Adoption of Children

• District Magistrates (DM) have been empowered to give adoption orders instead of courts.
• The Parliament passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021 in order to amend the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act), 2015.
• The key changes include authorizing District Magistrates and Additional District Magistrates to issue adoption orders under Section 61 of the JJ Act by striking out the word “court”.
• This was done “in order to ensure speedy disposal of cases and enhance accountability,” according to a government statement.
• The District Magistrates have also been empowered under the Act to inspect child care institutions as well as evaluate the functioning of district child protection units, child welfare committees, juvenile justice boards, specialised juvenile police units, child care institutions etc.
• The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) says there are nearly 1,000 adoption cases pending before various courts in the country.
• Adoptions in India are governed by two laws the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 (HAMA) and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
• Both laws have their separate eligibility criteria for adoptive parents.

Suresh Prabhu Committee

• The National Level Committee was recently constituted under the Chairmanship of former Union Cabinet Minister, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu.
• The committee was mandated to draft a national cooperative policy document.
• The existing National Policy on Cooperatives, was formulated in 2002 with the objectives of facilitating all round development of cooperatives.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems

• E-cigarettes, e-hookahs, e-pipes, vapes and vape pens are some examples of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products.
• They are electric devices that produce an aerosol made by heating a liquid, usually containing nicotine, flavourings and other chemicals.
• While ENDS were originally marketed to help smokers quit the habit or as a safer alternative to cigarettes they have become very popular among young people, often attracting non-smokers as well.
• The US Centre for Disease Control claims that while e-cigarettes have the potential to help adult smokers if used as a complete substitute for regular cigarettes, they can still cause harm.
• In September 2019 the Indian government banned the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of all ENDS. As per the law, Juul and all other e-cigarettes are currently banned in India.
• The government claimed that the ban would help “protect the population”, especially the youth and children, from the risk of addiction through e-cigarettes.
• A report by Prescient and Strategic Intelligence in July 2019, months before ENDS were banned in India, showed a thriving e-cigarette market in the country.
• So, despite a formal ban, e-cigarettes and vapes are available at cigarette shops and various online marketplaces.

Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities’ (2019-2024)

• It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India with support UNDP.
• The 6-year project ‘Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities’ (2019-2024).
• The project will shift the paradigm towards a new approach integrating ecosystem-centred and community-based approaches to adaptation into coastal management.
• The project will invest in ecological infrastructure to buffer against climate-induced hazards, especially storm surges, supporting climate-resilient coastal livelihoods. 
• The project will contribute towards the achievement of climate priorities outlined in India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008), the State Action Plans, as well as commitments outlined in India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (2015). 

EU-India green hydrogen forum

• The recent event was organized jointly by the Delegation of the European Union and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, in cooperation with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Hydrogen Europe.
• The event brought together EU-India businesses to discuss possible joint projects on green hydrogen.
• The Forum provides a platform for the exchange of best practices, policy frameworks and production and application technologies for renewable hydrogen as well as opportunities for EU-India cooperation in this area. 
• The forum also looks into the potential for international hydrogen trade, the role of international standards, including sustainable transportation.
• It also provides for the legal requirements for the certification of renewable hydrogen and research and innovation. 
• Also India has a favourable geographic location and abundance of sunlight and wind for the production of green hydrogen.
• India has already announced its National Hydrogen Mission last year, where the EU launched the European Hydrogen Strategy in 2020.
• India aims at becoming a net exporter of green hydrogen by 2030 due to its cheap renewable energy tariffs.