Current Affairs 8 June 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 8 June 2021  focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

1. Model Panchayat Citizens Charter
2. Global minimum tax at least 15% : G7 Nations
3. Sea Snot Outbreak In Turkey
4. SC To Stop Illegal Adoption

Prelims

1. 20 Reforms in 2020 E-Booklet
2. World Food Safety Day

Model Panchayat Citizens Charter

Source : Indian Express
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 ?

A Model Panchayat Citizens Charter/ framework for delivery of the services across the 29 sectors, aligning actions with localised Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as prepared by Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR).

• This in collaboration with National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR).

Key Facts

• The Citizen Charter would ensure transparent and effective delivery of
  • Public services for sustainable development
  • Enhanced citizen service experiences
  • Deepening inclusive and accountable Local Self Governments by incorporating diverse views while designing and delivering services.
• It will help in making the citizens aware of their rights.
  • To make the Panchayats and their elected representatives directly accountable to the people.
  • To provide services to the people in a time bound manner, redressing their grievances and improving their lives.
• States were accordingly requested to draw up a time bound plan of action.

Gram Panchayath

• Panchayats constitute the third tier of government in the rural areas.
• It is the the first level of Government interaction for over 60 per cent of the Indian populace.
• Panchayats are responsible for delivery of basic services as enshrined under article 243G of the Constitution of India
  • Specifically in the areas of Health & Sanitation, Education, Nutrition, Drinking Water.

Citizen’s Charter

• What is Citizens’s Charter ?
  • Citizens’ Charters initiative is a response to the quest for solving the problems which a citizen encounters, day in and day out while dealing with the organisations providing public services.
• Basics of the Citizens Charter
  • To empower the citizen in relation to public service delivery.
    1. Quality
    2. Choice
    3. Standards
    4. Value
    5. Accountability
    6. Transparency
• Citizen Charter In India
  • In India significant progress has been made in the field of economic development.
  • This, along with a substantial increase in the literacy rate.
  • Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in Government of India (DARPG) initiated the task of coordinating, formulating and operationalising Citizens’ Charters.
  • Charters are expected to incorporate the following elements
    1. Vision and Mission Statement
    2. Details of business transacted by the organisation
    3. Details of clients
    4. Details of services provided to each client group
    5. Details of grievance redress mechanism and how to access it
    6. Expectations from the clients

Global minimum tax at least 15% : G7 Nations

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

Why in News ?

G7 Nations back a minimum global corporation tax rate of at least 15 per cent landmark deal to close cross-border tax loopholes used by some of the world’s biggest companies.

Key Facts

• Pact signed by G7 Nations group to back a minimum global corporation tax rate of at least 15 per cent.
• It would put in place measures to ensure taxes were paid in the countries where businesses operate.
• Global Impact 
  • Global minimum tax rate of 15 per cent works well for US and most other countries in western Europe
  • This may face challenge from some low-tax European jurisdictions such as the Netherlands, Ireland and Luxembourg and some in the Caribbean which rely largely on tax rate arbitrage to attract MNCs.
  • The decision to ratify a 15% floor rate follows from a declaration of war on low-tax jurisdictions around the globe.
  • It to discourage the shifting of multinational operations and profits overseas.
• What is the concern ?
  • The pact Impinges on the right of sovereign nations to decide a nation’s tax policy.
  • Also countries cannot be able to take decisions that suites them.
  • Impacts companies using low-tax jurisdiction to achieve low global tax cost.
• The decision taken by the G7 countries will be placed before G20 countries.
  • G7 agreement will have a lot of weight in the G20/OECD discussions.
  • It would require a lot of work to reach global consensus.

What is Global minimum tax at least 15% mean ?

• Governments could set whatever local corporate tax rate they want.
• If companies pay lower rates in a particular country, their home governments could increase their taxes to the minimum rate.
• This will eliminating the advantage of shifting profits.

How this decision impact India ?

• Global minimum tax at least 15% will benefit India as the effective domestic tax rate is above the threshold of 15% and the country would continue to attract investment
• The pact is expected to benefit India as it is a big market for a large number of tech companies.
• Other things that favoured Indian markets are 
  • Large internal market
  • Quality labour at competitive rates
  • Strategic location for exports
  • Thriving private sector
• India in fact  find it very difficult to keep corporate tax rates artificially lower in order to increase foreign direct investments in the country.

