No Bar Of Res Judicata On Second Petition For Divorce If It''s Founded On New Facts: Madras High Court

• The concept of res judicata has evolved from the English Common Law System.
• Res judicata literally means ‘the thing has been judged”.
• The principle of res judicata applies when a litigant attempts to file a subsequent lawsuit on the same matter after having received a judgment in a previous case involving the same parties.
• It is a judicial concept which means that the issue before the court has already been decided by another court, between the same parties, and the courts do not allow a petition to be filed in the same or to the other Court.
• Therefore, the court will dismiss the case before it as being useless.
• Res Judicata as a concept is applicable both in the case of the Civil as well as Criminal legal system.
• Purpose:
• To prevent injustice to the parties of a case supposedly finished.
• To avoid unnecessary waste of resources and time of the Judicial System

"5 States To Restart Old Pension Scheme": Minister Informs Lok Sabha

• Under the OPS, employees get a defined pension.
• Only government employees were eligible to receive a pension under the OPS after retirement.
• Under this, an employee is entitled to a 50% amount of the last drawn salary as pension.
• The pension amount is not deducted from the salary of the employee during the period of employment.
• The entire pension amount to a government employee is paid by the government.
• Under the OPS, a retired government employee used to get the benefit of the revision of Dearness Relief (DR) twice a year.
• There was the provision of the General Provident Fund (GPF) under OPS.
• The scheme was discontinued in 2004.

General Provident Fund (GPF)

• GPF is available only for government employees in India.
• It allows all government employees to contribute a certain percentage of their salary to the GPF.
• The total amount accumulated throughout the employment term is paid to the employee at the time of retirement.
• Interest rates on GPF are revised periodically according to the government’s issued notifications.

ISRO-NASA ‘NISAR’ satellite to be launched from India in September

• NISAR is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory jointly developed by NASA and ISRO.
• It is an SUV-size satellite weighing 2,800 kilograms.
• It consists of both L-band and S-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instruments, which makes it a dual-frequency imaging radar satellite.
• NISAR will be the first satellite mission to use two different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes in our planet''s surface.
• SAR is capable of penetrating clouds and can collect data day and night regardless of the weather conditions.
• NASA has provided the L-band radar, GPS, a high-capacity solid-state recorder to store data, and a payload data subsystem. ISRO has provided the S-band radar, the GSLV launch system, and spacecraft.
• It also consists of a large 39-foot stationary antenna reflector made of a gold-plated wire mesh which will be used to focus “the radar signals emitted and received by the upward-facing feed on the instrument structure.
• Mission Objectives:
• It will measure Earth’s changing ecosystems, dynamic surfaces, and ice masses, providing information about biomass, natural hazards, sea level rise, and groundwater.
• NISAR will observe Earth’s land and ice-covered surfaces globally with 12-day regularity on ascending and descending passes.

APEDA targets 1,000 FPOs to turn direct exporters of farm produce

• APEDA was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act of 1985.
• Objective: To develop and promote the export of scheduled products.
• The products specified under the APEDA ACT are called scheduled products, and exporters of such scheduled products are required to register under APEDA.
• It provides financial assistance, information, and guidelines for the development of scheduled products.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Functions:
  • Setting the standards and specifications for the scheduled products.
  • Registration of exporters of the scheduled products on payment of required fees
  • Improving packaging and marketing of the Scheduled products
  • Carrying out an inspection of products to ensure the quality of such products
  • Training in various aspects of the industries connected with the scheduled products
  • Development of industries relating to the scheduled products and undertaking surveys, feasibility studies, etc
  • Collection of statistics from the owners of factories or establishments and publication of such statistics
• Examples of scheduled products: Fruits, Vegetable, Meat, Poultry Dairy Products, Confectionery, Biscuits, Bakery Products, Honey, Jaggery, etc.

Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)

• A Producer Organisation (PO) is a legal entity formed by primary producers, viz. farmers, milk producers, fishermen, weavers, rural artisans, and craftsmen.
• A PO provides for sharing of profits/benefits among the members.
• Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) is one type of PO where the members are farmers.
• Goal: To increase farmers’ advantage in emerging market opportunities and their competitiveness.
• Primary operations: Supply of seed, market linkages and fertilizer, machinery, training, financial, networking, and technical advice.
• The FPOs are open to persons who are willing to accept the responsibilities of membership without social, gender, political, racial, or religious discrimination.
• Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) is providing support for promotion of FPOs.

