26-Sep-2023-Daily-Current-Affairs

TIBET CHINA RELATIONS

(GS 1 (INDIAN GEOGRAPHY)-SOURCE-THE INDIAN EXPRESS)

• Tibetans are asking for more autonomy but not political separation,
• What Tibet wants from China -full autonomy, as a part of the People’s Republic of China.
• Then we can help millions of Chinese, [without] political separation, and remaining a part of the People’s Republic,”
• Bylakuppe in Karnataka, which houses the second largest Tibetan refugee settlement after Dharamshala

PRELIMS FACTS: LOCATIONS

• LHASA-Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, lies on the Lhasa River’s north bank in a valley of the Himalayas.
• Lhasa City is known as ” the city of sunshine” and ” the land of Gods”
• 
• DHARMASHALA-Dharamshala is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
• this hillside city is home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile
• Dharamsala is located in the Kangra Valley, in the shadow of the Dhauladhar mountains

NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY

(GS 3 (INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE)-EDUCATION-SOURCE-THE HINDU)

Background:

The Parliament Standing Committee on Education, tabled a report during the special session of Parliament on the “Implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 in Higher Education.”

What did the report say?

The report looked at the salient features of the NEP’s implementation in the higher education sector and the progress made so far.

Issues Discussed so far:

1. Rigid separation of disciplines
2. Limited access to higher education in socio-economically disadvantaged areas
3. Lack of higher education institutes (HEIs) that teach in local languages
4. The limited number of faculty
5. Lack of institutional autonomy
6. Lesser emphasis on research
7. Ineffective regulatory system
8. Low standards of undergraduate education

Recommendations by panel:

1. Suitable funds for the education of Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs),
2. Setting clear targets for higher Gross Enrolment Ratio for SEDGs
3. Enhancing gender balance in admissions to HEIs
4. Providing more financial assistance and scholarships to SEDGs in both public and private HEIs making admission processes and curriculum more inclusive
5. Increasing employability potential of higher education programmes and for developing more degree courses taught in regional languages and bilingually.

Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was among the first in the country to implement NEP from the academic session 2022 in all its higher educational institutions.

NORTH EASTERN REGION

(GS 1(INDIAN SOCIETY)-ISSUES RELATED TO DISCRIMNATION-THE HINDU)

Background

• The States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura are home to numerous ethnic communities who have migrated from ‘all points of the compass’ and their heterogeneity and differing experiences must be highlighted.
• The majority of population of the North East them belonging to the Indo-Chinese Mongoloid racial grouping.

 Issues faced by North East Population:

• Issues like indigeneity, policy, economy, migration land rights, insurgency, militarisation, state violence and laws like AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act), reservation and so on.
• If people from the Northeast as migrant citizens experience marginality — and sometimes violence — in cities like Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bengaluru, there is discrimination against outsiders living in northeast India as well.
• Bezbaruah Committee which was set up in 2014 to look into the various concerns of citizens hailing from the northeastern States living in various parts of the country
• Recommended reaching out to people from the Northeast via social media, and a special helpline (1093) was synchronised with the helpline number 100

Women in conflict regions

• Region itself, several States, including Manipur, Nagaland and Assam, have seen waves of violence over ethnic issues, land, identity and so forth.
• In past two ethnic communities, the Kukis and Nagas, led to massive displacement
• Women often became the primary breadwinners in their families due to forced displacement, and/or death of their husbands or other male members of the family.
• The women faced persisting health issues like malnutrition, post-traumatic stress or other injuries.
• The risk of contracting communicable diseases also increased due to widespread poverty, congested living conditions, lack of awareness and the absence of adequate healthcare services

INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

(GS 2 (INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE)-INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS-SOURCE-THE HINDU)

What are IFI?

An international financial institution (IFI) is a financial intermediary that has been established (or sanctioned) by numerous nations and is in this manner represented by worldwide regulation.

Different types of IFI: World Bank, IMF, ADB, WTO

Problems faced by IFIs?

• In recent years, the challenges of growth and development have amplified, bringing new challenges to light.
• These include, in particular, (i) the intensification of situations of violence and the development of global insecurity; (ii) worsening unemployment and erosion of income; (iii) hunger and food insecurity; and (iv) the acceleration of the effects of climate change.
• Providing countries with the necessary capacities to provide structured and sustainable responses to these challenges is one of the priorities in development forums today.

Today in news:

• On the reform agenda is greater lending capacity for the World Bank and more board-based representation for countries on the boards of these institutions
• Discussed development partnership, millets and rice production, digital delivery and defense cooperation

PHILIPPINES AND CHINA

 Background

• A “special operation” to remove a floating barrier installed by China at a prime fishing patch in the South China Sea by Philippines.
• The 300 meter-long barrier at the entrance to the lagoon at Scarborough Shoal is “illegal and illegitimate.
• The Philippines says Scarborough Shoal lies within its exclusive economic zone, a 200-nautical mile stretch of water where coastal states have exclusive rights to fish and other resources.

 PRELIMS FACTS:

SOUTH CHINA SEA

• Comprise three archipelagoes, namely, the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Pratas Islands and Macclesfield’s Bank and Scarborough Shoal.
• Scarborough Shoal: Claimed both by the Philippines and China (known as Huangyan Island in China).
• Spratlys: Occupied by claimants, which consist of Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, China and Malaysia.
• Paracel Islands: Subject of overlapping claims by China, Vietnam and Taiwan.

INDIA, US, CHINA

(GS 2 (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS)-SOURCE-THE HINDU)

• The Chinese vessel is scheduled to operate at sea for 80 days with 28 scientific research projects from 13 research teams onboard in Sri Lanka
• Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6
• to reassure India that Sri Lanka will ensure that its territory is not used for any activity that could threaten India’s security interests in the region.

GLOBAL INVESTMENT

(GS 3 (INDIAN ECONOMY)-SOURCE-THE HINDU)

• US.-based Capital Research and Management Co. sat atop the list of foreign investors in Indian banks by market value, followed by BlackRock Inc. and Singapore’s GIC Private Ltd.
• Indian banks are expected to attract increasing global investment from investors looking for better returns
• higher credit growth, improved margins and stable asset quality have boosted the prospects of the lenders
• Top investees for FIIs include ICICI Bank Ltd., HDFC Bank Ltd. and Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.

SARFAESI ACT

(GS 3 (INDIAN ECONOMY)-SOURCE-THE HINDU)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked Regulated Entities (REs), namely commercial banks and Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs), to display information regarding borrowers whose secured assets have been taken into possession by the REs (SARFAESI) Act, 2002

What is SARFAESI ACT?

• The SARFAESI Act of 2002 grants banks and financial institutions authority to take possession of a defaulting borrower’s property.
• According to the procedures outlined in the SARFAESI Act, banks issue notices to defaulting borrowers.
• It provides them with 60 days to fulfill their obligations

PRELIMS BYTES

Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS)

• GMIS 2023 is a premier maritime sector focused event to bring together pivotal figures from the industry to explore opportunities, understand challenges, and stimulate investment within India’s maritime sector.
• Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions, this third installment aims to unveil broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders and investors.
• Ready to make its presence felt on the global stage and spotlight India’s maritime industry, the Maritime India Summit has now evolved to the ‘Global’ Maritime India Summit this year.
• FICCI will be the exclusive industry partner.