TIR Executive Board (TIRExB)

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Ministry of Finance (CBIC) recently requested support for India’s candidature for the TIR Executive Board (TIRExB).

Background:-

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Ministry of Finance, in association with the Ministry of External Affairs organized an event in New Delhi yesterday for ambassadors and delegates from Contracting Parties to the Convention on International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention, 1975).

About TIR Executive Board (TIRExB):-

The TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) is a subsidiary body of the TIR Administrative Committee.

Composition: it is composed of 9 members, each from different Contracting Parties to the TIR Convention.

The TIRExB supervises and provides support in the application of the TIR procedure at the national and international levels.

About TIR Convention:-

Establishment: 1975.

The TIR Convention stands for the “Convention on International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR Carnets.”

The Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention, 1975).

It is one of the most successful international transport conventions.

It is so far the only universal Customs transit system in existence.

To date, it has 78 Contracting Parties, including the European Union.

It covers the whole of Europe and reaches out to North Africa and the Near and Middle East.

More than 33,000 operators are authorized to use the TIR system and around 1.5 million TIR transports are carried out per year.

It is an international harmonized system of Customs control, which enables seamless transport of goods crossing multiple international borders using a single customs document (TIR Carnet) and a unified system of guarantee.

India and TIR:-

India became a party to the TIR Convention in 2017.

India is a significant trading nation in the Asia Pacific region.

It has been a key participant in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Since its accession to the Convention, India has taken several measures to promote the use of TIR.

A National Guaranteeing Association has been appointed and a Circular 48/2018-Cus has been issued detailing the procedure and authorizing ports and other customs stations of the country.

India has also conducted pilot runs, including one using digital TIR. (Free Trade Agreements regime)

Measures have been initiated to ensure effective usage of TIR through stakeholder consultations.

Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign

Recently, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) began the ‘Ek Taarikh, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath’ Cleanliness Initiative under Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign.

Background:-

As part of the ongoing ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ Campaign 3.0, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) joined the nation in organizing ‘Ek Taarikh, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath’ cleanliness drive, at its office premises in Bhikaiji Cama Place, Delhi and adjoining areas recently.

Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath:-

It is an initiative that is a massive voluntary effort for cleanliness in India, endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The initiative encourages citizens to engage in one hour of “shramdaan” (voluntary labour) for cleanliness at 10 a.m. on October 1st as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

About Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign:-

Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

Duration: The Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) campaign is being celebrated from 15th September to 2nd October this year (2023).

It is being celebrated as a prelude for the Swachh Bharat Diwas (2nd October) with nationwide participation.

Implementation: It is under the joint aegis of DDWS & MoHUA.

Theme of SHS-2023: ‘Garbage Free India’.

Focus: visual cleanliness and welfare of SafaiMitras.

The focus of these swachhata drives would be on high footfall public places like bus stands, railway stations, cantonment boards, beaches, tourist places, zoos, national parks & and sanctuaries, historical monuments, heritage sites, river fronts, ghats, drains and nallahs etc. in both rural & urban areas of State/ UT.

Objectives:-

For undertaking shramdaan activities aiming to generate Jan andolan through community participation.

To provide impetus for the implementation of SBM.

To disseminate the importance of a sampoorna swachh village.

To reinforce the concept of Sanitation as everyone’s business.

Chemistry Nobel 2023

The Chemistry Nobel 2023 was announced recently.

Background:-

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 was awarded to Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus, and Alexei I. Ekimov. (Nobel Prize for Chemistry 2021)

About Chemistry Nobel 2023:-

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for the discovery of quantum dots used in light-emitting diode or LED lights.

These particles have unique properties and now spread their light from television screens and LED lamps.

They catalyze chemical reactions and their clear light can illuminate tumour tissue for a surgeon.

Timeline of the experiments:-

In the early 1980s, this year’s chemistry laureates Louis Brus and Alexei Ekimov succeeded in creating (independently of each other) quantum dots.

In 1993, chemistry laureate Moungi Bawendi revolutionized the methods for manufacturing quantum dots, making their quality extremely high which is a vital prerequisite for their use in today’s nanotechnology.

Understanding the significance of the Experiment:-

Quantum dots are nanoparticles or small particles ranging between 1 and 100 nanometres in size. ( Cordy gold nanoparticles)

These are so tiny that their size determines their properties.

The smallest quantum dots shine in blue and the big ones shine in yellow and red, and they only differ by size.

The team succeeded in growing nanocrystals of a specific size.

They did this by varying the temperature of the solution.

These crystals also had a smooth and even surface.

Researchers primarily utilized quantum dots to create coloured light.

Applications:-

The quantum dots can contribute to flexible electronics, miniscule sensors, slimmer solar cells, and perhaps encrypted quantum communication.

It can Help spread light from television screens.

It can help LED lamps use their clear light to illuminate tumor tissue during surgery.

PM Ujjwala Yojana

The Government has recently, increased the LPG subsidy per cylinder by 100 rupees for the PM Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries.

Background:-

Briefing the media, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said that in a major decision, the Union Cabinet approved an increase in LPG subsidy, raising it from the current 200 rupees per cylinder to 300 rupees per cylinder for the beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

About PM Ujjwala Yojana:-

Launched: May 2016.

Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Objective: to make clean cooking fuel such as LPG available to the rural and deprived households that were otherwise using traditional cooking fuels such as firewood, coal, cow-dung cakes, etc.

PM Ujjwala 1.0 had a target to provide deposit-free LPG connections to 5 crore women members of BPL households.

The scheme was expanded in April 2018 to include women beneficiaries from seven more categories (SC/ST, PMAY, AAY, most backward classes, tea garden, forest dwellers, etc.).

EMI facilities were given for stove and refill costs (Interest-free loan).

Ujjwala 2.0:-

The Union budget for FY 21-22, announced the provision for an additional one crore LPG connection under the PMUY scheme.

Additional allocation of 1.6 Crore LPG Connections under the PMUY Scheme with a special facility to migrant households.

It will provide a deposit-free LPG connection.

It will also give the first refill and hotplate (stove) free of cost to the beneficiaries.

The migrants will not be required to submit ration cards or address proof.

A self-declaration for both a ‘family declaration’ and a ‘proof of address’ will suffice.

It will help achieve the Prime Minister’s vision of universal access to LPG.

Platypuses

Recent studies show that even platypuses aren’t safe from bushfires in Australia.

Background:-

Platypuses are disappearing from waterways after fire.

About Platypuses:-

Platypus is a duck-billed semi-aquatic organism.

Distribution: They are found in Australia.

Habitat: It is known for its reclusive nature and highly specific habitat requirements.

It is found near small streams and cool moving rivers.

Platypuses are unique to Australia.

As monotremes, they lay eggs.

They’re one of only five species of mammals that do.

The other four are echidnas.

They have webbed feet for swimming.

They have electroreceptors in their bills to help them find food in rivers and streams.

But they can be hard to find.

It’s difficult to determine whether there’s a platypus living in a particular waterway.

The Taronga Conservation Society Australia and the New South Wales government recently announced the plans to establish the world’s first platypus sanctuary consisting of ponds and burrows at a zoo near Sydney by 2022.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)

The Delhi Police has sealed the office of news portal NewsClick, by invoking the UAPA Act, alleging it received money for pro-China propaganda.

About the UAPA Act:

Enacted in 1967 the UAPA presents an alternate criminal law framework where the general principles of criminal law are reversed.

By relaxing timelines for the state to file chargesheets and its stringent conditions for bail, the UAPA gives the state more powers compared with the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Mandate: It is aimed at “more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations for dealing with terrorist activities”.

Unlawful activity: Unlawful activity means any conduct which constitutes a crime or which contravenes any law whether such conduct occurred before or after the commencement of this Act and whether such conduct occurred in the Republic or elsewhere.

Terrorist act: Section 15 of the act defines “terrorist act” and is punishable with imprisonment for a term of at least five years to life.

Power to central government: The Act assigns absolute power to the central government, by way of which if the Centre deems an activity as unlawful then it may, by way of an Official Gazette, declare it so.

Applicability: The provisions of this Act apply;

citizens of India outside India;

persons in the service of the Government, wherever they may be; and

persons on ships and aircrafts, registered in India, wherever they may be.

2004 amendment: It added “terrorist act” to the list of offences, to ban organisations for terrorist activities.

Till 2004, “unlawful” activities referred to actions related to secession and cession of territory.

Following the 2004 amendment, the “terrorist act” was added to the list of offences.

2019 amendment: The Parliament cleared the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019 to designate individuals as terrorists on certain grounds provided in the Act.

The Act empowers the Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA) to grant approval of seizure or attachment of property when the case is investigated by the said agency.

The Act empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases of terrorism in addition to those conducted by the DSP or ACP or above rank officer in the state.

Criticisms associated with UAPA:

Low conviction: According to a source, in 2018-20, as many as 4,690 people were arrested under the UAPA but only 3% were convicted.

Sharp Rise in Use: This caution is significant given the sharp surge in the state’s use of this provision in a sweeping range of alleged offences

Against tribals in Chhattisgarh

Those using social media through proxy servers in Jammu and Kashmir; and

Journalists in Manipur among others.

Ignoring Fundamental Rights: It can simply be used to bypass fundamental rights and procedures. For instance, those arrested under UAPA can be incarcerated up to 180 days without a charge sheet being filed.

It thus directly violates Article 21 of the constitution.

Stringent Provision of bail: The standard for bail under the UAPA is that it cannot be granted unless the court is of the view that the accused is innocent of the alleged offence.

Recent judgments related to the UAPA, 1967:

1. Najeeb v. Union of India (2021): The Supreme Court concluded that, despite the UAPA’s restrictions on bail, constitutional courts can nevertheless grant bail if the accused’s fundamental rights have been violated.

Asif Iqbal Tanha v. State of NCT (2021): The Delhi High Court carried this logic a step further saying that courts should not wait until the accused’s right to a speedy trial has been completely revoked before releasing them.

Bikramjit Singh v. The State Of Punjab (2020): SC declared that it is a fundamental right granted to an accused person to be released on bail once the conditions of the first proviso to Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) are met.

According to Section 167 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, an accused person’s imprisonment cannot be extended beyond the statutory time limit for the conclusion of the investigation.