Sea Snot Outbreak In Turkey

Sea Snot Outbreak In Turkey
Source : Indian Express
GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Why in News ?

There has been growing environmental concern in Turkey over the accumulation of sea snot a slimy layer of grey or green sludge in the country’s seas.

• This can cause considerable damage to the marine ecosystem.

Key Facts

• Turkey’s Sea of Marmara that connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea has the largest outbreak of sea snot.
• The sludge has also been spotted in the adjoining Black and Aegean seas.
• As the slimy layer spreads across the country’s seas, there are urgent calls now to tackle the crisis.
• A  sea snot outbreak was first recorded in the country in 2007.
• Back then it was also spotted in the Aegean Sea near Greece.
• The current outbreak in the Sea of Marmara is by far the biggest in the country’s history and also spread to 80-100 feet below the surface. 
  • It may collapse to the bottom and cover the sea floor, causing major damage to the marine ecosystem.

What is sea snot ?

• Sea snot is marine mucilage.
  • It is formed when algae are overloaded with nutrients as a result of water pollution combined with the effects of climate change.
• The nutrient overload occurs when algae feast on warm weather caused by global warming.
• Water pollution adds to the problem.
• How it Looks like ?
  • The thick slimy layer of organic matter which looks like a viscous brown and foamy substance has spread through the sea
• What is the root cause of Sea Not ?
  • Overproduction of phytoplankton caused by climate change is one reason.
  • The uncontrolled dumping of household.
  • As a result of industrial waste into the seas also boost the formations of Sea Not.
• What is the major cause of Sea Not in the region ?
  • The outbreak on discharge of untreated water from cities like Istanbul which is populated around 16 million people dumped into the seas.

What is the impact of Sea Not in the Ecosystem of Marine region ?

• It posing a severe threat to the marine ecosystem of the country.
• The major impact noted are 
  • Mass deaths among the fish population
  • Aquatic organisms such as corals and sponges
  • Over a period it end up poisoning all aquatic life
  • Can cause an outbreak of water-borne diseases such as cholera

What can be done to tackle this situation ?

• The entire Sea of Marmara will be turned into a protected area.
• Reduce pollution and improve treatment of waste water from coastal cities and ships.
• Reduce nitrogen levels in the sea by 40% which would help tackle the crisis.

SC To Stop Illegal Adoption

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 National Commission for Protection of Child Rights alerted the Supreme Court about illegal adoption of children who have lost their parents to the coronavirus disease.

• The court will pass an order in the matter.

Key Facts

• National Commission for Protection of Child Rights urged SC To Stop Illegal Adoption
  • It has received several complaints about individuals and organisations claiming to help orphaned children and collecting information about them.
  • It aims to ensure that confidential information about children is not made publicly available.
• What are the concerns ?
  • Posts on social media about children being up for adoption, which were in violation of the Juvenile Justice Act.
  • Government officials were disclosing children’s personal details to private organisations, which were circulating them.
  • This made the children vulnerable to illegal adoption, abuse and trafficking.
  • Adoption process is only legal when procedures laid down under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 are followed.

Read in Line With : Children Orphaned During Covid And Trafficking Chance High During Covid

Children Vulnerable during Covid

• 7,084 children have lost one parent, been orphaned or abandoned in Maharashtra since April 1 last year.
• Some instances from various region
  • Ganjam district in Odisha, a 45 day old girl was found next to her mother’s body.
  • A mother left two daughters, a 15 year old and a seven year old, lost battle against COVID 19.
  • Four members of a family died over 12 days leaving behind two daughters aged six and 10.
• Issues related to adoption Children Orphaned During Covid
  • Illegal adoption will increase the chance of trafficking.
  • If children have faced one crisis such as a loss of a family member or separation from their parents due to death and desertion, then the emotional trauma for them is very high.

PRELIMS

20 Reforms in 2020 E-Booklet

• E-booklet titled ’20 Reforms in 2020’, highlighting the major reforms undertaken by Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2020 was released.
• compilation provides a brief overview of defence reforms undertaken in the year 2020.
• Also focused on the ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

World Food Safety Day

• The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly facilitate the World Food Safety Day on June 7.
• It is in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organizations.
• It was first celebrated in 2019.
• It aims to strengthen the commitment to scale up food safety made by the Addis Ababa Conference and the Geneva Forum in 2019 under the umbrella of “The Future of Food Safety”.
• 2021 Theme : Safe Food for a Healthy Tomorrow.

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