Current Affaris for UPSC, UPPSC, UPPCS-J, UPSSSC and government exams

1. Current Affairs

2. Current Affairs
NIRF Rankings 2021
Reference News-
Union Education Ministry released its India Rankings 2021 under the National Institutional Ranking
Framework.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras was ranked the best higher education
institution in the country for the third year in a row
Key highlights of the India Rankings 2021
• The IITs dominated the overall rankings, grabbing seven of the top 10 positions.
• Overall toppers: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru was ranked second, followed
by the IITs in Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Roorkee and Guwahati.
• Top Non-IITs University: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
were at rank nine and 10.
• Top universities: (1) IISc; (2) JNU; (3) the BHU; (4) the University of Calcutta; (5) the Amrita
Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore; (6) Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
• Top engineering institutions: The IIT, Madras followed by the IITs in Delhi, Bombay, Kanpur,
Kharagpur
• Top management institutions: IIM-Ahmedabad followed by IIM-Bangalore, IIM-Calcutta, IIT-
Kozhikode, IIT-Delhi
• Top Pharmacy institute: Jamia Hamdard
• Top dental institute: Manipal College of Dental Sciences
What is NIRF?
o NIRF is an annual report card on the performance of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
o It was launched in 2015, outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country.
• The NIRF ranks institutions based on five parameters:
o Teaching Learning and Resources (TLR), Research and
o Professional Practice (RP),
o Graduation Outcome (GO),
o Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) and
o Perception.

3. Delegation of Financial Powers to Defence Services, 2021 Rules
Reference News:
Recently, the Ministry of Defence has released the Delegation of Financial Powers to Defence Services
(DFPDS), 2021 rules.
• The primary focus is to overcome procedural delays, bring about greater decentralization and
operational efficiency.
Key Highlights of DFPDS 2021
• Financial Powers Devolved to Field Formations:
o Enhanced the delegation of revenue procurement powers for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
o 10% increase in Delegated Financial Powers of Vice Chiefs of Services.
• Focus on Operational Preparedness:
o Critical equipment can be hired for short periods
o Field Commanders and below can procure equipment in a speedy manner for urgent
operational necessities and meeting essential sustenance requirements.
• Promoting Ease of Doing Business:
o Up to three times increase in funding related to Indigenisation/R&D to achieve ‘Atmanirbhar
Bharat’.
India’s first dugong conservation reserve
Reference News:
The Government of Tamil Nadu will set up India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in the Palk Bay
Dugong.
About the Conservation Reserve
• The Conservation Reserve will cover an area of 500kms.
• The proposed conservation area has the highest concentration of dugongs in the country.
• The reserve will span the northern part of the Palk Bay from Adirampattinam to Amapattinam.
• AS part of the CAMPA-Dugong Recovery Project, various surveys were conducted in the Palk Bay
and Gulf of Mannar, from November 2016 to March 2019.
• Gulf of Mannar is a shallow bay area between the south eastern end of Tamil Nadu and western
Sri Lanka.
About Dugongs
• The dugong , also called the sea cow, is a herbivorous mammal.

4. • It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae.
• The dugong is strictly a marine mammal.
• They graze on seagrass and come to the surface to breathe.
• They are found in over 30 countries and in India are seen in the Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch,
Palk Bay, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• According to Wildlife Institute of India (WII) estimates, only 200-250 Dugongs are left in the
wild, of which 150 are found in the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu.
Threats:
o The loss of seagrass habitats
o water pollution
o degradation of the coastal ecosystem due to developmental activities
o accidental entanglement in fishing nets
o collision with boats, trawlers.
Conservation status
o IUCN- Vulnerable
o CITES: Appendix I
Wild (Life) Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
• The Government of India is also a signatory to
the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS)
since 1983 where it has signed non-legally
binding Memorandums of Understanding on
the conservation and management of Siberian
Cranes (1998), Marine Turtles (2007), Dugongs
(2008) and Raptors (2016).
• Proper conservation is the only way to save
dugongs from extinction.
13th BRICS summit
Reference news-
The 13th BRICS summit was held virtually.
• The virtual summit was chaired by a Indian Prime Minister and was dominated by the
developments in Afghanistan
Key highlights of the summit
• The summit adopted the BRICS Counter Terrorism Action Plan.

