Current Affairs 16 August 2022 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 16 August 2022 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Guidelines to Regulate Digital Lending

Source : Business Standard
GS III : Economy

What is discussed under Guidelines to Regulate Digital Lending?

1. Key Facts
2. What are the changes?

Why in News ?

In its effort to mitigate the concerns arising from credit delivery through digital lending methods, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) came out with guidelines aimed at firming up the regulatory framework for such activities.

Key Facts

• The banking regulator has categorically specified that the lending business can only be carried out by entities regulated by it or those permitted under the law.
• The central bank has divided the universe of digital lenders into three groups entities regulated by the RBI and permitted to carry out lending business; entities authorised to carry out lending according to other statutory/ regulatory provisions but not regulated by the RBI, and entities lending outside the purview of any statutory/ regulatory provision.
• These guidelines are for the first category, or entities regulated by the RBI.
• As for other entities which are part of the second and the third categories the RBI has asked respective regulator/ controlling authority/ the central government to formulate guidelines based on the recommendations of the working group on this subject it had formed back in January 2021.

What are the changes?

• All loan disbursals and repayments through the digital lending apps are required to be executed only between the bank account of the

  

  borrower and the regulated entity, without any pass- through or pool account of the lending service provider (LSP) or any third party.

• Apart from that RBI-regulated entities have to ensure that fees for LSPs are paid directly by them and are not charged by LSP to the borrower.
• Further, the the banking regulator has mandated the regulating entities to ensure the upfront disclosure of all-inclusive cost via annual percentage rate to the borrower.
• The regulating entities now will also have to provide a key fact statement (KFS) to the borrower before the execution of the contract in standardised format for all digital lending products.
• Regulated entity cannot increase the credit limit without the explicit consent of the borrower.
• The KFS must have details of The KFS must have details of APR, terms and conditions of recovery mechanism, details of grievance redressal officer designated specifically to deal with digital lending/fintech-related matters, and cooling-off/look-up period, terms and conditions of recovery mechanism, details of grievance redressal officer designated specifically to deal with digital lending/fintech-related matters, and cooling-off/look-up period,”
• Besides to protect data privacy, Central bank said that the data collected by digital lending apps has to be need-based, with the customer’s prior consent, and can be audited, if required.
• To raise their grievances and complaints borrowers can reach out to nodal grievance redressal officers engaged by the Regulated Entities and the LSPs. A borrower can also complain against their digital lending mobile app.
• The details of the officers will be provided on websites of regulated entity, LSPs and the app.

Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS)

Source : Indian Express
GS III : Internal Security

What is discussed under Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS)?

1. Key Facts
2. About ATAGS

Why in News ?

An indigenously developed howitzer gun, ATAG became part of the 21-gun salute during the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort for the first time. Developed by the DRDO, the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) was used alongside the traditional British-origin ’25 Pounders’ artillery guns.

Key Facts

• When the National Anthem is played by the Military Band after the unfurling of the Tricolour at the Red Fort by the Prime Minister, a 21-volley gun salute is fired by a ceremonial battery from an artillery regiment.

About ATAGS

• Two ATAGS howitzers joined the battery that fired along with other 25 Pounders.

  

• The ATAGS is an indigenous 155 mm x 52 calibre howitzer gun developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with its Pune-based facility Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) being the nodal agency.
• The ATAGS project was started in 2013 by DRDO to replace older guns in service in the Indian Army with a modern 155 mm artillery gun.
• ATAGS mainly comprises barrel, breech mechanism, muzzle brake and recoil mechanism to fire 155 mm calibre ammunition held by Army with a longer range, accuracy and precision and provides greater firepower.
• The ATAGS is configured with all electric drive to ensure maintenance free and reliable operation over a longer period of time.
• It has advanced features in terms of high mobility, quick deployability, auxiliary power mode, advanced communication system, automatic command and control system with night firing capability in the direct fire mode.
• The specialised gun system is compatible with C4I (command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence) systems like the Artillery Combat Command and Control System (ACCCS) called Shakti for technical fire control, fire planning, deployment management, and operational logistics management of the Army.
  

