Daily Current Affairs :  28-11-2020

Table of Contents :

1. Prime Minister Pitches for One Nation,One Election
2. Developmental  Action   Plan for  Scheduled  Castes
3. Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)
4. Ministry of ports, shipping, and waterways issues draft  merchant shipping ball,2020 for public consultation
5. Autonomous District Council (ADC)
6. pardon powers of India and US president 
7. 26th November Constitution Day
8. Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN)
9. gems, jewelry industry
10. World Health Organization

1. Prime Minister Pitches for One Nation,One Election

• Idea envisages a system where elections to all states and the Lok Sabha will have to be held sim simultaneously.
• It was a norm until 1967, however after 1967, the terms of State Legislative Assemblies (SLAs) and the Lok Sabha fell apart due to the premature dissolution of some SLAs.
• Therefore, elections for centers and states are held separately.
• In 2015 the parliamentary standing committee and Election  Commission supported this idea. Also, the law Commission, 2018 provided structural changes for implementing it.

Arguments  in favor

• Minimizing fall out of frequent Model Code of Conduct (MCC) which hinders the announcement of new policies.
• Reducing the cost of expenditure on both the campaign and conducting elections.
• Boost voter turnout and will also reduce the engagement of security forces for significantly prolonged periods.

Arguments against

• Reduce the government's accountability to the people. Repeated elections keep legislators on their toes and increase accountability.
• National and state issues are different, and holding simultaneous elections is likely to affect the judgment of voters.
• Operational feasibility such as how to synchronization for the first time, procedure in a case ruling party local its on loses majority before 5years, etc.

Source: The Hindu

2. Developmental  Action   Plan for  Scheduled  Castes (DAPSC) 

• Currently, Developmental  Action   Plan for  Scheduled  Castes  (DAPSC)  and  Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) is being run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• It involves 41 central ministries earmarking 2-20% of their budget outlay for SC/ST welfare schemes.
• Ministries are required to identify targeted schemes & earmark funds scheme-wise to different states.
• However, fund earmarked by the center remains poorly utilized as minister fail to identify schemes targeted to SCs and STs.
• A new plan by NITI Aayog would now consolidate both SC/ST Sub Plan components Into a central fund worth over Rs 1 lakh crore.
•  40% would be paid as direct cash transfers to poorest SC and ST households if they fulfill certain criteria such as sending children to school and getting children vaccinated.
• 1t is similar to Brazil's successful Bolsa Familia program in which low-income families receive cash transfers on condition that they, for example, send their children to school and ensure they are properly vaccinated.
• The remaining 60% of the funds would be provided for infrastructure development like providing drinking water supply, residential schools for SCs and  STs, sanitation, and nutrition.

Source: The Hindu

3. Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 

• ECLGS 2.0 scheme will provide funding to 26 stressed sectors identified by the Kamath committee and the healthcare sector with outstanding credit above 50 crores and not exceeding   500 crores as of February 29, 2020.
• Sectors identified by Kamath Committee for one-time debt restructuring included power,  construction,   real estate,  textiles,  pharmaceuticals,   logistics,  cement,  auto components and hotel, restaurants, and tourism.
• ECLGS 2.0 was announced as part of the Atmanirbhar Bha rat 3.0 package and it was launched to mitigate the distress caused by COVID 19 induced lockdown, by providing credit to different sectors, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
• It will contribute to an economic revival, protect jobs, and create a conducive environment for employment generation.

Key Highlights of ECLGS 2.0

• It provides a one-year moratorium on loans and 4years for repayment.
• The scheme provides for a Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) facility.
• GECL is a loan for which a 100% guarantee is provided by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) to Member Lending Institutions (Banks/NBFCs).
• The first version of the scheme will run parallelly and in both versions, 20% of credit dues will be given as working capital without any collateral.

Source: The Hindu

4. Draft  Merchant Shipping BIll,2020 for Public Consultation

• The bill will replace the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
• It aims to promote the growth of the Indian shipping industry by incorporating best practices from advanced countries like the U.S., Japan, U.K., Singapore, and Australia.

Key highlights of Bill

• For the first-time statutory framework for regulating maritime emergency response against maritime incidents has been added.
• The central government has been granted the power to mandate compulsory insurance or other financial security, for pollution damage.
• Provisions for repatriation of abandoned seafarers have been enhanced, in line with Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) regulations.
• Provides for electronic means of registration and does away with the requirement of a general trading license.

IMO Conventions/protocols, to which  India  is a party, have been  adopted in a bill like:

• International Convention on Civil Lia bile for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 MARPOL Convention (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973}
• 1nternational Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977 Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976.

Significance of Bill

• Promotes ease of doing business and increased opportunities for investment.
• Embraces digital technology.
• The impetus to the self-reliant domestic investment climate in the maritime industry.

Source: The Hindu

5. Autonomous District Council (ADC)

• ADCs are Institutions of local government created under the sixth schedule with executive, legislative, and judicial powers.
• Sheth Schedule consists of provisions for administration of tribal areas In Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• There are 10 areas -three In Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizorarm each and one In Tripura that are registered as autonomous districts.
• Each autonomous district and regional council consists of not more than 30 members, of which four are nominated by the governor and the rest via elections.

Source: The Hindu

6. Pardon powers of India and US president 

• Recently, US President exercised his pardoning powers to pardon his former National Security Advisor.
• us President has the constitutional right to pardon or commute sentences related to federal crimes and lt Is "granted without limit" and cannot be restricted.
• However, the President of India has to act on the advice of the Cabinet (Article 72). He has the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment.
• Under Article 161, Governor has pardoning powers, but these do not extend to death sentences.

Source: The Hindu

7. 26th November Constitution Day

• Constitution Day is celebrated in the country on 26th November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India.
• On 26th November 1949, the Constituent  Assembly find adopted the Constitution of India, which came Into effect from 26th January 1950.
• The Drafting Committee chaired by Ambedkar was one among the over 17 committees of the Constituent Assembly.

8. Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN)

• The income-tax e-filing portal has completed  Its Integration with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) portal for validation of UDIN generated from the ICAI portal.
• It will help in weeding out fake or incorrect tax audit reports not duly authenticated with the ICAI.
• UDIN is an 18digits system generated unique number for every document certified/tested by practicing CAs.
• Its purpose is to curb fake certifications by non-CAs (chartered accountants) misrepresenting themselves as CA.

9. Gems and Jewelry Industry

• Recently, the Minister of Commerce and Industry Informed that Gems, jewelry industry's suggestions related to duties under consideration.
• Earlier, the suggestion was given for cutting import duty on gold to4.5% from 12.5%, and on diamond to 25% from 7.S%.
• Gems, Jewelry Industry contributes about 7.5% to the country's GDP. 14% of the nation's exports and provides employment to over 5 million people.
• India's gems and jewelry sector Is one of the largest in the world, contributing 29% to global jewelry consumption.

10. World Health Organization

• WHO has updated physical activity guidelines for the first time in 10 years.
• It aims to prevent the menace of non-communicable diseases people are confined to their homes owing to covid-19,
• WHO statistics show 5 million deaths a year could be averted if the global population was more active.

Guidelines

• At least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity per week for all adults.
• Women to maintain regular physical activity throughout pregnancy and post-delivery.
• Older adults to focus on balance and coordination exercises.

Jai Hind!

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