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East Timor:11th member of ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed in principle to admit East Timor as the group’s 11th member, the 10 member-bloc said in a statement, more than a decade after the country requested membership.

Highlights:

The half-island nation, officially called Timor Leste, will also granted observer status at high-level ASEAN meetings.

The country is the first new member of the regional grouping in more than two decades, since Cambodia was admitted in 1999.

What is ASEAN?

Founded on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Its member states are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. East Timor was added as a new member of this regional grouping.

East Timor and ASEAN

East Timor started applying for ASEAN membership in 2011.

The ASEAN decided to admit the island nation as its 11th member more than a decade after Timor-Leste requested membership.

This decision was made at Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, where the 40th and 41st ASEAN and related summits officially began recently.

East Timor was granted observer status at ASEAN meetings, including summit plenaries, until it is formally inducted into the regional bloc.

About East Timor

East Timor province remained in Portuguese possession until 1975.

Timor Leste or East Timor is a half-island nation in the eastern Lesser Sunda Islands.

It is situated at the southern extreme of the Malay Archipelago.

It occupies the eastern half of the Island of Timor.

It is bounded by the Timor Sea to the southeast, the Wetar Strait to the north, the Ombai Strait to the northwest and the western Timor (part of Indonesian territory)

Read more .... https://iasnext.com/east-timor-11th-member-of-asean-current-affairs/

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Hot Springs and Gogra Post

After Chinese troops’ incursion in eastern Ladakh in 2020, Patrolling Point 15 (PP15) in Hot Springs and PP17A near Gogra Post were among the four friction points between the two armies, the other two being PP14 in Galwan Valley and the north bank of Pangong Tso.

In a major breakthrough, the Indian and Chinese sides have started disengaging at Patrolling Point (PP15) in the Gogra-Hot spring region of eastern Ladakh. This comes after the armies reached a consensus in the 16th round of the India-China Corps Commander level meet.

Location:

Gogra Post is east of the point where the Chang Chenmo river takes a hairpin bend coming southeast from Galwan Valley and turning southwest.

The area is north of the Karakoram Range of mountains, which lies north of the Pangong Tso lake, and south east of Galwan Valley.

Significance of Hot Springs and the Gogra Post:

The area is adjacent to Kongka Pass, one of the main passes that China claims marks the boundary between India and China.

India’s claim to the international boundary lies significantly east, covering the whole Aksai Chin region.

Hot Springs and Gogra Post are located at the boundary between two of China’s most historically troubled provinces (Xinjiang and Tibet).

What is the importance of Disengagement on Hot Springs and the Gogra Post?

The disengagement in the Hot springs-Gogra region will de-escalate the border tension with China as it officially ends the eye-to-eye confrontation at all new friction points created by the PLA in 2020.

The regions, PP15 and PP17A, are located in an area where India and China largely agree on the LAC alignment.

After the 2020 ingress, there was a significant build-up of the Chinese troops and deployment of heavy weapons in Hot springs-Gogra region

Kongka Pass Location:

Kongka Pass, also known as the Kongka La, is a low mountain pass that cuts through the Chang Chenmo Valley. It is located in Ladakh, on the disputed India-China border.

Galwan Valley Location:

The valley is strategically placed between Ladakh in the west and Aksai Chin in the east, both of which are currently under China’s control as part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Read more :... https://iasnext.com/hot-springs-and-gogra-post-upsc-current-affairs/

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बंगाल की खाड़ी में आज चक्रवाती तूफान ‘मोचा’ की आशंका

