Headlines

Indians go West, take up ‘residence by investment’ - Page No.1 , GS 2

Telangana’s Teja chilli is hot property in many nations - Page No.6 , GS 3
The curious case of the disqualification of a politician - Page No.8 , GS 2
Income tax ‘raids’ surge amid poor conviction rate - Page No.9 , GS 2
India plans to export solar power: official - Page No.14 , GS 3
Text and Context - The SC on sealed cover jurisprudence
Text and Context - How is India addressing sickle cell anaemia?
Questions (Map, Prelims, Mains)

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With reference to ‘Financial Stability
and Development Council’, consider
the following statements :
1. It is an organ of NITI Aayog.
2. It is headed by the Union Finance
Minister.
Which of the above statements is/are
Incorrect?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
'वित्तीय स्थिरता और विकास पररषद' के संदर्भ
में निम्िलिखित कििों पर विचार कीस्यये:
1. यह िीनत आयोग का अंग है ।
2. इसकी अध्यक्षता केंद्रीय वित्त मंत्री करते हैं।
उपरोक्त में से कौि सा/से किि गित है /हैं?
A. केिि 1
B. केिि 2
C. 1 और 2 दोिों
D. ि तो 1 और ि ही 2
Ans: (A)
Explanation:
•Statement 1: With a view to strengthening and institutionalizing the
mechanism for maintaining financial stability, enhancing inter-
regulatory coordination and promoting financial sector
development, the Financial Stability and Development Council
(FSDC) was set up by the Government as the apex level forum in
December 2010 (much before NITI AAyog was even setup). So, 1 is
incorrect.

•Statement 2: The Chairman of the Council is the Finance Minister

and its members include the heads of financial sector Regulators
(RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, IRDA & FMC) Finance Secretary and/or Secretary,
Department of Economic Affairs, Secretary, Department of Financial
Services, and Chief Economic Adviser. So, 2 is correct.
A windfall tax is a
(a) tax levied on short-term currency
transactions to discourage volatility
and speculation.
(b) higher tax rate on sudden big
profits levied on a particular
company or industry.
(c) tax levied at the time of purchase
and sale of securities listed on stock
exchanges
(d) none of the above
एक अप्रत्यालित कर एक है
(a) अस्थिरता और अटकिों को
हतोत्साहहत करिे के लिए अल्पकालिक
मद्र
ु ा िेिदे ि पर िगाया गया कर।
(b) ककसी वििेष कंपिी या उद्योग पर
िगाए गए अचािक बडे मि ु ाफे पर
उच्च कर की दर।
(c) थटॉक एक्सचें यों में सच ू ीबद्ध
प्रनतर्नू तयों की िरीद और बबक्री के
समय िगाया गया कर
(d) उपयक् ुभ त में से कोई िहीं
Ans: (b )
Explanation:
•Context: India cuts windfall tax on crude oil to Rs 1,900 per
tonne from Rs 2,100 per tonne
• India imposed the windfall profit tax, in July 2022, joining
nations that tax supernormal profits of energy
companies.
• Levy was introduced in view of the windfall gains made by
the domestic crude producers and refiners due to high
global crude and product prices (on account of the
Russian-Ukraine war)
•What is the windfall tax?
• A windfall tax is a higher tax rate on sudden big profits
levied on a particular company or industry.
With reference to the National Green
Tribunal, consider the following
statements:
1. It was established under the
National Green Tribunal Act 2010.
2. The chairperson of this tribunal is
appointed by the President of India.
Which of the above statements is/are
correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
िेििि ग्रीि हिब्यि
ू ि के संदर्भ में निम्िलिखित
कििों पर विचार कीस्यये:
1. इसकी थिापिा िेििि ग्रीि हिब्यि ू ि एक्ट
2010 के तहत की गई िी।
2. इस न्यायाधधकरण के अध्यक्ष की नियस्ु क्त
र्ारत के राष्ट्िपनत द्िारा की याती है ।
उपरोक्त कििों में से कौि-सा/से सही है /हैं?
A. केिि 1
B. केिि 2
C. 1 और 2 दोिों
D. ि तो 1 और ि ही 2
Answer - A
Explanation :

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently imposed a fine of ₹2,232
crore on the Delhi government for damage caused to the environment
due to improper solid and liquid waste management.
•The National Green Tribunal has been established under the National
Green Tribunal Act 2010.
•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.
Consider the following statements र्ारतीय पैंगोलिि के संबंध में निम्िलिखित
regarding the Indian Pangolin: कििों पर विचार करें :

