24 December Current Affairs

 

Context

• For the past two days, blue dragons (Glaucus atlanticus), a type of sea slug, have been spotted on the beach and in waters near the shore in Besant Nagar

All about Blu Dragon

• The blue dragon (Glaucus atlanticus) is a type of mollusk, or sea slug, known as a nudibranch.
• It can be found on the surface of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world.
• These sea slugs are pelagic: they float upside down by using the surface tension of the water to stay up, where they are carried along by the winds and ocean currents.
• This ornate creature rarely grows larger than three centimeters long or just over one inch.
• The blue side of its body acts as camouflage against the backdrop of ocean waves, while the pearlized silver/grey side blends in with the bright sea surface, hiding it from predators below.
• Glaucus atlanticus feeds on other aquatic creatures - that is, those that live near the water's surface.
• The blue dragon stores the man o' war's stinging nematocysts within its finger-like appendages, making itself equally venomous to predators.
• One sting from it can lead to nausea, pain, vomiting, acute allergic contact dermatitis, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Areas of Cooperation between India and France

Background:

• France was one of the first countries with which India signed a "strategic partnership" after the end of the Cold War, in January 1998.
• France was also one of the very few countries to support India's decision to test nuclear weapons in 1998.

Defense Cooperation:

• France has emerged as a key defense partner for India, becoming the second largest defense supplier in 2017- 2021.

• Joint Exercises: Exercise Shakti (Army), Exercise Varuna (Navy), Exercise Garuda (Air Force)

Economic Cooperation:

• Bilateral trade between the two countries reached a new peak at USD 13.4 billion in 2022-23, with exports from India crossing USD 7 billion
• France is the 11th largest foreign investor in India, with a cumulative investment of USD 10.49 billion from April 2000 to December 2022.

Cooperation at International Forum:

• France supports India's bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council as well as its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Climate Cooperation:

• Both countries are concerned about climate change, and India has supported France in the Paris Agreement expressing its strong commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change.
• Both countries, as part of their joint efforts on climate change, launched the International Solar Alliance in 2015.

Cooperation at International Forum:

France supports India's bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council as well as its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Climate Cooperation:

• Both countries are concerned about climate change, and India has supported France in the Paris Agreement expressing its strong commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change.
• Both countries, as part of their joint efforts on climate change, launched the International Solar Alliance in 2015.

PM-DevINE Scheme

The Genesis of PM-DevINE:

• The PM-DevINE scheme as a Central Sector scheme, was introduced as a part of the Union Budget 2022-23.
• The Cabinet granted approval for the PM- DevINE scheme on 12th October 2022. It has been granted 100% Central funding, ensuring that resources are directly allocated to the development initiatives.
• It will be implemented by the Ministry of Development of the North-East Region.

Objectives of PM-DevINE:

Infrastructure Development:

• In line with the spirit of PM GatiShakti, PM-DevINE aims to fund infrastructure projects in a cohesive manner, ensuring seamless connectivity and accessibility across the NER.

Supporting Social Development Projects:

• Recognizing the unique needs and challenges of the NER, the scheme endeavors to support social development projects that address critical issues and improve the overall quality of life for the region's inhabitants.

Empowering Youth and Women:

• PM-DevINE seeks to create livelihood opportunities specifically targeting the youth and women of the NER, enabling them to participate actively in the region's development and progress.

Budget Allocation:

• The scheme received an initial allocation of Rs. 1500 crore in the Union Budget 2022-23. 0
• Over the 4-year period from 2022-23 to 2025-26, which aligns with the remaining years of the 15th Finance Commission period, the scheme has an overall outlay of Rs. 6,600 crores.
• A state-wise, project-wise list of projects approved during FY 2022-23 has been laid out, with each project tailored to address the specific needs of the respective states.

Initiatives Related to the Development of the Northeast Region

• North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS)
• North Eastern Council (NEC)
• North East Road Sector Development Scheme
• Connectivity Projects: Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project
• (Myanmar) and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Corridor.
• Bharatmala Parojana (5,301 km road stretches in NER for improvement)
• North East has been kept as a priority area under RCS-UDAN (to make flying more affordable).

Comptroller and Auditor General

Constitutional Body:

Article 148 provides for an independent office of the CAG. It is the supreme audit institution of India.

Other Provisions Related to CAG include:

• Articles 149-151 (Duties & Powers, Form of Accounts of the Union and the States and Audit Reports), Article 279 (calculation of net proceeds, etc.) and Third Schedule (Oath or Affirmation) and Sixth Schedule (Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram).

Profile in Brief:

• Head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department - created in 1753.
• Guardian of the public purse and controls the entire financial system of the country at both the levels of the Centre and the state.
• One of the bulwarks of the democratic system of government in India.
• The others are the Supreme Court, the Election Commission, and the Union Public Service Commission.
• The accountability of the executive (i.e. Council of Ministers) to the Parliament in the sphere of financial administration is secured through audit reports of the CAG.
• Appointment: Appointed by the President of India by a warrant under his hand and seal.
• Tenure: Six years or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Removal: CAG can be removed by the President on the same grounds and in the same manner as a judge of the Supreme Court. He does not hold his office till the pleasure of the President.
• In other words, he can be removed by the President on the basis of a resolution passed to that effect by both the Houses of Parliament with special majority, either on the grounds of proven misbehavior or incapacity.

Other Related Points:

• Not eligible for further office, either under the Government of India or of any state, after he ceases to hold his office.
• Salary and other service conditions are determined by the Parliament.
• The administrative expenses of the office of the CAG, including all salaries, allowances and pensions of persons serving in that office are charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India (thus are not subject to the vote of Parliament). 
• No minister can represent the CAG in Parliament.

Duties & Powers as also under the CAG's (Duties, Powers, and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971:

• Audits the accounts related to all expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India, the consolidated fund of each state, and the consolidated fund of each union territory having a Legislative Assembly.
• Audits all expenditures from the Contingency Fund of India and the Public Account of India as well as the contingency fund of each state and the public account of each state.
• Audits profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, and other subsidiary accounts kept by any department of the Central Government and state governments.
• Audits the receipts and expenditures of the following:
• Bodies and authorities substantially financed from the Central or state revenues;
• Government companies; and
• Other corporations and bodies, when so required by related laws.
• Audits the accounts of any other authority when requested by the President or Governor. For example, the audit of local bodies.
• Acts as a guide, friend, and philosopher of the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament.

National Creche Scheme

• The National Crèche Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The scheme was earlier named as Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme.

• It aims to provide daycare facilities to children (age group of 6 months to 6 years) of working mothers.

The salient features of the National Creche Scheme are as follows:

• Daycare Facilities including Sleeping Facilities.
• Early Stimulation for children below 3 years and preschool Education for 3 to 6 years old children.
• Supplementary Nutrition (to be locally sourced)
• Growth Monitoring
• Health Check-up and Immunization

Benefits of Creche Facility

• It helps women to manage both their career as well as their family asy responsibility.
• It promotes gender diversity at workplaces.
• Creche facilities help promote gender equality and democracy by increasing participation of women in the economy.