Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the continuation of 1,023 Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs), including 389

exclusive POCSO
Courts, as a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme (CSS) from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2023.
✓ The Cabinet has provided an outlay of Rs 1572.86 crore (Rs 971.70 crore as
Central share and Rs 601.16 crore as state share) for the purpose.
▪ The Central share is from the Nirbhaya Fund, which is disbursed by the
Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.

➢ FTSCs are dedicated courts expected to ensure swift dispensation of justice.

✓ They have a better clearance rate as compared to the regular courts and
hold speedy trials.
➢ Besides, It strengthens the deterrence framework for sexual offenders.

➢ There were around 1.67 lakh cases of rape and POCSO in 2019, but this number
has increased to 2.34 lakh cases as on Aug 4, 2021.
✓ Reason cited is a backlog of cases amid the pandemic has been one of the
reasons for the jump.
➢ According to NCRB, at the end of 2019, rape cases had a pendency rate of 89.5% and the conviction rate of 27.8%.
✓ For POCSO cases, 88.8% cases were pending at the end of the year, and of those disposed of, 34.9% ended in a
conviction.
❖ Pendency rate - Pending cases at the end of the year as a percentage of total cases for trial.
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a framework for payment and settlement related activities by payment
system operators (PSOs).
✓ This framework is issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

➢ PSO refers to a person who operates an authorised payment system.

✓ For instance - National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), VISA etc.
➢ According to RBI, the PSOs largely outsource their payment and settlement-related activities to various other entities.

➢ PSOs will not have to seek its prior approval for outsourcing.
➢ PSOs have been prohibited from outsourcing core management functions, including risk management, internal audit,
compliance and decision-making functions such as determining compliance with KYC norms.
✓ For the purpose of this framework, 'outsourcing' is defined as use of a third party (i.e. service provider) to perform
activities on a continuing basis that would normally be undertaken by the PSO itself, now or in the future.
▪ ‘Continuing basis’ would include agreements for a limited period.
➢ However, for internal audit, auditors can be appointed by the PSO from its own employees or from the outside on contract.
➢ This framework is applicable to a service provider, whether located in India or elsewhere.
➢ The framework is not applicable to activities other than those related to payment and / or settlement services, such as
internal administration, housekeeping or similar functions.
Recently, The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) observed over 6.07 lakh cyber security incidents with
15,651 Indian websites hacked in the first six months of 2021, of which about 12,000 incidents were related to government
organisations.

➢ CERT-In is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents such as hacking and phising.
➢ It was formed in 2004 by the Government of India under Information Technology Act, 2000 under the Ministry of
Communications and Information Technology.
➢ It also conducts regular training programmes for network or system administrators and Chief Information Security Officers
(CISOs) of the government and critical sector organisations regarding mitigation of cyber attacks.

➢ Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre)

✓ To help in detection of malicious programs and provides free tools to remove the same.
➢ National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC)
✓ To generate necessary situational awareness of existing and potential cyber security threats.
➢ A 24X7 Cyber Security Incident Response mechanism is in place at CERT-In.
➢ Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been designated as the
nodal point in the fight against cybercrime.
➢ The government has launched National Cyber Crime (NCC) reporting portal to enable public to report incidents pertaining to
all types of cybercrimes with a special focus on crimes against women and children.
Recently, A report titled “Turning Around the Power Distribution Sector” jointly launched by the NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain
Institute (RMI).
➢ Most power distribution companies (discoms) in India incur losses every year—total losses are estimated to be as high as Rs
90,000 crore in FY 2021.
✓ Due to these accumulated losses, discoms are unable to pay generators on time, make investments required to ensure
high-quality power, or prepare for greater use of variable renewable energy.

➢ Use of prepaid/smart meters to improve their billing efficiency.

➢ Encourage the use of Solar lamp for agri.
➢ Greater autonomy for state-owned discoms - For a state-owned utility to succeed, there should be a clear separation between
utility and state.
➢ Mini grids with decentralised small-scale generation from locally available renewable resources for remote area.
➢ Higher Private Participation – It can be useful for greater efficiency.
➢ PPP Model - It can be useful in loss making areas, where commercial operation might not be feasible without govt. support.

➢ It is an organization in the United States dedicated to research, publication, consulting, and lecturing in the general field of
sustainability, with a special focus on profitable innovations for energy and resource efficiency.
➢ RMI's India program collaborates with government and industry leaders to create clean, resilient, and equitable energy and
mobility systems.
Recently, The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) 1 - INS Vikrant - started sea trials (one of the last phases of trials).
✓ Currently, only five or six nations (the US, the UK,
Russia, France and China) have the capability of
manufacturing an aircraft carrier — India joins this
elite club now.

