Current Affairs 27 August 2022 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 27 August 2022 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

49th Chief Justice of India And Constitution Bench

Source : Business Standard
GS II : Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies

What is discussed under 49th Chief Justice of India And Constitution Bench?

1. Chief Justice of India (CJI)
2. Constitution Bench

Why in News ?

Justice Uday Umesh Lalit was on Saturday sworn in as the 49th Chief Justice of India (CJI).

Key Facts

• CJI, Justice Lalit will have a tenure of 74 days and would demit office on November 8 on attaining the age of 65 years.
• The top court had recently notified that 25 five-judge Constitution Bench matters would be listed from August 29.
  • These include ensuring that at least one constitution bench is functioning in the Supreme Court throughout the year, listing cases for hearing in the apex court, and mentioning urgent matters.

Chief Justice of India (CJI)

Appointment

• Appointment of Chief Justice From 1950 to 1973, the practice has been to appoint the senior most judge of the Supreme Court was violated in 1973 when A N Ray was appointed as the Chief Justice of India by superseding three senior judges.
• This discretion of the government was curtailed by the Supreme Court in the Second Judges Case (1993), in which the Supreme Court ruled that the senior most judge of the Supreme Court should alone be appointed to the office of the chief justice of India.

Qualifications of Judges

• He should be a citizen of India.
• He should have been a judge of a High Court (or high courts in
  succession) for five years; or
• He should have been an advocate of a High Court (or High Courts in succession) for ten years; or
• He should be a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the president.

Facts : Constitution has not prescribed a minimum age for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court. No judge of the Supreme Court has been impeached so far.

Oath or Affirmation

• A person appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court, before entering upon his Office, has to make and subscribe an oath or affirmation.

  

• Oath before the President, or some person appointed by him for this purpose.

Tenure of Judges

• Age : He holds office until he attains the age of 65 years.
• Challenging : Any question regarding his age is to be determined as provided by Parliament.
• Resignation : He can resign his office by writing to the president.
• Removal : He can be removed from his office by the President on the recommendation of the Parliament.

Removal from office

• The President can issue the removal order only after an address by Parliament.
• The grounds of removal are two
  1. Proved misbehaviour
  2. Incapacity.
• Process of Removal
  • Removal Motion signed by 100 members (in the case of Lok Sabha) or 50 members (in the case of Rajya Sabha) is to be given to the Speaker/Chairman.
  • Speaker/Chairman may admit the motion or refuse to admit it.
  • On allowing Speaker/Chairman is to constitute a three member committee to investigate into the charges.
  • Committee should consist of
    • Chief justice or a judge of the Supreme Court
    • Chief justice of a high court
    • Distinguished Jurist
  • Once committee admit the charges the motion is passed by each House of Parliament by special majority, an address is presented to the president for removal of the judge and the president passes an order removing the judge.

Important Article

Article 124 : Establishment and Constitution of Supreme Court

Article 126 : Appointment of acting Chief Justice

Article 130 : Seat of Supreme Court

Article 131 : Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

Constitution Bench

• A Constitution Bench is a bench of the Supreme Court having five or more judges on it.
• Purpose : It is designed to resolve important legal issues involving a case’s constitutional interpretation.
• Article 143 : The minimum number of Judges who are to sit for the purpose of deciding any case involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution or for the purpose of hearing any reference under article 143 shall be five.

When the Constitution Bench Set Up?

• For the purpose of deciding any case involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Constitution.
• When two or more three-judge benches of the Supreme Court have delivered conflicting judgments on the same point of law.
• When President of India has sought the Supreme Court’s opinion on a question of fact or law under Article 143 of the Constitution.
• Most of the landmark cases in which the court settled the law were decided by the Constitution Benches.
• Some such cases are AK Gopalan v. State of Madras, Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, etc.,

Getting India to Net Zero Report

Source : Indian Express
GS III : Environment

What is discussed under Getting India to Net Zero Report?

1. Getting India to Net Zero Report
2. What is net-zero?

Why in News ?

According to a research, India will need to invest $10.1 trillion in its whole economy in order to reach its net-zero emissions goal by 2070.

Getting India to Net Zero Report

• According to the Getting India to Net Zero report, the investment required will be $13.5 trillion if the target is to be met by 2050.