1. Currently, the distribution of 1. ितभमाि में, र्ारतीय पैंगोलिि का वितरण

Indian pangolin is limited only to केिि पूिोत्तर र्ारत तक ही सीलमत है ।
Northeast India. 2. इसे IUCN रे ड लिथट के तहत 'कमयोर' के
2. It is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ रूप में िगीकृत ककया गया है ।
under the IUCN Red List.
उपरोक्त कििों में से कौि-सा/से सही है /हैं?
Which of the above statements is/are A. केिि 1
correct? B. केिि 2
A. 1 only C. 1 और 2 दोिों
B. 2 only D. ि तो 1 और ि ही 2
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer - D
Key facts about Indian Pangolin:
•The Indian pangolin, also called thick-tailed pangolin and scaly anteater is native to the
Indian subcontinent.
•It is one of the eight species of pangolins found.
•They are one of the most trafficked mammals in the world, despite an international ban
on their trade.
•Distribution: It lives in India (south of the Himalayas), Bangladesh, Southern Nepal, Sri
Lanka, and small parts of Pakistan.

Features:
•Like other pangolins, it has large, overlapping scales on its body, which act as armor.
•It can also curl itself into a ball as self-defense against predators.
•It is an insectivore feeding on ants and termites.
•It is nocturnal and rests in deep burrows during the day.
•Conservation status:
•IUCN Red List: Endangered
•Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
•CITES: Appendix I
Shinku La tunnel, recently seen in the हाि ही में िबरों में रही लिक ं ू िा सुरंग
news, lies in which one of the निम्िलिखित में से ककस राज्य या केंद्र
following States or Union Territories? िालसत प्रदे ि में स्थित है ?

A. Jammu and Kashmir A. यम्मू और कश्मीर

B. Ladakh B. िद्दाि
C. Arunachal Pradesh C. अरुणाचि प्रदे ि
D. Sikkim D. लसस्क्कम
Answer - B
Explanation :

The Union Cabinet recently gave its nod for the construction of the Shinku La tunnel
to provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas of Ladakh.
About Shinku La tunnel:
•It will be constructed at an altitude of over 16,500 feet on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha
road link on the border between Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.
•The length of the tunnel will be 4.1 km.
•The Border Roads Organization (BRO) will construct the tunnel at a cost of Rs.
1,681.5 crores.
•The traffic movement in the tunnel will not be vulnerable to long-range artillery
shelling or missile firings either by China or Pakistan.
•Purpose:
•To provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas of Ladakh.
•To enable swift movement of troops and heavy weaponry to forward areas.
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Pg no. 1 GS 2
• In 2022, over 2.25 lakh Indians renounced Indian citizenship, the highest
since 2011, according to data from the Ministry of External Affairs. The
data reflect how Indians, especially high net-worth individuals (HNIs), are
moving westward in search of better opportunities, healthcare, quality of
life, and education, among other factors.
• HNIs are those who have wealth of over $1 million or ₹8.2 crore. According
to the Henley Global Citizens Report, there were3.47 lakh HNIs in India in
December 2021.Of these, 1.49 lakh HNIs were found in just nine cities:
Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Gurugram,
and Ahmedabad.
• Industry representatives say there has been a surge in requests for
residence-through-investment programmes, especially the U.S. EB-5 visa,
Portugal Golden Visa, Australian Global Talent Independent Visa, Malta
Permanent Residency Programme, and Greece Residence by Investment
Programme.
• Key Findings

• In its Migration and Development Brief, the World Bank has said India’s
remittance will grow 12 percent from 7.5 percent last year, resulting in
$100 billion flow as compared to $89.4 billion in 2021.

In 2021 the top five remittance recipients (among low- and middle-income
countries) in current US dollars were:
• India: 83 billion
• China: 53 billion
• Mexico: 53 billion
• Philippines: 36 billion
• Egypt: 33 billion
Pg no. 6 GS 3
• The burgeoning demand for the popular Teja variety of red
chilli, famous for its culinary, medicinal and other wide-
ranging uses, in the export market is proving to be a boon for
the Khammam Agriculture Market, housing Telangana’s
second largest chilli market yard, in the district
headquarters town of Khammam.

• The Teja variety of red chilli is being exported to China,

Bangladesh and a few other south Asian countries from
Khammam mainly through the Chennai port.
Pg no. 8 GS 2
• The issue is on whether disqualification for conviction is final or whether it
can be revoked. This issue can arise whenever a legislator is disqualified.

