First Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting

• It is under India’s chairpersonship, and Italy is the co-chair country.
• Over 90 delegates from 20 member countries, 10 Invitee countries, and 9 International Organizations will engage in detailed deliberations on strengthening International Anti-corruption mechanisms.
• Focus areas:
  • Enhancing the effectiveness of asset-tracing and identification mechanisms;
  • Developing mechanisms for rapid restrain of illicit assets;
  • Promoting effective use of open-source information and asset recovery networks;
• The theme of India''s G20 Presidency is - “VasudhaivaKutumbakam” or “One Earth. One Family, One Future”.

ACWG:

• The G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) was set up in June 2010 at the Toronto Summit.
• G20 ACWG has been at the forefront of guiding the anti-corruption initiatives of G20 countries
• Primary Goal: To prepare "comprehensive recommendations for consideration by leaders on how the G20 could continue to make practical and valuable contributions to international efforts to combat corruption."
• ACWG will explore the proactive sharing of information, improving the existing Mutual Legal Assistance framework and simplifying mechanisms for sharing of information between domestic law enforcement authorities in criminal matters.
• The ACWG actively works with the World Bank Group, OECD, UNODC, IMF, and FATF, as well as with Business 20 (B20) and the Civil Society 20 (C20).

Over 9000 Janaushadhi Kendras in country

• Union Health Minister recently said that the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBKs) has increased to 9,082 as on January 31, 2023.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBKs):

• PMBKs are set up under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, which was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in November 2008.
• Objective: To provide quality medicines at affordable prices for all, particularly the poor, so as to reduce out-of-pocket expenses in healthcare.
• PMBKs provides generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
• All therapeutic medicines are made available from Jan Aushadhi Stores.
• Jan Aushadhi stores also sell allied medical products commonly sold in chemist shops so as to improve the viability of running the Jan Aushadhi store.
• Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) has been established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India, with the support of all the CPSUs for co-coordinating procurement, supply, and marketing of generic drugs through the PMBKs.
• Who can open a Jan Aushadhi Kendra?
  • State Governments or any organization / reputed NGOs / Trusts / Private hospitals / charitable institutions / Doctors / Unemployed pharmacists/ individual entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for the new Jan Aushadhi Kendra.
  • The applicants shall have to employ one B Pharma / D Pharma degree holder as Pharmacist in their proposed store.

ISRO successfully conducts key rocket engine test for Chandrayaan-3

• It has been designed and developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) , a subsidiary of ISRO.
• It will power the Cryogenic Upper Stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle for the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
• It is the first Indian cryogenic engine to feature a gas-generator cycle.
• It is one of the most powerful upper-stage cryogenic engines in the world.
• This engine develops a nominal thrust of 186.36 kN in vacuum.

Cryogenic stage

• The cryogenic stage is technically a very complex system due to its use of propellants at extremely low temperatures and the associated thermal and structural problems.
• It uses liquid fuels that are cooled to very low temperatures.
• A Cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant it burns compared to solid and earth-storable liquid propellant rocket stages.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

• Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third moon mission and is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.
• Chandrayaan-3 mission has three major modules — the Propulsion module, Lander module, and Rover.
• The mission is slated to be launched later this year by Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LMV3) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

Legislator facing disqualification can''t attend floor test

• It was introduced in India in 1985 through the 52nd amendment to the Constitution of India.
• This amendment added the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution, which lists out the provisions related to defection.
• It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House.
• This schedule applies to both Central and State legislature.
• Aim: The main aim of this schedule was to prevent political defections and to strengthen democracy by bringing stability in politics and make members of parliament more responsible and loyal to their parties.
• Grounds of disqualification: A member of any state or central legislature can be disqualified from being a member if,
• He voluntarily gives up his membership of a political party.
• He disobeys the directions of his political party or votes or does not vote in the legislature contrary to the directions of his political
• After the election, he joins another political party.
• If a nominated member joins any political party after 6 months from the day, he becomes a member of the legislature.
• Exemptions:
• Disqualification of a member is not applied in case of a merger, provided that this merger with or into another party shall be done with the consent of at least two-thirds of its legislator In such a scenario, neither the members who decide to merge nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification.
• It exempts the speaker, chairman, and deputy chairman of various legislative houses from disqualification on the ground of defection.
• Deciding authority:
• The decision to disqualify a member under the anti-defection law is taken by the presiding officer of the house. ( Speaker or Chairman accordingly).
• The law does not specify a time period for the Presiding Officer to decide on a disqualification plea.
• The decisions of the Speaker or Chairman in anti-defection cases are subject to judicial review.
• However, there can not be any judicial intervention until the Presiding Officer gives his order.

A thumbs down for the ''Adopt a Heritage'' scheme

• Recently one archaeologist from USA criticized Adopt a Heritage Scheme of India.

Adopt a Heritage Scheme:

• The “Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan” scheme was launched in 2017 on World Tourism Day
• It is a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Survey of India.
• The project aims to encourage companies from public sector, private sector, corporate citizens, NGOs, individuals and other stakeholders to become ‘Monument Mitras’.
• They will take up the responsibility of developing and upgrading the basic and advanced tourist amenities at these sites as per their interest and viability in terms of a sustainable investment model under CSR.
• The Monument Mitras are selected by the ‘oversight and vision committee,’ co-chaired by the Tourism Secretary and the Culture Secretary.
• The oversight committee also has the power to terminate a memorandum of understanding in case of non-compliance or non-performance.

RTI Act will not apply to cooperative societies, says Madras HC

• The Madras High Court has set aside an order passed by Tamil Nadu State Information Commission directing a cooperative society to disclose information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005.

