Daily Factly Articles – 20/04/2022

Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022

• GS 2
• Government Policies & Interventions

In News

• President has given a nod to Bill that unifies three Delhi MCDs under Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

About the Bill

• Merging 3 MCD’s: With the passage of the three existing civic bodies, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), will now be re-unified.
• Reduction in ward numbers: This means that the number of wards could be reduced to 250 from 272.
• Allocation of seats: the total number of seats of councillors and the number of seats reserved for the members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) communities in the corporation, shall, at the time of the establishment of the corporation, be as determined by the Centre and in no case, be more than 250.
• The unified body could be dubbed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and all the liabilities, employees, revenue sources of the SDMC, EDMC and NDMC will soon be transferred to the MCD.
• Transfer of power and property: All properties, movable and immovable, of or belonging to the erstwhile corporations shall vest in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
  • All the rights and liabilities of the erstwhile corporations shall be transferred to and be the rights and liabilities of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
• Constitutionally: This Bill is in accordance with the Constitution. The Centre has the power to enact laws in the Union Territory of Delhi.

What was the need?

• Increasing financial difficulties of the three Municipal Corporations in Delhi due to the trifurcation.
• Delay in payment and salaries: These financial constraints had reportedly left the MCDs incapacitated to make timely payment of salaries and retirement benefits to their employees.
• 2022 MCD election: Now that the MCD bill has received the President’s nod, the delimitation process is expected to begin shortly. 
  • Once the official notification is issued regarding the completion of the delimitation process, the 2022 MCD election will be scheduled.
• Planning and optimal utilisation of resources: The unification of the municipal corporations in Delhi will ensure synergised and strategic planning and optimal utilisation of resources.

Significance of MCD reunification

• Unify the three municipal corporations into a single, integrated and well-equipped entity.
• Ensure a robust mechanism for optimal utilisation of resources.
• Bring greater transparency, improved governance.
• Efficient delivery of civic service.

What is Municipal Corporation?

• About:
  • Municipal Corporations are local level governments in India. It’s also called as Mahanagar Palika, Nagar Palika, Nagar Nigam, City Corporation, etc. 
  • The Municipal Corporation is responsible for the development of any Metropolitan City having a population of more than one million people. 
  • The 74th Amendment Act established the types of urban local government formations and operations. 
• Constitutional Provisions:
  • In the Constitution of India, no provision was made for the establishment of local self-government, except the incorporation of Article 40 in the Directive Principles of State Policy.
  • The 74th Amendment Act, 1992 has inserted a new Part IX-A into the Constitution which deals with the administration of Municipalities and Nagar Palikas.
  • It consists of Article 243P to 243ZG. It also added a new twelfth schedule to the Constitution. The 12th schedule consists of 18 items.
• Functions:
  • Urban planning including town planning.
  • Regulation of land-use and construction of buildings.
  • Planning for economic and social development
  • Water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes.
  • Public health, sanitation conservancy, and solid waste management.
  • Fire services.
  • Urban forestry, protection of the environment and promotion of ecological aspects.
  • Safeguarding the interests of weaker sections of society, including the handicapped and mentally retarded.
  • Slum improvement and up-gradation.
  • Urban poverty alleviation.
• Composition:
  • Based on the population of that particular city, the city or Municipal Area is divided into certain wards. 
  • A representative is chosen for each ward by the people in that ward. A chosen representative of a particular ward is called as councilor or corporator. Corporators are elected for a period of five years.
• Elections of MC:
  • The elections to the Municipal Corporations are conducted under the guidance, direction, superintendence and control of the State Election Commission. 

Source: TH

Daily Factly Articles For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022

• GS 2
• Government Policies & Interventions

In News

• Recently, the President has given assent to the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022.

