1. Lok Sabha's Ethics Committee

Context: The Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha, which inquired into the cash-for-query allegations leveled by BJP MP against TMC MP, is learned to have recommended her expulsion from the 17th Lok Sabha in its draft report.

Ethics Committee in Parliament

• Each house of the parliament has its own ethics committee.

Lok Sabha

• Constitution: 2000
• Composition: 15 Members including Chairman
• Appointment: By Lok Sabha Speaker
• Tenure: 1 year

Rajya Sabha

• Constitution: 1997
• Composition: 10 Members including Chairman
• Appointment: By Rajya Sabha Chairman
• Tenure: 1 year.

Functions of the Ethics Committee

• The primary role is to supervise the moral and ethical behavior of Members of Parliament.
• It reviews cases referred to it regarding the ethical conduct and misconduct of Members, initiated by the Speaker in the Lok Sabha and the Chairman in the Rajya Sabha.
• The committee also establishes a code of conduct for members and suggests revisions as necessary.
• It offers guidance to members on ethical matters, either proactively or upon request.
• The committee can handle complaints of ethical misconduct, initiated by any individual or taken up on its own.

What are Parliamentary Committees: Read Here

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2. G-7’S ACTION ON GAZA STRIP (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: The G7 Foreign Ministers recently called for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas war to let aid in, help facilitate the release of hostages, and seek a return to a "broader peace process," as Israeli forces continue to strike the Gaza Strip.

G-7

• About: It is an intergovernmental organization. The bloc meets annually to discuss issues of common interest like global economic governance, international security, and energy policy.
• Formation: 1975.
• G7 countries: UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US.
• India is not a part of the G7
• Membership: Apart from the 7 member countries, the European Union (EU) has also participated fully in the G7 since 1981 as a “non-enumerated” member.
• Presidency: It rotates annually among the member countries, with each country hosting the summit and setting the agenda for the year.
• Meetings: The G7 holds annual meetings. 
• Informal nature: The G7 does not have a formal charter or secretariat. Decisions are made through consensus, and there is no formal voting system or legal obligations.

Gaza Strip

• About: It is also known as Gaza, is a Palestinian enclave situated on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Boundaries: It shares an 11-kilometer (6.8-mile) border with Egypt to the southwest and a 51-kilometer (32-mile) border with Israel to the east and north.
• Both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are territories claimed by the de jure sovereign State of Palestine.

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3. LLAP (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Schemes)

Context: The Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Program (LLLAP) of the Department of Justice reaches more than 6 lakh people through 14 implementing agencies under the DISHA scheme.

DISHA Scheme

• About: Launched to offer a holistic and integrated solution for access to justice across India.
• Aim: To uphold the principles of justice as outlined in the Indian Constitution's Preamble and Articles 39A, 14, and 21.
• Focuses on designing and consolidating initiatives for citizen-centric legal service delivery.
• Components of DISHA:
• Tele-Law: Bridging the Gap
• The Nyaya Bandhu Programme
• Legal Awareness Programmes Information Education and Communication (IEC)

Legal Literacy and legal Awareness Program (LLLAP)

• Implementation (Since 2012): The Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, has been actively implementing the Access to Justice Scheme in various North Eastern States and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir since 2012.

Focus Areas 

• Legal Empowerment of Communities: These initiatives primarily concentrate on empowering local communities with legal knowledge and awareness.
• Dissemination of IEC Materials: The scheme involves the distribution of simplified Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials in local languages and dialects to facilitate a better understanding of legal concepts.
• Capacity Development of Panchayati Raj Functionaries: The program aims to enhance the capacity of Panchayati Raj Functionaries and Village Chiefs in understanding and navigating the formal justice delivery system.

Objectives of the Access to Justice Scheme

• To empower the poor and disadvantaged sections of society, enabling them to seek and demand justice services.
• To improve the institutional capacities of key justice service providers.
• To develop indicators that can effectively measure legal literacy and legal awareness levels across India.

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4. PLFS SURVEY REPORT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The National Sample Survey Office recently released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2022-23.

• According to the survey, unemployment has decreased in the country: From 5.3% in rural areas in 2017-18 to 2.4% in 2022-23, and from 7.7% in urban areas in 2017-18 to 5.4% in 2022-23.

