Questions :-

Consider the following statements regarding Mountbatten Plan

1.Independence for princely states was ruled out in the Plan.

2.Accession of Hyderabad to Pakistan.

3.A boundary commission to be set up if partition was to be effected.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 2 only

 b) 1, 3

 c) 3 only

 d) 2, 3

2)Privy Purse system allowed

 a) Government to confiscate private land based on the principle of ‘eminent domain’

 b) Local administration to abolish zamindari from erstwhile permanent settlement regions

 c) Princely state rulers to retain certain private property and grant in heredity

 d) None of the above

3)Consider the following statements regarding the composition of Constituent assembly.

1. The Constituent Assembly was constituted in November 1946 under the scheme formulated by the August offer.

2. Constituent Assembly was a partly elected and partly nominated body.

3. Seats were allotted on the basis of population at that time.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 1 only

 b) 2 only

 c) 1, 3

 d) 2, 3

Prelims Specific News Items :-

NITI Aayog and World Resources Institute India Jointly Launch ‘Forum for Decarbonizing Transport’ in India :– NITI Aayog and World Resources Institute(WRI), India, jointly launched the ‘Forum for Decarbonizing Transport’ in India as part of the NDC-Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA) project.

Aim:- The project aims at bringing down the peak level of GHG emissions (transport sector) in Asia (in line with a well below 2-degree pathway), resulting in problems like congestion and air pollution.

India’s Transport sector:- India has a massive and diverse transport sector, which is also the third most CO2 emitting sector. 

Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, 2018) suggests that within the transport sector, road transport contributes to more than 90% of the total CO2 emissions.

The NDC Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA 2020-2023) is a joint programme of seven organisations that will engage China, India, and Vietnam in promoting a comprehensive approach to decarbonizing transport in their respective countries. The project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).

2)E-Shram Portal:  National Database on Unorganized Workers (NDUW):- E-Shram portal will help towards the much needed targeted identification of the unorganized workers, our nation builders, the ‘Shram Yogis’ will help take welfare schemes to their doorstep, who are the builders of our Nation.

“Targeted delivery and last mile delivery, has been a major focus of the schemes of government of India.

The government aims to register 38 crore unorganized workers, such as construction labourers, migrant workforce, street vendors and domestic workers, among others.

The workers will be issued an e-Shram card

 containing a 12-digit unique number, which, going ahead, will help in including them in social security schemes.

3) What is the procedure to arrest a cabinet minister in India? :- 

Procedure to Arrest a Cabinet Minister:

When Parliament is not in Session:

If Parliament is not in session, a cabinet minister can be arrested by a law enforcement agency in case of a criminal case registered against him. 

As per Section 22 A of the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business of the Rajya Sabha, the Police, Judge or Magistrate would have to intimate the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha about the reason for the arrest, the place of detention or imprisonment in an appropriate form.

The Chairman is expected to inform the Council if it is sitting about the arrest. If the council is not sitting, he/she is expected to publish it in the bulletin for the information of the members.

When Parliament is in Session:

Members of both the houses of the Parliament enjoy some immunity from arrests when the parliament is in session.

Under Section 135 of the Civil Procedural Code, in civil cases, they have freedom from arrest during the continuance of the House and 40 days before its commencement and 40 days after its conclusion. 

The privilege of freedom from arrest does not extend to criminal offences or cases of detention under preventive detention.

4)India’s Afghanistan evacuation mission termed ‘Operation Devi Shakti’ :- India on Tuesday termed the evacuation operation from Afghanistan in the backdrop of the Taliban’s takeover of the country last week as “Operation Devi Shakti”. 

Under Operation Devi Shakti, an Air India flight carrying 78 passengers, including 25 Indian citizens arrived in New Delhi today from Tajikistan’s Dushanbe.

Earlier, Indian authorities on Monday evacuated 75 Sikhs amid the deteriorating situation in war-torn Afghanistan.

5) Cabinet clears ₹15,000 cr. NMP-linked FDI proposal :- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday cleared a foreign direct investment (FDI) proposal entailing an investment of up to ₹15,000 crore in Anchorage Infrastructure Investment Holding (AIIH) Ltd., a company incorporated to invest in the infrastructure and construction development sectors.

Background :-

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) was an inter-ministerial body under the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance. 

Earlier if the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) amount exceeds Rs.3,000 crore then it must be approved by the Finance Minister and subsequently by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on the recommendations of the FIPB.

Worth to mention that the FDI proposals above Rs 5,000 crore would continue to be cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

6) Sujalam Campaign :- Campaign for one million soak pits in 100 days:- The Jal Shakti Ministry has launched a campaign to create a million soak pits in villages across the country over the next 100 days, to help manage grey water and prevent the clogging of waterbodies.

