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22nd Nov 2021
GIVE THRUST TO INDIGENOUS REGIONAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM, NAVIC FOR GLOBAL USE
Vice President suggested ISRO to expand the coverage and ensure signal availability of the indigenously-developed regional navigation satellite system, NaVIC
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS): NavIC
- It is a regional satellite navigation system.
- In 2016, IRNSS was renamed as NAVIC (Navigation within Indian Constellation).
- Developed by: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
- Aim:
- To meet the user requirements of the positioning, navigation and timing services based on the indigenous system.
- To provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area.
- Need: The system was developed partly because access to foreign government-controlled global navigation satellite systems is not guaranteed in hostile situations.
- A messaging interface embedded in the NavIC system, allows the command center to send warnings to a specific geographic area.
- The IRNSS will provide basically two types of services:
- Standard Positioning Service (SPS)for civilian, research & commercial use.
- Restricted Service (RS)for defense.
- IRNSS is a component of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS) for operation in the Indian Ocean Region by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of International Maritime Organization (IMO).
- ISRO has built a total of nine satellites in the IRNSS series, of which eight are currently in orbit
- Three of these satellites are in geostationary orbit (GEO)while
- The remaining four are in geosynchronous orbits (GSO) that maintain an inclination of 29° to the equatorial plane.
- Applications of IRNSS are as follows:
- Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation
- Disaster Management
- Vehicle tracking and fleet management
- Integration with mobile phones
- Precise Timing
- Mapping and Geodetic data capture
- Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travellers
- Visual and voice navigation for drivers
- To meet the user requirements of the positioning, navigation and timing services based on the indigenous system.
- This is a Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS)implemented jointly with Airport Authority of India (AAI), to meet the civil aviation requirements.
- The main objectives of GAGAN are:
- To provide Satellite-based Navigation services with accuracy and integrity required for civil aviation applications
- To provide better Air Traffic Management over Indian Airspace.
- Heavier elements can be produced in extreme environments, like black hole when a high emission of neutrinos causes the production of neutrons on a massive scale, after converting it from protons.
- Neutrinos is a neutral subatomic particle with a mass close to zero which rarely reacts with normal matter.
- Astronomers found in 2017 that cosmic collisions could indeed forge heavy elements such as gold, silver, and platinum.
- Gravitational waves and electromagnetic radiation resulting from a neutron star were powerful enough to produce heavier elements.
- Black holes have a hot and dense disk around them. It is this hot and dense disk where the conversion of protons to neutrons occurs.
- The black hole swallow massive amounts of gas and dust and synthesizes it into a heavy element.
- A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light cannot get out.
- Thus, it is not possible to see black holes.
- The gravity is strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space.
- The smallest black holes are as small as just one atom. These black holes are very tiny but have the mass of a large mountain.
- Another kind of black hole is called "stellar." Its mass can be up to 20 times more than the mass of the sun.
- There may be many stellar mass black holes in Earth's galaxy.
- The largest black holes are called ""These black holes have masses that are more than 1 million suns together.
- Primordial black holes have formed in the early universe, soon after the big bang.
- The Big Bang theory is the cosmological model explaining the existence of the universe from the earliest known periods through its subsequent large-scale evolution.
- Stellar black holes form when the center of a very massive star collapses in upon itself.
- This collapse causes an exploding star, that blasts part of the star into space.
- Supermassive black holes formed at the time as the galaxy they are in.
- The size of the supermassive black hole is related to the size and mass of the galaxy it is in.
- West Bengal recently launched Duare Ration scheme.
- Objective: To provide food grains under the public distribution system at the doorstep for the entire population of the State.
- 21,000 ration dealers with financial assistance of ₹1 lakh each to purchase vehicles for delivering ration to people in this manner.
- The ration vehicles will be parked at 500-meter distance in one particular lane.
- The salary of the staff engaged in the scheme will be borne by the state government and the respective ration dealer on 50:50 basis.
- Indian researchers develop better therapeutics that uses 6BIO to treat autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- 6BIO is a compound that can provide a better method to treat ASD.
- 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (6BIO), a hemi-synthetic derivative of indirubins is found in edible molluscs and plants.
- 6BIO can help children with ASD learn and recall, be social, and alleviate other symptoms such as seizures or sleep issues.
- It can restore the information processing in the pre-clinical mouse model.
- He spoke on the theme of India’s technology evolution and revolution.
- The international order should ensure cryptocurrencies do not end up in the wrong hands.
- Citing the unregulated nature of the crypto market, recently, the PM called for taking progressive and forward-looking steps.
- India’s space sector is open to private investment and the agriculture sector is reaping the benefits of the digital revolution.
