Ecological well-being of Jammu & Kashmir stands at a critical juncture

The region, which is an “eco-fragile zone”, is confronted with environmental challenges due to global warming, unplanned urbanisation, deforestation and encroachment of water bodies.

Haphazard development has been wreaking havoc on this fragile ecosystem over the last few years and the infrastructure projects in the pipeline are likely to further it.

• 38,000 trees in Jammu’s Raika Forest are to be cut soon to construct the new high court building.
• The Raika Forest, often referred to as the ‘Lungs of Jammu,’ plays a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide, mitigating climate change, and providing a habitat for a wide array of flora and fauna, including endangered species.
• The proposed felling of around 38,000 trees will not only lead to soil erosion and increased air pollution but also intensify human-animal conflicts in the area. The displacement of wildlife from Raika will disturb the delicate balance of the ecosystem, affecting the local Gujjar community, whose symbiotic relationship with the forest is critical to their lives and livelihoods.
• Furthermore, the two major lakes in the Kashmir Valley — Wular and Dal — are also witnessing the brunt of declining water levels, triggered by unplanned infrastructural projects. NASA released a satellite image of the shrinking Wular Lake on June 23, 2020.
• Data from the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) LISS-IV instrument — also found Wular Lake’s open water area had shrunk in size by about one-quarter between 2008 and 2019. The smaller Dal Lake has suffered a similar fate in response to land cover change.
• Both lakes regulate water flowing down from Himalayan glaciers and along the Jhelum river and supply water for drinking and irrigation.
• It also jeopardises the availability of drinking water and irrigation for communities along the Jhelum.

Lithium Extraction

• Earlier in May, the Ministry of Mines said they would begin auctioning lithium reservoirs in December amid growing environmental concerns of the people of Reasi. And the Centre said 5.9 million tonnes of lithium reserves have been found for the first time in the country in J&K in February. The ministry is planning to auction these lithium blocks later this year.
• Lithium, also known as ‘white gold’, is a key component in the production of batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.
• There has been a growing interest in mining lithium reserves in the region. While this may bring economic benefits, it raises questions about the environmental impact of mining on fragile ecosystems and local communities.
• It has triggered a debate about the environmental fallout of mining in the ecologically sensitive Himalayas. Like mining and exploration of other minerals, lithium mining is also responsible for polluting air, water and soil.
• Lithium extraction is a water-intensive process that can lead to significant water wastage. According to an estimate, 2.2 million litres of water is needed to extract one tonne of lithium.
• Second, lithium is extracted from hard rocks and underground brine reservoirs. As lithium extraction can result in Joshimath-like incidents in Reasi district, the agencies involved in mining should not ignore the environmental aspect.
• The human resettlement and rehabilitation in the Reasi district is highly sensitive as the majority of the people in Reasi live below the poverty line and there is a good population of pastoralists who earn their livelihood by rearing livestock in the meadows and pastures.

The ecological well-being of J&K stands at a critical juncture. The impending deforestation, the shrinking of the lakes and the potential lithium mining pose significant environmental challenges.

India’s fight against tobacco needs strength

The health ministry of India has proposed to place nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) under Schedule K so that in future they would be available only on the prescription of authorised medical practitioners and not as over-the-counter (OTC) preparation.

Nicotine polacrilex gums, lozenges and transdermal patches are used for NRT.

