Only BS-VI Vehicles To Be Sold From April 2020

The Supreme Court has ruled that no Bharat Stage IV vehicle shall be sold or manufactured across the country with effect from April 1, 2020. Instead, the Bharat Stage VI (or BS-VI) emission norm would come into force from April 1, 2020, across the country.

• The Supreme Court's order came while deciding whether grace period should be given to the automobile manufacturers for the sale of BS-VI non-compliant vehicles after April 1, 2020.
• In 2016, the Centre had announced the country would skip the BS-V norms altogether and adopt BS-VI norms by 2020 to reduce vehicular pollution.
• Supreme Court ruled that any extension of time in introducing the new emission norms would adversely impact the health of citizens as the pollution has reached an "alarming and critical" level.
• It has been held that the right to live in an environment free from smoke and pollution follows from the “quality” of life which is an inherent part of Article 21 of the Constitution.
• Further, the Supreme Court has observed that the right to live with human dignity becomes illusory in the absence of a healthy environment.

Bharat Stage VI

• Bharat Stage Norms
  • Based on the European regulations (Euro norms), introduced in the year 2000, the Bharat stage norms are emission control standards put in place by the government to keep a check on air pollution.
  • These standards set specifications/limits for the release of air pollutants from equipment using internal combustion engines, including vehicles.
  • The higher the stage, the more stringent the norms.
• What is BS VI’s Key Improvement in Fuel Quality Over BS IV?
  • BS VI norms seek to cut down sulphur content to 10 parts per million (ppm) from 50 ppm
  • Sulphur in the fuel contributes to fine particulate matter emissions.
  • BS VI norms seek to reduce the level of certain harmful hydrocarbons in the emissions that are produced due to incomplete combustion of fuel.

Challenges in Implementation

• It takes a long time in research and development for automakers to develop a new kind of an engine or to tweak around with the current ones to meet the latest norms.
• Once the research and development are over, the task of setting up full-scale production comes up. All of this comes at a cost which eventually makes the vehicle more expensive for the end customer of the product and that can be a cause of concern for automakers given how price sensitive the Indian market is.
• There is a requirement of cleaner fuel to run these vehicles that comply with a stricter emission regulation as it is not feasible to make internal combustion engines pollute less while using poor quality of fuel.
• This will require a huge amount of investments to make the oil refineries capable of producing a better quality of fuel and also investments in the infrastructure to make that fuel available across the country.

Way Forward

• India has some of the most polluted cities in the world and automobiles are often considered as one of the biggest factors responsible for it.
• The implementation of advanced norms is a critical step as India, the world’s third largest emitter of Greenhouse gases after China and the US, is a signatory to Paris climate deal on combating climate change. As part of the agreement, by 2030 India has to reduce its carbon footprint by 33-35% from the 2005 levels.
• So, the need of the hour is to control the pollution levels by all means possible and since globally, countries are adhering to Euro 6 levels of emission regulations, India needs to step up its effort by switching to BS VI norm as soon as possible which will give the much needed fillip to pollution reduction.

Read about 'Air Pollution in Delhi'

Government Constitutes Panel on Sexual Harassment

Recently in India, many women came forward on social media speaking up about the sexual harassment which they have faced at the workplace.

• The government took cognizance of the issue and has constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to examine the existing legal and institutional frameworks for dealing with matters of sexual harassment of women at the workplace.
• The GoM will recommend action required for effective implementation as well as for strengthening the existing legal and institutional frameworks for addressing issues related to sexual harassment at workplace.
• The Group of Ministers will examine the existing provisions for the safety of women and give its recommendation within 3 months of its constitution.
• The Group of Ministers will be chaired by the Union Home Minister and will have 4 other members.

SHe-Box

• The Ministry of Women & Child Development has launched Sexual Harassment electronic Box (SHe-Box) as an effort to provide a single window access to every woman, irrespective of her work status, whether working in organised or unorganised, private or public sector, to facilitate the registration of complaint related to sexual harassment.
• Any woman facing sexual harassment at the workplace can register their complaint through this portal. Once a complaint is submitted to the ‘SHe-Box’, it will be directly sent to the concerned authority having jurisdiction to take action into the matter.

The Protection of Women Against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013

• The Act defines sexual harassment at the workplace and creates a mechanism for redressal of complaints. It also provides safeguards against false or malicious charges.
• Every employer is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee at each office or branch with 10 or more employees.
• The Complaints Committees have the powers of civil courts for gathering evidence.
• The Complaints Committees are required to provide for conciliation before initiating an inquiry if requested by the complainant.
• Penalties have been prescribed for employers. Non-compliance with the provisions of the Act shall be punishable with a fine.
• Repeated violations may lead to higher penalties and cancellation of license or registration to conduct business.
• The State Government will notify the District Officer in every district, who will constitute a Local Complaints Committee (LCC) so as to enable women in the unorganised sector or small establishments to work in an environment free of sexual harassment.