Highlights of Report

• In rural areas, the Labour Force Participation Rate increased from 50.7% in 2017-18 to 60.8% in 2022-23.
• For urban areas, LFPR increased from 47.6% to 50.4%.
• In rural areas, the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) increased from 48.1% in 2017-18 to 59.4% in 2022-23.
• It increased from 43.9% to 47.7% in urban areas.
• In rural areas, the Unemployment Rate (UR) is 4.4% in 2022-23 while for urban areas it is found to be 7.0%

Periodic Labour Force Survey

• About: The PLFS survey is administered by the National Statistical Office (NSO), operating under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• The NSO introduced the PLFS survey in April 2017.
• Objective: The PLFS survey is to gauge vital employment and unemployment metrics, specifically the Worker Population Ratio, Labour Force Participation Rate, and Unemployment Rate.
• These indicators are assessed in a short time frame of three months, focusing exclusively on urban areas and using the 'Current Weekly Status' (CWS) methodology.

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5. CHABAHAR PORT (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Armenia is in recently initiated talks to join Iran's Chabahar Port as it seeks better trade access to India and other Asian nations, according to the country's deputy foreign minister.

• The South Caucasian country is hoping for early linkages between the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chabahar Port for seamless connectivity.

Chabahar Port

• Meaning: Chabahar is made of the Persian words Chahar meaning four, and bahar meaning spring. 
• Chabahar City is also home to Iran’s only deep seaport with direct access to the ocean.
• Location: Off the Gulf of Oman in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan & is the only Iranian port with direct access to the ocean.
• Consist of two ports: Chabahar Port consists of two separate ports called Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti. 
• Significance: Important for its fishery sector and will act as an important trade center connecting South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. 

Significance for India

• Gateway to Central Asia and beyond: The port gives access to the energy-rich Persian Gulf nations' southern coast & Central Asia and India can bypass Pakistan with the Chabahar port becoming functional.
• Access to Afghanistan: The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) allowed India to trade with the outside world via Iran, but India could not do so with Afghanistan (not a member of INSTC) in spite of being a very close neighbor.
• Strategic Importance: Due to its location in the Gulf of Oman and at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz and enables Iran to have direct entry to the Indian Ocean.
• Chabahar Port is also quite near the Gwadar Port of Pakistan being developed by China.
• It will also counter the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

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6. 6TH SESSION OF JTC (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: The 6th Session of India-Ethiopia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was recently conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

India-Ethiopia Joint Trade Committee (JTC)

• Establishment: An agreement to establish a Joint Commission was signed during the visit of Former President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, then EAM to Ethiopia in July 2007. 
• First Meeting held: New Delhi in December 2010. 
• Sixth Meeting held: Ethiopia
• Focus Area of 6th Session: Health, Pharmaceuticals, Automobiles, Textiles, Infrastructure, Foods and Agro-processing.
• Ethiopia is one of the fastest-growing economies in the African region, with an estimated growth of 6.4% in the year 2021-22.

Ethiopia

• About: Ethiopia, a landlocked country on the Horn of Africa. 
• Lies: completely within the tropical latitudes and is relatively compact, with similar north-south and east-west dimensions. 
• Capital: Addis Ababa (“New Flower”)
• Bounded by: Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, and South Sudan and Sudan to the west.

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7. NEW GUIDELINES OF RBI (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently released final guidelines on information technology (IT) governance for regulated entities (REs) like banks, non-bank financial companies, credit information companies, and other financial entities.

• As per the new guidelines, which will come into effect from April 1 next year, the REs will have to set up a board-level IT strategy committee (ITSC), which will be headed by an independent director and will have three directors as members.

IT Strategy Committee (ITSC)

• Establishment of ITSC: The RE will create a Board-level IT Strategy Committee (ITSC), comprising a minimum of three directors.
• Meeting: The ITSC will convene at least on a quarterly basis to review and strategize.
• This committee will ensure the effective implementation of IT strategic planning processes and guide in the preparation of IT strategy.
• It will also ensure that the IT strategy aligns with the overall strategy of the RE to achieve its business objectives.

New Guidelines on Information Technology (IT) Governance for Regulated Entities (REs)

• Structure: REs are required to establish a comprehensive IT governance framework.
• Processes: The framework should encompass strategic alignment, risk management, resource performance, and Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Management.
• Defining Roles and Responsibilities: The framework will define the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, including the Board of Directors, board-level Committees, and Senior Management.
• Accountability: Measures will be put in place to oversee IT and cyber/information security risks effectively.
• Accountability mechanisms will be established to mitigate these risks.
• Incorporating IT-Related Risk Assessment: The enterprise-wide risk management policy will include periodic assessments of IT-related risks, including inherent and potential risks.
• Approval and Review: The Board of RE will approve strategies and policies related to IT, Information Assets, Business Continuity, Information Security, and Cyber Security.