• At the 89th Drugs Technical Advisory Board meeting held in May 2023, there was a proposal to amend Schedule K. The idea is to place all formulations of nicotine containing up to 2mg-4mg under prescription of authorised medical practitioners and not as over the counter (OTC) preparation.
• Any step undertaken to reclassify it as a prescription drug will limit the product accessibility to prospective tobacco quitters and will also slow down the efforts of the government on tobacco de-addiction.
• India has over a 100 million smokers and accounts for over a fifth of the world’s tobacco-related deaths.
• Tobacco-related cancers accounted for 27 per cent of the country’s cancer burden in 2020, according to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
• But now ICMR endorsing the move to put small dosage of NRT under prescription will be counterproductive. It will hinder ease of access, thereby going against the intent of National List of Essential Medicines 2022, in which oral dosage forms of 2mg and 4mg were recently included by the health ministry.
• That is why in the 81st DTAB meeting in 2018, the committee agreed to amend entry no 33 in Schedule K for providing exemption for all nicotine oral formulations containing 2mg of nicotine.
• But the 89th DTAB almost reversed the earlier decision. Under the current meeting it was stated that NRTs may be used by addicts for nicotine substitution in forced periods of abstinence, rather than quitting tobacco.
• But there is absolutely no substantial evidence that proves small dosage of NRT is habit-forming.
• The time taken for blood levels of nicotine to peak is much less for NRT as compared to smoking, which makes it less liable to abuse potential.
• One of the significant cross-sectoral health goals under the health policy of India outlines is relative reduction in prevalence of current tobacco use by 30 per cent by 2025. This needs to be underlined.
• NRT is a WHO-approved therapy for smoking cessation. This was first available in the United States as an over-the-counter (OTC) product in 1996 (patch and gum), with approval of the lozenge and mini-lozenge in 2002 and 2010.
• Since then, nicotine gums (2mg and 4mg) have been granted OTC status worldwide including in Australia, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Colombia, Iceland, Denmark, New Zealand, Austria, Italy based on its excellent safety and the confidence that patients / consumers can self-medicate responsibly. Nicotine lozenges and transdermal patches are available OTC in the US and the United Kingdom.
• It will be more difficult to adopt NRT once it is placed under prescription as it will serve as an additional barrier requiring the smoker to visit the registered medical practitioner. Many of the tobacco users might go underground and not report, phobic to the rigmarole of obtaining a prescription and then using NRT.

Wider and easy availability of NRT over the counters will help us reduce tobacco use by 30 per cent by 2025. India has become a global leader in spreading awareness around the deadly effects of tobacco consumption. NRT in OTC will save families and help the country.

Female genital mutilation leads to over 40,000 excess deaths in Africa annually: Research

Researchers from the Universities of Birmingham and Exeter in the United Kingdom analysed the numbers of girls subjected to FGM in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote D’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Tanzania.

They discovered that a 50 per cent increase in the number of girls undergoing FGM increased their five-year mortality rate by 0.075 percentage point and led to an estimated 44,320 excess deaths per year across these countries.

It is the name given to procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical or cultural reasons, and is recognised internationally as a violation of human rights and the health and integrity of girls and women.

Types:

WHO classifies four types of FGM:

1. type 1 (partial or total removal of the clitoral glans).
2. type 2 (partial or total removal of the external and visible parts of the clitoris and the inner folds of the vulva).
3. type 3 (infibulation, or narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal).
4. type 4 (picking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterising the genital area).

Where is it practiced?

Most girls and women who have undergone FGM live in sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab States, but it is also practiced in some countries in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Countries where FGM is performed include Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Egypt, Oman, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, Iran, Georgia, Russian Federation, Columbia and Peru, among others.

Why prevent FGM?

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, over 200 million girls alive today have suffered FGM in over 30 countries. The economic costs of treating health complications arising out of FGM amount to roughly $1.4 billion for 2018 for 27 countries where FGM is performed. If the prevalence remains the same, the amount is expected to rise up to $2.3 billion by 2047.

India’s first 3D-printed post office inaugurated in Bengaluru

Multinational company Larsen & Toubro Limited built the post office with technological support from IIT Madras under the guidance of Professor Manu Santhanam, Building Technology and Construction Management Division, Department of Civil Engineering.

Invented in the 1980s, 3D printing burst into the mainstream around the 2010s, when many thought it would take over the world.

The technology, however, at the time was expensive, slow and prone to making errors. In recent years, some of these flaws have been done away with, making 3D printing more prevalent than ever before. For instance, it’s being used in automotive and aerospace sectors to make parts of cars and rockets respectively.

