• In exercise of the powers conferred by section 16 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, the Central Government has recently constituted a National Council for Transgender Persons.
• The Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment will be Chairperson (ex-officio) and Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment will be Vice-Chairperson (ex-officio).

The National Council shall perform the following functions, namely:—

1. to advise the Central Government on the formulation of policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons;
2. to monitor and evaluate the impact of policies and programmes designed for achieving equality and full participation of transgender persons;
3. to review and coordinate the activities of all the departments of Government and other Governmental and non-Governmental Organisations which are dealing with matters relating to transgender persons;
4. to redress the grievances of transgender persons; and
5. to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

• The other members of the Council include representatives of various Ministries/Departments, five representatives of transgender community, representatives of NHRC and NCW, representatives of State Governments and UTs and experts representing NGOs.
• A Member of National Council, other than ex officio member, shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his nomination.

• National Strategy for Financial Education (NSFE): 2020-2025 document was released recently by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

National Strategy for Financial Education (NSFE): 2020-2025

• It recommended a ‘5 C’ approach for dissemination of financial education in the country.
• These include emphasis on development of relevant content in curriculum in schools, colleges and training establishments, developing capacity among the intermediaries involved in providing financial services, leveraging on the positive effect of community-led model for financial literacy through appropriate communication strategy, and, enhancing collaboration among various stakeholders.
• This NSFE for the period 2020-2025, the second one after the 2013-18 NSFE, has been prepared by the National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE) in consultation with all the Financial Sector Regulators (RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA), DFS and other Ministries of Govt. of India and other stakeholders (DFIs, SROs, IBA, NPCI) under the aegis of the Technical Group on Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy (TGFIFL) under the Chairmanship of Deputy Governor, RBI.
• To achieve the vision of creating a financially aware and empowered India, certain strategic objectives have been laid down including inculcating financial literacy concepts among various sections of the population through financial education to make it an important life skill, encouraging active savings behaviour and developing credit discipline.

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently ordered another ancient Orthodox church that became a mosque and then a popular Istanbul museum to be turned back into a place of Muslim worship.
• The decision to transform the Kariye Museum into a mosque came just a month after a similarly controversial conversion for the UNESCO World Heritage-recognised Hagia Sophia.

• Indian Vice President recently released a report- Status of Sex Ratio at Birth in India and ‘Elderly Population in India: Status and Support Systems’.

Status of Sex Ratio at Birth in India

• According to the report, there has not been any change in the sex ratio at birth in India from 2001-2017--the number of girl children born is much less than what is the general or natural norm.
• It was brought out by the Indian Association of Parliamentarians for Population and Development (IAPPD).
• It also stressed the need for rigorous implementation of Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostics Techniques law to bring about a balance in the sex ratio.

• Article 71 (1) states that, All doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of a President or Vice-President shall be inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court whose decision shall be final.

• The government is examining Border Adjustment Tax on imports and infra status for the steel sector.
• It is imposed on imported goods in addition to the customs duty.
• It is levied depending on where a good is consumed rather than where it is produced.
• It seeks to promote equal conditions of competition for foreign and domestic companies supplying products or services within a taxing jurisdiction.  
• World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules allow for the adjustment of certain types of internal taxes at the border under certain conditions.

• The Asteroid 2018VP1, set to approach Earth just before the US election.
• According to NASA, Asteroid 2018VP1 is very small, approx. 6.5 feet, and poses no threat to Earth.
• Asteroids are also called as minor planets, are rocky, airless remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system.
• They revolve around the sun in elliptical orbits mostly between Mars and Jupiter  within the main Asteroid Belt.

• Recently, The COVID-19 pandemic has reached the Bonda tribe.
• Bondas, are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
• They are residing in the hill ranges of Malkangiri in Odisha.   

• The Assam government has inaugurated a 1.8-km ropeway across the Brahmaputra river.
• It is described it as India’s longest river ropeway.
• Thousands of people commute every day between the capital city of Guwahati and the town of North Guwahati, where IIT Guwahati is located.
• The ropeway cuts travel time between the two banks to 8 minutes.

• Recently, PM extends greeting to farmers on ‘Nuakhai Juhar’.
• It is the agricultural festival, also called as Nuakhai Parab or Nuakahi Bhetghat.
• It is to welcome the new crop of the season.
• It is one of the most ancient festivals celebrated in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and areas of neighbouring states.
• On this day, people worship food grain and prepare special meals.
• Farmers offer the first produce from their lands to Goddess Samaleswari, the famous ‘Mother Goddess’ of Sambalpur district of Odisha.