24 June 2024, The Indian EXPRESS
Amid setbacks, first signs of progress in lithium mining in Chhattisgarh
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GS1-Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent)
- Exploration of lithium, a critical mineral used to make lithium-ion batteries, in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district has moved a step further with one block advancing to the second round of auctions and promising deposits now being found in the initial exploration of another block, according to latest information available with the Union Mines Ministry.
- The reassuring signs from Korba come after a series of roadblocks in the Centre’s endeavour to develop India’s first lithium mine including the cancellation of auction of a lithium block in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K’s) Reasi district due to insufficient investor interest, shelving of exploration plans in Manipur’s Kamjong district due to “local resistance”, and “not encouraging” results from exploration in Ladakh and Assam.
ISRO Reusable Launch Vehicle aces third and final landing test
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GS3-Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully demonstrated the landing of the Pushpak reusable launch vehicle for the third time on Sunday, bringing it one step closer to using the vehicle for an orbital mission.
- Announcing the success, the space agency wrote on X, ‘Hat-trick for ISRO in RLV LEX!
MHA asks states to begin drill to find glitches in crime laws rollout
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GS2-Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States
- As the three new criminal laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Act — comes into effect on July 1, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked all the states and Union Territories to start “dummy exercise” to identify the shortcomings and send feedbacks accordingly, it is learnt.
- A source said at a recent meeting, the instructions were given by senior MHA officials to the DGs and Chief Secretaries of states and UTs, except Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, heads of the NCRB and the BPR&D.
Filling the void in farms
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GS3-Issues related to Direct and Indirect Farm Subsidies and Minimum Support Prices
- In the recently formed NDA cabinet (Modi 3.0), Shivraj Singh Chouhan is an appropriate choice for heading the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) as well as the Ministry of Rural Development.
- Given that most of the seats that the BJP lost in the recent parliamentary election were from rural areas, it gives a clear signal that all is not well in these areas.
- So, the BJP has to fix it quickly, and for that it needs to have a person with vast experience, who understands the problems of rural areas in general and agriculture in particular.
Heat tragedy in Mecca, and what makes Hajj pilgrims vulnerable
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GS3-Disaster and Disaster Management
- Hundreds of Hajj pilgrims died in the oppressive heat of Saudi Arabia this year, with temperatures in Mecca reaching above 51 degree Celsius last week.
- Hajj (literally “to set out for a place”) is one of the five pillars of Islam — every Muslim is supposed to undertake the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
- According to the Quran, Hajj can be traced back to the time of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham in the Judeo-Christian scriptures), roughly 4000 years ago.
Oath-taking in Lok Sabha
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GS2-Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges
- The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will start on Monday. Before the House can begin its legislative functioning, the newly elected members will have to take the oath of Members of Parliament (MP), which is provided in the Constitution.
- The day will begin in Rashtrapati Bhavan, where Bhartruhari Mahtab — who has been elected for the seventh consecutive time from Cuttack, Odisha — will be the first one to take the oath of a Lok Sabha MP in front of President Droupadi Murmu.
Estonia looks at Indian partnership to beef up cybersecurity infrastructure
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GS3-Basics of Cyber Security
- Estonia, one of the world’s most advanced digital countries, is looking to partner with India to collaborate on strengthening the two countries’ cybersecurity infrastructure, multiple officials from the Baltic country’s government said.
- Estonia, courtesy its vicinity to Russia, faces a barrage of cyberattacks from the country, more so because of the former’s stance on the war between Russia and Ukraine. India, meanwhile, faces a similar threat from its neighbour China.
India, Korea make headway in CEPA review talks, exchange ‘request lists’
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GS2-Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
- The talks between India and Korea on the review of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) have made significant headway, with both sides exchanging the list of ‘requests’ where they want further opening up of trade.
- From the Korean side the demand has come in regard to sectors like automobiles, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals while India is seeking greater access to the Korean markets for steel, rice, shrimp and clothing.
