Daily Current Affairs 27 April 2020 | UPSC Current Affairs 2020

Current Affairs Of Today Are

1) The Ruhdaar ventilator

The Government has said that “the COVID-19 infection curve has begun to flatten and that the outbreak is under control”.
According to the Health Ministry, among those getting infected, around 80% will experience only mild illness, around 15% will need oxygen support and the remaining 5% who get critical or severe will need ventilators.
Ventilators are thus an important component of the medical infrastructure required for treating infected patients, providing critical breathing support to those falling critically ill.
Considering this, the government has been adopting a two-pronged approach, augmenting domestic manufacturing capacity as well as scouting across the world for medical supplies. Accordingly, as per the update given to the Group of Ministers meeting held on April 25, 2020, the production of ventilators by domestic manufacturers has already started and orders for more than 59,000 units through nine manufacturers have been placed.
In this context, it is heartening that the Indian inventive and creative spirit has been reaping good fruit in this crisis situation. The entire scientific community, including CSIR and its 30-plus labs, institutes such as IITs and many from the private sector and civil society, have come up with various solutions, each of which contributes in some measure to our battle against the pandemic.
A team of engineering students from IIT Bombay, NIT Srinagar, and Islamic University of Science & Technology (IUST), Awantipora, Pulwama, Jammu, and Kashmir is one such group of creative individuals who have come forward to solve the problem of ventilator requirement. The team has come up with a low-cost ventilator using locally available materials.

Source: PIB

2) Hydrogen Fuel bus and car

NTPC Ltd, India's largest power producer, and a central PSU under the Ministry of Power have invited Global Expression of Interest (EoI) to provide 10 Hydrogen Fuel Cell (FC) based electric buses and an equal number of Hydrogen Fuel Cell-based electric cars in Leh and Delhi. The EoI has been issued by NTPC's wholly-owned subsidiary, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) Limited.
The move to procure Hydrogen Fuel Cell-based vehicles is first of its kind project in the country, wherein a complete solution from green energy to the fuel cell vehicle would be developed.

Hydrogen vehicle

A hydrogen vehicle is a vehicle that uses hydrogen fuel for motive power. Hydrogen vehicles include hydrogen-fueled space rockets, as well as automobiles and other transportation vehicles. The power plants of such vehicles convert the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy either by burning hydrogen in an internal combustion engine, or, more commonly, by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to run electric motors. Widespread use of hydrogen for fueling transportation is a key element of a proposed hydrogen economy.
As of 2019, there are three models of hydrogen cars publicly available in select markets: the Toyota Mirai, the Hyundai Nexo, and the Honda Clarity. Several other companies are working to develop hydrogen cars.
As of 2019, 98% of hydrogen is produced by steam methane reforming, which emits carbon dioxide. It can be produced by thermochemical or pyrolytic means using renewable feedstocks, but the processes are currently expensive. Various technologies are being developed that aim to deliver costs low enough, and quantities great enough, to compete with hydrogen production using natural gas. The drawbacks of hydrogen use are high carbon emissions intensity when produced from natural gas, capital cost burden, low energy content per unit volume at ambient conditions, production and compression of hydrogen, the investment required in filling stations to dispense hydrogen, transportation of hydrogen to filling stations and lack of ability to produce or dispense hydrogen at home

Fuel cell

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen (usually from air) to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemical energy usually comes from metals and their ions or oxides that are commonly already present in the battery, except in flow batteries. Fuel cells can produce electricity continuously for as long as fuel and oxygen are supplied.

