Bihar Current Affairs October 2023 PDF

Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 1 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS ___________________________________________________________________________________ 7 1.1 Caste-Based Survey in Bihar _________________________________________________________________________________________ 7 1.2 Bihar To Get Second Tiger Reserve in Kaimur District __________________________________________________________ 9 1.3 President's visit to Bihar _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 9 1.4 Startup in Bihar after startup policy ______________________________________________________________________________ 10 1.5 Dr. Abhishek Anand from Bihar invited to participate in “ESMO Congress 2023” _________________________ 11 1.6 Film 'Vidyapati' _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11 1.7 Survey of ground water level of last six years in Bihar _________________________________________________________ 11 1.8 Workers working in unorganized sector in Bihar _______________________________________________________________ 12 1.9 122 Birth Anniversary of Loknayak _______________________________________________________________________________ 12 1.10 Prelims Specific _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13 2. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE _________________________________________________________________________________ 17 2.1 Appointment of Judges in Higher Judiciary_______________________________________________________________________ 17 2.2 The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act _________________________________________________________________________ 18 2.3 Prelims News __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 20 2.4 Short News _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21 3. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______________________________________________________________________________ 24 3.1 Indo-Pacific Region ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 24 3.2 Israel-Palestine Conflict _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 25 3.3 India-Maldives Relations ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 26 3.4 Prelims News __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 27 3.5 Short News: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 28 4. ECONOMY _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30 4.1 India’s Informal Economy ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 30 4.2 Farmer Producers’ Organisations (FPOs): Engines of agri-innovation ______________________________________ 31 4.3 Minimum Support Price _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 33 4.4 Freight Corridors Should Improve Logistics Position __________________________________________________________ 35 4.5 Indian Solar Manufacturers Battling Chinese Threat: PLI Brings Hope ______________________________________ 37 4.6 Challenges in India’s Solar Equipment Manufacturing: ________________________________________________________ 38 2 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 4.7 Green Revolution in India ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 38 4.8 Impact of Monsoon on Indian Economy ___________________________________________________________________________ 40 4.9 World Energy Outlook 2023 ________________________________________________________________________________________ 41 4.10 Prelims: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 43 4.11 Data Point: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 48 4.12 Short News ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 49 5. ENVIRONMENT AND GEOGRAPHY _________________________________________________________________________ 52 5.1 100 Million Hectares of Arable Land Lost Yearly to Degradation: UN Report ______________________________ 52 5.2 State of Global Coastal Adaptation _________________________________________________________________________________ 54 5.3 Challenges Around Air Pollution ___________________________________________________________________________________ 55 5.4 Stubble Burning_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 57 5.5 Interlinking of Rivers ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 59 5.6 Prelims _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 60 5.7 Data Point ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 65 5.8 Short News _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 65 6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY________________________________________________________________________________ 67 6.1 AI in Modern Defense ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 67 6.2 Safety Test For Gaganyaan __________________________________________________________________________________________ 68 6.3 Prelims News __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 70 6.4 Short News _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 72 7. DEFENCE AND SECURITY ___________________________________________________________________________________ 74 7.1 Terrorism: A Threat to Humanity __________________________________________________________________________________ 74 7.2 Illicit Trade ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 75 7.3 Left Wing Extremism(LWE) _________________________________________________________________________________________ 77 7.4 Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) _______________________________________________________________________ 78 7.5 National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) _________________________________ 79 7.6 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty ___________________________________________________________________________________ 79 7.7 Short News _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 79 7.8 Art and Culture________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 80 7.9 Prelims News __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 83 7.10 Short News ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 83 3 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 8. SOCIETY_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 85 8.1 Surrogacy in India ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 85 8.2 Global Hunger Index 2023 __________________________________________________________________________________________ 86 8.3 Parliamentary Committee Report on Education_________________________________________________________________ 87 8.4 Prelims News __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 89 8.5 Data Point ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 90 8.6 Short News _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 91 9. MISCELLANEOUS_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 92 10. PERSONALITY IN NEWS ___________________________________________________________________________________ 98 10.1 Shyamji Krishna Varma ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 98 10.2 Sammakka and Sarakka ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 98 10.3 Shri Ramalinga Swamy _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 98 10.4 Rani Durgavati_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 98 11. SPORTS ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 99 11.1 19th Asian Games ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 99 11.2 Ajay Jadeja:mentor of Afghanistan cricket team _______________________________________________________________ 99 11.3 Global Ambassador for Cricket World Cup 2023 _______________________________________________________________ 99 11.4 Mascot pair for ICC World Cup ____________________________________________________________________________________ 99 11.5 Rohit Sharma: Most centuries in the World Cup _____________________________________________________________ 100 11.6 ICC Player of the Month __________________________________________________________________________________________ 100 11.7 Ashutosh Sharma broke Yuvraj Singh's record ______________________________________________________________ 100 11.8 Fastest 2000 runs in ODI cricket _______________________________________________________________________________ 100 11.9 Fastest century in ODI Cricket World Cup ____________________________________________________________________ 100 11.10 Mascot for Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2023 ______________________________________________________ 100 11.11 Los Angeles 2028 Olympics to include five new sports____________________________________________________ 100 11.12 Asian Under-18 Rugby Football Championship ____________________________________________________________ 101 11.13 Official sponsor of 37th National Games _____________________________________________________________________ 101 12. APPOINTMENTS __________________________________________________________________________________________ 102 12.1 Maldives President:Mohammad Muizzu ______________________________________________________________________ 102 12.2 Aditya Puri _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 102 12.3 Prime Minister of New Zealand _________________________________________________________________________________ 102 4 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 12.4 Chairman of the Board of Directors of PTI ____________________________________________________________________ 102 12.5 Anirban Mukherjee:Global CEO of PayU _______________________________________________________________________ 102 12.6 Mohammed Shami:Brand ambassador of PUMA _____________________________________________________________ 102 12.7 MS Dhoni:brand ambassador of JioMart ______________________________________________________________________ 102 12.8 Lay's brand ambassador _________________________________________________________________________________________ 102 13. OBITUARIES ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 103 13.1 Anathalvattom Anandan _________________________________________________________________________________________ 103 13.2 Terence Davis______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 103 13.3 PV Gangadharan___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 103 13.4 Louise Gluck _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 103 14. PLACES IN NEWS _________________________________________________________________________________________ 104 15. AWARDS & HONORS _____________________________________________________________________________________ 106 15.1 Nobel Prize 2023 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 106 15.2 69th National Film Awards 2023 _______________________________________________________________________________ 106 15.3 Global Indian Award ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 