5. • The document, titled the New Delhi Declaration was unveiled which called for addressing the
humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, and urged the need to uphold rights of women, children
and minorities.
o It called for an “inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue” to ensure stability, civil peace, law and
order in the country.
• The agreement on Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation was signed between BRICS countries’
space agencies.
What is BRICS?
• BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Headquarters: Shanghai, China
• The BRICS Leaders’ Summit is convened annually.
• The Chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance with the
acronym B-R-I-C-S.
• Together, BRICS accounts for about 40% of the world’s population and about 30% of the GDP
(Gross Domestic Product), making it a critical economic engine.
Objectives:
o To deepen, broaden and intensify cooperation for more sustainable, equitable and mutually
beneficial development.
o To ensure relations are built on the respective country’s economic strengths and to avoid
competition where possible.
Components of financial architecture of
the BRICS:
o New Development Bank: NDB’s
key areas of operation are clean
energy, transport infrastructure,
irrigation, sustainable urban
development and economic
cooperation among the member
countries.
o Contingent Reserve
Arrangement: It aims to provide
short-term liquidity support to the
members through currency swaps
to help mitigate the BOP crisis
situation and further strengthen
financial stability.

6. C-295 aircraft deal
Reference News
The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the procurement of 56 C-295 MW transport aircraft
from M/s Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain, giving a big boost to the Indian Air Force.
• This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India under
technology transfer by a private company and is expected to cost close to $3billion.
Key takeaways
• The C-295MW transport aircraft is a transport carrier that has a 5-10 tonne capacity with a rear
ramp door for quick reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo.
• The transport aircraft will gradually replace the ageing Avro fleet of the IAF. The IAF has 56
Avros procured in the 1960s and they are in urgent need of replacement.
• All 56 aircraft will be installed with indigenous Electronic Warfare Suite.
• The project will give a boost to the aerospace ecosystem in India wherein several MSMEs
spread over the country will be involved in manufacturing of parts of the aircraft.
• The programme is in line with the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and will augment domestic aviation
manufacturing resulting in reduced import dependence and expected increase in exports.
• The programme will also lead to employment generation in the aerospace ecosystem
Daily Topic
Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
Reference News
An SEZ is an enclave within a country that is typically duty-free and has different business and
commercial laws chiefly to encourage investment and create employment.
• Apart from generating employment opportunities and promoting investment, SEZs are created
also to better administer these areas, thereby increasing the ease of doing business.
Next Analysis
SEZ Background
An SEZ Policy was announced for the very first time in 2000 in order to overcome the obstacles
businesses faced.
• There were multiple controls and many clearances to be obtained before starting a venture.
• Infrastructure facilities were shoddy and well below world standards in India.
• The fiscal regime was unstable as well.
• In order to attract huge foreign investments into the country, the government announced the
Policy.

7. • The Parliament passed the Special Economic Zones Act in 2005 after many consultations and
deliberations.
• The Act came into force along with the SEZ Rules in 2006.
• However, SEZs were operational in India from 2000 to 2006 (under the Foreign Trade Policy).
• Note:- A precursor to the SEZs, the Export Processing Zones were set up in India well before.
The first EPZ came up in Kandla in 1965 to promote exports. This was the first EPZ not only in
India but in all of Asia as well.
Objectives of the SEZ Act:
o To create additional economic activity.
o To boost the export of goods and services.
o To generate employment.
o To boost domestic and foreign investments.
o To develop infrastructure facilities.
 Major Incentives and Facilities Available to SEZ:
o Duty free import/domestic procurement of goods for development, operation and
maintenance of SEZ units.
o Exemption from various taxes like Income Tax, minimum alternate tax, etc.
o External commercial borrowing by SEZ unit’s up to US $ 500 million in a year without any
maturity restriction through recognized banking channels.
o Single window clearance for Central and State level approvals.
 Performance so far:
o Exports: Exports of Rs. 22,840 Crore (2005-06) has increased to Rs. 7,59,524 Crore (2020-21).
o Investment: Investment of Rs. 4,035.51 Crore (2005-06) has increased to Rs. 6,17,499
Crore (2020-21).
o Employment: Employment from 1,34,704 persons (2005-06) has increased to 23,58,136
persons (2020-21).
 Challenges:
o Unutilized Land in SEZs:
• Due to lack of demand for SEZ space and disruptions caused by the pandemic.
o Existence of Multiple Models:
• There are multiple models of economic zones such as SEZ, coastal economic zone, Delhi-
Mumbai Industrial Corridor, National Investment and Manufacturing Zone, food park and
textile park which pose challenges in integrating the various models.
o Competition from ASEAN Countries:

8. • In the past few years, many of the ASEAN countries have tweaked their policies to attract
global players to invest into their SEZs and have also worked on a developmental set of
their skilling initiatives.
• Consequently, Indian SEZs have lost some of their competitive advantages globally and
hence need to have fresher policies.
Way Forward
 Promotion of MSME investments in SEZs by linking with MSME schemes and allowing alternate
sectors to invest in sector-specific SEZs is among the recommendations by the Baba Kalyani
Committee on SEZs.
 It had also batted for additional enablers and procedural relaxations as well as granting SEZs
infrastructure status to improve their access to finance and enable long-term borrowings.
Question of the day
Consider the following Statements regarding BRICS:
1. Its headquarters is in Beijing, China
2. New Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are the components of
financial architecture of the organisation.
Select the correct statements:
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2