Kulasekarapattinam (Tamil Nadu)

• In Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is building a second spaceport specifically for Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs) developed by the private sector.
• This spaceport will be operational in about two years and will be used exclusively for private sector purposes; no ISRO rocket launches are scheduled from there.
• The SSLV is a flexible, affordable launch vehicle that can deploy approximately 500 kg of satellites in a 500-km orbit.
• A small space manufacturing park is also planned close to the spaceport, providing additional support to private sector initiatives. Kulasekharapatnam is a town in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.
• It was an ancient port that dates back to the first century AD and was contemporaneous with the Kollam, Cheran, and Pandyan ports.

Telcos’ licence fee tax

The Supreme Court overturned the Delhi High Court’s ruling, which distinguished between license fees paid before and after July 31, 1999, as revenue expenditures and capital expenditures (Capex).

What is stated in the ruling?

• According to a ruling by the Supreme Court of India, telecom businesses that pay variable annual license fees and entry fees shall be taxed as capital expenditures rather than revenue expenditures.

Capital expenditure vs Revenue expenditure:

• Capital expenditures are typically one-time large purchases of fixed assets that will be used for revenue generation over a longer period. Revenue expenditures are the ongoing operating expenses, which are short-term expenses used to run the daily business operations.

Baltic-connector gas pipeline

• Finland is looking into the possibility of sabotaging the gas pipeline that connects it to Estonia, known as the Baltic Connector.
• Although the pipeline is essential to Finland’s gas supply, there are other ways to guarantee energy security.
• The North and Central European Plain, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden enclose the Baltic Sea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. It divides continental Europe into the Scandinavian Peninsula and the rest.

India-Sri Lanka ferry service

• With the opening of a passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam, India, and Kankesanthurai, Sri Lanka, a traditional maritime connection between the two countries has been revitalized. The approximately 110-kilometer distance between the two locations is intended to foster local trade, tourism, and bilateral relations.
• The service, called “Cheriyapani,” revives maritime ties that stretch back to the turn of the 20th century.
• The Sri Lankan civil war caused the Indo-Ceylon Express, also known as Boat Mail, to end operations between Chennai and Colombo in 1982.

Supreme Court declines to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

• A setback to LGBTQ rights, the Indian Supreme Court refused to sanction same-sex unions.
• CJI stated that parliament should enact the legislation governing marriage and that the court was not qualified to make that decision.

Demand for Same-Sex Marriage

• In order to accommodate LGBTQIA+ couples, petitioners are calling for a revision of the Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954, in which “spouses” would be substituted for “man and woman.”
• In addition to signifying equality, this freedom to marry opens up a host of legal advantages, such as inheritance, insurance, and adoption.

States’ Reactions

• Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan were against the argument for same-sex marriages to be recognized legally.
• Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Sikkim requested further time to reply.
• Furthermore, a lot of conservative religious groups are against these kinds of unions.

Notably, in Asia, where politics and society are still primarily dominated by conservative ideas, the only countries that permit same-sex unions are Taiwan and Nepal. The Supreme Court’s decision regarding marriage equality in India is expected to have a significant impact on LGBTQIA+ rights in the nation.

Centre raises MSP for Rabi Crops 

For the fiscal year 2024–2025, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has raised the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all Rabi crops.

About MSP

• Policy Framework: The government’s MSP program was created to protect farmers’ earnings. It is a component of administrative decision-making rather than an entitlement, in contrast to subsidized grains under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
• Commodity MSPs: Based on suggestions from the Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), the Center now sets MSPs for 23 agricultural commodities.
• Absent Legal Support: As of right now, neither a statute nor a regulation requiring their implementation supports these pricing.
• Fixing MSPs elements: The cost of cultivation is one of the many elements that CACP takes into account when suggesting MSP for a commodity.
• Essential Factors: These factors include terms of trade between the agriculture and non-agricultural sectors, supply and demand dynamics, prices on the local and international markets, parity with other commodities, and repercussions for consumers and the environment.
• The 2018–19 Budget adopted the “pre-determined principle,” which states that MSPs should be established at 1.5 times the cost of production. This reduces the responsibility of CACP to only calculate production costs and apply the formula.

Calculation of Production Costs

• Three Cost Categories: At the state and national average levels, CACP determines three production cost categories for every crop.
• A2: Encompasses all paid-out costs directly incurred by the farmer, such as seeds, fertilizers, labor, land lease, fuel, and irrigation.
• A2+FL: Includes A2 and imputes a value for unpaid family labor.
• C2: A comprehensive cost accounting for rentals and forgone interest on owned land and capital assets in addition to A2+FL.

India’s Evolving Role in the Middle East Crisis

Diplomatic efforts have accelerated as Middle East tensions continue to rise. The choice of US President Joe Biden to go to Israel in order to evaluate Israeli preparations is a noteworthy step.

Central idea

• On this topic, the world is deeply split, with newly formed geopolitical faultlines becoming more entrenched. These divides are not just seen across international borders; they are also reflected within countries. India cannot ignore the effects from its larger neighbors given its expanding interests in the Middle East.

