Bilateral Relations/Environment
India and US launch the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about CAFMD + India-U.S. Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 ) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations + GS III infrastructure development - energy security)
What's then NEWS

• India and the United States of America (USA) launched the "Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD)".
• The CAFMD is one of the two tracks of the India-U.S. Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 partnership launched at the Leaders' Summit on Climate in April 2021
• The dialogue was formally launched by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate and Mr. John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC)
• The dialogue will strengthen India-US bilateral cooperation on climate and environment
• Climate Envoy Kerry applauded India's effort for setting an ambitious target of achieving 450GW renewable energy by 2030 and congratulated India for already achieving 100 GW.

Initiatives taken by India to Fight Climate Change

• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
• Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms
• UJALA scheme
• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)

Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD)

• The Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD) of Agenda 2030 Partnership will provide both India and the United States an opportunity to renew the collaborations on climate change while also addressing the financial aspects.
• It will deliver climate finance primarily as grants and concessional finance, as envisaged under the Paris Agreement for strengthening the climate action.

India-U.S. Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030

• The US-India Agenda 2030 Partnership was announced by President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Leaders' Summit on Climate in April 2021.
• The Prime Minister of India, earlier, had also announced the India-US Climate and Clean Energy Partnership in order to help mobilize the investments and enable green collaborations.

Leaders' Summit on Climate

• Leaders' Summit on Climate was convened by the US President virtually in April 2021
• 40 world leaders, including the Prime Minister of India, were invited to the event to underscore the urgency of stronger climate action.

Summit Highlights

• India-US Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership:
• It is a joint climate and clean energy initiative of India with the US.
• Objective- Mobilise investments, demonstrate clean technologies and enable green collaborations in India that could also create templates of sustainable development for other developing countries.

Two Main Tracks of the Initiative:

• The Strategic Clean Energy Partnership.
• The Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue.

Defence
India-Africa Defence Dialogue to be held biennially at DefExpo

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about India Africa Defence Ministers Conclave (IADMC)) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• Two years after the first India-Africa Defence Ministers' Conclave held in February 2020 in Lucknow, India will hold the India-Africa Defence Dialogue on the sidelines of DefExpo in March next year.
•  India has proposed to make it a regular event, to be held with the biennial DefExpo military exhibition.

India Africa Defence Ministers Conclave (IADMC)

• The first-ever India Africa Defence Ministers Conclave (IADMC) was held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in conjunction with DefExpo on February 06, 2020, co-organised by Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs.
• This was the first in the series of Pan Africa events at the Ministerial level in the run-up to India Africa Forum Summit IV.
• A Joint Declaration, ‘Lucknow Declaration' was adopted after conclusion of IADMC 2020 as an outcome document of the Conclave.

Lucknow Declaration

• India proposes to institutionalise the India Africa Defence Dialogue during successive DefExpos to be held once every two years.
• Institutionalisation of the India Africa Defence Dialogue will help building on the existing partnerships between African countries & India and to explore new areas of convergence for mutual engagements including areas like capacity building, training, cyber security, maritime security and counter terrorism.
• It has been decided that Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses shall be the knowledge partner of India Africa Defence Dialogue and will assist in providing necessary support for enhanced defence cooperation between India and Africa.
• It has also been decided that Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will host the Defence Ministers of African Nations in the next India - Africa Defence Dialogue on the sidelines of the DefExpo that is scheduled to be held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat in March 2022.
• The broad theme of this India Africa Defence Dialgue will be ‘India - Africa: Adopting Strategy for Synergizing and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation'.

India and Africa relations

• India and Africa share a close and historical relationship.
• The foundation of India-Africa defence relations are based on the two guiding principles namely ‘SAGAR', Security and Growth for All in the Region' and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', The World is One Family.