दक्षिण-पूर्व बंगाल की खाड़ी पर कम दबाव का क्षेत्र विकसित होने से 7 मई को चक्रवाती तूफान की संभावना बन रही है। यह वर्ष का पहला चक्रवात होगा। विश्व मौसम विज्ञान संगठन (डब्ल्यूएमओ) ने इस संभावित तूफान को ‘चक्रवात मोचा’ नाम दिया है। मोचा बंगाल के साथ ही समूचे उत्तर भारत के मौसम पर असर डालेगा और 9 से 12 मई के बीच तेज हवाओं के साथ बारिश होने की संभावना है। आईएमडी ग्लोबल फोरकास्ट सिस्टम (जीएफएस) मॉडल ने कहा है कि मोचा 12 मई तक उत्तर, उत्तर-पूर्व और पूर्व मध्य बंगाल की खाड़ी की ओर बढ़ेगा। मई 2020 में आए सुपर साइक्लोन अम्फान ने कोलकाता सहित लगभग पूरे दक्षिण बंगाल को तबाह कर दिया था।

चक्रवात बनने के लिए अनुकूल परिस्थितियां

विंडी डॉट कॉम ने बंगाल की खाड़ी में चक्रवात बनने के लिए परिस्थितियां अनुकूल बताई है।

बंगाल की खाड़ी के ऊपर उष्णकटिबंधीय चक्रवात की ताप क्षमता 100 किलोजूल प्रति वर्ग सेमी. (केजे/सेमी) से अधिक है। किलोजूल ऊर्जा मापने की एक इकाई है। यह ताप क्षमता समुद्र की ऊपरी परतों में जमा होने वाली ऊष्मा की मात्रा को इंगित करती है।

अध्ययनों के अनुसार 60 किलोजूल प्रति वर्ग सेमी. से ऊपर की ताप क्षमता उष्णकटिबंधीय चक्रवातों की तीव्रता को बढ़ा सकती है।

इस साल अल-नीनो के गर्म होने की संभावना

डब्ल्यूएमओ के अनुसार इस साल मई-जुलाई के दौरान अल-नीनो के विकसित होने की 60% संभावना है। यह जून-अगस्त में लगभग 70% और जुलाई-सितंबर के बीच 80% तक बढ़ जाएगा।

अल-नीनो औसतन हर 2 से 7 साल में होता है, जो 9 से 12 महीने रहता है।

पृथ्वी विज्ञान मंत्रालय के मुताबिक अल-नीनो की स्थितियां मानसून के दौरान विकसित हो सकती हैं और मानसून के दूसरे चरण में इसका असर महसूस हो सकता है। यह पूर्वानुमान कृषि क्षेत्र के लिए चिंता का सबब है।

Read more....

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East Timor:11th member of ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed in principle to admit East Timor as the group’s 11th member, the 10 member-bloc said in a statement, more than a decade after the country requested membership.

Highlights:

The half-island nation, officially called Timor Leste, will also granted observer status at high-level ASEAN meetings.

The country is the first new member of the regional grouping in more than two decades, since Cambodia was admitted in 1999.

What is ASEAN?

Founded on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Its member states are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. East Timor was added as a new member of this regional grouping.

East Timor and ASEAN

East Timor started applying for ASEAN membership in 2011.

The ASEAN decided to admit the island nation as its 11th member more than a decade after Timor-Leste requested membership.

This decision was made at Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, where the 40th and 41st ASEAN and related summits officially began recently...read more....

https://iasnext.com/east-timor-11th-member-of-asean-current-affairs/

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Wildfire breakout in Goa

A forest department probe into the bushfires that impacted an area of about 4 sq km in Goa in March concluded that the fires were largely triggered by natural causes.

74 fire incidents were reported in the first fortnight of March, out of which 32 fires affected 3 wildlife sanctuaries.

The inquiry report suggests that a conducive environment and extreme weather conditions like deficient rainfall in the preceding season, unusually high temperatures, low moisture and humidity led to the fires.

Conclusion – Prolonged dry spell, unprecedented high temperatures, and low humidity caused sporadic fire incidents in Goa.

Pattern – Incidents of forest fires in Goa during the summer have been more in the years following those of poor monsoon rain.

 A similar pattern has been seen in Karnataka as well.

