Aegean Sea

Key Points

• Physical Geography:
  • It is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea. It is located in the East Mediterranean Basin with the Greek peninsula to its west and Anatolia (consisting of the Asian side of Turkey) to its east.
  • The Aegean is connected through the straits of the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosphorus to the Black Sea, while the island of Crete can be taken as marking its boundary on the south.
• Turkey-Greece Dispute:
  • The Aegean Sea maritime dispute comprises three main issues: the breadth of the territorial sea; the presence of islands; and the delimitation of the continental shelves between the two States.
  • Since 1936, Greece has claimed a 6 nautical-mile (nm) territorial sea. Turkey also claims a 6-nm territorial sea in the Aegean. However, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) allows States to extend their territorial sea up to 12 nm from the shore.
  • Greece has adopted the Convention, but Turkey has not, holding different approaches in different regions.
  • Related Treaty: Treaty of Lausanne of 1923.

Indian Currency Design Mechanism

Why in News?

Recently, the head of a political party asked the central government to put pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh on currency notes in order to bring “prosperity” to the country.

Who is involved in the Design and Issuance of Indian Bank Notes and Coins?

• About:
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Government decide the changes in the design and form of bank notes and coins.
  • Any change in design of a currency note has to be approved by the RBI’s Central Board and the central government.
    • Changes in the design of coins are the prerogative of the central government.
• Role of RBI in Issuing Notes:
  • Section 22 of The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, gives RBI the “sole right” to issue banknotes in India.
    • The central bank internally works out a design, which is put before the RBI’s Central Board.
  • Section 25 states that “the design, form, and material of bank notes shall be such as may be approved by the Central Government after consideration of the recommendations made by the RBI’s Central Board”.
  • The RBI’s Department of Currency Management, currently headed by Deputy Governor, has the responsibility of administering the core function of currency management.
    • If the design of a currency note has to change, the Department works on the design and submits it to RBI, which recommends it to the central government. The government gives the final approval.
• Role of Central Government in minting of coins:
  • The Coinage Act, 2011 gives the central government the power to design and mint coins in various denominations.
    • The role of the RBI is limited to the distribution of coins that are supplied by the central government.
  • The government decides on the quantity of coins to be minted on the basis of indents received from the RBI on a yearly basis.
  • Coins are minted in four mints owned by the Government of India in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Noida.

What is RBI’s Currency Management System?

• RBI, in consultation with the central Government and other stakeholders, estimates the quantity of banknotes that are likely to be needed denomination-wise in a year, and places indents with the various currency printing presses for their supply.
  • Two of India’s currency note printing presses (Nasik and Dewas) are owned by the Government of India; two others (Mysore and Salboni) are owned by the RBI through its wholly owned subsidiary, Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Ltd (BRBNML).
• Notes that are received back from circulation are examined, after which those fit for circulation are reissued, while the soiled and mutilated notes are destroyed.

What are the Types of Notes Issued so far?

• Ashoka Pillar Banknotes: The first banknote issued in independent India was the Re 1 note issued in 1949. While retaining the existing design, the new banknotes replaced the portrait of King George with the symbol of the Lion Capital of the Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath in the watermark window.
• Mahatma Gandhi (MG) Series, 1996: All the banknotes of this series bear the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi on the obverse (front) side, in place of the symbol of Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar, which was moved to the left, next to the watermark window. These banknotes contain both the Mahatma Gandhi watermark as well as Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait.
• Mahatma Gandhi Series, 2005: The “MG series 2005” notes were issued in denominations of Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 500, and Rs 1,000. They contain some additional/ new security features as compared to the 1996 MG series. The Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes of this series were withdrawn w.e.f. the midnight of November 8, 2016.
• Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, 2016: The “MGNS” notes highlight the cultural heritage and scientific achievements of the country. Being of reduced dimensions, these notes are more wallet friendly, and are expected to incur less wear and tear. The colour scheme is sharp and vivid.

Source: IE

NavIC

Why in News?

Indian plans to expand its regional satellite navigation system NavIC (Navigation in Indian Constellation), to increase its use in the civilian sector and ships, aircraft travelling far from the country's borders.

What is NavIC?

• About:
  • NavIC or the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) is designed with a constellation of 7 satellites and a network of ground stations operating 24×7.
    • There are a total of eight satellites however only seven remain active.
    • Three satellites in geostationary orbit and four satellites in geosynchronous orbit.
  • The constellations' first satellite (IRNSS-1A) was launched on 1^st July 2013 and the eighth satellite IRNSS-1I was launched in April 2018.
    • With the seventh launch of the constellation's satellite (IRNSS-1G), IRNSS was renamed NavIC by India’s Prime Minister in 2016.
  • It was recognised by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a part of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS) for operation in the Indian Ocean Region in 2020.
• Potential Uses:
  • Terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation;
  • Disaster management;
  • Vehicle tracking and fleet management (especially for mining and transportation sector);
  • Integration with mobile phones;
  • Precise timing (as for ATMs and power grids);
  • Mapping and geodetic data capture.

