DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

08 JULY 2022

. No.	Topic Name	Prelims/Mains
1.	About the Central Vista Project	Prelims & Mains
2.	Details of the PM CARES Fund	Prelims & Mains
3.	About the Border Dipute between India and China	Prelims & Mains
4.	Details of the Dragon Fruit Cultivation	Prelims Specific Topic

 

1 – About the Central Vista Project: 

GS II

Topic – Indian Parliament

• Context:
• According to Hardeep Singh Puri, the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, the Central Vista Avenue restoration project, which extends from Vijay Chowk to India Gate, would be concluded by July 18. Puri claims that some minor repairs are now being conducted to one or two underpasses and will be completed soon.
• Central Vista Project:
• As part of this project, 86 acres of property in Lutyens’s Delhi will be repaired and developed.
• Among other well-known government structures, they include Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, North Block, and South Block.
• On September 13, 2019, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs first put up this brilliant idea to revamp the nation’s administrative centre.
• This project is divided into three main sections:
• A new Parliamentary structure
• All of the central government ministries will be housed in a new secretariat structure.
• The redevelopment of the Rajghat and the area around it
• As part of this project, several non-heritage buildings in the neighbourhood will be destroyed and replaced with new ones.
• What is the necessity for this Project?
• The most crucial element of the project is the construction of a new parliament building. The need for a new structure is due to a number of factors.
• The population has increased by about four times since independence, necessitating delimitation to increase the number of Lok Sabha constituencies.
• Similar to this, the centre chamber of the parliament, where joint sessions are often held, does not have enough seats for MPs from both houses.
• During combined sessions, temporary chairs are placed in the aisles so that everyone can sit down.
• This sort of performance has no place in the parliament of the biggest democracy in the world.
• Because it was built at several locations as and when it was required, the infrastructure of the parliament was likewise outmoded.
• These elements necessitated the urgent need for a new parliament building.
• The value of the project:
• Modernizing the legislative facilities: The new Parliament building will be India’s first specifically designed legislature, equipped with state-of-the-art technology to manage all demands of a larger legislature.
• All government ministries will be supported by an extremely productive and sustainable infrastructure, enhancing energy efficiency.
• The National Museum will be relocated and redesigned to showcase the rich history and achievements of the nation, enhancing cultural and recreational offerings.
• Infrastructure that is cutting edge and secure is offered. It is advised to house executive offices and facilities in an executive enclave that is cutting edge, safe, and tastefully equipped.
• Providing a residence for the PM: Modern, secure residences for the vice president and the PM are being planned to the north of North Block and to the south of South Block, respectively.
• Cultural significance: The proposed modifications to the Central Vista are intended to enhance the public realm, protect historic buildings, ensure environmental sustainability, and extend its axis. They also want to revive the vista’s distinctive architectural style.

Source – The Indian Express

2 – Details of the PM CARES Fund:

GS II

Topic – Government Policies and Interventions

• Context:
• The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a stay of execution on a Central Information Commission (CIC) ruling asking the Income Tax Department to release copies of all files PM CARES Fund produced when requesting an exemption under the Income Tax Act and file notations confirming the request.
• How does the PM-CARES Fund work?
• The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund, or PM CARES Fund, was formed in March 2020 to meet challenging situations like the COVID-19 epidemic.
• All donations to the fund are voluntary and come from both individuals and organisations; it receives no financial support.
• Donations are no longer tax deductible but can now be used to fulfil a company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) obligations.
• Furthermore, it is exempt from the International Contribution (Regulation) Act of 2010 and accepts contributions from overseas, despite the fact that the Centre has in the past declined international aid in the wake of disasters like the Kerala floods.
• The formal chair of the fund is the prime minister, who also has the power to suggest to the Board of Trustees three accomplished people in related fields.
• The Ministers of Defense, Home Affairs, and Finance are ex-officio Trustees of the Fund.
• Which issues is the PM-CARES Fund facing?
• disregards other monies, such as the National Disaster Response Fund and the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) (NDRF).
• There are questions about the legitimacy of the PM CARES Fund’s use of the title of prime minister, national symbols, the official PMO website (gov.in), tax exemptions through an order, etc. because it was not created in accordance with the Indian Constitution or any other law.
• Because the money it collects does not go to the Consolidated Fund of India, it is not audited by CAG, which raises concerns about accountability and transparency.
• The central government or any state governments have no control over how the trust is run.
• The PM CARES Fund might become a for-profit organisation if it is not connected to the government, which would prevent the prime minister and the three ministers from retaining their individual constitutional posts.
• The PM CARES Fund must be accessible in accordance with Section 2(f) of the RTI Act since the trustees are required by Section 19 of the Indian Trusts Act to give beneficiaries information on the trust property.
• According to the Thalappalam Service Coop. Bank Ltd. vs. State of Kerala case, a test for evaluating whether an organisation qualifies as a public authority for purposes of the RTI Act is whether the trustees have a significant amount of influence over it.
• The PMO must answer our inquiries about the fund because it is a public body as per the RTI.