107 15.4 Tata Literature Live Lifetime Achievement Award __________________________________________________________ 107 15.5 Ramanujan Award 2023 _________________________________________________________________________________________ 107 15.6 Neeraj Chopra:Nominated for the Male World Athlete of the Year award _______________________________ 107 15.7 Award for Global Leadership____________________________________________________________________________________ 107 15.8 America's Top Young Scientist award _________________________________________________________________________ 108 15.9 Saraswati Samman 2022 _________________________________________________________________________________________ 108 15.10 Dutch Spinoza Prize _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 108 16. SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES __________________________________________________________________________ 109 16.1 16th Agricultural Science Congress ____________________________________________________________________________ 109 16.2 BRICS ICC 2023 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 109 16.3 P20 Speakers Summit ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 109 16.4 54th International Film Festival of India_______________________________________________________________________ 109 16.5 141st IOC Session __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 109 16.6 The World Health Summit 2023 ________________________________________________________________________________ 109 16.7 Bharat Drone Shakti 2023 _______________________________________________________________________________________ 110 16.8 4th EMRS National Cultural and Literary Festival and Arts Mahotsav-2023 _____________________________ 110 5 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 16.9 India-UK 2+2 Dialogue ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 110 16.10 Global Maritime India Summit 2023 _________________________________________________________________________ 110 16.11 World Food India (WFI)-2023 _________________________________________________________________________________ 110 17. SCHEMES AND NEW INITIATIVES ______________________________________________________________________ 111 17.1 PRIP Scheme _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 111 17.2 National Green Hydrogen Mission _____________________________________________________________________________ 111 17.3 NAV-eCash card ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 111 17.4 Outlook Money 40 After 40 ______________________________________________________________________________________ 111 17.5 GST Amnesty Scheme 2023 ______________________________________________________________________________________ 112 17.6 Indian government will spend Rs 3,000 crore on sports ___________________________________________________ 112 17.7 Mukhyamantri Gram Gaadi Yojana ____________________________________________________________________________ 112 17.8 SBI launched 'Mobile Handheld Device' _______________________________________________________________________ 112 17.9 Nokia inaugurated 6G Research Lab ___________________________________________________________________________ 112 17.10 Jhaadu Daan initiative __________________________________________________________________________________________ 112 17.11 Yes Bank's 'ONDC Network Gift Card' ________________________________________________________________________ 112 17.12 Shreshta Scheme ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 112 17.13 Seven bridge projects approved under Setu Bandhan Yojana in Arunachal Pradesh ________________ 113 17.14 CM Nashta Yojana _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 113 17.15 New announcement for beneficiaries of Ujjwala scheme _________________________________________________ 113 17.16 ISRO and VIBHA's "Space on Wheels" Exhibition ___________________________________________________________ 113 17.17 Project Nilgiri Tahr______________________________________________________________________________________________ 113 17.18 Project Udbhav __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 113 17.19 2nd Northeastern state to implement the e-cabinet system______________________________________________ 114 17.20 Andhra Pradesh government will start caste census ______________________________________________________ 114 17.21 My Youth India (MY Bharat) ___________________________________________________________________________________ 114 18. 100 MCQS _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 115 19. ANSWER WITH EXPLANATION _________________________________________________________________________ 123 20. ESSAY ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 135 20.1 Essay Writing ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 135 20.2 Essay writing challenge __________________________________________________________________________________________ 136 6 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 1. BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS e 1.1 Caste-Based Survey in Bihar The Bihar government recently released the findings of the caste survey conducted earlier this year. The Bihar caste-based survey is the first such exercise since India became independent in 1947. The share of Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) is more than 63%. The combined population share of the reserved categories in Bihar - OBC, EBC, SC, ST is more than 84 per cent. The Hindus are the majority community in the state comprising 81.99 per cent of the total population, followed by Muslims 17.70%. ○ Christians, Sikhs, Jains constitute less than 1 percent. Controversy/Challenges with the Caste-Based Survey: Demand for National Level Survey: With the caste survey in Bihar, the demand for a caste survey at the national level has gained momentum. Demand for Increased Reservation: It is likely to intensify calls for an increase in the OBC quota beyond the current 27% and for the implementation of a sub-quota for the EBCs. ○ It is expected to reignite the longstanding debate surrounding the 50% cap on reservations, which was established by the Supreme Court in the case of Indra Sawhney v Union of India (1992). Lack of Economic Data: Unless the caste data is interpreted with the economic figures, the government won’t be able to frame policies and target schemes at the most-deprived sections of the society. ○ There is a possibility that the creamy layer might end up cornering all the benefits. Debunking Myths of Classless Muslim Population: The survey has highlighted the existence of social divisions in muslim population based on birth, similar to the majority community. Stabilization of Muslim Population: Within the 17.7% of the state's population represented by Muslims, the growth rate of the Muslim population is approximately 0.8%. ○ These findings contradict the general narrative that the Muslim population is growing at a faster pace and will surpass the Hindu population in the near future. Fear of Religious Reservation: If the 50% reservation limit is exceeded in Bihar, it would result in a significant increase in reservation for Muslim population in government jobs and college seats. ○ This situation would bear a resemblance to religious reservation under the guise of securing quotas for the backward classes. Benefits of Caste-Based Survey: Accurate Estimate of OBCs: There is no one estimate for the OBCs as different figures have come from different government institutions. ○ Mandal Commission: Estimated the OBC population at 52 per cent. ○ NSSO (National Sample Survey Organisation) Surveys: Variation in population from about 36 per cent to 45 percent. ○ UDISE+ [United District Information System for Education Plus] data: OBC children comprise 45 per cent students in primary schools. 7 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 Development Policies: Accurate assessment of the OBC population is needed to accordingly draft policies for their betterment, which may cover education, employment, and other development metrics. Proportional representation: The backward communities have a higher share in the population but fewer representation in public institutions and politics. 15 per cent reservation exists for the scheduled castes (SCs) in government jobs and higher educational institutions 7 per cent for the scheduled tribes (STs) 22 per cent for the other backward classes (OBCs). Stand of Judiciary over the Caste Based Dataset for Crucial Studies: The census also provides the data set Survey: from which the National Sample Survey and National Family Health The Patna High Court(HC) upheld the Survey draw their samples. validity of the survey, allowing it to resume. About Census: The court held that the state government is Census provides detailed and authentic information on demography, competent to conduct caste-based surveys economic activity, literacy and education, scheduled castes and for the purpose of uplifting backward scheduled tribes, language, religion, migration and many other communities. socio-cultural and demographic data. The HC relied on Indra Sawhney v Union Census in India: of India (1992), which recognised that there The Indian Census is the largest single source of various statistical can be a reasonable method and procedure for information on various characteristics of the people of India. the identification of backwardness in society. ○ Nodal Agency: Ministry of Home Affairs ○ Statutory Provision: In 1948, the Census Act was enacted to provide a plan for conducting a population Census along with the duties and responsibilities of Census officers. ○ Union list: It is currently included in the Union list of the Seventh History of census in India: Schedule of the Constitution. First synchronous decennial Census: Phases of Census Operations in India: Conducted under British rule on February 17, Houselisting and Housing Census: In this, all bu 1881, by W.C. Plowden, Census ildings, Census Houses and Households are identified and Commissioner of India in 1881. systematically listed in the relevant schedules. ○ The 1931 Census is considered the last ○ It provides comprehensive data on the conditions of human British-administered Census. settlements, housing deficit and consequently the housing First census of Independent India: requirements to be taken care of in the formulation of housing Conducted in 1951, which was the seventh policies. census in a continuous series. Population Enumeration: It follows the Housing Census within a gap Last Census: Census 2011 was the 15th of six to eight months. National Census of the country since 1872 ○ Each person is enumerated and her/his individual particulars like and the 7th after Independence. Age, Marital status, Religion, Scheduled Caste/Schedule Tribe, ○ The next Census was due in 2021 but the Mother tongue, Education level, Disability, Economic activity, same has been postponed due to Covid- Migration, Fertility (for female) are collected. 