Fuel cell cost

Hydrogen fuel cells are relatively expensive to produce, as their designs require rare substances such as platinum as a catalyst, In 2014, Toyota said it would introduce its Toyota Mirai in Japan for less than $70,000 in 2015. Former European Parliament President Pat Cox estimates that Toyota will initially lose about $100,000 on each Mirai sold.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen does not exist in convenient reservoirs or deposits like fossil fuels or helium. It is produced from feedstocks such as natural gas and biomass or electrolyzed from water. A suggested benefit of large-scale deployment of hydrogen vehicles is that it could lead to decreased emissions of greenhouse gasses and ozone precursors. However, as of 2014, 95% of hydrogen is made from methane. It can be produced by thermochemical or pyrolitic means using renewable feedstocks, but that is an expensive process. Renewable electricity can, however, be used to power the conversion of water into hydrogen: Integrated wind-to-hydrogen (power to gas) plants, using electrolysis of water, are exploring technologies to deliver costs low enough, and quantities great enough, to compete with traditional energy sources.
According to Ford Motor Company, hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles would generate only three-fifths of the carbon dioxide as a comparable vehicle running on gasoline blended to 10 percent ethanol. While methods of hydrogen production that do not use fossil fuel would be more sustainable, currently renewable energy represents only a small percentage of energy generated, and power produced from renewable sources can be used in electric vehicles and for non-vehicle applications.
The challenges facing the use of hydrogen in vehicles include chiefly its storage onboard the vehicle. While the well-to-wheel efficiency for hydrogen from the least efficient manner of producing it (electrolysis) is less than 25 percent, it still exceeds that of vehicles based on internal combustion engines.

Way Forward

Critics claim the time frame for overcoming the technical and economic challenges to implementing the wide-scale use of hydrogen cars is likely to last for at least several decades, and hydrogen vehicles may never become broadly available. They claim that the focus on the use of the hydrogen car is a dangerous detour from more readily available solutions to reducing the use of fossil fuels in vehicles. In May 2008, Wired News reported that "experts say it will be 40 years or more before hydrogen has any meaningful impact on gasoline consumption or global warming, and we can't afford to wait that long. In the meantime, fuel cells are diverting resources from more immediate solutions."
Hydrogen fuel is hazardous because of the low ignition energy and high combustion energy of hydrogen, and because it tends to leak easily from tanks. Explosions at hydrogen filling stations have been reported. Hydrogen fuelling stations generally receive deliveries of hydrogen by truck from hydrogen suppliers. An interruption at a hydrogen supply facility can shut down multiple hydrogen fuelling stations.

NTPC Limited

NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, is an Indian Public Sector Undertaking, engaged in the business of generation of electricity and allied activities. It is a company incorporated under the Companies Act 1956 and is promoted by the Government of India. The headquarters of the company is situated at New Delhi. NTPC's core business is the generation and sale of electricity to state-owned power distribution companies and State Electricity Boards in India. The company also undertakes consultancy and turnkey project contracts that involve engineering, project management, construction management, and operation and management of power plants.

Source: PIB

3) BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa

Potential of BRICS to emerge as an important global governance institution.

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a crisis of globalization and global governance.
There seems to be a lack of common vision, especially in the political domain, and lack of coordination and collaboration, leading to a void in global governance.
COVID-19 seems to have become another stage for a political rivalry that has reinforced some international disputes and conflicts.

Details:

Opportunities for BRICS:

In the current hour of the COVID-19 crisis, BRICS can emerge as an important global governance institution due to the following reasons.

BRICS looks better than other global governance institutions amidst the ongoing COVID crises. There is no blame-game or pointing fingers within BRICS, rather, there is a vision for intensifying cooperation, including in sectors like healthcare and social welfare.
Unlike G7 which is mostly used by the leading western powers to strengthen their position in the competition with the non-west and to restore a rules-based international order, BRICS is based on entirely different values and adheres to the goals and objectives of the UN Charter and the idea of equality.
Contrary to initial estimates of lack of effectiveness of the BRICS grouping, BRICS has progressed on developing a common position on the most important matters of the global economy and security and it also got institutionalized with the setting up of the BRICS New Development Bank in 2015.
Currently, BRICS is under Russia’s Presidency, which is scheduled to hold the 12th BRICS Summit, in St. Petersburg. Russia has repeatedly emphasized the need for BRICS member nations to expand foreign policy coordination, primarily at the UN. Speaking at a summit in Brasilia on November 14, 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated the same.

Challenges:

Disagreements between its members and lack of a common vision are major concerns in the grouping.
Slow progress concerning the implementation of initiatives is a concern for BRICS.

Way forward:

Accelerate implementation:

The five-member nations of BRICS need to pay more attention to speeding up the implementation of the projects and decisions that are agreed on. Work should be accelerated on establishing the BRICS Center for Research and Development of Vaccines, the decision to set up which was taken back in 2018 at the Johannesburg summit.

