Prelim Bits 26-04-2024 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Childcare Leave

The Supreme Court recently said that two-year childcare leave, apart from mandatory maternity leave of 180 days is a constitutional right for woman employees.

Shalini Dharmani's plea –She told the court that she has exhausted her leaves and that the Himachal Pradesh govt had refused to grant her childcare leave as the state service rules do not have a provision akin to Section 43-C of the Central Civil Service (Leave) Rules.

Section 43-C of the Central Civil Service (Leave) Rules, 2010

• It allows women employees
  • To take childcare leave of 730 days till their disabled children attain 22 years of age, and
  • Women with normal child can avail till the kids reach 18 years of age.

Supreme Court’s recent judgment

• Participation of women in the workforce is not a privilege but a constitutional mandate.
• The bench directed the Himachal Pradesh govt to forthwith constitute a high-level committee to reconsider the entire issue of child care leave to women employees.
• It asked the committee to engage with Union ministries concerned and file a report, recommending appropriate policy decision on inserting child care leave for women in the state service rules, before the court by July 31.
   

References

1. Times of India | Childcare leave for women
2. NDTV | Childcare Leave for Women Is A Constitutional Mandate

Climate Strategy 2030

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) unveiled the Climate Strategy 2030 document on Earth Day recently.

India’s Green Financing Gap

• India requires approximately $170 billion annually to reach a cumulative total of over $2.5 trillion by 2030 for green financing.
• As of 2019-20, India garnered about $49 billion in green financing, with the majority of funds earmarked for mitigation.
• Only $5 billion was allocated towards adaptation and resilience, reflecting the minimal private sector engagement in these areas due to challenges in bankability and commercial viability.

NABARD's Climate Strategy 2030

• Aim - To address India’s need for green financing.
• Key pillars
  • Accelerating green lending across sectors,
  • Playing a broader market-making role,
  • Internal green transformation and
  • Strategic resource mobilisation.
• The initiative reinforces NABARD’s commitment to environmental stewardship and positions it as a pivotal player in India’s transition towards a resilient and sustainable economy.

Reference

The Hindu | Climate Strategy 2030

Mission ISHAN (One Nation, One Airspace)

India has kickstarted the process of unifying its 4 airspace regions into one spanning the entire nation.

• Currently, Indian airspace is divided into 4 flight information regions (FIRs) - Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai and a sub-FIR at Guwahati, each managed separately.
• ISHAN - Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management at Nagpur.
• Aim – All coordination for domestic flights flying in upper airspace (above 25,000 ft) will be handled by air traffic controllers (ATCOs) in Nagpur.
• It is expected to make air traffic operations more efficient, safer and seamless, enabling it to handle more capacity.
• The move is also expected to benefit the passengers by reducing congestion and flying times.
• FIRs are controlled by a single authority, which is responsible for providing air traffic services as well as alerting services.
• The air traffic controllers (ATCOs) in every region would only be required to guide the flights approaching or taking off from an airport until they enter the upper space.
• Benefits
  • Flexibility in flight routes
  • Reduced Travel time
  • Lower fuel consumption
  • Reduce carbon footprint

References

1. The Print | Mission ISHAN
2. WIONews | ‘One nation, one airspace’

Omorgus Moreshwar

Scientist Dr Aparna Sureshchandra Kalawate recently introduced a new species of beetles named Omorgus (Afromorgus) Moreshwar.

• The species is named after the Moreshwar temple, an ashtavinayak pilgrimage site in Pune.
• Family - The new beetle belonged to the subgenus Afromorgus of the Trogidae family, which now had 10 species from India.
• The new species of beetles is extremely rare and can be found only during monsoon.
• Prey - The beetle is necrophagous (fed on dead bodies) in the last stages of decomposition and also called keratin beetle.
• The beetle is important for forensic science as it helps detect the time of death of an animal or human.
• Characteristics - The beetles of this group are sometimes called ‘hide beetles’ as they tend to cover their body under the soil and hide.
• They are not photogenic, beetles are usually black or grey and encrusted in dirt.
• Appearance - Their bumpy appearance is distinct, with short, dense setae all over the body.
• After an organism died, blowflies were amongst the first to arrive in the early stages of decomposition.
• The final stage saw the arrival of the newly discovered beetle which fed on the corpse.

References

1. Times of India | Rare Species of Beetle Discovered In Pune
2. Hindustan Times | Newly discovered beetle species
3. The Indian Express | Pune scientist discovers beetle species

 World Energy Congress & World Energy Council

India is showcasing its innovative technologies and power generation practices, at the 26^th World Energy Congress, being held in Rotterdam, Netherlands recently.

About 26^th World Energy Congress

• The 26^th World Energy Congress is expected to be a critical turning point for leadership on clean and inclusive energy transitions worldwide.
• Theme- ‘Redesigning Energy for People and Planet’.
• Co-hosted by - The World Energy Council and the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
•  This edition celebrates 100 years since the Council’s formation and the 1^st World Energy Congress.
• The Congress seeks to explore the role of connected energy societies in driving forward global energy transitions in a world context.
• The World Energy Congress is the world’s longest-established energy event, having shaped the global energy agenda for a century.
• It enables the highest levels of government-to-government dialogue and unites businesses and communities of all shapes and sizes.

About World Energy Council India

• World Energy Council (WEC) is a global body established in 1923, with the aim of promoting sustainable supply and use of energy.
• Headquarters - London.
• The idea for the foundation of the Council came from Daniel Nicol Dunlop in the 1920s.
• It is an UN-accredited global energy body that has convened diverse interests from across the full energy ecosystem for a century.
• It has over 3,000 member organisations and a presence in nearly 100 countries.
• WEC India is one of the earliest country members of World Energy Council, having joined the Council in 1924.
• WEC India functions under the patronage of Ministry of Power, Government of India and with the support of the Ministries of Coal, New & Renewable Energy, Petroleum & Natural Gas and External Affairs.

References

1. PIB | India at World Energy Congress 2024
2. World Energy Congress | About