19 pandemic. Difference between Census and Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC): The aim of a regular Population Census is to provide an overview but is not concerned with any particular individual/household i.e., personal data given in the Population Census is confidential. On the contrary, all the personal information given in the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) is open for use by Government departments to grant and/ or restrict benefits to households. 8 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 Own census of Tharu tribals of West Champaran The Tharu tribals living in the forests of Tharuhat region of West Champaran conduct their census every five years. This tradition has been going on for more than a hundred years in this area of 264 villages of the community. Earlier the census was limited only to knowing the number of population but now the details of economic and educational status of the people of the society are also collected. Census work is done at three levels. First of all, a team of six people from the village is formed. This includes two elders, two women, a youth and a villager. This team collects data by going door-to-door. After the village wise census the report is submitted to Tapa through Gumasta. After consolidating all the villages of Tapa, that report is placed before the Central Committee in the federation. After this the final count report is issued. 1.2 Bihar To Get Second Tiger Reserve in Kaimur District Bihar is set to get a second tiger reserve in Kaimur district (Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary) by the end of the year or early 2024. The State Forest Department officials said they were working to obtain the National Tiger Reserve Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) approval for declaring Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary a tiger reserve. ○ The total tiger count in Bihar currently is 54. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): NTCA is a statutory body established in 2005 following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force. Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. About Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary: The Sanctuary has two parts, viz. plains and plateau regions Established in 1979, it features diverse forest types, rare flora and fauna. ○ Fauna: leopard, sloth bear, chital, sambar, wild pig, nilgai, 'chowsingha' (four-horned antelope) ○ Flora: Khair (Acacia catechu), Palas (Butea frondosa) Geographical Spread:Kaimur and Rohtas Districts. It is the largest and first wildlife sanctuary to be declared in Bihar. It is connected with Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary of UP, which again has links with Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve and Panna landscape in Madhya Pradesh through stepping stone forests of Marihan, Sukrit, Chunar ranges and wildlife sanctuaries of Ranipur (UP). 1.3 President's visit to Bihar President Draupadi Murmu's three-day visit to Bihar started from October 18. Governor Rajendra Arlekar, CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav welcomed him at the airport and congratulated him by giving him a plant, the President's portrait and a Bhagalpuri silk saree. Draupadi Murmu is the sixth President of the country to come to Bihar. Key point: ○ The President launched the fourth agricultural road map of Bihar on October 18 at Bapu Auditorium in Patna. ○ Murmu is the third President to inaugurate the agriculture road map. Earlier, the second agriculture road map was inaugurated by Pranab Mukherjee and the third agriculture road map was inaugurated by Ramnath Kovind. ○ It is known that Bihar is the first state in the country which is working on making a road map on agriculture. The first agricultural road map was launched by organizing a Kisan Panchayat at Krishna Memorial Hall on 17 February 2008. 9 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 ○ Presentation of the agriculture roadmap was given before the President. In which it was said that farming will be done in PPP mode. The Bihar government will spend Rs 1 lakh 62 thousand crore on this in the next five years. Along with this, a target has been set to provide water to every farm by 2025. ○ During this, the President said that today the demand for organic products is increasing rapidly in the country and abroad and agriculture plays an important role in the GDP of Bihar. In such a situation, the President advised the farmers of Bihar to do organic farming. On one hand, organic farming helps in reducing the cost of agriculture and in environmental protection, while on the other hand, organic products are also beneficial for health. Draupadi Murmu: Third President to visit Mahabodhi Temple ○ The President also visited Mahabodhi Temple during this period. ○ Murmu is the third President to visit Mahabodhi Temple. Earlier, President APJ Abdul Kalam had visited this temple complex in 2003 and Pratibha Devi Singh Patil in 2011. Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib ○ President Draupadi Murmu, during her visit to Bihar, paid obeisance at the Darbar Sahib at Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib, the birthplace of the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj Ji. Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib is one of the five Takhts of the Sikhs of India, located in Patna. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, was born on 22 December 1666 in Patna in the Mughal Empire. He spent his early years here before moving to Anandpur Sahib. Apart from being the birthplace of Gobind Singh, Patna is also known for the visits of Guru Nanak and Guru Tegh Bahadur. The Takht was built in the 19th century by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to mark the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh. 1.4 Startup in Bihar after startup policy After the introduction of the Startup Policy, 502 startups have been opened in Bihar so far, out of which 79 startups are led by women. ○ All of them have already received initial funding of around Rs 25 crore. ○ Considering the potential seen in startups, startup cells have been established in 37 districts of Bihar. Startups have been registered in fourteen different sectors in the state. Most of the startups are in the IT/TES, Agritech & allied and e-commerce sectors. Sector wise startup registration percentage in Bihar- 10 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 Startup India Startup India was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech on 15 August 2015. 'Startup India Campaign' promotes startup talent in India by providing conditional tax exemptions. Under this scheme, all eligible institutions will get tax exemption on profits earned for 3 consecutive years. 1.5 Dr. Abhishek Anand from Bihar invited to participate in “ESMO Congress 2023” Renowned oncologist from Bihar, Dr. Abhishek Anand has been invited to participate in “ESMO Congress 2023” to be held in Spain. It was organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ASMO) from 19 to 22 October in Madrid, Spain, in which Dr. Anand presented his research on cancer. What is the ESMO Congress? ○ It is noteworthy that the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is an important organization in the field of medical oncology. The ESMO Congress organized by this organization serves as an important platform for the oncology community. The ASMO Congress generally holds special importance in the field of medical oncology as a presentation of research and clinical data. 1.6 Film 'Vidyapati' Under the banner of Janaki Films, a feature film 'Vidyapati' has been made in Hindi and Maithili on the life of great poet Vidyapati. ○ Mahakavi Vidyapati Thakur is the link connecting Mithila as well as Bengal and Orissa. ○ 'Vidyapati' is directed by Shyam Bhaskar and music is given by Alok Kumar. The producer of the film is Sunil Kumar Jha. ○ The trailer of the film will be released in Madhubani on 10th November. It is known that the first film on Vidyapati was made in Bengali language in 1936 and the second film was made in Hindi in 1964 and this is the third film to be made on his life. Vidyapati Thakur Great poet Vidyapati Thakur is also known as Maithil poet Kokil. He was a Maithili and Sanskrit polymath, poet-saint, playwright, musician, biographer, philosopher, law theorist and a devotee of Shiva. He had good knowledge of Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsha and Maithili languages. His influence was not limited to Maithili and Sanskrit literature, but also extended to other East Indian literary traditions. 1.7 Survey of ground water level of last six years in Bihar Bihar Minor Water Resources Department will study the groundwater level in the state for the last six years (from 2017 till now) and also assess the decline in groundwater level. This survey will be based on the following major parameters- ○ How far has the groundwater level gone? ○ At what speed is the groundwater level falling? 11 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 ○ Has it declined every year compared to the previous year? ○ Where has this extremely dangerous level reached? Apart from this, the government has also set three standards for studying the groundwater level. In this, areas like overexploited zone, critical zone and semi-critical zone have to be identified. 1.8 Workers working in unorganized sector in Bihar Bihar ranks second in the country in terms of registration of workers on the basis of registration on the e-Shram portal of the Central Government. The data obtained from registration is as follows- ○ The number of laborers working in the unorganized sector in Bihar is more than 2 crore 88 lakh. Of these, more than 1 crore 42 lakh workers are involved in agricultural work. ○ Most of the workers registering are in the age group of 18 to 40 years. The number of workers in this age group is 65.22 percent. The number of workers aged between 40 to 50 years is 20.51 percent, while the number of workers above 50 years of age is 12.17 percent. ○ The number of women among workers is more than men. There are a total of more than 1 crore 71 lakh women workers in the state, which is 56.16 percent. Whereas the number of male workers is 43.84 percent. ○ The highest number of workers in the state is in East Champaran, while Muzaffarpur is at second place and Samastipur is at third place. ○ The least number of workers are in Sheikhpura. 1.9 122nd Birth Anniversary of Loknayak October 11, 2023 is the 122nd birth anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan. Politician, theorist, embodiment of renunciation and sacrifice and son of the motherland, Jayaprakash Narayan was born on October 11, 1902 in Sitab Diara village of Ballia district on the border of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Some special incidents related to the life of Loknayak- ○ During the Quit India Movement of 1942, he was jailed under the Defense of India Rules, a protective imprisonment law with no trial. He was kept in Hazaribagh Central Jail, from where he managed to escape on Diwali day of November 1942. This courage made him a 'folk hero'. ○ In 1974, when people were suffering from unemployment, corruption and inflation, he called for a peaceful 'Sampoorna Kraanti' from a public meeting at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. ○ In 1975, charges of electoral corruption against Indira Gandhi were proved in the lower court and Jayaprakash demanded her resignation. In response, Indira declared a national emergency and arrested all opposition leaders. ○ Jayaprakash then united the non-communist opposition parties and formed the Janata Party, which won a landslide victory in the 1977 general elections and formed the first non-Congress government after independence. ○ Jayaprakash himself stayed away from political office and nominated Morarji Desai for the post of Prime Minister. ○ Jayaprakash died on October 8, 1979 in Patna, Bihar. ○ As a tribute, the Government of India posthumously honored him with the country's highest civilian award 'Bharat Ratna' in 1999. 12 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 1.10 Prelims Specific Ayushman Card and Bihar About 84 lakh Ayushman cards have been made in Bihar, while till now only seven lakh 40 thousand people have availed the treatment. Talking about Bihar, only 8.8 percent cardholders have availed the benefit of Ayushman card, whereas the number of people eligible for Ayushman card in the state is around 5.5 crore. Maximum four lakh three thousand Ayushman cards have been made in Muzaffarpur district in the state, followed by Samastipur, Vaishali and Rohtas respectively. Maithili web series 'Noon Roti' The first web series in Maithili language 'Noon Roti' was released on Madhur Maithili YouTube channel on 27 October. This web series underlines the problem of unemployment and migration prevalent in Bihar and Mithila region from a different perspective. Apart from this, an attempt has also been made to suggest serious plans and solutions on what could be the options for tourism and business self-reliance in Mithila region. Water Resources cum Information and Public Relations Department Minister Sanjay Jha was present as the chief guest at the premiere show of the web series. The director and writer of the web series is Vikas Jha. World's 20 worst traffic cities A new study on traffic conducted by US research organization National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) has revealed that eight Indian cities, including two from Bihar, are among the 20 worst traffic cities in the world. ○ These include Arrah, Biharsharif, Bhiwandi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Aizawl, Bengaluru and Shillong. ○ The list of eight cities of India is as follows - Chandrika Power's ethanol plant Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated Chandrika Power's ethanol plant in Nalanda. The construction cost of this plant established in Fatehli village of Nalanda district is Rs 100 crore. 91st Foundation Day of the Indian Air Service On the occasion of the 91st Foundation Day of the Indian Air Service (8 October 2023), Air Force aircraft Sky Divers performed brilliantly in Darbhanga, Bihar. This is the first demonstration of the Air Force in Darbhanga after 2014, which was done by the members of the Akash Ganga team of the Air Force. Social activist Roshni Parveen Kishanganj-based social activist Roshni Parveen will represent India at the World Youth Conference 2023 to be held on November 16 at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Only 6 youth from all over the world have been selected in this youth conference. Roshni will be the only participant representing India. Dr. Ujjwal Verma's report on the cover story of 'Geoscience and Remote Sensing' The 35-page report prepared by the team of Bihar scientist Dr. Ujjwal Verma has recently been included in its cover story by the world's top remote sensing magazine 'Geoscience and Remote Sensing'. Bihar: Forecast of seasonal diseases will be released A special forecast will be issued to prevent seasonal diseases in Bihar. 13 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 With the help of the government, an advisory will be issued a week before the spread of the disease in the state. This special forecast will be issued on the joint initiative of Meteorological Center and AIIMS for the prevention of seasonal diseases in the state. Bihar: Economic and social survey data will be released Recently, the Bihar government has released the caste census data of the state. Bihar government will now also release economic and social survey data in the winter session. 100 veterinary hospitals Recently, the decision was taken by the Bihar government to build 100 veterinary hospitals across the state at a cost of Rs 107 crore. Apart from this, district level training centers of Animal Husbandry Department will be opened in 17 districts at a cost of Rs 225 crore. Anshu Kumari Anshu Kumari from Bihar is part of the Indian girls' team at the Asian Under-18 Rugby 7 Championship in Taiwan, China. Anshu is a resident of Supaul district of Bihar. Top 10 polluted cities in India Recently Respire Living Sciences has released the list of 10 polluted cities of the country. In this list, two cities of Bihar are included in the top three polluted cities of the country. According to the report, Delhi is the most polluted city in the country and the second most polluted city in the country is Patna, followed by Muzaffarpur. Aizawl city of Mizoram has been declared the cleanest city. Model food park in Purnia The model food park being built by the Municipal Corporation near Rajendra Bal Udyan in Purnia district of Bihar will be inaugurated next month. This food park is the only food park of its kind in Bihar, where people will get all the facilities of food and drink at one place. 'Dhai Akhar Prem' Padyatra The national cultural journey 'Dhai Akhar Prem' Padyatra of cultural and literary institutions of the country started from Patna Junction, Bihar. The Bihar leg of the Padyatra is scheduled from 7 to 14 October 2023 in Patna, Muzaffarpur, Motihari. Dhai Akhar Prem Rashtriya Cultural Jatha started from Alwar, Rajasthan on September 28 and will conclude in Delhi on January 30, the martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi. National Dolphin Research Center India's first National Dolphin Research Center will be inaugurated in Patna in December. For research on the endangered Ganga dolphin, the construction work of National Dolphin Research Center is going on on two and a half acres of land near the Law College of Patna University located on the banks of river Ganga in Patna. Bihar's first player selected in Pro Kabaddi League Sandeep, originally from Samastipur, Bihar, has been bought by Patna Pirates team in the auction for the 10th season of Pro Kabaddi League. With this, Sandeep became the first player from Bihar to play in Pro Kabaddi League. The team has bid Rs 9 lakh for Sandeep. 14 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 Leather park will be established in Muzaffarpur Leather park will be established in Mahabal of Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. This will be the first organized leather park of Bihar. Audio-Video Section in Patna Museum To make people aware of the glorious history of Bihar, visitors to Patna Museum will be able to know about different periods of history through audio and video. The most special in this new technology is the hologram of Acharya Chanakya, which will answer questions when asked. Such technology is not yet available in any museum. Pandit Govind Jha passes away Famous Maithili literature writer Pandit Govind Jha passed away recently at the age of 102. Nitish Kumar: Longest tenured Chief Minister of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has become the leader who has been the Chief Minister of Bihar for the longest time. Till now, the record of being the Chief Minister for the longest period in his total tenure was in the name of the first Chief Minister of the state, Shri Krishna Singh. Shri Krishna Singh remained the Chief Minister of the state for 17 years and 51 days. Shailesh Kumar of Bihar won gold medal in Para Asian Games Shailesh Kumar from Jamui district of Bihar won the gold medal for India in the high jump T63 event of the Para Asian Games 2022. It is known that the Para Asian Games 2022 was organized from 22 to 28 October at Hangzhou Stadium in China. AI company Tiger Analytics opens office in Patna America's Silicon Valley-based AI company Tiger Analytics has opened a new regional office in Patna, the capital of Bihar. Mahesh Kumar, founder and CEO of Tiger Analytics, who is originally from Bihar, called the opening of its first office in Bihar an important step. Tiger Analytics' Patna office will be the company's fourth office in India. Before Patna, the company has opened its regional offices in Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Bihar government will buy 2500 new buses in the next three years To improve road connectivity in Bihar, the Transport Department has decided to purchase 2500 new buses in the next three years. Apart from this, 700 new bus stops will also be built during this period. Seminar on “Philosophical study of Chanakya's thoughts” Recently a seminar was organized by Samagra Sanskrit Vikas Samiti on the topic “Philosophical Study of Chanakya’s Thoughts”. National level scholars, thinkers and Sanskrit lovers of Sanskrit, Darshana, Pali, Prakrit, Economics and English literature were also honored in this program organized at Bihar Industrial Association (BIA) Auditorium. I-Glam Miss Face of Bihar Jiya Singh from Patna, Bihar won the title of I-Glam Miss Face of Bihar. Now she is preparing to represent Bihar in the I-Glam Miss India contest. She will compete with candidates from across India. Pramod Bhagat won gold medal in Para Asian Games Pramod Bhagat from Vaishali district of Bihar won the gold medal in the men's singles SL3 badminton event of the Para Asian Games held in Hangzhou city of China. 