Dornier Maritime Surveillance Aircraft

Source : Indian Express
GS II : International Relation

What is discussed under Dornier Maritime Surveillance Aircraft?

1. Key Facts
2. About Dornier aircraft

Why in News ?

India gifted a Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lanka a day before a high-tech Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship docks at the island nation’s strategic Hambantota port.

Key Facts

• The aircraft would act as a force multiplier, enabling Sri Lanka to tackle multiple challenges such as human and drug trafficking, smuggling and other organised forms of crime in its coastal waters more effectively.
• Induction of the aircraft is timely in view of the current challenges to Sri Lanka’s maritime security.
• Gifting of the Dornier aircraft underscores the cooperation between the two maritime neighbours in defence and security spheres.
• Such cooperation is envisaged to add further capability and capacity to Sri Lanka and is in line with the vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

About Dornier aircraft

• It is being manufactured by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol Aircraft is a Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL).
• It is a multirole light transport aircraft used by the Indian Navy for electronic warfare missions, maritime surveillance, and disaster relief systems and has been in production since 1981.

Review of Guardianship and Adoption Laws

Source : The Hindu
GS II : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

What is discussed under Review of Guardianship and Adoption Laws?

1. Review of Guardianship and Adoption Laws
2. What are the challenges?
3. Adoption Related Rules in India

Why in News ?

A report recently tabled on Review of Guardianship and Adoption Laws in Parliament by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances and Law and Justice.

It is important to get a true picture of number of children who are orphaned/abandoned through a district-level survey and the data needs to be updated on a regular basis.

Key Facts

• Such a legislation should be more transparent, accountable, less bureaucratic and applicable to all irrespective of religion.
• In its report  the standing committee said the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (HAMA) and Juvenile Justice Act have their own virtues and shortcomings.
• Adoption procedure laid down under HAMA is simple and takes less time as compared to that stipulated in JJ Act, adoptions made under JJ Act are transparent, accountable and verifiable.
• Committee also noted that the Adoption Regulations framed under Juvenile Justice Act provide for an elaborate and time consuming adoption procedure beset with inordinate delays.
• According to the suggestion of Standing Committee on Law and Personnel, the new legislation should cover all religions and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Review of Guardianship and Adoption Laws

• It has suggested that a monthly meeting chaired by the District Magistrate should be held in every district.
  • This will ensure that orphan and abandoned children found begging in streets are produced before the Child Welfare Committee and are made available for adoption at the earliest.

 Important Facts and Figures

• There were 27,939 prospective parents registered with the Child Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) as on December 2021
• It is up from nearly 18,000 in 2017.
• In comparison though there were a total 6,996 orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children residing in childcare institutions considered adoptable
• Only 2,430 were declared legally free for adoption by Child Welfare Committees.
• The waiting time for adoption too has increased to three years from one year in the past five years.
• The total number of children adopted in 2021-2022 was only 3,175. 
• There are only 2,430 children found to be legally free for adoption in a country with an estimated 3.1 crore orphans according to the 2020 Orphan Report of IHH Humanitarian and Social Research Center (INSAMER)
  • This is because of the failure to bring more children in need of care into the government’s safety net.
• There are 6,525 child care institutions registered under the Juvenile Justice Act.

What are the challenges?

LGBTQ+

• LGBTQIA person can apply to Central Adoption Review Authority (CARA) for adoption as a single parent only.

  

• If same-sex union gets legalised in India, lawyers and child rights activists said it will end discrimination against LGBTQIA+ members who will be able to adopt as a married couple.

Superiority of Father

• Indian laws accord superiority to the father in case of guardianship of a minor.

Returning Children after Adoption

• An unusual upsurge in adoptive parents returning children after adopting face by Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) 
• Reason is disruptions occur is that disabled children and older children take much longer to adjust to their adoptive families.

Child Trafficking 

• Becoming increasingly common as the pool of children available for adoption shrinks and waitlisted parents grow restless.
• Several incidents were occurred in the recent years. 