Increase coordination and collaboration:

BRICS should work towards an early warning mechanism for outbreaks of infection, the development of diagnostic and preventive measures for the disease, as well as joint epidemiological exercises.
The New Development Bank could provide financial anti-crisis assistance to members to fight the pandemic.

About BRICS

The 11th summit of the BRICS grouping comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa was held in Brasilia on 13th & 14th November 2019.
BRICS is an acronym for 5 emerging economies of the world viz. – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa. The term BRIC was coined by Jim O’ Neil, the then chairman of Goldman Sachs in 2001.
The first BRIC summit took place in the year 2009 in Yekaterinburg (Russia). In 2010, South Africa joined formally into the association making it BRICS.
BRICS is an association with more than 40% of the global population and with 25% of the global GDP (nominal GDP of US$16.039 trillion) and an estimated US$4 trillion in combined forex. Bilateral relations are conducted mainly based on equality and mutual benefit.

Objectives of BRICS

One of the major objectives of the grouping is broadening, deepening, and intensifying cooperation among the member countries for mutually beneficial, sustainable, and equitable development.
Every member’s growth and development are considered to ensure that relations are built on the economic strengths of individual countries and eliminate competition wherever possible.
Such diverse objectives allow BRICS to emerge as an innovative and encouraging Political-Diplomatic entity which was earlier formed just to resolve the global financial issues and reform institutions.

Impact of BRICS on Reformations of Global Financial Institutions

The financial crisis of 2008 was one of the major reasons behind the formation of BRICS. The dollar-dominated monetary market collapsed after the subprime mortgage crisis and raised questions about its reliability and sustainability.
‘The reform of Multilateral Institutions’ was established by BRICS to make changes in the structure of the World Economy, thus increasing the part emerging economies play in the world economy.
These reformations of institutions resulted in the formation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) quota reform after BRICS managed to push for it in 2010, further reducing the financial crisis due to western laws. BRICS ended being the ‘agenda settlers’ in multilateral institutions after this.

Source: The Hindu

4) The first merger of two black holes with unequal masses detected

Detection of the merger of two unequal black holes.

Blackhole:

A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravitational forces are so strong that no particles or even electromagnetic radiation such as light can escape from it.
The gravity is so strong because the matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying.
The general theory of relativity (GTR) is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and the current description of gravitation in modern physics.
The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass can deform spacetime to form a black hole.

Gravitational waves:

Gravitational waves are ‘ripples’ in space-time caused by violent and energetic processes in the universe.
Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves in 1916 in his general theory of relativity.
Einstein’s mathematics showed that massive accelerating objects (such as neutron stars or black holes orbiting each other) would disrupt space-time in such a way that ‘waves’ of undulating space-time would propagate in all directions away from the source. These cosmic ripples would travel at the speed of light.
The strongest gravitational waves are produced by cataclysmic events such as colliding black holes, supernovae (massive stars exploding at the end of their lifetimes), and colliding neutron stars.

LIGO detectors:

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is an observatory to detect cosmic gravitational waves and to develop gravitational-wave observations as an astronomical tool.
The observatories help detect gravitational waves by laser interferometry.
Currently, 2 LIGO observatories are active in the U.S. LIGO-India is a planned advanced gravitational-wave observatory to be located in India as part of the worldwide network. This is being planned at Hingoli District, Maharashtra.
INDIGO or IndIGO is a consortium of Indian gravitational-wave physicists.

Details:

The gravitational wave observatories at LIGO scientific collaboration have detected a merger of two unequal-mass black holes. The event has been named as GW190412.
This is the first such observation involving two black holes of unequal masses coalescing.
The detected signal’s waveform has special extra features in it when it corresponds to the merger of two unequal-sized black holes as compared to a merger of equal-sized black holes.

5) Stop villainizing bats, say, scientists, conservationists

Speculations over the animal origin of n-CoV19.

Background:

Unverified news and social media posts linking bats to the COVID-19 outbreak have led to widespread antipathy and increasing incidents of the public destroying bat roosts and smoking them out.

Details:

Origin of n-CoV-19:

The exact origin of SARS-CoV-2 is still unknown.
The recent Indian Council of Medical Research study has conclusively affirmed that the bat coronaviruses (BtCoV) found in two species of Indian bats are not the same as SARS-CoV-2 and cannot cause COVID-19.