15 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 Earlier, he had won a bronze medal in men's doubles SL3-SL4 with his partner Sukant and a bronze medal in mixed doubles with Manisha Ramdas. Bhagalpur leads in providing employment to youth in Bihar According to the data released recently by the Planning Department, Bhagalpur district of Bihar is at first place in terms of providing employment to the youth. Out of total 100 marks, Bhagalpur has got 100 percent marks. It is noteworthy that other five districts of the state, Kaimur, Nalanda, Saharsa, Samastipur and Vaishali have also got 100 percent marks, but due to having the highest target, Bhagalpur has been given the number-1 position. According to the data, Araria and Aurangabad are at 37th and 38th position respectively. 117 canals will be renovated in Bihar Bihar Government, in the review meeting of the Resources Department, decided to construct 149 field canals as well as renovate 117 old canals in non-irrigated areas with the aim of guaranteeing water to every farm in the state and reducing the dependence of agriculture on rain. In the fourth agricultural roadmap, a target has been set to complete it in the next two years. IIT Kanpur will check the air quality of Bihar An agreement has been signed between the Bihar government and IIT Kanpur to do research on Bihar's air. Air quality monitoring stations have been established in 522 blocks of Bihar. IIT Kanpur will study and analyze the data obtained from these for two years and based on the findings will give useful suggestions to improve the air quality of the state and reduce environmental pollution. 16 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 2. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 2.1 Appointment of Judges in Higher Judiciary The Supreme Court expressed concern related to unprecedented loss of fresh talent in the judiciary due to prolonged delays in government decisions. Procedure of Appointment of Judges: Supreme Court Judges: ○ Recommendations by Collegium: All appointments must be recommended by the collegium. ○ Government approval: This recommendation is then sent to the Central government via the law minister and then the prime minister before ending up at the President’s desk for approval and appointment. High Court Judges: ○ Recommendations of Collegium: High Court collegium – the chief justice of the High Court along with its two senior-most judges – must send a recommendation to the chief minister and the governor of the state. ○ Recommendations of State Executive: The governor, based on the advice received from the chief minister, will send the recommendation to the Union Minister of Law and Justice, who after consideration will forward the recommendation to the CJI. ○ Government's Approval: The CJI, after being informed by the two senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, should send the recommendation to the Union Minister of Law and Justice. ✓ He then puts the recommendations before the Prime Minister who will advise the President about the appointment. What is the Collegium System? It is a system through which judges are appointed and transferred in the Supreme Court and high courts across the country. ○ The collegium system is a forum including the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most judges of the SC, which recommends appointments and transfers of judges. ○ Judges of the higher judiciary are appointed only through the collegium system, and the government has a role only after names have been decided by the collegium. Challenges with the Collegium system: Lack of Statutory Timeframe Limit: The Supreme Court(SC) in 2021 set a maximum of 18 weeks for the government to review the names submitted by the High Courts, after which they should be forwarded to the Supreme Court Collegium for final approval. ✓ Since, the guideline is not mandatory, it is rarely followed. Opaque Functioning: The system operates largely behind closed doors, with limited public disclosure of the reasons behind the selection or rejection of candidates. ○ This lack of transparency has led to accusations of favoritism, nepotism and a lack of accountability. Lack of Merit-based Selection: The collegium has not established clear criteria for appointing or elevating judges to constitutional courts, making these appointments appear arbitrary. ○ For Instance: Justice Akil Kureshi and Justice S Muralidhar were not elevated to the SC. 17 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 Overemphasis on Seniority: The collegium system’s heavy reliance on seniority has been a subject of criticism. ○ It hinders the selection of younger, talented, and diverse candidates, limiting opportunities for fresh perspectives and innovation within the judiciary. Poor Social Representation: Despite existing for three decades, the system has failed to remedy the lack of social diversity in the higher judiciary. ○ Out of 537 appointments to high courts in the five-year period, 424 (79%) were from the general category (upper caste), 57 (11%) were from Other Backward Castes (OBCs), 15 (2.8%) were from Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 7 (1.3%) were from Scheduled Tribes (STs). Absence of Institutional Support for the Collegium: It remains an ad hoc body with little constitutional or statutory backing. ○ There is no permanent secretariat and support staff dedicated to the task of helping the collegium with the complicated appointments procedure and ensuring timely meetings. Alternate Proposal by the government to appointment judges: The government has suggested a three-step process of appointments based on justice Madan B. Lokur's part of the 16 October 2015 ruling. ○ Appointment by way of applications or nominations: Apex court nominations should be made by the collegium, other judges of the court, the prime minister, president and the attorney general. ○ Committee of eminent citizens: A participatory appointment process is needed which must seek inputs from a committee of eminent citizens. ○ Submission of Written file to the executive: The entire file with all views recorded in writing must be sent to the executive for its views. Constitutional Provisions for appointment of Judges: Article 124: The appointment of Supreme Court judges should be made by the President. Article 217: The appointment of High Court judges should be made by the President after consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the Governor of the state. 2.2 The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act Recently, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been invoked against the news portal “NewsClick”. About UAPA: The UAPA is an anti-terrorism law that was first enacted in 1967 with the primary objective to effectively prevent and deal with activities that pose a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of India. Objective: It provides for more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations and for dealing with terrorist activities and other connected matters. Unlawful Activity: It refers to any action taken by an individual or association intended to disrupt the territorial integrity and sovereignty in India. Applicability: It extends to the whole of India. The provisions of this Act apply also to: ○ Citizens of India outside India. ○ Persons in the service of the Government, wherever they may be. ○ Persons on ships and aircrafts, registered in India, wherever they may be. 18 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 Need for UAPA: Counterterrorism Legislation: UAPA provides law enforcement agencies with enhanced powers to deal with individuals or organizations involved in activities that are detrimental to the country's security. Designation of Terrorist Organizations: This designation empowers authorities to take stringent actions against members and supporters of such organizations. It empowers the government to ban terrorist organizations. ○ For instance, the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF) are designated as terrorist organizations under UAPA. International Cooperation: UAPA facilitates cooperation with foreign governments in matters related to counterterrorism. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) requires the States to take action against certain terrorists and terrorist organizations. Preventive Detention: This allows law enforcement agencies to take pre-emptive action against individuals who are perceived to be a threat to national security. Enhanced Investigative Powers: The law provides law enforcement agencies with enhanced powers of investigation. Challenges Associated with UAPA: Curtails Fundamental Rights: An individual may be identified as a terrorist without any judicial scrutiny and even before the commencement of a trial. This is violative of the right to equality (Article 14), free speech (Article 19) and life (Article 21) of the Constitution.Sajal Awasthi v Union of India claims that the right to equality is violated since the provision does not provide any detailed grounds on which one may be categorized as a terrorist. Guilty Until Proven Innocent: A presumption of innocence of the accused until they are proven guilty is the basis of most of the criminal justice systems. ○ UAPA takes away this right from individuals because even in the absence of any trial or any judicial scrutiny, the law allows a person to be declared a terrorist. Misuse: UAPA is created for extreme and exceptional circumstances, but it is being used routinely to suppress dissent. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2019, 1,226 cases under UAPA were filed, which indicates a hike of 33% from the year 2016. ○ For instance, Delhi police used UAPA to block websites of non-governmental organisations (including activist Greta Thunberg’s domain) campaigning against the draft Environmental Impact Assessment, 2020. Vague Definitions: The definition of ‘terrorist act’ in UAPA is vague with the usage of words such as unity, integrity, and national security. This allows the Act to be invoked discriminately even against protestors, agitators and extremists using literature to propagate hate against the government. Impact on Civil Liberties: UAPA may infringe on civil liberties, including the right to a fair trial. ○ For instance, in Romila Thapar v. Union of India case filed against the arrest of five activists after inter-caste violence in Bhima Koregaon, SC clarified that state cannot infringe upon an individual's liberty based on speculation. Admissibility of Confessions: The Act allows confessions made to police officers to be admissible in certain circumstances which might lead to coerced confessions and undermine the principles of fairness and due process. The Constitution of India guarantees the following Fundamental Rights available to individuals upon being arrested: Article 22: ○ The person should be conveyed the grounds of arrest. ○ Within 24 hours of the arrest, the person should be brought before a magistrate. ○ Right to consult a lawyer. 