Current Affairs Questions

Explanation :

• The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 was passed in 2016 and the related rules were notified in 2018.

Salient Features of CAFA

• It provides for the establishment of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of India, and a State Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of each state.
• The payments into the funds include:
  • Compensatory afforestation
  • Net Present Value (NPV)
  • Any project specific payments
• The National Fund gets 10% of funds collected and the remaining 90% goes to respective State Fund.
• These funds would be brought under the focus of Parliament and State Legislatures by transferring them to non-lapsable interest bearing funds.
• The collected funds will be utilized for:
  • Afforestation
  • Regeneration of forest ecosystem
  • Wild life protection
  • Infrastructure development
  • Location of villages from protected areas
  • Managing human-wildlife conflicts
  • Training and awareness generation
  • Supply of wood saving devices and allied activities

Explanation :

In a major success amid the ongoing border crisis with China, India on 3rd October, 2020, successfully test-fired a new version of nuclear-capable Shaurya missile off the coast of Odisha.

About Shaurya Missile

• It is a land variant of short-range Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) K-15 Sagarika.
• It belong to the K missile family — codenamed after late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam — which are launched from Arihant class of nuclear submarines.
• It is a two-stage rocket missile having a strike range of around 800 kilometres.
• When fired, the missile in the final phase of its course moves at hypersonic speeds before reaching a height of 40 km as it gets closer to its target.
• The missile is less vulnerable to anti-ballistic missile defence systems due to its high maneuverability.

K Family of Missiles

• The K family of missiles are primarily Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) and are named after DrKalam.
• Because these missiles are to be launched from submarines, they are lighter, smaller and stealthier than their land-based counterparts, the Agni series of missiles.
• K family are primarily submarine-fired missiles to be fired from India’s Arihant class nuclear powered platforms.

Explanation :

To mark the occasion of 151 years of postcards in India, Maharashtra Circle of India Post has released picture postcards on Sawantwadi Toys on October 1, 2020.

The postcard is inspired by Prime Miniinsp'sspeech about the country's ability to become a "toy hub”.

About Samantwadi Toys

• Sawantwadi toys refer to hand made works of art made of wood in Sawantwadi a town in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. Most of these toys are made in the village of Kolgaon in Sawantwaditaluka.
• These toys are made from the wood of the Indian Coral tree (Erythrinavariegata).
• Craftsmen who make these toys belong to the Chittari community who came to Sawantwadi from Karwar and Goa.

Indian Coral Tree

• Also known as tiger's claw, it is a species of Erythrina native to the tropical and subtropical regions of eastern Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, northern Australia, and the islands of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean east to Fiji.
• It is often used in agroforestry systems. It can be used for fodder as its foliage has a good nutritive value for most livestock.

Explanation :

• On 28th September, 2020, NITI Aayog and Embassy of the Netherlands signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to support the decarbonization and energy transition agenda for accommodating cleaner and more energy.
• It seek a strategic partnership to create a platform that enables a comprehensive collaboration among stakeholders and influencers, including policymakers, private enterprises, and sector experts.

Key Elements of SoI

• To lower the net carbon footprint in industrial and transport sectors.
• To realise the target potential of natural gas and promote bio-energy technologies.
• To adopt clean air technologies from monitoring to reducing actual particulates.
• To adopt next-generation technologies, such as hydrogen, carbon capture utilization, and storage forsectoral energy efficiency.
• To set up financial frameworks to deliver and adopt climate change finance.

Significance

• Both India and the Netherlands have set up sustainable energy targets and they face similar issues in realizing cleaner energy transition goals.
• So, India’s expertise in deploying high-tech solutions in a cost-effective manner in combination with the Dutch expertise in low carbon technologies will strengthen the Indo-Dutch collaboration.
• Further, SoIwill help both the countries to move towards becoming climate-resilient economies.

Explanation :

• On 27th September, 2020, the Ganga Avalokan Museum was inaugurated by Prime Minister.
• It has been dedicated to showcase the biodiversity, rejuvenation and culture in Ganga River.
• Located at Chandighat in Uttarakhand's Haridwar, the museum will also showcase the activities carried out for the rejuvenation of the river.

Explanation :

On 24th September, 2020, renowned Malayalam poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri was conferred the 55th edition of the Jnanpith Award.