Major Provisions of the Bill

• About: It empowers police to obtain physical and biological samples of convicts and those accused of crimes.
  • The authority to collect such information, defined as ‘measurements’ of prisoners, is given to investigating officers, namely prison officers or the police.
• Expanding Information collection: The Act authorises the collection of certain identifiable information about specified persons such as convicts for investigation of crime. 
  • The Bill expands the ambit of such details, and persons whose details can be taken. 
• Role of National Crime Records Bureau: The Bill empowers NCRB to collect the details about the persons covered under the Bill from state governments, union territory (UT) administrations, or other law enforcement agencies. Other functions of NCRB under the Bill include: 
  • storing and destroying the details about specified persons at the national level
  • processing the details with relevant criminal records, and 
  • disseminating the details to law enforcement agencies. 
• Details about convicts and other persons: The Act permits the collection of photographs and specified details about convicts and other persons including finger impressions and footprint impressions. 
  • The Bill expands the list of details that can be collected. It will now include: 
    • palm-print impressions,
    • iris and retina scans, 
    • behavioural attributes such as signature and handwriting, and 
    • other physical and biological samples such as blood, semen, hair samples, and swabs, and their analysis. 
• Persons whose details may be taken: As per the Act, the following persons may be required to give photographs and specified details: 
  • persons convicted of certain offences (such as offences punishable with a minimum of one year of rigorous imprisonment), 
  • persons ordered to give security for good behaviour or maintaining peace under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC), and 
  • persons arrested in connection with an offence punishable with at least one year of rigorous imprisonment. 
  • The Bill widens the ambit of such persons to include all convicts, arrested persons, as well as persons detained under any preventive detention law. Arrested persons will not be obliged to give their biological samples unless they have committed an offence against a woman or a child, or an offence punishable with a minimum of seven years of imprisonment.
• Retention of details: The Bill requires the details collected to be retained in digital or electronic form for 75 years from the date of collection. The record may be destroyed in case of persons who: 
  • Have not been previously convicted, and 
  • Are released without trial, discharged, or acquitted by the court, after exhausting all legal remedies. 
  • A Court or a Magistrate may direct the retention of details in case of such persons after recording reasons in writing. 
• Resistance to giving details: As per the Bill, resistance or refusal to give details will be considered an offence under the Indian Penal Code, 1860. 
  • In case of such resistance or refusal, police officers or prison officers may collect details in the manner prescribed under Rules made by the state government or the central government. 
• Persons authorised to collect details: Under the Act, details may be collected by police officers who: 
  • Are in charge of a police station, 
  • conduct investigation under the CrPC, or 
  • are at least at the rank of a SubInspector. 
  • The Bill permits the collection of details about specified persons by either a prison officer (not below the rank of Head Warder), or a police officer (in charge of a police station, or at least at the rank of a Head Constable).
• Powers of Magistrate: Under the Bill, a Magistrate may direct a person to give details for the purpose of an investigation or proceeding under the CrPC. 
  • Depending on certain factors (such as the area concerned), the Magistrate may be a Metropolitan Magistrate, a Judicial Magistrate of the first class, or an Executive Magistrate. 
• Rule-making power extended to the central government: The Act vested rule-making power only in the state government. 
  • The Bill extends this power to the central government as well. The central or state government may make rules on various matters, including:
    • the manner of collecting details,
    • the manner of collection, storage, preservation, destruction, dissemination, and disposal of details by NCRB.

Significance of the Bill

• The bill utilises modern state of Art Technology to collect information. For example, retina scan, biometrics etc along with previously present fingertips scanning.
• It proposes to ensure that no person involved in a political agitation has to give (physical and biometric) measurements only for political agitation. But, if a political leader is arrested in a criminal case, then he will have to be at par with a citizen.
• It suits the changed nature of the crime.
• It proposes to strengthen the capacity of the police and forensic department.

