Relevance IN - Prelims (about NPR and NRC + Mains ( GS II Centre-State Relations - Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.)
Know! about NPR

• The NPR is a register of usual residents of the country. It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR. It includes both Indian citizens as well as a foreign citizen.
• The NPR is a list of "usual residents of the country". According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, a "usual resident of the country" is one who has been residing in a local area for at least the last six months, or intends to stay in a particular location for the next six months.
• Unlike the NRC, the NPR is not a citizenship enumeration drive, as it would record even a foreigner staying in a locality for more than six months.
• The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to conduct Census 2021 and updation of National Population Register (NPR).
• While the Census will be conducted in 2021, the updation of NPR will take place from April to September 2020 in all the States/UTs except Assam.
• The objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country.
• The first National Population Register was prepared in 2010 and updation of this data was done during 2015 by conducting door to door survey.
• The next update of the NPR will take place next year from April to September with the Houselisting phase of the Census 2021 by the Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Home Ministry for Census 2021. Only Assam will not be included, given the recently completed NRC.
• It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.

• The demographic details of every individual which includes ‘date and place of birth of parents', last place of residence, Permanent Account Number (PAN), Aadhar ( on a voluntary basis), Voter ID card number, Driving License Number and Mobile Number.
• In the last NPR done in 2010 it did not include ‘date and place of birth of parents' and last place of residence.

• According to the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, a usual resident is a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more.

• The Census is the enumeration of the population of the country.
• It is being conducted at an interval of 10 years. The Census 2021 will be 16th census in the country since the first census happened in 1872.
• However, it will be 8th census after the Independence. For the first time, the Census 2021 will use the Mobile App for data collection. It will also provide a facility to the public for self-enumeration.

• The NPR is different from the National Register of Citizens which excludes the foreign citizens.
• According to the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, notified on December 10, 2003, a Population Register is ‘the register containing details of persons usually residing in a village or rural area or town

• The ‘National Register of Indian Citizens' is a register containing details of Indian Citizens living in India and outside India.
• The rules further say that ‘National Register of Indian Citizens' shall contain the particulars of every citizen i.e. Name; Father's name; Mother's name; Sex; Date of birth; Place of birth; Residential address (present and permanent); Marital status ñ if ever married, name of the spouse; Visible identification mark; Date of registration of Citizen; Serial number of registration; and National Identity Number.

• Out of NPR, the Government proposes to create a database of citizens of India. However the Prime Minister said that there has been no discussion and no talk on NRIC for India on 22nd December, 2019.
• Section 14A was inserted in Citizenship Act, 1955 in 2004 providing for compulsory registration of every citizen of India and issue of national identity card to him or her. The Central Government may maintain a National Register of Indian Citizens.

• According to the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, notified on December 10, 2003, The Central Government may, by an order issued in this regard, decide a date by which the Population Register shall be prepared by collecting information relating to all persons who are usually residing within the jurisdiction of Local Registrar.
• The Local Register of Indian citizens shall contain details of persons after due verification made from the Population Register.

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the first tripartite MoU an its benefits) + Mains ( GS II Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
What's the NEWS

• The first tripartite Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the department of Fisheries Government of India, NARBARD and the Government of Tamil Nadu for the implementation of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Fund (FIDF).

Know! more about the MoU

• A dedicated fund has been created namely the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund with a total of Rs. 7522.48 crore to address the infrastructure requirement for fisheries sector.
• FIDF provides concessional finance to the eligible entities, cooperatives, individuals and entrepreneurs for development of identified fisheries infrastructure.
• The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NARBARD), National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC) and all scheduled banks are Nodal Loaning entities (NLEs) to provide concessional finance under the (FIDF).
• The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the FIDF provides interest subvention up to 3% per annum for providing the concessional finance by the NLEs at the interest rate not lower than 5% per annum.
• The Government of Tamil Nadu has signed the first Tripartite MoA for availing the initial concessional finance of Rs 420 crore from NARBARD for development of three fishing harbours in the State
• NABARD as one of the Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs) provides concessional finance for development of fisheries infrastructure facilities through State Governments/State Entities under the FIDF, after execution of the Tripartite MoA.