3D printing

• 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process that uses computer-created design to make three-dimensional objects layer by layer.
• It is an additive process, in which layers of a material like plastic, composites or bio-materials are built up to construct objects that range in shape, size, rigidity and colour.

How is 3D printing done?

• To carry out 3D printing, one needs a personal computer connected to a 3D printer. All they need to do is design a 3D model of the required object on computer-aid design (CAD) software and press ‘print’.
• 3D printers construct the desired object by using a layering method, which is the complete opposite of the subtractive manufacturing processes. Think about the great Italian sculptor Michelangelo making his masterpiece sculpture David. He famously carved out the colossal statue from one single block of marble. This is an ideal example of the subtractive manufacturing method.
• 3D printers, on the other hand, build from the bottom up by piling on layer after layer until the object looks exactly like it was envisioned.
• The (3D) printer acts generally the same as a traditional inkjet printer in the direct 3D printing process, where a nozzle moves back and forth while dispensing a wax or plastic-like polymer layer-by-layer, waiting for that layer to dry, then adding the next level. It essentially adds hundreds or thousands of 2D prints on top of one another to make a three-dimensional object
• Notably, these machines are capable of printing anything from ordinary objects like a ball or a spoon to complex moving parts like hinges and wheels.

What are some of the notable examples of 3D printing?

As mentioned before, 3D printing is being used in a host of different industries like healthcare, automobile and aerospace. In May this year, aerospace manufacturing company Relativity Space launched a test rocket made entirely from 3D-printed parts, measuring 100 feet tall and 7.5 feet wide. Shortly after its take off, however, it suffered a failure.

At the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the healthcare industry used 3D printers to make much-needed medical equipment, like swabs, face shields, and masks, as well as the parts to fix their ventilators.

Heavy rain and floods batter famed Kalka-Shimla heritage railway line

Kalka-Shimla Railway line

• This railway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 8, 2008.
• It is located at an elevation of 2,152 ft above sea level in Haryana, to the capital of Himachal Pradesh, at 6,808 ft.
• The narrow gauge “toy train” passes through 18 stations, 102 tunnels, and over 988 bridges.
• It offers majestic views for most of the route. Passengers see breathtaking valleys, covered with pine, oak, and deodar trees.

UNESCO

• UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
• It is specialized agency of the United Nations(UN).
• The constitution, which entered into force in 1946, called for the promotion of international collaboration in education, science, and culture.
• Headquarters: Paris, France.
• Parent Organisation: United Nations Economic and Social Council
• Goal: The primary goals of UNESCO are to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, and culture, and to promote sustainable development and intercultural dialogue.
• UNESCO believes that these areas are crucial for building a more just, peaceful, and inclusive world.

Why a new snake species has been named after Harrison Ford

Tachymenoides harrisonfordi

• It was discovered in May 2022 by a team of researchers from the United States, Germany and Peru.
• It was discovered in the Peruvian Andes mountain region.
• Appearance:
  • It measures 16 inches (40.6 centimetres) in length and is yellowish-brown with scattered black blotches, a black belly and a vertical streak over its copper-coloured eye.
• This is the third animal species to be named after Ford. Earlier, an ant (Pheidole harrisonfordi) and a spider (Calponia harrisonfordi) were named after him.

Andes mountain region

• It is also called the Andes, Spanish Cordillera de los Andes or Los Andes, mountain system of South America.
• The mountain range spans seven countries — Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.
• It consist of a vast series of extremely high plateaus surmounted by even higher peaks that form an unbroken rampart over a distance of some 8,900 kilometres
• The highest peak of this range is Mount Aconcagua(6,959 metres) on the border of Argentina and Chile.
• Climate
  • The northern part of the Andes is typically rainy and warm, and the weather is also wet in the eastern part of central Andes, and the area to the southwest.
  • To the west, the dry climate is dominated by the Atacama Desert in northern Chile.
  • The mountains form a rain cover over the eastern plains of Argentina, which have extremely dry weather.