Concerns in the Bill

• Violates constitution: 
  • A regulatory and scientific examination of the Bill clearly indicates grave constitutional violations as it falls short of the fundamental right to equality (provided by Article 14), the right against self-incrimination (provided by Article 20(3)), and the right to privacy (provided by Article 21) of the Constitution of India.
• Unnecessary classifications having no use: 
  • An unreasonable classification is also created by the Bill between classes of persons who may and who may not be compelled to give their sensitive personal information.
• Violating right to privacy: 
  • If an infringement of the right to privacy satisfies the test of the doctrine of proportionality as laid down in Puttaswamy II, it can be said to be constitutional. 
  • The doctrine of proportionality constitutes a (i) legitimate aim, (ii) suitable means, (iii) necessity of means, and (iv) proportionality stricto sensu.
• Over delegation of powers: 
  • Excessive delegation of power to various functionaries and authorities under the Bill, including prison officers and the police. 
• Opaqueness: 
  • Purpose for which the measurements are to be collected, stored, preserved or shared is absent, making the Bill ambiguous and opaque.
  • Period for which such measurements shall be retained, and grounds for their removal and destruction, are all procedural safeguards that the parent statute must itself lay down but are not there.

Way Ahead

• It should be ensured that Right to Privacy should be maintained along with keeping national security as prime agenda.
• Innocent should not be prosecuted.
• Necessary training should be imparted to the investigating officers.

Source: IE

Daily Factly Articles For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

World Economic Outlook (WEO): IMF

• GS 2
• International Organisations & Groupings

In News 

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its latest World Economic Outlook report, cuts global growth sue to Russia- Ukraine war

World Economic Outlook (WEO

• It is a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that analyzes key parts of the IMF’s surveillance of economic developments and policies in its member countries. 
• It also projects developments in the global financial markets and economic systems.
• The WEO is released in April and September/October each year.
• Report Provides:
  • Analysis and forecasts of economic developments and policies in its member countries.
  • Encapsulates the state of the global economy and highlights risks and uncertainty that could threaten growth.
  • This report is the main instrument of disseminating the findings and analysis of their global surveillance activities to the world.

Major Highlights 

• Global: 
  • Global growth is projected to slow from an estimated 6.1 percent in 2021 to 3.6 percent in 2022 and 2023. 
    • This is 0.8 and 0.2 percentage points lower for 2022 and 2023 than projected in January. 
  • Growth projections for 2022

• The war in Ukraine has triggered a costly humanitarian crisis that demands a peaceful resolution. 
  • At the same time, economic damage from the conflict will contribute to a significant slowdown in global growth in 2022 and add to inflation.
  •  Fuel and food prices have increased rapidly, hitting vulnerable populations in low-income countries hardest.
• For India:
  • It has slashed its forecast for India’s FY23 gross domestic product growth to 8.2 percent from 9 per cent
    • It downgraded the outlook for global growth citing the economic impact of the Russia-Ukraine war.
    • It also projected India’s economy to expand by 6.9% next year, putting it on course to be the fastest growing large economy over the next two years.
  • Japan and India were seeing “notable” growth forecast downgrades in the Asia region, partly because of lower net exports and weaker domestic demand, with higher oil prices expected to weigh down consumption and investment.

• Issues :
  • The Ukraine war will serve to reduce global economic growth, it will also add to inflation. 
  • Elevated price pressure will complicate the trade-offs central banks face between curbing inflation and protecting growth. 
  • As key central banks tighten policy, interest rates are set to rise, exerting pressure on emerging markets and developing economies. 
  • Higher food and fuel prices were impacting vulnerable populations, and interest rates were rising, as central banks tightened monetary policy.
  • Additionally, the global economy was becoming fragmented with countries cutting off ties with Russia,  the “rules-based frameworks” were being threatened, and pandemic-induced lockdowns in China were exacerbating supply-chain disruptions.
• Suggestions 
  • Multilateral efforts to respond to the humanitarian crisis, prevent further economic fragmentation, maintain global liquidity, manage debt distress, tackle climate change, and end the pandemic are essential.
  • Interestingly, the IMF pitched for carbon pricing and fossil fuel subsidy reform, which could also help with the transition to a cleaner mode of production, less exposed to fossil fuel prices. 
  • This is “more important than ever in light of the fallout of the war on the global energy market”.
  • Authorities should also be vigilant about private sector vulnerabilities to rising interest rates.