Source – The Hindu

3 – About the Border Dispute between India and China

GS II

Topic – International Relations

• Context:
• Three months after their original meeting in New Delhi, Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi and the Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a joint press conference outside the G-20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Bali on Thursday. Even while there seemed to be good will during the hour-long conversations, tensions between Beijing and New Delhi rose in response to the Dalai Lama’s birthday wishes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at the Vivo headquarters in India.
• India and China share a boundary:
• India and China have had diplomatic ties for more than 2,000 years. Ancient antiquity saw the beginning of the two countries’ economic and cultural ties.
• Modern-day border disputes between China and India have sparked armed conflicts like the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the Chola Incident in 1967, the 1987 Sino-Indian War, and the 2020 India-China battle.
• Over the past ten years, the Line of Actual Control border standoffs have frequently put India and China’s relations under “severe stress.”
• The border dispute between China and India is mostly a result of:
• The 3,440 kilometre (2,100 mi) long boundary between the two countries, which is in dispute, is the cause of the issue.
• Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (formerly a part of UP), Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Union Territories of Ladakh are the four states that border China (formerly the state of Jammu & Kashmir).
• The Sino-Indian border is divided into three sectors, known as the Western, Middle, and Eastern sectors.
• Western Area:
• The western border between China and India stretches for around 2152 kilometres.
• It is positioned between the former state of Jammu and Kashmir and the union region of Ladakh in China, Xinjiang.
• The western sector’s territorial dispute is around Aksai Chin. China considers it to be a part of Xinjiang, whereas India asserts that it is a part of the erstwhile Kashmir territory.
• Because it was unable to draw a distinct border between the two countries, the British empire is held responsible for the conflict. During the period of British rule in India, two borderlines were suggested: Johnson’s line and McDonald line in 1865 and 1893, respectively.
• The Johnson Line demonstrates that Aksai Chin is in Ladakh and is under Indian rule, contrary to the McDonald Line’s assertion that it is under Chinese administration. India sees the Johnson Line as its legal border with China, while China sees the McDonald Line as its proper border with India.
• Conflicts between the Chinese and Indian troops have emerged from the overlapped region created by the opposing claims and interpretations of the LAC and the tiny zone that each side polices within it.
• Ladakh, under Indian administration, and Aksai Chin are currently separated by the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Aksai Chin claim line in China is paralleled by it.
• Central Area:
• In the middle sector, India and China share a boundary that is almost 625 kilometres long. The only area where the two countries disagree less is on this. The line spans from Ladakh to Nepal.
• Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand states in this area hug the borders with Tibet.
• Eastern Area:
• The 1140 km-long shared eastern boundary between China and India. The easternmost point of Bhutan marks the start of the McMahon Line, which divides Tibet, India, and Myanmar and stretches to a spot not far from the Talu Pass.
• A large portion of Arunachal Pradesh is seen by China as being a part of Southern Tibet.
• The McMahon line is viewed as unconstitutional in China. McMahon proposed the line in the Simla Accord in 1914 as the border between Tibet and India and between Tibet and China. The Chinese delegates present at the meeting initialled the agreement, but they later chose not to accept it.
• Conflict zones along the LAC include:
• China asserts its claim to Arunachal and almost 90,000 square kilometres of Indian territory in the northeast, whereas India maintains that 38,000 square kilometres of land in Chinese-occupied Aksai Chin should be part of Ladakh.
• There are several disputed areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including those in Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.

Source – The Indian Express

4 – Details of the Dragon Fruit Cultivation:

Prelims Specific Topic

• Context:
• Because of its numerous health benefits, dragon fruit is considered to as a “super fruit” and the Centre has decided to assist its cultivation. This choice is consistent with the policies of the Gujarat and Haryana governments. The Center thinks that given its affordability and the strong demand for it globally due to its nutritional advantages, the fruit’s cultivation in India can be boosted. Currently planted on 3,000 hectares, this exotic fruit will spread to 50,000 hectares in five years.
• Introduction:
• The dragon fruit originated in the Americas (Hylocereus undatus). It is a member of the cactus family.
• Additionally, it is known as “Pitaya,” “Pitahaya,” strawberry pear, noblewoman, and queen of the night internationally. In India, it is also known as “Kamalam.”
• It grows well in a range of climates and soil types, particularly in the semi-arid and arid regions of India.
• It prefers slightly acidic soil and can tolerate certain salts in the soil.
• India’s dragon fruit trees bloom and produce fruit during the monsoon season (June to November).
• Features:
• Its blossoms are naturally hermaphrodite and open at night (contain both male and female organs).
• The plant is useful for industries that add value through processing, has a yield that lasts for more than 20 years, and is rich in nutraceutical properties (which have therapeutic effects).
• Numerous vitamins and minerals are present.
• Indian favorability:
• In India, backyard gardens began to feature dragon fruit in the 1990s.
• Dragon fruits’ low maintenance needs and high profitability have attracted India’s farming population.
• Several north eastern states, as well as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, have seen a sharp increase in the cultivation of dragon fruit as a result.
• The country produces roughly 12,000 tonnes of the fruit annually.
• Related problems:
• High Cost: Because dragon fruit is a climber, farmers must spend roughly Rs. 3.5 lakh per acre on infrastructure.
• The initial investment’s cost is also increased by drip watering.
• difficulties with flowering Sunburn is a prevalent problem in semi-arid and dry regions, but it can be prevented by creating 25–30% shade, either by growing shade-producing trees (such moringa, sesbania, and Melia dubia) or by installing shade netting during the scorching summer.
• Government initiatives:
• The Maharashtra government has taken the initiative to promote the production of dragon fruit in various regions of the state through the Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture by offering premium planting supplies and financial aid for its growth (MIDH).
• The MIDH programme, which is centrally funded, aims to promote the horticulture sector in its entirety. This includes growing plants like bamboo, coconuts, cashews, roots and tubers, mushrooms, spices, flowers, and fragrant trees.
• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will put MIDH into place starting in 2014–15.

Source – The Hindu