Daily Current Affairs 1 July 2020 | UPSC Current Affairs 2020

Current Affairs Of Today Are

1) National Mission for Clean Ganga

Recently, the World Bank has approved a five-year loan (for the second phase) to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) or Namami Gange Project worth Rs.3,000 crore to help stem pollution in the Ganga river basin.

• So far, 313 projects worth Rs. 25,000 crore have been sanctioned under the mission.

Key Points

• The First Phase: The Namami Gange has already received Rs. 4,535 crore from the World Bank as part of the first phase (valid until December 2021) of the National Ganga River Basin.
• The Second Phase:
• Hybrid Annuity Projects: The loan would fund three new ‘Hybrid Annuity Projects’ in Agra, Meerut, and Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh for the tributaries of the Ganga.
• Cleaning Projects: Some of the projects include spillover projects from the first phase of the mission as well as cleaning projects in tributaries such as the Yamuna and Kali rivers.
• DBOT Projects: Rs.1,209 crore is provided for the ongoing DBOT (Design, Build, Operate and Transfer) projects in Buxar, Munger, Begusarai in Bihar.
• Other Initiatives: It would include institutional development, improving investment resilience to Covid-19 like emergency situations, the performance-based incentive for Urban Local Bodies and communication, and management programs.
• Associated Challenges:
• Pollution:
• Most of the Ganga is polluted and it is due to the presence of five states on the river’s main stem i.e. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal.
• Industrial pollution from tanneries in Kanpur, distilleries, paper and sugar mills in the Kosi, Ramganga and Kali river catchments are major contributors.
• Violation of e-Flow Norms: According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), 4 of the 11 hydropower projects on the upper reaches of the river Ganga’s tributaries are violating Ganga ecological flow (e-flow) norms which is further interrupting the natural flow of the river.
• Illegal Construction: The problem of illegal and rampant construction near river beds has become a major hurdle in cleaning the river.
• Poor Governance: There is less utilization of funds allotted under the programs due to lack of monitoring and supervision.

Namami Gange Programme

• Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as a ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
• It is being operated under the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The program is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterpart organizations i.e., State Program ManagementGroups (SPMGs).
• NMCG is the implementation wing of the National Ganga Council (set in 2016; which replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NBA).
• It has an Rs. 20,000-crore, centrally-funded, non-lapsable corpus and consists of nearly 288 projects.
• The main pillars of the program are:
• Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure & Industrial Effluent Monitoring,
• River-Front Development & River-Surface Cleaning,
• Bio-Diversity & Afforestation,
• Public Awareness

Other Initiatives Taken

• Ganga Action Plan: It was the first River Action Plan that was taken up by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 1985, to improve the water quality by the interception, diversion, and treatment of domestic sewage.
• The National River Conservation Plan is an extension of the Ganga Action Plan. It aims at cleaning the Ganga river under Ganga Action Plan phase-2.
• National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA): It was formed by the Government of India in the year 2009 under Section-3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
• It declared the Ganga as the ‘National River’ of India.
• Clean Ganga Fund: In 2014, it was formed for cleaning up of the Ganga, setting up of waste treatment plants, and conservation of biotic diversity of the river.
• Bhuvan-Ganga Web App: It ensures the involvement of the public in the monitoring pollution entering into the river Ganga.
• Ban on Waste Disposal: In 2017, the National Green Tribunal banned the disposal of any waste in the Ganga.

Way Forward

• The government’s Namami Gange Programme has revitalized India’s efforts in rejuvenating the Ganga.
• In this line, the first World Bank loan has helped build critical sewage infrastructure in 20 pollution hotspots along the river and the current funding would help in cleaning the tributaries of Ganga.
• It will further aid the government to strengthen the institutions needed to manage a river basin as large as the Ganga Basin.
• To successfully implement the plan, there is a need for a strategic blueprint that includes strict monitoring, mass awareness campaigns, the use of digital media, and conservation of biodiversity in Ganga.

Source: The Hindu

2) 59 Chinese Apps Banned

The Indian government has put a ban on 59 apps including TikTok and WeChat.

This marks the largest sweep against the Chinese technology companies.

Why the Govt decided to ban 59 Chinese apps?

• These measures have been undertaken since there is credible information that these apps are engaged in activities that are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, the security of the state, and public order.
• The government had received complaints from various sources including several reports about the misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers that have locations outside India.
• Therefore, the decision has been taken in a bid to safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile users.

Background:

• The ban comes days after Indian intelligence agencies red-flagged these Chinese apps over the safety and privacy issues of users.
• The recommendations of the intelligence agencies have the backing of the National Security Council Secretariat which determined that certain China-linked applications could be detrimental to the country’s security.

How it Will Affect Indian Users?

• Jobs at stake:
• Most of these platforms have Indian creators, for many of whom this is the only source of income.
• Some apps on the banned list are widely popular among Indians.
• TikTok (one of the banned apps) has more than 100 million active users in India. TikTok was the only source of income for many users.
• Besides, many of these apps such as UC News and others have offices and employees in India, hence following the ban, scores of jobs could be at stake.

What next?

• Meity has issued instructions to Google and Apple to remove the banned applications from their respective application stores.
• Additionally, telecom operators and Internet service providers will be asked to block access and use of these applications on their networks.
• For this, the Ministry has invoked its power under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.

Source: The Hindu

3) CogX 2020: Festival of AI & Emerging Technology

• Recently MyGov Corona Helpdesk Chatbot has bagged two awards under categories (1) “Best Innovation for Covid-19 – Society” and (2) “People’s Choice Covid-19 Overall Winner” at the recently held CogX 2020.

Key Points

• CogX is a prestigious Global Leadership Summit and Festival of Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technology held annually in London with over 15,000 participants in attendance from the highest levels of business, government, industry, and research.
• The CogX Awards are given out to the best-of-the-best in AI and emerging technologies across the world.
• MyGov Corona Helpdesk demonstrated the true Public, Private Partnership (PPP), wherein, citizen-centric services were provided by MyGov, while the state-of-the-art technological solution including infrastructure was designed, developed, and deployed by a private partner- JioHaptik Technologies Limited.
• This Chatbox has been developed by MyGov, JioHaptik Technologies Limited, and WhatsApp.
• MyGov (launched in 2014) is the world’s largest citizen engagement platform, which facilitates two-way communication between the Government and Citizen and facilitates participatory governance in India.

Source: PIB

4) Zealandia

• Researchers from GNS Science in New Zealand have announced that they mapped the shape and size of the Zealandia continent in unprecedented detail.

Background:

• Scientists confirmed the existence of an eighth continent, called Zealandia, under New Zealand and the surrounding ocean in 2017.
• Because 94% of Zealandia’s 2 million square miles are underwater, mapping the continent is challenging.

Latest findings:

• Zealandia‘s area is nearly 2 million square miles (5 million square kilometers) — about half the size of Australia.
• But only 6% of the continent is above sea level. That part underpins New Zealand’s north and south islands and the island of New Caledonia.
• The latest map depicts coastlines, territorial limits, and the names of major undersea features. The map is part of a global initiative to map the planet’s entire ocean floor by 2030.
• This map also reveals where Zealandia sits across various tectonic plates, which of those plates are being pushed under the other in a process known as subduction, and how quickly that movement is happening.

How Zealandia evolved?

• Gondwana formed when Earth’s ancient supercontinent, Pangea, split into two fragments.
• Laurasia in the north became Europe, Asia, and North America.
• Gondwana in the south dispersed to form modern-day Africa, Antarctica, South America, and Australia.
• Further, Geologic forces continued to rearrange these landmasses, and Zealandia was forced under the waves about 30 million to 50 million years after it broke off Gondwana as the largest tectonic plate — the Pacific Plate — slowly subducted beneath it

