CLAT 2025 Current Affairs - Weekly Round Up - January 1 - 7, 2024 (Week 1) by Samip Sir

VIDHIGYA2 minutes read

Weekly Round Up sessions will be conducted every week starting from January to discuss various topics. Dr. Arvind Panaria has been appointed as the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, responsible for distributing tax proceeds and reviewing Disaster Management financing criteria.

Insights

  • Weekly Round Up sessions will be conducted every week from the first week of January, encouraging children to watch the videos and note down any doubts for classroom discussion.
  • The Finance Commission, led by Dr. Arvind Panaria, distributes tax proceeds between the Union and States based on specific criteria like income distance and population.
  • The Places of Worship Act prohibits converting religious sites post-1947, impacting ongoing disputes like the Ayodhya issue and Gyanvapi Mosque claims.
  • NALSA, established for Free Legal Aid under Article 39A, is led by Justice DY Chandrachud and aims to address legal system fairness concerns.

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Recent questions

  • What is the purpose of the Finance Commission?

    The Finance Commission distributes tax proceeds between Union and States based on specific criteria.

  • What is the significance of the Places of Worship Act?

    The Places of Worship Act prohibits religious site conversions post-1947.

  • What is the role of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)?

    NALSA provides Free Legal Aid under Article 39A of the Constitution.

  • What is the objective of the PM National Relief Fund?

    The PM National Relief Fund supports disaster victims with public contributions.

  • What is the focus of the ULFA pact with the Central Government?

    ULFA pact includes disbanding violence and focusing on Assam's development.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Weekly Round Up Sessions and 16th Finance Commission

  • Weekly Round Up sessions will be conducted every week starting from the first week of January.
  • Children are encouraged to watch the Weekly Round Up videos and note down any doubts they have.
  • Doubts can be asked in the classroom and will be discussed further.
  • The 16th Finance Commission has been established in compliance with Article 280 of the Constitution.
  • Dr. Arvind Panaria has been appointed as the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission.
  • The Finance Commission is responsible for distributing tax proceeds between the Union and the States.
  • It is also tasked with reviewing Disaster Management financing and reporting by October 31, 2025.
  • The Finance Commission is a constitutional body that decides on the devolution of funds to states based on specific criteria.
  • The criteria for fund devolution include income distance, population, area, forest cover, and demographic performance.
  • The Places of Worship Act prohibits the conversion of religious sites into places of worship for a different religion after August 15, 1947.

19:52

"Key Events in Indian Politics and Governance"

  • Ayodhya dispute was ongoing, involving Ram Janmabhoomi and Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi.
  • Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi is claimed to have been built on a temple site.
  • Places of Worship Act 1991 governs disputes like Gyanvapi Mosque.
  • Finance Commission facts should be compiled and updated regularly for GK preparation.
  • Public contributions fund the PM National Relief Fund, established in 1948 by Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • NRF supports victims of natural and man-made disasters, with funds approved by Parliament.
  • ULFA, advocating for an independent Assam, recently signed a pact with the Central Government and Assam.
  • Assam Accord aimed to address the issue of foreigners in Assam, with a cut-off date set in 1971.
  • ULFA terms of pact include disbanding violence, democratic processes, and focus on Assam's development.
  • CAA 2019 impacts citizenship and was a recent topic of discussion.

35:18

"Legal Aid System and NALSA Overview"

  • NRC and CAA are linked, with Assam Accord being crucial for understanding NRC.
  • National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is established under the Legal Services Authority Act and Article 39A of the Constitution for Free Legal Aid.
  • The Legal System's fairness is questioned due to the advantage money provides in hiring good lawyers.
  • Article 39A was added to provide Free Legal Aid for those unable to afford good lawyers.
  • NALSA was established at the national and state levels under the Legal Services Authority Act of 1987.
  • NALSA's composition includes the Chief Justice of India, Executive Chairman, and Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.
  • Changes in NALSA's leadership, with Justice DY Chandrachud as the current Chief Justice of India.
  • District Legal Service Authority is headed by the District Judge at the district level.
  • State Legal Services Authority is led by the Chief Justice of the State High Court at the state level.
  • Biodiversity Framework was adopted during COP 15, setting targets like 30% land and ocean protection by 2030.

