Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti
Context :
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti is celebrated on 19 February. He was an embodiment of courage, compassion and good governance. His life continues to motivate millions. The year 2020 marks the 390th birth anniversary of great Maratha warrior Shivaji.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj :
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a valorous warrior and an outstanding administrator. He was born 19 February 1630, at Shivneri Fort. He built a strong navy to usher several pro-people policies. He opposed injustice and intimidation. In 1664, he sacked the Mughal trading port of Surat. In June 1665, Shivaji and Raja Jai Singh I signed the Treaty of Purandar. In October 1670, he harassed the British forces at Bombay for their support of the Mughals. He fell ill and died on 3 April 1680 at Raigad.
Events :
- Shivaji Jayanti is celebrated as a public holiday in Maharashtra.
- The day is celebrated on a grand scale in the state.
- The celebration was first started in 1870 in Pune by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. He discovered the tomb of Shivaji Maharaj on Raigad.
Source : the hindu
Lithium reserve of 14,100 tonnes found in Mandya, Bengaluru
Context :
Researchers at the Atomic Minerals Directorate has estimated lithium reserves of 14,100 tonnes in a patch of land surveyed in Mandya, Bengaluru. Lithium is a rare metal and is critical for manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles.
Highlights :
- The traces that were recently found in Mandya is a small amount when compared to major producers like Chile, Australia, Argentina, and Portugal.
- The data provided by the researchers include a total estimation of available Li2O as about 30,300 tonnes over an area of 0.5 km x 5 km. The area works out to about 14,100 tonnes of lithium metal.
- India’s need for Lithium:
- India requires lithium for its energy needs as the GoI is promoting clean-energy vehicles in India.
- India has imported lithium batteries worth $1.2 billion in fiscal 2019, against $384 million in FY17.
Pakistan successfully tested Ra’ad-II cruise missile
Context :
Pakistan successfully flight tested the air-launched nuclear-capable cruise missile Ra’ad-II. The test aimed to boost the military’s deterrence capability on land and at sea. The Ra’ad-II missile is an attempt to match India’s BrahMos cruise missile
Ra’ad-II missile :
- The range of Ra’ad-II missile is 600 km. This range can enhance air delivered strategic standoff capability on land and at sea.
- This missile will be attached to Mirage aircraft or F-16 fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force.
- In January 2020, Pakistan successfully conducted a training launch of surface-to-surface ballistic missile Ghaznavi. The missile was capable of delivering multiple types of warheads up to a range of 290 km.
Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC)
Context :
Sanjay Kothari, Secretary to the President of India, will be the next Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC).
The post of CVC has been vacant since June 2019.
About CVC :
It is the apex vigilance institution created via executive resolution (based on the recommendations of Santhanam committee) in 1964 but was conferred with statutory status in 2003.
It submits its report to the President of India.The Commission was set up on the recommendation of the K.Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption.
Appointment :
They are appointed by the President of India on the recommendations of a committee consisting of Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (if there is no LoP then the leader of the single largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha).
Term:
Their term is 4 years or 65 years, whichever is earlier.
Removal:
The Central Vigilance Commissioner or any Vigilance Commissioner can be removed from his office only by order of the President on the ground of proved misbehavior or incapacity after the Supreme Court, on a reference made to it by the President, has, on inquiry, reported that the Central Vigilance Commissioner or any Vigilance Commissioner, as the case may be, ought to be removed.
Sources: pib.
National Statistical Commission
Context :
Recently the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the draft National Statistical Commission (NSC) Bill in public domain for feedback.
- The Bill seeks to establish NSC as the nodal, autonomous and statutory body for all core statistical activities. It also proposes the NSC to be a body corporate. The current body lacks statutory backing.
- Formation: The Government of India through a resolution dated 1st June, 2005 set up the National Statistical Commission (NSC), on the recommendations of the Rangarajan Commission, which reviewed the Indian Statistical System in 2001.
- Present Status of the NSC :
- Composition : It has a part-time Chairperson, 4 part-time Members and an ex-officio Member, each having specialization and experience in specified statistical fields.
- The Chief Statistician of India is the Secretary of the Commission.
- He is also the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- Mandate: To evolve policies, priorities and standards in statistical matters.
- To improve the data quality in the statistical products and processes and work closely with the statistical agencies in the central and state government to ensure its implementation.
- The NSC is a recommending body that helps the national statistical system in evolving better strategies to improve the functioning of the system.
Source: PIB
UIDAI seeks proof of citizenship
In news :
- Resident of Hyderabad was reportedly asked to prove his Indian citizenship by the Unique Identification Authority of India move to the High Court
- UIDAI in a release has said that Aadhaar has got nothing to do with citizenship.
- People had obtained Aadhaar on false pretences because they were found to be illegal immigrants. Such Aadhaar numbers are liable to cancellation.
Unique Identification Authority of India :
- statutory authority established under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Aadhaar Act 2016)
- Initially set up by the Government of India under the aegis of the Planning Commission
- UIDAI is mandated to assign a 12-digit unique identification (UID) number (Aadhaar) to all the residents of India.