Governance
Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh take the lead in undertaking Urban Local Bodies reforms

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the ULB reforms specified by Finance Ministry + about Scheme for Financial Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure) + Mains ( GS II governance + GS III Economic developments)
What's the NEWS

• Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have taken the lead in undertaking the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) reforms.
• The two States have successfully completed the set of reforms in functioning of ULBs, as specified by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.

Know! more about it

• To motivate the States to undertake reforms in various citizen centric sectors, the Ministry of Finance has linked a part of additional borrowing permission granted to the States to completion of reforms.
• In view of the resource requirement to meet the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India had on 17th May, 2020 enhanced the borrowing limit of the States by 2 percent of their Gross States Domestic Product (GSDP).
• Half of this special dispensation was linked to undertaking citizen centric reforms by the States.
• The States get permission to raise additional funds equivalent to 0.25 percent of GSDP on completion of reforms in each sector.

The four citizen centric areas identified for reforms were
(a) Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System,
(b) Ease of doing business reform,
(c) Urban Local body/ utility reforms and
(d) Power Sector reforms.

• On successfully undertaking the ULBs reforms, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have been granted permission to mobilise additional financial resources to the tune of Rs.4,898 crore through open market borrowings.

Reforms in the urban local bodies

• Reforms in the urban local bodies and the urban utilities reforms are aimed at financial strengthening of ULBs in the State and to enable them to provide better public health and sanitation services.
• Economically rejuvenated ULBs will also be able to create good civic infrastructure.

Scheme for Financial Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure

• Besides additional borrowing permissions, the States completing three out of the four reforms are entitled to get additional financial assistance under the "Scheme for Financial Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure".
• The Scheme was announced by the Finance Minister on 12th October, 2020 as part of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package.
• It is aimed at boosting capital expenditure by the State Governments who are facing difficult financial environment this year due to the shortfall in tax revenue arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Under the scheme, an amount of Rs.2,000 crore is earmarked to reward the States who undertake the prescribed citizen centric reforms.

Government Schemes
PMJAY - SEHAT scheme
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about PMJAY - SEHAT scheme)
What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the PMJAY - SEHAT scheme on December 26 for Jammu and Kashmir.

Know! about SEHAT Scheme

• According to the Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, SEHAT scheme stands for Social, Endeavour for Health and Telemedicine, a health insurance scheme for the Union Territory.
• All the inhabitants of the Union Territory will receive free cashless health cover up to Rs 5 lakhs.
• The scheme will cover the remaining population which has not been covered under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
• SEHAT - Health Insurance scheme for the entire J&K to cover the remaining One crore population which was not covered under Ayushman Bharat scheme

Environment
Status of Leopard in India report

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the report highlights) + Mains ( GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the status of Leopard
• India's population of leopards has gone up 60 per cent and the country now has 12,852 leopards
• The "Status of Leopard in India" report which recorded a surge in the population of leopards in the country.

Status of Leopard in India 2018 report

• India now has 12,852 leopards as compared to the previous estimate of 7910 conducted 2014.
• More than 60 per cent increase in population has been recorded. The States of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra recorded the highest leopard estimates at 3,421; 1,783 and 1,690 respectively
• India's world record tiger survey also estimated the population of leopards and the tiger range was found home to 12,852 (12,172-13,535) leopards.
• They occur in prey rich protected areas as well as multi-use forests.
• A total of 5,240 adult individual leopards were identified in a total of 51,337 leopard photographs using pattern recognition software.
• Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number of leopards followed by Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Know! about Leopards

• The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is a leopard subspecies widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent.
• The Indian leopard is one of the big cats occurring on the Indian subcontinent, apart from the Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, snow leopard and clouded leopard.
• Leopards are listed as "Vulnerable" in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• Under CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) they are listed under Appendix I.
• They are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• They are found in every type of habitat from rain forests to desert. They are also found in temperate regions.
• They are distributed from Trans-Himalayas to Gangetic plains. In the desert regions of India, they are found in Mukundara, Sariska and Ranthambore.

Defence
Boeing F-18 Super Hornet shows ability to ski-jump off India's carrier ramp

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• American aircraft giant Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet has successfully performed the ski-jump, making it suitable for the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier.
• F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet will offer the Indian Navy advanced warfighter technologies, superior economics and enhance naval aviation cooperation with the US Navy
• The Indian Navy could potentially acquire the aircraft to operate from the INS Vikramaditya (former Soviet Admiral Gorshkov) and the upcoming INS Vikrant, an indigenous carrier, both using the Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system.
• The Indian Naval Air Arm currently operates a fleet of over 40 MiG-29K fighter aircraft.
• The decision on a purchase is expected to be known in 2021.
• As part of Boeing's proposed ‘By India, for India' sustainment program, the Block III Super Hornets can be serviced in partnership with the Indian Navy as well as India and US based partners throughout the lifecycle of the aircraft

F/A-18 Super Hornet

• The first successful and safe launch of the F/A-18 Super Hornet from a ski jump begins the validation process to operate effectively from Indian Navy aircraft carriers
• The F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet will not only provide superior warfighting capability to the Indian Navy but also create opportunities for cooperation in naval aviation between the United States and India.
• The Block III is the latest and most advanced version of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, featuring an Advanced Cockpit System, and capability upgrades that include greater range, reduced radar signature, and improved communication system.
• Two flight-test aircraft were delivered to the U.S. Navy in June 2020, with the Block III capabilities to be available from 2021.
• Boeing is offering the F/A-18 Super Hornet in single seater (E-Variant) and two-seater variant (F-Variant) to the Navy. Kanaglekar said that it will act as a force multiplier for the Navy as "it can interface with (Navy's) P-8I aircraft and other US origin assets".

STOBAR ("Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery" or "Short Take-Off, Barrier Arrested Recovery")

• It is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier, combining elements of "short take-off and vertical landing" (STOVL) with "catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery" (CATOBAR).
• Aircraft launch under their own power using a ski-jump to assist take-off (rather than using a catapult).

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