  

• The report also says achieving net-zero by 2070 would boost annual GDP by up to 4.7% by 2036 and create as many as 15 million new jobs by 2047.
• India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets set in 2015 are likely to be met early within the next few years through current policies, says the report.
• According to the report India could peak in emissions as soon as 2030.
• Policies Motioned
  • Policies, especially to boost renewables and electrification, could make net zero possible by mid-century.
  • Ending new coal by 2023 and transitioning from unabated coal power by 2040 would be particularly impactful for reaching net zero emissions closer to mid-century.
• Reaching net zero by 2050 would lead to greater benefits, increasing India’s GDP by up to 7.3% and creating 20 million new jobs by 2032.
• The transfer of finance and technology to developing countries is crucial in this challenge is cited as a challenge. 

What is net-zero?

• Net-zero, often known as carbon-neutrality, does not imply that a nation will reduce its emissions to zero.
• The absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere offset a nation’s emissions.
• While adding more carbon sinks like trees can increase the amount of emissions absorbed, removing pollutants from the atmosphere calls for cutting-edge technology like carbon capture and storage.
• In this approach, if absorption and removal outpace actual emissions, a nation may even have negative emissions.

India’s concerns

• India is the only country that opposes this aim as India’s emissions are anticipated to increase at the fastest rate in the world over the next two to three decades as it pushes for more growth to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.
• Currently, the majority of carbon removal systems are either very expensive or unreliable.
• India has been making the case that nations should put more emphasis on keeping their promises than starting a separate conversation about net-zero goals outside of the Paris Agreement framework.
• According to numerous studies, India is the only member of the G-20 whose climate policies are in line with the Paris Agreement’s mandate to prevent global temperatures from rising by more than 2°C.
• The developed nations have never delivered on their past promises and commitments.

Super Hornet Fighter Jet Boeing

Source : CNBC
GS II : Internal Security

What is discussed under Super Hornet Fighter Jet Boeing?

1. About F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III fighters
2. Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant

Why in News ?

Indian Navy is preparing to commission the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant US aerospace major Boeing has made a strong pitch for its F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III fighters as the best deck-based jets to operate from the aircraft carrier. 

About F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III fighters

• Indian Navy had initiated the process of acquiring 57 multi-role combat aircraft for its aircraft carrier over four years ago.
• It plans to procure 26 aircraft in the next few months.
• The Navy has shortlisted the F/A-18 Super Hornet and French Rafale M single-seater produced by Dassault Aviation.
• Boeing will offer single and two-seater variants to the Indian Navy.
• The Super Hornet Block III has been built for carrier aircraft operations and it is the fighter that the US Navy depends on for its operations.
• The F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III has been designed as a carrier-based fighter for high-loading, high stress operations and requires minimal support equipment.
• The jets have the lowest operational cost per flight hour and high mission readiness rates.

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant

• The first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy, Vikrant is the largest warship ever constructed in India.

  

• India is now part of a select group of countries with the capacity to design and construct these massive, powerful warships.
• The Battleship Design Bureau (WDB), the Navy’s own organisation, created the warship, which was delivered to the Navy by the maker, Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL).

Importance of Aircraft Carrier

• One of any country’s most effective naval assets is an aircraft carrier, which increases a Navy’s ability to conduct air dominance operations far from home shores.
• The aircraft carrier is typically accompanied in the group by destroyers, missile cruisers, frigates, submarines, and supply ships because it is a prized and occasionally vulnerable target.
• A navy with the ability to demonstrate the might and power of a country on the high seas.
• The ‘INS Vikramaditya’, which was commissioned in 2013 and which is currently the Navy’s only aircraft carrier, started out as the Soviet-Russian warship ‘Admiral Gorshkov’.

Features of Vikrant

• It has a maximum designed speed of 28 knots (about 52 km/h) with an endurance of 7500 NM.
• Capable of operating 30 aircraft including MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 Air Early Warning Helicopters, MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopters, as well as the Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
• Steel Authority of India Limited indigenized the warship-grade steel needed to construct the IAC-1 (SAIL).
• Indigenous content of the project is approximately 76%.
• About 80–85 percent of the project’s estimated 23,000 crore was invested back in the Indian economy.
• 44,500-tonne vessel and can carry up to 34 aircraft, including both fighter jets and helicopters.
• The ship will be capable of operating 30 aircraft including
  • MiG-29K fighter jets
  • Kamov-31 Air Early Warning Helicopters
  • MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopters
  • Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) built by Bengaluru-based Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd
  • Indigenously manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) (Navy).

