Relevance IN - Prelims (about Historical Gastronomica + about Indus valley civilization) + Mains ( GS II Indian Heritage and Culture)
What's the NEWS

• The National Museum, New Delhi is hosting a unique exhibition on India's ancient food history "Historical Gastronomica - The Indus Dining Experience" from 19th to 25thFebruary that goes back to more than 5000 years ago.

• The National Museum houses an impressive collection of Indus valley Civilization artefacts.
• The Indus Valley Civilization gallery has one of the world's most significant collections of this glorious Indian civilization.
• This thematic gallery also displays the famous Bronze Dancing Girl, which was excavated from Mohenjodaro, a Harappan site.
• ‘Indus Dining Experience' - curated jointly by the National Museum and One Station Million Stories (OSMS) - is based on archaeological research, museum artefacts and their characteristics.
• The exhibition in the National Museum features an illustrative story of man's food history since his evolution and continues to conclude at the Indus-Saraswati Civilization
• The exhibition demonstrates how the first humans evolved due to food habits, learnt to distinguish edible from non-edible substance, food processing techniques and related architecture of the Harappans.
• One Station Million Storiesis a Delhi-based dynamic team that specializes in the craft of storytelling through extensive technical research.

• Indus civilization, also called Indus valley civilization or Harappan civilization, the earliest known urban culture of the Indian subcontinent.
• The nuclear dates of the civilization appear to be about 2500-1700 BCE, though the southern sites may have lasted later into the 2nd millennium BCE.
  
  

• The civilization was first identified in 1921 at Harappa in the Punjab region and then in 1922 at Mohenjo-daro (Mohenjodaro), near the Indus River in the Sindh (Sind) region.
• Both sites are in present-day Pakistan, in Punjab and Sindh provinces, respectively. The ruins of Mohenjo-daro were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.

• NITI Aayog is organising "Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Conclave 2020: Partnerships, Cooperation and Development of North Eastern States" in Guwahati, in association with the North Eastern Council, Government of Assam, Tata Trusts, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS).

• NITI Aayog has the mandate of overseeing the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national level.
• Progress in the northeast region is crucial in this decade of action for the country to achieve the SDGs by 2030 and this conclave is part of NITI Aayog's continuous efforts towards fostering partnerships at the sub-national level.
• In terms of SDG localisation, the states in the region have taken major strides in integrating the Agenda 2030 framework in their developmental planning and vision documents.

• It is a statutory advisory body constituted under the NEC Act 1971 and came into being on the 7th November, 1972 at Shillong.
• The eight States of Northeast India viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim, are members of the council, with their respective Chief Ministers and Governors representing them. Sikkim was added to the council in the year 2002.
• The headquarters of the council is situated in Shillong and functions under the ministry of home affairs of the Government of India.

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the Technology group and its objective)
What's the NEWS

• Cabinet has approved constitution of a 12-Member Technology Group with the Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India as its Chair which

Know! more about the Technology Group

• This group will advise the Government on priorities and strategies for research on emerging technologies across sectors.
• The group intends to ensure that India has appropriate policies and strategies for effective, secure and context-sensitive exploitation of the latest technologies for economic growth and sustainable development of the Indian Industry.
• This Group is mandated to render timely policy advice on the latest technologies, mapping of technology and technology products, commercialization of dual-use technologies developed in national laboratories and government Research and Development.

The Technology Group will :-

1. render the best possible advice on technology to be developed for a technology supplier and the technology procurement strategy;
2. develop in-house expertise in aspects of policy and use of emerging technologies; and
3. ensure sustainability of public sector technology developed/being developed at PSUs, national labs and research organisations.

The three pillars of the work of the Technology Group include:
I. Policy Support;
II. Procurement Support; and
III. Support on Research and Development proposals.

Environment
Animal Culture Linked to Conservation for the first time at UN Wildlife Conference in India.

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the evolving concept of Animal culture)
What's the NEWS

• Animal culture, the learning of non-human species through socially transmitted behaviours, is being linked to conservation action for the first time .
• There is evidence that whales, dolphins, elephants and primates acquire some of their knowledge and skills through social learning.
• In addition to individual learning, some animals may learn socially from adults or peers about various behaviours, including optimal migration routes.

Know! about Animal Culture (taking the reference of Eastern Tropical Pacific Sperm Whale and the nut-cracking Chimpanzee)

• To consider conservation measures for the Eastern Tropical Pacific Sperm Whale and the nut-cracking Chimpanzee two such proposals will be presented to delegates at the ongoing 13^th Conference of Parties meeting to the Convention of Migratory Species at Gandhinagar(CMS COP 13).
• Understanding how Sperm Whales pass on valuable information to their offspring or why some groups of Chimpanzees have a culture of cracking nutritious nuts with stone tools while others do not, can be key to evaluating conservation challenges for such species.
• The Convention on the Conservation on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) has been spearheading efforts to use scientific knowledge on animal culture, to better protect endangered wildlife.
• Scientific research has made significant progress in animal culture. However, it is necessary to develop findings and recommendations that show how this complex issue can be further considered in conservation efforts under CMS.