No more bulk SIM cards as government steps in to curb fraud

Sanchar Saathi portal

• The portal aims to provide various reforms and services related to mobile connections and telecommunications.
• It has been developed by C-DoT under the Department of Tele-communications (DoT) to prevent frauds such as identity theft, forged KYC, banking frauds etc.
• The portal allows mobile phone users to:
  • Check the connections registered on their names.
  • Report fraudulent or unrequired connections.
  • Block the mobile phones which are stolen/lost
  • Check IMEI genuineness before buying a mobile phone.
• The three reforms are being introduced as part of the portal''s framework:
  • CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register): It enables the tracking and blocking of lost or stolen phones anywhere in the country.
  • Know your mobile connections: It allows users to check the number of mobile connections issued in their name by logging in using their mobile number. This feature helps identify any unauthorized or unwanted connections, which can be blocked immediately.
  • ASTR (Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification): This AI-based technology facilitates mobile connection analysis and includes features such as IMEI-based phone theft information messaging to law enforcement agencies and the owner. It also enables blocking of any number associated with a particular IMEI and the tracking of stolen mobile devices.
• The portal and its reforms aim to enhance transparency, security, and accountability in the telecom sector.

SECI invites bids for 4 GW renewable energy power

Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI)

• SECI is a Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• It is the only CPSU dedicated to the renewable energy sector.
• Vision: To build ‘Green India’ through harnessing abundant solar radiation and to achieve energy security for the country.
• Mission:
  • To become the leader in the development of large-scale solar installations, solar plants and solar parks and to promote and commercialize the use of solar energy to reach the remotest corner of India.
  • To become a leader in exploring new technologies and their deployment to harness solar energy.
• It was originally incorporated as asection-25 (not-for-profit) company under the Companies Act, 1956.
• However, through an amendment by the Government of India, the company was converted into a Section-3 company, in 2015, under the Companies Act, 2013.
• The mandate of the company has also been broadened to cover the entire renewable energy domain.
• The company is one of the nodal agencies for the implementation of a number of schemes of MNRE. In addition, SECI has ventured into solar project development on a turnkey basis for several PSUs/Government departments.
• The company also has a power trading license and is active in this domain through trading of solar power from projects set up under the schemes being implemented by it.

Gabon announces $500 million debt-for-nature swap deal for marine conservation

• Under the debt-for-nature swap, Gabon has agreed to a deal with the Bank of America, the US International Development Finance Corporation (USDFC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), to refinance $500 million in national debt toward marine conservation efforts in the country.

Debt-for-nature swap

• What it is? It allows heavily indebted developing countries to seek help from financial institutions in the developed world with paying off their debt if they agree to spend on conservation of natural resources.
• The notion of debt-for-nature swaps was first mooted in 1984 by Thomas Lovejoy, the former vice-president for science at the World Wildlife Fund-US, in response to the Latin American debt crisis.
• The first debt-for-nature swap was a third-party deal facilitated by Conservation International. Finalised in 1987, it involved foreign creditors agreeing forgive USD 650,000 of Bolivia’s debt in exchange for the country setting aside 1.5 million hectares in the Amazon Basin for conservation efforts.

benefits

• Debt-for-climate swaps provide benefits for both creditors and debtors.
• Creditors can advance their development cooperation and climate finance goals, improve their chances of debt recovery, and strengthen their diplomatic ties with debtor nations.
• Debtors can reduce their external debt and debt service obligations, allocate fiscal resources towards other development priorities, promote climate action through domestic investment.