Surface fires are common in moist deciduous forests of Goa but Goa does not experience crown fires which is caused by friction of trees.

An FSI study for the period 2004-21 has found that nearly 10.66% area under forests in India is ‘extremely’ to ‘very highly’ fire-prone.

Forest Fires

Wildfire is also called forest, bush or vegetation fire.

It can be described as any uncontrolled and non-prescribed combustion or burning of plants in a natural setting such as a forest, grassland, brush land or tundra.

Wildfire can be incited by human actions, such as land clearing, extreme drought or in rare cases by lightning

Types – There are 3 basic types of wildfires:

Crown fires burn trees up their entire length to the top. These are the most intense and dangerous wildland fires.

Surface fires burn only surface litter and duff. These are the easiest fires to put out and cause the least damage to the forest.

Ground fires (underground or subsurface fires) occur in deep accumulations of humus, peat and similar dead vegetation that become dry enough to burn. – Very difficult to fully put out.

Read more: https://iasnext.com/wildfire-breakout-in-goa-upsc-current-affairs/

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Hot Springs and Gogra Post

After Chinese troops’ incursion in eastern Ladakh in 2020, Patrolling Point 15 (PP15) in Hot Springs and PP17A near Gogra Post were among the four friction points between the two armies, the other two being PP14 in Galwan Valley and the north bank of Pangong Tso.

In a major breakthrough, the Indian and Chinese sides have started disengaging at Patrolling Point (PP15) in the Gogra-Hot spring region of eastern Ladakh. This comes after the armies reached a consensus in the 16th round of the India-China Corps Commander level meet.

Location:

Gogra Post is east of the point where the Chang Chenmo river takes a hairpin bend coming southeast from Galwan Valley and turning southwest.

The area is north of the Karakoram Range of mountains, which lies north of the Pangong Tso lake, and south east of Galwan Valley.

Significance of Hot Springs and the Gogra Post:

The area is adjacent to Kongka Pass, one of the main passes that China claims marks the boundary between India and China.

India’s claim to the international boundary lies significantly east, covering the whole Aksai Chin region.

Hot Springs and Gogra Post are located at the boundary between two of China’s most historically troubled provinces (Xinjiang and Tibet).

What is the importance of Disengagement on Hot Springs and the Gogra Post?

The disengagement in the Hot springs-Gogra region will de-escalate the border tension with China as it officially ends the eye-to-eye confrontation at all new friction points created by the PLA in 2020.

The regions, PP15 and PP17A, are located in an area where India and China largely agree on the LAC alignment.

After the 2020 ingress, there was a significant build-up of the Chinese troops and deployment of heavy weapons in Hot springs-Gogra region

Kongka Pass Location:

Kongka Pass, also known as the Kongka La, is a low mountain pass that cuts through the Chang Chenmo Valley. It is located in Ladakh, on the disputed India-China border.

Read more: https://iasnext.com/hot-springs-and-gogra-post-upsc-current-affairs/

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India’s G-20 Presidency

 the 17th annual summit of G-20 was hosted by the Indonesian G20 presidency in Bali under the theme ‘Recover Together, Recover Stronger’.

Now, India has assumed the charge of the G20 presidency and the 18th summit will be held in India in 2023.

What is G20?

It is an informal group:19 countries and the European Union, with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The G20 Presidency rotates annually.

Every year the G20 selects a country from another group to be president.

The G20 does not have a permanent secretariat or Headquarters.

What are the current issues?

Developing countries: are facing an extended, multi-faceted shock of great magnitude

Increased poverty

Worsening of social indicators and inequality.

The UN says: the world is off track on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Climate-change disasters and conflicts.

Ukraine-Russia war

Food, fuel and fertilizer crisis

Inflation-recession.

Terrorism persists: the zero-tolerance stance and counterterrorism focus of the international community seems diluted.

