UPSC QUIZ 27.01.2024

Explanation:

• The cancellation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA) registrations for two prominent non-governmental organisations (NGOs) - the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and World Vision India (WVI) - has sparked discussions about the regulatory landscape governing foreign contributions in India.

led to the Cancellation of the Registrations of CPR and WVI

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) accused CPR of redirecting foreign donations to support protests and legal challenges against development projects, claiming misuse of funds to impact India's economic interests.
• The allegation includes the violation of FCRA norms through the production of current affairs programs, citing CPR's report on air pollution as an example.
• The MHA asserts that publishing such programs with foreign funds contravenes Section 3 of the FCRA.
• Additionally, the registration of World Vision India was revoked for alleged FCRA violations spanning from 2012-13 to 2020-21.
• WVI is the recipient of the highest amount of foreign donations among all NGOs registered under the Act in 1986.

Explanation:

• Prime Minister (PM) of India has participated in Parakram Diwas (23rd January 2024) Celebrations at Red Fort to mark the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.The PM has also launched Bharat Parv (organised by the Ministry of Tourism), a nine-day event to showcase India's rich diversity and exhibit different cultures.
• On the Occasion of Parakram Diwas, the Centre has announced Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2024, to honor the invaluable contribution rendered by individuals and organisations in the field of Disaster Management.

Parakram Diwas

• Initiated in 2021, Parakram Diwas is an annual celebration in India commemorating the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
• The term "Parakram" translates to courage or valour in Hindi, reflecting the strong and courageous spirit of Netaji and those who fought for India's freedom.
• The celebrations typically include various events and activities that highlight the historical significance of Netaji's role in the freedom struggle.
• The comprehensive celebration is being organised by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with its allied institutions such as the Archaeological Survey of India, National School of Drama, Sahitya Akademi, and the National Archives of India.

Explanation:

• The central government directed the Manipur state government to investigate a proposal sent by the National President of the Republican Party of India in Manipur.
• The proposal has demanded the removal of some cookie and zomi tribes from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list.
• The move is taken after the ethnic conflict of the month between the Maetai people in the valley and the cookie-zo (ST) people in the hill.
• The struggle began with an order from the Manipur High Court, in which the state government was directed to recommend the central government to include the Mainitis in the Scheduled Tribes list.

The main point of the proposal

• It argued to include Meitei in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list demanding exclusion of some cookie and zomi tribes.
• This objected against the inclusion of three specific entries in Manipur's Scheduled Tribes list.
• Which includes any Mizo (Lushai) tribe, Zou (Zou) tribes and any Kuki tribe.
• The argument to exclude three tribes is that they are not 'indigenous' of Manipur.

Explanation:

• India's equity market capitalization has overtaken Hong Kong for the first time, making it the fourth largest globally. Favorable domestic development mobility with global capital flow has conducted India's market rally.

$ 4 trillion crossing milestone

• By January 23, the total assessment of companies listed on Indian stock exchanges reached 4.33 trillion dollars.
• It overtakes Hong Kong's $ 4.29 trillion market capitalization. Now only America, China and Japan have large equity markets. This feat shows India's rapid stock market expansion - its market capitalization doubled from $ 2 trillion in just four years.
• Strong participation and stable foreign flow of Indian retail investors has accelerated domestic stocks. Strong corporate income growth in post -epidemic conditions has also helped.
• In addition, India's stable political environment and reform-supporting policies have increased its appeal.

Explanation:

• The setting up of two coal gasification plants in West Bengal and Odisha approved by Cabinet.
• Coal India Limited (CIL) will set up two coal gasification plants with the aim of achieving the target of 100 MT coal gasification by the year 2030 and fulfilling India's twin objectives of self-reliance and energy independence.
• In the joint venture of CIL and GAIL, the total investment for the proposed coal-to-synthetic natural gas in the Sonpur Bazari area of Eastern Coalfields Limited in West Bengal will be Rs 13,52 crore.
• In the CIL and BHEL joint venture, the proposed coal-to-ammonium nitrate at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited in the Jharsuguda district of Odisha will be worth Rs 11,782 crore.
• These projects will be operational by 2028-29.
• The proposal for equity investment for setting up a coal-to-synthetic natural gas project through a joint venture between CIL and Gas Authority of India Limited(GAIL) has also been approved by the Center.
• The setting up of a coal-to-ammonium nitrate project through a joint venture between CIL and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited-BHEL has also been approved by the Centre.