Social Justice
Cabinet approves the Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill 2020

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Regulation Bill, 2020 and its provisions) + Mains ( GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources + Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
What's the NEWS

• The cabinet approved Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Regulation Bill, 2020 proposing a legal framework and code of conduct to keep a check on in vitro fertilisation, embryo transfers and sperm banks

Know! more about the bill

• The bill proposes a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh for anyone indulging in sale of embryo or trafficking at the first instance, and jail term of up to 12 years after that.
• It seeks to establish a national registry and registration authority which will be applicable to all medical professionals and clinics operating or providing services in the field of ART.
• The bill also envisages setting up a national board and a state board to help implement the legal framework.
• Besides, it proposes to create a Central database of all clinics and banks across the country.
• The database will also include detailed information about services like the nature of the method through which the outcome is achieved
• The Bill prohibits sex determination and sex selection. It also contains provisions to ensure confidentiality of the donor as well as the recipient of such services.

Benefits

• The major benefit of the Act would be that it will regulate the Assisted Reproductive Technology services in the country. Consequently, infertile couples will be more ensured/confident of the ethical practices in ARTs.

Know! about the bill and about Assisted reproductive technology (ART)

• The bill makes provisions for safe and ethical practice of assisted reproductive technology services in the country.
• Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years. India has one of the highest growths in the ART centers and the number of ART cycles performed every year.
• Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), including In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), has given hope to a multitude of persons suffering from infertility, but also introduced a plethora of legal, ethical and social issues.
• India has become one of the major centres of this global fertility industry, with reproductive medical tourism becoming a significant activity
• The need to regulate the Assisted Reproductive Technology Services is mainly to protect the affected Women and the Children from exploitation.

Surrogacy Regulation Bill 2020

• The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020 proposes to regulate surrogacy in India by establishing National Board at the central level and State Boards and Appropriate Authorities in the States and Union Territories.
• The Bill has been examined by the Select Committee and the report has been tabled in the Rajya Sabha on the 5th of February 2020.
• The major benefit of the Act would be that it will regulate the surrogacy services in the country.
• While commercial surrogacy will be prohibited including sale and purchase of human embryos and gametes, ethical surrogacy to the Indian Married couple, Indian Origin Married Couple and Indian Single Woman (only widow or Divorcee) will be allowed on ulfilment of certain conditions.
• As such, it will control the unethical practices in surrogacy, prevent commercialization of surrogacy and will prohibit potential exploitation of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy.

Medical Termination Pregnancy Amendment Bill 2020

• The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 was enacted to provide for the termination of certain pregnancies by registered medical practitioners and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• The said Act recognised the importance of safe, affordable, accessible abortion services to women who need to terminate pregnancy under certain specified conditions.
• Besides this, several Writ Petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court and various High Courts seeking permission for aborting pregnancies at gestational age beyond the present permissible limit on the grounds of foetal abnormalities or pregnancies due to sexual violence faced by women.

Polity
Cabinet approves Constitution of 22nd Law Commission of India for a term of three years

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Law Commission and its objective)
What's the NEWS

• The Union Cabinet has approved Twenty-second Law Commission of India for a period of three years
• The Government will have the benefit of recommendations from a specialised body on different aspects of law which are entrusted to the Commission for its study and recommendations, as per its terms of reference.

The Law Commission of India shall, inter-alia,: -

• identify laws which are no longer needed or relevant and can be immediately repealed;
• examine the existing laws in the light of Directive Principles of State Policy and suggest ways of improvement and reform and also suggest such legislations as might be necessary to implement the Directive Principles and to attain the objectives set out in the Preamble of the Constitution;

1. consider and convey to the Government its views on any subject relating to law and judicial administration that may be specifically referred to it by the Government through Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs);
2. Consider the requests for providing research to any foreign countries as may be referred to it by the Government through Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs);
3. take all such measures as may be necessary to harness law and the legal process in the service of the poor;
4. revise the Central Acts of general importance so as to simplify them and remove anomalies, ambiguities and inequities;

know! about the Law Commission of India

• The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body constituted by the Government of India from time to time.
• The Commission was originally constituted in 1955 and is re-constituted every three years. The tenure of twenty-first Law Commission of India was upto 31st August, 2018.
• The various Law Commission have been able to make important contribution towards the progressive development and codification of Law of the country. The Law Commission has so far submitted 277 reports.

The 22^nd Law Commission will be constituted for a period of three years from the date of publication of its Order in the Official Gazette. It will consist of:
a. a full-time Chairperson;
b. four full-time Members (including Member-Secretary)
c. Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex-officio Member;
d. Secretary, Legislative Department as ex officio Member; and
e. not more than five part-time Members.

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