Thematic priorities of India’s G20 presidency:

Accelerating progress on SDGs

Technological transformation and digital public infrastructure

Accelerated, inclusive and resilient growth

Lifestyle for environment (LiFE), green development and climate finance

Finding solutions for the “3 Fs: food, fuel and fertilizer-related crisis.

Women-led development and multilateral institutions for the 21st century

What steps India can take?

Previous summits: India can build on the decisions and mechanisms of previous summits.

Mobilizing global solidarity for solutions to pressing problems of humanity.

India’s multi-alignment can be leveraged to bridge systemic and ideological differences and spark a “mindset change”.

India can drive consensus on key reforms of the UN, World Bank, IMF etc.

How can G20 help to furnish these objectives?

G20 could adopt actionable norms and policies

Grow data and knowledge hubs and best practices

Launch mechanisms for financing and implementation

Advocacy campaigns

Impactful programmes on the ground — individually, collectively and for the benefit of the Global South.

Read more:https://iasnext.com/indias-g-20-presidency-current-affairs/

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TOP PCS-J COACHING

If you’re preparing for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or the Provincial Civil Service-Judicial (PCSJ) exams, you’re likely aware of the importance of high-quality coaching in helping you achieve your goals. One such coaching institute that has been gaining a reputation for excellence in Lucknow is IAS NEXT.

Located in the heart of the city, IAS NEXT offers comprehensive coaching for aspirants of the IAS, PCSJ, and other competitive exams. With a team of experienced faculty members who are experts in their respective fields, IAS NEXT is committed to providing its students with the best possible guidance and support to help them succeed.

One of the key features of IAS NEXT is its focus on personalized coaching. The institute offers small batch sizes to ensure that each student receives individual attention and is able to clear their doubts and queries effectively. This personalized approach to coaching has helped IAS NEXT achieve an impressive track record of success, with many of its students going on to crack the IAS and PCSJ exams.

Another unique feature of IAS NEXT is its emphasis on technology-enabled learning. The institute uses state-of-the-art technology and teaching methods to make learning more engaging, interactive, and effective. From online classes to video lectures, IAS NEXT leverages technology to provide students with a dynamic and immersive learning experience.

In addition to its coaching programs, IAS NEXT also offers a range of other services to support students in their exam preparation journey. These include mock tests, study materials, and regular feedback and evaluation to help students track their progress and identify areas for improvement.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for the best law and PCSJ coaching in Lucknow, IAS NEXT is definitely worth considering. With its experienced faculty, personalized coaching, and focus on technology-enabled learning, IAS NEXT has established itself as a leading coaching institute in the region. Whether you’re an aspiring IAS officer or a PCSJ aspirant, IAS NEXT can help you achieve your goals and realize your dreams.

Read more: https://iasnext.com/top-pcs-j-coaching-in-lucknow/

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Makhana (Fox Nuts)

Makhana (Fox Nuts) is a type of seed derived from the Euryale ferox plant. They’re also sometimes referred to as fox nuts or lotus seeds. Makhanas are widely cultivated throughout Asia and often used in traditional forms of medicine to treat various conditions.

Makhanas also called fox nuts, or lotus seeds, which grows in the stagnant water of wetlands or ponds in Eastern Asia.

Production Statistics of Makhana (Fox Nuts):

Who are the top 3 producers of Makhana (Fox Nuts) in the World?

India is one of the world’s largest and highest-quality makhana producers. Makhana has long been a component of Indian vegetarian food. Makhana is also grown in Korea, Japan and Russia. It comes from the lotus seeds.

Which city is famous for makhana?

Approximately 3000 MT of makhana is traded annually in the district of Katihar and about 3500 MT in Purnia of Bihar State of India. Katihar town and Kada Gola are the two important markets in district Katihar, while Harda, Sapni, Khushkibagh, Belauri and Gulabbagh are important markets in district Purnia.