International Monetary Fund

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international financial institution, 
• Headquartered in Washington, D.C.
• Consists of 200 countries working:
  • to foster global monetary cooperation, 
  • secure financial stability, 
  • facilitate international trade, 
  • promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and 
  • reduce poverty around the world while periodically depending on the World Bank for its resources.
• It was formed in 1944, started in 27 December 1945
• Following Reports are released by IMF:
  • World Economic Outlook (WEO), 
  • Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR), and 
  • Fiscal Monitor (FM).

Source:TH

Daily Factly Articles For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

India – Finland Green transition Tie-Up

• GS 2
• Government Policies & Interventions
• India & Foreign Relations

In News

• NITI Aayog officials met a Finland delegation to discuss the Scandinavian nation’s offerings in the green energy sector in India. 

Key highlights of the meeting

• Finland has a lot of experience in transitioning to green energy. Finland’s experience in reaching net zero is by 2035.
• Scandinavian nation’s offerings includes: the green energy sector and explore potential partnerships for India’s green transition and decarbonisation efforts, including sharing of resources like technology and finances.
• Other related sectors: including grid balancing and grid stability, Bio-fuels, green hydrogen, energy storage and waste-to-energy.
• Private and Public partnership: The two countries also discussed how their private companies could collaborate with each other and the role the two governments could play in public procurement of technologies from these companies.
• Virtual Network Centre on Quantum Computing: India and Finland announced the establishment of an Indo-Finnish Virtual Network Centre on Quantum Computing and inked a formal memorandum of understanding to that effect.

Race to Zero Campaign

• Race to Zero is a global campaign to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth.
• It mobilises a coalition of leading net zero initiatives. These ‘real economy’ actors join 120 countries in the largest ever alliance committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest.
• The objective is to build momentum around the shift to a decarbonised economy ahead of COP26, where governments must strengthen their contributions to the Paris Agreement.
• This will send governments a resounding signal that business, cities, regions and investors are united in meeting the Paris goals and creating a more inclusive and resilient economy.

What is the meaning of Net Zero?

• A state in which a country’s emissions are compensated by absorption and removal of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the atmosphere is called Net Zero State; it is also referred to as carbon-neutrality.
• It is done through natural processes as well as futuristic technologies such as carbon capture and storage.

How Net Zero is achieved?

• By creating carbon sinks by growing forests. 
  • Until recently, the Amazon rainforests in South America, which are the largest tropical forests in the world, were carbon sinks.
    • But eastern parts of these forests have started emitting CO2 instead of absorbing carbon emissions as a result of significant deforestation.
  • A country may also have negative emissions if the absorption and removal exceed the actual emissions. 
    • Bhutan has negative emissions because it absorbs more than it emits.

India’s commitment

• India will bring its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030.
• By 2030 India will fulfil 50% of its energy requirement through renewable energy.
• India will cut down its net projected carbon emission by 1 billion tonnes from now until 2030.
• By 2030 India will bring down the carbon intensity of its economy by more than 45%.
• By 2070 India will achieve the target of ‘net zero’.

Other steps to be taken for Net Zero Emissions 

• Climate Justice:
  • Developed countries ought to be providing at least $1 trillion in climate finance to assist developing countries and those most vulnerable.
  • Taking on net-zero targets requires a sharp shift to clean energy sources that will impose a steep cost.
• Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities:
  • Principles of Equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) and
  • Recognition of the very different national circumstances of countries to be respected. 

• Mitigation and Adaptation:
  • There must be a balanced focus on climate adaptation as well as mitigation.
  • Focussing just on the mitigation part would be an injustice against developing nations.
• Resilient infrastructure and agriculture: 
  • There are changes in cropping patterns, there are floods and a great need to make agriculture resilient to these shocks.
  • Put warning systems in place to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and lives.

