SHORT NEWS

August 14, 2023

G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meet	India hosted the first-ever G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meet taking place physically, in Kolkata. High-Level Principles on three priority areas were discussed: Law enforcement cooperation through information sharing. Strengthening asset recovery mechanisms. Enhancing the integrity and effectiveness of anti-corruption authorities. India has a policy of Zero Tolerance against corruption and it is leveraging technology and e-governance to create a transparent and accountable ecosystem. For example, the Government e-Marketplace portal. Indian Cultural references: Ma Gridha: It is used in ancient Indian Upanishads which translates to ‘let there be no greed’. Kautilya’s Arthashastra: It is the government’s duty to enhance the State’s resources to maximize the welfare of its people.
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)	Ministry for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship launched Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in NAPS. NAPS was launched in August 2016 by the government to promote the Apprenticeship in the country by providing financial incentives, technology and advocacy support. Implementing Agency: Directorate General of Training: For Central Public Sector Undertaking and establishments operating their business in 4 or more States. State Apprenticeship Advisers: For state public sector and private establishments under their jurisdiction.
LAUNCH OF Y – 3024 (VINDHYAGIRI)	A Project 17A Frigate named Vindhyagiri (6th ship of frigate) was launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata. Project 17A: It was launched by the Indian Navy to construct a series of stealth guided-missile frigates. These warships are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik Class), with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems. Aatma Nirbhar Bharat: 75% of orders for equipment & systems are from indigenous firms.

SEBI Disgorgement orders

The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) has set aside the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (Sebi) disgorgement order in the National Stock Exchange (NSE) dark fibre case.
Disgorgement is a process through which Sebi claws back illegal gains made by market participants through fraudulent means.
Unlike penalties, the collected amount does not go to the central government but is deposited in Sebi’s Investor Protection Fund, which is used for investor protection-related purposes in the absence of a restitution mechanism in India.

Aditya-L1 Mission

The Aditya-L1 mission will be launched by PSLV rocket from the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR) in Sriharikota.
It is the first Indian space mission to observe the Sun and the solar corona.
Position: It will be placed in a halo orbit around the first Lagrange point, L1, of the Sun-Earth system which allows it to look at the Sun continuously.
Application: It will provide greater advantage of observing the solar activities and its effect on space weather.
It contains seven payloads on board to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona).