Why in News?

• The Union government has made digitally capturing MGNREGA attendance universal from January 1, 2023 through (NMMS).
• From May 16, 2022, capturing attendance via the app was made compulsory for all worksites with 20 or more workers. This required uploading two time-stamped and geotagged photographs of the workers.

National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS)

• About:
• The National Mobile Monitoring Software (NMMS) App was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in 2021.
• It aimed at bringing more transparency and ensuring proper monitoring of the schemes.
• Significance:
• The NMMS App permits taking real time attendance of workers at Mahatma Gandhi NREGA worksites along with geo-tagged photographs.
• The app helps in increasing citizen oversight of the programme.
• Issues:
• Poor internet connectivity, little access to smartphones and glitches in the app have created a problem in the daily activities of the workers.
• The workers are forced to buy a smartphone which is pushing them to leave the job.

Many workers have complained that the process is very difficult, and they are illiterate.

What is SSE?

• SSE is a novel idea in India, and a stock exchange of this kind is intended to benefit the private and non-profit sectors by directing more capital to them.
• During her Budget speech for the fiscal year 2019–20, Finance Minister first proposed the concept of SSE. The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956was then invoked by the government, which subsequently published a gazette notification announcing a new security as “zero coupon zero principal”.
• The SSE will function as a distinct division of the current stock exchanges under the new regulations.

Who can list on SSE?

• Not-for-profit organisations (NPOs) and for-profit social enterprises with social intent and impact as their primary goal will be eligible to participate in the SSE.
• The social enterprises will have to engage in a social activity out of 16 broad activities listed by the regulator.
• The eligible activities include-
• Eradicating hunger poverty, malnutrition and inequality
• Promoting healthcare, supporting education, employability and livelihoods
• Gender equality empowerment of women and lgbtqia communities
• Supporting incubators of social enterprise.
• Corporate foundations, political or religious organisations or activities, professional or trade associations, infrastructure companies, and housing companies, with the exception of affordable housing, will not be eligible to be identified as social enterprises.
• According to Sebi’s framework, minimum issue size of ₹1 crore and a minimum application size for subscription of ₹2 lakh are currently required for SSE.

About:

• The Government of India and the ADB signed a $125 million loan to develop climate-resilient sewage collection and treatment, and drainage and water supply systems in three cities in the state of Tamil Nadu.
• The financing is the third and the last tranche of the $500 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) for the Program approved by ADB in 2018 to build priority water supply, sewerage, and drainage infrastructure in strategic industrial corridors across 10 cities in the state. The tranche 3 loan covers Coimbatore, Madurai, and Thoothukudi.
• This financing will help ensure universal access to basic water and sanitation services and improve resilience against floods in the project target areas which are also the industrial hubs of Tamil Nadu

What is ADB?

• It is a regional development bank established on 19th December 1966.
• It envisions a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in the region.
• Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.
• Members:68 members, 49 from within Asia.
• Japan holds the largest proportion of shares in ADB followed by the USA, because Japan is one of the largest shareholders of the bank, and the president has always been Japanese.
• ADB is an official United Nations Observer.

About:

• The notification, which relates to the eligibility requirement to claim the preferential customs duty on trade in goods, under the economic cooperation and trade agreement (ECTA), will come into effect from December 29. This is when the ECTA will also come into effect.
• India and Australia had in April this year signed the ECTA, which is expected to cover 90% of the bilateral trade between the two.

What is Rules of Origin?

• Rules of origin are the criteria needed to determine the national source of a product. Their importance is derived from the fact that duties and restrictions in several cases depend upon the source of imports.

Where are rules of origin used?

• Rules of origin are used:
• To implement measures and instruments of commercial policy such as anti-dumping duties and safeguard measures;
• To determine whether imported products shall receive most-favoured-nation (mfn) treatment or preferential treatment;
• For the purpose of trade statistics;
• For the application of labelling and marking requirements; and
• For government procurement.

No specific provision in GATT

• GATT has no specific rules governing the determination of the country of origin of goods in international commerce.
• Each contracting party was free to determine its own origin rules, and could even maintain several different rules of origin depending on the purpose of the particular regulation.

Why in News?

• Recently, the Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has launched revamped Probity Portal, e-HRMS 2.0 Portal and Mobile Application of iGoTKarmayogi Portal.

About

• e-HRMS 2.0 portal:
• The portal provides various services such as transfers (rotation/mutual), deputation, APAR, IPR, iGOT trainings, vigilance status, deputation opportunities, service book and other basic HR services like leave, tour, reimbursements, etc.
• The revamped e-HRMS 2.0 portal was launched as the earlier iteration of the e-HRMS was limited in scope, where employees could avail limited services and it was not connected with other HR applications.