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8. GEOGLYPH (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – History)

Context: Recently, a geoglyph in the form of a circle said to be 3,000 years old, has been unearthed in Telangana.

Geoglyph

• About: A geoglyph is a work of art that is created by arranging or moving objects within a landscape. 
• Positive geoglyph: These objects are usually stones or earth. They are the intentional human-made renderings. 
• Negative geoglyphs: These are usually made by removing or clearing sand or stones or sometimes adding stones.
• Location: The geoglyph was unearthed on the outskirts of Mudichu Thalapalli, located in the Medchal-Malkajgiri district of Telangana.
• Characteristics: Carved onto a low-lying granitoid hillock, the geoglyph boasts a perfect circular shape with a diameter of 7.5 meters. Encircling the circle is a 30-centimeter-wide rim, and inside the circle, two triangles can be found.
• Period: Dating back to the Iron Age, the geoglyph is estimated to have originated around 1000 BCE.

Significance

• Archaeologists propose that this circular formation could have functioned as a model for megalithic communities in planning their circular burial sites. 
• The discovery of this newly found geoglyph highlights the artistic skills and etching techniques of the Iron Age inhabitants in Telangana. Archaeologists have hailed it as a pioneering find in the region.

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9. SEZS IN INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The proposed amendments to the SEZ Act, 2005, indicate that the Centre may not introduce new direct tax incentives for SEZ units but may recently consider grandfathering previous exemptions.

• Under DESH Bill, the commerce department had previously suggested a concessional corporate tax rate of 15 per cent for all greenfield units in SEZs, intending to establish these zones as India’s new manufacturing hub.

DESH Bill

• SEZ Framework: The plan entails a comprehensive reform of the existing Special Economic Zone (SEZ) law of 2005.
• Objective: To rekindle interest in SEZs and create more inclusive economic hubs.
• Renaming and Expanding SEZs: SEZs are set to be rebranded as "Development Hubs."
• These hubs will enjoy freedom from various current restrictions.
• They will serve as platforms for both export-oriented and domestic investments, assuming a dual role as domestic tariff areas and SEZs.

SEZs in India

• EPZ Concept in Asia (1965): Asia's inaugural Export Processing Zone (EPZ) was established in 1965 in Kandla, Gujarat.
• Transition to SEZs (2000): In 2000, the Indian government initiated the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to address the limitations of EPZs.
• Enacting the SEZ Legislation (2005-2006): The Special Economic Zones Act was enacted in 2005, and it came into effect alongside the SEZ Rules in 2006, drawing inspiration from China's successful model.
• Current Landscape of SEZs in India: Presently, India boasts 379 officially designated SEZs, with 265 of them being operational. The states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra collectively account for 64% of these SEZs.
• Oversight by the Board of Approval: The Board of Approval, led by the Secretary of the Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, serves as the highest governing body for SEZs in India.

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10. UNEP REPORT ON WARMING (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: None of the 20 major fossil fuel-producing countries, including India, have committed to cutting down on their dependence on coal, oil and gas production to align with the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report.

• Major producers are planning on producing around 110% and 69% more fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with the goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C and 2°C, respectively.

Key Points

• The report looked at the production gap of 20 major producer countries responsible for 82% of production and 73% of consumption of the world’s fossil fuel supply.
• These include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).
• India has pledged to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2070.
• According to the report, India also has plans for significant increases in coal production through 2030 and will prioritise self-reliance, viewing the coal industry as key to generating income and employment.

Global Warming

• About: It denotes the general alteration of Earth's climate, characterized by a substantial rise in the planet's temperature due to human activities occurring within a relatively brief timeframe.
• Temperature Rise: Even a minimal increase of one degree in temperature qualifies as an instance of global warming. An increment of 0.4 percent over a century is regarded as a matter of concern.

UNEP

• About: UNEP operates as a specialized agency within the United Nations system.
• Origin: UNEP was established following the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972.
• Function: To facilitate and coordinate environmental efforts across the United Nations.
• UNEP bears overarching responsibility for addressing and managing environmental challenges within the United Nations' various agencies.

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