Read About #MeToo Campaign

Govt. Establishes Adjudicating Authority and Appellate Tribunal

The government has approved the appointment of Adjudicating Authority and establishment of Appellate Tribunal under Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act (PBPT), 1988.

• The Adjudicating Authority and Appellate Tribunal will be based in Delhi. Benches of Adjudicating Authority will be in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai.
• The Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act (PBPT), 1988 seeks to establish four authorities to conduct inquiries or investigations regarding Benami transactions: (i) Initiating Officer, (ii) Approving Authority, (iii) Administrator (iv) Adjudicating Authority.
• If an Initiating Officer believes that a person is a Benamidar (person in whose name the Benami property is transferred or held), he may issue a notice to that person.
• The Initiating Officer may hold the property for 90 days from the date of issue of the notice, subject to permission from the Approving Authority.
• At the end of the notice period, the Initiating Officer may pass an order to continue the holding of the property.
• If an order is passed to continue holding the property, the Initiating Officer will refer the case to the Adjudicating Authority.
• The Adjudicating Authority will examine all documents and evidence relating to the matter and then pass an order on whether or not to hold the property as Benami.
• The act also establishes an Appellate Tribunal to hear appeals against any orders passed by the Adjudicating Authority.
• Appeals against orders of the Appellate Tribunal will lie to the high court.

Benefits

• The establishment of benches will result in effective and better administration of cases referred to the Adjudicating Authority.
• Speedy disposal of appeals filed before the Appellate Tribunal.

Tribunal

A tribunal is a quasi-judicial body established by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature under Article 323A or 323B to resolve disputes that are brought before it. Article 323A provides for Administrative tribunals and 323B provides for Tribunals for other matters.

The Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988.

• The Act defines a Benami transaction as a transaction where a property is held by or transferred to a person but has been provided for or paid by another person. Therefore, the property is not held in the name of the real owner, but in somebody else’s name.
• Property transactions where: (i) the transaction is made in a fictitious name, (ii) the owner is not aware of denies knowledge of the ownership of the property, or (iii) the person providing the consideration for the property is not traceable will also fall under Benami transaction.
• Under the Act, the penalty for entering into Benami transactions is rigorous imprisonment of one year up to seven years, and a fine which may extend to 25% of the fair market value of the Benami property.
• The penalty for providing false information to be rigorous imprisonment of six months up to five years, and a fine which may extend to 10% of the fair market value of the Benami property.
• The Act also states that Benami properties can be confiscated by the government without payment of compensation. The term “property” now covers movable, immovable, tangible and intangible properties.
• This Act, along with the stringent Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, to penalize those with unaccounted wealth abroad and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, which allows a designated special court to declare a person as a fugitive economic offender and to confiscate their property, including ‘Benami’ ones, will help the government in its fight against black money both within and outside the country.

Cell-sized Robots to Detect Diseases

Scientists at MIT have developed tiny robots, of size about 10 micrometers, that could be used to monitor oil or gas pipeline, or for disease diagnosis in the human body.

• Scientists also developed ways by which such robots could be mass-produced.
• The microscopic devices are named as "syncells" (short for synthetic cells).

Manufacturing Robots

• The scientists used the two-dimensional form of carbon, graphene, to form the outer structure of the tiny syncells.
• One layer of the graphene is laid down on a surface, then tiny dots of a polymer material, containing the electronics for the robots, are deposited by a sophisticated printer. Then, the second layer of graphene is laid on top.
• To control the natural fracturing process of atomically-thin, brittle materials, scientists through “auto perforation” direct the fracture lines so that they produce minuscule pockets of a predictable size and shape.
• Embedded inside these pockets are robots with electronic circuits and materials that can collect, record, and output data.

Potential Application and Significance

• These tiny robots can be used to monitor conditions inside an oil or gas pipeline or to search out disease while floating through the bloodstream.
• This research demonstrates a way of easily mass-producing such devices.
• This procedure of using controlled fracture as a production method can be extended across many disciplines. It will allow future researchers to tailor atomically thin surfaces into any desired shape or form for applications in other disciplines.
• It can retain the data without the need for power, allowing information to be collected at a later time.
• The tiny-robots are stable over a period of months even when floating around in the water.

National Monitoring Framework on Sustainable Development Goals

The Union Cabinet has approved the constitution of a High-Level Steering Committee for periodically reviewing and refining the National Indicator Framework (NIF) for monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with associated targets. This will include refinements of the indicators from time to time.

• The High-Level Steering Committee will be chaired by Chief Statistician of India and Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation(MoSPI).