• • • The employees were unable to get full benefits of digital service deliveries and seamless connection with HR applications and initiatives of the government.

• The revamped e-HRMS 2.0 is the first digital system in government of India to provide end-to-end HR services.
• Significance of e-HRMS 2.0 portal:
• Revamped e-HRMS 2.0will save several thousand man-hours and tonns of printing paper.
• This will also go a long way in improving employee satisfaction, promoting ease of doing/processing HR work and enhancing productivity and transparency in administrative functioning.
• iGoT Karmayogi Portal:
• It is an Integrated Government Online Training digital platform under the Ministry of Human Resources and Development (MHRD). which will deliver capacity building programmes by drawing content from global best practices rooted in Indian national ethos.
• The iGOT Karmayogi platform is envisaged as a democratised, competency driven solution space that all of the government can access to enhance their execution capabilities.
• iGOT-Karmayogi mobile app and the platform will allow all government servants, at multiple levels, to undergo continuous training, depending on their domain areas. The app and the platform will provide anytime-anywhere-any-device learning to train about two crore users which was hitherto not achievable through traditional measures.

About:

• The green methanol project involves capturing carbon from NTPC power plants and converting it into a green fuel.
• The objective of the partnership was to demonstrate technologies for firing a higher percentage of Torrefied Biomass in NTPC’s coal fired units, Methanol Firing and Ammonia Firing.

What is Green methanol?

• Green methanol is defined as “methanol produced via a process that emits zero or a minimal amount of GHGs, usually measured as an equivalent amount of CO2.”
• Green methanol is methanol that is produced renewably and without polluting emissions, one of its variants being generated from green hydrogen.
• It is a low-carbon fuel that can be made from either biomass gasification or renewable electricity and captured carbon dioxide (CO2).
• This chemical compound can be used as a low-carbon liquid fuel and is a promising alternative to fossil fuels in areas where decarbonisation is a major challenge, such as maritime transport.

Other classifications:

Grey methanol

• It is obtained by synthesis reaction from methane present in natural gas (or in some cases, as in China, still from coal). It is therefore not a renewable or clean energy.

 Blue methanol

• It is also obtained by synthesis derived from natural gas, but includes as part of the process the capture and storage of the carbon generated during its production, converting it into a less polluting product.

About NTPC

• NTPC Ltd. is a central Public Sector Undertaking(PSU) under the Ministry of Power.
• It is India’s largest energy conglomerate with roots planted way back in 1975 to accelerate power development in India.
• Aim: To provide reliable power and related solutions in an economical, efficient and environment-friendly manner, driven by innovation and agility.
• It became a Maharatna company in May 2010.
• It is located in New Delhi.

Why in News?

• The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) organized National SC-ST Hub (NSSH) Conclave at Sahid, Smruti Bhavan, Baripada, Mayurbhanj, Odisha to promote entrepreneurship culture and spread awareness of the NSSH Scheme and other Schemes of the Ministry.

Participation in Mega Conclave:

• The programme also witnessed the participation of CPSEs like Power Grid Corporation, Steel Authority of India, Indian Oil Corporation, Mahanadi Coalfield Ltd. who gave presentations on their vendor empanelment process and details of products/services to be procured.
• The program also had financial institutions such as UCO Bank, and State Bank of India, which detailed various lending schemes pertaining to the MSME sector. Training institutes like IIT Kharagpur, Central Tool Room and Training Centre, Bhubaneswar, Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology also participated in the program by putting up a stall and demonstrating their technology and various skill development programmes.
• The program also had facilitation desks of UDYAM Registration for facilitating registrations of SC/ST MSE participants on the spot.
• Senior officers from the Ministry of MSME and the State Departments of Odisha were also present during the event.
• For inclusive growth, various initiatives under NSSH Scheme to promote entrepreneurship culture among SC-ST communities and their active participation in the public procurement process to reach 4% mandate as per public procurement policy has also been described.

Key Objective

• The National SC ST Hub is set up to provide professional support to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Entrepreneurs to fulfill the obligations under the Central Government Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises Order 2012, adopt applicable business practices and leverage the Stand-Up India initiatives.

The other main action points includes:

• To encourage SC/ST owned units to achieve their share of at least 4% of total procurement being made by Central/State Governments, CPSEs and other government agencies
• To prepare strategy for intervention through industry associations to sensitize, encourage and enable the SC/ST owned units for participation in Public Procurement Process
• Collection, collation and dissemination of information regarding SC/ST enterprises and entrepreneurs
• Facilitating SC/ST Entrepreneurs to be part of vendor development programs and mentoring support by specific CPSE matching the products/services of such entrepreneurs
• Facilitating SC/ST Entrepreneurs’ participation in Public Procurement through the e-platform of DGS&D and monitoring the progress.

