Honey GS Academy Current Affairs Summary (Feb 18-20)

Honey GS Academy Current Affairs Summary (February 18-20)

Important Days

February 20: World Day of Social Justice (Theme: "Bridging Gaps, Building Alliances").

The theme emphasizes strengthening social justice for a sustainable future. Group 2 exams may include questions linked to subject matter, like social justice (Polity), wetlands (Environment), and malaria (Science & Technology).

Polity

Appointment of New Chief Election Commissioner (CEC): Gyanesh Kumar appointed. Also, Vivek Joshi appointed as an Election Commissioner.
Details on the New Election Commissioners Act
- Constitutional Basis: Article 324(2) of the Indian Constitution: $Article\ 324(2)$ empowers Parliament to make laws regarding the appointment and service conditions of Election Commissioners.
- 1991 Act: Parliament enacted a law in 1991 concerning service conditions (removal, salaries, pension, term), *but not appointments*.
- 2023 Supreme Court Case (Anoop Baranwal vs. Union of India): The Supreme Court, noting the absence of a law on appointments, issued guidelines. It mandated a selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and Chief Justice of India (CJI) to recommend appointments to the President. It also recommended equal removal procedures for the CEC and ECs.
- 2023 Act (Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023): This Act overrides the Supreme Court's ruling. It replaces the CJI with a Union Cabinet Minister in the selection committee.
  - Selection Committee: Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister.
  - Search Committee: Headed by the Law Minister, it proposes five names to the Selection Committee.
  - Term: 6 years, or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier. *Crucially, the combined term as EC and CEC cannot exceed 6 years.*
  - Re-appointment: *Not eligible for reappointment.*
  - Salary: Equivalent to a Supreme Court Judge.
  - Removal: CEC removed like a Supreme Court Judge; ECs removed only on the recommendation of the CEC.
  - The selection committee can consider names beyond those suggested by the search committee, and meetings don't require all three members to be physically present. Recommendations remain valid even with vacancies.
- The Supreme Court is currently hearing a challenge to this new law.
New Chief Minister of Delhi: Rekha Gupta (18th woman Chief Minister in India, and 4th woman CM of Delhi). Constituency: Shalimar Bagh. Delhi's cabinet has a maximum of 7 ministers (10% of the 70 assembly seats). Oath administered by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.

Economy

PM-ASHA Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan): Launched in 2018 to support crops not covered by Minimum Support Price (MSP), extended to 2025-26. Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, state governments, NAFED, and NCCF. Very Important

Components of PM-ASHA

Price Support Scheme (PSS): NAFED and NCCF procure pulses, oilseeds, and copra at MSP.
Price Stabilization Fund (PSF): Provides interest-free loans to FCI and NAFED to procure and sell pulses, onions, and potatoes at affordable prices during periods of high inflation or shortages. This creates a buffer stock.
Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): The government pays the difference between the MSP and the market price to farmers. This can be represented as: $$ \text{Payment} = \text{MSP} - \text{Market Price} $$

Market Intervention Scheme (MIS): For tomatoes, onions, and potatoes (TOP crops) where MSP is not applicable. Implemented when prices fall by at least 10% compared to the previous market season. Procurement is limited to 25% of the crop (increased from 20%). The scheme is implemented with state government support, with a cost-sharing ratio. The cost sharing ration is presented below:

Region	Central Government Share	State Government Share
General States	50%	50%
North-Eastern States	75%	25%

Insurance Sector Review: Dinesh Khara Committee appointed.

Space

ISRO Solid Fuel Processing: Vertical Planetary Mixer, the world's largest with a 10-ton capacity, developed at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre with assistance from CMTI, Bengaluru. Important

Support for Private Space Startups: Financial assistance through the Technology Adoption Fund (TAF). The funding is structured as follows:

Entity Type	Funding (% of Project Cost)	Maximum Funding (₹ Crores)
Startups/MSMEs	60%	25
Larger Industries	40%	25

This fund *only* provides financial assistance, not technological assistance. Administered by IN-SPACe.

Jon McFall: First person with a disability (para-astronaut) to go into space. British athlete.

Science and Technology

Ananta: Largest Google campus in India (in Bengaluru).
Saksham Campaign: Awareness program on green energy by Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).
India's First Vertical Bifacial Solar Plant: Launched in Okhla, Delhi (at a metro station). Bifacial means it captures sunlight from both sides.

Environment

Aravalli Safari Park: World's largest safari park, to be established in Haryana (Gurugram area, covering 3858 hectares across 18 villages). Managed by the Forest Department.

Geography

New Inland Waterway: On the Brahmaputra River in Jogighopa, Assam. Aims to improve logistics in East India and facilitate trilateral trade between India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.

Disaster Management

Delhi Earthquake: Magnitude 4.0 on the Richter scale. Epicenter: Daulatkuan area. Delhi falls under high-risk seismic Zone IV.
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF): Funds released to five states, including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Government Policy

Naksha Project: Issuance of land ownership certificates in urban areas (152 Urban Local Bodies across 26 states and 3 UTs). Developed by the Ministry of Rural Development (despite the urban focus - *important*). Telangana has 10 participating ULBs.

International Relations

India-Qatar Relations: Sheikh Tamim (Amir of Qatar) visited India. Agreements to double bilateral trade within the next five years (currently at $14 billion) and elevate ties to a strategic partnership (including defense and technology cooperation).
International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA): India elected as Vice President for 2025. Headquartered in France.
India-Argentina Agreement on Lithium: For securing lithium supplies (critical for electric vehicles). Lithium Triangle: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile.
Brazil Joins OPEC+. Total members now 23. Note: Brazil will host COP30 next year, highlighting the contrast between its environmental commitments and OPEC+ membership.
Saudi Arabia Establishes High-Level Committee for Peace in Ukraine: Based in Riyadh. The first step is to facilitate an agreement between Russia and the USA.

Awards

Miss World 2025: 72nd edition to be held in Hyderabad (71st edition was in Mumbai).
NAACP Chairman's Award: Presented to Kamala Harris (first Asian and Black person to receive the award).

Books

"I Am A Soldier's Wife: The Life and Love of Toni Lidder": Authored by Geetika Lidder (wife of Lakhbinder Lidder, who died with CDS Anil Chauhan).

Summits

Asia Economic Dialogue: 9th edition in Pune (Theme: "Economic Resilience and Geo-economic Challenges in an Era of Fragmentation"). Organized by the Ministry of External Affairs.
First Transgender Summit: In Ajmer.

Telangana

Electricity Demand: Reached a record high of 16,000 MW on February 19.
Veterinary Vaccine Production Center: Largest center in India to be established in Mamidipally.
Agreement between T-Hub (Telangana) and Brazil's Goias Hub: For startup collaboration.
Nalmela Bhaskar received an award (City College Magdum Moinuddin National Award), but it's not considered highly significant.

Andhra Pradesh

No significant news items reported for these three days.

Thursday, February 20, 2025