UPSC Daily Current Affairs : 06-June-2020
Topic Covered :
Nagar Van Scheme
#iCommit initiative
President promulgates two Ordinances with the aim of giving a boost to rural India and agriculture
India, few other Asian nations respond to UN human rights chief's criticism
SC permits NHRC to intervene, suggest measures to deal with plight of migrant workers
Coronavirus vaccine: AstraZeneca 'on track' to roll out COVID-19 vaccine in September
Ahead of vote for UNSC seat, India launches campaign brochure
NAGAR VAN SCHEME
Why in news?
On the occasion of World Environment Day, the government today announced implementation of the Nagar van scheme to develop 200 Urban Forests across the country in next five years with a renewed focus on people’s participation and collaboration between Forest Department, Municipal bodies, NGOs, Corporates and local citizens.
Highlights:
World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated on 5th June every year.
This year’s theme is “Time for Nature”. It was celebrated with special focus on biodiversity.
These forests will work as lungs of the cities and will primarily be on the forest land in the City or any other vacant land offered by local urban local bodies.
Source : PIB ( https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1629699 )
#ICOMMIT INITIATIVE
Why in news?
Shri R. K. Singh, the Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, today initiated the ‘#iCommit’ campaign, on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Highlights:
The ‘#iCommit’ initiative, driven by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the administration of Ministry of Power, Government of India is uniting a diverse set of players such as Governments, Corporates, Multilateral and Bilateral Organisations, Think Tanks and Individuals.
Speaking about the initiative Shri Singhsaid, “We envisage a transformation of the entire energy value chain in the country and have been working towards ensuring 24X7 energy access and security for all our citizens.
The #iCommit initiative, especially in the backdrop of World Environment Day can bring together a diverse spectrum of government and private players to build a new energy future for India.”
The ‘#iCommit’ initiative is centred around the idea of building an energy resilient future.
Source : PIB ( https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1629699 )
PRESIDENT PROMULGATES TWO ORDINANCES WITH THE AIM OF GIVING A BOOST TO RURAL INDIA AND AGRICULTURE
Why in news? After the announcement of the landmark decisions by the Government of India for reforms in the agricultural sector for raising the income of the farmers as part of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the President of India has promulgated the following Ordinances with the aim of giving a boost to rural India for farmers engaged in agriculture and allied activities.
Highlights:
The two ordinances are –
a. The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Ordinance 2020
It will provide for the creation of an ecosystem where the farmers and traders enjoy the freedom of choice relating to sale and purchase of farmers’ produce which facilitates remunerative prices through competitive alternative trading channels.
It will promote efficient, transparent and barrier-free inter–State and intra-State trade and commerce of farmers’ produce outside the physical premises of markets or deemed markets notified under various State agricultural produce market legislations.
Besides, the Ordinance will provide a facilitative framework for electronic trading and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
b. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance 2020
It will provide for a national framework on farming agreements that protects and empowers farmers to engage with agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for farm services and sale of future farming produce at a mutually agreed remunerative price framework in a fair and transparent manner and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Source : PIB ( https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1629699 )
INDIA, FEW OTHER ASIAN NATIONS RESPOND TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF'S CRITICISM
Why in news?
India and few other Asian nations on Friday responded strongly to UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, who had expressed "alarm" at "clampdown on freedom of expression" in the countries, saying the governments are focused on ensuring that precious lives are not lost due to the coronavirus pandemic and spread of "harmful misinformation" represents a clear danger to public health.
Highlights:
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in a statement on June 3 had said that arrests for expressing discontent or allegedly spreading false information through the press and social media have been reported in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
A joint press release issued by the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva and the Permanent Missions of Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights responded strongly to Bachelet's remarks.
"We reiterate that the primary focus of our governments in these unprecedented times is to ensure that precious lives, particularly of the most vulnerable, are not lost to COVID-19. The OHCHR (Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) needs to recognise this and play a responsible role in a manner that adds to rather than detracts from such efforts," it said.
