Context: 

Recently, a breach of privilege motion moved against senior BJP MLA and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Rajendra Rathore led to an uproar in the Rajasthan Assembly. 

What is a Privilege Motion and who can move it?

• All Members of Parliament (MPs) and State Assembly (MLAs) enjoy rights and immunities, individually and collectively, so that they can discharge their duties and functions effectively.
• Any instance when these rights and immunities are disregarded by any member of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha is an offence, called ‘breach of privilege’, which is punishable under the Laws of Parliament.
• Any member from either house can move a notice in the form of a motion against the member who he/she thinks is guilty of the breach of privilege.
• Both Houses of the Parliament reserve the right to punish any action of contempt (not necessarily breach of privilege) which is against its authority and dignity, as per the laws. 

Rules Governing Privilege Motion:

• The rules governing the privilege are mentioned in the Rule No 222 of the Lok Sabha Rule Book and Rule 187 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook.
• The rules explain that any member of the House may, with the consent of the Speaker or the Chairperson, raise a question involving an incident that he or she considers a breach of privilege either of a member or of the House or of a committee.
• The notice, however, has to be about a recent incident and should need the intervention of the House. 
• These notices have to be submitted before 10 am to the Speaker or the Chairperson of the House. 

Role of the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairperson:

• The speaker of Lok Sabha and the Chairperson of Rajya Sabha are the first level of scrutiny of a privilege motion in the two Houses of Parliament.
• They can either take a decision on the privilege motion or can also refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament.
• Once the Speaker or the House Chairperson gives consent under Rule 222, the concerned member is allowed to explain himself or herself.

 What is the Privileges Committee? 

• The Speaker of Lok Sabha nominates a committee of privileges consisting of 15 members of parliament from each party.
• The report prepared by the committee is submitted to the House for its consideration.
• The Speaker may also allow a half-hour debate on the report by the committee before passing orders or directing that the report be tabled before the House. A resolution is passed. 

About Parliamentary Privileges:

• Parliamentary privileges are special rights, immunities and exemptions enjoyed by the two Houses of Parliament, their committees and their members.
• The Constitution also extends the parliamentary privileges to those persons who are entitled to speak and take part in the proceedings of a House of Parliament or any of its committees. These include the Attorney General of India and Union ministers.
• Article 105 of the Constitution expressly mentions two privileges, that is, freedom of speech in Parliament and right of publication of its proceedings.
• The parliamentary privileges do not extend to the President who is also an integral part of the Parliament. Article 361 of the Constitution provides for privileges for the President.

News Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

Recently, the Prime Minister visited Egypt with a strong focus on enhancing defense and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Image Source: IDSA

Key Highlights of Visit:

• Deepening Cooperation in Various Areas: Both the leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership in trade, investment, defence, security, renewable energy.
• Strategic Partnership: The two sides signed an agreement to elevate the bilateral partnership to a “strategic partnership with key elements:
  •  Scientific and academic collaboration; cultural and people-to-people contacts.
•  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): Three (MoU) in the fields of:
  • Agriculture
  • Archaeology and antiquities 
  • Competition law 
• Highest State Honor Accorded to Prime-Minister: The Government of Egypt bestowed the highest honour of the land — the Order of the Nile.
• Visit to Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery: The Prime Minister visited the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery to pay homage to over 4,300 Indian soldiers who had perished in Egypt and Aden during World War I.
• Visit to the Al Hakim Mosque: PM Visited Al Hakim Mosque which was renovated with assistance from the Dawoodi Bohra community.

Background:

• India and Egypt, two of the world’s oldest civilizations, have enjoyed a history of close contact from ancient times as Ashoka’s edicts refer to his relations with Egypt under Ptolemy-II.
• In modern times an exceptionally close friendship between President Nasser and Prime Minister Nehru, leading to a Friendship Treaty  in 1955.

Various Facets of India-Egypt Relations:

• Political Relations:  Both countries were the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement.
  • The year 2022 marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt.
• Economic Relations: The India-Egypt Bilateral Trade is based on the Most Favoured Nation clause.
• Defence: Egypt is interested in procuring defence equipment from India, which includes LCA Tejas, missiles like Akash, DRDO’s Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon, and radars.
  • Recently, the first-ever joint exercise between the special forces of the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army named “Exercise Cyclone-I” was held in January 2023.

