1. Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (128th Constitutional Amendment Bill)
- Objective: To provide 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
- Key Provisions:
- Applicable to the Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT).
- Includes a "quota within a quota" for SCs and STs.
- Implementation Timeline:
- The reservation will come into effect after the publication of the next census.
- Implementation is subject to the subsequent delimitation exercise (readjustment of constituencies).
- Duration: The reservation is initially mandated for a period of 15 years, extendable by Parliament.
2. 18th G20 Summit (New Delhi, 2023)
- Theme: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (One Earth, One Family, One Future).
- Key Outcomes:
- African Union (AU) Membership: Admitted as a permanent member, shifting the G20 to "G21" status.
- New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration: Adopted by consensus, focusing on sustainable growth, climate finance, and multilateral reforms.
- Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA): Launched by India to accelerate the adoption of biofuels globally.
- India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC): A multi-modal transport and ship-to-rail transit network announced to bolster trade connectivity.
3. Aditya-L1 Mission
- Purpose: India’s first space-based mission to study the Sun.
- Positioning: Placed in a halo orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1), approximately 1.5 million km from Earth.
- Key Payloads:
- VELC (Visible Emission Line Coronagraph): To study the solar corona and dynamics of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
- SUIT (Solar Ultra-violet Imaging Telescope): To image the solar photosphere and chromosphere.
- Scientific Goals: Observing solar activities, understanding space weather, and studying the Sun's upper atmospheric dynamics (chromosphere and corona).
4. PM-PRANAM Scheme
- Full Form: PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth.
- Objective: To incentivize States and Union Territories to promote alternative fertilizers and reduce the consumption of chemical fertilizers (specifically Urea).
- Funding Mechanism:
- 50% of the subsidy savings generated by a State will be passed on to that State as a grant.
- Grants can be used for asset creation, technological adoption, and awareness programs at the village/block level.
Comparison of Recent Environmental Initiatives
| Initiative | Primary Focus | Key Target |
|---|---|---|
| MISHTI | Mangrove Conservation | Shoreline habitats and salt pan lands. |
| Amrit Dharohar | Wetland Conservation | Promoting values of Ramsar sites. |
| Green Credit Program | Market-based Incentives | Rewarding environmentally sustainable actions. |