Read more: https://iasnext.com/makhana-or-fox-nuts-upsc-current-affairs/

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Wassenaar Arrangement

India will assume the chairmanship of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), a multilateral technology control agreement, on 1 January 2023, for a period of one year.

India joined the Wassenaar Arrangement, a multilateral export control regime, in 2017 and became its 42nd member.

About :

The Wassenaar Arrangement is an elite club of countries that subscribe to arms export controls, similar to the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Missile Technology Control Regiment.

It was established in the year 1996.

The founding document of the Wassenaar Arrangement is also known as Initial Elements.

The elements that contribute to the Wassenaar Arrangement’s Approach include:

Control Lists

Procedures for the General Information Exchange

Procedures for the exchange of Information of arms

Meetings and administration

Participation

Procedures for the Exchange of Information on Dual-Use Goods and Technology and confidentiality. 

Read more: https://iasnext.com/wassenaar-arrangement-current-affairs/

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Yuan Wang 5

China’s satellite tracking vessel Yuan Wang 5 has arrived at Sri Lanka’s southern Hambantota Port, despite India and the U.S. voicing concern with Colombo over the military ship’s visit.

In a recent incident on November 2022, another vessel ‘Yuan Wang 6’ had entered the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) coinciding with a planned Indian missile launch, but the launch was then deferred.

Hambantota Port:

Hambantota International Port Group is a Public Private Partnership and a Strategic Development Project between the Government of Sri Lanka and China Merchants Port Holdings (CMPort).

Why is China’s Presence in Sri Lanka a Concern for India?

Recently, China’s presence in Sri Lanka has increased on a large scale.

China is the largest bilateral creditor to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka heavily relies on Chinese credit to address its foreign debt burden.

China has invested about USD 12 billion in Sri Lanka’s infrastructure projects between 2006-19.

China enjoys friendlier waters in South Asia and the Indian Ocean than it does in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Challenges in front India:

Sri Lanka has decided to establish a Special Economic Zone around the Colombo port city and a new economic commission, to be funded by China.

The Colombo port handles 60% of India’s trans-shipment cargo.

Leasing of Hambantota and the Colombo Port City project makes it almost certain for the Chinese navy to have a permanent presence in the Indian Ocean which will be worrisome for India’s national security.

This Chinese strategy to encircle India is referred to as the Strings of Pearls Strategy.

Other South Asian nations like Bangladesh, Nepal and the Maldives have also been turning to China to finance large-scale infrastructure projects.

Rehttps://iasnext.com/yuan-wang-5-current-affairs/ad more:

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International North – South Transport Corridor

The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) recently began. It started off with the two containers that journeyed from Russia to India via Iran.

International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC)

It is a 7,200 km-long multimodal transportation network encompassing sea, road, and rail routes to offer the shortest route of connectivity.

It was established on 12th September 2000 in St. Petersburg, by Iran, Russia and India 

It links the Indian Ocean to the Caspian Sea via the Persian Gulf onwards into Russia and Northern Europe.

Freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.

Origin: 

The legal framework for the INSTC is provided by a trilateral agreement signed by India, Iran and Russia at the Euro-Asian Conference on Transport in 2000. 

What is the aim ?

To reduce the carriage cost between India and Russia by about 30% and reduce the transit time from 40 days by more than half.

The corridor is expected to consolidate the emergingTrade facilitation

Read more: https://iasnext.com/international-north-south-transport-corridor-current-affairs/

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India – Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership

 India and Australia decided to strengthen their partnership in the field of projects and supply chains for critical minerals. Australia confirmed that it would commit USD 5.8 million to the three-year India-Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership.

What are critical minerals?

Critical minerals are elements that are the building blocks of essential modern-day technologies, and are at risk of supply chain disruptions.

These minerals are now used everywhere from making mobile phones, computers to batteries, electric vehicles and green technologies like solar panels and wind turbines.

Different nations develop their own lists based on their own requirements and strategic considerations.

How important is the resource?

Transition to clean energy and the digital economy.