Adoption Related Rules in India

• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
  • Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs are legalized to adopt kids.
  • Orphan, abandoned, or surrendered child who has been declared legally free for adoption by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) can be adopted.
• Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 (HAMA)
  • Under the Act, a Hindu parent or guardian can give a child in adoption to another Hindu parent.
  • The Act does not allow the adoption of an orphaned, abandoned or surrendered child who is in the care of any specialized adoption agency (SSA) or child care institution.
  • Inter-country adoptions don’t come under the purview.
• Guardians and Ward Act (GWA), 1980
  • This law covers Hindus, followers of Lingayat, Virashiva, Brahmo, Parthana Samaj, Arya Samaj, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains. But Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Jews are not covered under this law.
  • The Guardians and Ward Act of 1890 applies to everyone regardless of caste, creed or community, whereas the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act are considered only Hindu.
• SC judgment (Githa Hariharan vs Reserve Bank of India in 1999)
  • Challenged the HMGA for violating the guarantee of equality of sexes under Article 14 of the Constitution of India.
  • But the judgment failed to recognise both parents as equal guardians, subordinating a mother’s role to that of the father.

Compostable Plastic Manufacturing and Commercialising

Source : PIB
GS III : Environment

What is discussed under Compostable Plastic Manufacturing and Commercialising ?

1. What are the challenges for Phase out SUP?
2. Biodegradable plastics

Why in News ?

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today approved StartUp loan of Rs 1.15 crores to M/s TGP Bioplastics for commercialising “compostable” plastic and thus also mitigate the usage of Single Use Plastics (SUP).

Key Facts

• In lines with the clarion call to phase out single use plastic items, India had banned manufacturing, importing, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, all across the country on July 1, 2022.
• The concept of compostable plastic will be scaled up with further government support for driving global action on plastic pollution.

What is the challenges for Phase out SUP ?

• Single-use plastic has been a very good business, and that’s projected to continue.

  

• The cheapest degradable polymer today is Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) which is available at Rs. 280-300/kg, whereas conventional plastic raw materials cost around Rs. 90/kg.
• Efforts focused on curtailing the production of single-use plastic have been limited so far.
• The economics favour more plastic production.
• A significant amount ends up in rivers, oceans and landfills are not recyclable.
• India does not have systems in place for effective segregation, collection and recycling.
• No policy for recycling plastics. Also challenges are there to setup a recycling plant because of environmental issues raised by Pollution Control Boards of various states.
•  Trade bodies like All India Plastic Manufacturers Association (AIPMA) recommends government to extend the deadline for phasing out SUP products by a period of one year to 2023 because of challenges caused by COVID.

Biodegradable plastics

• Biodegradable plastics are those that can decompose naturally in the environment.
• The makeup structure of biodegradable plastics makes them easily break down by natural microorganisms, giving an end product that is less harmful to the environment.
• Biodegradable plastics are perceived to be more eco-friendly due to their environmental benefits.
• One of the very first man-made bioplastics, called Parkesine, was created in 1862 by Alexander Parkes (UK) from cellulose.
• Most common examples include polybutyrate adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH/PVA), and polycaprolactone (PCL).

Indigenously Developed Equipment And Systems

Source : PIB
GS II : Science and Technology; GS III : Internal Security

What is discussed under Indigenously Developed Equipment And Systems?

1. Equipment and Systems
2. Scales of Accommodation (SoA) 2022

Why in News ?

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh handed over indigenously-developed equipment and systems to the Indian Army in New Delhi on August 16, 2022. 

Key Facts

• These include Future Infantry Soldier as a System (F-INSAS), new generation anti-personnel mine ‘Nipun’, rugged and automatic communication system with enhanced capabilities, upgraded sights system for tanks and advanced thermal imagers.
• State-of-the art high mobility Infantry Protected Vehicles and Assault Boats were virtually handed over by Raksha Mantri enabling the troops deployed along the borders to respond to any challenge in a befitting manner.
• The equipment/systems have been jointly developed by Indian Army in collaboration with Defence Public Sector Undertakings, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Industry.