Defence
Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile successfully flight-tested off Odisha coast

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Quick reaction surface to air missile)
What's the NEWS

• Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) system developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully flight-tested

Know! more about QRSAM

• The missile was flight-tested with full configuration in deployment mode intercepting the target mid-air, meeting the mission objectives.
• The QRSAM weapon system, which operates on the move, comprises of fully automated Command and Control System, Active Array Battery Surveillance Radar, Active Array Battery Multifunction Radar and Launcher.
• Both radars are four-walled having 360-degree coverage with search on move and track on move capability.
• The system is compact with minimum number of vehicles for a firing unit.
• Single stage solid propelled missile has midcourse inertial navigation system with two-way data link and terminal active seeker developed indigenously by DRDO.
• The missile successfully engaged the aerial target establishing its capability.
• With this mission, the developmental trials of the weapon system are successfully completed and the weapon system is expected to be ready for induction by 2021.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change
First Annual Meet of State Nodal Agencies for Ecoclub programme conducted

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Ecoclub programme + Mains (GS III environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• In a first, Annual Meet of the State Nodal Agencies implementing the National Green Corps ‘Ecoclub' programme of the Ministry of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), organized by the Ministry's Environment Education Division, in collaboration with the GEER Foundation,

Know! more about it

• Environment Education Awareness and Training (EEAT) is an established central sector scheme of the Ministry continuing since 1983-84 and aims to promote environmental awareness and mobilize student's participation for environment conservation.
• Under the scheme, National Green Corps (NGC) ‘Ecoclub' programme was initiated in 2001-2002 with the objective to impart knowledge to school children through hands on experience, about their immediate environment, interactions within it and the problems therein.
• The programme aims to inculcate proper attitude towards environment and sensitize children on issues related to environment and development.
• The scheme is continuing to build young cadres of students and trigger their sensitivity towards environment protection and conservation.
• It is envisaged that number of Ecoclubs shall be enhanced from about 1.5 lakh at present to 2 lakh in the ensuing year 2020-21.

Internal Security
DNA Analysis Centre at CFSL, Chandigarh inaugurated

Relevance IN - Mains (GS II Social issues -steps taken by the government for empowering women and to strengthen the criminal justice system
What's the NEWS

• Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai inaugurated a State-of-the-Art DNA Analysis Centre at CFSL, Chandigarh.

Know! More about it

• This new Advanced Forensic DNA Analysis Lab has been set up under the Nirbhaya Fund scheme, with an allocation of Rs.99.76 crores.
• This Centre will provide State-of-the-art facility for (i) Sexual Assault and Homicide Unit (ii) Paternity Unit (iii) Human Identification Unit and (iv) Mitochondrial DNA Unit.
• DFSS has ensured that this Centre is fully equipped with modern DNA Profiling tools and equipment. This Advanced Forensic DNA Analysis facility has a capacity of examining 2000 cases per year.

Steps taken by the government w.r.t Women Safety

• Operationalization of 112 universal emergency services in 28 States/UTs, commencement of ‘Safe City' projects in 8 large cities, and strengthening State Forensic Science Laboratories.
• MHA would be setting up of Women Help Desks in all Police Stations and setting up Anti- Human Trafficking Units in all Districts.
• DNA Analysis has become critical in ensuring timeliness and efficiency in completion of criminal investigation as well as better convictions

Know! more about CFSLs

• The Directorate of Forensic Science Services under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has set up Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) in the country.
• These are situated at Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Chandigarh, Guwahati (Assam), Hyderabad (Telangana), Pune (Maharashtra) and Kolkata (West Bengal).
• Apart from assisting States in undertaking forensic examination of evidence, the predominant role of CFSLs is to undertake R&D activities with a view to develop new forensic techniques, adopt the latest developments in basic sciences for forensic analysis and disseminate this information to the other Forensic Science Laboratories.

Know! about Nirbhaya Fund

• The Nirbhaya Fund Framework provides for a non-lapsable corpus fund for safety and security of women to be administered by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of the Government of India.
• Further, it provides for an Empowered Committee (EC) of officers chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) to appraise and recommend proposals to be funded under this framework.

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