What is the Significance?

• It gives real time information for 2 services i.e standard positioning service open for civilian use and Restricted service which may be encrypted for authorized users like for military.
• India became one of the 5 countries having their own navigation system. So, India's dependence on other countries for navigation purposes reduces.
• It will help scientific & technological advancement in India. It is important for the country’s sovereignty and strategic requirements.
• In April 2019, the government made NavIC-based vehicle trackers mandatory for all commercial vehicles in the country in accordance with the Nirbhaya case verdict.
• Also, Qualcomm Technologies has unveiled mobile chipsets supporting NavIC
• Further with extensive coverage, one of the stated future uses of the project includes sharing of the project with the SAARC nations. This will help in integrating the regional navigation system further and a diplomatic goodwill gesture from India towards countries of the region.

What are the Issues and Intended Improvements?

• L Band:
  • ISRO plans to replace at least five satellites with the improved L-Band, which would enable it to offer better global positioning services to the public as several satellites of the constellation have outlived their lives.
    • Five more satellites will be launched periodically to replace the defunct satellites.
    • The new satellites will have L-1, L-5 and S Band.
      • L1, L2 and L5 are GPS frequencies, where L1 frequency is used to track GPS satellite location, L2 frequency is used to track the health of the GPS satellites and the L5 frequency is used to improve accuracy for civilian use such as aircraft precision.
      • S band operate on a wavelength of 8-15 cm and a frequency of 2-4 GHz. Because of the wavelength and frequency, S band radars are not easily attenuated. This makes them useful for near and far range weather observation.
• Long Code for Strategic Sector:
  • Currently ISRO is providing only short code. Now, the short code has to become long code for strategic sector use so that the signal cannot be breached or spoofed or made non-available.
  • It will be done so that the user base can be widened and to make it user friendly.
• Mobile Compatibility:
  • Currently, the mobile phones in India haven’t been made compatible to process its signals.
  • The Indian government has been pressing manufacturers to add compatibility and has set a deadline of January 2023 but media reports suggest this is unlikely before 2025.

Which are the other Navigation Systems operational in the world?

• Four global systems:
  • GPS from the U.S.
  • GLONASS from Russia.
  • Galileo from European Union
  • BeiDou from China.
• Two regional systems:
  • NavIC from India
  • QZSS from Japan.

What is the need for NavIC when already others are Operating?

• GPS and GLONASS are operated by defence agencies of the respective nations.
• It is possible that the civilian service can be degraded or denied.
• NavIC is an independent regional system over the Indian region and does not depend on other systems for providing position service within the service region.
• It is fully under the control of the Government of India.

Way Forward

• To make NavIC truly global like GPS, more satellites would need to be placed in an orbit closer to earth than the current constellation.
• Right now, NavIC’s reach is only 1,500 km beyond Indian territory. But for our ships and airplanes travelling beyond that we’d need satellites in Medium Earth Orbit. To make this global at some point, we can keep adding MEO satellites.

Source: TH

7th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting

Why in News?

Recently, the 7^th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting (AIMMAF) on Agriculture and Forestry was held virtually.

What are the Highlights of the Meeting?

• India’s Vision of keeping ASEAN:
  • India reiterated its vision of keeping Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the center of India's Act East Policy.
  • It also emphasized mutually close regional cooperation with ASEAN to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth for agricultural development in the region.
• Steps towards Millets Production:
  • Referring to the importance of millet (nutritional-cereals) as a nutritious food and the international nutritional-cereal year 2023, India urged the ASEAN member countries to support the efforts of India in increasing the production, processing, value addition and consumption of millets.
    • India will promote nutritious cereal products for the health and nutrition of the people.
    • Nutritious cereals help in the creation of nutrients with low resource requirements and more efficient agri-food systems.
• Implementation of Various Programs:
  • The progress in implementation of various programs and activities under the Medium Term Action Plan of ASEAN-India Cooperation (Year 2021-2025) was reviewed.
• Cooperation in Agriculture:
  • The commitment to ASEAN-India cooperation in agriculture and forestry was reaffirmed.
• Covid-19 Pandemic:
  • In order to mitigate the unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic by ensuring a seamless flow of safe and nutritious agricultural products to ASEAN and India, it is necessary to take continuous measures under ASEAN-India cooperation for the implementation of post-pandemic recovery.
  • India ensured the commitment to enhance India's cooperation with ASEAN in food security, nutrition, climate change adaptation, digital farming, nature-friendly agriculture, food processing, value chain, agricultural marketing and capacity building.

What is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations?