India’s Expanding Middle East Participation

• Outstanding Foreign Policy Achievement: One of Prime Minister Modi’s greatest foreign policy accomplishments has been India’s involvement in the Middle East. This achievement goes beyond the hotly contested.
• Developing Strong Ties: India has established strong ties with important Middle Eastern players as a result of the prime minister’s efforts. India now plays a unique and significant role in the region as a result of these linkages.
• Past Ideology Even Nevertheless, since the 1990s, the relationship between Israel and India has been progressively improving. Prime Minister Modi has underlined the importance of moving the conversation away from religious history and toward developing a partnership with India’s Arab allies that tackles issues of the twenty-first century.

India’s Balanced Approach

• Diplomacy with pragmatism: India’s Middle East strategy is characterized by balance and pragmatism. It aims to steer steadily through the intricate dynamics of the area.
• Solidarity with Israel: India’s declaration of support for Israel following a terror incident should not be seen as a change in strategy, but rather as a normal reaction to assist a friendly country during a difficult period.
• Encouragement of a Two-State Solution: The Indian Ministry of External Affairs reiterates its encouragement of talks leading to the creation of a viable, sovereign, and independent state for the Palestinians that will coexist peacefully with Israel. This viewpoint is in line with India’s long-standing beliefs and dedication to a diplomatic settlement.

The Transformative Role of India

• Acknowledging Regional Transitions: India’s interactions with the Middle East are influenced by its acute awareness of the revolutionary changes occurring in the Arab world. It was one of the first to recognize and adjust to these changes.
• Pragmatic Engagement: Religious factors are no longer the only factors guiding India’s foreign policy in the Middle East. Rather, it prioritizes practical interaction with local stakeholders.
• Important Player: India’s transformative role makes it an important player in the area. It enables India to successfully address new opportunities and challenges in a Middle East that is changing quickly.

With the rising tensions in the Middle East, Indian diplomacy would undoubtedly come under scrutiny. Although New Delhi has always had difficulties in the region, its goal to make a big contribution in line with shifting geopolitical realities has changed.

‘India’s relations with Israel have, of late, acquired a depth and diversity, which cannot be rolled back.” Discuss. 2018

Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS): Connecting Cities at High Speed

• The first section of India’s innovative Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), a high-speed rail network designed to improve regional connectivity, will be inaugurated by PM Modi.
• Comprehending the Integrated Mass Transit Network of the RRTS Project: The RRTS is an integrated mass transportation system designed to improve accessibility and connection throughout the National Capital Region (NCR) in order to support sustainable and balanced urban development.
• Source of the Concept: A 1998–1999 study commissioned by Indian Railways gave rise to the idea of RRTS, which envisioned quick commuter trains linking different NCR regions.
• Planning for the National Capital Region: The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) suggested eight RRTS corridors to connect NCR municipalities and accepted the RRTS idea when creating its “Functional Plan on Transport for NCR-2032.”
• Development Agency Nodal Agency: The RRTS, sometimes referred to as “Namo Bharat,” is being constructed by NCRTC, a joint venture between the Central government, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is in charge of it.
• Project Scope: The RRTS project covers an area of around 55,000 square kilometers in the enormous National Capital Region (NCR), providing services to more than 46 crore people, who have a combined GDP estimated at $370 billion.

What distinguishes RRTS from current systems?

• Impressive Speed: RRTS trains have a 160 km/h operating speed and can achieve a 180 km/h maximum speed on design.
• Faster in comparison: The average speed of Delhi Metro trains is between 100 and 120 km per hour.
• Coverage: The RRTS has faster speeds than the current metro systems, which makes it perfect for quickly traveling relatively longer distances throughout the NCR.
• Comfort and Frequency: RRTS offers better passenger comfort and operates at higher frequency than Indian Railways, even though it travels fewer distances.
• foreign Models: The RRTS is modeled after other successful foreign systems, such as the SEPTA Regional Rail in the United States, the RER in Paris, and Regional-Express trains in Germany and Austria.

Goals of the RRTS Initiative

• Increasing Multimodal connection: By enhancing multimodal connection at current transportation hubs, the RRTS seeks to unleash the potential of the NCR.
• Decongesting Roads and Rails: Promoting public transit would help to reduce traffic on roads, highways, metro areas, and train lines. This is one of the main objectives.
• Economic Growth: By facilitating shorter travel times, the RRTS seeks to boost economic productivity in the region, allowing more economic activity to thrive around suburban locations in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana.

Corridors under the RRTS Project

• Eight Corridors: The RRTS project encompasses eight corridors, with three being developed under Phase I:
• Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut (82 km)
• Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar (164 km)
• Delhi-Panipat (103 km)
• Future Development: Plans call for the construction of corridors connecting Delhi, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Delhi-Shahadra-Baraut, Delhi-Bahadurgarh, Palwal, and Khurja.
• Sarai Kale Khan Hub: The project’s primary hub, linking all three Phase I lines and spanning the distance between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan, is the RRTS station located at Sarai Kale Khan.