Daily Current Affairs 06 January 2024 – IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs 06 January 2024 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :
Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs)
Source: The Hindu
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
Overview
- News in Brief
- About New rules Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs)
Why in the News?
The Election Commission of India brought in new rules for the allocation of symbols to Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs).
News in Brief
- This aking it mandatory for them to furnish audited accounts of the last three financial years, expenditure statements of last two elections, and the signature of the authorised office-bearer of the party along with the application form for symbols.
- The EC receives the applications from RUPPs in prescribed proforma for allotment of symbols under Provisions of Para 10B of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968.
- In September 2022, the EC had de-listed 86 non-existent RUPPs and declared another 253 as ‘Inactive RUPPs’.
About New rules Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs)
- The last three fiscal years’ audited accounts must be provided by RUPPs.
- They are obligated to provide expenditure reports for the previous two elections.
- In the past, the RUPPs had provided the application form for symbols and the signature of the party’s authorised office-bearer separately .
- These details are now included in the common symbol application format.
- The revised regulations would take effect on January 11 2023.
About Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs)
- Either newly registered parties or those who have not secured enough percentage of votes in the assembly or general elections to become a state party, or those who have never contested elections since being registered are considered unrecognised parties.
- Such parties don’t enjoy all the benefits extended to the recognised parties.
- Election Commission ordered the deletion of 111 registered unrecognised political parties earlier.
- RUPPs are given common symbols in exchange for a promise to run at least 5% of total candidates with regard to said Legislative Assembly election of a State.
The assignment of symbols is the responsibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 regulates this.
India’s Exports
Source: News On Air
GS III: Indian Economy
Overview
- News in Brief
- India’s Exports
- Foreign Trade Policy (FTP)
Why in the News?
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on 6th Jan 2024 said that India has exported products worth over 60 lakh crore rupees in the financial year 2022-2023.
News in Brief
- Addressing the 77th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards.
- Mr. Goyal stressed that high-quality standards will help India achieve high ambitions and also become a developed nation.
- Over 340 districts in the country have hallmarking facilities and nearly 4.5 lakh articles are hallmarked every day.
- Imports of toys have decreased by 52 percent as compared to 2014.
India’s Exports
- India’s overall exports (Merchandise and Services combined) in April-November 2023 are estimated to be USD 499.46 Billion,
- It exhibited a negative growth of (-) 1.39 per cent over April-November 2022.
Overall imports in April-November 2023 are estimated to be USD 560.90 Billion, exhibiting a negative growth of (-) 7.58 per cent over April-November 2022.
- Merchandise exports in November 2023 were USD 33.90 Billion, as compared to USD 34.89 Billion in November 2022.
- Non-petroleum and non-gems & jewellery exports in November 2023 were USD 23.61 Billion, compared to USD 24.30 Billion in November 2022.
- The estimated value of services export for November 2023* is USD 28.69 Billion, as compared to USD 26.93 Billion in November 2022.
- 15 of the 30 key sectors exhibited positive growth in November 2023 as compared to same period last year (November 2022).
- These include Iron Ore (2207.38%), Fruits & Vegetables (31.14%), Meat, Dairy & Poultry Products (19.91%), Oil Meals (17.22%), Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals Including Processed Minerals (16.62%), Gems & Jewellery (11.97%), Spices (11.3%), Coffee (11%), Drugs & Pharmaceuticals (7.33%), Cotton Yarn/ Fabs. /Made-Ups, Handloom Products Etc. (6.33%), Cereal Preparations & Miscellaneous Processed Items (5.9%), Carpet (4.22%), Ceramic Products & Glassware (2.17%), Handicrafts Excl. Hand Made Carpet (1.17%) and Electronic Goods (1.09%).
India’s trade deficit has shown considerable improvement in April-November 2023. Overall trade deficit for April-November 2023* is estimated at USD 61.44 Billion as compared to the deficit of USD 100.38 Billion during April-November 2022, registering a decline of (-) 38.79 percent.
Foreign Trade Policy (FTP)
- Unvieled and came into force on 1 April, 2023.
- FTP 2023 aims at process re-engineering and automation to facilitate ease of doing business for exporters.
- It also focuses on emerging areas like dual use high end technology items under SCOMET, facilitating e-commerce export, collaborating with States and Districts for export promotion.
- The new FTP is introducing a one-time Amnesty Scheme for exporters to close the old pending authorizations and start afresh.
- The FTP 2023 encourages recognition of new towns through “Towns of Export Excellence Scheme” and exporters through “Status Holder Scheme”.