• The facts are as follows. Mr. Faizal was convicted by the Kavaratti sessions
court on January 11 for attempt to murder, and sentenced to 10 years
imprisonment. On January 13, the Lok Sabha announced that he was
disqualified as an MP with effect from the date of conviction. On January
18, the Election Commission of India (ECI) fixed February 27 as the date for
by-election to that constituency, with the formal notification to be issued
on January 31. Mr. Faizal appealed to the Kerala High Court for a stay on
his conviction and sentence, which the High Court suspended on January
25.
• The provision for disqualification is given in Article 102 of the Constitution.
It specifies that a person shall be disqualified for contesting elections and
being a Member of Parliament under certain conditions. These include
holding an office of profit, being of unsound mind or insolvent, or not
being a citizen of India. It also authorises Parliament to make law
determining conditions of disqualifications.

• The Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides that a person will be
disqualified if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for two years or
more. The person is disqualified for the period of imprisonment and a
further six years.

• There is an exception for sitting members; they have been provided a

period of three months from the date of conviction to appeal; the
disqualification will not be applicable until the appeal is decided. The
differential treatment of candidates for elections and sitting members was
challenged under Article 14 (right to equality).
• In 2013, a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court again
considered whether this exception was constitutionally invalid
(Lily Thomas vs Union of India).

• The question is whether the removal of disqualification can be

back dated as if it never happened and the election avoided. Or
whether the disqualification is removed only from the date of
the stay order, and, therefore, the vacated seat be filled only
through a by-election.
Pg no. 8 GS 2
Pg no. 14
GS 3
• India was to have installed 175 GW of renewable energy — from solar,
wind, biomass and small hydropower sources — by December 2022,
but has only installed 122 GW. Of this, solar power was to have been
100 GW, though only 62 GW has been installed.

• A key bottleneck has been the cost of solar modules (or panels). While
India has traditionally relied on Chinese-made components such as
polysilicone wafers, necessary to make modules, higher customs duty
on them (to make equivalent Indian-manufactured components more
competitive) has shrunk supply.

• Apart from module prices, land acquisition has been a major challenge
for solar power manufacturers. Despite the Centre commissioning 57
large solar parks with a capacity of 40 GW in recent years, only 10 GW
has been operationalised.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Uttham Mahabhiyan (PM
KUSUM) scheme

The PM-KUSUM was launched by the MNRE in 2019, in order to endow

installation of off-grid solar pumps in rural areas and reduce
dependence on grid, in grid-connected areas.
Components:
• 10,000 MW of decentralized ground-mounted grid-connected
renewable power plants.
• Installation 20 lakh solar-powered agriculture pumps
• Converting 15 lakh agriculture pumps, already connected to the grid,
into solar.
Objective:
• It aims to enable farmers to set up solar power generation capacity on
their arid lands and to sell it to the grid.
• It also seeks to increase the income of farmers by allowing them to
sell surplus solar power to the grid.
• The Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud firmly refused the ‘suggestions’
offered by the government in a sealed cover on the formation of a proposed
committee to enquire into the Hindenburg report on the Adani Group.

• The “routine” handing over of sealed covers in court by the state, the
contents of which are unknown to the other parties, often fighting for life
and personal liberty, is eroding public confidence in the ‘open court’
principle of justice administration.

• Sealed cover documents have been received by the apex court in cases such
as the Rafale jets’ purchase deal, Assam National Register of Citizens case,
Ayodhya title dispute, Gujarat Police ‘fake’ encounter case, Narendra Modi
biopic release case, in the sexual harassment case concerning then Chief
Justice Ranjan Gogoi, the electoral bonds case, Bhima Koregaon case and the
anticipatory bail plea for former union finance minister P. Chidambaram. In
these cases, sealed cover had risen to the status of ‘due procedure’.
Sickle cell anaemia (SCA), a genetic blood disorder, found mention in the
Budget this year. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the
government will work in “mission mode” to eliminate the condition by 2047.
India is the second-worst affected country in terms of predicted births with
SCA — i.e. chances of being born with the condition.

• Sickle cell disease (SCD)

• It is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Red blood carries oxygen
to all parts of the body.
• Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood
vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
• In someone who has SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal, which causes the
red blood cells to become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm
tool called a “sickle.”
• The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood
cells.
Can it be treated?

• Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic disorder, making complete

“elimination” a challenge that requires major scientific
breakthrough.
• The only cure comes in the form of gene therapy and stem cell
transplants — both costly and still in developmental stages.
• Blood transfusion, wherein red blood cells are removed from
donated blood and given to a patient, is also a trusted
treatment in the absence of permanent cures.

• But challenges include a scarcity of donors, fears around safe

supply of blood, risk of infection etc.
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