Equipment and Systems

Future Infantry Soldier as a System

• Future Infantry Soldier is being equipped with three primary sub systems.
• The first sub system is the modern state of art assault rifle along with day and night holographic and reflex sights.

  

• The sights are mounted on the weapon and also on helmet to enable a 360-degree visibility and accuracy in operational conditions.
• In addition to the primary weapon system, the soldiers will also be kitted with multi-mode hand grenade which has also been procured indigenously along with multi-purpose knife.
• The second sub system is protection system.
• This gives protection through a specially designed helmet and a bullet proof jacket.
• The third sub system consists of communication and surveillance system. 

Anti-Personnel mine Nipun 

• The Indian Army has been using vintage NMM 14 mines.
• Indian mine named Nipun has been developed.
• It will enhance the protection provided to the troops on the borders.
• The mine is more potent and effective than the existing anti-personnel mine.

Hand Held Thermal Imager (Uncooled)

• This equipment is for surveillance and detection.
• It gives visibility in both day and night and in adverse weather conditions to the soldiers to detect enemy movement and activities.

Commander Thermal Imaging Sight for T-90 tank

• This equipment gives enhanced visibility and range to the commanders of armoured columns.
• Earlier, in T-90 tanks had image intensification systems which had its own limitations and constraints.
• The limitations have been overcome by use of thermal imaging sight produced by India Optel Limited.

Downlink Equipment with Recording Facility

• This downlink equipment helps the helicopters in carrying out constant reconnaissance and surveillance of the borders and operational areas.
• While on missions, reconnaissance data observed is recorded in the system and can be accessed only when the helicopter returns to the base.

Semi Ruggedised Automatic Exchange System Mk-II

• Indian Army had exchanges that provided line communications to the operationally deployed units.
  • However, there were limitations in terms of numbers of subscribers and quantum of data that could be communicated.
  • Also, the equipment could not work with latest internet protocol technology.
• A new system has been developed which overcomes all inadequacies of the older system.

Upgraded Radio Relay (Frequency Hopping)

• With this radio relay system, forward troops are in a position to operate their communication equipment and radio sets at much longer ranges and in greater depths than hither-to-fore.
• This is an advanced system with frequency hopping technology and very high capacity.
• It has been developed by Bharat Electronics Limited, Bengaluru.

Solar Photovoltaic Energy Project

• The complete power requirement in the area to operate various equipment was met only through captive generator supply.
• A solar photo-voltaic plant has been installed to improve the overall energy requirements and also obviate dependence on fossil fuels.

Landing Craft Assault (LCA)

• There are boats operating in Pangong Tso lake, however, they have limited capabilities.
• The LCA is much more versatile and has overcome the limitations of launch, speed and capacity.
• It has enhanced the capability to operate across the water obstacles in Eastern Ladakh. 

Mini Remotely Piloted Aerial System (RPAS)

• RPAS removes the operational limitations faced by the Indian Air Force aircraft and the heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicles at tactical level.
• It empowers the Indian Army by removing the restricted capability for surveillance, detection and reconnaissance at the infantry battalion and mechanised units level.

Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicle (IPMV)

• IPMV provides mobility and more protection to a large number of infantry soldiers posted at the Northern Borders.

Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle (Medium)

• The second vehicle along with the Infantry Mobility Protected Vehicle for enhanced mobility of our troops in Eastern Ladakh is the Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle (Medium).
• It facilitates quick deployment of troops and will enable much faster reaction.
• These are tailor made vehicles with high mobility, enhanced firepower & protection.
• It will facilitate in creating moral ascendency in our Northern Borders.

Scales of Accommodation (SoA) 2022

• Scales of Accommodation (SoA) 2022, which provides authorisation for construction facilities for operational, functional, training, administrative, living and recreation for the Defence Services.
• The SoA 2022 is in line with the Government policies and vision like Swachh Bharat, Sugamya Bharat, Digital India, Green Buildings, Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy, Reduction of Carbon Footprint Promotion of Yoga & Fit India etc
• There would be tremendous improvement in facilities/infrastructure and specifications commensurate to contemporary requirements and will further improve the working and living conditions for the defence personnel including civilians. 

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