Concerns:

Human activities:

All wild animals harbor viruses.
Humans encroaching upon wildlife habitats put humans at risk of encountering new viruses. The destruction of wildlife habitats and the subsequent movement of animals out of their habitats lead to the spread of viruses from animals to humans.
The ongoing ecological destruction, increasing intensification of livestock farming, and wildlife trade can all contribute to such pandemics.

Targeting bats:

Bats are believed to host several viruses.
Killing bats and destroying their habitats can be more harmful as this can lead to bats spreading out their habitat and spreading the viruses.

Significance of bats:

Bats perform vital ecosystem services such as pollination, pest control, and hence provide intangible economic benefits.

Way forward:

Conservation efforts:

Conservationists have been urging governments to strengthen the legal framework to protect bats. The government needs to reconsider and reinforce the laws governing bat conservation.
India is home to 128 bat species and only 2 of these are protected by law in India.

Recognizing the human factor:

There is a need to emphasize the role of human activities in disease outbreaks. There is a need to modify human practices to prevent the emergence of new pathogens.

Additional information:

Chiropterologists are people involved in the scientific study of bats.

Source: The Hindu

5) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released its latest Trade and Development Report.

Present global scenario:

This is necessary because of the hardship caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Developing countries may see their public external debt increase to $2.4-3.6 trillion in 2020 and 2021.
Even before the coronavirus pandemic hit developing economies, many of them are trapped in a debt-spiral — struggling with unsustainable debt burdens for many years, as well as with rising health and economic needs.
The financial turmoil from the crisis has triggered record portfolio capital outflows from emerging economies and sharp currency devaluations in developing countries, making servicing their debts more onerous.

Need of the hour- suggestions made by UNCTAD:

The report outlined three key steps:

Automatic temporary standstills:

Provides macroeconomic “breathing space” for all crisis-stricken developing countries requesting forbearance to free up resources, normally dedicated to servicing external sovereign debt.”
If the standstills are long and comprehensive enough they would facilitate an effective response to the Covid-19 shock through increased health and social expenditure in the immediate future and allow for post-crisis economic recovery along with sustainable growth, fiscal, and trade balance trajectories.

Debt relief and restructure programs:

Such programs would ensure the “breathing space” gained under the first step is used to reassess longer-term developing country debt sustainability, on a case-by-case basis.”
A trillion-dollar write-off would be closer to the figure needed to prevent economic disaster across the developing world.

International developing country debt authority:

To oversee their implementation and lay the institutional and regulatory foundations for a more permanent international framework to guide sovereign debt restructuring in the future.

About the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD):

UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United NationsGeneral Assembly in 1964.
It is part of the UN Secretariat. It reports to the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council but has its own membership, leadership, and budget. It is also a part of the United Nations Development Group.

Objectives and roles:

It supports developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively. Along with other UN departments and agencies, it also measures the progress made in the Sustainable Development Goals, as set out in Agenda 2030.

Reports published by UNCTAD are:

Trade and Development Report
World Investment Report
Technology and Innovation Report
Digital Economy Report

Source: UNCTAD

6) Swamitva Yojana to boost rural economy

On Panchayati Raj Diwas (April 24th), the Prime Minister of India launched the ‘Swamitva Yojana’ or Ownership Scheme to map residential land ownership in the rural sector using modern technology like the use of drones.
The scheme aims to revolutionize property record maintenance in India.

Overview and key features of the ‘Swamitva Yojana’:

The scheme is piloted by the Panchayati Raj ministry.
The residential land in villages will be measured using drones to create a non-disputable record.
Property cards for every property in the village will be prepared by states using accurate measurements delivered by drone-mapping. These cards will be given to property owners and will be recognized by the land revenue records department.

Benefits of the scheme:

The delivery of property rights through an official document will enable villagers to access bank finance using their property as collateral.
The property records for a village will also be maintained at the Panchayat level, allowing for the collection of associated taxes from the owners. The money generated from these local taxes will be used to build rural infrastructure and facilities.
Freeing the residential properties including the land of title disputes and the creation of an official record is likely to result in appreciation in the market value of the properties.
The accurate property records can be used for facilitating tax collection, new building, and structure plan, issuing of permits, and for thwarting attempts at property grabbing.