- The FTP 2023 is facilitating exports by streamlining the popular Advance Authorization and EPCG schemes, and enabling merchanting trade from India.
- As per India’s new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, it aims to achieve a total export of USD 2 trillion with services and goods exports accounting for a trillion dollars each by 2030.
FTP 2015-20 aimed to boost India’s exports from $465 billion in 2013-14 to $900 billion by 2019-20. policy’s initial term in 2019-20, exports of goods and services reached $526.55 billion.
Key Approach to the policy is based on these 4 pillars
- Incentive to Remission
- Export promotion through collaboration – Exporters, States, Districts, Indian Missions
- Ease of doing business, reduction in transaction cost and e-initiatives
- Emerging Areas – E-Commerce Developing Districts as Export Hubs and streamlining SCOMET policy.
Aditya-L1 Reached Destination
Source: PIB
GS III: Science and Technology
Overview
- About Aditya-L1 Mission
- What is L1 Lagrange Point 1?
Why in the News?
India’s first solar mission, Aditya-L1, successfully entered the halo orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1).
- This marks a significant milestone for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- With this, India has taken the first step towards completing its Solar mission.
Source: ISRO
News in Brief Aditya-L1 Reached Destination
- The spacecraft is in a poised position to embark on its mission to comprehensively study the Sun.
- It is equipped to relay valuable and insightful observations of the solar system.
- However, before it can commence its mission, there are a series of critical steps that need to be completed to ensure the spacecraft is ready to fulfil its purpose.
- Soon after, its seven payloads will come into action to find answers to some of the most intriguing questions about the Sun.
What is the Purpose of Aditya-L1 Mission?
- The primary goal is to understand why the Sun’s corona is astonishingly hot, reaching temperatures of up to 2 million degrees, in stark contrast to the relatively cooler surface of the Sun at around 5,000 degrees.
- Continuously observe the Sun for 24 hours a day, a feat not possible from Earth’s orbit, as the planet frequently obstructs the view.
About Aditya-L1 Mission
- Aditya-L1 is a satellite dedicated to the comprehensive study of the Sun.
- Aditya in Sanskrit means the Sun.
- Purpose: Observing and understanding the chromospheric and coronal dynamics of the Sun continuously.
- It has 7 distinct payloads developed, all developed indigenously.
- Five by ISRO and two by Indian academic institutes in collaboration with ISRO.
Schedule
- Aditya-L1 stays Earth-bound orbits for 16 days, during which it undergoes 5 maneuvres to gain the necessary velocity for its journey.
- Subsequently, Aditya-L1 undergoes a Trans-Lagrangian1 insertion maneuvre, marking the beginning of its 110-day trajectory to the destination around the L1 Lagrange point.
- Upon arrival at the L1 point, another maneuvre binds Aditya-L1 to an orbit around L1, a balanced gravitational location between the Earth and the Sun.
- The satellite spends its whole mission life orbiting around L1 in an irregularly shaped orbit in a plane roughly perpendicular to the line joining the Earth and the Sun.
How it will work?
- The strategic placement at the L1 Lagrange point ensures that Aditya-L1 can maintain a constant, uninterrupted view of the Sun.
- This location also allows the satellite to access solar radiation and magnetic storms before Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere influence them.
- Additionally, the L1 point’s gravitational stability minimizes the need for frequent orbital maintenance efforts, optimizing the satellite’s operational efficiency.
- Aditya-L1 will stay approximately 1.5 million km away from Earth, directed towards the Sun, which is about 1% of the Earth-Sun distance.
- The Sun is a giant sphere of gas and Aditya-L1 would study the outer atmosphere of the Sun.
- Aditya-L1 will neither land on the Sun nor approach the Sun any closer.
What is L1 Lagrange Point 1 and Halo orbit?
- L1 here refers to Lagrange Point 1 of the Sun-Earth system.
- For common understanding, L1 is a location in space where the gravitational forces of two celestial bodies, such as the Sun and Earth, are in equilibrium.
- This allows an object placed there to remain relatively stable concerning both celestial bodies.
About Halo orbit
Halo orbit is a periodic, three-dimensional orbit at L1 involving Sun, Earth and a spacecraft. This specific halo orbit is selected to ensure a mission lifetime of 5 years, minimising station-keeping manoeuvres and thus fuel consumption and ensuring a continuous, unobstructed view of sun.
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Source : The Hindu
GS III : Science and Technology
Overview
Why in News ?
About Copernicus System
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