Daily GS Mains Notes or Mains Content Enrichment
GS 2
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
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U.K. to suspend extradition treaty with Hong Kong
Why in news
Britain has announced that it would suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in an escalation of a dispute with China over its introduction of a national security law for the former British colony.
Strained UK-China ties:
- The new security law breaches the guarantees of freedoms, including an independent judiciary, that have helped keep Hong Kong one of the world’s most important trade and financial centres since 1997.
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered equipment from China’s Huawei Technologies to be purged completely from Britain’s 5G network by the end of 2027.
- UK became the fourth nation, after Canada, Australia and the United States, to revoke its extradition agreement with Hong Kong.
China’s Response:
- Officials in Hong Kong and Beijing have said the law is vital to plug gaps in national security exposed by recent pro-democracy and anti-China protests.
- China has repeatedly told Western powers to stop meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs. It has now accused Britain of pandering to the United States.
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Iran to continue work with India on Chabahar line: Railway chief
Why in news
In the latest twist to Iran’s Chabahar-Zahedan railway project, Iran’s Railway Minister has said that Iran and India are determined to continue cooperation on the railway line.
Details:
- “Considering the history of cooperation between the two countries and the existing potentials and capacities, Iran and India are determined to continue their cooperation in the field of rail transport, especially the Zahedan-Chabahar railway, because of the development of cooperation between the two countries in this area,” said the Iranian Railways head, after a meeting with Indian Ambassador to Iran.
- The remarks contradict Iranian officials who had previously said India was not a part of the project.
GS 3
Category: DEFENCE
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IAF to induct five Rafales on July 29
Why in news
Amid continuing tensions on the border with China, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is scheduled to induct the first batch of five Rafale fighter jets from France at the Air Force Station.
- Rafale is a twin-engine manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France. It is primarily used by the French Air Force. Rafale Fighter Jets will be operated by the Indian Air Force. A deal was signed for 36 Rafale Fighter Jets in 2016.
- It includes a package of spares and weapons including the highly acclaimed Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile (BVRAAM).
- The induction of Meteor Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile, widely recognised as a game-changer for air combat, Scalp long-range stand-off attack air to ground missile, and MICA multi-mission air-to-air missiles into the IAF’s inventory will give the force an edge in the neighbourhood.
- According to its manufacturer, Meteor has a no-escape zone many times greater than any other air-to-air missile.
- Apart from the Indian Airforce, Rafale has been chosen by the Egyptian Air Force and the Qatar Air Force.
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Warships meet U.S. strike group
Why in news
Naval ships conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the U.S. Navy’s USS Nimitz carrier strike group near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The exercise comes amid a high alert by the Navy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) due to the stand-off with China along the border in Ladakh.
PASSEX:
- PASSEX is a passage exercise. A passage exercise is normally conducted when there is an opportunity in contrast to pre-planned maritime drills.
Details:
- As part of this, four frontline naval ships, Shivalik, Sahyadri, Kamorta and Rana including a stealth corvette, teamed up with carrier USS Nimitz and three other U.S. ships in the eastern Indian Ocean near the islands. USS Nimitz is the U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carrier.
- The Indian Navy had conducted similar PASSEXs with the Japanese Navy and the French Navy in the recent past.
- The Navy is keeping a close watch on the movement in the IOR of Chinese naval ships, whose presence has gone up considerably over the years in the name of anti-piracy patrols. In 2017, China opened its first overseas military base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.
Category: ECONOMY
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Tough, new e-commerce rules kick in next week
Why in news
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 came into force on 20th July 2020.
Details:
- The Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020, which fall under the Consumer Protection Act, will be notified within a few days.
The Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020, under the Consumer Protection Act:
- The e-commerce portals will have to set up a robust consumer redressal mechanism as part of the rules under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and will have to provide every detail relating to return, refund, exchange, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, modes of payment, grievance redressal mechanism, payment methods, security of payment methods, charge-back options and so on.
- They will also have to mention the country of origin which is necessary for enabling the consumer to make an informed decision at the pre-purchase stage on its platform.
- The rules also prohibit the e-commerce companies from manipulating the price of the goods or services to gain unreasonable profit through unjustified prices.
- The sellers cannot refuse to take back goods or withdraw services or refuse refunds, if such goods or services are defective, deficient, delivered late, or if they do not meet the description on the platform.
- The e-commerce platforms also have to acknowledge the receipt of any consumer complaint within 48 hours and redress the complaint within one month from the date of receipt under this Act and will also have to appoint a grievance officer for consumer grievance redressal.
- These rules are mandatory and not merely advisories as issued earlier. This is the first time that such detailed rules have been published by the Government of India for e-commerce entities.
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India aims to pare PSU bank count to just five: sources
Why in news
India is looking to privatise more than half of its state-owned banks to reduce the number of government-owned lenders to just five as part of an overhaul of the banking industry.
Details:
- The Centre is working on a privatisation plan to help raise money by selling assets in non-core companies and sectors when the country is strapped for funds due to lack of economic growth caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. India expects bad loans at its banks to double after the crisis brought the economy to a standstill.
- According to officials, the first part of the plan would be to sell majority stakes in Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of Maharashtra and Punjab & Sind Bank, leading to an effective privatisation of these state-owned lenders.
- Several government panels and the RBI have recommended a maximum of five state-owned banks. At present, India has 12 state-owned banks.
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