The Competition Amendment Bill 2022

Source : Economic Times
GS II : Governance

What is discussed under The Competition Amendment Bill 2022?

1. Key Features of the Bill
2. About Competition Commission of India

Why in News ?

Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022 updates the existing framework for addressing anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance and mergers and amalgamations (M&A).

Key Features of the Bill

• It seeks to amend the Competition Act, 2002.
• The Act establishes the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for regulating market competition.

  

• Act prohibits any person or enterprise from entering into a combination which may cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition.
  • Combinations imply mergers, acquisitions, or amalgamation of enterprises.
  • Bill expands the definition of combinations to include transactions with a value above Rs 2,000 crore.
  • The prohibition applies to transactions where parties involved have
    1. Cumulative assets of more than Rs 1,000 crore
    2. Cumulative turnover of more than Rs 3,000 crore, subject to certain other conditions.
• Bill modifies the definition of control as the ability to exercise material influence over the management, affairs, or strategic commercial decisions.
• The Act specifies that any combination shall not come into effect until the CCI has passed an order or 210 days have passed.
• Anti-competitive agreements include any agreement related to production, supply, storage, or control of goods or services, which can cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India.
• CCI may initiate proceedings against enterprises on grounds of
  1. Entering into anti-competitive agreements
  2. Abuse of dominant position
• Act defines relevant product market as products and services which are considered substitutable by the consumer.
• Chairperson and members of CCI should have professional experience of at least 15 years in fields such as economics, competition matters, law, management, or business.
• offences include failure to comply with orders of CCI and directions of Director General with regard to anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position changes the nature of punishment.

About Competition Commission of India

• Competition Commission of India is a statutory body of the Government of India
• It is responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 to ensure fair advertisement there by promoting consumer interest. 
• CCI aims to create and sustain fair competition in the economy to the producers and make the markets work for the welfare of the consumers.
• The Act prohibits anti competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.

Members of the body

• CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.
• Commission also undertake competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart training on competition issues.

Importance and regulations by CCI in India

• Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered penalties totalling about Rs 14,000 crore for unfair marketing tactics.
• A foreign company seeking entry into India through an acquisition or merger will have to abide by the country’s competition laws.
• Action against unfair activity :
  • Rs. 10 million fine upon Google in 2014 for failure to comply with the directions given by the Director General seeking information and documents.
  • Recently initiate a probe against e-commerce firms, including Amazon and Flipkart for giving deep discounts on online sales of smartphones and other gadgets.

CCI role in acquiring shares

• Section 2(a) of the Act specifically defines acquisition to mean  directly or indirectly acquiring or agreeing to acquire
  • Shares, voting rights or assets of any enterprises; or
  • Control over management or control over assets of any enterprises.
• According to the Section 5 of the Act any acquisition of one or more enterprises by one or more persons, or merger or amalgamation of enterprises, shall be a ‘combination’ of such enterprises and person or enterprises if the threshold prescribed under the Section are met.

Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV)

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

What is discussed under Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV)?

1. About SRBSDV
2. Corrective Measure

Why in News ?

The scientists at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) solved the mystery and blamed the Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV), named after Southern China where it was first reported in 2001.

About SRBSDV

• The mysterious disease that struck the paddy crop and caused “dwarfing” of the plants in Punjab and Haryana.

  

• First time that SRBSDV has been found in Punjab.
• The incidence of stunting was more pronounced in early sown paddy crops, irrespective of the variety.
• As per the scientific reports, the SRBSDV is transmitted by white-backed plant hopper (WBPH) in a persistent circulative and propagative manner.
• SRBSDV also infects different weed species as nymphs of WBPH can transmit the virus more efficiently as compared to adults.
• Long-distance transmission of this virus may occur through WBPH migrating with the typhoons and strong convection winds.
• Dwarfing of plants was reported at 10% to 25% in general and in some cases, it exceeded 40%.

