. It may have been derived from the Malayalam language word marakkalam meaning ‘boat,’ and kar, a termination, showing possession.

    The four key Kunhali Marakkars:
    • Muhammed Marakkar / Kutti Ali – Kunhali Marakkar I
    • Kunhali Marakkar II
    • Pate Marakkar / Pattu Kunhali – Kunhali Marakkar III
    • Mohammed Ali – Kunhali Marakkar IV

    Origins of Marakkar

    • According to tradition, Marakkars were originally Muslim marine merchants of port Kochi who left for Ponnani in the Zamorin's dominion when the Portuguese fleets came to the Kingdom of Cochin. They offered their men, ships and wealth against the Portuguese to the Zamorin of Calicut-the king took them into his service and eventually they became the Admirals of his fleet.
    • Another version suggests that they were merchants of Cairo, Egypt who settled in Kozhikode and joined the Samoothiri's navy.

    Against the Portuguese Empire

    • The Portuguese initially attempted to obtain trading privileges in 1498, but soon had troubles because the pressure from the Muslim Arabs over the Zamorin, since they had traditionally been trading in his ports, and did not want to lose the monopoly in trading spices. The Zamorin resisted these attempts which resulted in the Portuguese trying to destabilize his rule by negotiating a treaty with his arch-enemy, the Kingdom of Cochin in 1503. Sensing the Portuguese superiority at sea, the Zamorin set about improving his navy. He appointed Kunjali Marakkar to the task.
    • The fight between the Zamorin and the Portuguese continued on until the end of the 16th century when the Portuguese convinced the Zamorin in 1598 that Marakkar IV intended to take over his kingdom. The Zamorin then joined hands with the Portuguese to defeat Marakkar IV, ending in his defeat and death in 1600.
    • The Kunjali IV had rescued a Chinese boy, called Chinali, who had been enslaved on a Portuguese ship. The Kunjali was very fond of him, and he became one of his most feared lieutenants, a Muslim and enemy of the Portuguese. The Portuguese were terrorized by the Kunjali and his Chinese right-hand man, eventually, after the Portuguese allied with Calicut's Samorin, under Andre Furtado de Mendoça they attacked the Kunjali and Chinali's forces, and they were handed over to the Portuguese by the Samorin after he reneged on a promise to let them go. Diogo do Couto, a Portuguese historian, questioned the Kunjali and Chinali when they were captured. He was present when the Kunjali surrendered to the Portuguese and was described: "One of these was Chinale, a Chinese, who had been a servant at Malacca, and said to have been the captive of a Portuguese, taken as a boy from a fusta, and afterward brought to Kunhali, who conceived such an affection for him that he trusted him with everything. He was the greatest exponent of the Moorish superstition and enemy of the Christians in all Malabar, and for those taken captive at sea and brought thither he invented the most exquisite kinds of torture when he martyred them." However, de Couto's claim that he tortured Christians was questioned, since no other source reported this, and is dismissed as ridiculous.
    Source: The Hindu

    2) State funding of elections

    The Election Commission has informed the Government that it is not in favor of state funding of elections.

    What is the state or public funding of elections?

    • This means that the government gives funds to political parties or candidates for contesting elections. Its main purpose is to make it unnecessary for contestants to take money from powerful moneyed interests so that they can remain clean.
    • Why public funding is good?
    • Political parties and candidates need money for their electoral campaigns, to keep contacts with their constituencies, to prepare policy decisions and to pay professional staff. Therefore, public funding is a natural and necessary cost of democracy.
    • Public funding can increase transparency in party and candidate finance and thereby help curb corruption.
    • In societies where many citizens are under or just above the poverty line, they cannot be expected to donate large amounts of money to political parties or candidates. If parties and candidates receive at least a basic amount of money from the State the country could have a functioning multi-party system without people having to give up their scarce resources.

    Why are some people opposed to this idea?

    • Those against this idea wonder how a Government that is grappling with deficit budgets, can provide money to political parties to contest elections.
    • They also warn that state funding would encourage every second outfit to get into the political arena merely to avail of state funds.
    • Also, given that state expenditure on key social sectors such as primary healthcare is “pitifully small”, the very idea of the Government giving away money to political parties to contest polls, is revolting.

    Why it is difficult to go for public funding?

