September 15, 2023 | Your One-Stop Solution for Daily Preparation
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 17 | Explained
Explore India's dynamic role in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 17 (SDG 17) - Partnerships for the Goals. Discover its progress, strategies, and contributions to global cooperation in this comprehensive article.
Highlights of the Day
1. Government to Disclose Mechanism for Drug Price Control in Supreme Court
The Indian government has agreed to disclose its strategy for regulating the prices of vital and essential medications in the Supreme Court. During a recent hearing presided over by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati announced that an updated affidavit would be filed. This move comes in response to a petition by the All India Drug Action Network, scheduled for review on October 4. The petition had raised concerns about the pricing formula, alleging it allowed excessive profits, excluded critical drugs, and disregarded various medical needs. The government defended its pricing policy as a means to enhance affordability for the public [1].
2. Post Office Bill 2023 to Modernize Postal Services and Adapt to Changing Needs
The 2023 Post Office Bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha aims to replace the outdated 1898 Indian Post Office Act, adapting to the evolving role of post offices. The new bill empowers the Director General of Postal Services to regulate services beyond traditional mail, allowing flexibility in setting service charges. It also grants the government authority to intercept postal items in the interest of national security and public safety, addressing potential smuggling issues. Additionally, the bill paves the way for digital addressing standards and eliminates the exclusive postal privilege, recognizing the changing landscape of communication and delivery services. Overall, it modernizes postal operations and aligns them with contemporary needs [2].
3. Government to Implement Digital Birth and Death Registration System from October 1, 2023
Starting from October 1, 2023, all births and deaths in India will be digitally recorded on the government's portal, as per the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023. This digital system will generate single-use birth certificates, serving as essential documents for various purposes like education admissions, driving licenses, government employment, passports, Aadhaar, voter registration, and marriage registration. The centralized database will also update the National Population Register (NPR), ration cards, property registrations, and electoral rolls. States are mandated to register births and deaths on the Center's Civil Registration System portal and share data with the Registrar-General and Census Commissioner. Additionally, the Act permits the collection of Aadhaar numbers for parents during birth registration [3].
4. Collaborative Project Aims to Expand Rubber Cultivation in Northeast
The Rubber Board, in collaboration with the Central government and the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association, is working on a project to expand natural rubber cultivation in the Northeastern States of India. Currently, around 5 lakh hectares of rubber are in Kerala and Kanyakumari, and 1 lakh hectares in Tripura. The project aims to bring 2 lakh hectares of land in the Northeastern States, excluding Sikkim but including West Bengal, under rubber cultivation, with tire manufacturers investing ₹1,000 crore in the five-year initiative launched in 2021. Despite challenges like landslides, progress is being made, and the project is expected to have socio-economic benefits [4].
5. Supreme Court of India Joins National Judicial Data Grid for Enhanced Transparency and Accountability
The Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, announced that the Supreme Court has joined the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) portal, a national database containing case-related information from courts across India. Described as a historic development, this move aligns with the open data policy and aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the judicial system. The NJDG portal, a flagship project of the e-Courts initiative, now encompasses all three tiers of the Indian judiciary. It serves as an innovation under the ease of doing business initiative and allows easy access to case-related data and statistics, facilitating informed decision-making and research opportunities [5].
Source: The Hindu | Indian Express
Practice Questions for Prelims
Q1: Which of the following is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution of India?
I. Right to Education
II. Right to Property
III. Right to Information
Choose the correct combination:
A) I and II
B) II and III
C) I and III
D) I only
Q2: Examine the following statements regarding "Biodiversity Hotspots":
I. Biodiversity hotspots are areas with high species richness and high endemism.
II. These regions are typically large and cover entire continents.
III. Biodiversity hotspots are a conservation priority due to the high concentration of unique species.
Choose the correct combination:
A) I and II
B) II and III
C) I and III
D) I, II, and III
Q3: Examine the following statements related to the Earth's atmosphere:
I. The exosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere.
II. The ozone layer is found in the troposphere.
III. The thermosphere is where the International Space Station orbits.
IV. The stratosphere contains the majority of the Earth's weather.
Choose the correct combination:
A) I and III
B) II and IV
C) I and IV
D) II and III
Q4: Consider the following statements about "Coral Reefs":
I. Coral reefs are primarily found in freshwater ecosystems.
II. They are often referred to as the "rainforests of the sea" due to their high biodiversity.
III. Coral reefs are formed by the accumulation of dead coral skeletons.
Choose the correct combination:
A) I and II
B) II and III
C) I and III
D) II only
Q5: Examine the following statements regarding the "Supreme Court of India":
I. The Supreme Court is the highest court in India and is located in New Delhi.
II. The Chief Justice of India is appointed by the President of India.
III. The Supreme Court has both original and appellate jurisdiction.
Select the correct combination:
A) I and III
B) II and III
C) I and II
D) I, II, and III
Today’s Question for Mains Answer Writing
Examine the role of plate tectonics in shaping the topography and geological features of the Himalayan region, and its implications for seismic activity and mountain building processes. (Word limit: 250 words)
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