Corrective Measure

• No corrective measure for the viral disease.
• Farmers should regularly monitor the crop for the presence of WBPH and a few plants should be slightly tilted and tapped 2-3 times at the base at weekly intervals.
• If WBPH nymphs/adults are seen floating on water, then insecticides, including Pexalon 10 SC (triflumezopyrim) @ 94 ml/acre or Osheen/Token 20 SG (dinotefuran) @ 80 g/acre or Chess 50 WG (pymetrozine) @ 120 g/acre, can be sprayed towards the base of the plants.
• Since stunting was found to be more prevalent in the early transplanted crops, producers are encouraged to abide by the PAU’s recommended transplanting dates.
• In addition to controlling the viral illness, it will also conserve water.

Artemis I Mission By NASA

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

What is discussed under Artemis I Mission By NASA?

1. What is the Artemis I Mission?
2. Objectives of the mission

Why in News ?

Almost 50 years after the last Apollo mission NASA intends to usher in a new era of space exploration by sending astronauts back to the Moon as part of the Artemis programme, beginning with the launch of Artemis I on August 29.

What is the Artemis I Mission?

• Artemis I is the first of NASA’s deep space exploration systems.
• It is an uncrewed space mission where the spacecraft will launch on SLS the most powerful rocket in the world.

  

• The Orion spacecraft is going to remain in space without docking to a space station, longer than any ship for astronauts has ever done before.
• The SLS rocket has been designed for space missions beyond the low-earth orbit and can carry crew or cargo to the moon and beyond.

Objectives of the mission

• NASA also hopes to jump-start private companies that are getting into the space technology industry.
• Aims to land humans on the moon by 2024, and it also plans to land the first woman and first person of colour on the moon.
• In the upcoming year, the mission may offer scientists a wealth of crucial data, including information regarding the presence of water and other resources on the satellite.
• Competing with China’s ambition of creating a lunar base in the 2030s.

African Swine Fever

Source : NDTV
GS II : Health

What is discussed under African Swine Fever?

1. About the Fever
2. Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009
3. National Institute of High Security Animal Disease (NIHSAD)

Why in News ?

More than 2,000 pigs have died due to African swine fever in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa city in the span of two weeks, prompting the administration to issue prohibitory orders.

Key Facts

• Prohibitory orders have been issued under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), banning transportation, purchase and sale of

  

  pigs and their meat, in the order under the Prevention and Control of Infections and Contagious Animal Disease Act 2009.

• National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal has tested samples and detected African swine fever in pigs within Rewa municipal limits.
• By demarcating this settlement as a red zone, all pigs within a radius of one km were being screened and healthy animals were being vaccinated against the disease.
• More than 2,000 pigs in Rewa city have died of African Swine Fever.

Section 144 in The Code Of Criminal Procedure
Power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance of apprehended danger. Executive Magistrate of any state or territory to issue an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area. Punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

African Swine Fever

• Virus is a large, double-stranded DNA virus in the Asfarviridae family first detected in Kenya in 1909 & currently found in Asia, Europe & Africa.
• Affects domestic & wild pigs with Symptoms includes weight loss, intermittent fever, respiratory signs, chronic skin ulcers & arthritis.
  • Acute forms are characterised by anorexia, loss of appetite & haemorrhages in the skin.
• It is transmitted through natural hosts (warthogs, bushpigs & ticks), direct/indirect contact with infected pigs, their faeces & body fluids.
• They are found no health risk to human. 
• There is no vaccine for ASF.

Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009

• Act to provide for the prevention, control and eradication of infectious and contagious diseases affecting animals, for prevention of outbreak or spreading of such diseases from one State to another, and to meet the international obligations.
• Vaccination of any animal against any scheduled disease in respect of which vaccination is made mandatory under the provisions of this Act.
• All animals infected or suspected to be infected with a scheduled disease will be segregated and prevented from grazing or drinking water from a common source.
• State government can notify any area as a controlled area with respect to any scheduled disease.
• If the state government is satisfied that the disease is no longer prevalent, it can declare the area as a free area.
• A Veterinary Officer can notify an area within his jurisdiction as an infected area.
• Animal of the species or any susceptible species can enter into or exit from a controlled or free area only if it has been vaccinated at least 21 days before the date of movement.

Aashwasan Campaign Tribal TB Initiative

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

What is discussed under Aashwasan Campaign Tribal TB Initiative?

1. About Tuberculosis (TB)
2. WHO Initiatives

Why in News ?

Recently an aggressive case-finding effort to identify TB cases among tribal communities over the previous six months, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Central TB Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have now decided on 75 tribal districts where targeted interventions will be carried out over the coming few months with the goal of eradicating TB from them.

