Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

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Parliament passes law to protect unauthorised colonies, slums in Delhi

News

• Parliament passed a bill to protect slums and unauthorised colonies in the national capital region from punitive action till a framework for orderly arrangements are in place.

Beyond News

• The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, passed by Lok Sabha on Wednesday, gives immunity to slums and some unauthorised constructions till December 31, 2020.

 The immunity under the existing Bill ends on December 31.

Israel takes India’s vote in its stride

News: 

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India in a fortnight will focus on taking cooperation on “double Ts” – Technology (including agriculture and water conservation) and (counter) Terrorism to the “next level”.

Beyond News: 

• Israel’s unhappiness with India’s vote at the United Nations last week had been put behind by both countries in a “diplomatic” manner.
• Netanyahu’s visit comes close on the heels of India’s decision to vote for a resolution that criticised the United States for its shift on the status of Jerusalem and urged Israel to keep its commitments on talks for a two-state solution.
• Officials didn’t deny that the Israeli government had lodged a protest with India about its vote, but indicated that India’s stand had to be seen in the larger context of its growing alignment with Israel on other issues, and in particular Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel in July 2017 as the first Indian Prime Minister there.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Bamboo not a tree: Parliament passes Bill amending Forest Act

News

• The Parliament passed a Bill to exclude bamboo from the definition of tree under the Indian Forest Act, claiming it would improve the earnings of tribals and dwellers living around forests.

Beyond News

• The Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, which was adopted by the Lok Sabha, was passed by a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha.
• Replying to a short debate, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister said the Bill to amend the 1927 Indian Forest Act would benefit the tribals, forest dweller and farmers as their income would increase.

The Bill permits felling and transit of bamboo grown in non-forest areas. However, bamboo grown on forest lands would continue to be classified as a tree and would be guided by the existing legal restrictions.

India to pip China as top LPG importer

News

• India is set to surpass China as the biggest importer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) this month as a drive to replace wood and animal dung fires for cooking boosts consumption.

Beyond News

• Shipping data in Thomson Reuters Eikon shows LPG shipments to India will reach 2.4 million tonnes in December, pushing it ahead of top importer China, on 2.3 million tonnes, for the first time.
• China, India and Japan together make up about 45% of global LPG purchases.
• India’s biggest supplier by a large margin is the Middle East, which has so far enjoyed a virtual supply monopoly.

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