Way Ahead

• People Centred Clean Energy Transitions: 
  • Citizens must be active participants in the entire process, making them feel part of the transition and not simply subject to it.
  • The transition to net-zero is for and about people.
• Skill Development:
  • It is thus paramount that not every worker in the fossil fuel industry can ease into a clean energy job
  • So governments need to promote training and devote resources to facilitating new opportunities.
• Phasing out Fossils:
  • Countries need to accelerate the phaseout of coal, encourage investment in renewables, curtail deforestation and speed up the switch to electric vehicles
• No one size fits all approach:
  • Final aim of the Paris Agreement is global in scope.
    • But each country will need to design its own strategy, taking into account its specific circumstances.

• Adaptation of sustainable mode of living:
  • Certain practices of traditional communities ought to be made part of school curricula 
• India can be a role model:
  • The lessons from India’s efforts at adaptation in programmes ought to be popularised globally, such as 
    • Jal Jeevan mission, 
    • Swachh Bharat mission and 
    • Mission ujwala.

Source: IE

Daily Factly Articles For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)

• GS 3
• Food Processing & Related Industries in India

In News

• Punjab state has decided to use an ancient broadcasting technique of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), to grow rice in this Kharif season.

DSR Method to be practised in Punjab

• Target:
  • The Punjab government has decided to bring an area of 1.2 million hectare (mha) under the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) method. 
  • The state government had set a target of a million hectares last year but could bring only 0.6 mha under DSR.
• Reason for DSR’s popularity: 
  • It picked up more during 2020 when Punjab and Haryana faced a labour crunch caused by migration of workers during the COVID-19 lockdown and farmers shifted to DSR, which is not labour-intensive.
• Field preparation: 
  • The field is laser levelled and a pre-sowing (rauni) irrigation is done. 
  • The field is prepared to optimum soil moisture condition and paddy (non-basmati) is seeded immediately. 
• Useful in Different Soils: 
  • Recommendation for DSR in 2010 was only for medium to heavy textured soils, but demonstrations in 2020 showed the refined DSR technology can work even in sandy loam soils.

Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) Technique

• Direct seeding is a method under which pre-germinated seeds are directly drilled into the field by a tractor-powered machine.
• DSR is also called the ‘broadcasting seed technique’.
• There is no nursery preparation or transplantation involved in this method. 
• In this, water is replaced by real chemical herbicides and farmers have to only level their land and give one pre-sowing irrigation.
  • The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has developed a ‘Lucky Seed Drill’ that can both sow seeds and simultaneously spray herbicides to control weeds. 
• Difference Between DSR & Normal Transplantation
• In transplanting, farmers prepare nurseries where the paddy seeds are first sown and raised into young plants. These seedlings are then uprooted and replanted 25-35 days later in the main field.

Advantages of DSR

• Water savings because the first irrigation (apart from the pre-sowing rain) under DSR is necessary only 21 days after sowing. 
  • This technique saves groundwater and thus electricity, as opposed to the traditional water-intensive method. 
  • It can help reduce water consumption by as much as 35 per cent over the traditional process of transplanting rice seedlings from a nursery to waterlogged fields. 
• Less requirement of labour.  
• Reduction in methane emissions and global warming potential
• Little disturbance to soil structure
• Enhanced system productivity

Disadvantages of DSR

• The main issue is the availability of herbicides.
• The seed requirement for DSR is also higher than transplanting. 
•  Land levelling is compulsory in DSR, therefore, increases the cost.
• In the DSR technique plants have to come out properly before the monsoon rains arrive, early sowing is required.
• The DSR method is not suitable on certain types of soil and in such fields only transplanting methods work.

Way Ahead

• There should be regular supply of short duration variety seeds during the DSR period, like during the transplanting period and the government has agreed to that.