Recent Initiatives to boost India- Egypt Ties:

• India invited the Egyptian president as Chief Guest on Republic Day Celebrations (26th January 2023)
• Egypt is a “guest country” at the upcoming G-20 summit in India.
• ‘India Unit ‘, a group of high-level ministers constituted by El-Sisi in March to enhance India-Egypt relations.

Why is India keen to develop its ties with Egypt?

• Geo-strategic Location: Egypt is located at a crucial geo-strategic location — 12 percent of global trade passes through the Suez Canal.
• Trading Partner: Egypt has been one of India’s important trading partners in the West Asia and Africa region.
• Gateway to Africa: Egypt is also perceived as a gateway to Africa due to its strong trading links and free trade agreements across the continent.
• Complementary Partnership: While India  seeks to consolidate its position in the Arab world with Egypt’s help, the latter wants India to expand its trade and investments in the country to help deal with its ongoing economic crisis.
• Quest for India’s Participation in the Arab World: India wants to draw huge amounts of capital from Gulf nations, curtail religious extremism by supporting moderate countries in the region while encouraging social reforms, and participate in the security politics of the area.
• Egypt is emerging as a Mediterranean power because of its centrality in gas geopolitics.

Challenges:

• Lack of Efficacy: The underperformance of bilateral ties is not due to a lack of bilateral institutional mechanisms, but their efficacy and sense of purpose. 
• China’s Closer Ties: Egypt is being seen as getting close to China. Chinese investments are very huge and outnumber India’s investments, which is a serious challenge from an Indian perspective.
• Economic Crisis: Egypt is in high economic instability. Egypt’s foreign debt is over $163 billion (43% of the GDP) and its net foreign assets are minus $24.1 billion.

Way Forward:

• Invest More: Need to invest more to reduce the influence of China, not only to strengthen our footholds but to protect Egypt from dept trap diplomacy of China too.
• Help Egypt to Come Out of Economic Crisis Situation: India may countenance manageable eco-political risks to partake Egypt’s lucrative opportunities through various innovations such as the EXIM line of credit, barter, and rupee trading. 
• Elevating the Partnership: India could hold an India-Egypt 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting – putting the Egypt and India relationship at the same level as heavy-weight bilaterals like the United States, Japan, Australia and Russia.

News Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

Recently, the Prime Minister paid his respects at the Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial in Cairo, Egypt.

About the Heliopolis Memorial:

• The Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial is part of the larger Heliopolis Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery. 
• This memorial commemorates the memory of 3,727 Indian soldiers who died fighting in various campaigns in Egypt and Palestine in the First World War.
• Designed by Sir John Burnet, the original memorial sustained damages during the 1967-1973 Israeli-Egyptian conflict.
• Located at the south end of the Suez Canal, the original Port Tewfik memorial was unveiled in 1926.

Role of the Indian Army in West Asia in the First World War:

• The Indian troops played a key role in securing the Suez Canal in Egypt and in Palestine, where Indian cavalry participated in the Battle of Haifa, commemorated in New Delhi in a war memorial. 
• Indian soldiers also played a key role in Mesopotamia in the First World War.
• Risaldar Badlu Singh, who was awarded the highest British war time gallantry award, Victoria Cross, posthumously, is commemorated at this war memorial.

News Source: Indian Express

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

Millions of visitors visit Puri in Odisha to take part in the annual Rath Yatra (car festival) of Lord Jagannath, which began recently.

About Jagannath Rath Yatra: 

• The Jagannath Rath Yatra is a yearly Hindu festival that commemorates the pilgrimage of Lord Jagannath, elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra, as they embark on a nine-day annual sojourn to his birthplace. 
• The Rath Yatra takes place on the second day of the Odia month of Ashadha Shukla Tithi (bright fortnight) every year to commemorate this journey.
• The idols are taken to the Gundicha Temple, where they stay till the ‘Bahuda Yatra’ (returning car festival).
• The wheels of the chariots of Jagannath Rath Yatra are made from phasi tree logs.