Source: Forbes

5) Accelerate Vigyan

• To provide a single platform for research internships, capacity building programs, and workshops across the country, the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has launched a new scheme called ‘Accelerate Vigyan’ (AV). You can get more information on this scheme from its web portal www.acceleratevigyan.gov.in. Straight off the block, AV has already called for applications under its ‘ABHYAAS’ component for the Winter Season.
• The primary objective of this inter-ministerial scheme is to give more thrust on encouraging high-end scientific research and preparing scientific manpower, which can lead to research careers and knowledge-based economy. Recognizing that all research has its base as the development of quality and well-trained researchers, AV will initiate and strengthen mechanisms of identifying research potential, mentoring, training, and hands-on workshops on a national scale.
• As for the ‘ABHYAAS’ program, it is an attempt to boost research and development in the country by enabling and grooming potential PG/Ph.D. students using developing their research skills in selected areas across different disciplines or fields. It has two components: High-End Workshops (‘KARYASHALA’) and Research Internships (‘VRITIKA’). This is especially important for those researchers who have limited opportunities to access such learning capacities/facilities/infrastructure. The current call for applications invites researchers for the winter season (Dec 2020-Jan 2021) ‘KARYASHALA’ and ‘VRITIKA’
• The AV will work on mission mode, particularly concerning its component dealing with consolidation/aggregation of all major scientific events in the country. Thus, an Inter-Ministerial Overseeing Committee (IMOC) involving all the scientific ministries/departments and a few others have been constituted to support SERB in successfully implementing the AV scheme.
• The database of skilled manpower developed across different disciplines so generated and the final outcomes captured in the process through all the sub-components of the AV will serve the cause of all stakeholders in respect of capacity building in the country. The scheme also seeks to garner the social responsibility of the scientific community in the country. In a nutshell, the AV platform is expected to be a game-changer for developing career paths and providing support to catalog the development of skilled manpower.
• Another new component under AV is ‘SAMMOHAN’ that has been sub-divided into ‘SAYONJIKA’ and ‘SANGOSHTI’. SAYONJIKA is an open-ended program to catalog the capacity building activities in science and technology supported by all government funding agencies in the country. SANGOSHTI is a pre-existing program of SERB.

Source: PIB

6) Attorney General of India

• The central government has extended the term of K.K. Venugopal as Attorney General (AG) for one year.
• Venugopal was appointed the 15th AG of India in 2017. He succeeded Mukul Rohatgi who was AG from 2014-2017.

Key Points

• The Attorney General (AG) of India is a part of the Union Executive. AG is the highest law officer in the country.
• Article 76 of the Constitution provides for the office of AG of India.
• Appointment and Eligibility:
• AG is appointed by the President on the advice of the government.
• S/he must be a person who is qualified to be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court, i.e. s/he must be a citizen of India and must have been a judge of some high court for five years or an advocate of some high court for ten years or an eminent jurist, in the opinion of the President.
• Term of the Office: Not fixed by the Constitution.
• Removal: Procedures and grounds for the removal of AG are not stated in the Constitution. S/he holds office during the pleasure of the President (may be removed by the President at any time).
• Duties and Functions:
• To give advice to the Government of India (GoI) upon such legal matters, which are referred to her/him by the President.
• To perform such other duties of a legal character that are assigned to her/him by the President.
• To appear on behalf of the GoI in all cases in the Supreme Court or in any case in any High Court in which the GoI is concerned.
• To represent the GoI in any reference made by the President to the Supreme Court under Article 143 (Power of the President to consult the Supreme Court) of the Constitution.
• To discharge the functions conferred on her/him by the Constitution or any other law.
• Rights and Limitations:
• S/he has the right to speak and to take part in the proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament or their joint sitting and any committee of the Parliament of which s/he may be named a member, but without a right to vote.
• S/he enjoys all the privileges and immunities that are available to a member of Parliament.
• S/he does not fall into the category of government servants. S/he is not debarred from private legal practice.
• However, s/he should not advise or hold a brief against the GoI.
• Solicitor General of India and Additional Solicitor General of India assist the AG in fulfillment of the official responsibilities.
• Corresponding Office in the States: Advocate General (Article 165).

Source: The Hindu

7) Committee on Criminal Law Reform

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has constituted a national level committee for reform in criminal law.