- In 2020, the government opened Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.
- Highlighted the leaps in India’s digital revolution that has redefined politics, economy and society.
- However, the digital age is raising new questions on sovereignty, governance, ethics, law, rights and security.
- One, the world's most extensive public information infrastructure being built in India.
- Over 1.3 billion Indians have a unique digital identity (Aadhaar), six hundred thousand villages will soon be connected with broadband and the world's most efficient payment infrastructure, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
- Two, use of digital technology for governance, inclusion, empowerment, connectivity, delivery of benefits and welfare.
- Examples: Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Common Services Centres (CSC) etc.
- Three, India has the world's third largest and fastest growing Startup Ecosystem.
- Four, India's industry and services sectors, even agriculture, are undergoing massive digital transformation.
- Example: Government e-Marketplace (GeM), agri-startups, etc.
- Five, there is a large effort to prepare India for the future.
- Investing in developing indigenous capabilities in telecom technology such as 5G and 6G.
- India is one of the leading nations in artificial intelligence and machine learning, especially in human-centred and ethical use of artificial intelligence.
- Developing strong capabilities in Cloud platforms and cloud computing.
- It is an initiative of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
- It is an annual summit of cyber and critical technologies to discuss the fallout of the digital domain on the law and order situation in the world.
- EEF was established by the decree of the President of the Russian Federation in the year 2015.
- It serves as a platform for the discussion of key issues in the world economy, regional integration, and the development of new industrial and technological sectors, as well as of the global challenges facing Russia and other nations.
- The Future Investment Initiative (FII) is widely described as “Davos in the desert”. It is Saudi Arabia’s flagship investment conference.
- The informal name derives from the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting that is held in Davos, Switzerland, where world leaders discuss agendas for pressing international issues.
- Trace is an anti-bribery standard setting organisation.
- The report measures business bribery risk in 194 countries, territories, and autonomous and semi-autonomous regions
- This score is based on four factors:
- Business interactions with the government
- Anti-bribery deterrence and enforcement
- Government and civil service transparency
- Capacity for civil society oversight which includes the role of the media.
- India stood at 82nd position with a score of 44 out of 100.
- Norway, Sweden and New Zealand topped the rankings while North Korea, Turkmenistan and Eritrea were ranked the poorest.
- Slow and complicated bureaucratic process.
- Unclear regulatory frameworks.
- Desire to pay lower taxes than those demanded by the state.
- Opaque process and paperwork on the part of the government.
- Loss of credibility
- Sector which is perceived as highly corrupt may lose ground when it comes to fair valuation of its business.
- Inadequacies in institutional efficiency could affect growth indirectly by lowering the private marginal product of capital and investment rate.
- Bureaucratic inefficiency also affects growth directly through misallocation of investments in the economy.
- Corruption results in lower economic growth for a given level of income.
- Aims to prevent instances of money laundering and prohibits use of the 'proceeds of crime' in India.
- It provides for corporate governance and prevention of corruption and fraud in the corporate sector.
- It sets out provisions which can be interpreted to cover bribery and fraud matters, including offences relating to criminal breach of trust and cheating.
- It regulates the acceptance and use of foreign contributions and hospitality by individuals and corporations.
- It provides for an establishment of an ombudsman for the central and state governments (Lokpal and Lokayuktas, respectively).
- These bodies are required to act independently from the government and have been empowered to investigate allegations of corruption against public servants, which include the prime minister and other ministers.
- Conducts the business in-house and decides whether a bill is a money bill or not.
- Maintain discipline and decorum in the house and can punish a member for unruly behaviour by suspending them.
- Permits the moving of various kinds of motions and resolutions such as a motion of no confidence, the motion of adjournment, the motion of censure, and calling attention notice as per the rules.
- Decides on the agenda to be taken up for discussion during the meeting.
- Presides over the joint sitting of both houses of the Parliament of India.
- He is answerable to the House.
- This provision mandates the Chairman or the Speaker of the respective legislative house to be the ultimate decision-making authority in case of any disqualification that arises.
- The Chairman or the Speaker of the House takes the decision to disqualify a member under 10th schedule.
- If a complaint is received with respect to the defection of the Chairman or Speaker, a member of the House elected by that House shall take the decision.
- Kihoto Hollohan case (1992): The decision of the Speaker with respect to defections is subject to judicial review.
- The Tenth Schedule of the constitution, also known as Anti-defection law, was inserted in the Constitution in 1985 by 52nd Amendment Act.
- 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.