Jagannath Temple:

• It is a temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Vishnu, in Puri.
• The present temple was built in the 12th century and begun by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, first of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
• The image of Jagannath is made of wood and is ceremoniously replaced periodically by an exact replica.
• It is built in the Kalinga style of architecture, with the Pancharatha (Five chariots) and is built on an elevated platform.
• Jagannath Puri temple is called ‘Yamanika Tirtha’ where, according to the Hindu beliefs, the power of ‘Yama’, the god of death has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath.
  • This temple was called the “White Pagoda”

News Source: Indian Express

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

Russia’s Mercenary group ‘Wagner’ had announced an armed rebellion to oust the Russian Defence Minister, but called off the mutiny after the intervention of Belarus President.

Image Source: The Hindu

About Wagner Group:

• Wagner Group is the mercenary organisation which was first identified in 2014, during Russia’s annexation of Crimea. 
• It’s essentially a network of contractors that supply soldiers for hire and the group got registered as a company in 2022.
• Besides Ukraine, Wagner Group has reportedly been active in a number of African and West Asian countries. 

News Source: Indian Express

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

The Indian PM visited the Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo, Egypt, repaired with the help of the Dawoodi Bohra community of India.

About Al-Hakim Mosque:

• The Imam al-Hakim bi Amr Allah Mosque is a 1000-year old Mosque built in 11th Century.
• It is also a site where Egyptian and Indian cultures mingle.
• The Al-Hakim mosque was named after the 16th Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah.
• It is an important cultural site for the Dawoodi Bohra community in Cairo.

Dawoodi Bohra Community:

• The Dawoodi Bohra Muslims are a sect of followers of Islam who adhere to the Fatimi Ismaili Tayyibi school of thought. 
• This sect is known to have originated from Egypt later shifting to Yemen.
• The Dawoodi Bohra Muslims settled in India in the 11th century. 
• The seat of the sect was moved to Sidhpur (Patan district of Gujarat), India in the year 1539 from Yemen.
• The Bohra Muslim community considers Surat in Gujarat their base, despite their presence in Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh as well.

News Source: Hindustan Times 

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

The Prime Minister of India recently received Egypt’s highest state honour ‘Order of the Nile’ award, from the Egyptian President.

About the Order of the Nile’ Award:

• Instituted in 1915, the award is presented to heads of states, crown princes, and vice presidents. 
• Egyptians and foreigners who provide ‘invaluable services’ to the country or humanity may also be eligible for the honour. 
• Those who receive the ‘Order of the Nile’ shall be saluted upon their death.
• It is a pure gold collar consisting of three-square gold units comprising Pharaonic symbols.

State honours received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi:

News Source: business standard 

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

The crisis in Manipur has prompted the state government to invoke the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) riot-relief measures.

RBI’s (relief measures in banks in areas affected by Natural Calamities) direction 2018:

• Restructuring of Crop Loans:
  • The RBI norms state that short-term crop loans can be restructured for riot-affected borrowers with a maximum repayment period of two years, including one year of moratorium if the loss is between 33 and 50 per cent.
  • If the crop loss is more than 50 per cent, the five-year repayment period may be extended up to a maximum of five years, including the one-year moratorium period. 
  • The restructured portion of the short-term as well as long-term loans may be treated as current dues and need not be classified as non-performing assets

• Permission given to banks:
  • To Restructure loans with at least one year of moratorium and grant consumption loans, among others.
  • To insist on additional collateral security for such restructured loans.

News Source: business standard

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

• Researchers have for the first time analysed data of “carbon dioxide auroras” taken from space.

About Aurora:

• An aurora is a natural phenomenon which is characterised by a display of a natural-coloured (green, red, yellow or white) light in the sky. 
• Formation: It is a light show which is caused when electrically-charged particles from the sun collide with particles from gases such as oxygen and nitrogen present in the Earth’s atmosphere.
• Aurora is sometimes referred to as ‘polar light’. 
• It is predominantly seen in the regions of high altitudes like the Arctic and Antarctic.
• Auroras are seen in latitudes of around 70 degrees. They generally occur in a band known as ‘auroral zone’.
• Auroras that occur in the Northern hemisphere are known as aurora borealis and auroras that take place in the Southern hemisphere are known as aurora australis.
• Auroras can appear in various forms like streamers, patches, arcs, scattered light, diffused light etc. 