The Right to Information Act, 2005:

• The basic objective of RTI Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government.
• In view of it parliament passes an act called Right to Information (RTI) Act in June, 2005.
• Salient Features :
  • All citizens possess the right to information.
  • Applicabilty:
    • All Central, State and local level bodies which are set up under the Constitution or under any other State or Central statue, which includes even bodies like the President, the legislature and the judiciary and all related Ministries, departments and agencies.
    • Anybody owned, controlled or substantially financed or any non-Government organization substantially financed directly or indirectly by Government. This includes private bodies which receive funding from the Government.
  • Exemption:
    • Some bodies such as security or intelligence agencies
  • It requires that PIOs shall provide information within 30 days but applications requesting information regarding a citizen''s life and liberty must be granted or refused within 48 hours.

Portal opened for complaints against decisions of social media platforms

Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC):

• The GAC was one of the provisions in the recently amended Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
• GAC will look into user complaints regarding unsatisfactory grievance redressal by social media intermediaries.
• Three such bodies have been constituted of professionals from various fields.
• Each GAC will comprise three government-appointed, full-time members, including a chairperson.
• Any user aggrieved by a decision of a platform''s Grievance Officer can appeal to the GAC within 30 days of the receipt of communication from the Grievance Officer.
• The Committee has to dispose of the appeals within 15 days of receiving them.
• GAC’s decisions will be binding on the intermediary.

GAC portal:

• The GAC will be a virtual Digital platform that will operate only online and digitally — wherein the entire appeal process, from the filing of the appeal to the decision thereof, shall be conducted digitally through the new portal 
• The new portal lists out detailed FAQs for the convenience of users.
• The appellants can track the status of their appeal through the Appellant Login window.
• GAC will upload its order on the portal, and the appellant will receive notification of the same by SMS and email

RBI''s new pilot project on coin vending machines

• QCVM is a cashless coin dispensation machine that would dispense coins with the requisite amount being debited from the customer’s account using United Payments Interface (UPI).
• It will eliminate the need for physical tendering of banknotes and their authentication.
• It will be launched with an aim to promote the distribution of coins and enhance the accessibility to coins.
• Customers will also have the option to withdraw coins in required quantity and denominations in QCVMs.
• The pilot project is planned to be initially rolled out at 19 locations in 12 cities across the country.
• These vending machines are intended to be installed at public places such as railway stations, shopping malls, and marketplaces to enhance ease and accessibility.

Windsor Framework: What is the deal UK and EU have reached to solve the Northern Ireland Protocol tangle

• The ‘Windsor Framework’ will replace the Northern Ireland Protocol.
• What is Northern Ireland Protocol?
• Northern Ireland is a British-ruled province and part of the United Kingdom that shares a long porous border with Ireland, a member of the European Union.
• Trade over the open border when Britain left the EU was one of the most difficult parts of the Brexit negotiations which culminated in the Northern Ireland Protocol.
• The protocol is part of the Brexit deal, which sets Northern Ireland''s trade rules.
• It keeps Northern Ireland inside the EU''s single market for goods.
• It keeps the Irish land border open but means products arriving into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK are subject to checks and controls.
• The checks made trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland cumbersome.
• Features of Windsor Framework: The framework has two crucial aspects – the introduction of a two lanes system and the ‘Stormont Brake’.
• The two lanes:
• Goods from Britain destined for Northern Ireland will travel through a new "green lane", with a separate "red lane" for goods at risk of moving onto the EU.
• Products coming into Northern Ireland through the green lane would see checks and paperwork significantly reduced.
• Red lane goods would still be subject to checks.
• Bans on certain products - like chilled sausages - entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain would be removed.
• Northern Ireland would also no longer have to follow certain EU rules, for example, on VAT and alcohol duties. The new agreement reduces the proportion of EU rules applied in Northern Ireland to less than 3%.
• Stormont brake:
• Under this, the democratically elected Northern Ireland Assembly can oppose new EU goods rules that would have significant and lasting effects on everyday lives in Northern Ireland.
• The brake cannot be used for "trivial reasons" but reserved for "significantly different" rules
• Once the UK tells the EU the brake has been triggered, the rule cannot be implemented.
• It can only be applied if the UK and EU agree.

International courts and climate change

• A group of 16 countries led by Vanuatu - an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, recently launched an effort to fight the problem of climate change at the United Nations (UN), and the group seeks an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the issue of climate change.

International Court of Justice (ICJ):

• The ICJ, also known as the World Court, is the principal judicial organ of the UN.
• It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946.
• The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).
• Of the six principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York, United States.
• The hearings of the ICJ are always public.
• French and English are the official languages of the Court.
• Powers and Functions:
  • The Court may entertain two types of cases: legal disputes between States submitted to it by them (contentious cases) and requests for advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by United Nations organs and specialized agencies (advisory proceedings).
  • Only States (which are members of the United Nations and other States which have become parties to the Statute of the Court or which have accepted its jurisdiction under certain conditions) may be parties to contentious cases.
  • Advisory proceedings before the Court are only open to five organs of the United Nations and 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations family or affiliated organizations.
  • The court''s judgments in contentious cases are final and binding on the parties to a case and without appeal.
  • Unlike the Court’s judgments, advisory opinions are not binding.
  • The ICJ decides disputes in accordance with international lawas reflected in international conventions, international custom, general principles of law recognized by civilized nations, judicial decisions, and writings of the most highly qualified experts on international law.
• Composition:
  • The Court is composed of 15 judges, all from different countries, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Security Council (UNSC).
  • To be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes in both UNGA and UNSC.
  • One-third of the composition of the Court is renewed every three years.
  • Judges are eligible for re-election.
  • Once elected, a member of the Court is a delegate neither of the government of his own country nor of any other State.
  • Members of the Court are independent judges whose first task, before taking up their duties, is to make a solemn declaration in open court that they will exercise their powers impartially and conscientiously.