Source: DTE

Daily Factly Articles For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

Auroras

• GS1
• Important Geophysical Phenomena

In Context

• A stunning aurora glow was recently observed above Iceland after a ‘dead’ sunspot erupted.

Auroras on Earth

• An Aurora is a display of light in the sky predominantly seen in the high latitude regions (Arctic and Antarctic). It is also known as a Polar light.
• Caused when solar wind (charged particles ejected from Sun’s surface) enters Earth’s atmosphere & interacts with different gases causing a display of light, called aurora.
  • Earth’s geomagnetic field shields humans from these harmful particles.
• At Earth’s high latitude regions (auroral oval), particles continuously stream down causing polar light, active all year round.
• While usually a milky greenish colour, auroras can also show red, blue, violet, pink, and white. These colours appear in a variety of continuously changing shapes.
• North Pole: Aurora Borealis/Northern Lights & are visible from the US (Alaska), Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden & Finland.
• South Pole: Aurora Australis/Southern Lights & are visible from Antarctica, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand & Australia.

Do other Plants have Auroras?

• Auroras are not just something that happens on Earth. If a planet has an atmosphere and magnetic field, they probably have auroras.
• Recently, the Hope spacecraft has captured images of discrete auroras on Mars.

Source: LiveScience

Daily Factly Articles For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

Marginal Cost of Funds Based Lending Rate

• GS 3
• Indian Economy & Related Issues

In News 

• Recently, State Bank of India (SBI) raised the marginal cost of funds-based lending rates (MCLR) for the first time in three years, signalling that the soft rates regime that has prevailed since 2019 may be over.

What is Marginal Cost of Funds Based Lending Rate?

• It was instituted by RBI with effect from April 1, 2016.
• It is the lowest interest rate that a bank or lender can offer. 
• It is applicable to fresh corporate loans and floating rate loans taken before October 2019. 
• RBI then switched to the external benchmark linked lending rate (EBLR) system where lending rate is linked to benchmark rates like repo or Treasury Bill rates.
• Aims and objectives:
  • To improve the transmission of policy rates into the lending rates of banks.
  • To bring transparency in the methodology followed by banks for determining interest rates on advances.
  • To ensure availability of bank credit at interest rates which are fair to borrowers as well as banks.
  • To enable banks to become more competitive and enhance their long run value and contribution to economic growth.

Source:IE

Daily Factly Articles For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

Autonomous District Councils

• GS 2
• Polity and Governance

In News

• A tribal council in Meghalaya has joined the list of individuals and organisations in opposing the State government’s deal with Assam to resolve a 50-year-old boundary dispute.

About Autonomous District Councils

• Constitution
  • The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India allows for the formation of autonomous administrative divisions which have been given autonomy within their respective states.
• Distribution 
  • Most of these autonomous district councils are located in North East India but two are in Ladakh, a region administered by India as a union territory.
  • Presently, 10 Autonomous Councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura are formed by virtue of the Sixth Schedule with the rest being formed as a result of other legislation.
• Executive and legislative powers
  • Land management
  • Forest management
  • Water resources
  • Agriculture and cultivation
  • Formation of village councils
  • Public health
  • Sanitation
  • Village and town level policing
  • Appointment of traditional chiefs and headmen
  • Inheritance of property
  • Marriage and divorce
  • Social customs
  • Money lending and trading
  • Mining and minerals
• Judicial powers
  • Autonomous district councils have powers to form courts to hear cases where both parties are members of Scheduled Tribes and the maximum sentence is less than 5 years in prison.
• Taxation and revenue
  • Autonomous district councils have powers to levy taxes, fees and tolls on: building and land, animals, vehicles, boats, entry of goods into the area, roads, ferries, bridges, employment and income and general taxes for the maintenance of schools and roads.

Source: TH

Daily Factly Articles For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

FSSAI’s Star Rating

• GS 2
• Health

In News 

• The implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI’s) health star rating (HSR) on packaged foods could take at least a year. 