    • The funds that a political party advances to its party candidates in an election vary from one candidate to another, and there is much variation across political parties in this regard.
    • Assuming that there are five contending candidates in a constituency, and even if each one of them does not spend as much, but just half of their elected counterpart, an amount of about ₹15 crores will be spent in each constituency, which with about 4,215 MLAs in India works out to an about ₹13,000 crore per annum.
    • While the legal limit that a Lok Sabha candidate can spend is ₹70 lakh, a victorious candidate on an average does not spend less than ₹10 crores for the purpose. Suppose we assume again an average of five candidates per constituency, and halving the amount to losers, about ₹30 crores will be spent in each Lok Sabha constituency, and given 543 members of the Lok Sabha, about ₹3,300 crores per annum.
    • Then there are elections to the Upper Houses, both at the Centre and in some States, and the local governing bodies. Hence, it is argued that public funding places an unnecessary burden on the exchequer.
    Source: The Hindu

    3) Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019

    • The Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019 was recently introduced in Rajya Sabha. The bill was passed in Lok Sabha in December last year.
    • The Bill is intended to convert India’s three deemed-to-be Sanskrit universities into Central Sanskrit Universities.
      • Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi.
      • Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New Delhi.
      • Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati.

    Other salient features of the Bill:

    • What the universities will do?
      • The proposed central universities will: (i) disseminate and advance knowledge for the promotion of Sanskrit, (ii) make special provisions for integrated courses in humanities, social sciences, and science, and (iii) train manpower for the overall development and preservation of Sanskrit and allied subjects.
    • Powers and functions:
      • These include: (i) prescribing courses of study and conducting training programs, (ii) granting degrees, diplomas, and certificates, (iii) providing facilities through a distance education system, (iv) conferring autonomous status on a college or an institution, (v) providing instructions for education in Sanskrit and allied subjects.
    • Some of the authorities that the universities will have:
      • A court, which will review the policies of the university and suggest measures for its development. An Executive Council, which will be the principal executive body. The 15-member council will include the Vice-Chancellor appointed by the Centre, who will be the chairperson. The council will, among other functions, create teaching and academic posts and their appointment, and manage the revenue and property of the university. An Academic and Activity Council, which will supervise academic policies. A Board of Studies, which will approve the subjects for research and recommend measures to improve standards of teaching.
    • The visitor of the universities:
      • Like at all central universities, the President of India will be the Visitor of the central Sanskrit universities. He may appoint persons to review and inspect the functioning of the University. The Executive Council may take action based on the findings of the inspection.
    Source: Indian Express

    4) Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushlaya Yojana

    • The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) will soon undertake a real-time assessment of the government’s flagship youth employment scheme the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushal Yojana (DDU-GKY). 
    • The institute has developed an enterprise resource planning platform called ‘Kaushal Bharath,’ to enable states to capture data on projects under DDU-GKY and for the information to be collated in one system.

    About Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY):

    • It is a placement linked skill development program that allows skilling in a PPP mode and assured placements in regular jobs in an organization not owned by the skilled person. DDU-GKY is being undertaken as a PPP Project all over the country through Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) registered with the Ministry of Rural Development.
      • Further, Guidelines of the scheme mandate State Governments to take up skill training projects with Corporate Social Responsibility funding.
      • DDU-GKY Guidelines provide for setting apart 15% of the funds at for national level beneficiaries from among minority groups.

    Beneficiary Eligibility:

    • Rural Youth:15 – 35 Yrs
    • SC/ST/Women/PVTG/PWD: up to 45 Yrs
    Source: PIB

    5)  In-flight WiFi services to passengers

    • The government has permitted airlines operating in India to provide in-flight WiFi services to passengers. 
    • Previously, the Telecom Commission had given its green signal to in-flight connectivity of the Internet and mobile communications on aircraft in Indian airspace in 2018.

    Who can permit?

    • The pilot may permit the access of Internet services by passengers on board an aircraft in flight, through Wi-Fi on board, when a laptop, smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, e-reader or a point of sale device is used in flight mode or airplane mode.

    How in-flight connectivity works?

    • In-flight connectivity systems use two kinds of technologies– terrestrial and satellite internet services.
    • Once flight mode is activated, the plane’s antenna will link to terrestrial Internet services provided by telecom service providers.
    • Then, when the aircraft has climbed to 3,000 m, the antenna will switch to satellite-based services.
    • This way, there will be no break in Internet services to passengers, and cross-interference between terrestrial and satellite networks will be avoided.

    Challenges ahead:

    • Airlines will have to bear the initial cost of installing antennae on aircraft. So, the additional cost could find a way into ticket prices.
    • Apart from the equipment, airlines will have to bear additional fuel costs, given the extra weight and drag aircraft will face due to the antenna.
    • Technology and laws allow calls to be made from aircraft, but many airlines do not want noisy cabins.

