Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

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States yet to decide on national anthem query

News

• None of the States, has responded to the Centre’s letter seeking their opinion on playing of the national anthem in cinema halls and public places.

Beyond News

• The Union Home Ministry had written to the States seeking their opinion on the issue. It sent a reminder to all the States again this month.
• On December 5 last year, the Home Ministry notified the appointment of a 12-member inter-ministerial committee which would take a final call on the playing of the national anthem in cinema and public places.
• The committee comprises Joint Secretary-level officers from 11 Ministries and departments of the Central government. It was expected to submit its report within six months.
• The Central government’s decision to set up the expert committee came after the Supreme Court in October last year observed that people “cannot be forced to carry patriotism on their sleeves” and it cannot be assumed that if a person does not stand up for the national anthem, he or she was “less patriotic.”
• The committee is expected to give recommendations regarding regulations on playing/singing of the national anthem and suggest changes in the acts and orders relating to the Insult of National Honour Act, 1971.
• An earlier advisory of the Home Ministry said that audiences were not expected to stand if the national anthem was played as part of the film.
• Whenever the Anthem is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention. However, when in the course of a newsreel or documentary the anthem is played as a part of the film, it is not expected of the audience to stand as standing is bound to interrupt the exhibition of the film and would create disorder and confusion rather than add to the dignity of the anthem, it said.

FRP row: Centre warns sugar units of stern action

News

• More trouble is in store for embattled sugar enterprises found paying below the Centrally-fixed fair and remunerative price (FRP), with the Union government deciding to bring FRP under the Essential Commodities Act.

Beyond News:

• This would enable the Centre to act against sugar factories failing to meet their commitments.
• Sources said Union Minister made it clear during a meeting in Mumbai with stakeholders and Chief Minister that though sugar prices have been falling and the industry is in crisis, millers cannot not make payments or part payments citing low sugar prices.
• Maharashtra has ₹2,228 crore pending as arrears in FRP payments.
• The State Sugar Commissioner has already served notices to 136 factories that failed to keep FRP commitments.
• Sources said it was also decided that a delegation of senior State Ministers will approach the visit the Central government with a list of demands to support the struggling sugar industry.
• Among them will be efforts to subsidise and incentivise exports, reducing GST on ethanol to 5% from the existing 12%, try to change the crop pattern and create a buffer stock.
• The Central government has reiterated its commitment to supporting the industry.
• Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said the government was commited to ensuring liquidity, financial assistance and support for export to sugar mills to offset the situation brought about by the falling cost of sugar cane.

VVPAT glitches pose a new headache for poll panel

News:

• Polling in the keenly contested Lok Sabha by-elections in Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, Bhandra-Gondiya and Palghar in Maharashtra and Nagaland, besides several Assembly constituencies elsewhere, were marred by reports of malfunctioning of EVMs in many booths, especially in Kairana and Bhandra-Gondiya.

Beyond News

• Chief Election Officer, Uttar Pradesh admitted in a statement that the commission received complaints of malfunctioning of VVPAT machines from 384 polling stations in Kairana following which replacement machines were used. This caused delays in polling in more than a few places.
• The VVPAT replacement rate, due to glitches in the machines that were deployed, was as high as 20.82% (way above the 5% limit seen as acceptable by the EC) in Kairana, 19.22% in Bhandara-Gondia and 13.16% in Palghar.
• The failures were attributed by an ECI spokesperson to the fact that VVPATs were being used for the first time by polling staff (unlike the EVM itself), and the fact that these electronic devices were sensitive to extreme heat, placement under direct light and possible mishandling.

