MLC Daily Current Affairs – 31 Jan 2024

Today in History (January 31^st, 1966)

In 1966, the Soviet Union launched Luna 9, the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on the Moon.

Summary of Today’s News

Exercise Sada Tanseeq:

In a major boost of ties the militaries of India and Saudi Arabia are conducting their first Joint Military Exercise named as Sada Tanseeq.

• It is the inaugural edition of India-Saudi Arabia Joint Military Exercise ‘SADA TANSEEQ’ commenced at Mahajan, Rajasthan.
• Aim of the Exercise is to train troops of both sides for Joint Operations in Semi Desert terrain under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
• The Exercise will enable both the sides to share their best practices in the tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting operations in sub-conventional domain.

The anti-profiteering measures under GST

The Delhi High Court recently upheld the constitutional validity of anti-profiteering provisions in the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

What is anti-profiteering under GST?

• Any reduction in the GST rate or benefit of input tax credit should be passed on to the end consumer and not retained by the business. This is the basis of the anti-profiteering provisions under GST.
• Under anti-profiteering provisions, it’s illegal for a business to not pass on the benefits of the GST rate benefits to the end consumer, and thereby indulging in illegal profiteering.

Who regulates anti-profiteering under the GST?

• The Anti-Profiteering Rules, 2017prevents entities from making excessive profits due to the lowering of GST.
• The Government has created the National Anti-Profiteering Authority (NAA)to find and take action against taxable registered persons indulging in illegal profiteering.
• NAA has the power to determine the methodologies.

Ratle Hydro Electric Project:

The government recently announced diversion of Chenab river water through diversion tunnels to expedite the 850-MW Ratle Hydro Electric Project in Jammu & Kashmir.

Key points:

• It is an 850 MW run-of-river hydroelectric power project being built on the Chenab Riverin the Kishtwar District of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The project is being developed by Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation (RHPCL)

Key Points about Chenab River:

• It is a major river of India and Pakistan.
• Origin: It is formed by the confluence of two streams, Chandra and Bhaga, at Tandi in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti Districts of Himachal Pradesh.

• In its upper reaches, it is also known as the Chandrabhaga.
• It is a tributary of the Indus River.

Excessive Screen Time

During ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha 2024’ PM Cautions Students against Excessive Screen Time.

• Negative Impacts of Excessive Screen Time on Children
  • Cutting off Time for Physical Activities.
  • It leads the health issues like obesity, sleep disorders, and mental health conditions e.g. depression and anxiety.
  • Reduce Human Interactions,
  • It negatively impacts children’s cognitive development,
• Exposure to illicit and Harmful Content
  • g. Pornography, violent imagery, anonymous trolling, cyber frauds etc.
• Value Development:
  • Unsupervised screen time may lead to percolation of negative values like misogyny, bullying, self-harm etc.
• Developmental Problems:
  • Studies link excessive screen time with developmental delay, speech disorder, learning disability, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) etc.
• Positive uses for limited time:
  • e-books, play based learning apps, educational content on social media.

C-bot

• Goa-based National Institute of Oceanography has launched an autonomous underwater vehicle called C-bot.
• C- bot is a robot with advanced features for increased surveillance over coral reefs.
• It can travel to a depth of 200 metres underwater.
• It will help Indian Navy perform bathymetry studies (mapping of sea floor) to help plot navigation channels.

India’s demand for permanent membership of UNSC

Context: France reiterated its support for India’s permanent membership of United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

Key points:

• UNSC was established by UN Charter in 1945
• It is one of the six principal organs of UN. These are following

1. General Assembly.
2. Security Council.
3. Economic and Social Council.
4. Trusteeship Council.
5. International Court of Justice.
6. Secretariat.

• It has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
• UNSC is composed of 15 members: 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members.
• Each Member has one vote.
• Under UN Charter, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.
• Security Council has power to make binding decisions on member states.