 Supply shock can seriously jeopardise the economy and strategic independence 

Hostile governments or politically unstable regions

 For minerals like lithium and graphite used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, demand will rise by up to 4,000%.

What is the Significance of India Australia Partnership?

Reduction in Emissions & Essential Demand: Australia has the resources to help India fulfil its ambitions to lower emissions and meet the growing demand for critical minerals to help India’s space and defence industries, and the manufacture of solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles.

Expanding Global Trade: India’s strong interest and support for a bilateral partnership will help advance critical minerals projects in Australia while diversifying global supply chains.

The Path to Achieve Clean Energy: India is among the fastest-growing economies in the world and there is huge scope for collaboration in the mineral sector. Technology transfer, knowledge-sharing and investment in critical minerals like lithium and cobalt are strategic to achieving clean energy ambitions.

Read more : https://iasnext.com/india-australia-critical-minerals-investment-partnership-current-affairs/

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Friendshoring

In her visit to India last week, US secretary of treasury Janet Yellen reiterated her country’s stance of pushing for “friendshoring” to diversify away from countries that present geopolitical risk.

What is Friend shoring strategy?

Friend-shoring means encouraging companies to shift manufacturing away from authoritarian states and toward allies.

What are the objectives?

 The idea of ‘friend-shoring’ supply chains is gaining purchase among economic policymakers concerned about relying on geopolitical competitors for accessing critical materials and technologies.

What are the benefits?

Friend-shoring is about deepening relationships and diversifying our supply chains with a greater number of trusted trading partners to lower risks for our economy and theirs.

It will also encourage domestic production, which could substitute for imports.

What are the Impacts for ‘Freindshoring’?

It would reduce overdependence on countries which could pose a security risk and are a single source of critical inputs and raw materials.

However, limiting the trade of key inputs to trusted countries could reverse the gains of globalization.

Read more : https://iasnext.com/friendshoring-current-affairs/

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Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) recently unveiled a new logo on the occasion of its 35th anniversary.

About SEBI

SEBI has been successful in its functions:

Function: Example of SEBI’s success

Protection of investors’ interests: SEBI has taken action against fraudulent collective investment schemes  to protect investors’ interests e.g., Action against the Sahara group (2013)

Impressive rise: Assets under the management of mutual funds, the total number of dematerialized accounts, dematerialized turnover, the number of derivatives contracts, etc, have all grown exponentially.

The smooth functioning of the securities market: SEBI has introduced online trading platforms and electronic clearing services

Regulation of securities market operations:  SEBI has introduced regulations for insider trading, delisting of securities, and disclosure and investor protection guidelines

Education of investors: SEBI‘s ‘Jan Jagruti Abhiyaan’ to educate investors about the securities market and their rights as investors.

Prohibition of fraudulent and unfair trade practices: SEBI has taken action against market manipulations and price rigging. In 2015, SEBI ordered a probe into suspected rigging of the National Stock Exchange’s (NSE) algo-trading systems and imposed a penalty of Rs 1,000 crore on NSE for its role in the co-location case.

Ensuring compliance by market participants: In 2018, SEBI fined ICICI Bank and its CEO Chanda Kochhar for violating disclosure norms related to a loan given to Videocon Group.

Tackling insider trading: In 2017, SEBI imposed a penalty on Reliance Industries for alleged insider trading in Reliance Petroleum shares in 2007.

Limitations of SEBI

SEBI has certain limitations in terms of its reach, enforcement powers, coordination with other regulatory bodies, resources, and keeping up with changing market dynamics. These limitations can create regulatory gaps and overlaps, leading to delays in the resolution of cases.

Examples

SEBI’s alleged inaction in the Ketan Parekh scam and Satyam scandal

SEBI’s inability to prevent the NSEL scam

Failure of SEBI’s regulations to prevent the misuse of participatory notes (P-notes) by foreign investors

Conclusion:

There is a need for continuous monitoring and improving market intelligence to strengthen enforcement. Also, India’s financial markets are still segmented, and a unified financial regulator may be required to remove overlaps and excluded boundaries.

