*VISIONIAS INSPIRING INNOVATION @Dnov, 2020 NEWS TODAY NATIONAL BOARD FOR WILDLIFE (NBWL) HAS APPROVED AN ACTION PLAN FOR VULTURE CONSERVATION 2020-2025 © Ecological, social and cultural significance of vultures: scavenging on animal carcasses of animals and thereby helping keep ‘+ New plan has laid out strategies to stem decline in vulture population, especially of the three Gyps species: Oriental white-backed vulture (Gyps the environment clean; and the disposal of dead bodies as per the religious practices of the Parsi community bengalensis, Slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirstris) and Long-biled 6 Out of 23 species of vultures in the world, nine are foundin India, vulture (Gyps indicus) > Allthree vulture species relisted as Critically Endangered by IUCN + Key highlights of new plan > Among these vultures, four are critically endangered, one endangered, three near threatened and one least concern as per the IUCN status > Asystem to automatically remove a drug from veterinary use itis found to be toxic to vultures. 2 Diclofenac, a drug used to treat cattle, was linked to kidney failure in vultures and a decline in the bird's population. Though the drug was banned in 2008, tis reportedly still available for use, > Avulture conservation and breeding centre each at UP, Tripura, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. > Establishment of four rescue centres, in Pinjore, Bhopal, Guwahati and Hyderabad > There are currently no dedicated rescue centres for treating vultures. > There would also be a conservation breeding programme forthe Red Headed vulture and Egyptian vulture, and at east one Vulture Safe Zone in every Stat. > A database on emerging threats to vulture conservation, Including collision and electrocution, unintentional poisoning, etc. US FORMALLY EXITS PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT AIMING TO CURB CLIMATE CHANGE + US. has officially become the first nation to quit the Paris agreement (PA) > US had initiated the process of leaving PA last year which takes effect one year after the submission of notice > Article 28 of PA allows countries to leave Agreement and lays down the process fr leaving + US withdrew because of the unfair economic burden imposed on Amnddeebuseeh businesses, and taxpayers by US. pledges made under the Agreement. += PA of 2016 under UNFCCC seeks to keep global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, and to try and limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius > Each country has pledged to Implement targeted action plans that will limit their ‘greenhouse gas emissions > Agreement asks rich and developed countries to provide financial and technological support to developing world. + Impact of the exit > It could jeopardise the worlds objective of keeping the global temperature rise as US is ‘worlds Second largest emitter of greenhouse gases. > Impact Financial flews to enable climate actions as US plays @ preeminent role in mobilising nancial resources globally. UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY (UNGA) ADOPTS TWO INDIA SPONSORED RESOLUTIONS ON NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT ‘The first committee of UNGA has adopted two India-sponsored resolutions on nuclear disarmament which aim to reduce risk of nuclear accidents and call for a prohibition on the use of nuclear weapons. > UNGA first committee deals with the issue of disarmament and works in close cooperation with UN Disarmament Commission and Conference on Disarmament (CoD), the other two bodies to deal with the nuclear issue, + Two resolutions adopted include > Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapans: It calls for CoD to start negotiations on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear ‘weapons under any circumstances. The aim is that a universal and legally binding agreement wé necessary global political will that can lead to the total elimi weapons. > Reducing Nuclear Danger: It puts focus on unintentional or accidental use of nuclear ‘weapons and underscore the need for a review of nuclear doctrines. it asks for concrete steps to reduce such risks, including through de-alerting and de-targeting of nuclear weapons. jenerate the n of nuclear PRESIDENT PROMULGATES ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE, 2020 Ordinance further amends Atbitration and Conciliation Act 1996. ‘= Key amendments: > Unconditional stay on enforcement of arbitral awards in cases where the arbitration agreement for contract is induced by fraud or corruption, > Until recently, an arbitration award was enforceable even if an appeal was filed against itn the court > Removes ath Schedule of the Act that contained the necessary qualifications for accreditation of arbitrators. Now qualifications, experience and norms for accreditation of arbitrators shall be as specified by the regulations Which will be framed by Arbitration Council of India (proposed under Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2019), = Benefits > This will benefit foreign arbitrators due to removal of qualifications. > All stakeholder parties get an opportunity to seek an unconditional stay on enforcement of arbitral awards YU) Peer) rey {Y=} NEGOTIATION Panne tt aay 888 memes ALTERNATIVE RESOLUTION AWAYS TO STAY. ‘OUT OF COURT OR TO GET OUT OF rr pees eee ec ray Nio ened (ee) fe MPN)MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING SETS UP COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE GUIDELINES ON TELEVISION