➢ IAC-1 has been designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of

Naval Design (DND), and is being built at Cochin Shipyard
Limited (CSL), a public sector shipyard under the Ministry of
Shipping.
➢ The IAC is the first aircraft carrier designed and built in India.
➢ It is likely to be commissioned in 2022.
➢ INS Vikrant was named after the warship that played a
crucial role in the 1971 war.
➢ It is the largest warship built in the country, has an overall
length of 263 m and a width of 62 m.
➢ It has specialised cabins for women officers.
➢ It is a shining example of the nation’s quest for ‘Atmanirbhar
Bharat’ with more than 76% indigenous content.
❖ India currently operates a solitary aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, bought second-hand from Russia for $2.33 billion.
A new discovery of Swinhoe’s softshell turtle gives a fighting chance to species.

➢ It is locally known as the Hoan Kiem turtle in Vietnam.

➢ It is an extremely rare species of turtle in the family Trionychidae.
➢ It is endemic to eastern and southern China and northern Vietnam.
➢ It is known for its deep head with a pig-like snout and dorsally placed eyes.
➢ It held special cultural significance and a symbol of Vietnam’s independence
and prosperity.
➢ Some reserachers have highlighted their importance to the seafloor biosystem,
where they contribute by enriching soil nutrients and facilitating seed dispersion.
➢ It is on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, hunting for subsistence and
local consumption, and the use of the carapace and bones in alternative
medicine.
✓ Skulls are often kept as trophies.
➢ Protection Status : IUCN - Critically Endangered, CITES - Appendix II
Recently, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed and black-topped the
highest motorable road in the world at 19,300 ft at Umlingla Pass in Eastern Ladakh.
✓ By constructing this road, BRO has created a record in high-altitude road
construction.
➢ Umling La Pass, located at an altitude of 19,300ft, has overtaken Khardung La Pass
to become the highest motorable road in the world.
➢ It has constructed a 52-km long tarmac road through Umlingla Pass, bettering the
previous record in Bolivia connecting to its volcano Uturuncu at 18,953 ft.
➢ It will enhance the socio-economic condition and promote tourism in Ladakh.
➢ This seemingly impossible feat has been achieved by the BRO (Border Road
Organization) as part of “Project Himank”.
➢ The road has been constructed at an altitude higher than the Mt Everest Base
Camps as the South Base Camp in Nepal is at an altitude of 17,598 ft, while North
Base Camp in Tibet is at 16,900 ft.
➢ The road has been constructed much above the altitude of Siachen Glacier which is
at 17,700 ft.
➢ The Khardung La Pass in Leh is at an altitude of 17,582 ft.
➢
✓ The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has published draft on mechanism to ensure immediate medical
treatment till the condition of such injured person stabilises.
✓ The ministry has also notified a draft scheme namely “Scheme for Compensation of Hit &Run Accident Victims” to cater
to enhanced compensation from Rs 12,500 to Rs 50,000 for grievous hurt and from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2,00,000 for death.
▪ This scheme will supersede the earlier Solatium Scheme, 1989.
✓ The Centre will set up the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, which will have a component to provide medical help to the
victims hit by uninsured vehicles and where the vehicles can not be traced.
▪ Where insured vehicle is involved in crash, the insurance company will bear the medical expenses.
✓ The ministry has also proposed the procedure for detailed investigation of road accidents, the Detailed Accident Report
(DAR) and its reporting ,along with timelines for different stakeholders, for quick settlements of claims.

❖ Different studies have shown that quick medical care can help save 50% lives in road crashes. Annually, nearly 1.5 lakh
people die in road crashes and another 5 lakh are left injured.

➢
✓ It is a project of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the Ladakh region of northernmost India that started in August
1985.
✓ Under this project, BRO is responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads and related infrastructure in Ladakh
along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
✓ The project ensures access to sensitive military areas including the world's highest battleground at the Siachen Glacier
and Pangong Tso Lake.
➢
✓ Scientists have a new idea for how Earth got its oxygen: It’s because the planet slowed down and days got longer.
✓ About 2.4 billion years ago, there was so little oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere that it could hardly be measured, so no
plant or animal life could have lived.
▪ Only about 400 million years Earth’s atmosphere went to one-tenth the amount of oxygen we have now.
✓ Recently researchers theorized that Earth’s slowing rotation, which gradually lengthened the days from 6 hours to the
current 24 hours, was key for the microbes or cyanobacteria in making the planet more breathable.
▪ According to published study, longer, continuous daylight kick-started weird bacteria into producing lots of oxygen,
making most of life possible.
✓ The planet’s rotation slows because of the complicated physics of tidal friction and interaction with the moon.
▪ The oxygen event coincided with the timing of Earth’s days getting longer.
✓ Scientists said this is just one possible but plausible explanation for Earth’s oxygen increase.
✓ This idea is so impressive because it doesn’t require any big biological changes in bacteria or the world’s oceans.

