• NHPC Limited, India's premier hydropower company and a PSU under Ministry of Power, has signed Definitive Agreement for implementation of the Approved Resolution Plan for takeover of 120 MW Rangit-IV HE Project of Jalpower Corporation Limited (JPCL) in Sikkim.

Know! about the resolution

• National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Hyderabad bench approved NHPC's Resolution Plan for taking over Jalpower Corporation Limited (JPCL)
• NHPC had submitted its Resolution Plan and was declared the successful resolution applicant by Committee of Creditors (CoC)
• CoC approved Resolution Plan was filed by Resolution Professional with Hon'ble NCLT Hyderabad Bench
• The total cost of the project is estimated as Rs.943.20 Crore. Jalpower Corporation Limited is the second company after LancoTeesta Hydro Power Ltd (LTHPL) to be acquired through NCLT process by NHPC.

• The Government of Sikkim as a part of national drive for the development of Hydro Potential of the country has awarded Rangit Stage-IV Hydro Electric Project to Jal Power Corporation Limited on 1^st Nov. 2004.
• An agreement for setting up of Rangit Stage-IV Hydro Electric Project was signed with the Govt. of Sikkim on 9^th December, 2005 on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis under joint sector with the State Government through Sikkim Power Development Corporation (SPDC).
• The project, a Run of the River (ROR) scheme, is located in West Sikkim district of Sikkim.
• Rangit Stage-IV Hydro Electric Project was identified as a part of the master plan evolved in 1974 for the development of hydro power potential of Teesta and Rangit rivers of Sikkim.

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

• 5 years ago, on 13^th January 2016, the Government of India took a historic step towards strengthening risk coverage of crops for farmers of India and approved the flagship crop insurance scheme - the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

Know! the features of the scheme

• The scheme was conceived as a milestone initiative to provide a comprehensive risk solution at the lowest uniform premium across the country for farmers.
• Premium cost over and above the farmer share is equally subsidized by States and GoI. However, GoI shares 90% of the premium subsidy for North Eastern States to promote the uptake in the region.
• The average sum insured per hectare has increased from Rs.15,100 during the pre-PMFBY Schemes to Rs.40,700 under PMFBY.
• As an end to end risk mitigation mechanism for farmers, the scheme extends coverage for the entire cropping cycle from pre-sowing to post-harvest including coverage for losses arising out of prevented sowing and mid-season adversities.
• Individual farm level losses arising out of localized calamities and post-harvest losses are also covered due to perils such as inundation, cloudburst and natural fire.
• Integration of land records with the PMFBY portal, Crop Insurance mobile-app for easy enrollment of farmers and usage of technology such as satellite imagery, remote-sensing technology, drones, artificial intelligence and machine learning to assess crop losses are some of the key features of the scheme.
• The scheme makes it easier for the farmer to report crop loss within 72 hours of occurrence of any event through the Crop Insurance App, CSC Centre or the nearest agriculture officer.
• As an endeavor to constantly bring about improvements, the scheme was made voluntary for all farmers, post its revamp in February 2020.
• Further the States have also been provided flexibility to rationalize the sum insured so that adequate benefit can be availed by farmers.
• The Scheme covers over 5.5 crore farmer applications year on year.
• Till date, claims worth Rs 90,000 crores have already been paid out under the Scheme.

Prelims Factoids
DRDO develops India's first indigenous machine pistol ASMI

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

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed India's first indigenous machine pistol ASMI, capable of firing at 100 metres range
• The pistol, developed by the DRDO with the help of the Indian Army, has been specially designed to replace the erstwhile 9mm pistols in the defence forces.

Know! all about ASMI

• India's first indigenous machine pistol ASMI developed jointly by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and Indian Army displayed today at the Army's innovation display event.
• The gun would be offered to replace the 9mm pistols in the defence forces
• These machine pistols are in the class of the Uzi series guns of Israel. They are capable of firing at a distance of 100 meters.
• The machine pistol prototype, developed by the DRDO, has fired more than 300 rounds in the last four months of its development.
• The country's first indigenous machine pistol ASMI will soon be handed over to the Indian Army for use.

International
The 25^th Amendment

Relevance IN - Prelims ( all about the 25^th amendment of American constitution)
What's the NEWS

• The Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives, has passed a resolution urging Vice President Mike Pence to invoke 25^th Amendment to remove the president from office
• The 25^th Amendment, adopted more than 50 years ago in the wake of President John F Kennedy's assassination, provides a mechanism for the succession of the president for his or her replacement in the event he or she proves unfit to serve.
• Most Recently, President George Bush twice invoked the 25^th Amendment to temporarily transfer the powers of the presidency to Vice President Dick Cheney in 2002 and again in 2007.
• Under the amendment, the vice president and a majority of either the Cabinet or some other body designated by Congress may remove the president from office.

25^th Amendment

• It is an effort to resolve some of the continuing issues revolving around the office of the President if the President becomes disabled to fulfill his responsibilities

Know! all about the 25th Amendment

• In the aftermath of a violent mob invading the US Capitol building, that houses both the US Senate as well as the House of Representatives, there are calls to invoke the disability clause under section 4 of the 25^th Amendment for Sitting President Trump to be stripped of his power from office.
• The 25^th Amendment has four sections providing the procedures for replacing or succeeding the President or Vice President in the event of death, removal, resignation, illness or incapacitation

SECTION 1

• In case of the removal of the President from office or his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President, prohibiting the departing president from returning to office.

SECTION 2

• Addresses vacancies in the office of the Vice President, then the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

SECTION 3

• If the President is able to declare his/her inability with written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office then the Vice President takes over as the Acting President.

SECTION 4

• Addresses a situation in which the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet determine that the President is unable to discharge his duties. Then the Vice President immediately assumes the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Section 4 - The Disability Clause under 25th Amendment

• That process ultimately requires a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress. (While President can be impeached by a simple majority in the House and removed by a two-thirds vote in the Senate)
• The President can claim that no inability exists that Congress shall decide finally.
• However, the fourth section of the 25^th Amendment has never been invoked.

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