UJALA Scheme
- Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs and appliances for All (UJALA) is a flagship scheme of Ministry of Power for distribution of energy efficient appliance.
- Its main objective is to promote efficient lighting, enhance awareness on using efficient equipment which reduce electricity bills and help preserve environment.
- Under this scheme, LED bulbs at 40% of the market price will be distributed to every grid connected consumer.
- It is implemented by the Electricity Distribution Company and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).
- Recently, a MoU was signed between EESL with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) under the Ministry of Petroleum.
Temporary Custom Union
- After Brexit, the transition proposal was put by the British Government.
- The British government wants to remain part of the “EU customs union” for a number of years, while still being able to negotiate trade deals with countries such as India.
- Customs union is the third stage in the degree of economic integration.
- A Preferential trade area (1st stage) is a trading bloc which gives preferential access to certain products from certain countries by reducing tariffs.
- A Free trade area is a designated group of countries that have agreed to eliminate tariffs, quotas and preferences on most traded goods between them.
- A Customs Union is a free trade area with a common external tariff. Participant countries set up common external trade policy, but in some cases they use different import quotas.
- A Common Market is a Customs Union with common policies on product regulation and freedom of movement of all the three factors of production (land, capital and labour) and of enterprise.
- Economic and Monetary Union is a single market with a common currency.
- Complete economic integration is the final stage of economic integration. The countries in the bloc have no or negligible control of economic policy.
Pangong Tso Lake
- The lake is situated in Jammu and Kashmir at a height of about 4,350 m in the Himalayas.
- It is 134 km long and extends from India to China.
- It is in disputed territory and the Sino-India Line of Actual Control passes through the lake.
- It is not a part of Indus river basin area and geographically a separate land locked river basin.
Buddhist Statue in Ghantasala
- The government has cleared the proposal of developing Ghantasala village in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh as one of the prime Buddhist tourist spots.
- 70ft Buddha Statue in Mahaparinirvana posture will be built and the theme of the tourist spot is also based on it.
- In Buddhism, Mahaparinirvana denotes the enlightenment of Buddha.
- Enlightenment in Buddhism means the ultimate state of everlasting, highest peace and happiness entered by an awakened being (Buddha).
- Ghantasala, known as Katakasila in the ancient times, was a renowned Buddhist centre located near the coast.
Sea Guardian Drones
- The US decision to sell 22 Sea Guardian drones to India will create around 2,000 jobs in the US.
- It is viewed as a significant step in cementing Indo-US defence bilateral ties.
Election Commission
- The EC has proposed an amendment to the laws to allow election petition to be filed against all candidates who contested in case of malpractices being reported.
- Currently Election petitions can only be filed against winning candidate and even if a defeated candidate has indulged in malpractices there is no way of questioning.
- The consequence of petitions filed even against defeated candidates is that anyone found guilty of corrupt practice, there could be further disqualification for six years.
- Click here to know more about Election Commission.