• About:
  • It is a regional grouping that promotes economic, political, and security cooperation.
  • It was established in August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the founding fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
  • Its chairmanship rotates annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of Member States.
  • ASEAN countries have a total population of 650 million people and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 2.8 trillion.
  • Commodity trade between India and ASEAN region has reached 98.39 billion in the period April 2021- February 2022.India’s main trading ties are with Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.
• Members:
  • ASEAN brings together ten Southeast Asian states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – into one organisation.

Source: PIB

India-UK Relation

Why in News?

Recently, Rishi Sunak took charge as the 57^th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

• He is the country’s third PM in 50 days after first Boris Johnson and then Liz Truss was forced from office by a rebellion within the ruling Conservative Party.

What are the Opportunities for India-UK ties under PM Rishi Sunak?

• It is an opportunity for India and the U.K to work closely together on global issues and implement the roadmap 2030 for bilateral relations with the elevation of a person of Indian origin as prime minister of the U.K.
• His vision for India-U.K. bilateral ties has gone beyond the opportunity for the U.K. to sell things in India, wanting Britain to also "learn from India".
• A Free Trade Agreement between India and the UK is expected to enhance economic growth and prosperity by: increasing import and export flows; increasing investment flows (both outward and inward); enhancing productivity through a more efficient allocation of resources; and greater openness to international competition.

Why is the Indo-UK Partnership Important?

• For UK: India is a key strategic partner for the UK in the Indo-Pacific both in terms of market share and defence, as was underscored by the signing of the Defence and International Security Partnership between India and the UK in 2015.
  • For Britain, a successful conclusion of an FTA with India would provide a boost to its ‘Global Britain’ ambitions as the UK has sought to expand its markets beyond Europe since Brexit.
  • Britain has been trying to seize opportunities in the growing economies of the Indo-Pacific to cement its place on the global stage as a serious global actor.
    • The British would be better able to achieve this goal with good bilateral relations with India.
• For India: The UK is a regional power in the Indo-Pacific as it possesses naval facilities in Oman, Singapore, Bahrain, Kenya, and British Indian Ocean Territory.
  • The UK has also confirmed USD 70 million of British International Investment funding to support the usage of renewable energy in India, which will help in building renewable energy infrastructure and developing solar power in the region.
  • India has sought easy market access for Indian fisheries, pharma, and agricultural products besides duty concession for labour-intensive exports.

What are the Current Major Bilateral Issues between the Both Countries?

• Extradition of Indian Economic Offenders:
  • The issue is the extradition of Indian economic offenders who are presently seeking shelter in Britain and using the legal system to their advantage.
  • Offenders like Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and others have long taken shelter under the British system despite clear cut Indian cases against them which warrant extradition.
• Umbilical link between the British and Pakistani Deep State:
  • This legacy of the long-gone British Raj in the sub-continent allows Britain to box in a higher weight category with the help of Pakistan on imperial follies of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The presence of a large Muslim community from the sub-continent in the UK, particularly from areas like Mirpur of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir adds to dissonance apart from the trap of vote bank politics.
• Non-Acceptance of White Britain:
  • The unacceptance of white Britain particularly its media of the rise of India as a global power is another issue.
    • India under the current Prime Minister has left behind Britain as the fifth largest economy in GDP terms and is on the way up.
    • There is no difference between a modern and confident Indian and a British colonial Indian in terms of skin colour or the imperial legacy of the British Empire.

Way Forward

• The profound ties of culture, history and language already give the UK a potentially strong foundation upon which to further deepen its relationship with India.
• With a whole new set of circumstances, India and Britain should recognise that they both need each other to achieve their larger goals.

Source: TH

Blue Flag Certification

Why in News?

Recently, the Blue Flag certification has been accorded to two new beaches - Minicoy Thundi Beach and Kadmat Beach- both in Lakshadweep.

• This takes the number of beaches certified under the Blue Flag certification to 12.

What is Blue Flag Certification?

• About:
  • It is an internationally recognised eco-label that is accorded based on 33 criterias. These criterias are divided into 4 major heads namely,
    • Environmental education and information
    • Bathing water quality
    • Environmental management
    • Conservation and safety services in the beaches
  • Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world. It is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists/beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities, a safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.
  • It is accorded by the international jury composed of eminent members - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Denmark-based NGO Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
  • On the lines of Blue Flag certification, India has also launched its own eco-label BEAMS (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services).
• Other 10 Beaches which have Received the Certification:
  • Shivrajpur (Gujarat)
  • Ghoghla (Daman & Diu)
  • Kasarkod (Karnataka)
  • Padubidri beach (Karnataka)
  • Kappad (Kerala)
  • Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh)
  • Golden beach (Odisha)
  • Radhanagar beach (Andaman and Nicobar)
  • Kovalam (Tamil Nadu)
  • Eden (Puducherry)

Source: IE

Glaciers in the Alps are Melting Faster than Ever

Why in News?

