UPSC EXAM QUIZ 20.12.2024

Explanation:

• Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed in the Lok Sabha. The Bill was passed five months after it was introduced on the floor of the House.

Main objectives of the Bill

• Simplification of legal framework: The Indian Railway Board Act, 1905 was merged with the Railways Act, 1989.
• Statutory backing to Railway Board: The Bill amends the Railways Act, 1989 to provide statutory backing to the Railway Board.The statutory powers are intended to enhance the functioning and independence of the Railway Board.
• Decentralisation of powers: Railways provides greater autonomy to zones to independently manage budget, infrastructure and recruitment.
• Establishment of Independent Regulator: An autonomous body has been set up to regulate tariffs, ensure safeguards and facilitate private sector participation.

Explanation:

• Jharkhand High Court has stayed the implementation of Jharkhand State Employment of Local Candidates in Private Sector Act, 2021, which mandated 75% reservation for local candidates in private sector jobs with salaries up to Rs 40,000.
• The law was brought to promote employment for locals but was criticised for violating constitutional principles.

Jharkhand High Court verdict on Employment of Locals in Private Sector Act

• Petition by small industries: Jharkhand Small Industries Association filed a petition challenging the law guaranteeing 75 per cent reservation to locals, arguing that it violates the principle of equality and freedom to carry on business. Advocates representing JSSIA argued that the Act unfairly divides local and non-local candidates, and limits employers' ability to hire freely. The petition cited the Punjab and Haryana High Court's quashing of the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020, which was struck down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court as a violation of constitutional rights.

Explanation:

• In recent years, the Arctic tundra's ability to lower carbon emissions and absorb more carbon has been under fire.
• A new analysis has confirmed that this ecosystem is now a source of CO2 and methane CH4 emissions.

Arctic Tundra

• The Arctic tundra is a snowy, treeless biome that has existed for thousands of years. It has played a vital role in storing carbon, a key factor in regulating Earth's climate.
• Scientists estimate that the soil of the Arctic tundra contains more than 1.6 trillion metric tons of carbon, more than twice the amount of carbon currently in Earth's atmosphere.

Explanation:

• The Indian Society for Quality (ISQ) presented Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw with the Jamsetji Tata Award.
• Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is chairperson of the Biocon Group.
• She has been given Jamsetji Tata Award in recognition of her leadership in the biosciences movement in India.
• At the ISQ Annual Conference 2024, which took place in Bengaluru, the award was presented.
• Janak Kumar Mehta, Chairman and Managing Director of TQM International and President of ISQ, presented the prize to Mazumdar-Shaw.
• In 2004, the Jamsetji Tata Award was established. It honours business leaders who have significantly impacted Indian society.

Explanation:

• An agreement signed between India and ISA for solar projects in four Indo-Pacific countries.
• The Ministry of External Affairs and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) signed a Project Implementation Agreement to execute new solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles.
• On September 21, the Wilmington Declaration issued at the Quad leaders' summit in Delaware, USA said that the Quad countries will work together through policy and public finance.
• This enables it to deliver on its commitment to catalyze complementary and high-standard private sector investment in collaborative and partner clean energy supply chains.
• For this purpose, India has committed to invest USD 2 million in new solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles.
• On November 26, a Project Implementation Agreement (PIA) was signed between the Ministry of External Affairs and ISA to implement the projects in these Indo-Pacific countries.
• As the project implementing agency, ISA will provide programmatic assistance to Comoros, Fiji, Madagascar and Seychelles with financial assistance from India.
• The successful implementation of these projects is expected to increase energy access, create employment and provide reliable and quality power supply in these Indo-Pacific countries.