Andhra Pradesh is best performing State under PAT scheme

• PAT Scheme is a flagship program under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE).
• Implementing Agency: It is implemented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the aegis of the Ministry of Power.
• Objective: PAT scheme aims at **reducing Specific Energy Consumption (SEC),**e., energy use per unit of production for Designated Consumers (DCs) in energy-intensive sectors, with an associated market mechanism to enhance the cost-effectiveness through certification of excess energy saving, which can be traded.
• Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts):
• The excess energy savings are converted into tradable instruments called Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts) that are traded at the Power Exchanges.
• Trading Platform: The two Power Exchanges, India Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange India Limited (PXIL) provide the trading platform for ESCerts.
• Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) is the market regulator for the trading of ESCerts.
• PAT Scheme is implemented in cycles of 3 years each, where the Designated Consumers (DCs) are assigned SEC reduction targets.
• Designated Consumers (DCs) who fall short of their targets bid for the purchase of ESCerts.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

• BEE is a statutory body under the Union Ministry of Power.
• The Government of India set up BEE on 1st March 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• Mission: Develop policy and strategies with a thrust on self-regulation and market principles within the overall framework of the Energy Conservation Act (EC Act), 2001.
• Primary Objective: To reduce energy intensity in the Indian economy.

National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE)

• It is one of the eight national missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
• Objective: NMEEE aims to strengthen the market for energy efficiency by creating a conducive regulatory and policy regime.
• BEE fosters innovative and sustainable business models in the energy efficiency sector.
• The mission is implemented since 2011.
• Implementing Agencies: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).

Yuva Sangam registration portal launched

• It is an initiative of the Prime Minister of India.
• The main aim of this portal is to build close ties between the youth of the North East Region and the rest of India under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
• Over 20000 youth will travel across India and gain a unique opportunity for cross-cultural learning.
• This Cultural Exchange Program will also allow youth to celebrate the ancient culture and natural diversity of India.
• The youth of 18 years to 30 years will get an opportunity to see different states of the country, to understand their art, culture and languages.

In a major milestone, naval variant of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft lands on INS Vikrant

• It is the first ever indigenously designed and constructed aircraft carrier which will strengthen the country’s stand as a ‘Blue Water Navy’.
• The ship has been designed in-house by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by M/s Cochin Shipyard Limited.
• India also joined the elite group of nations – the US, Russia, France, the UK and China – who are capable of designing and constructing aircraft carriers.
• Also, with a displacement of 43,000 tonnes when fully loaded, INS Vikrant is set to be the seventh largest among the carriers or carrier classes in the world.

INS Vikrant

• INS Vikrant, with pennant number R11, was the first-ever aircraft carrier that was operated by the Indian Navy.
• The ship was officially laid down in 1943 and was being built for the Royal Navy as HMS (Her Majesty’s Ship) Hercules when the constitution was put on hold after World War II ended.
• Like many other ships at the time, the under-construction HMS Hercules was put up for sale by the United Kingdom and was purchased by India in 1957.
• The construction work was completed and the ship was commissioned in the Indian Navy as INS Vikrant in 1961.

Rajasthan plans zoo for dolphins, rhinos inside Bharatpur sanctuary

• The Keoladeo National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary hosts thousands of birds, especially during the winter season.
• It is located in the eastern part of Rajasthan.
• It attracts several migratory birds that make the region their breeding and wintering grounds.
• It is strategically located in the middle of the Central Asian migratory flyway.
• The Siberian crane is one of the rare species that was spotted here till about the turn of the century.
• Fauna: Sambar, Nilgai, wild cats, hyenas, wild boar, birds, including raptors and waterfowl, and Jackals.
• It is a Ramsar site and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

RBI renews authorization for white label ATMs to Vakrangee

• Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) set up, owned and operated by non-banks are called White Label ATMs.
• Non-bank ATM operators are authorised under the Payment & Settlement Systems Act, 2007 by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Such non-bank entities should have a minimum net worth of Rs 100 crore as per the latest financial year’s audited balance sheet, which is to be maintained at all times.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), up to 100 per cent, is allowed under the automatic route in the activity of White Label ATM (WLA) Operations.

Museum Grant Scheme : Financial Assistance For Digitization

• This scheme was launched in 2013.
• The Ministry of Culture provides financial assistance under the Scheme to the State Governments and Societies, Autonomous bodies, Local Bodies and Trusts registered under the Societies Act 1860, for setting up new Museums.
• Aim: To strengthen and modernize the existing museums at the Regional, State and District levels.
• The scheme also aims to develop at least 1 Central / State Government Museum located in the State Capital each year.

Components

• Establishment and Development of District and Regional Museums:
• Under this component museums have been classified into two categories:
  • Category-I: Government-owned State-level Museums and renowned Museums with an exquisite collection.
  • Category II: all other Museums.
• Development of Museums in State Capitals:
  • Financial assistance under this component is provided to existing renowned museums of the Central or State Government located in the Capital cities.
  • The maximum financial assistance under this component is limited to Rs. 15 Crore per museum.
• Establishment and Development of Large-Scale Museums in Public-Private Partnership Mode:
• Under this component, it is proposed to establish large-scale museums as joint ventures with State Governments and civil society in Public Private Partnership Mode.
• The maximum financial assistance provided under this component is 40% of the project cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 20 Crore per museum.