Read more: https://iasnext.com/securities-and-exchange-board-of-india-sebi-upsc-current-affairs/

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International Labour Day

Labor Day is celebrated every year on 1 May. The day is observed as an occasion to commemorate the contributions of labourers and the working class. The International Labour Organization, a United Nations agency, works towards setting international labour standards.

An Overview of the News

It is known as International Workers’ Day. It is observed as a public holiday in more than 80 countries around the world.

Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September in many countries, including the United States. However, in most parts of the world it is celebrated on May 1st.

The purpose of Labor Day is to acknowledge the contribution of working individuals to society and to recognize the importance of work. It commemorates the steps taken by the labour movement to fight for workers’ rights and improve working conditions.

History of Labor Day 2023

Labor Day, also known as International Workers’ Day or May Day, is celebrated every year on 1 May.

The origins of Labor Day can be traced to the labour movement of the late 19th century.

The First International Congress of Socialist Parties, held in Paris in 1889, proclaimed 1 May as the “Workers’ Day of International Unity and Solidarity”.

The purpose of the day was to draw attention to the labour movement and promote the idea of an eight-hour working day, a key demand of labour advocates around the world.

However, the first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on the first Monday of September in 1882 and the day was used to promote the interests of trade unions and workers.

May Day in the United States is associated with negative events following the Haymarket Riot in Chicago in 1886, a protest against police violence and the wrongful conviction of labour activists.

May Day’s association with communism also contributed to opposition to the holiday in some countries, including the United States.

Despite this, May Day remains an important Labor Day for workers and labour advocates around the world, and is celebrated with rallies, marches, and other events.

India

The first Labour’s Day was celebrated in 1923 in Chennai. This day was observed by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan.

On this day, communist leader MalayapuramSingaraveluChettiar asked the government that 1st May should be considered as a national holiday to symbolise the efforts and work of the workers.

This day is also known as Kamgar Divas, Kamgar Din and AntarrashtriyaShramik Divas in India.

Read more: https://iasnext.com/international-labour-day-upsc-current-affairs/

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The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

Why in news?

India has an estimated 70 million PWDs, making it one of the larger disabled populations globally, however, the country only has 100 lawyers per lakh and only a few among them specialise in disability law.

What is the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 about?

India’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016 is a vital law that intends to secure and advance the rights of persons with disabilities.

The Act replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.

UNCRPD – It fulfils the obligations to the United National Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which India is a signatory.

According to the law, disability has been based on an evolving and dynamic concept.

Features

The types of disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to 21 and the Central Government will have the power to add more types of disabilities.

The 21 disabilities are given below:-

Physical Disability – Locomotor Disability; Leprosy Cured Person; Cerebral Palsy; Dwarfism; Muscular Dystrophy; Acid Attack Victims; Visual Impairment (Blindness; Low Vision); Hearing Impairment (Deaf; Hard of Hearing); Speech and Language Disability.

Intellectual Disability – Specific Learning Disabilities; Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Mental Behaviour – Mental Illness

Disability caused due to – Chronic Neurological Conditions (Multiple Sclerosis; Parkinson’s disease); Blood Disorder (Haemophilia; Thalassemia; Sickle Cell Disease) and other Multiple Disabilities.

Persons with benchmark disabilities are defined as those certified to have at least 40% of the disabilities specified above.

Rights and entitlements

Reservation – In higher education (not less than 5%), government jobs (not less than 4 %), reservation in allocation of land, poverty alleviation schemes (5% allotment) etc. have been provided.

Government funded/recognized educational institutions will have to provide inclusive education to the children with disabilities.

Free education – Every child with benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years shall have the right to free education.

Read more: https://iasnext.com/the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-act-2016-upsc-current-affairs/