Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)

Due to the increasing delay in child Adoption by the Central Adoption Resource Authority, it was recently questioned by the Supreme Court.

• Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) was set up in 1990 under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• It was set up to oversee child adoption procedures, in the best interest of the child, for Indians and non-resident Indians living abroad.
• It is the nodal body for adoption of Indian children that is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions.
• To regulate inter-country adoptions, CARA became a signatory to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation of 1993.
• The international agreement facilitates adoption beyond borders to help find “a permanent family for a child for whom a suitable family cannot be found in his or her State of origin”.
• The Hague Convention also prevents the abduction, the sale of, or traffic in children.”
• India ratified the Hague convention in 2003.
• CARA monitors and regulates bodies such as:
  • State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA)
  • Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA), Authorised Foreign Adoption Agency (AFAA)
  • Child Welfare Committees (CWCs)
  • District Child Protective Units (DPUs)
• Adoption is governed by two laws in India that includes
  • Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 (for Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists).
  • Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

City Investments To Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) Programme

The second phase of the City Investments To Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) programme was recently launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

• CITIIS 2.0 envisages fostering climate-sensitive planning in Indian cities and driving investments into urban climate action through specific projects.
• The CITIIS 2.0 is an initiative of the Urban Affairs Ministry in collaboration with the following:
  • French Development Agency (AFD),
  • KfW Development Bank,
  • European Union and
  • National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
• The programme aims to drive investments into urban climate action through competitively selected projects promoting a circular economy with a focus on integrated waste management.
• CITIIS 2.0 will complement the Smart Cities Mission and converge with the Swachh Bharat Mission to enable innovation throughout the value chain of waste management in our cities.
• All 100 Smart Cities are eligible to seek assistance under CITIIS 2.0 programme.
• The Objectives of the CITIIS 2.0 includes:
  • Foster climate-sensitive planning in States and cities.
  • Drive investments into urban climate action through competitively selected projects promoting circular economy with focus on integrated waste management.
  • Build institutional mechanisms, leverage partnerships and anchor capacity building.

Global Plastics Outlook: Policy Scenarios to 2060 Report

The Global Plastics Outlook: Policy Scenarios to 2060 Report was recently released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

• Global Plastics Outlook: Policy Scenarios to 2060 Report is released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
• The report states that if the present trends persist, the global plastic production will triple and exceed 1 billion tonnes by the year 2060.
• The report indicates that the plastic pollution will rise in almost threefold increase in plastics use driven by rising populations and incomes without any radical action taken.
• The report estimates that almost 2/3rd of plastic waste in 2060 will be from short-lived items such as packaging, low-cost products and textiles.
• Globally, plastic leakage to the environment is seen doubling to 44 million tonnes (Mt) a year.
• The build-up of plastics in lakes, rivers and oceans will more than triple, as plastic waste balloons from 353 Mt in 2019 to 1,014 Mt in 2060.
• About 350 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated every year of which less than 10% is recycled.
• The share of plastic waste that is successfully recycled is projected to rise to 17% in 2060 from 9% in 2019.
• The incineration and landfilling of plastic waste will continue to account for around 20% and 50% of plastic waste respectively.

Second Voice of Global South Summit

Recently the Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the second Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) in virtual mode.

• Second Voice of Global South Summit brings together 125 countries of the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform.
• This summit will focus on sharing with countries of the Global South the key outcomes achieved in various G20 meetings over the course of India’s Presidency.
• The summit will be structured into 10 sessions and the inaugural and concluding sessions will be at the head of state/government level, and hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The Summit will serve as a platform to discuss ways to sustain the momentum generated towards our common aspiration of a more inclusive, representative and progressive world order.
• Recently the Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated a global centre for excellence for the Global South countries called DAKSHIN.

Spacecraft Passivation

Recently the Part of Chandrayaan-3 launch vehicle makes uncontrolled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere and it should undergo Passivation to minimise the risks of accidental explosions.

• Spacecraft Passivation is the elimination of all stored energy on a spacecraft or orbital stages to reduce the chance of accidental explosions.
• Passivation measures include venting or burning excess propellant, discharging batteries and relieving pressure vessels.
• Passivation and post-mission disposal of the rocket body is in adherence to the internationally accepted guidelines prescribed by the United Nations and IADC.
• Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) – Is an international forum of governmental bodies for the coordination of activities related to the issues of man-made and natural debris in space.
• The primary purpose of the IADC includes:
  • Exchange information on space debris research activities between member space agencies,
  • Facilitate opportunities for co-operation in space debris research and
  • Review the progress of ongoing co-operative activities and to identify debris mitigation options.
• Members of the IADC includes several space agencies across the world including Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).