Governance
National Meet on SVAMITVA Scheme

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about SVAMITVA Scheme) + Mains ( GS II governance)
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj will inaugurate the National Meet on SVAMITVA Scheme: A Stepping-Stone Towards Upliftment of Rural Economy on 14th September, 2021

National Meet on SVAMITVA Scheme

• The National Meet on SVAMITVA Scheme assumes significance as it is being held after Prime Minister launched the National roll-out of SVAMITVA Scheme on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April 2021
• The National Meet will offer a perfect platform for different stake-holders to interact and share the learning and experience gained from the implementation process of the Scheme in pilot phase.
• The conference would provide cross-learning platform for States in respect of processes of SVAMITVA Scheme

SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages And Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme

• It was launched by the Prime Minister on National Panchayati Raj Day, 24th April 2020 with a resolve to enable economic progress of Rural India by providing "Record of Rights" to every rural household owner.
• Aiming to demarcate inhabited (Abadi) land in rural areas through the latest surveying drone-technology, SVAMITVA Scheme is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Revenue Departments, State Panchayati Raj Departments and Survey of India.
• The scheme covers multifarious aspects viz. facilitating monetisation of properties and enabling bank loan; reducing property related disputes; comprehensive village level planning, would be the stepping-stone towards achieving Gram Swaraj in true sense and making rural India Atmanirbhar (self-reliant).
• Phase I - Pilot Scheme (April 2020 - March 2021) covers States of Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and establishment of Continuous Operating Reference Systems (CORS) in the States of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan.
• Phase II (April 2021 - March 2025) - Complete survey of remaining villages and CORS network coverage across the Country by 2022.
• On the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April 2021, Prime Minister launched the National roll-out of SVAMITVA Scheme and more than 4 lakh beneficiaries across 5,000 villages received the property cards/ ownership cards.

Prelims Factoids
Thamirabarani Civilization

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Thamirabarani civilisation)
What's the NEWS

• A carbon dating analysis of rice with soil, found in a burial urn at Sivakalai in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu has yielded the date of 1155 BC, indicating that the Thamirabarani civilisation dates back to 3,200 years.
• The finding has established that the Porunai river [Thamirabarani] civilisation dates back to 3,200 years.
• This has been revealed by carbon dating done on the organic material obtained from the excavation.

Know! about Thamirabarani civilization

• Porunai River (Thamirabarani River) originates from Pothigai hills of Western Ghats in Thamirabarani Ambasamudram taluka.
• It flows through Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts and empties into the Gulf of Mannar (Bay of Bengal) in Korkai (Tirunelveli district).
• Developed along this river, the Porunai River Civilization was an urban civilization followed by the Indus Valley Civilization 3,200 years ago in South India.
• New excavation evidence can give evidence that the above facts are true.

Other proposed studies and excavations

• Archaeological excavation is proposed in other states and countries for the discovery of Tamil origin.
• To establish the antiquity and culture of the Chera Empire, studies will be conducted at the ancient Muziris port of Kerala.
• Research work will be done in 'Qusir al-Kadim' and 'Parnika Anke' and 'Khor Rori' in Oman, now located in Egypt as ancient parts of Roman Empire to know about the trade relations of Tamils.
• Studies related to Raja Rajendra Chola will also be conducted in Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Carbon dating

• Carbon dating is the determination of the age or date of organic matter by the relative ratio of carbon isotopes C-12 and C-14.

Prelims Factoids
On 124^th Anniversary of Battle of Saragarhi, UK Unveils Statue Honouring Fallen Soldiers

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Battle of Saragarhi)
What's the NEWS

• To commemorate the fallen heroes of the Battle of Saragarhi, the UK unveiled a life-size bronze statue of Havilder Ishar Singh

Know! about battle of Saragarhi

• The Saragarhi Day is celebrated by the Indian Army's 4th battalion of the Sikh regiment every year on September 12.
• In the battle, 21 soldiers of the Sikh regiment of the British Indian Army fought against thousands of Afghan tribesman in 1897.
• The battle of Saragarhi was fought on September 12, 1897 by the 21 soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army against 10,000 Afghans in the Samana Valley of the Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which was then part of India.
• The soldiers inside the outpost, led by Havildar Ishar Singh, chose to fight to death than surrender.
• Another, Khuda Dhad, believed to be a Muslim cook and handyman, who was not enrolled as a solider but was employed by the British Army, also died after choosing to join the battle to defend the outpost.

