UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

It was the first flight which uses  100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It travelled from a  London-to-New York on Tuesday. It was a Virgin Atlantic Flight (  Boeing 787 )  manufactured by Boeing.  For this journey, t wo types of fuels were used in which 88% derived from waste fats and the rest from the wastes of corn production in the US. F light was approved by UK regulator the Civil Aviation Authority earlier this month after detailed evaluation. It was a collaborative effort of different companies including  Rolls-Royce and BP. It is to be noted that  Airlines have previously   flown on a blend of up to 50% of alternative fuels, called sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are  defined as renewable or waste-derived aviation fuels that meets sustainability criteria .  Technical analysis done at ICAO shows  that SAF has the greatest potential to reduce CO 2  emissions from Internationa...

The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27 closed today with a breakthrough agreement to provide “loss and damage” funding for vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters. Governments took the ground-breaking decision to establish new funding arrangements, as well as a dedicated fund, to assist developing countries in responding to loss and damage. Governments also agreed to establish a ‘transitional committee’ to make recommendations on how to operationalize both the new funding arrangements and the fund at COP28 next year. The first meeting of the transitional committee is expected to take place before the end of March 2023. Parties also agreed on the institutional arrangements to operationalize the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage , to catalyze technical assistance to developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. COP27 saw significant progress on adaptation, with governments agreeing on the way to move forward on t...

Relevance:  In an unusual occurrence, ‘melanistic’ pelicans sighted in Pallikaranai marshland - The Hindu Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae Genus: Pelecanus Species: P. occidentalis IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a bird of the pelican family, Pelecanidae, one of three species found in the Americas and one of two that feed by diving into water. It is found on the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to the mouth of the Amazon River, and along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. The nominate subspecies in its breeding plumage has a white head with a yellowish wash on the crown. The nape and neck are dark maroon–brown. The upper sides of the neck have white lines along the base of the gular pouch, and the lower fore neck has a pale yellowish patch. The male and female are similar, but the female is slightly sm...

E-commerce platforms urged to implement appropriate mechanisms to prevent the sale of acid in violation to mandatory requirements Measures may include taking separate undertaking from seller, mandating upload of Photo ID, recording purpose of procuring acid before purchase Posted On: 29 NOV 2023 6:17PM by PIB Delhi The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), headed by Chief Commissioner, Mrs. Nidhi Khare, has issued Safety Notice under Section 18(2)(j) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (‘the Act’) to alert consumers against purchase of acid on e-commerce platforms. CCPA, being the watchdog of consumer interest in India, has come across the sale of highly corrosive acids on e-commerce platforms. Availability of hazardous acids in such a freewheeling and easily accessible manner can be dangerous and unsafe for consumers and to public at large. Consumer safety is among the preambular objectives of the Act. ‘Consumer rights’ as defined under Section 2(9) of the Act, include the ri...

In a historic development, the Government of India and Government of Manipur signed a Peace Agreement with United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the oldest valley-based armed group of Manipur in New Delhi. First time a valley-based Manipuri armed group has agreed to return to mainstream by abjuring violence and agreeing to honour the Constitution of India and laws of the land. In a historic development, the Government of India and Government of Manipur signed a Peace Agreement with United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the oldest valley-based armed group of Manipur in New Delhi today. The UNLF was formed in 1964 and has been operating both within and outside Indian Territory. The agreement is poised to give a fillip to usher in a new era of peace in the North East in general and Manipur in particular. Brief Background to Conflict in Manipur: One fourth of Manipur (which is the valley), is home to more than seventy per cent of its population which predominantly consists of the cul...

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) with total outlay of Rs.24,104 crore (Central Share:Rs.15,336 crore and State Share: Rs.8,768 crore) to focus on 11 critical interventions through 9 line Ministries.  The Prime Minister announced the Abhiyan on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas from Khunti. As announced in the Budget Speech 2023-24, “to improve socio-economic conditions of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), Pradhan Mantri PVTG of Development Mission will be launched.  This will saturate PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.  An amount of Rs.15,000 crore will be made available to implement the Mission in the next three years under the Development Action Plan for ...

Posted On: 29 NOV 2023 2:26PM by PIB Delhi The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) as, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) from 01.04.2023 to 31.03.2026 with financial implication of Rs. 1952.23 crore (Rs. 1207.24 crore as Central Share and Rs. 744.99 crore as State share). Central Share is to be funded from Nirbhaya Fund. The Scheme was launched on 02.10.2019. The government's unwavering priority towards ensuring the safety and security of women and children is evident through several initiatives, such as the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' programme.  Incidents involving the rape of girl child and women have deeply impacted the nation. The frequency of such incidents and the prolonged trials of offenders necessitated the establishment of a dedicated court system capable of expediting trials and delivering immediate relief to victims of sexual offenses. Consequently, the Central Governmen...

Posted On: 29 NOV 2023 2:29PM by PIB Delhi The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Terms of Reference for the Sixteenth Finance Commission. The Terms of Reference for the Sixteenth Finance Commission will be notified in due course of time. The 16th Finance Commission’s recommendations, upon the acceptance by the government, would cover the period of five (5) years commencing April 1, 2026. Article 280(1) of the Constitutions lays down that the modalities for setting up of a Finance Commission to make recommendation on the distribution of net proceeds of taxes between the Union and the States, allocation between the States of respective shares of such proceeds; grants- in-aid and the revenues of the States and measures needed to supplement the resources of the Panchayats during the award period.  The Fifteenth Finance Commission was constituted on November 27, 2017. It made recommendations covering the period of six years commencing on 1s...