19 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 The right to a fair, just, and speedy trial is provided under Article 14 and 21 as laid down in the case of Huissainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar. Right to free legal aid is accorded under Article 39A. 2.3 Prelims News Sutlej- -Yamuna Link (SYL) canal Issue Recently, the Supreme Court asked the Union government to conduct a survey of the land allocated for construction of part of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. About Sutlej- -Yamuna Link (SYL) canal: SYL Canal is a 214 km waterway proposed to connect the Sutlej River in Punjab to Yamuna canal in Haryana for effective allocation of water between these two states. Electoral Bonds Scheme The Supreme Court outlined that it will hear petitions challenging the electoral bonds scheme on October 31,2023. About Electoral Bonds: The Electoral bonds are similar to bank notes that are payable to the bearer on demand and are free of interest. There is no limit on the number of bonds an individual or company can purchase. The State of India’s Scheduled Areas Despite persistent demands by Adivasi organizations, 59% of India’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) remain outside the purview of Article 244. About Scheduled Areas: Article 244: Administration of Scheduled and Tribal Areas. ○ Articles 244(1) provides for the application of Fifth Schedule provisions to Scheduled Areas notified in any State other than the Sixth Schedule states viz. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. ○ 5th Schedule States: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana. Tribal Areas: Generally refer to regions predominantly inhabited by tribal communities. These areas may or may not be officially designated as Scheduled Areas. Governance of Schedule Area: The President of India notifies India’s Scheduled Areas. States with Scheduled Areas need to constitute a Tribal Advisory Council with up to 20 ST members. ○ They will advise the Governor on matters referred to them regarding ST welfare. The Governor can also make regulations for a Scheduled Area and regulate the allotment of land to STs and money-lending to STs. ○ The Governor will then submit a report every year to the President regarding the administration of Scheduled Areas. Habitat Rights The Baiga, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) became the second to get habitat rights in the state of Chattisgarh, after the Kamar PVTG. 20 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 What are Habitat Rights? Habitat rights are given to PVTGs under section 3(1) (e) of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 also known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA). Habitat rights recognition provides the community with rights over their customary territory of habitation, socio-cultural practices, economic and livelihood means, intellectual knowledge of biodiversity and ecology, traditional knowledge of the use of natural resources, and protection and conservation of their natural and cultural heritage. Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG): In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, which are less developed among the tribal groups. In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and followed the following criteria for identification of PVTGs. ○ Pre-agricultural level of technology ○ Low level of literacy ○ Economic backwardness ○ A declining or stagnant population. PRAGATI Platform The Prime Minister chaired the meeting of the 43rd edition of the PRAGATI portal. About PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation): It is the ICT-based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, involving Centre and State governments. It uses three latest technologies: Digital data management, video-conferencing and geo-spatial technology. Objective: To monitor and review important programs and projects of the Government of India and projects flagged by State Governments. It is a three-tier system (PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States). The PMO team designed the system in-house with the help of the National Informatics Center (NIC). 2.4 Short News Officer as The Centre has planned to depute joint secretaries, directors and deputy directors as district “rath Rathprabharis prabharis”. Campaign: To highlight achievements of the past 9 years of the Government of India through “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra” from 20 November 2023 to 25 January 2024. Aim: Disseminating information, awareness and extending services at Gram Panchayat level. Panel Suggests An NCERT committee for curriculum development in India has recommended replacing the term Replacing 'India' 'India' with 'Bharat' in school textbooks. with 'Bharat' in Other Suggestions: Highlight the victories of Hindu kings and represent the history since Independence more accurately. NCERT Textbooks Scholars have recorded the country's original name ’Bharat’ for thousands of years, including in Kumarasambhavam by Kalidasa. National The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation addressed the ‘National Symposium on Symposium on Cooperative Exports’ organized by the National Cooperative for Exports Limited (NCEL). Cooperative The NCEL was established as an umbrella organization for cooperative sector exports registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002. Exports It covers agriculture, allied activities, handloom, and handicrafts items by enrolling many co- operatives under its fold with a target to double its revenue by 2025 (currently -2160 crore). 21 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 Special and Local The recent bills tabled in parliament on criminal laws to amend substantive criminal laws are not Laws involving reforms in Special and Local Laws (SLL). SLL: Such laws identify criminal activities, framed for specific issues. ○ Most critical offenses and procedures are encompassed within the SLLs and nearly 40% of all cognisable offenses registered in 2021 were under SLLs. Examples of SLLs: Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA) etc. APAAR card The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR)– under the new ‘One Nation, One Student’ scheme launched by the Union government. The government plans to implement a unique identification number for students in private and government schools, known as the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID. It is part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The APAAR ID unique to each student, will track the educational progress, achievements and other particulars about specific students. It will be linked to the student's Aadhaar ID but will not replace it. India’s Bid to The Prime Minister confirmed that India will formally bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games. Olympics India is also hosting the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai. How is the Olympic host city decided? The next three editions of the Olympics will be held in Paris in 2024, Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032. The members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) choose the host through a secret ballot where the majority vote gets to the host. There are 99 members in the Olympics committee and each active member gets a vote. About IOC Session: The IOC session is a key meeting of International Olympic Committee members where crucial decisions pertaining to the future of the Olympic Games are made. Newly Added Sports in 2028 Olympics: Cricket, Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse Return, Flag Football. Constitution Bench The Supreme Court referred the electoral bonds case to the 5-judge Constitution Bench. A Supreme Court bench with a strength of minimum five judges is called the Constitution Bench. It is constituted under Article 145(3), whenever a matter of law arises that requires a provision or provision of the Constitution to be interpreted, or there is a “significant legal question”. Reaffirmation of The Madras High Court upheld the convictions of over 200 government officials from the forest, Adivasi rights: police and revenue departments of Tamil Nadu for the atrocities committed on tribal people of Vachathi village in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. Vachati Judgement Significance of Verdict: ○ In Vachathi Judgement, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 has served its purpose. ○ The judgment will be remembered as a case where despite India’s stark inequities, the convergence of an alert civil society, committed lawyers, an independent judiciary and the resolve of victims seeking justice could use the judicial system to their advantage. 22 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 Electronic First The Law Commission of India (headed by retired Karnataka High Court judge Ritu Raj Awasthi) information has recommended registering electronic first information reports (e-FIR) in its 282th report. What is e-FIR? Reports (e-FIR) An E-FIR is a digital version of the FIR that can be filed online through the official website of the police department. Key Recommendation: The e-FIR scheme will not apply to all offences, especially matrimonial disputes, commercial offenses, medical negligence cases, corruption cases, and those with abnormal delays in reporting, in which the Supreme Court has mandated preliminary inquiries (Arnesh Kumar guideline). Special Leave Kerala government to move a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court seeking to issue Petition (SPL) directions to the Governor to decide on the eight Bills passed by the Kerala legislature. About SPL: Under Article 136 of India's constitution, the SC at its discretion may grant Special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence, or order in any cause or matter, passed or made by any court or tribunal in the territory of India. This is called a special leave petition. Under SPL, The Apex Court has discretionary powers to ensure no miscarriage of justice. Curative Petition The Chief Justice of India outlined that a curative petition against the apex court’s judgment holding the Maratha reservation law unconstitutional will be listed soon. A curative petition may be filed after a review plea against the final conviction is dismissed. It is meant to ensure there is no miscarriage of justice, and to prevent abuse of process. Remote EVM (R-E Election Commission of India (ECI) postponed the introduction of REVM due to the lack of support VM) from most political parties. How REVM works? Separate polling booths for remote voting are set up. To cast the vote remotely, the voter will have to register online or offline for a remote voting facility before the polling day. Once the voter is verified and declared eligible for casting his or her vote remotely, a multi- constituency remote polling station will be set up in the area where they are currently staying. These RVMs will have a different electronic ballot display system with candidates and symbols instead of a fixed ballot paper sheet. When the voter scans his/her constituency card in the presence of the Presiding Officer at the polling station, their respective constituency and candidate list will appear on the RVM display. National Common The NCMC is an interoperable transport card that aims to provide seamless and hassle-free travel Mobility Card across various modes of public transport, through the RuPay platform, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). (NCMC) Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs The NCMC holds significant value as it contributes to automating and digitising fare collection through Automatic Fare Collection Systems (AFCs). 