Source : TOI ( https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-few-other-asian-nations-respond-to-un-human-rights-chiefs-criticism/articleshow/76223316.cms )
SC PERMITS NHRC TO INTERVENE, SUGGEST MEASURES TO DEAL WITH PLIGHT OF MIGRANT WORKERS
Why in news?
The Supreme Court on Friday allowed human rights body NHRC to intervene in the case related to plight and miseries of stranded migrant workers due to pandemic-induced nation-wide lockdown.
Highlights:
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in its intervention plea gave “short term and long term measures” for consideration of the apex court in order to alleviate the plight of the migrant workers and to ensure that their human rights are not violated.
In order to estimate the in-flow of migrant workers, States should collect the data of migrant workers at the point of departure in the originating State as well on arrival in the destination States. This will help States to effectively plan quarantine and relief measures for the migrant workers.
It sought a direction for implementation of the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 to ensure that migrant workers are provided with a journey allowance.
Menstrual hygiene products should be provided to migrant women and adolescent girls across the country,
Each state should be directed to ensure proper functioning of shelter homes especially for the accommodation of pregnant women, lactating mothers, children, and elderly persons.
Medical facilities and nutritious food should be made available in shelter homes and states should be directed to identify the industry in which the migrant labour is working.
A mission similar to that of the dedicated 'Vande Bharat' Mission should be started in a phased manner to help migrant workers reach their source destination, it suggested.
A fund should be created for payment of ex-gratia relief by the concerned DM, which will provide fixed compensation to every migrant returning home
The NHRC, in its long term suggested measures, said that a special provision be inserted in the law on Inter-State Migrant Workmen to deal with emergency situations like Covid-19, natural disasters.
Appointment of a claims commissioner be made to look into recovery from employers who abandoned “allocation of funds to states to be allotted to gram panchayats in order to create employment opportunities in the home states of migrants,” it said, adding “National portal for registration of migrants so that a nationwide database is created”.
Source : TOI ( https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sc-permits-nhrc-to-intervene-suggest-measures-to-deal-with-plight-of-migrant-workers/articleshow/76220741.cms )
CORONAVIRUS VACCINE: ASTRAZENECA 'ON TRACK' TO ROLL OUT COVID-19 VACCINE IN SEPTEMBER
Why in news?
British pharma giant AstraZeneca is "on track" to begin rolling out up to two billion doses of a coronavirus vaccine in September if ongoing trials prove successful, its chief executive said on Friday.
Highlights:
The company is partnering with Oxford University, which has pioneered the vaccine, and is already manufacturing doses before seeking final regulatory approval once testing concludes in the coming months.
The firm announced this week it had struck agreements with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, and the Serum Institute of India to double production capacity of the COVID-19 vaccine to two billion doses.
The partnership with the Indian institute -- one of the world's largest vaccine manufacturers -- will help supply it to a large number of low- and middle-income countries.
He added AstraZeneca, which is undertaking the work on a non-profit basis, could lose money if trials prove disappointing.
Oxford University began initial trials of its COVID-19 vaccine with hundreds of volunteers in April, and is now expanding them to 10,000 participants.
AHEAD OF VOTE FOR UNSC SEAT, INDIA LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN BROCHURE
Why in news?
This will be the eighth time the nation will occupy a non-permanent seat.
Highlights: India will highlight international terrorism, United Nations reforms and Security Council expansion, streamlining the world body’s peacekeeping operations and technology initiatives during its upcoming tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2021-22
India’s overall objective during this tenure in the UN Security Council will be the achievement of N.O.R.M.S: a New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System
India is guaranteed a place in the UNSC as it is the sole candidate for Asia-Pacific, but needs two-thirds of the 193-member General Assembly to vote in its favour in a secret ballot scheduled for June 17 in New York.
Source : Hindu ( https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ahead-of-vote-for-unsc-seat-india-launches-campaign-brochure/article31760764.ece )