Governance
GST Appellate Tribunal
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal + National Appellate Tribunal).
What's the NEWS

• The Supreme Court has directed the government to make it mandatory to constitute the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal.
• Under Section 109 of the GST Act also, the constitution of 'Tribunals' has been made mandatory.

Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal

• It is a secondary level appellate forum which hears cases against any unsatisfactory order passed by the First Appellate Authority (National Appellate Tribunal).
• The National Appellate Tribunal is the primary level collective forum for resolving disputes between the Center and the States.
• The tribunal has the same powers as a court, and has the same powers to try a case as a civil court.

Composition of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal

• National Bench: The National Bench of the National Appellate Tribunal, located at New Delhi, consists of a National Chairperson (Principal) along with 2 technical members (one each from the Center and the State).
• Regional Benches: On the recommendations of the GST Council, the Government may, by notification, constitute Regional Benches as required.
• So far, 3 Regional Chairs have been established in India (Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad).
• State Bench and Area Bench.

GST Council

• It is a constitutional body (Article 279A) to make recommendations to the Central and State Governments on issues related to GST.
• Chaired by: Union Finance Minister
• Other members: Union Minister of Revenue or Finance and Ministers in charge of Finance or Taxation of all States
• It is a federal body where both the center and the states get due representation.

GST

• Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a value-added indirect tax levied on most of the goods and services sold for domestic consumption.
• GST is paid by consumers, but it is remitted to the government by businesses selling goods and services.
• On the completion of one year of the implementation of GST on July 1, 2018, this day was celebrated as GST Day by the Government of India.

Social Issues
Tamil Nadu Becomes Second State After Kerala to Establish Right to Sit for Workers
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about right to sit)
What's the NEWS

• The Tamil Nadu government tabled a new Bill in the Legislative Assembly making it mandatory for establishments to provide seating facilities for employees.
• It sought to amend the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947 by adding a sub section to mandatorily provide seating facilities to employees.
• It is a statutory right which will benefit thousands of employees working in all establishments big and small, especially textile and jewellery showrooms

Know! about Right to Sit

• The provisions of the Bill will be implemented through amendment by adding a provision in the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishment Act, 1947.
• With this, provision has been made to make proper seating arrangement for all the employees in each premises of the establishments, so that the employees can get the facility to sit when they get the opportunity during their work.
• Standing while on duty results in various health-related problems. Due to continuous standing, there is a problem of 'swelling of nerves' and pain in the joints.
• The Kerala government amended the 'Kerala Shops and Establishment Act' in the year 2018 and provided seating arrangement for the employees.

Science and Technology
Saline Gargle RT-PCR technique

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Saline Gargle RT-PCR technology +about NEERI
What's the NEWS

• In a notable step forward in India's fight against COVID-19, Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has transferred the know-how of indigenously developed Saline Gargle RT-PCR technique, used for testing COVID-19 samples.
• To commercialise the Saline Gargle RT-PCR technique, NEERI has transferred its know-how technique to the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
• The know-how has been transferred to the Union Ministry of MSME, on a non-exclusive basis.
• This would enable the innovation to be commercialised and licensed to all capable parties, including private, government, and various rural development schemes and departments

Saline Gargle RT-PCR technology

• The Saline Gargle RT-PCR technology is simple, fast, cost-effective, patient-friendly and comfortable
• It also provides instant test results and is well-suited for rural and tribal areas, given minimal infrastructure requirements.
• Sampling is done instantly and results will be generated within three hours.

National Environmental Engineering Research Institute

• The CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) is a research institute created and funded by Government of India.
• It was established in Nagpur in 1958 with focus on water supply, sewage disposal, communicable diseases and to some extent on industrial pollution and occupational diseases found common in post-independent India.
• NEERI is a pioneer laboratory in the field of environmental science and engineering and part of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
• NEERI has five zonal laboratories at Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. NEERI falls under the Ministry of Science and Technology (India) of the central government.
• The NEERI is an important partner organisation in India's POPs national implementation plan (NIP).
• National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur is devoted to research and innovations in environmental science and engineering besides solving a range of problems posed by industry, government and public.
  
  

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