RATING AGENCIES * In 2014, Ministry of [6B has formulated policy guidelines for Television Rating Agencies to operate in India > 2014 guidelines provide for self-regulation of television ratings through an industry-1ed body lke Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) > BARC calculate Television rating points (TRP) + New committee tasked to suggests steps to enhance competition in the sector and TELEVISION RATING POINT undertake a review of present guidelines 2 TRPS represent how many people, from which «Issues raised in the context ofthe present ratings system. socio-economic categories, watched which > Limitations of sample size: Inadequate representation of the plurality of the platforms, ¢hannels for how much time during a particular regions, rural and small towns to reflect correctly the viewership. period. > Reliability ofthe ratings: A lack of transparency inthe method adopted for selection of > Thiscouldbeforanhhoutaday, or evena week: the households and confidentiality ofthe names ofthe panel households India follows the international standard of one > Lack of Validations: The ratings are not subjected to any validity tests. There is no, minute independent audit carried out on the methodology adopted by the rating agencies. According |90) dhe) TRE aaa Tp Channel or programme advertisers decide where to isplay their advertisements and investors will decide about the investment of the money. > Ownership issues: Biased ratings on account of the presence of the interested parties in the ownership of rating agencies. > Inadequate competition: There is litle or no competition in the rating services, ALSO IN NEWS * Recently, India urged members of the GCC to facilitate the return of indian workers to the Gulf nations for work through sustainable travel bubble arrangements * GCC isa political and economic union of Arab states bordering the Gulf namely: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, + Its objective is to achieve unity among its members based on their simi which are rooted in Arab and Islamic cultures. *# GCC states are also among India’s key suppliers of energy, and annual remittances, r political and cultural identities, ™ Supreme Court held that deserted wives and children are entitled to alimony/maintenance from the husbands from the date they apply for itn a court of law. ‘= Ie will ensure uniformity of grant of maintenance available under various legislations as well a filing a lacuna that existed in the Hindu Marriage Act as well as Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act which did not specify when maintenance order would be enforceable, Supreme Court (SC) lays down maintenance rules ~ itis a three-year initiative, of Minty of Housing & Urban Affairs, that will support cities to develop soluti that enhance the quality of life of young children, their caregivers and families in the public realm. Nurturing Neighborhoods | * Selected cities will receive technical assistance and capacity-bullding to reimagine patks and open spaces; Challenge Improve access to early childhood facities etc * challenge will be open to all Smart Cities, other cities with more than five lakh population, and capitals of States and UTs * Objective of the scheme is to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation and atthe same time enhance their economic potential * ADIP scheme is major initiative of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and itis implemented through Assistance te Disabled persons for purchasing / fitting of aids / eee implementing agencies such as NGOs, National Institutes under this Ministry and ALIMCO (a PSU). ™ Enhanced version ofthe Pinaka rocket would replace the existing Pinaka Mic1 rockets, While Mi hada range Long range Pinaka rocket | 0f36km, this enhanced variant can hita target 45 to 60 km away. ‘system test fired + Pinaka is developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation. Itis a Multi-Barrel Rocket-Launcher system which can fire a salvo of 12 rockets over a period of 44 seconds. * Recently, @ proposal “Miya museum” reflecting the ‘culture and heritage of the people living In char-chaporis" has sted up a controversy in Assam. > ‘Miyal community comprises descendants of Muslim migrants from East Bengal (now Bangladesh) to Assam. * Char-chaporis are shifting riverine istands of the Brahmaputra and are primarily inhabited by the Muslims of Bengali-origin (referred to as'Miyas) > Achar isa floating island while chaporis are low-lying flood-prone riverbanks. ~ Scheme was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in the year 2014-15 for integrated development of lentfied pilgrimage and heritage destinations. + The scheme aimed at infrastructure development such as entry points (Road, Rall and Water Transport), last rile connectivity, basic tourism facilities like Information’ Interpretation Centers, ATM Money exchange, Pilgrimage Rejuvenation, and Spiritual, Heritage ‘Augmentation Drive! eae) eco-friendly modes of transport, area Lighting and illumination with renewable sources of energy, parking et. LubeiHydro Electric | * Project will be constructed on river Satluj in Shirala &Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh. Project aims to Project reduce 6.1 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide from environment annually PELL ie fae i @® wwwvisionias.in On PIAr a ta} Ic DELHI LUCKNOW JAIPUR HYDERABAD PUNE AHMEDABAD CHANDIGARH Nision 14S ©) Aisionias_upse ©) /Visionlas_uPsc © /ewisioniasdethi