News Source: Indian Express 

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

The Drug Controller General of India cleared, under the provisions of ‘emergency use authorisation’, a new mRNA vaccine for COVID­19.

About Drug Controller General of India:

• DCGI heads the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), which is responsible for ensuring the quality of drug supply across the country. 
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
• Functions: 
  • Give approval to new drugs and regulate clinical trials.
  • Sets standards for the manufacturing, sales, import, and distribution of drugs in India.
  • Approval of licences of specified categories of drugs such as blood and blood products, IV fluids, vaccines and sera in India.
  • Envisages uniform implementation of the provisions of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 Act & Rules made there under for ensuring the safety, rights and well being of the patients.

News Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

India’s third moon exploration mission, will share the names associated with the 2019 Chandrayaan­2 lunar adventure.

More on News:

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to retain the names of the Chandrayaan­2 lander and rover for their Chandrayaan­3 equivalents as well.
• The Chandrayaan­ 3 lander will bear the name Vikram (after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space programme) and the rover, Pragyan.

About Chandrayaan­ 3:

• Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.
• A propulsion module will carry the lander-­rover configuration to a 100­km lunar orbit. 
• Once the Vikram lander module makes it safely to the moon, it will deploy Pragyan, which will carry out in situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface during the course of its mobility.
• The lander, rover and the propulsion module will have payloads for performing experiments designed to give scientists new insights into the characteristics of the moon.
• Payloads of lander: 
  • Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA), 
  • Chandra’s Surface Thermo physical Experiment (ChaSTE), 
  • Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA)
  • LASER Retroreflector Array (LRA). 
• Payloads of six-wheeled rover:
  • Alpha Particle X Ray Spectrometer (APXS)
  • LASER Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS)
• In addition to these, there will be one payload on the propulsion module, the Spectro­polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE)

News Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

The Ministry of Defence has approved the acquisition of 31 armed MQ-9B Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from the US. This Include 15 SeaGuardians for the Indian Navy and 16 SkyGuardians — eight each for the Indian Army and Air Force.

• The procurement is valued at over $3 billion. 

More on News:

• MQ-9Bs will be assembled in India
• As part of this plan, General Atomics will establish a Comprehensive Global Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India in support of India’s long-term goals to boost indigenous defence capabilities.

About MQ-9B Drones:

• The MQ-9B drone is a variant of the MQ-9 “Reaper” which was used to launch a modified version of the Hellfire missile that eliminated al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul.
• The MQ-9 and other UAVs are referred to as remotely piloted vehicles/aircraft (RPV/RPA) by the USAF United States Air Force). 
• The aircraft is monitored and controlled by aircrew in the Ground Control Station (GCS) and is popularly called in the US as the first hunter-killer UAV

Key features of MQ-9B:

•  The MQ-9B has two variants — SkyGuardian and its sibling SeaGuardian. 
  • The Indian Navy has been operating the MQ-9B Sea Guardian since 2020.
• MQ-9B Sea Guardian can support land, maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, strike, electronic warfare and expeditionary roles.

Singificacne: 

• Enhanced Maritime Surveillance:
  • SeaGuardian variant designed for maritime missions.
  • Offers surface-search maritime radar, automatic identification system, and sonobuoy monitoring system.
  • Enables persistent anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions.
  • Enhances the Indian Navy’s surveillance and maritime security capabilities.
• Cost-Effective Solution:
  • Provides approximately 80% capability of large human-flown maritime patrol aircraft at 20% of its cost per hour.
  • Saves time, costs, and reduces wear and tear on manned platforms.
• Improved Border Surveillance:
  • Provides round-the-clock surveillance capabilities.
  • Monitors movement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
• Seamless Integration with Existing Platforms:
  • Integrates seamlessly with other U.S.-origin platforms operated by India.
  • Enables coordinated operations with platforms like P-8I, AH-64 Apache, and MH-60R multi-role helicopters..

News Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF