WASP-62b
- This is an exo-planet, which was first found in 2012.
- It is 575 light years away and orbits its star in just four-and-half days.
- For the first time, astronomers have come across a huge planet with about half the mass of Jupiter which is cloudless and unblocked by haze.
One Nation One Ration Card Scheme
- Finance Minister announced the nation-wide rollout of ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ (ONORC) system by March 2021.
- In the present system, a ration cardholder can buy food grains only from a Fair Price Shop (FPS) that has been assigned to her in her locality.
- However, this will change once the ONORC system becomes operational.
- This system, based on a technological solution, will identify a beneficiary through biometric authentication on electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices installed at the FPSs.
- This will enable the person to purchase the quantity of food grains to which she is entitled under the National Food Security Act, (NFSA) 2013.
- Under the NFSA, people are entitled to buy subsidized food grain from their designated FPS of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
- The subsidized food grains are at the rate of, rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg, and coarse grains at Re 1/kg.
Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act
- Uttar Pradesh Police booked a farmer’s relatives who had died during the farmers’ agitation in Delhi, under The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, after his body was draped in the national flag.
- As per the Act, disrespect to the National Flag includes, among other things, using it as a drapery in any form whatsoever except in State funerals or armed forces or other para-military forces funerals.
- Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act penalises,
- The desecration of or insult to national symbols, such as the National Flag, the Constitution, National Anthem, and Indian map,
- Contempt of the Constitution of India.
- Section 2 of the Act says that whoever insults the National Flag or the Indian Constitution shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
Flag Code of India
- The Flag Code of India, 2002 reads that the Flag shall not be used as a drapery in any form whatsoever except in State / Military / Central Paramilitary Forces funerals hereinafter provided.
- It also says that on the above occasions too, the flag shall be draped over the bier or coffin with the saffron towards the head of the bier or coffin.
- The Flag shall not be lowered into the grave or burnt in the pyre.
- The flag can only be used during a funeral if it is accorded the status of a state funeral. The state funerals are held when people below pass away,
- People from police and armed forces,
- People who are holding or have held office of President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Cabinet Minister, Chief Minister.
- The status of a state funeral can be accorded in case of death of people not belonging to the above-mentioned categories by state government.
Democracy Index 2020
- This index report titled "Democracy in sickness and in health?" was released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
- [The EIU is the world's leading resource for economic and business research, forecasting and analysis.]
- Democracy Index had classified 167 countries, as full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes and authoritarian regimes.
- It looks at the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on freedom and democracy around the world.
- India had slipped two places to 53rd position in the Democracy Index.
- This is due to the democratic backsliding by authorities and crackdowns on civil liberties have led to a further decline in the country's ranking.
- India has been classified as a 'flawed democracy' along with countries such as the U.S., France, Belgium and Brazil.
ADR Report
- The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a poll rights group, has released a report.
- The report says that the number of registered unrecognised political parties has increased two-fold from 2010 to 2019 (10 years).
- Between 2018 and 2019, it increased by over 9.8% while between 2013 and 2014, it increased by 18%.
- Basis - Election Commission of India issued guidelines on “Transparency and Accountability in party funds and election expenditure - submission of reports by unrecognised political parties”.
- This is applicable to all political parties w.e.f October 1, 2014.
- As per these guidelines, all unrecognised parties are required to submit their requisite reports in the office of the respective state CEOs.
- In view of the above, this report by ADR analyses the status of submission of contribution reports of registered unrecognised parties between FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19.
Chamoli Disaster
- A major disaster struck the Joshimath area of the Chamoli district of Uttrakhand, when a glacier broke after an avalanche.
- The Rishiganga Power Project had been damaged due a breach caused by the glacier in Tapovan area.
- Reduced snowfall in the higher elevations this winter seems to have played a major part in the disaster.
- Some 8,800 glacial lakes in the Himalayas are spread across countries and more than 200 of these have been classified as dangerous.
- Scientific evidence suggests that floods originating in the Himalayas are caused largely by landslides that temporarily block Mountain Rivers.
- The Himalayas are warming faster than other mountain ranges and the increased use of reinforced concrete in building construction is likely to create a heat-island effect and thus add to regional warming.
Source: PIB, The Indian Express, The Hindu, Economic Times, Down To Earth