    Benefits:

    • Globally, more than 30 airlines allow voice calls and internet access during flights. This facility will now help Indian airlines compete with foreign carriers.
    • Business travelers greatly value these services as they can continue their work commitments without any deterrence.
    • Other travelers can be in touch with their near and dear ones even during the flight.
    Source: Indian Express

    6) Biomethanation of rice straw to solve stubble burning

    The following steps are being taken to solve the problem of stubble burning, namely:-
    • In an all India coordinated project, efforts are on to produce bio-gas for kitchen use and quality manure for fields using bio-methanation of rice straw by anaerobic digestion method. Six domestic level paddy straw-based biogas plants have been installed in Punjab for field trials and further study is in progress.
    • R&D project has been supported on refinement and demonstration of integrated process technology for conversion of crop residues into ethanol and methane for use as transport fuels.
    • A major focus on agriculture waste/stubble management (waste to wealth), an alternative to burning, has been taken up under waste management technologies program and proposals are being considered.
    Source: PIB 

    7) Promotion of Electric Vehicles

    • The Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) is administering Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme for promotion of adoption of electric/hybrid vehicles (xEVs) in India since 01stApril, 2015. The Phase-I of the Scheme was extended from time to time and the last extension was allowed till 31st March 2019.
    • Presently, Phase-II of the FAME India Scheme is being implemented for 3 years from 01st April 2019 with total budgetary support of Rs. 10,000 crore.  This phase will mainly focus on supporting electrification of public and shared transportation, and aims to support through demand incentive approx. 7000 e-Buses, 5 lakh e-3 Wheelers, 55000 e-4 Wheeler Passenger Cars and 10 lakh e-2 Wheelers. With a greater emphasis on providing affordable and environment-friendly public transportation options for the masses, the scheme will apply mainly to vehicles used for public transport or those registered for commercial purposes in e-3W, e-4W and e-bus segments. However, privately owned registered e-2W will also be covered under the scheme as a mass segment.  Also, the creation of charging infrastructure will be supported to address range anxiety among users of electric vehicles.
    • In the First Phase of the Scheme, about 2.8 lakh hybrid and electric vehicles are supported by way of demand incentive amounting to about Rs 359 crore. The Department of Heavy Industry sanctioned 425 electric and hybrid buses to various cities in the country with a total cost of about Rs. 300 crores. The Department has also sanctioned about 500 Charging Stations/ Infrastructure for Rs. 43 crore (approx.) under Phase-I of FAME-India Scheme.
    • Under Phase-II of the FAME India Scheme, about 14,160 Electric Vehicles have been supported till 26.02.2020 by way of Demand Incentive amounting to about Rs. 50 crore  5595 electrical buses have also been sanctioned to various State/ City Transport Undertakings under Phase-II of the Scheme. This involves Government incentive of around Rs. 2800 crore.
    • TH DHI has also sanctioned 2,636 Electric Vehicles (EVs) Charging Stations amounting to Rs 500 crore (Approx.) in 62 cities across 24 States/UTs under FAME India Scheme phase II.
    • Also, the following initiatives were taken up by the Government to promote the use of electric/ hybrid vehicles (including shared mobility) in various parts of the country –
      • Under the new GST regime, GST on EVs has been reduced from a 12% rate to 5%.
      • Ministry of Power has allowed the sale of electricity as ‘service’ for the charging of electric vehicles. This will provide a huge incentive to attract investments into the charging infrastructure.
      • The Government has also granted an exemption to the Battery Operated Transport Vehicles and Transport Vehicles running on Ethanol and Methanol fuels from the requirements of the permit.
      • In the budget of 2019-20, the Finance Minister announced the provision of additional income tax deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh on the interest paid on loans taken to purchase electric vehicles.
    Source: PIB

    8) Defense Expenditure as a Part of GDP

    The Minister of State for Defence gave information about the defense expenditure as a part of GDP in Rajya Sabha.

    Key Points

    • The Defence Expenditure is increasing every year in absolute terms, implying higher spending. However, the Defence Budget as a percentage of GDP may appear to be decreasing due to the increasing trend in the growth of GDP.
    • In Budget Expenditure(BE) 2019-20, the total Defence Budget (including Miscellaneous and Pensions) is 15.47% of total Central Government Expenditure.
    • In BE 2019-20, the Capital Budget of the Ministry of Defence is approximately 31.97% of the total capital expenditure of the Central Government Expenditure.
    • The expenditure on operations/ maintenance and Defence Infrastructure has been maintained optimally.

    GDP

    GDP stands for "Gross Domestic Product" and represents the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced (and sold on the market) within a country during a period.

    Capital expenditure

    Capital expenditure is the money spent on the acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, equipment, as well as investment in shares.

