National
The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2022
⇒ Rajya Sabha passed the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2022 on 08 December 2022. Lok Sabha had cleared the legislation in August during the Monsoon Session.
- The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2022 seeks to increase the species protected under the law, and implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
- The Bill, which had undergone scrutiny of a parliamentary panel, seeks to conserve and protect wildlife through better management of protected areas and rationalise schedules which list out species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- The Bill seeks better management of protected areas and provides for certain permitted activities like grazing or movement of livestock and bona fide use of drinking and household water by local communities.
» The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2022 Act amended the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. This Act may be called the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022.
- In the long title of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), for the words “protection of wild animals, birds and plants”, the words “conservation, protection and management of wild life” shall be substituted.
The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022
⇒ The Rajya Sabha passed the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, on 12 December 2022. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill in August.
» The Energy Conservation (Amendment) ACT, 2022 amended the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 seeks to-
- mandate use of non-fossil sources, including Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia, Biomass and Ethanol for energy and feedstock;
- establish Carbon Markets;
- bring large residential buildings within the fold of Energy Conservation regime;
- enhance the scope of Energy Conservation Building Code;
- amend penalty provisions;
- increase members in the Governing Council of Bureau of Energy Efficiency;
- empower the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions to make regulations for smooth discharge of its functions.
While the Energy Conservation Act, of 2001 deals with saving energy, the present Bill deals with saving the environment and conserving climate change due to the usage of fossil and non-fossil fuels while generating electricity.
The scope and objective of the principal Act do not take in the purpose and object of the present Bill. The Bill relates to monitoring and controlling of carbon emission and climate change which is an aspect of the environmental laws.
The New Delhi Arbitration Centre (Amendment) Bill, 2022
⇒ Parliament on 14 December 2022 passed a bill to rename the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre as the India International Arbitration Centre.
- The Lok Sabha passed the bill on August, which expands this to include the conduct of other forms of alternative dispute resolution besides arbitration.
The New Delhi Arbitration Centre (Amendment) Bill, 2022 proposes to change the name of the Centre from New Delhi International Arbitration Centre to India International Arbitration Centre so that a unique identity of the institute of national importance as conferred on it by law is evident and reflects its true objective.
» The New Delhi Arbitration Centre (Amendment) Act, 2022 amended the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Act, 2019. This Act may be called the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (Amendment) Act, 2022.
- In the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Act, 2019 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), in the long title, for the words “New Delhi International Arbitration Centre”, wherever they occur, the words “India International Arbitration Centre” shall be substituted.
10th Edition of the North East Festival
⇒ Union Minister for MSME, Shri Narayan Rane, inaugurated the “MSME Exhibition” at the 10th Edition of North East Festival organised in Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
The 10th Edition of the North East Festival began at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on December 23, 2022. The festival was organised from 23rd to 26th December 2022.
Aim:
The aim of the festival was to promote the North East region’s diverse life, culture, traditions, and tourism.
Key Points:
- The four-day cultural festival showcased the best of North East India’s cultural resources in Delhi.
- More than one hundred MSME businesses participated in the festival. They showcased the northeast’s handloom, handmade jewellery, handicrafts, agricultural-horticultural products, and processed food items.
15th Enertia Awards 2022
⇒ NHPC Limited has been awarded as Winner of ‘Best Globally Competitive Power Company of India – Hydropower and Renewable Energy Sector’ at PRAKASHmay ‘15th Enertia Awards 2022’.
- The Award has been conferred to NHPC in recognition of its leadership in the hydropower sector with a gross asset class renewable energy capacity of more than 7000 MW.
- The award also recognizes that NHPC has more than 5000 MW of projects under construction and an ambitious 7000 MW plus plan for Solar capacity addition.
Shri U.S. Sahi, Executive Director (EMS/CC/CSR), NHPC received the award on behalf of NHPC at a glittering function held at New Delhi Institute of Management, New Delhi on 22nd December 2022.
- The award was given by Shri VM Bansal, Chairman, New Delhi Institute of Management.
Important Day
National Farmers Day 2022
⇒ National Farmers Day, also known as Kisan Diwas, is celebrated on December 23 to commemorate and recognise farmers as the country’s backbone.
- Kisan Diwas is celebrated to honour and remember our fifth Prime Minister, Chaudhary Charan Singh.
- Every year, Farmer’s Day is observed to raise awareness of and thank farmers for their contributions to society.
- Every year, National Farmer’s Day is observed in states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh, where farmers are actively involved in agriculture.
History:
- Chaudhary Charan Singh, the Kisan Leader, was 5th prime minister of India from July 28, 1979 until January 14, 1980.
- This day was chosen to commemorate the birth anniversary of Choudhary Charan Singh. Charan Singh was born on 23 December 1902.
- In celebration of Charan Singh’s birth anniversary, the government celebrated Kisan Diwas in 2001.