Current Affairs 3 June 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 3 June 2021  focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

1. Caste-wise Split In MGNREGA Payments
2. Sustainable Development Goals Index
3. India SCO On Mass Media Cooperation
4. India Maldives Sustainable Urban Development
5. Model Tenancy Act
6. India Cycles4Change

Prelims

1. Delta Variant of COVID
2. China’s Artificial Sun EAST

Caste-wise Split In MGNREGA Payments

Source : The Hindu
GS II : Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections

Why in News ?

The decision to split the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) wage payments
by caste categories was done on the advice of the Union Finance Ministry.

• In order to assess and highlight the benefits flowing from budgetary outlay towards Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Key Facts

• Directed States to divide wage payments into separate categories for SCs, STs and others from this financial Year.
• Separate budget heads shall also be provided by the Government for SC and ST categories.
• Funds shall be allocated according to job cards provided for SC and ST beneficiaries.

Concerns 

• Workers’ advocates feared this move would cause unnecessary delays and complications in the payment system, and worried that it could lead to a reduction in scheme funding.
• This will unnecessarily complicate the payment system.

Sustainable Development Goals Index

Source : Indian Express
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Why in News ?

Thethird rendition of India’s SDG Index was launched by Niti Aayog.

• The Index for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) evaluates progress of states and union territories on social, economic and environmental parameters.

Key Facts

• Kerala has retained the top rank in Niti Aayog’s SDG India Index 2020-21.
  • Kerala retained its rank as the top state with a score of 75.
• Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu took the second spot with a score of 74.
• Bihar as the worst performer followed vy Jharkhand and Assam.

About Sustainable development goal

• Published by NITI Aayog
• The SDG India Index was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Global Green Growth Institute and United Nations in India.
  • SDG measures the progress at the national and sub-national level
  • It reflect country’s journey towards meeting the global goals and targets
  • It is considered as advocacy tool to propagate the messages of sustainability, resilience, and partnerships.
• First launched in December 2018
  • From covering 13 goals, 39 targets, and 62 indicators in the first edition in 2018-19
  • 17 goals, 54 targets and 100 indicators in the second
  • Third edition of the index covers 17 goals, 70 targets, and 115 indicators
  • It aims have 17 goals and 169 related targets to be achieved by 2030.
• Some major parameters including social, economic, and environmental.

India Cycles4Change

Source : Indian Express
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Why in News ?

Under India Cycles4Change 41 cities testing cycling friendly initiatives. Challenge was launched last year under the Smart Cities Mission. 

Key Facts

• 107 cities registered to be a part of the cycling revolution and 41 cities undertook initiatives vis. surveys, discussions, pop-up cycle lanes, safer neighbourhoods, open street events, cycle rallies, or online campaigns that were aimed at creating a cycle friendly city.
• Cities as part of the campaign have initiated work covering approx. 400 kms of arterial roads and more than 3500 kms of neighbourhood streets.
• The Smart Cities Mission, in association with Institute for Transport and Development Policy (ITDP) conducted training modules and other capacity building initiatives to guide 107 cities on various cycling initiatives.

Need of the Initiative

• As a part of their post Covid recovery plans, cities across the world are quickly testing cycling infrastructure and then making it permanent to rebuild.
• Pandemic has also highlighted the need for affordable and sustainable options for women’s mobility to compete in a post-COVID 19 economy.

India Cycle4Change challenge

• Challenge was launched last year under the Smart Cities Mission by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on 25th June, 2020.
• As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic that was gaining ground in the country.
• Over the last year a cycling revolution has taken over India with cycling being seen as an important mode of safe and healthy personal transport medium.
• It ensures social distancing, while being environmentally sustainable.
• Challenge had a Test-Learn-Scale (TLS) approach.
  • The participating cities adopted by testing various initiatives through quick low-cost interventions in the first phase of the challenge, learning from them, and preparing for scale up in the second phase.

Progress and Campaigns under the Challenge

• Identifying barriers to cycling by listening to the people.
• Making streets and neighbourhoods safe and fun for cycling
• Creating a cycling community
• Empowering women to cycle
• Changing everyday behaviour through campaigns

India SCO On Mass Media Cooperation

Source : PIB
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Why in News ?

The Union Cabine given its ex-post facto approvalfor signing and ratification of an Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Mass Media between all the Member States of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

• The Agreement was signed in June, 2019

Key Facts

• The Agreement shall promote equal and mutually beneficial cooperation among associations in the field of Mass Media.
• Each Side shall, on the basis of reciprocity, facilitate the activities thereby ensuring equity.
• The Agreement would provide an opportunity for the Member States to share best practices and new innovations in the field of Mass Media.