About Award

• Jnanpith Award is an Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature".
• Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed only on Indian writers writing in Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India and English, with no posthumous conferral.
• Until 1982 it was presented for a specific work; thereafter, it was given for a writer’s overall contribution to literature. Since then, the award has typically been given every year to one author, although in some years it has been jointly offered to two.
• The first recipient of the award was the Malayalam writer G. SankaraKurup who received the award in 1965 for his collection of poems, Odakkuzhal (The Bamboo Flute), published in 1950.

Explanation :

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, which is wreaking havoc the world over, has hit the Kashmir Valley’s centuries-old culinary tradition of Trami.

About TramiTardition

• It is the Kashmir Valley’s centuries-old culinary tradition.
• It’s origin can be traced during the Sultan period, especially during eighth Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, between 1418 and 1470.
• It involves eating together from one plate during weddings.
• In trami four guests join in simultaneously to have their portion of food from around a circular 2X2 feet decorated copper plate.Itsymbolised brotherhood and sharing.
• But due to COVID-19 the Kashmiris have learnt to adapt to the situation and have replaced the Trami tradition with individual copper utensils in the weddings.

Explanation :

• Cess is a form of tax charged/levied over and above the base tax liability of a taxpayer.
• A cess is usually imposed additionally when the state or the central government looks to raise funds for specific purposes.
• For example, the government levies an education cess to generate additional revenue for funding primary, secondary, and higher education.
• It is not a permanent source of revenue for the government, and it is discontinued when the purpose levying it is fulfilled.
• It can be levied on both indirect and direct taxes.
• In the case of the cess levied on direct taxes, it is added to the basic tax liability of the taxpayer and is paid as a part of the total tax paid by the taxpayers themselves.
• In the case of the cess levied on indirect taxes, such as service tax or sales tax, or GST in India’s case, it is paid by the producer of the goods and services.

Difference between Tax and Cess

• Cess is different from taxes such as income tax, GST, and excise duty, etc. as it is charged over and above the existing taxes.
• While all taxes go to the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI), cess may initially go to the CFI but has to be used for the purpose for which it was collected.
• If the cess collected in a particular year goes unspent, it cannot be allocated for other purposes. The amount gets carried over to the next year and can only be used for the cause it was meant for.

Types of Cess in India

• Education Cess: Education cess was introduced to finance and provide standard quality education to poor people.
• Health and Education Cess: Proposed in Budget 2018 to meet the education and health needs of rural and rural and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
• Swachh Bharat Cess: Introduced in 2015, a 0.5% Swachh Bharat cess was imposed to fund national campaign for clearing the roads, streets and the infrastructure of India.
• KrishiKalyanCess: This cess was aimed at developing the agricultural economy, and was collected at the rate of 0.5%.
• Infrastructure Cess: Announced in Union Budget 2016, this cess was charged on the production of vehicles.

Explanation :

• Dhrupad is the most ancient style of Hindustani classical music that has survived until today in its original form. The Dhrupad tradition is a major tradition of Indian culture.
• The word ‘Dhrupad’ is derived from DHRUVA the steadfast evening star that moves through our galaxy and ‘Pada’ meaning poetry.
• It is a form of devotional music that traces its origin to the ancient text of Samaveda. The Samavedawas chanted with the help of melody and rhythm called Samgana.
• Gradually this developed into other vocal style called ‘Chhanda’ and ‘Prabandha’ with introduction of verse and meter. The fusion of these two elements led to the emergence of Dhrupad.
• The nature of Dhrupad music is spiritual, seeking not to entertain, but to induce feelings of peace and contemplation in the listener.
• Performance of Dhrupad is done in two parts viz. the Alap and Bandish.
• In the Alap, the singer uses syllables from Sanskrit Mantra which add texture to the notes. The Raga is slowly and methodically developed in a meditative mode.

Explanation :

Adjournment Motion

• It is introduced only in the Lok Sabha to draw the attention of the House to a definite matter of urgent public importance.
• It involves an element of censure against the government, therefore Rajya Sabha is not permitted to make use of this device.
• It is regarded as an extraordinary device as it interrupts the normal business of the House. It needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.
• The discussion on this motion should last for not less than two hours and thirty minutes.
• The power of adjournment lies with the presiding officer of the House.

Adjournment Sine Die

• Adjournment sine die means terminating a sitting of Parliament for an indefinite period.
• In other words, when the House is adjourned without naming a day for reassembly, it is called adjournment sine die.
• The power of adjournment sine die lies with the presiding officer of the House.