VVPAT

• The VVPAT, or Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail, is an EVM-connected verification printer device. It allows voters to verify if their vote has indeed gone to the intended candidate by leaving a paper trail of the vote cast.
• It is an adjunct machine connected to the ballot and control units of the EVM. After the voter casts his or her mandate by pressing a button in the EVM, the VVPAT connected to it prints a slip containing the poll symbol and the name of the candidate. Slips from a randomly selected polling booth from each constituency are then matched with the EVM tallies during counting to check for the accuracy of the process.
• The VVPATs were added to bring in accountability to the voting process, with many parties questioning whether the EVMs were indeed malpractice or rigging-proof.
• EVMs, in use since 1998 in India, have been gradually upgraded with security features and the ECI has suggested that it has robust procedural and technical safeguards to prevent EVM-tampering and electoral malpractices such as rigging.
• The addition of the VVPAT has also increased the complexity of the otherwise simple single programmable chip-based device, rendering it more prone to glitches. The Technical Experts Committee of the ECI is tasked with finding remedial solutions in such situations.

U.S. expresses concerns about India-Russia S-400 deal

News

• The U.S. has serious reservations about Russia’s S-400 missile system and India moving ahead with the deal could complicate high technology cooperation, Chairman of the U.S. Arms Service Committee Mac Thornberry said.

Beyond News

• There is a lot of concern in the U.S., in both the administration and the Congress, over the S-400 system. There is concern that any country and not just India that acquires that system will complicate our ability to work towards interoperability together.
• These concerns were separate from any sanctions and legislation that the U.S. has imposed on Russia.
• Earlier this month, India and Russia concluded commercial negotiations for the purchase of five S-400 Surface-to-Air Missile systems estimated at over ₹39,000 crore.
• The deal is expected to be announced later this year.
• On the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), that the U.S. passed earlier this year against Russian entities, which could affect India’s arms purchases from Russia, Washington was incorporating additional flexibilities to help its partners and allies.
• There is understanding in the Administration and the Congress that additional flexibility in that law is needed. They think there will be some additional flexibility that is granted. It is not just India that is in that situation. There are other nations as well.
• Earlier U.S. Secretary of State had urged the Congress to provide the necessary waiver so that it does not impact countries for which it is not intended.
• India has been in hectic discussions with the U.S. as well as Russia to offset any impact of the legislation as the Indian military operates a large inventory of Russian equipment.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

IL&FS unit, SoftBank arm partner to set up 20 GW of solar units by 2025

News

• IL&FS Energy, a subsidiary of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL&FS) has partnered with SB Energy of the SoftBank Group, to jointly develop grid-connected solar parks across various locations in India.

Beyond News

• The two firms have IL&FS Energy, one of the leading operators of conventional and renewable power projects in India along with SB Energy haveagreed to facilitate the development of solar parks with aggregate capacity of more than 20 GW by 2025.
• The Centre has set an ambitious target of adding 100 GW of solar power by 2022.
• SB Energy has won bids for setting up 1,400 MW solar projects in India including 300 MW at the Bhadla III Solar Park developed by the Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan Ltd., a joint venture between IL&FS Energy and the Government of Rajasthan.
• The development of solar parks will involve IL&FS Energy taking up the development of solar park infrastructure such as substations, grid connectivity and arrangements for long-term access for power evacuation in addition to other value-added services, as per the deal.
• SB Energy will take up the installation, engineering, procurement, construction and financing of solar projects at these locations.

Chellanam reels under sea erosion

News

• Protests raged at Chellanam where at least 100 families were affected by the monster waves that battered the Kochi coastline in Kerala.

Beyond News

• The West Kochi Coast Protection Council will observe a dawn-to-dusk hartal at the coastal village in protest against the alleged failure of the authorities to implement measures to mitigate the effect of sea erosion.
• Earlier in the day, residents affected by the seawater incursion staged a protest in the village, raising a host of demands ranging from construction of geo-tube sea walls to payment of monetary compensation for affected families.
• “The swelling waves have begun to hit the villages even before the onset of the monsoon season, also raising concerns of a public health crisis. Water rose up to one metre inside some houses and hundreds of families had to be evacuated.
• Attributing the widespread damage to weak sea walls, pointed out that the worst affected area was the stretch between Maruvakkad Velankanni Church and bazaar areas where the seawall had not been built.
• The village sustained heavy losses in December last year when Cyclone Okchi lashed the Kerala coast.

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