• 07 Sep 2024

Surrogacy Insurance Limit Raised

Why in News?

Recently, the Madhya Pradesh government has increased the insurance coverage for surrogacy policies for women to Rs 10 lakh.

Key Points

• The government has raised the insurance coverage for surrogacy from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for women undergoing surrogacy.
• In MP126 institutions ART(Assisted Reproductive Technology Bank, ART Level -1 Clinic, ART Level -2 Clinic and Surrogacy) are registered under the State Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Regulation Act 2021.
• Surrogacy: It is an arrangement in which a woman (the surrogate) agrees to carry and give birth to a child on behalf of another person or couple (the intended parent/s).
  • A surrogate, sometimes also called a gestational carrier, is a woman who conceives, carries and gives birth to a child for another person or couple (intended parent/s).
  • Altruistic Surrogacy:It involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage during the pregnancy.
  • Commercial Surrogacy:It includes surrogacy or its related procedures undertaken for a monetary benefit or reward (in cash or kind) exceeding the basic medical expenses and insurance coverage.
• The Centre modified the Surrogacy (Regulation) Rules, 2022, allowing surrogacy with one gamete from the intending couple and permitting single women to use self-eggs and donor sperm.

Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021

• Provisions:
  • Under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, a woman who is a widow or a divorcee between the age of 35 to 45 years or a couple, defined as a legally married woman and man, can avail of surrogacy if they have a medical condition necessitating this option.
    • The intended couple shall be a legally married Indian man and woman, the man shall be between the ages of 26-55 years and the woman shall be between the ages of 25-50 years, and shall not have any previous biological, adopted, or surrogate child.
  • It also bans commercial surrogacy, which is punishable with a jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakhs.
  • The law allows only altruistic surrogacy where no money exchanges hands and where a surrogate mother is genetically related to those seeking a child.

Major Defence Procurement Approval

Why in News?

Recently, India’s Defence Council approved military hardware procurement worth Rs 1.45 lakh crore, emphasizing indigenous suppliers for modernizing the forces.

Key Points

• Indigenous Procurement Focus: 99% of the funds will be spent on indigenous suppliers.
• Major Approvals:
  • 1,770 Future-Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) for the Indian Army
  • Construction of seven additional Project-17B stealth frigates for the navy.
  • Acquisition of 26 Rafale-M fighters for INS Vikrant
• Additional Procurements:
  • Air defence fire control radars.
  • Equipment for cross-country mobility, such as forward repair team (tracked) vehicles.
  • Upgraded capabilities for the Indian Coast Guard, including Dornier-228 aircraft and next-generation patrol vessels.
• Procurement Categories:
  • Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured)
  • Buy (Indian): Includes products with 50% or 60% indigenous content, depending on design and development.
• Self-Reliance Measures:
  • Phased bans on imports of weapons and subsystems.
  • Increased FDI limit from 49% to 74%.
  • Separate budget allocation for locally made hardware.
• 2024-25 Defence Budget:
  • Total allocation of Rs 6.22 lakh crore.
  • Capital expenditure of Rs 1.72 lakh crore, with Rs 1.05 lakh crore earmarked for domestic procurement.

Defence Acquisition Council

• The DAC is the highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry for deciding on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the Indian Coast Guard.
• The Minister of Defence is the Chairman of the Council.
• It was formed, after the Group of Ministers recommendations on 'Reforming the National Security System', in 2001, post Kargil War (1999).

UP Boosts Football Development

Why in News?

Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government announced significant plans to enhance football infrastructure and promotion across the state.

Key Points

• UP government to build 18 new football stadiums across all state commissariats.
• Football grounds to be developed in all 827 blocks of the state to encourage more tournaments.
• KD Singh Babu Stadium, Lucknow was renovated in 19 days to host the Kolkata Derby.
  • The Kolkata Derby is a football match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, two of the most popular teams in India. The rivalry between these two clubs is over 100 years old and is considered one of the biggest local sporting rivalries in the world. The derby is known for its intense action and passionate fans.
• UP aligns with Khelo India initiative, ensuring government backing for sports development in the state.

Khelo India Initiative

• Khelo India is a scheme envisioned by the Prime Minister in 2017-18 to give a platform to grassroots athletes and build sports infrastructure across India, resulting in turning India into a sporting nation.
• The Khelo India Scheme is the flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.