Why in News?

• Recently, the Election Commission of India has begun the process of delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in Assam.

More about the news

• About delimitation exercise in Assam:
• About:

• • • The last delimitation of constituencies in Assam was done on the basis of census figures of 1971 by the then Delimitation Commission in 1976.
    • In March 2020, the Centre notified a Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland.

• Mandate:

• • • Section 8A of the Representation of the People Act,1950 allows for the delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur or Nagaland.

• Status of Population:

• • • In 1971, Assam’s population was 1.46 crore.
    • In 2001, it increased to 2.66 crore and to 3.12 crore in 2011.

• Status of current representation:

• • • The State has 14 Lok Sabha, 126 Assembly and seven Rajya Sabha seats.
    • The term of the current Assam Legislative Assembly will end on May 20, 2026.

• EC’s process & directives:
• The process will be based on Census data from 2001.
• During the delimitation exercise, the Commission will consider the following things:

• • • The physical features,
    • Existing boundaries of administrative units,
    • Facility of communication,
    • Public convenience and
    • As far as practicable, the constituencies will be kept as geographically compact areas.

• The EC also issued a directive banning the creation of new administrative units in the state with effect from January 1 next year until completion of the delimitation exercise in the state.
• Issues & criticisms:
• The state Opposition is questioning why the delimitation exercise is being done on the basis of the 2001 Census, and not the 2011 Census.

• • • According to critics, the 2011 Census figures are available and the 2021 Census process must also be accounted for to conduct the delimitation process.

• Concerned Pressure Groups opined to stop the delimitation till the NRC is final.
• EC’s response:
• As mandated under Article 170 of the Constitution, census figures (2001) shall be used for the purpose of readjustment of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies in the State.
• Reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be provided as per Articles 330 & 332 of the Constitution of India.

More about the Delimitation Commission: 

• About:
• The Delimitation Commission in India is a high-power body whose orders have the force of law.
• Its orders cannot be called in question before any court.
• These orders come into force on a date to be specified by the President of India on this behalf.
• The copies of its orders are laid before the House of the People and the State Legislative Assembly concerned, but no modifications are permissible therein by them.
• Constitutional Provisions:
• Article 82: This provides the Parliament with the authority to enact a Delimitation Act after every Census.
• Article 170:This provides for the  States to get divided into territorial constituencies as per the Delimitation Act after every Census.
• Functions:
• To determine the number and boundaries of constituencies in a way that the population of all seats, so far as practicable, is the same.
• Identifying seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes wherever their population is relatively large.
• In case of difference of opinion among members of the Commission, the will of majority prevails.
• Composition:
• The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India includes following members:
• Retired Supreme Court judge
• Chief Election Commissioner
• Respective State Election Commissioners.
• Frequency:
• In India, such Delimitation Commissions have been constituted 4 times:
• In 1952 under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1952
• In 1963 under Delimitation Commission Act, 1962
• In 1973 under Delimitation Act, 1972
• In 2002 under Delimitation Act, 2002.

• An interactive session with progressive farmers and entrepreneurs cultivating aromatic crops under the CSIR Aroma Mission was organised by the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) at Talla village, Sihunta, of Chamba district.
• Farmers apprised the experts about the problems — monkey menace, hailstorm and the non-availability of farm inputs — being faced by them, resulting in crop loss.
• To overcome such problems, the CSIR-IHBT, under the Aroma Mission Phase-II, provided the technology and quality planting material to the farmers to grow aromatic marigold.
• Scented marigold is able to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses and is not affected by grazing and stray animals.
• Research Council chairman Dr Trilochan Mohapatra and other members visited the essential oil extraction unit set up in the fields by the CSIR-IHBT under the Aroma Mission for the value addition of aromatic crops.
• They appreciated the progress made by the institute under the ongoing mission.
• CSIR-IHBT director Dr Sanjay Kumar said the global essential oil demand was increasing day by day. “Its estimated world market demand of USD 8.8 billion during 2022 will be expected to reach USD 16.34 billion in 2027.”
• Dr Kumar added that the institute supports the farmers by promoting the cultivation of aromatic crops and making efforts to double their income.

• The Mission Vatsalya scheme is a roadmap to achieve development and child protection goals, said Justice Avtar Dogra (retd), a member of the Himachal Pradesh Human Rights Commission (HPHRC), at an awareness camp in Bilaspur.
• He said the scheme emphasises on spreading awareness about child rights and their advocacy. It also addressed issues pertaining to the strengthening of the juvenile justice care and protection system with the motto, ‘leave no child behind’.
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, provides protection to children from sexual offences.