Factly :-News Articles For UPSC Prelims | Feb 11, 2021

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List of Today’s Factly Articles

1. “Foundational Abilities” of children lost due to closure of schools
2. TIFAC launches SAKSHAM Portal and Seaweed Mission
3. US decides to rejoin “UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)”
4. Centre’s Powers under “Section 69A of IT Act”
5. Tapovan Vishnugad Hydropower Project
6. Low conviction rate under “Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act” (UAPA)
7. “INS Viraat” – SC ordered a status quo on dismantling
   

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“Foundational Abilities” of children lost due to closure of schools

What is the News?

Azim Premji University(APU) has released a study titled “loss of learning during COVID Pandemic”.

About the study:

• Focus: The study looked at the impacts of the closure of schools during COVID, on the students. It especially focussed on the students from lower classes.
• Coverage: The study was conducted on primary school children between Classes II and VI in the Government schools. It was done across five States, i.e. Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand.

Key Findings:

• Children not only missed out on the curricular learning of regular schools but are also ‘forgetting’ what they had learned in previous years.
• On average, 92% of students from Classes II to VI have lost at least one specific foundational ability in languages that they may have acquired in previous years. The corresponding figure for mathematics is 82%.

What are Foundational Abilities?

• Foundational abilities are those that form the basis for further learning. Some examples of foundational abilities include reading a paragraph with comprehension, addition, and subtraction.
• According to researchers, a grasp of foundational abilities forms the basis of a student’s further learning in all subjects.

Source: The Hindu

TIFAC launches SAKSHAM Portal and Seaweed Mission

What is the news?

Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) celebrated its 34th Foundation Day. The theme of the Foundation day was: “Technology, Innovation and Economy for Atma Nirbhar Bharat”.

About TIFAC:

1. It is an autonomous technology think tank under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology. It was set up in 1988.
2. Mandate: TIFAC identifies the technological priorities of the future like cyber-physical systems, quantum computing, green chemistry and water.
3. TIFAC launched 2 initiatives: 1) SAKSHAM Portal, 2)  Seaweed Mission

SAKSHAM Portal:

• Need of the Portal: The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled the labour force to return to their native lands due to loss of jobs.
• Aim: It is a dynamic job portal for mapping the skills of Shramiks (labour) vis-à-vis requirements of the MSMEs across the country.
• Features of the Portal:
  • This portal will facilitate placement of 10 lakh blue-collar jobs by directly connecting Shramiks with MSMEs.
  • It will help eliminate middlemen/ labour contractors. It will also help in the identification of skill proficiency level and development of Skill Cards for Shramik.
  • Likewise, it will also reduce the hardship of Shramiks(labour) in finding jobs in nearby MSMEs.

Seaweed Mission:

Click Here to Read about Seaweed

• Why was this mission launched? Out of the global seaweed production, China produces 57%, Indonesia 28%. Whereas, India is having a mere share of 0.01-0.02%.
• Purpose: Under the mission, TIFAC will demonstrate a model for commercial farming of seaweeds, and it’s processing for value addition. It will boost the national economy.
• Benefits of Cultivating Seaweed:
  • It is estimated that if seaweed cultivation is done in 10 million hectares or 5% of the EEZ area of India, it can provide employment to 50 million people.
  • Additional benefits of Seaweed cultivation;
    • Improves national GDP;
    • improves ocean productivity;
    • Reduce algal blooms and sequester millions of tons of CO2;
    • Create a healthier ocean and can also use to produce bioethanol.

Source: PIB

US decides to rejoin “UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)”

What is the News?
The US President has decided to rejoin the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The moves come after the former US President had withdrawn from the global body three years ago.

Facts:

 United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

1. The UNHRC is a United Nations body established in 2006. It replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
2. Aim: To promote and protect human rights around the globe. Apart from that, the UNHRC also investigate alleged human rights violations in countries.
3. Members: The council has 47 members elected for a 3-year term. 5 Regional groups elect these 47 members.
   • Five regional groups for membership: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Europe and Eastern Europe.
4. Duration: The members are elected for a period of three years. Each member can hold office for a maximum of two consecutive terms.
5. Meeting: The members meet around three times a year to debate human rights issues. In addition to that, the commission also passes non-binding resolutions and recommendations by majority vote.
6. Working: The UNHRC works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR). The commission also engages in the UN’s special procedures.
   • UN’s Special Procedures of Human Rights Council: These are independent human rights experts. They have the mandate to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective.
7. Universal Periodic Review(UPR): The council also carries out the Universal Periodic Review of all UN member states. This allows civil society groups to bring accusations of human rights violations in member states to the attention of the UN.
8. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
9. Resolutions: The UNHRC resolutions are not legally binding but carry moral significance.

Source: The Hindu

Centre’s Powers under “Section 69A of IT Act”

What is the News?
The Government of India has asked Twitter to follow Indian laws. The government has also expressed disappointment over partial compliance with its orders.

What was the issue?

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) ordered Twitter to block several Twitter accounts for posing a threat to law and order. The order was issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology(IT) Act.
• On this, Twitter blocked several accounts. But very soon it reactivated several of them citing free speech and because it found the content newsworthy.

Government’s response:

• The government has said that Twitter was free to formulate its own rules and guidelines. But the Indian laws which are enacted by the Parliament must be followed irrespective of Twitter’s own rules.
• On free speech, the government has said that freedom of speech and expression is provided under Article 19 (1) of the Constitution of India.
• However, freedom of expression is not absolute, and it is subject to reasonable restrictions as mentioned in Article 19 (2) of the Constitution of India.