About FSSAI’s Star Rating

• In February 2022, the FSSAI decided to adopt the “health-star rating system”, which gives a product 1/2 a star to 5 stars, in its draft regulations for front of package labelling (FOPL). 
• The decision was based on the recommendations of a study by the IIM Ahmedabad the regulator had commissioned in September 2021.
• It aims to  help consumers reduce their intake of unealthy foods.
• Instances of Usage and studies :
  • The health star rating (HSR) system adopted in countries like Australia and New Zealand has not resulted in any meaningful behaviour change.
  • There is “ still no evidence of HSRs having a significant impact on the nutritional quality of people’s food and beverage purchases”.
• A systematic review carried out in 2019 that evaluated HSR labels through three randomised controlled trials found that they didn’t impact food purchases, such as calories or sugar or sodium purchased.

What is FSSAI?

• Established under Food Safety and Standards, 2006, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) handles food-related issues including ensuring the safe availability of food for human consumption. 
• It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that is responsible for promoting and protecting public health through various regulations and supervisions of food safety.

FSSAI Major Initiatives

• Heart Attack Rewind: It is aimed to support FSSAI’s target of eliminating trans fat in India by the year 2022.
• Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO): To enable the collection and conversion of used cooking oil to biodiesel.
• FSSAI-CHIFSS:  It is collaboration between FSSAI and CII-HUL Initiative on Food Safety Sciences to promote collaborations between Industry, Scientific Community, Academia for food safety.
• Swasth Bharat Yatra:  It is a Pan-India cycle movement called as ‘Eat Right India’ aimed to create consumer awareness about eating safe and nutritious food.

CODEX

• The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an international food standards body established jointly by the food and agriculture organization (FAO) and the world health Organization (WHO). 

Source:TH

Daily Factly Articles For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

Corps of Engineers

• GS 3
• Defence

In News

• Lieutenant General Manoj Pande has been appointed as the next chief of the Indian Army (COAS). 
  • He will be the first officer from the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers) to be named as the COAS. 

The Army’s system of Corps and Regiments

•  It is divided into two broad categories — Arms and Services.
• ‘Arms’ category: 
  • Infantry, Armoured Corps, Artillery, Engineers, Signals, Army Air Defence, Army Aviation Corps and Military Intelligence fall .
• ‘Services’:
  • Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering and several other minor Corps.

What is Corps of Engineers and its role in India’s defence?

• The Indian Army Corps of Engineers is one of the oldest arms of the Indian Army. 
• The Corps of Engineers bestowed with the task of providing combat engineering support, developing infrastructure for armed forces and other defence organisations.
•  It is also responsible for maintaining connectivity along the borders, besides helping the civil authorities during natural disasters and calamities.
• College of Military Engineering (CME) in Pune is the premier technical and tactical training institution of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers.
• The Corps of Engineers has three groups, i.e. Madras Sappers, Bengal Sappers and Bombay Sappers. 
  • These three groups were amalgamated into the Corps on November 18, 1932.
•  Roles played by it  :
  • The tasks of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers are executed through four pillars of the Corps 
    • Combat Engineers.
    • Military Engineer Service
    • Border Road Organisation 
    • Military Survey.

Source:Times Now

Daily Factly Articles For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

NATPOLREX- VIII: National Level Pollution Response Exercise

• Biodiversity and Environment

In News

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) kicked off the 8th edition of the two-day National Level Pollution Response Exercise, ‘NATPOLREX-VIII’, on April 19, 2022, off Mormugao harbour, Goa.

About

• Objectives: To enhance the preparedness and response capability of all the stakeholders in combating marine spills.
  • It aims at validating the procedures and guidelines as contained in the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) at the national and regional levels.
  • During the exercise, various components of NOSDCP were invoked to validate and improve the contingency plans and evaluate the preparedness of the resource agencies as well as stakeholders to meet any marine spill disaster at sea.

Source: Indiatoday