23 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 3. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 3.1 Indo-Pacific Region Recently, the 13th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs’ Conference (IPACC), was held alongside the 47th Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar and the Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum in New Delhi. About Indo-Pacific Region: Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe articulated the idea of the “Indo-Pacific” in his address to the Indian Parliament in August 2007 and also called for the creation of a coalition of Asian democracies. Indo-Pacific region: Refers to a geopolitical concept that surrounds a vast maritime area in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. It spans from the eastern coast of Africa to the western coast of the Americas and is strategically significant due to its major trade route, important sea lanes, and critical maritime chokepoints it contains. ○ The USA sees the Indo-Pacific as a free and open region based on rule-based order. ○ ASEAN interprets it as a model of cooperation based on shared power. Track 1.5 Dialogue: Held between India, France and Australia with focus on the identification of security challenges and issues in the Indo-Pacific. Significance of Indo-Pacific Region: Economic Vitality: It is the most populous region and encompasses some of the world's fastest-growing economies, including India, USA, Japan, China, and Four Asian Tiger Countries/Economies, etc. Strategic Location: This region serves as a crossroads for trade and transportation between Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa. ○ Important Chokepoints in the region: Strait of Malacca, Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, and Mozambique Channel. Security: Maintaining peace and the law-abiding nature of stakeholders in the region has gained significant importance in the backdrop of rising security challenges in the region with China emerging as an aggressive player. Opportunities for India: ○ China Plus One strategy: The ongoing trade war between China and the United States, as well as the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, have led many multinational corporations to pursue this strategy, which involves diversifying their supply chains outside of China in order to reduce dependence on the country. ○ Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF): It is a US led initiative and aims to strengthen economic partnership among participating countries. India agreed to three out of four pillars viz. supply chains, tax and anti-corruption and clean energy. Challenges Related to the Indo-Pacific Region: Chinese Threat: China is using military and economic coercion to bully its neighbours, advance unlawful maritime claims, threaten maritime shipping lanes, and destabilise territory along its periphery. ○ For instance, China invaded and occupied Scarborough shoal in spite of the Philippine’s claims. 24 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 Maritime Security: Preventing piracy and illegal fishing which are ongoing challenges in the region. ○ For instance, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) alliance held several joint defence operations for mitigating Indo- Pacific piracy. Regional Extremist Groups: Some countries in the Indo-Pacific have faced threats from regional extremist groups with local grievances. ○ For example, Jemaah Islamiyah in Southeast Asia. Transnational organised crimes: They pose significant challenges to security, stability, and economic development. Major crimes in the region involve drug trafficking (Golden Triangle), human and wildlife trafficking, money laundering and smuggling. Geopolitical Alignments: The region sees evolving geopolitical alignments as countries seek to balance between major powers like the United States and China. Striking a delicate balance in alignment choices is a challenge for many nations. Other Issues: ○ North Korean Threat: North Korea's nuclear program and its missile tests pose a security challenge in the region. Its long-range missile poses an immediate security challenge. ○ Environmental Issues: The region is home to fragile marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. ○ Humanitarian Crises: Including refugee and migrant flows, can strain regional resources and stability. The Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and Bangladesh is an example of such a challenge. 3.2 Israel-Palestine Conflict Israel declared a state of war after the Palestinian terrorist militant organization Hamas launched an attack on it. Who is Hamas? It is the largest Palestinian militant Islamist group and a significant regional political party. It currently governs over two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. However, it is designated as a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries due to its armed activities. Formation: Founded in the late 1980s during the first Palestinian intifada (uprising) against Israeli occupation, Hamas emerged from the Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood. Hezbollah: Hezbollah, whose name means ‘Party of God’, is a Shiite Islamic militant organization from Lebanon. 25 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 India’s Stand over Conflict: Historical Stand: India has expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause and supported the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state. ○ In 1975, India became the first non-Arab country to recognize the PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinian people. ○ In 1988, when the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared an independent state of Palestine with its capital in East Jerusalem, India granted recognition immediately. Recent Years: In recent years, India's foreign policy has shifted, with Prime Minister Modi's visit to Israel in 2017, bypassing the traditional Palestine stopover. ○ The current administration aims Why Mahatma Gandhi opposed a Jewish nation-state in Palestine? to balance relations with both The Mahatma was deeply sympathetic to the plight of the Jewish people in Arab states and Israel, navigating Europe. But he was against Zionists and the attempt to create a state of their new complexities in West Asia. own by force in Palestine. ○ Prime Minister expressed shock Gandhi's opposition was based on two principal beliefs. at the recent conflict and he First, that Palestine was already home to Arab Palestinians, and the settlement called “terrorist attacks” and of Jews, which Britain actively enabled, was fundamentally violent. conveyed “solidarity with Second, Gandhi felt that the idea of a Jewish homeland was fundamentally Israel”. antithetical towards their fight for greater rights elsewhere in the world. 3.3 India-Maldives Relations Mohamed Muizzu of the People's National Congress (PNC) party was elected in the recently held presidential elections in the Maldives. Significance of India-Maldives Ties: Geographical Proximity: Maldives’ proximity to the west coast of India, around 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy island (separated by 8-degree channel), and its strategic location at the hub of commercial sea-lanes running through Indian Ocean influence its significant strategic importance to India. Convergent Security Interests: A comprehensive Action Plan for Defence was also signed in April 2016 and under the Neighbourhood First policy and Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), security cooperation between the two countries has grown. ○ In may 2023, India handed over a Fast Patrol vessel and a Landing Craft Assault ship to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). Partnership at Security Groupings: India has sought to enhance security cooperation with the Indian Ocean island and littoral nations, through a new ‘minilateral’ group called the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC). ○ Held at the National Security Advisor (NSA)-level, CSC brings together India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius, along with Bangladesh and the Seychelles as observers. Economic Assistance: India has been providing economic assistance to support Maldives in times of economic hardship. ○ In November 2022, India handed over a financial assistance of US$ 100 million in response to a request from Maldives. India’s Development-led Approach: India’s outreach has not simply been with the government but aimed at benefiting the people of Maldives. ○ For example, emphasis on High Impact Community Projects (HICP), financial assistance for the Greater Male Connectivity project. Tourism and Connectivity: The Maldivian economy is heavily dependent on its tourism sector, which directly accounts for about a quarter of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Maldives. ○ In March 2022, India & Maldives agreed for an open skies arrangement which will further improve connectivity between two countries. 