Objective

• Measures to mainstream SDGs into on-going national policies, programmes, and strategic action plans to address the developmental challenges.
• Statistical indicators of NIF will be the backbone of monitoring of SDGs at the national and state level and will scientifically measure the outcomes of the policies to achieve the targets under different SDGs.
• Based on the statistical indicator, the MoSPI will bring out national reports on the implementation of SDGs. The Report will facilitate the assessment of progress, identify challenges and give recommendations for follow up at the national level.
• Data source Ministries / Departments will be responsible for providing regular information to MoSPI on these indicators at required intervals and disaggregation for national and sub-national reporting of SDGs.

Background

• At the Millennium Summit held in 2000 at the UN Headquarters in New York, eight development goals known as the 'Millennium Development Goals' (MDGs) were adopted, which formed the blueprint for countries to pursue their national development strategies from 2000 to 2015.
• The MDGs targets were unevenly achieved across the countries and a need was felt to start fresh discussions to assess the usefulness of the MDGs and to explore possible successor to guide development cooperation in the world beyond 2015.
• The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came into force with effect from 1st January 2016.
• Though not legally binding, the SDGs have become de facto international obligations and have the potential to reorient the domestic spending priorities of the countries during the next fifteen years. Countries are expected to take ownership and establish a national framework for achieving these Goals.
• Countries would be responsible for follow-up and review at the national level, with regard to the progress made in implementing the Goals and targets. Actions at the national level to monitor progress under SDGs will require quality, accessible and timely data.

Important Facts for Prelims (25th October 2018)

Main Nahin Hum Portal and App

• Recently the Prime Minister launched the “Main Nahin Hum” portal and app, in New Delhi.
• It is aimed at pooling the resources that corporates put in towards social causes and aligning them with the initiatives of the government such as Swachh Bharat, Skill India etc.
• The portal will enable IT professionals and organizations to bring together their efforts towards social causes, and service to society, on one platform.
• The portal will also help the employees in identifying the volunteering opportunities for social causes and they can also collaborate with other employees on such projects.
• The portal is expected to help catalyse greater collaboration towards the service of the weaker sections of society, especially by leveraging the benefits of technology.
• It is also expected to generate wider participation of interested people who are motivated to work for the benefit of society.
• Since India has already become the third largest in terms of the start-up, social start-ups should become an intrinsic part of the ecosystem. The line between what is a business model and what is a social start-up model is very thin and areas such as electric vehicles which can serve both the purposes.

India-Israel Missile Deal-Barak 8

• India has awarded an additional USD 777 million deal to a leading Israeli defence firm for supplying Barak 8 Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) Air and Missile Defence Systems to ships of the Indian Navy.
• The missile system has been jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), India's DRDO, Israel's Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure, Elta Systems, Rafael and some other Indian defence companies.
• The Barak-8 LRSAM system is an operational Air and Missile Defence (AMD) system used by Israel's navy as well as by India's navy, air and land forces.
• The system provides broad aerial and point defence against a wide range of threats to the marine arena from the air, sea or land.
• Barak-8 incorporates a state-of-the-art phased array multi-mission radar, two-way data link, and a flexible command and control system, enabling users to simultaneously engage multiple targets day and night and in all weather conditions.
• Israel is emerging as one of India’s biggest suppliers of weapons, alongside the United States and long-term partner Russia.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for creation of special Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC) and all scheduled Banks shall be the nodal Loaning Entities.

Benefits

• Creation of fisheries infrastructure facilities both in marine and inland fisheries sectors.
• To augment fish production to achieve its target of 15 million tonne by 2020 set under the Blue Revolution; and to achieve a sustainable growth of 8% -9 %.
• Employment opportunities to fishers and other entrepreneurs in fishing and allied activities.
• To attract private investment in creation and management of fisheries infrastructure facilities.
• Adoption of new technologies.
• FIDF would provide concessional finance to State Governments / UTs and State entities, cooperatives, individuals and entrepreneurs etc. for taking up of the identified investment activities of fisheries development.
• Under FIDF, loan lending will be over a period of five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23 and maximum repayment will be over a period of 12 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Awarded the 2018 Seoul Peace Prize

• This award recognizes Prime-Minister Narendra Modi ‘s efforts –
• In improving international cooperation, raising global economic growth.
• In accelerating the Human Development of the people of India by fostering economic growth in the world's fastest growing large economy and furthering the development of democracy through anti-corruption and social integration efforts.
• In the growth of the Indian and global economies, crediting 'Modinomics' for reducing social and economic disparity between the rich and the poor.
• In making the government cleaner through anti-corruption measures and demonetization, for his contribution towards regional and global peace through a proactive foreign policy with countries around the world under the 'Modi Doctrine' and the 'Act East Policy’.

Seoul Peace Prize

• The Seoul Peace Prize was established in 1990 to commemorate the success of the 24th Olympic Games held in Seoul, Republic of Korea – an event in which 160 nations from across the world took part, creating harmony and friendship and a worldwide atmosphere of peace and reconciliation.
• The Seoul Peace Prize has been awarded biennially to those individuals who have made their mark through contributions to the harmony of mankind, reconciliation between nations and to world peace.