Jan Dhan accounts cross 50 crore-mark in less than 9 years

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

• PMJDY is a National Mission for Financial Inclusion launched in August 2014 to ensure access to financial services, namely, Banking/ Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance and Pension, in an affordable manner.
• It envisages universal access to banking facilities with at least one basic banking account for every household, financial literacy, access to credit, insurance and pension.
• The plan also envisages channelling all Government benefits (from Centre / State / Local Body) to the beneficiary’s accounts and pushing the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) scheme of the Union Government.
• Eligibility:
  • The applicant should be an Indian National.
  • Any individual above 10 years can open a bank account.
  • If minors above ten years apply, they will require support from their legal guardians to administer their PMJDY account.
• Jan Dhan Account:
  • An individual can consider opening an account under this scheme with any bank branch or Business Correspondent (Bank Mitr) outlet.
  • Further, accounts opened under PMJDY can be opened with zero balance.
  • However, if the account holder wishes to get a chequebook, he/she will have to fulfil the minimum balance criteria.
  • The account holders under this scheme will be given a RuPay debit card which can be used across all ATMs for cash withdrawal.
• Individuals opening a Jan Dhan account are subject to be recipients of certain benefits. They are
  • Accidental Insurance Cover:
    • It provides accidental insurance of ₹1,00,000 to the holders of non-premium cards, while those with premium cards can avail up to ₹2,00,000.
    • People holding a RuPay Debit Card under PMJDY will be eligible for this insurance.
  • Life Cover Insurance:
    • The holders of a RuPay Debit Card under the scheme can also receive life cover insurance up to ₹30,000.
    • It will only apply to people opening bank accounts for the first time under Jan Dhan Yojana with a debit card.
    • The person should also be the head of the family or a major earning member.
    • This scheme will be liable to a single payment of ₹30,000 upon the death of a beneficiary.
    • State or Central Government employees, public sector employees, and people with taxable income will not be eligible for life cover insurance under Jan Dhan Yojana.
  • Overdraft Facility: Beneficiaries can avail of an overdraft facility for up to ₹10,000. However, this is only available against one account per household.
  • This scheme also provides loans of up to ₹5,000 to beneficiaries after completing six months of account transactions.

Check RBI''s Circular On Reset Of Floating Interest Rate On EMI-Based Personal Loans

Floating Interest Rate:

• A floating interest rate is an interest rate that changes periodically.
• The rate of interest moves up and down, or "floats," reflecting economic or financial market conditions.
• A floating interest rate can also be referred to as an adjustable or variable interest rate because it can vary over the term of a debt obligation.
• The change in interest rate with a floating rate loan is typically based on a reference, or “benchmark”, rate that is outside of any control by the parties involved in the contract.
• The reference rate is usually a recognized benchmark interest rate, such as the prime rate, which is the lowest rate that commercial banks charge their most creditworthy customers for loans (typically, large corporations or high net worth individuals).
• How is floating interest rate calculated?
  • A floating interest rate uses a reference rate as the base.
  • In order to arrive at the floating rate, a spread (or margin) is added to the reference rate.
  • Floating Interest Rate = Base Rate + Spread
  • Floating interest rates can be modified quarterly, half-yearly or annually.
• Several factors tend to influence the calculation of floating interest rates. Some of the economic factors are,
  • Repo rate
  • Government’s monetary policies
  • Inflation rate
  • Fiscal deficit
  • Global and foreign interest
• When is Floating Rate Relevant?
  • While applying for a loan:
    • Typically, intending borrowers pick a loan with a floating rate when they expect a reduction in the interest rate or a dynamic rate through their loan tenure.
    • Additionally, such an interest type enables individuals to make prepayments easily and pay off their debt faster and at a much lower interest burden.
  • While investing:
    • Individuals can choose investment instruments with floating rates when they anticipate the base rate will be the same, or an expected change will be in their favour.
    • Under such situations, the interest earned on investments made either stays the same or is likely to increase.
• Limitations of Floating Rate:
  • The fluctuation of rate is beyond the control of both parties in a contract, namely – the lender and borrower in a lending institution setup.
  • Similarly, investors and investment firms have to make their way around the fluctuations to generate earnings while cushioning their capital.
  • Even the slightest increase in the interest rate can push loan EMI burden significantly for loan borrowers. It often makes the repayment process challenging and disrupts a functioning financial plan.
  • A small decrease in the interest rate generates a return on investment which is much lower than what one had anticipated before. As a result, investors may take a longer time to reach their respective financial goals.
  • Both borrowers and investors often find it quite challenging to manage their budget plan and regulate savings when dealing with a floating rate based financial or investment option.