• A new study revealed that, in 2022 Switzerland’s glaciers have lost an average of 6.2% of their ice.

What are the Findings?

• Saharan Sand and a Huge Heatwave:
  • Across the Alps, the preceding winter had very limited snowfall and therefore glaciers were not well insulated against the forthcoming summer melt season.
  • Spring was particularly harsh as natural atmospheric weather patterns carried Saharan dust to Europe and blanketed the Alpine landscape.
  • Since dust absorbs more solar energy than snow the now orange-tinted snow melted faster.
  • A major heat wave saw temperature records breaking across Europe, with parts of the UK reaching 40° Celsius for the first time.
  • The last time glaciers had an extreme melt season was in 2003, when 3.8 % of glacier ice melted across Switzerland.
• Unprecedented Alps Glacier Melt:
  • The extent of glacier melting depends on the altitude at which it is located, the steeper the glacier tongue is the heavier it is covered with debris.
  • In Switzerland, these glacial meltwaters are used for hydropower.
    • Austrian glaciers have also lost more glacial ice in 2022 than they have in 70 years of observations and therefore it is quite clear that severe melt has been the norm in 2022.
  • So, one consequence is that melting glaciers help to compensate for low rainfall in times of drought, filling reservoirs to supply the nation’s energy supply.
  • Melting glaciers have created more than 1,000 new lakes across the mountains.
  • This year, for the first time ever, the frozen ground (Permafrost) that binds rocks together — was thawing and causing almost constant rockfalls.

Source: DTE

CCI Penalty on Google

Why in News?

Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of Rs. 936.44 crores on Alphabet-owned Google for “abusing its dominant position” in markets related to the Android mobile device ecosystem.

What is the Issue?

• The CCI ordered an investigation into Google Unfair Business Practices in 2019 after consumers complained about Android-based smartphones.
• The allegations against Google were based on two agreements between Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of Android OS and Google — the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA) and the Anti-Fragmentation Agreement (AFA).
• The CCI stated that Google contravened competition law due to mandatory pre-installation of the entire Google Mobile Suite (GMS) under MADA and there was no option to uninstall the same.
  • GMS is a collection of Google applications and Application Programming Interface (APIs) that help support functionality across devices. GMS includes Google’s key offerings such as Google Search, Google Chrome, YouTube, Play Store, and Google Maps.
• This action of Google amounted to imposition of unfair conditions on the device manufacturers and thereby violated Section 4 of the competition Act.
  • Section 4 of the Competition Act is related to abuse of dominant position.

What is the Competition Commission of India (CCI)?

• About:
  • Competition Commission of India (CCI) is a statutory body of the Government of India responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002, it was duly constituted in March 2009.
  • The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) was repealed and replaced by the Competition Act, 2002, on the recommendations of the Raghavan committee.
• Composition:
  • The Commission consists of one Chairperson and six Members who shall be appointed by the Central Government.
  • The commission is a quasi-judicial body which gives opinions to statutory authorities and also deals with other cases. The Chairperson and other Members shall be whole-time Members.
• Eligibility Criteria of Members of CCI:
  • The Chairperson and every other Member shall be a person of ability, integrity and standing and who, has been, or is qualified to be a judge of a High Court, or, has special knowledge of, and professional experience of not less than fifteen years in international trade, economics, business, commerce, law, finance, accountancy, management, industry, public affairs, administration or in any other matter which, in the opinion of the Central Government, may be useful to the Commission.

What is the Competition Act, 2002?

• The Competition Act was passed in 2002 and has been amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007. It follows the philosophy of modern competition laws.
• The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.
• In accordance with the provisions of the Amendment Act, the Competition Commission of India and the Competition Appellate Tribunal have been established.
• Government replaced Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) with the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in 2017.

Source: TH

Dirty Bomb

Why in News?

• Recently, Russia intends to raise at the United Nations Security Council its accusation that Ukraine is planning a “dirty bomb” attack.

What is a Dirty Bomb?

• About:
  • A “dirty bomb” is a dispersion device containing radioactive material – possibly uranium, but more likely low-grade materials such as caesium-137 or other radioactive materials in common use.
  • It doesn't need to contain highly refined radioactive material, as is used in a nuclear bomb. Instead, it could use radioactive materials from hospitals, nuclear power stations or research laboratories.
  • This makes them much cheaper and quicker to make than nuclear weapons.
    • For Example: They can also be carried in the back of a vehicle.
• Concerns:
  • The immediate health impact would probably be limited, since most people in an affected area would be able to escape before experiencing lethal doses of radiation.
    • However, the radioactive dust and smoke spread farther away could be dangerous to health if it is inhaled. Because people cannot see, smell, feel, or taste radiation.
  • The economic damage could be massive from having to evacuate urban areas or even abandon whole cities.

Source: TH