Content :
Positive signals emerge from India-China talks.
State water policymaking matters.
Foreigners’ entry restricted in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland.
All 17,130 police stations in the country linked through centralised online platform CCTNS.
Formulate policy to manage sacred groves, SC tells govt.
Gagan Gill, Easterine Kire to get Sahitya Akademi awards
Net direct tax collections rise 16.5%
Gaganyaan: Assembly of HLVM3 Begins at ISRO for Uncrewed Flight
Positive Signals Emerge From India-China talks
Background:
India and China have a long-standing border dispute along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), particularly in the Ladakh region.
Tensions peaked in 2020 with the Galwan Valley clash, leading to ongoing efforts for de-escalation and disengagement.
Relevance: GS 2 (International Relations)
Disengagement Agreement: India and China reaffirmed their commitment to the October 2024 disengagement agreement along the LAC.
Boundary Talks: National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing for the first boundary talks since 2019, focusing on peace and stability at the border.
Positive Developments: Talks included resuming the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, data sharing on trans-border rivers, and border trade.
Six-Point Consensus: The dialogue resulted in a six-point consensus to maintain peace and improve bilateral relations.
Notable Exclusions: Issues like direct flight resumption and journalist exchanges, discussed earlier, were not part of this meeting.
These discussions represent progress in resolving border tensions and fostering stronger ties between the two nations.
State Water Policymaking Matters
Context: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has called for a comprehensive water policy for Andhra Pradesh, emphasizing the need for a strategic re-imagining of water management due to the challenges faced since the state’s bifurcation.
Relevance: GS 2(Governance)
Importance of State-Level Water Policy:
Water governance in India is primarily managed at the state level, making state policies crucial for effective water management
Localized Water Resource Development: Different states have unique water management needs. For instance:
Maharashtra: Focuses on regulation.
Jharkhand: Prioritizes supply augmentation.
Climate Change Impact: Climate change exacerbates water-related risks, necessitating innovative and adaptive water management strategies.
Conventional Approaches: Policy emphasizes supply augmentation through projects like:
Polavaram Dam.
River interlinking.
Shift to Demand Management: The focus needs to shift from supply augmentation to demand-side management to enhance efficiency and sustainability. Overcoming institutional inertia is critical for this transition.
Institutional Reforms:Adopting models like an Independent Water Resources Regulatory Authority can:
Address regional imbalances.
Improve water use efficiency.
Risk Management include:
Groundwater depletion.
River pollution.
Dam safety.
Andhra Pradesh’s long coastline also adds compounded climate risks.
Intergovernmental Coordination: Effective water policy demands seamless coordination across various government levels to tackle extra-territorial risks and enhance holistic water governance.
Foreigners’ Entry Restricted in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland
Context: The Union Home Ministry has reimposed the Protected Area Regime (PAR) in Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram.
Relevance: GS 3 (Security)
Reimposition of PAR:
The Union Home Ministry has reimposed the Protected Area Regime (PAR) in Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram after a gap of 14 years due to security concerns from the influx of foreigners from neighboring countries.
Foreigners visiting these states must now seek prior permission and special permits.
Guidelines and Background:
PAR guidelines discourage foreigners from visiting protected areas without extraordinary reasons.
Initially relaxed in 2010 to promote tourism, the latest order (issued in December 2022) was valid until 2027 but has now been withdrawn.
Manipur Government’s Statement:
Foreigners must obtain Protected Area Permits (PAP) for entry, per the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958.
The government dismissed the existence of the “Kuki-Zo Council,” citing it as an unauthorized and suspicious group.
Warning Against Unverified Claims:
Media and government agencies were urged not to recognize claims or press releases from unverified organizations.
Local Tensions:
A new group warned Chief Minister N. Biren Singh against using Kuki-dominated roads for traveling to a festival in a Naga-dominated area, highlighting ongoing regional tensions.
Police Stations To Linked Through Centralised Online Platform CCTNS.
Context:
The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) is a centralized online platform designed for filing and tracking First Information Reports (FIRs), chargesheets, and investigation reports in police stations across India.
Relevance: GS 2 (Governance)
Completion of Integration:
Nearly 15 years after its launch, all 17,130 police stations in India are now connected through CCTNS.
Launch and Budget:
Initiated in 2009 with a budget of ₹2,000 crore, CCTNS aims to establish a comprehensive database accessible to law enforcement nationwide.
Key Features:
Maintains crime records, including:
Details of accused individuals and convicts.
Habitual offenders.
Missing persons and unidentified bodies.
Stolen vehicles.
Analytical Capabilities:
Generates analytical reports on criminal cases, property cases, and crime statistics at the police station level.
Enhancements for New Criminal Laws:
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) implemented 23 functional modifications to accommodate three new criminal laws (effective July 1):
Replacing the Indian Penal Code, Evidence Act, and Criminal Procedure Code.
New Provisions in CCTNS:
Key updates include:
Seeking senior officers’ permission for arrests in certain cases.
Informing relatives about arrests.
Mandatory videography of crime scenes.
Enhanced focus on forensic evidence collection.
Updating victims on investigation progress within 90 days.
Integration with Criminal Justice System (ICJS):
CCTNS integrates police data with other criminal justice components, including:
Courts, prisons, prosecution, forensics, and fingerprints via the Integrated Criminal Justice System (ICJS).
Formulate Policy To Manage Sacred Groves, SC Tells Govt
Context:
The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to create a comprehensive policy for the management of sacred groves across India, emphasizing their religious, cultural, and ecological significance.
Relevance:GS 2 (Polity & Governance)
Sacred Groves:
Patches of trees protected by local communities for their religious and cultural importance.
Contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation.
Regions:
Found predominantly in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
Supreme Court Directive:
Focuses on addressing the vanishing groves, especially highlighted in a petition from Rajasthan.
Policy Responsibility:
Traditionally, wildlife management has been a state responsibility.
The court urges the Centre to take a proactive role in protecting sacred groves.
Comprehensive Survey:
Tasked to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
The survey aims to:
Identify and protect sacred groves.
Determine their extent and area with flexible boundaries for future growth.
Prevent any reduction in grove areas.
National Forest Policy of 1988:
Justice Mehta highlighted the policy, which encourages community involvement in improving forest patches they depend on.
Piplantri Village Example:
Piplantri Village transformed barren land into lush groves, showcasing the success of community-driven initiatives.
Ecological Value:
Sacred groves hold immense ecological value and act as community reserves.
Protect them against unauthorized land use changes and exploitation.
Gagan Gill, Easterine Kire to Get Sahitya Akademi Awards
Context: The annual Sahitya Akademi Awards were announced, recognizing 21 writers for their exceptional contributions to Indian literature across various categories and languages.
Relevance: GS 1 (Culture & Heritage)
Major Recipients:
Gagan Gill: Awarded for her Hindi poetry book “Main Jab Tak Aai Bahar”.
Easterine Kire: Honored for her English novel “Spirit Nights”.
Categories and Winners:
Poetry:Eight works, including contributions by:K. Jayakumar (Malayalam),Haobam Satyabati Devi (Manipuri),Dileep Jhaveri (Gujarati).
Novels:
Three works, including:
“Psychiatric Ward” by Sohan Kaul (Kashmiri),
“Swrni Thakhai” by Aron Raja (Bodo).
Short Stories:
Two collections, such as:
“Chhichimira” by Yuva Baral (Nepali),
“Purzo” by Hundraj Balwani (Sindhi).
Essays:
Three works, including those by:
Mukesh Thali (Konkani),
Mahendra Malangia (Maithili).
Literary Criticism:
Three notable contributions.
Play:
“Seched Sawnta Ren Andha Manmi” by Maheshwar Sorn (Santali).
Research:
Contribution by A.R. Venkatachalapathy (Tamil).
Special Mention:
Paul Kaur: Recognized for her Punjabi poetry book “Sun Gunvanta Sun Budhivanta: Itihaasnama Punjab”.
Net Direct Tax Collections Rise 16.5%
Context: India’s net direct tax collections for the fiscal year 2024-25 have shown robust growth, with a significant rise in non-corporate tax receipts.
Relevance: GS 3 (Economy)
Growth in Net Direct Tax Collections: Increased by 16.5% to ₹15.82 lakh crore as of December 17, 2024.
Corporate vs. Non-Corporate Taxes:
Corporate Tax: Grew by 8.6% to ₹7.43 lakh crore.
Non-Corporate Tax: Surpassed corporate taxes, rising by 22.5% to ₹7.97 lakh crore.
Gross Tax Receipts: Grew by 20.3% to ₹19.21 lakh crore.
Securities Transaction Tax (STT): Recorded a significant surge, increasing by 85.5% to over ₹40,100 crore.
Refunds Issued: Increased by 42.5%, reaching nearly ₹3.39 lakh crore.
Advance Tax Collections: Grew by 20.9% to over ₹7.56 lakh crore.
Historical Context: In the fiscal year 2023-24, net direct tax revenues had risen by 17.7% to ₹19.58 lakh crore.
Other Taxes: Including Equalization Levy, Fringe Benefit Tax, Wealth Tax, etc., saw a modest growth of 5.9%.
Gaganyaan: Assembly of HLVM3 Begins at ISRO for Uncrewed Flight
Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has initiated the assembly of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (HLVM3) for the Gaganyaan mission’s first uncrewed flight.
Relevance: GS 3 (Space)
HLVM3 Assembly:
The assembly is underway at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.
The uncrewed flight is planned for early next year.
Launch Campaign Commencement:
The launch campaign began on December 18, 2024, with the stacking of the S200 motor’s nozzle end segment.
Preparation and Integration:
S200 Motors: Segment assembly, control systems, and avionics integration are in progress.
L110 and C32 Stages: Both are ready at the launch complex.
Crew Escape Systems: Components have been delivered to SDSC.
Integration:
Crew Module: Integrated at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
Service Module: Prepared at U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC).
Orbital Module: Integration and tests to follow at URSC.
Gaganyaan Project:
Objective: To demonstrate human spaceflight capability, launching a crew of three to an orbit of 400 km for three days and ensuring their safe return to Earth.
Mission Plan: Includes three uncrewed missions followed by one crewed mission.
Anniversary Significance:
The assembly coincides with the 10th anniversary of the LVM3-X/CARE mission (December 18, 2014).