➢
✓ Recently, NCSM has developed a chain of science museums and science centers throughout the Country including
Science Cities through Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS).
▪ Currently, It administers 25 Science Centres/Museums spread all over India.
✓ It is an autonomous society under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India was formed on April 4, 1978.
✓ It aims to portray the growth of science and technology and their applications in industry and human welfare, with a view
to develop scientific attitude and temper and to create, inculcate and sustain a general awareness amongst the people.
➢
✓ The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare is funding various projects for Crop Production Forecasting.
✓ FASAL Scheme (Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro-meteorology and Land based observations)
▪ It is used for crop production forecasting of field crops.
▪ For Nine crops - Rice, Wheat, Tur, Rabi Pulses, Rapeseed & Mustard, Rabi Jowar, Cotton, Jute and Sugarcane.
✓ CHAMAN (Coordinated Horticulture Assessment and Management using geo-iNformatics)
▪ It is used for horticulture crops.
▪ For Seven crops - Potato, Onion, Tomato, Chilli, Mango, Banana and Citrus.
✓ The KISAN project carried out various pilot studies for evaluating the role of satellite technology in crop yield estimation.

➢
✓ In 2020-21, over 58,000 children were rescued across India from work, rehabilitated and
mainstreamed under the NCLP.
✓ NCLP is a Central Sector Scheme for rehabilitation and mainstreaming rescued children into formal
education.
✓ Under this Scheme the District Project Societies (DPS) are set up at the district level under the Chairmanship of the
Collector/District Magistrate for overseeing the implementation of the project.
▪ The children in the age group of 9-14 years are withdrawn from work and put into NCLP Special Training Centres,
where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training etc.
▪ The children in the age group of 5-8 years are directly linked to the formal education system through a close
coordination with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
➢
✓ Recently, the markets regulator SEBI allowed payments banks to carry out the activities of investment bankers.
▪ This move is in order to provide easy access to investors to participate in public and rights issues by using various
payment avenues.
✓ A payments bank is like any other bank, but operating on a smaller scale without involving any credit risk.
✓ It can accept demand deposits (up to Rs 1 lakh), offer remittance services, mobile payments/transfers/purchases and
other banking services like ATM/debit cards, net banking and third party fund transfers.
✓ The main objective of payments bank is to widen the spread of payment and financial services to small business, low-
income households, migrant labour workforce in secured technology-driven environment.
✓ Nachiket Mor Committee suggested to introduce specialised banks or ‘payments bank’ to cater to the lower income
groups and small businesses.
▪ The committee, headed by Dr Nachiket Mor, constituted by the RBI in September 2013 to study 'Comprehensive
financial services for small businesses and low income households’.

➢
✓ The Indian Railways will provide Global Positioning System (GPS) clocks for control offices to enable section controllers
coordinate with station masters, loco pilots and other staff directly involved in train operations to ensure uniformity in
time.
✓ GPS Clock is a satellite system that provides a very precise timing service.
▪ The system uses atomic clocks to provide with low-cost access to international atomic time standards.
✓ Atomic clocks provide astonishing levels of accuracy by using certain resonance frequency of atoms.
▪ These clock uses Caesium and Rubidium usually.
➢
✓ Recently, the Finance Ministry has tweaked the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules, 1957 (SCRR) to exempt listed
public sector companies from the minimum public shareholding norm.
▪ Now, government may, in the public interest, exempt any listed public sector company minimum public shareholding
(MPS) norm, which mandates at least 25% public float for all listed entities.
✓ The Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) rule is applicable to all listed companies in India.
✓ It is the minimum level of public holding (other than promoters) in a company to be maintained on a continuous basis.
✓ It is also referred as free float.
✓ The concept of minimum public shareholding was introduced to bring more transparency in the working of listed
companies.
▪ In 2010, This MPS rule was first implemented after the amendment by SEBI to the SCRR to insist on this 25% public
float for private sector companies.

➢
✓ Government is in the process of finalising 'India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA)' which will lay down a
framework for Agristack.
✓ It shall help the Government in effective planning towards increasing the income of farmers in particular and improving
the efficiency of the Agriculture sector as a whole.
✓ It would help in laying down the architecture for the Agri-stack and that would serve as a foundation to build innovative
agri-focused solutions leveraging emerging technologies.
✓ No private sector companies are involved as far as building of the Agri-stack is concerned.