- A legislator is deemed to have defected if he:
- Voluntarily gives up the membership of his party
- Disobeys the directives of the party leadership on a vote
- Abstaining or voting against the party whip on any issue
- When a party merge with or into another party, neither the members who decide to merge, nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification.
- At least two-thirds of its legislators in favour of the merger allows the party to merge with another party.
- If a member, after being elected as the presiding officer of the House, voluntarily gives up the membership of his party or re-joins it after he ceases to hold that office.
- Article 44 states that "state shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) throughout the territory of India".
- The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) calls for the formulation of one law applicable to all religious communities in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption.
- The code comes under Article 44of the Constitution, which lays down that the state shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India.
- The objective of Article 44of the Directive Principles in the Indian Constitution was to address the discrimination against vulnerable groups and harmonise diverse cultural groups across the country.
- Goa is the only state in India having Uniform Civil Code:
- This was introduced by Portuguese in 1870 as Goa family law.
- After the liberation of Goa this law was retained and became special marriage act in 1954.
- This marriage acts provides a civil marriage of two person of different sex irrespective of their religion.
- To ensure that each citizen gets equal treatment before the law with regard to his/her personal laws.
- To simplify the laws that are segregated at present on the basis of religious beliefs like the Hindu code bill, Shariat law, and others.
- In India, there are various laws such as the Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Succession Act, Indian Christian Marriages Act, Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act. In addition, there is the Muslim personal laws, which are based on their religious texts.
- The code will simplify the complex laws around marriage ceremonies, inheritance, succession, adoptions making them one for all.
- For the purpose of equality and equal justice, and to avoid misuse personal laws
- It promotes
- It gives more rights to women.
- The personal laws lack uniformity.
- For example, Section 2 (2) of the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA), excludes the applicability of the law to the Scheduled Tribes, sections 5 (5) & 7 state that customary practices will override the provisions of law.
- Over lapping provision of law will get avoided
- There are multiple laws on the same subject.
- For example, Sikhs and Arya Samaj is are covered by Hindu Marriage Act (HMA), but there are two distinct laws dealing with their marriages.
- All people will get equal status and there would be no discrimination.
- Simplify Indian legal system.
- Burden on judiciary would decrease.
- Uniform Civil Code will help to solve the case quickly and speedy justice will be provided.
- UCC can be weaponized to further isolate minority communities and religions.
- Issues of marriage, divorce succession are civil in nature
- So, many rural and tribal communities may not follow it and continue with their own tribal and customary practices.
- Law commission report has stated that only reformations in personal laws are required, as Uniform civil code may seclude women and the vulnerable section.
- Formal courts are expensive, does not deliver speedy justice and is time-consuming as well.
- Article 25envisages the freedom to practice, profess, and propagate one’s religion.
- By enforcing a singular law applicable to all citizens, this fundamental right is violated.
- Article 26 envisages freedom to manage religious affairs.
- It is contradicting as UCC does not allow judiciary or parliament to interfere in their religious matter.
- Enactment of uniform civil code can lead to laws being promulgated which would inevitably favour the majority religion.
- Thus, it is contradicting article 14of the constitution which envisages right to equality.
- It is difficult to enact a uniform code in a country like India which is diverse in many fields
- It is a collaboration of UNICEF and Gallup.
- Aim: To better understand what it means to be a child in the 21st century.
- It is a first-of-its-kind survey to ask multiple generations for their views on the world and what it is like to be a child today.
- It surveyed more than 21,000 people in the 15-24 and 40 years and above age group in 21 countries in early 2021.
- 71 % of older people believe that children will be economically better off than their parents compared to 66 % for younger children.
- 57 % of young people in India use the internet daily compared to 27 % of older people.
- 55 % of younger people in India have heard of climate change compared to 42 % of older people.
- The younger generation is much more likely to blame companies for climate change.
- Respondents in India have the second biggest generation gap in saying it is acceptable for 57 % of younger parents and 47 % of older parents to physically punish a child.
- India also shares the second-highest share of young people who believe it is ok for teachers to physically punish children, a practice which should normally be unacceptable.
- India is the only country where the majority of young people and older people believe their country would be safer if it worked more on its own.
- India also has very low numbers of young and older people who identify with being part of the world.
- India has the second-lowest percentage of young people among 21 countries who feel they identify most with being a part of the world.
- 73 % of young Indian respondents between 15-24 years of age believe that the quality of education has become better now than it was in the past.
- 65 % of young respondents from India believe that it is very important for politicians to listen to children’s voices.
- 59 % of girls aged between 15 and 24 years are more convinced than others that education plays a role in success.
- 67 % of girls feel that digital technology has helped children in education compared to 59 % of boys.
POSTED ON 22-11-2021 BY ADMIN
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