Russia announces sanctions on ICC prosecutor, UK ministers

International Criminal Court (ICC)

• It is the only permanent international criminal tribunal.
• Background: It was created by the 1998 Rome Statuteof the International Criminal Court (its founding and governing document), and began functioning on 1 July 2002 when the Statute came into force.
• Mandate: It investigatesand, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
• HQ: Hague, Netherlands.
• Members: 123 nationsare States Parties to the Rome Statute and recognize the ICC’s authority; the notable exceptions being the US, China, Russia, and India.
• Funding: The Court is funded by contributions from the States Parties and by voluntary contributions from Governments, international organizations, individuals, corporations, and other entities.
• Composition:
  • Judges: The Court has eighteen judges, each from a different member country, elected to non-renewable nine-year terms.
  • The Presidency: Consists of three judges(the President and two Vice-Presidents) elected from among the judges. It represents the Court to the outside world and helps with the organization of the work of the judges.
  • Judicial Divisions:18 judges in 3 divisions, the Pre-Trial Division, the Trial Division, and the Appeals Division.
  • **Office of the Prosecutor (OTP):**OTP is responsible for receiving referrals and any substantiated information on crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court. OTP examines these referrals and information, conducts investigations, and conducts prosecutions before the Court.
  • Registry: The core function of the Registry is to provide administrative and operational support to the Chambers and the Office of the Prosecutor.
• Jurisdiction of ICC:
  • Unlike the International Court of Justice, which hears disputes between states, the ICC handles prosecutions of individuals.
  • The ICC is only competent to hear a case if:
    • the country where the offence was committed is a partyto the Rome Statute; or
    • the perpetrator''s country of origin is a party to the Rome Statute.
  • The ICC may only exercise its jurisdiction if the national court is unable or unwilling to do so.
  • The ICC only has jurisdiction over offences committed after the Statute’s entry into force on 1 July 2002.
• Relation with UN:
  • While not a United Nations organization, the Court has a cooperation agreement with the United Nations.
  • When a situation is not within the Court’s jurisdiction, the United Nations Security Council can refer the situation to the ICC, granting it jurisdiction.

Higher than Umling La, world’s highest motorable road coming up in eastern Ladakh, courtesy BRO

Likaru-Mig La-Fukche road

• It is located close to Hanle in Eastern Ladakh.
• The 64-km long road will connect Likaru to Fukche, situated 3 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• Once completed, it will be the world’s highest motorable road at a height of 19,400 ft in Mig La.
• This would also provide an alternate land connectivity route to the Fukche advanced landing pad, which is only 2.5 km away from the LAC.
• It is the first project in India to be carried out entirely by an All Woman Road Construction Company. It is led by a five-member All Woman Border Road Task Force.

Umling La Pass:

• Currently, Umling La in Ladakh, at a height of 19,024 ft, holds the record of being the highest motorable road in the world.
• The construction of this road has been achieved by the BRO (Border Road Organization) as part of “Project Himank”.
• It is a 52-km road that connects Chishumle to Demchok villages. Both these villages lie in close proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and a friction point between India and China.

Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding quarrying activities carried out in the Eco-Sensitive Zone of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary

Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is a major wildlife sanctuary in Odisha which was established in 1984.
• It is spread across the Chota Nagpur Plateau region.
• It is connected with Simlipal Reserve via Nato and Sukhupada Hill ranges.
• Flora: It contains mixed deciduous forest.
• Fauna: It consists of lot of wild animals like the tigers, elephants, leopards, bison, gaur, giant squirrels and sambar etc.

National Green Tribunal

• It has been established under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.
• New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four places of sitting of the Tribunal.
• NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of the filing of the same.
• Composition
  • The tribunal comprises the Chairperson, the Judicial Members, and Expert Members.
  • They shall hold office for a term of 5 years and are not eligible for reappointment.
  • The Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
  • A Selection Committee shall be formed by the central government to appoint the Judicial Members and Expert Members.
  • There are to be at least 10 and a maximum of 20 full-time Judicial members and Expert Members in the tribunal.