Areas Of Cooperation

• Creation of favourable conditions for wide and mutual distribution of information through the Mass Media in order to further deepen the knowledge about the lives of the peoples of their States.
• Cooperation among the Editorial Offices of the Mass Media of their States, among the relevant Ministries, Agencies and Organizations working in the field of the Mass Media.
• Promote equal and mutually beneficial cooperation among professional associations of journalists of the States.
• Assist in broadcasting of television and radio programs and programs, distributed legally within the territory of the State of the other Side.
• Encourage the exchange of experience and specialists in the field of Mass Media

Mass Media and its role

• Mass Media is the means of communication that reach large numbers of people in a short time, such as television, newspapers, magazines, and radio.
• Mass media is a significant force in modern culture.
• It played a significant role in shaping public perceptions on a variety of important issues, both through the information.
• The mass media helps people to remain informed and updated about the various news, events, social activities, lifestyle, entertainment, and advertisements irrespective of the geographical barriers.

India Maldives Sustainable Urban Development

Source : PIB
GS II : Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Why in News ?

Union Cabinet was apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India and Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Government of Maldives on cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development.

Key Facts

• For India Maldives Sustainable Urban Development A Joint Working Group (JWG) will be constituted to strategize and implement programmes on cooperation under the framework of the MoU.
• The Joint Working Group will meet once in a year, alternately in Maldives and in India.
• The MoU comes into effect on the date of signing by the two contracting parties i.e. 20th February, 2021 and will remain in force for indefinite period.
• Objectives of the MoU are to facilitate and strengthen India-Maldives technical cooperation in the field of  Sustainable urban development including
  • • Urban Planning
    • Smart Cities Development
    • Solid waste management
    • Affordable housing
    • Urban Green Mobility
    • Urban Mass Rapid Transport
    • Smart cities development and
    • Any other related area mutually agreed by contracting parties.

How it Benefits ?

• The MoU will promote strong, deep and long-term bilateral cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development between the two countries.
• The MoU is expected to create employment in the areas of sustainable urban development including Urban Planning, Smart Cities Development, Solid waste management, Affordable housing, Urban Green Mobility, Urban Mass Rapid Transport, Smart Cities Development.

Model Tenancy Act

Source : PIB
GS II : Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures

Why in News ?

Union Cabinet approved the Model Tenancy Act for circulation to all States / Union Territories for adaptation by way of enacting fresh legislation or amending existing rental laws suitably.

Background

• Government had first released the draft of the Model Tenancy Act in 2019.
• The Act aims to bridge the trust deficit between tenants and landlords by clearly delineating their obligations.

Key Facts

• It will help overhaul the legal framework with respect to rental housing across the country, which would help spur its overall growth.
• 1.1 crore vacant houses available on rent will compliment PM’s vision of ‘Housing for All’ by 2022′.
• Creating a vibrant, sustainable and inclusive rental housing market in the country.
• How the Act Helps ?
  • Enable creation of adequate rental housing stock for all the income groups thereby addressing the issue of homelessness.
  • Model Tenancy Act will enable institutionalisation of rental housing by gradually shifting it towards the formal market.
  • It will facilitate unlocking of vacant houses for rental housing purposes.
  • It is expected to give a fillip to private participation in rental housing as a business model for addressing the huge housing shortage.
  • Create an accountable and transparent manner.
  • Take people from informal to specific contract arrangements between landlord and tenant.
• The major challenge that may notice is that the Act is not binding on the states as land and urban development remain as state subjects.

Key Features of Model Tenancy Act UPSC Perspective

• The very act will balance the interest and rights of both the owner and tenant. 
• Dispute between landlord and tenant a rent authority, or a rent court would be available for speedy resolution.
• Tenant will have to submit a security deposit in two ways
  • Two months for residential premises
  • Six-month rent for commercial property
• The tenant cannot able to rent out the property as a whole or part. 
• Rent Agreement
  • The tenant fails to vacate the premises on the expiration of the period of tenancy or termination of tenancy the landlord is entitled to do the following
    • Double the monthly rent for two months
    • Four times after that
• About increasing the rent 
  • Landowner would give a notice in writing three months before revising rent.
  • The landlord cannot hike the rent in the middle of the tenure.
• Restriction for Landowner
  • Landowner cannot enter the rented premises without 24-hour prior notice to carry out repairs or replacement.
  • Landowner cannot cut power and water supply in case of a dispute with the tenant.
  • Responsible to repair basic damages and basic up-gradation like whitewashing walls and painting doors and windows.

Prelims

Delta Variant of COVID

• The Indian variant which was known as B.1.617.2 will be called Delta.
  • Also the UK variant as Alpha.
• World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended a set of names to label emerging coronavirus variants that are regarded as global concern.
• So far, four Variants of Concern (VOC) have been identified by the WHO: B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P2 and B.1.617.2.
  • Their public labels will be Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta respectively.
• Other variants that too are known to be on the radar but less globally widespread and transmissible, or Variants of Interest.

China’s Artificial Sun EAST

• China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), which mimics the energy generation process of the sun, set a new record.
• Artificial sun also achieved a peak temperature of 288 million degrees Fahrenheit (160 million degrees Celsius), which is over ten times hotter than the sun.
• Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor is an advanced nuclear fusion experimental research device located at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) in Hefei, China.
  • Purpose of the artificial sun is to replicate the process of nuclear fusion, which is the same reaction that powers the sun.

Daily Current Affairs : Click Here