Though the Central government does not have any comprehensive estimate of the total number of soak pits needed countrywide, the States have been asked to develop their own targets.

“The household or community soak pit is the simplest solution for grey water management,”

The Swachh Bharat Mission’s first phase was to achieve open defecation free (ODF) status by constructing a toilet in every rural household and persuading all villagers to use it. The second phase, termed ODF+, aims to sustain and extend these sanitation gains by focusing on solid and liquid waste management.

What is Grey Water :- Greywater refers to domestic wastewater generated in households or office buildings from streams without fecal contamination, i.e., all streams except for the wastewater from toilets. Sources of greywater include sinks, showers, baths, washing machines or dishwashers.

7) What is ‘Havana syndrome’ :-

Why in News :- The United Stated government Tuesday said Vice-President Kamala Harris’s trip from Singapore to Vietnam was delayed by three hours due to a “recent possible anomalous health incident” in Hanoi. This was in reference to a case of ‘Havana Syndrome’.

What is Havana syndrome?

Back in 2016, reports first emerged of US diplomats and other employees of the government falling ill in Havana, the capital of Cuba. The patients said they heard strange sounds and experienced odd physical sensations in their hotel rooms or homes. They said they had symptoms of nausea, severe headaches, fatigue, dizziness, sleep problems and hearing loss. This mysterious illness came to be called the “Havana Syndrome”.

8) Mill owners demand higher MSP for Sugar :- Since Government increased the FRP ( Fair and Remunerative price ) for Sugarcane , now the Mill owners are demanding higher MSP for sugars.

What is MSP and why was it introduced?

To control the constant slide in ex mill prices of sugar, the central government had in June 2018 specified the concept of MSP for sugar. Back then the MSP was fixed at Rs 2,850/- per quintal which was subsequently raised to Rs 3,100/- per quintal. Along with MSP, the centre had also fixed mill wise sales quota. Mills who breached either of the conditions were liable for action under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 which would include fine as well as a jail term(ranging from 3 months to 7 years) or both.

It was reasoned that both these measures would help mills generate enough revenue to pay their farmers the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for cane purchased from farmers.

Editorial of the Day

Main Editorial for Discussion :- It’s time for Industry 4.0

Here the author says that Industrial revolution 4.0 is already in progress where the Internet, ICT and latest technologies will augment the already established production process.

The term ‘Industry 4.0’ was coined by the German government in 2011.

Components of Industry 4.0 :- Additive manufacturing, Internet of Things, Cyber Physical Systems, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality and data analytics are some of the technologies associated with Industry 4.0. With the help of these technologies, the manufacturing industry will be able to make data driven decisions. The reduced costs of electronics like sensors, transmitters, and cloud have allowed us to capture the data produced during operational activities. With the availability of advanced algorithms, this captured data can be analysed for decision-making in real time.

Thus, Industry 4.0 integrated ‘data’ with manufacturing and Information Technology. To take advantage of data-driven decision-making, the governments of other countries also coined their own industrial initiatives like Industry 4.0. For example, the U.S. calls it Smart Manufacturing, China calls it Made in China 2025, and India refers it to as Make in India or Digital India.

Author says that the Industry Revolution 4.0 can help a lot in MSME’s development.

How relevant are MSME’s for India :- Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are expected to become the backbone of India as the economy grows larger.

1. MSMEs form more than 95% of the industries in India, produce more than 45% of the total manufacturing output and employ more than 40% of the workforce.
2. According to the Economic Survey 2020-21, over 6 crore MSMEs employ more than 11 crore people and contribute roughly 30% to the GDP and half of the country’s export.
3. MSMEs are also ancillaries to larger enterprises, leading to a seamless supply chain integration.
   
   As a result, making MSMEs more efficient will be advantageous for the whole economy.

Why MSME’s are not able to adopt Industry 4.0 :-

• Lack of Awareness :-MSME’s consider such technologies disruptive and having the potential to demolish their existing system.
• Lack of Finances
• Lack of Will to induct new technologies

How Industry Revolution 4.0 can be promoted for MSME :-

• Government should provide information and training to MSME Sector
• Finance provision through Public or Private investment
• MSMEs should develop their own vision of Industry 4.0 technologies that they want to adopt and identify the relevant tools and practices they need for such a tailored vision.

Though adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies by MSMEs requires transcending a labyrinth of impediments, it will make them more competitive as they will be able to offer world class quality products to customers.
Additionally, delivery timings and the flexibility to meet different needs will improve.

26th August 2021 Current Affairs is presented to you for making your UPSC Preparation Simple.