1. Cabinet approves increasing strength of SC judges from 31 to 34
The Union Cabinet approved increasing the number of judges in the top court from the present 31 to 34, including the Chief Justice of India.
At present, the sanctioned strength of the apex court is 31.
Related Information
Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 originally provided for a maximum of 10 judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India).
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 in 1977.
The working strength of the Supreme Court was, however, restricted to 15 judges by the Cabinet (excluding the Chief Justice of India) till the end of 1979.
In 1986, the strength of the top court was increased to 25, excluding the CJI.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2009 further augmented the strength of the court from 25 to 30.
This was last amended in 2009 to increase the judges’ strength from 25 to 30 (excluding the CJI).
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance
Source- The Hindu
2. India’s large cities staring at water crisis: Water Stress Index
London-based risk analytics firm Verisk Maplecroft lists India as the 46th highest risk country in the world in Water Stress Index.
The Water Stress index measures the water consumption rates of households, industries and farm sectors and the available resources in rivers, lakes and streams.
Highlights of the Index
According to the index, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nashik, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Indore are among the cities facing ‘extreme risk’.
Out of the 20 largest cities, 11 cities face an ‘extreme risk’ of water stress and seven are in the ‘high risk’ category.
Verisk Maplecroft plotted the index with projected population growth trends to rank the cities facing the biggest threat to their water resources.
The United Nations estimates that Delhi’s population will grow from 28 million people to above 43 million by 2035, a 52% rise, while Chennai will grow by 47% to top 15 million over the same period.
Further, India is rated ‘high risk’ in the Climate Change Vulnerability Index, which suggests that effects of climate change like an ‘extended dry season’ would make matters worse for the country’s cities.
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Important Index
Source- The Hindu business line
3. Cabinet approves ISRO Technical Liaison Unit at Moscow
The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of ISRO Technical Liaison Unit (ITLU) at Moscow, Russia.
It will enable effective technical coordination for timely interventions on diversified matters with Russia and neighbouring countries for realization of the programmatic targets of ISRO.
The Liaison Officer, deputed at ITLU from ISRO provides technical information about the developments in research and technology and inputs arising from their meetings with researchers, government agencies and industries in the respective countries.
They also support the ongoing bilateral programmes of cooperation in space technology and act on behalf of ISRO on the matters referred.
Benefits:
ISRO will be able to collaborate with Space agencies/industries in Russia and neighbouring countries for mutually synergetic outcomes.
ISRO’s Gaganyaan human space programme 2022 requires the development of some of the key technologies and establishment of specialized facilities, which are essential to support life in space.
Related Information
ISRO Technical Liaison Units
Department of Space has instituted technical Liaison Units, namely ISRO Technical Liaison Units (ITLU) at Washington, USA and Paris, France.
Its primary objective to liaise with various Government and space agencies in the USA and Europe, respectively.
India has expanded its space cooperation with countries near Russia.
This will help for extensive uninterrupted coordination & interface support for the increased level of international technical collaboration.
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance
Source- PIB
4. Cabinet approves the signing of the UNISA
The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements (UNISA) resulting from mediation by the Republic of India.
The meditation scheduled to be held at Singapore on 7th August 2019, or at United Nations Headquarters.
Benefit:
The signing of the Convention will boost the confidence of the investors and shall provide a positive signal to foreign investors about India's commitment to adhere to international practice on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
Related Information
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation ("the Convention") on 20th December 2018.
The Convention provides a uniform and efficient framework for the enforcement of international settlement agreements resulting from mediation and for allowing parties to invoke such agreements.
The Convention defines two additional grounds upon which a court may, on its own motion, refuse to grant relief.
Those grounds relate to the fact that a dispute would not be capable of settlement by mediation or would be contrary to public policy.
Topic- GS Paper 2 –Governance
Source- PIB
5. India became the fifth largest investor in Africa
India has become the fifth largest investor in Africa with cumulative investment at over 54 billion US dollars.
African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement launched recently will make Africa the largest free trade area in the world.
India is opening 18 new missions, of which seven will be in West Africa.
Topic- GS Paper 2 –International Relations
Source- AIR
6. India’s fertilizer sector among the most energy-efficient in the world
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), has found that the country’s fertilizer sector is among the best in the world in energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in his report Grain by Grain.
Highlights of the Report
Uttar Pradesh is the best, followed by Hazira unit of KRIBHCO in Gujarat and Panambur unit of Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd. in Karnataka.
“The Indian fertilizer industry is one of the most important industrial sectors of the country.
Green Rating Project
The report - ‘Grain by Grain’ - is the complete assessment of the environmental performance of fertilizer industry in India is the seventh rating project undertaken by the Green Rating Project.
The Project has, earlier, rated the pulp and paper, automobile, chloro-alkali, cement, iron and steel and thermal power sectors.
The ratings recognise the good performers and push the bad ones to improve.
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Important Report
Source- The Hindu
Related Article
7. The anti-dumping duty imposed on purified terephthalic acid ( PTA)
The Finance Ministry has imposed definitive anti-dumping duty on all imports of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) from South Korea and Thailand.
Purified terephthalic acid is primary raw material in the manufacture of polyester chips, which in turn are used in a number of applications in textile, packaging, furnishings, consumer goods, resins and coatings.
Related Information
An anti-dumping duty is a protectionist tariff that a domestic government imposes on foreign imports that it believes are priced below fair market value.
Dumping is the practice whereby the exporting nation sells its goods and services at a price lower than the price at which the importing nation sells the same goods and services within its domestic market.
The objective of dumping is to increase market share in a foreign market by driving out competition and thereby create a monopoly situation where the exporter will be able to unilaterally dictate the price and quality of the product.
Topic- GS Paper 3 –Economics
Source- TOI
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