UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

 A satellite tagged vulture, which went missing from Nepal was rescued in Darbhanga in Bihar earlier this month. It belongs to critically endangered white-rumped vulture species. It was used by Nepal to monitor the population of the species and the success of breeding drive. India has nine species of vultures in the wild. These are the Oriental White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Slender billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris), Long billed Vulture (Gyps indicus), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Red Headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), Indian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis), Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) and Bearded Vulture or Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus). The population of three species i.e. White-backed Vulture, Slender billed Vulture and Long billed Vulture in the wild has declined drastically over the past decade. The decline of Gyps genus in India has been put at 97% by 2005. Because of the evidence of widespread and rapid...

Recently,  The Union Government  has put on hold a proposal to change the procedure for scheduling new communities as Scheduled Tribes ( The Hindu ) . The criteria and procedure followed for inclusion of a community/ caste in the list of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes are as Under:- (i)  Criteria Scheduled Castes(SCs):- Extreme social, educational and economic backwardness arising out of traditional practice of untouchability. Scheduled Tribes(STs):- Indication of primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with community at large and backwardness. Other Backward Classes (OBCs):- Social, educational, economic backwardness and inadequate representation in the Central Government posts and services. (iii)  Procedure:- SCs and STs are specified under the provisions of Articles 341 & 342 of the Constitution of India respectively. Further, Government has laid down Modalities in June, 1999, as amended...

India wins the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Vice Presidency and Strategic Management Board (SMB) Chair for the 2023-25 term. By securing over 90% of the votes cast by full members of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) during its General Meeting held recently in San Francisco, USA, India’s representative, a member of the Indian National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and various technical committees of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS-India), was elected. Representation of BIS (India) in policy and governance bodies of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and IEC ensures that Indian viewpoints on the important strategic and policy matters are put forth and it also provides opportunities to align the national standardization priorities with International best practices. BIS is continually expanding its international footprints by working on the growth mantra provided by the Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and I...

The Central Government, on the recommendations of the Goods and Services Tax Council empowered the Competition Commission of India to examine whether input tax credits availed by any registered person or the reduction in the tax rate have actually resulted in a commensurate reduction in the price of the goods or services or both supplied by him. The decision comes at a time when the constitutional validity of NAA have been questioned in the Delhi High Court. The NAA was set up for two years till November 2019 but it was extended till November 2021. The GST Council, in its 45th meeting in September last year, gave another one-year extension till November 30, 2022, to NAA and also decided to shift the work to CCI after that. https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/cci-to-start-looking-into-anti-profiteering-steps-under-gst-from-next-month-122112400331_1.html https://www.cbic.gov.in/resources//htdocs-cbec/gst/23_2022_CT_Eng.pdf About  Competition Commis...

It was created as per the provisions of   THE COMPETITION ACT, 2002 ( Art. 7 to 40 ). Composition of Commission.— (1) The Commission shall consist of a Chairperson and not less than two and not more than six other Members to be appointed by the Central Government.  (2) The Chairperson and every other Member shall be a person of ability, integrity and standing and who has special knowledge of, and such professional experience of not less than fifteen years in, international trade, economics, business, commerce, law, finance, accountancy, management, industry, public affairs or competition matters, including competition law and policy, which in the opinion of the Central Government, may be useful to the Commission.  (3) The Chairperson and other Members shall be whole-time Members. Selection Committee for Chairperson and Members of Commission.— (1) The Chairperson and other Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Central Government from a panel of names rec...