Need for and significance of the scheme:

The need for this Yojana was felt since several villagers in the rural areas don’t have papers proving ownership of their land. In most states, the survey and measurement of the populated areas in the villages have not been done for the purpose of attestation/verification of properties. The new scheme is likely to become a tool for empowerment and entitlement, reducing social strife on account of discord over properties.

e-GramSwaraj Portal and Mobile App

Launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
It will provide the Gram Panchayats with a single interface to prepare and implement their Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).
The portal will ensure real-time monitoring and accountability.

Panchayati Raj

After the Constitution came into force, Article 40 made mention of panchayats, and Article 246 empowered the state legislature to legislate concerning any subject relating to local self-government.
Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) was constitutionalized through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 to build democracy at the grassroots level and was entrusted with the task of rural development in the country.
PRI is a system of rural local self-government in India.
Local Self Government is the management of local affairs by such local bodies who have been elected by the local people.

Salient Features of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment added Part IX titled “The Panchayats” to the Constitution.
The basic unit of democratic system-Gram Sabhas (villages) comprising all the adult members registered as voters.
The three-tier system of panchayats at the village, intermediate block/taluk/Mandal, and district levels except in States with the population are below 20 lakhs (Article 243B).
Seats at all levels to be filled by direct elections Article 243C (2).
Reservation of seats:

Seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) and the chairpersons of the Panchayats at all levels also shall be reserved for SCs and STs in proportion to their population.
One-third of the total number of seats to be reserved for women.
One-third offices of chairpersons at all levels reserved for women (Article 243D).

Duration:

Uniform five-year term and elections to constitute new bodies to be completed before the expiry of the term.
In the event of dissolution, elections compulsorily within six months (Article 243E).

Independent Election Commission in each State for superintendence, direction, and control of the electoral rolls (Article 243K).
Power of Panchayats: Panchayats have been authorized to prepare plans for economic development and social justice in respect of subjects illustrated in the Eleventh Schedule (Article 243G).
Source of Revenue (Article 243H): State legislature may authorize the Panchayats with

Budgetary allocation from State Revenue.
Share of revenue of certain taxes.
Collection and retention of the revenue it raises.

Establish a Finance Commission in each State to determine the principles based on which adequate financial resources would be ensured for panchayats and municipalities (Article 243I).
The following areas have been exempted from the operation of the Act because of the socio-cultural and administrative considerations:

Scheduled areas listed under the V Schedule in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, and Rajasthan.
The states of Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
The hill areas of the district of Darjeeling in the state of West Bengal for which Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council exists.

However, an Act called the Provisions of Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 passed by the Government of India.

Source: PIB

7) Urge to Suspend H-1B

The US President has been requested to suspend the foreign worker's program, including H-1B as a huge number of Americans, have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Key Points

A lawmaker in the US has sought suspension of the H-1B, H4, L1, B1, B2, Optional Practical Training Program, and guest worker admissions.
The Congressional Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis has also been urged to take action to protect medical professionals holding H-1B visas because they are essential to confront and combat the current crisis.

Due to the loss of revenues, many health centers are closing down which will impact H-1B visa holders currently practicing medicine at these facilities.

Indians and H-1B Visa

Indians are the largest beneficiaries of the H1B visas and held three out of four H1B visas as of 2018, data from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) shows.
Indians held 309,986 H1B visas as of 2018, which was 73.9% of the total H1B visas issued.
Indians comprised 68% of H1B registrations for Financial Year 2020-21, followed by China, which accounted for 13.2%.
The latest move will hamper Indians who are working in the US on such visas by decreasing the chances of employment.

Earlier, the US temporarily suspended approval of some Green Cards.

This step ensures the policy of America First.

Green Card

It is officially known as a Permanent Resident Card.
It is issued to immigrants to the US under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 1952.
It allows a person to live and work permanently in the US.

H-1B Visa

It is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ graduate-level foreign workers in specialty occupations. Specialty occupations require:

Theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields such as IT, finance, accounting, architecture, engineering, mathematics, science, medicine, etc.
Any professional level job that usually requires a bachelor’s degree or higher can come under the H-1B visa for specialty occupations.