    Capital Budget

    Capital Budget consists of:
    • Capital receipts
      • Capital receipts are loans raised by the government from the public (which are called market loans), borrowings by the government from the Reserve Bank and other parties through sale of treasury bills, loans received from foreign bodies and governments, and recoveries of loans granted by the Central government to state and Union Territory governments and other parties.
    • Capital payments
      • Capital payments consist of capital expenditure on acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, and equipment, as also investments in shares, loans, and advances granted by the Central government to state and Union Territory governments, government companies, corporations, and other parties.
    • Capital Budget also incorporates transactions in the Public Account.
    Source: PIB 

    9) BEE- Star Rating Programme

    To commemorate its 19th foundation day, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power organized a Stakeholder Consultation to develop a vision towards building an energy-efficient India.

    Key Points

    • On this occasion, BEE expanded the coverage of its star labeling program by including energy-efficient Deep freezer and Light Commercial Air Conditioners (LCAC).
    • With this inclusion, BEE will cover 26 appliances.
    • Deep freezer and Light Commercial Air Conditioners (LCAC) are major energy guzzlers in commercial space.
    • The program will be initially launched involuntary mode from 2nd March 2020 to 31st December 2021. Thereafter, it will be made mandatory after reviewing the degree of market transformation in this particular segment of appliances.
    • Through this initiative, it is expected to save around 2.8 Billion Units by FY2030, which is equivalent to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction of 2.4-million-ton Carbon Dioxide.
    • The Star Labeling Programme has been formulated by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
    • During the event, a database on energy efficiency named Urja Dakshata Information Tool (UDIT) was also launched. This initiative has been taken by the BEE with the World Resources Institute (WRI).
    • It is a user-friendly platform that explains the energy efficiency landscape of India across industry, appliances, building, transport, municipal and agriculture sectors.
    • It will also showcase the capacity building and new initiatives taken up by the Government across the sectors in the increasing energy efficiency domain.

    Energy Efficiency in India

    • Transition: India’s energy sector is set for a transition with recent developmental ambitions of the Government e.g. 175 GW of installed capacity of renewable energy by 2022, 24X7 Power for all, Housing for all by 2022, 100 smart cities mission, promotion of e- mobility, electrification of railway sector, 100% electrification of households, Solarization of agricultural pump sets, and promotion of clean cooking.
    • Potential of Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency has the maximum Greenhouse Gas (GHG) abatement potential of around 51% followed by renewables (32%), biofuels (1%), nuclear (8%), carbon capture and storage (8%) as per the World Energy Outlook (WEO 2010). World Energy Outlook (WEO) is the flagship publication of the International Energy Agency.
    • India can avoid building 300 GW of new power generation up to 2040 with the implementation of ambitious energy efficiency policies.
    • Positives: Successful implementation of Energy Efficiency Measures contributed to electricity savings of 7.14% of total electricity consumption of the country and emission reduction of 108.28 million tonnes of CO2 during 2017-18.

    Bureau of Energy Efficiency

    • The Government of India set up the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). on 1st March 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
    • The mission of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency is to assist in developing policies and strategies with a thrust on self-regulation and market principles, within the overall framework of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 with the primary objective of reducing the energy intensity of the Indian economy.
    • BEE coordinates with designated consumers, designated agencies and other organizations and recognizes identify and utilize the existing resources and infrastructure, in performing the functions assigned to it under the Energy Conservation Act.

    The Standards & Labeling Programme

    • The Standards & Labeling Programme is one of the major thrust areas of BEE.
    • A key objective of this scheme is to provide the consumer an informed choice about the energy-saving and thereby the cost-saving potential of the relevant marketed product.
    • The scheme targets display of energy performance labels on high energy end-use equipment & appliances and lay down minimum energy performance standards.
    Source: PIB

    10) 8th Foundation Day of LPAI

    Recently, the 8th Foundation Day of the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) has been celebrated in New Delhi.
    • LPAI is involved in the development of land ports (also known as Integrated Check Posts (ICPs)) to maintain regional connectivity across the international borders of India.
    • Currently, the LPAI is building the Passenger Terminal Building at Dera Baba Nanak, Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.

    Land Ports Authority of India

    • The Land Ports Authority of India is a statutory body established under the Land Ports Authority of India Act, 2010.
      • Committee of Secretaries in 2003 recommended setting up of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at major entry points on India’s land borders.
      • These ICPs were planned to house all the regulatory agencies like Immigration, Customs, Border Security, etc. together with support facilities in a single complex to serve as a single-window facility as is prevalent at Airports and Seaports.
    • LPAI intends to provide safe, secure and systematic facilities for movement of cargo as well passengers at its ICPs along the international borders of India.
    • Functions:
      • It plans, constructs and maintains roads, terminals, and ancillary buildings other than national highways, State highways, and railways, at an ICP.
      • It establishes and maintains warehouses, container depots and cargo complexes for the storage or processing of goods with the establishment of hotels, restaurants, and restrooms at ICP.
    Source: PIB

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