Section 69A of the Information Technology(IT) Act:

• When was it introduced? Section 69A of the IT Act was introduced by an amendment to the Act in 2008.
• Powers: It allows the government to block public access to any intermediary in the interest of
  • Sovereignty and integrity of India
  • Defence of India
  • Security of the state
  • Friendly relations with the foreign States or
  • Public order or
  • Preventing incitement of any cognisable offence relative to the above.
• Intermediaries: The intermediaries under the Act include; telecommunication companies, internet service providers, network operators, web-hosting services, search engines, payment gateways and other relevant portals and services.
• Procedure: Section 69A provides the government with the power to block public access. But the procedure to do that is listed in the IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.
• Penal Provisions: The Act says prescribes punishment for any intermediary (internet platform) for failure to comply with the government direction. Punishment can be imprisonment for up to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.

Source: The Hindu

Tapovan Vishnugad Hydropower Project

What is the News?

The rescue operations are still undergoing in Uttarakhand from a Tapovam tunnel located at the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydro project.

 Facts:

• Tapovan Vishnugad Hydropower Plant is a 520 MW run-of-river hydroelectric project(See image). It was constructed by National Thermal Power Corporation Limited(NTPC) on Dhauliganga River in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand.

• The power plant is located on the downstream on the Alaknanda River (one of the two headstreams of the Ganges).
• Damaged: It was severely damaged in February 2021 due to flash flood caused by Uttarakhand glacier burst.

Read more about Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)

 Source: The Hindu

Low conviction rate under “Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act” (UAPA)

What is the news?

Union Home Ministry has informed Rajya Sabha about the cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Sedition(Section-124A).

Cases under UAPA:

• Between 2016 and 2019, the total number of the persons arrested and convicted in the country under UAPA were 5,922 and 132 respectively. This means only 2.2 % of cases registered under the Act ended in convictions by the court.
• The NCRB does not maintain this data on the basis of religion, race, caste or gender.

Cases under Sedition:

• In 2019, as many as 96 persons were arrested for sedition (Section 124A IPC) but only two were convicted and 29 persons were acquitted.
• The most cases of sedition in 2019 were registered in the States of Karnataka followed by Assam and J&K & Ladakh.

Click Here to Read about Sedition

 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,1967:

• It is primarily an anti-terror law – aimed at more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations and for dealing with terrorist activities.
• It was promulgated in 1967 to target secessionist organisations. It is considered to be the predecessor of laws such as the (now repealed) Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and Prevention of Terrorism Act(POTA).

Key Provisions of the Act:

• The Act assigns absolute power to the central government. It can declare an activity as unlawful, by way of an Official Gazette.
• The act has the death penalty and life imprisonment as the highest punishments.
• Under the act, both Indian and foreign nationals can be charged. It will be applicable to the offenders in the same manner, even if the crime is committed on a foreign land, outside India.
• The investigating agency can file a charge sheet in maximum 180 days after the arrests. This duration can be extended further after information to the court.

2004 amendment:

• The act was amended in 2004. It added “terrorist act” to the list of offences, to ban organisations for terrorist activities.
• Till 2004, “unlawful” activities referred to actions related to secession and cession of territory. Following the 2004 amendment, “terrorist act” was added to the list of offences.

2019 amendment:

• The amendment empowers the Central Government to designate individuals as terrorists on certain grounds.
• It empowers the Director-General, National Investigation Agency (NIA) to grant approval of seizure or attachment of property when the case is under investigation by the agency.
• It also empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above to investigate cases of terrorism in addition to those conducted by the DSP or ACP or above rank officer in the state.

Source: The Hindu

“INS Viraat” – SC ordered a status quo on dismantling

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has ordered status quo on the dismantling of the Navy’s aircraft carrier, INS Viraat. The Navy decommissioned INS Viraat from service in 2017.

Facts:

 What is the issue?

• “The decision to dismantle INS Viraat was taken after holding due consultation with the Indian Navy,” said the Government in the Parliament in 2019.
• However, a firm (Envitech Marine Consultants Pvt. Ltd) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court. The firm seeks to convert INS Viraat into a maritime museum and a multi-functional adventure centre.
• So, the apex court has issued notice to the Centre and others. In that notice, the court sought their responses on a plea filed by the firm. Apart from that, the court ordered status quo on the dismantling of the INS Viraat.

INS Viraat:

• INS Viraat is a Centaur class aircraft carrier. It had served in the British Navy as HMS Hermes for 25 years (from 1959 to 1984). After refurbishment, it was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1987.
• Motto: Its motto was (in Sanskrit) – “Jalamev Yasya Balmev Tasya” (One who controls the sea is all-powerful).
• Achievements:
  • It played an important role in Operation Jupiter in 1989 during the Sri Lankan Peacekeeping operation. In the operation, the ship sent Indian peacekeeping forces to Sri Lanka
  • The ship also performed blockading Pakistani ports, primarily the Karachi port as part of 1999’s Operation Vijay
  • It was also deployed in Operation Parakram during 2001-02 following the terror attack on the Indian Parliament.
  • The ship is nicknamed as the “Grand Old Lady“
  • The ship has also participated in various international joint exercises. Like Malabar (with US Navy), Varuna (with French Navy), Naseem-Al-Bahr (with Oman Navy) and has been an integral element of annual Theater Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX).
  • It is the longest-serving warship in the world. The ship also holds a Guinness Book of World Records for the same.
• Decommissioned in: The aircraft was decommissioned in March 2017.
• INS Viraat is the second aircraft carrier to be dismantled in India. In 2014, INS Vikrant was dismantled in Mumbai.

Source: The Hindu