The US H1-B visa is designed to be used for staff in specialty occupations. H-1B has an option for green card applications.

H-1B visa holders can bring their spouse and children under 21 years of age to the US under the H4 Visa category as dependents.

An H4 Visa holder is allowed to remain in the US as long as the H-1B visa holder remains in legal status.
While an H4 visa holder is not eligible to work in the US, they may attend school, obtain a driver's license, and open a bank account while in the US.

Source: Indian Express

8) World Malaria Day

It is celebrated on 25th April every year, to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control.

Malaria is preventable as well as curable.

The theme for 2020: “Zero malaria starts with me”

It is a grassroots campaign that aims to keep malaria high on the political agenda, mobilize additional resources, and empower communities to take ownership of malaria prevention and care.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) releases the World Malaria Report.

The 2019 report showed no global gains in reducing new infections over the period 2014 to 2018.

The high burden to high impact: It is a new approach to get the malaria fight back on track, particularly in countries that carry the highest burden of disease. It is founded on 4 pillars:

The political will to reduce malaria deaths.
Strategic information to drive impact.
Better guidance, policies, and strategies.
A coordinated national malaria response.

WHO officially endorses disease-specific global awareness days for only four diseases including malaria:

1st December- World AIDS Day.
24th March- World Tuberculosis Day.
28th July- World Hepatitis Day.

9) Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD)

The COVID-19 pandemic may earn Governor’s rule for the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) in Assam.
The State’s Governor is the constitutional head of the BTAD that falls under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and is administered by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
The BTAD covers four districts of western and northern Assam. Elections were scheduled to be held for the BTC on April 4 but were deferred indefinitely given the pandemic.

The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India

The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India allows for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions which have been given autonomy within their respective states. Most of these autonomous district councils are located in North East India but two are in the Ladakh region of Northern India. Presently, 10 Autonomous Councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura are formed by the Sixth Schedule with the rest being formed as a result of other legislation.
The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration of the tribal areas in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram as per Article 244.
The Governor is empowered to increase or decrease the areas or change the names of the autonomous districts. While executive powers of the Union extend in Scheduled areas concerning their administration in the Vth schedule, the VIth schedule areas remain within the executive authority of the state.
The acts of Parliament or the state legislature do not apply to autonomous districts and autonomous regions or apply with specified modifications and exceptions.
The Councils have also been endowed with wide civil and criminal judicial powers, for example establishing village courts, etc. However, the jurisdiction of these councils is subject to the jurisdiction of the concerned High Court.
The sixth schedule to the Constitution includes 10 autonomous district councils in 4 states. These are:
Assam: Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, and Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council.
Meghalaya: Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.
Tripura: Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.
Mizoram: Chakma Autonomous District Council, Lai Autonomous District Council, Mara Autonomous District Council.

Source: PIB

10) Pitch Black 2020

Australia has informed India that its premier multilateral air combat training exercise Pitch Black 2020 scheduled from July 27 to August 14 has been canceled due to the COVID-19 situation, defense sources said.

Exercise Pitch Black

Exercise Pitch Black is a biennial warfare exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The exercise is normally held in Northern Australia, primarily at RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal. The aim of the exercise is to practice Offensive Counter Air (OCA) and Defensive Counter Air (DCA) combat, in a simulated war environment. It traditionally consists of a 'red team' and a 'blue team' based at separate locations, with one attacking the other.

Background

The first Pitch Black exercises took place on 15–16 June 1981 between different RAAF units.
The exercise began in 1990 starting with training between Australia and Singapore, and it then expanded to other international air forces with defense ties to Australia being invited, which have come to consist of France's Armée de l'Air; the Royal Malaysian Air Force, the Republic of Singapore Air Force; the Royal Thai Air Force; the Royal New Zealand Air Force; the United States Air Force; and Britain's Royal Air Force. Countries unable to participate can send observers.
Although 2000, 2004, and 2006 exercises were held in the Northern Territory, the 2002 exercise was scaled down and held at RAAF Bases Amberley and Williamtown, on the Australian east coast. RAAF Base Glenbrook (near Sydney) is used as the command and control center, as it would if the simulated conflict were real.

Source: The Hindu