UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 23-01-2021

Section 32A of IBC

• The Supreme Court upheld the validity of Section 32 A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
• [The protection to successful bidders and the assets of a corporate debtor are provided by the rules under Section 32A of the IBC.]
• It held that the successful bidders for a corporate debtor under the IBC would be immune from any investigations being conducted by investigating agencies or other statutory bodies.
• The court said that it was important for the IBC to attract bidders who would offer fair and reasonable value for the corporate debtor to ensure timely completion of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP).
• However, it also said that such immunity would be applicable only if there is an approved resolution plan, and a change in the management control of the corporate debtor.
• To know more about Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, click here.

Smart Anti Airfield Weapon

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW).
• SAAW is indigenously designed and developed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI) Hyderabad.
• It is a high precision guided bomb that is light weight as compared to weapon system of the same class.
• This 125 Kg class smart weapon is capable of engaging ground enemy airfield assets up to a range of 100 kms.

India Innovation Index Report 2020

• Initiated by NITI Aayog in 2019, this report is on the lines of the Global Innovation Index (GII), which ranks countries annually.
• The indicators include the level and quality of education, number of highly skilled professionals, investment in R&D, FDI inflows, internet subscribers, number of patents and trademark applications filed, etc.,
• Innovation Index is divided in to three categories—major states, Union Territories, and hill and North East states.
  1. Karnataka is ranked the most innovative among major states.
  2. Delhi topped the category among Union Territories.
  3. Delhi stood out as the top performer among both states and UTs.
  4. Amongst North East and hill states, Himachal Pradesh topped.
• The findings of the report pointed out that there is a North-South divide, with the southern states having fared much better.

Risa

• Tripura Chief Minister has made it his style statement to sport the Risa, a customary hand-woven cloth used by Tripura’s tribal communities.
• The customary Tripuri female attire has three parts - Risa, Rignai and Rikutu.
• Risa is used as a head gear, stole, female upper cloth or presented to honour a distinguished recipient.
• Adolescent Tripuri girls are first given risa to wear in an event called Risa Sormani. The event involves prayers to a Lampra god.
• Rignai is primarily used to cover lower part of the body.
• Rituku covers the upper half of the body, wrapping it all around.
• It is also used to cover the head of newly married Tripuri women.

PMKVY 3.0

• The third phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 3.0) was launched for the period of 2020-2021.
• It would make skill development more demand-driven and decentralised in its approach, with focus on digital technology and Industry 4.0 skills.
• It will be implemented in a more decentralized structure with greater responsibilities and support from states/UTs and districts.
• District Skill Committees, under the guidance of State Skill Development Missions, will play a key role in addressing the skill gap and assessing demand at the district level.
• PMKVY 3.0 will be more trainee-centric and learner-centric.
• It will be a propagator of vocational education at an early level for youth to capitalize on industry-linked opportunities.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana

• It is the India's largest outcome based skill certification scheme.
• It is implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
• It would enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood.
• Individuals with prior learning experience or skills will be assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
• Training and Assessment fees are completely paid by the Government.

Management Effectiveness Evaluation

• Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of 146 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across 29 states and Union territories was done by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary and Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Himachal Pradesh have performed the best among the surveyed protected areas.
• The Turtle Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh was the worst performer.

Protected Areas

• India has systematically designated its Protected Areas in four legal categories under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Four categories are National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves.
• India has a network of 903 formally designated Protected Areas covering about 5% of its total geographic area of the country.
• Among these are 101 National Parks, 553 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 86 Conservation Reserves and 163 Community Reserves.

Great Himalayan National Park

• Established in 1984, it was formally declared as a National Park in 1999.
• It is located in the Kullu region of Himachal Pradesh at an altitude between 1500 and 6000 m.
• The flora and fauna species here are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972; hence any sort of hunting is not permitted.
• In 2010, both the Sainj and Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuaries were added to GHNP.
• In 2014, GHNP was added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites under the criteria of ‘outstanding significance for biodiversity conservation’.

Source: AIR, PIB, Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Hindu, Business Line, Down To Earth, Business Standard