Key Facts

• The campaign to detect TB cases across 174 tribal districts started this January under the Aashwasan Campaign.
• It allowed for door-to-door screening in over 68,000 villages.
• After a verbal screening of more than 1.03 crore persons in these villages, official statistics revealed that 3,82,811 people had been suspected of having TB.

March 24th is World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, and the theme for 2017 is “Unite to End TB.”

• Over 2.79 lakh of these had their samples tested for TB; 9,971 of these had positive results and were started on treatment in accordance with government policy.
• These data’s showed tribal populations are more vulnerable to TB and other respiratory diseases compared to other population groups. 

Government strategy to control TB in these areas

A three-pronged strategy for the 75 Districts was presented, to be centered on:

• Enhancing understanding of TB, its symptoms, spread, and treatment methods; addressing stigma and fear related to TB; and maintaining contact with community influencers who have been identified during this process for community mobilisation.
• Improving the delivery of TB services by enhancing the TB testing and diagnosis infrastructure.
• Decreasing the risk of transmission and decreasing the pool of infections through active case finding campaigns

About Tuberculosis (TB)

• Tuberculosis is a potentially serious infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs.

  

• How it Spread ? : The bacteria that cause TB are spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms

Most people infected with the bacteria that cause tuberculosis don’t have symptoms.

• • When symptoms occur, they usually include
    • Cough
    • Weight loss
    • Night sweats
    • Fever.

Treatment

• • Treatment isn’t always required for those without symptoms.
  • Patients with active symptoms will require a long course of treatment involving multiple antibiotics.
• TB is a major public health challenge in the South-East Asia (SEA) Region of WHO.
• Over 43% of the global TB incidence and half the TB associated mortality is from SEA Region.
• Six of 11 countries in the Region are on the high TB burden country list.

Initiatives by India 

• India, with 27% of the world’s TB cases, has the most cases of any country in the world followed by China.
• In India, 7.9% of TB-related deaths are caused by tobacco.
• India also has a high burden of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
• In 2016, the nation lost nearly 423,000 TB patients a third of the world’s 1.4 million TB death toll.
• India loses Rs 2.2 lakh crore every year because of TB.
• Launched the TB Free India campaign
  • Aims to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the target set by the UN’s sustainable development goals.
  • It’s a commitment that’s ambitious and signals Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to fighting the diseases in India, which has the highest burden of TB in the world. 
• National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP)
  • Functions as a  component of the National Health Mission (NHM) and provides technical and managerial leadership to anti-tuberculosis activities in the country.
  • National strategic plan for tuberculosis elimination 2017-2025 : RNTCP has released a National strategic plan for tuberculosis 2017-2025 (NSP) for the control and elimination of TB in India by 2025.
  • According to the NSP TB elimination have been integrated into the four strategic pillars of “Detect – Treat – Prevent – Build” (DTPB).
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY)
  • It is a direct benefit transfer (DBT) programme that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched in April 2018 to provide nutritional support to TB patients.
  • The scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme under National Health Mission (NHM).
  • This scheme is implemented across all States and UTs in India.
  • All TB patients notified on or after 1st April 2018 including all existing TB patients under treatment are eligible to receive incentives.
  • The patient must be registered\notified on the NIKSHAY portal.

Where India Lagging?

• One of the reasons for the missing TB cases could be a lack of testing for drug resistance.
• The incentives programme still has a long way to go, as per experts and the 2019 JMM ( Joint Monitoring Mission (JMM) Report 2019).
• Only two-thirds of people living with tuberculosis benefitted from the Union government’s Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY), sole nutrition support scheme, in 2021.

WHO Initiatives

• To establish a Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for TB (STAG-TB).
• Provide guidance on strategic directions, technical issues and policy formulation for the TB work in the Region.
• The formation of group is timed with the ongoing work on Regional Strategic Plan towards ending TB 2021-25.
• The main goal of the STAG-TB is to provide independent review and technical input to the TB control policies, strategies and activities of the WHO Regional Office for the South-East Asia, facilitate the regional adoption and adaptation of the updated global recommendations.
• WHO SEARO High-Level Meeting for Renewed TB Response, India emphasized the fact that the South-East Asia Region bears the highest burden of TB disease among all six Regions.

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