GS 2
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
- Centre to fix jurisdiction of river boards
The issue in news
Apex council meeting involving the Centre, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Background:
- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have had differences between the sharing of water resources post the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh.
- The major point of difference between the two states is over the execution of irrigation projects and the sharing of water from the Krishna and Godavari rivers.
- There had been a similar apex council meeting called earlier in 2016 to address these differences.
Main points
- The key takeaways from the current apex council meeting include the following: o The Centre will determine the jurisdictions of the Krishna and Godavari river management boards (KRMB and GRMB).
- The two states would submit Detailed Project Reports (DPR) of new irrigation projects for appraisal and sanction by the apex council.
- The apex council would work towards establishing a mechanism to determine the share of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the Krishna and Godavari waters. The centre is expected to refer water sharing issues to the Krishna Godavari tribunal.
- The headquarters of the KRMB would be located in Andhra Pradesh.
Additional information:
- Article 262 of the Indian Constitution provides for the adjudication of inter-state water disputes. It allows the Parliament by law to provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley.
- Under this provision, the Parliament has enacted two laws i.e. the River Boards Act (1956) and the Inter-State Water Disputes Act 1956.
- The River Boards Act, 1956 provides for the establishment of river boards for the regulation and development of Inter-state River and river valleys. A river board is established by the Central government on the request of the state governments concerned.
- Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Pressure builds for ceasefire as Karabakh fighting rages
The issue in news
The Battle between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region has continued, with both sides vowing to pursue the conflict despite increasing international pressure for a ceasefire.
The battles mark an escalation of a long-simmering territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave that broke away from Azerbaijan in the 1990s.
Countries around the world are urging Turkey, a long-standing ally of Azerbaijan, to use its influence to restore peace in the region.
GS 3
Category: ECONOMY
- IMF chief says global economy less dire but long climb ahead
The issue in news
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva’s take on the global economic situation.
Background:
The IMF in its earlier June forecast had predicted that the pandemic and the associated shutdowns would shrink global GDP by 4.9%, making it the sharpest contraction since the 1930s Great Depression.
Main points
Positives:
- IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has stated that the global economic condition is looking ‘less dire’ than it did in June and the International Monetary Fund is expected to make an upward revision to its 2020 global output forecast in its forthcoming report.
- The $12 trillion in fiscal support, coupled with unprecedented monetary easing has allowed many advanced economies, including the United States and the eurozone, to limit the economic impact of the pandemic.
- Also another economic powerhouse, China also has recovered faster than expected.
Concerns:
- The economic recovery process is bound to take more time and effort and also the economic recovery process would be uneven and uncertain and prone to setbacks given the still-evolving scenario of the pandemic.
- Emerging markets and low-income countries face higher risks owing to their weak health systems, high external debt and dependency on sectors most exposed to the pandemic such as tourism and commodities as well as their relatively high external debt.
Additional information:
- As part of its World Economic and Financial Surveys, the IMF publishes the following flagship reports twice a year: World Economic Outlook, Global Financial Stability Report, and Fiscal Monitor.
- Govt. clears Rs. 11,000-cr. of PLI proposals by Samsung, others
The issue in news
The Ministry of Electronics and IT has approved 16 proposals by electronics manufacturers under its Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme.
Background:
For information on the provisions of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, refer to the following article:
Main points
- The approved firms include five international mobile phone makers and five domestic firms. Among the international firms approved, Foxconn Hon Hai, Wistron and Pegatron are contract manufacturers for Apple iPhones.
- Additionally, six proposals have been approved under the Specified Electronic Components Segment
Significance:
- The scheme by attracting global players into India is looking forward to building a strong ecosystem across the value chain and integrating India with the global value chains.
- This would allow India to emerge as an export hub of high-value electronic goods while at the same time decreasing its import dependence and better self-reliance in this emerging economic sector.
- The companies would bring additional investment in electronics manufacturing to the tune of Rs. 11,000 crore.
- The investment is expected to generate more than two lakh direct employment opportunities in the next five years, along with the creation of additional indirect employment of almost three times the direct employment.
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