26 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 India’s Development Assistance to Maldives Senahiya Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) military Hospital: India has assured that medical staff from the Indian military will be based in the hospital while ensuring frequent medical equipment supplies. Composite Training Facility of the MNDF: India has offered a grant of US$1 million to assist with the Centre’s administrative building, basic infrastructure, accommodation, and training facilities. Extended Coastal Surveillance Radar System (CSRS): From 2007, India has installed 10 coastal surveillance radars across the country and a CSRS to integrate the information from these radars. Ekatha Harbour at Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF): UTF is India’s biggest grant-in-aid project in the Maldives. India will help develop and maintain the harbour and also provide professional, technical and logistical support for 15 years upon completion. Ministry of Defence Headquarters: Construction of Maldives’ new Ministry of Defence Headquarters Challenges faced by India-Maldives Ties: India Out Campaign: The campaign accused India of violating Maldivian sovereignty by allowing Indian military presence on the islands. ○ The government issued a presidential decree banning such campaigns and specifically mentioning the India-Out protests. Increasing Chinese Footprint: China and Maldives signed a Free Trade Agreement and negotiated on establishing a Joint Ocean Observation Centre. ○ China offered Maldives mega-infrastructure projects and loans, most of them under opaque terms and conditions. Criminality, Radicalisation and Extremism: Presence of high unemployment and poverty with politicisation of news media is increasing the vulnerability of citizens of Maldives to extremism leading many towards terrorist groups like ISIS and Al- Qaeda. Political Uncertainty: Muizzu focused on the Indian military stationed on an island and alleged it as a threat to the Maldives' sovereignty. With Muizzu coming to power, India has to go through a hard diplomatic balancing with Maldives government. Climate Change: As low-lying island nations, both India and the Maldives are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and marine heatwaves. 3.4 Prelims News India ASEAN Trade Relations China’s growing trading relationships with ASEAN nations has propelled it far ahead of India in Southeast Asia. India- ASEAN: The ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration). The 10 member states of ASEAN are: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. ASEAN Trade in Goods by Trading Partners Historically, Southeast Asia has been closer to India. ○ Out of the 10 countries, nine have an Indic base. Only one Country In 2020 (in In 2021 (in has a Sinic base, which is Vietnam. Trade between India million US$) million US$) and ASEAN: India 65,711 91,552 Top Goods Exported from ASEAN to India in 2021: Animal China 518,617 669,200 or vegetable fats, oils and products (14.7%), Electrical machinery, 27 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 equipment and their parts (14.4%), Mineral fuels, oils and products of their distillation (12.5), Nuclear reactors, machinery and mechanical appliances (9.8%), Plastics and articles (6.1%), Organic chemicals (5.7%) etc. Top Goods Imported to ASEAN from India in 2021: Mineral fuels, oils and products of their distillation (16.2%), Iron and steel (10.3%), Nuclear reactors, machinery and mechanical appliances (7.7%), Pearls, precious metals and stones (7.4%), Organic chemicals (5.6%), Pharmaceutical products (3.8%), Vehicles and accessories (3.7%) etc. Indian Ocean Rim Association Sri Lanka is set to take over the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) during the 23rd Council of Ministers' Meeting scheduled for October, 2023, in Colombo. About Indian Ocean Rim Association: The IORA is an intergovernmental organization established in 1997, comprising 23 member states and 11 dialogue partners. IORA Members: ○ Asia: India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. ○ Africa: Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia , South Africa, Tanzania, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles. ○ Oceania: Australia. ○ Europe: France Dialogue partners: China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia, Turkiye, United Kingdom and United States of America. 3.5 Short News: Vienna India recently rejected Canada’s attempt to “portray” the withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats from the Conventions country as a violation of international norms. More on News: The Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi has shut down its operations), citing “lack of support from the host government”. In accordance with Article 45 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), all property and facilities of the Embassy will be transferred to the custodial authority of the host country. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations: It is an international treaty signed by 61 countries in 1961. It puts forth a framework for diplomatic interactions between independent nations and aims to ensure the ‘development of friendly relations among nations’. 78th Session Recently, India’s External affairs minister addressed the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly of the United (UNGA). Nations The theme of the 78th session of UNGA is “peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability. Key Highlights of the External Affairs Minister’s address: General India has evolved from the era of non-alignment to the "era of Vishwa Mitra," or a friend to the world. Assembly India seeks to promote cooperation with diverse partners from the QUAD, BRICS to I2U2. (UNGA) About UNGA: It is the main policy-making organ of the United Nation. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote. 28 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 Global Security Recently, Nepal rejected calls from China to join the ‘Global Security Initiative (GSI)’. Initiative The GSI is a new Chinese initiative that seeks to challenge the Western-led global governance system and de-legitimize the United States' role in Asia. Asia-Pacific US President Joe Biden indicated the possibility of holding a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping Economic during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, USA. Cooperation APEC is a forum of 21 Asia-Pacific economies. Member Nations: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States. India is not a Member of APEC. Operation Ajay India launched Operation Ajay to help Indians stuck in Israel to return home amid Israel-hamas Conflict. Other Recent Operation: Operation Dost (2023): Operation Dost is a search and rescue operation launched by the Indian government to assist Syria and Turkey following a violent earthquake that devastated both countries on February 6, 2023 Operation Ganga(2022): It is an evacuation mission to bring back all the Indian nationals who are currently stranded in Ukraine. Shanghai The 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Cooperation Government (CHG), is to be held under the chairmanship of Kyrgyzstan. Organisation The CHG is the second-highest forum in SCO. It focuses primarily on economy, finance, (SCO) commerce, and socio-economic cooperation. The SCO is an intergovernmental organisation founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001. The SCO has mainly focused on regional security issues, and its fight against regional terrorism, ethnic separatism and religious extremism. Member States: China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran and Uzbekistan. Asian The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $400-million loan to India aimed at bolstering urban Development services in India under Subprogram 2 of the Sustainable Urban Development and Service Delivery Bank Program. About Asian Development Bank (ADB): It was established in 1966. ADB's five largest shareholders, as of December 31, 2019, are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People's Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%). Headquartered: Manila, Philippines. Sri Lanka An international, high-speed passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in the northern province of Sri Lanka, has resumed after a gap of nearly four decades. 29 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 4. ECONOMY 4.1 India’s Informal Economy According to the annual Periodic Labour Force Survey Report (PLFS) 2022-23, 74% of non-farm workers are in proprietorships and partnerships, officially classified as informal-sector enterprises. About Informal Economy: Definition of Informal worker: According to OECD employees are considered to have informal jobs if their employment relationship is, in law or in practice, not subject to national labour legislation, income taxation, social protection or entitlement to certain employment benefits (advance notice of dismissal, severance pay, paid annual or sick leave, etc.) Over 90% of workers in India are informal and out of these, those engaged in rural areas (dominated by farm and agriculture activities) are significantly more than those of urban areas.Informal employment lacks a written contract, paid leave, and may not pay minimum wages or pay attention to working conditions. Informal businesses Include: Street vending, artisanal production, home-based businesses, local transport workers, shop workers, domestic servants, community services like street cleaning and garbage collection, small workshops like shoe makers, garment makers, and embroiderers etc. Key Terms: Formal Economy: The part of an economy of which the government is fully aware and that is regulated by government authorities, particularly in the areas of contract and company law, taxation and labour law. Informal Economy: It refers to all economic activities by workers and economic units that are not covered or insufficiently covered by formal arrangements. The informal economy does not cover illicit activities. Challenges Associated With the Formalisation of Indian Economy: Goods And Services Tax (GST) and Associated Complications: It is assumed that the higher revenue collections mean a more formal economy and vice versa. However, in trying to maximize GST collection, policymakers have made the GST extremely complicated. ○ For instance, the productivity gains from the GST unifying the country into a single market have gone almost entirely to large businesses and digital startups whereas the compliance burden has put smaller firms at a disadvantage. 30 Bihar Current Wallah : October-2023 Lack of Yields from Industrial Policy: A five-year package Problems with Informal Economy: of $24 billion in production-linked incentives is provided Tax Evasion: Informal economy's firms are not to those who are willing put up factories. directly regulated and they typically evade one or more ○ However, By September 2022, the program had taxes by concealing revenue and expenses from the managed to create fewer than 200,000 jobs. legal system. High Uncertainty Regarding Job Security: The high Stunted Middle Class: Informal sector destroys insecurity due to a high degree of economic informality is workers’ effort to get ahead and become middle class making even some PhDs and engineers graduates to compete regardless of the capability for hard work and a highly for a government office for stability of tenure and entrepreneurial spirit. retirement benefits. Aging Population: By 2050, India’s elderly population would more than double to 350 million. This low-productivity work offers less chance to save for old age or medical emergencies. Social Challenge: Social norms and safety concerns curbs physical mobility of women who make up the majority of informal participant

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