Key Points

• Committee For Reform In Criminal Law:
• The committee has been constituted under Ranbir Singh and several other members.
• The committee would be gathering opinions online by consulting with experts and collating material for their report to the government.
• The consultation exercise would start on 4th July 2020 and go on for the next three months.
• Background of the Criminal Justice System:
• The codification of criminal laws in India was done during the British rule, which more or less remains the same even in the 21st century.
• Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay is said to be the chief architect of codifications of criminal laws in India.
• Criminal law in India is governed by the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and Indian Evidence Act, 1872, etc.
• Need for Reforms:
• Colonial Era Laws: The criminal justice system is a replica of the British colonial jurisprudence, which was designed to rule the nation and not serve the citizens.
• Ineffectiveness: The purpose of the criminal justice system was to protect the rights of the innocents and punish the guilty, but nowadays the system has become a tool of harassment of common people.
• Pendency of Cases: According to Economic Survey 2018-19, about 3.5 crore cases are pending in the judicial system, especially in the district and subordinate courts, which leads to the actualization of the maxim “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
• Huge Undertrials: India has one of the world’s largest number of undertrial prisoners.
• According to NCRB -Prison Statistics India (2015), 67.2% of our total prison population comprises undertrial prisoners.
• Investigation: Corruption, huge workload, and accountability of police is a major hurdle in speedy and transparent delivery of justice.
• Madhav Menon Committee: It submitted its report in 2007, suggesting various recommendations on reforms in the CJSI.
• Malimath Committee Report: It submitted its report in 2003 on the Criminal Justice System of India (CJSI).
• The Committee had opined that the existing system “weighed in favor of the accused and did not adequately focus on justice to the victims of crime.”
• It has provided various recommendations to be made in the CJSI, which were not implemented.

Suggestions for Reforms

• Criminal law is considered to be the most apparent expression of the relationship between a state and its citizens. Therefore, any revision to the CJSI needs to be done while keeping several principles in mind, which are:
• The reason for victimization ought to be given a major thrust in reforming laws to identify the rights of crime victims.
• For Example Launch of victim and witness protection schemes, use of victim impact statements, increased victim participation in criminal trials, enhanced access of victims to compensation, and restitution.
• The construction of new offenses and reworking of the existing classification of offenses must be guided by the principles of criminal jurisprudence which have substantially altered in the past four decades.
• For Example, Criminal liability could be graded better to assign the degree of punishments. New types of punishments like community service orders, restitution orders, and other aspects of restorative and reformative justice could also be brought in its fold.
• The classification of offenses must be done in a manner conducive to the management of crimes in the future.
• Many chapters of the IPC are overloaded at several places. The chapters on offenses against public servants, contempt of authority, public tranquility, and trespass can be redefined and narrowed.
• Guiding principles need to be developed after sufficient debate before criminalizing an act as a crime.
• Unprincipled criminalization not only leads to the creation of new offenses on unscientific grounds but also arbitrariness in the criminal justice system.
• The discretion of judges in deciding the quantum and nature of sentences differently for crimes of the same nature should be based on principles of judicial precedent.

Way Forward

• India needs to draft a clear policy that should inform the changes to be envisaged in the existing criminal laws.
• It also needs to make simultaneous improvements in the police, prosecution, judiciary, and in prisons.
• The focus of reform should be on reformative justice to bring all-around peace in society.

Source: The Hindu

8) Core Sector Shrinks by 23.4%

• According to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the eight-core sector industries contracted by 23.4% in May 2020.
• In April 2020 the eight core sectors had contracted by 37%.
• In May 2019 the eight core sectors had grown by 3.8%.

Key Points

• Core Sector Data: Except for fertilizer, all seven sectors — coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement, and electricity — had recorded negative growth in May.
• The fertilizer production showed growth at 7.5% after two consecutive months of contraction.
• The steel and cement showed shrinkage of 48.4% and 22.2% respectively.
• Reason: The main reason for contraction was factories remained affected by a lack of labor and cash shortages owing to the nationwide lockdown.
• Impact: Experts think that aftershocks of the lockdown will continue to affect the domestic industry in the coming months.
• They will see a lower but certain contraction.

Core Sector Industries

• The eight-core sector industries include coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizer, steel, cement, and electricity
• These comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• The eight Core Industries in decreasing order of their weightage: Refinery Products> Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers.

Index of Industrial Production

• The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an indicator that measures the changes in the volume of production of industrial products during a given period.
• It is compiled and published monthly by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
• IIP is a composite indicator that measures the growth rate of industry groups classified under:
• Broad sectors, namely, Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity.
• Use-based sectors, namely Basic Goods, Capital Goods, and Intermediate Goods.
• Base Year for IIP is 2011-2012.
• Significance of IIP:
• It is used by government agencies including the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank of India, etc, for policy-making purposes.
• IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance GDP estimates.

Source: The Hindu