52:05

"India's Expose mission explores X-ray polarization"

  • Expose is the world's second mission dedicated to X-ray polarization in the medium x-ray band.
  • Polarization is a significant aspect of X-ray science, with Expose focusing on X-ray polarimetry.
  • The mission is led by NASA and is India's third space-based observatory, following Aditya L1.
  • Astrosat, India's first dedicated astronomy mission, studies satellite sources in X-ray, optical, and UV spectral bands.
  • The life cycle of stars involves stages like becoming a red giant, forming a planetary nebula, and potentially leading to a black hole.
  • Aditya L1, a solar mission by ISRO, aims to observe the Sun's photosphere, chromosphere, and corona.
  • Lagrange points, like L1, L2, and L3, are crucial for placing satellites in stable orbits, such as Aditya L1.
  • Trojan asteroids are naturally found at Lagrange points L4 and L5 in the Sun-Jupiter system.
  • The Wetland City Accreditation initiative recognizes cities protecting urban wetlands, like Indore, Bhopal, and Udaipur.
  • India's new web portal, Arnet, offers domain registration and value-added services for educational institutions.

01:07:51

Government Initiatives Drive Economic Growth and Security

  • Expenses like salaries, pensions, and capital expenditure are necessary for creating assets in the long run, leading to higher returns compared to salaries.
  • Significant income in pensions can impact the long-term economic profile, incentivizing the government to encourage states to invest more in capital expenditures.
  • In the financial year 2021, the government supported states during the COVID pandemic to stimulate the economy through a multiplier effect.
  • Capital expenditure loans provided by the central government aim to create assets and infrastructure, benefiting both the central and state governments.
  • The Financial Intelligence Unit of India issued notices to certain cryptocurrency service providers for non-compliance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
  • Money laundering involves illegally acquiring funds and converting black money into white money through creative accounting methods.
  • The Financial Intelligence Unit of India, established in 2004 under the Finance Ministry, monitors and analyzes suspicious financial transactions to combat money laundering.
  • Liquid Nano Urea, launched in June 2021, is a nitrogenous fertilizer in liquid form with nano particles that enhance crop productivity without harming the soil in the long run.
  • The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) developed Liquid Nano Urea to promote self-sufficiency in urea production and reduce imports.
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its 66th Foundation Day with a theme of self-reliance in defence production to reduce imports and enhance indigenous capabilities.

01:25:11

Global Trade Routes and Strategic Agreements

  • Operation Prosperity Guardian was launched by the US under the leadership of US Prosperity Guardian Lach in response to Hadi Rebels from Hadi Rebels.
  • The purpose of Prosperity Guardian is to protect the trade route from the Hadi rebels who are causing trouble and controlling the area.
  • The Panama Canal is an artificial canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, making trade easier by providing a shortcut.
  • El Nino phenomenon affects the Panama Canal's water levels, impacting shipping and causing droughts during El Nino years.
  • The Panama Canal was built by the US between 1904 and 1914, becoming operational in 1914 and transferring operations to Panama in 1999.
  • Israel's Suez Canal, also known as the Gulf of Suez, connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, with Israel aiming to control it during the Suez Canal Crisis.
  • The proposed Ban Gurien Canal project aims to connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba, bypassing the Suez Canal.
  • The India-Italy Migration and Mobility Agreement facilitates cooperation on issues related to irregular migration, benefiting students, skilled workers, and exchange programs.
  • Pegasus software, developed by the Israeli NSO Group, is a highly invasive tool used for surveillance, raising concerns about privacy and democracy.
  • India's lithium deal with Argentina aims to secure lithium reserves for the production of lithium-ion batteries essential for electric vehicles, aligning with the shift towards renewable energy.

01:41:30

"BRICS: Summit, Bank, and Development Initiatives"

  • BRICS informal grouping started in 2006, with a proper summit initiated in 2009.
  • The first BRICS Summit was held in 2009 in Yekaterinburg, Russia, with South Africa joining in December 2010.
  • BRICS adopted the acronym in 2010, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
  • The New Development Bank (NDB) was established at the 2014 BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil.
  • The NDB's initial corpus was $100 billion, with each of the five member countries contributing $20 billion.
  • The NDB has its headquarters in Shanghai, with regional offices in Johannesburg and Moscow.
  • The NDB's first president was K.V. Kamath, succeeded by Marcos Prado Troyjo.
  • The Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) provides short-term liquidity support to BRICS members through currency swaps.
  • The AIIB, initiated by China, started operations in 2016, with equal voting shares for China and India.
  • The Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) conducted in 2011 provides data for identifying beneficiaries and understanding the population's demographics.

01:57:52

Liberia's Labor Rules and Marcos Marine Collaboration

  • Liberia has relaxed labor rules and regulations, making it an attractive location to register oneself; Marcos Marine, a Liberian-flagged North Arabian Sea Commando force established in 1987, operates with the motto "The Few The Fearless" and collaborates extensively with the Indian Army, including in Jammu and Kashmir.
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