Prelim Bits 21-08-2017

UJALA Scheme

• Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs and appliances for All (UJALA) is a flagship scheme of Ministry of Power for distribution of energy efficient appliance.
• Its main objective is to promote efficient lighting, enhance awareness on using efficient equipment which reduce electricity bills and help preserve environment.
• Under this scheme, LED bulbs at 40% of the market price will be distributed to every grid connected consumer.
• It is implemented by the Electricity Distribution Company and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).
• Recently, a MoU was signed between EESL with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) under the Ministry of Petroleum.

Temporary Custom Union

• After Brexit, the transition proposal was put by the British Government.
• The British government wants to remain part of the “EU customs union” for a number of years, while still being able to negotiate trade deals with countries such as India.
• Customs union is the third stage in the degree of economic integration.
• A Preferential trade area (1^st stage) is a trading bloc which gives preferential access to certain products from certain countries by reducing tariffs.
• A Free trade area is a designated group of countries that have agreed to eliminate tariffs, quotas and preferences on most traded goods between them.
• A Customs Union is a free trade area with a common external tariff. Participant countries set up common external trade policy, but in some cases they use different import quotas.
• A Common Market is a Customs Union with common policies on product regulation and freedom of movement of all the three factors of production (land, capital and labour) and of enterprise.
• Economic and Monetary Union is a single market with a common currency.
• Complete economic integration is the final stage of economic integration. The countries in the bloc have no or negligible control of economic policy.

Pangong Tso Lake

• The lake is situated in Jammu and Kashmir at a height of about 4,350 m in the Himalayas.
• It is 134 km long and extends from India to China.
• It is in disputed territory and the Sino-India Line of Actual Control passes through the lake.
• It is not a part of Indus river basin area and geographically a separate land locked river basin.

Buddhist Statue in Ghantasala

• The government has cleared the proposal of developing Ghantasala village in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh as one of the prime Buddhist tourist spots.
• 70ft Buddha Statue in Mahaparinirvana posture will be built and the theme of the tourist spot is also based on it.
• In Buddhism, Mahaparinirvana denotes the enlightenment of Buddha.
• Enlightenment in Buddhism means the ultimate state of everlasting, highest peace and happiness entered by an awakened being (Buddha).
• Ghantasala, known as Katakasila in the ancient times, was a renowned Buddhist centre located near the coast.

Sea Guardian Drones

• The US decision to sell 22 Sea Guardian drones to India will create around 2,000 jobs in the US.
• It is viewed as a significant step in cementing Indo-US defence bilateral ties.

Election Commission

• The EC has proposed an amendment to the laws to allow election petition to be filed against all candidates who contested in case of malpractices being reported.
• Currently Election petitions can only be filed against winning candidate and even if a defeated candidate has indulged in malpractices there is no way of questioning.
• The consequence of petitions filed even against defeated candidates is that anyone found guilty of corrupt practice, there could be further disqualification for six years.
• Click here to know more about Election Commission.