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India has emerged as a regional power and net security provider in the Indo-Pacific as its capacity to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to its citizens as well as regional partners has grown in recent years. This was stated by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at the multi-agency Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise Samanvay 2022 in Agra.

The Raksha Mantri highlighted that prediction of natural disasters has to be accompanied by dissemination of information to a larger Population and shifting people to safer locations, which requires an empowered machinery. As nations have different capacities, collaborative preparation to deal with disasters is required, he stressed. Shri Rajnath Singh called upon the nations to come together in dealing with natural disasters by sharing Resources, equipment and training. In HADR, there is a need to share information for regional cooperation and best practices

CCUS is key to ensuring and Growth in India, particularly for the production of clean products and energy, leading to an Atmanirbhar Bharat

A study report, titled Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage Policy Framework and its Deployment Mechanism in India, was released today. The report explores the importance of Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage as an emission reduction strategy to achieve deep decarbonization from the hard-to-abate sectors. The report outlines broad level policy interventions needed across various sectors for its application.

As, India has updated its NDC targets for achieving 50% of its total installed capacity from non-fossil-based energy sources, 45% reduction in emission intensity by 2030 and taking steps towards achieving Net Zero by 2070, the role of Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) becomes important as reduction strategy to achieve decarbonization from the hard-to abate sectors.

The report indicates that CCUS can provide a wide variety of opportunities to convert the captured CO2 to different value-added products like green urea, food and beverage form application, building materials (concrete and aggregates), chemicals (methanol and ethanol), polymers (including bio-plastics) and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) with wide market opportunities in India, thus contributing substantially to a circular economy.

The government has settled 33,997 crore to CGST and 28,538 crore to SGST from IGST as regular settlement. The total revenue of Centre and the States after regular settlements in the month of November 2022 is 59678 crore for CGST and 61189 crore for the SGST. In addition, Centre had also released 17,000 crore as GST compensation to States/UTs in November 2022.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia today launched Digi Yatra from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi for three in the country, namely New Delhi, Varanasi and Bengaluru. Digi Yatra is conceived to achieve contactless, seamless processing of passengers at airports based on Facial Recognition Technology (FRT).

The project envisages a traveller today pass through various check points at the airports through a paperless and contactless processing using facial features to establish her identity which could be linked to the boarding pass. To use this facility, one-time registration on Digi Yatra app is required using Aadhar based validation and a self-image capture. The project has tremendous advantages of improving passenger convenience and ease of travel.

With Digi Yatra, India will now stand in the ranks of world class airports like Heathrow in London and Atlanta in United States of America. Elucidating on the benefits of Digi Yatra, the Minister stated the example of Dubai Airport where passenger time upto 40 percent was saved due to this technology.

Doing Business in India Report 2022 was released by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC). Its findings are based on a survey of 111 UK businesses and higher Education institutions. It is consistent with the 7 previous surveys that were conducted each year from 2015 to 2021. Their purpose is to assess the views and experiences of UK businesses and higher education institutions in Indias business Environment.

The findings of the 2022 report was shared with the Department for Promotion of and Internal Trade (DPIIT) the nodal department for promoting Ease of Doing Business in India and with the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, which is responsible for supporting investors in the state.

The requirement to transfer intellectual property is seen as an issue by the UK business. These businesses are looking for improved investor protection, regulatory certainty and IP protection and processes.

A committee has been appointed by the Centre to review the criteria for identifying EWS.

Highlights:

Following the explanation requirements to Article 15 of the Constitution, the Ministry of Social and Empowerment has constituted a three-member committee to evaluate the grounds for reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category.

The committee has been given three weeks to conclude its task.

Former Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey will lead the committee. Following The Supreme Court‘s involvement, the government announced the formation of a commission to review the EWS reservation criteria.

The Supreme Court is now considering petitions contesting the government’s July announcement of a 10% EWS quota in NEET admissions.

The Dam Safety Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha, which aims to inspect, survey, maintain and operate Dams in the country which are 100 years old.

Highlights

The bill establishes two national bodies- National Committee on Dam Safety and National Dam Safety Authority.

The National Committee on Dam Safety will develop policies and support regulations associated with dam safety.

The National Dam Safety Authority fulfils the policies enshrined by the National Committee and provides technical support to the State Dam Safety Organisations.

The bill will also constitute two state bodies- State Committee on Dam Safety and State Dam Safety Authority.

Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill was recently passed in the lok sabha which intends toregulate ART.

Highlights:

ART covers all methods that are used to get pregnant. The procedures shall incorporate handling oocytes (immature eggs) or sperms outside the body.

It shall also involve giving the embryo into the womans body.

The ART Services shall cover the following: Donation of sperm or oocytes, In Vitro Fertilisation – fertilising an egg and a sperm in the lab, Gestational Surrogacy – child carried by biological mother or surrogate mother.

The bill states that every ART bank or clinic should be listed under the National Registry of Banks and Clinics of India. The bill will authorise the National Registry.

The registry will act as a Database holding details of the hospitals and banks providing ART services.

India marks the National Pollution Control Day on December 2 in remembrance of the people who lost their lives in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

Highlights:

The National Pollution Control Day is commemorated in India to make the citizens aware of laws in India that help contain pollution.

The day is observed on the following objectives.

To create awareness in developing Air Pollution.

To educate people on controlling and operating industrial disasters.

To make everyone aware of pollution control laws in the country.

To create awareness on ways to decrease the level of pollution.

To prevent industrial pollution that is affected by human carelessness.

The National Pollution Control Day, 2021 theme is to create awareness about the importance of pollution control and educate people on preventing pollution.

Gk bit : Laws of India To prevent and control pollution.

Environment-impact-assessment”>Environment Impact Assessment, 2006

Maharashtra biodegradable garbage control ordinance, 2006

Batteries management and handling rules, 2001

Municipal solid Waste Management and handling rules, 2000

Noise Pollution regulation and control rules, 2000

Ozone-depleting substances regulation rules, 2000

Recycled plastics manufacture and usage rules, 1999

Biomedical waste management and handling rules, 1998

Chemical accidents emergency, preparedness, planning and response rules, 1996

National environment tribunal act, 1995

Manufacture, import, storage, export and storage of hazardous Microorganisms genetically engineered organisms or cells rules, 1989

Hazardous waste management and handling rules, 1989

Manufacture, import and storage of hazardous chemical rules, 1989

Environment protection act, 1986

Environment protection rules, 1986

Air prevention and control of pollution act, 1981

Water prevention and control of pollution act, 1977

The PMAY-U Award for Implementation and Innovation was instituted under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban, by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2019.

The PMAY-U was launched in 2015 to address the housing shortage in Indias urban areas.

There are 3 broad categories of these Awards:

State Awards, Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats Awards

Special Category Awards

Beneficiary Awards