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- The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has postponed its decision on granting Environmental Clearance (EC) for Stage-II of the Uri-I Hydroelectric Project.
- About Uri-I Hydroelectric Project:
- The Uri-I Hydroelectric Project is an active hydroelectric facility situated on the Jhelum River near Uri town in the Baramulla district of Jammu & Kashmir.
- It is in close proximity to the Line of Control (LOC), which serves as the de facto border between India and Pakistan.
- The project commenced operations in 1997 with a total installed capacity of 480 MW.
- It is managed by the Central Government, and the operational duties are handled by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC).
- The plant’s capacity is distributed among 4 units, each rated at 120 MW.
- Ex-Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani, a former president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), has asserted that India deserves to secure its "rightful place" as a permanent member of the UNSC.
- About the United Nations Security Council (UNSC):
- The UNSC is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations (UN).
- Its main responsibility is to maintain international peace and security.
- According to the UN Charter, all Member States are required to adhere to UNSC resolutions.
- The Security Council plays a key role in identifying threats to peace or acts of aggression.
- It encourages disputing parties to resolve conflicts through peaceful means and suggests methods of adjustment or settlement.
- In certain situations, the UNSC can impose sanctions or authorize the use of force to uphold or restore international peace and security.
- Powers:
- Establishing peacekeeping operations
- Implementing international sanctions
- Authorizing military action via Security Council resolutions
- Members:
- The UNSC is composed of 15 members, each holding one vote.
- There are 5 permanent members, known as the P5: the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, and the United States.
- The P5’s special status originates from the UN’s founding after World War II.
- They hold veto power over UNSC decisions.
- There are 10 non-permanent members, elected annually by the 193-member General Assembly for two-year terms.
- The non-permanent seats are distributed to ensure geographic representation: five from Africa or Asia, one from Eastern Europe, two from Latin America, and two from Western Europe or other regions.
- The UNSC maintains its permanent headquarters at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
- Recently, Japanese anime director Hayao Miyazaki received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, widely regarded as Asia's Nobel Prize.
- The Ramon Magsaysay Award is the most prestigious honor in Asia, celebrating exceptional spirit and transformative leadership in the region. Each year, the awardees are chosen by the RMAF board of trustees and are honored with a certificate and a medallion featuring a profile of Ramon Magsaysay facing right.
- From 1958 to 2008, the Award was given in six categories annually:
- Government Service: To recognize outstanding contributions to public service in any branch of government, including the executive, judicial, legislative, or military sectors.
- Public Service: To acknowledge exceptional service for the public good by private citizens.
- Community Leadership: To honor leadership that helps communities provide better opportunities and improve the lives of disadvantaged individuals.
- Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts: To celebrate impactful writing, publishing, or photography, as well as the use of radio, television, cinema, or performing arts for the public benefit.
- Peace and International Understanding: To commend efforts advancing friendship, tolerance, peace, and solidarity as the basis for sustainable development both within and across nations.
- Emergent Leadership: To recognize individuals aged forty or younger for significant work on social change within their communities, even if their leadership is not widely recognized outside these communities.
- The award is presented in a formal ceremony held in Manila, Philippines on August 31st, the birth anniversary of the esteemed Philippine President whose ideals inspired the creation of the Award in 1957.
- The Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, has been awarded Navratna status by the Ministry of Finance.
- The government classifies Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) into three categories: Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna. The Navratna scheme was introduced in 1997.
- Criteria for Navratna Status:
- The PSU must be a Miniratna-I, Schedule 'A' company.
- It should have achieved an 'excellent' or 'very good' Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) rating for at least three of the last five years.
- The company must have a composite score of 60 across six performance indicators.
- It needs to report a net profit exceeding Rs 5,000 crore for three consecutive years and maintain an average annual turnover of Rs 25,000 crore over three years, or have an average annual net worth of over Rs 15,000 crore for three years.
- Advantages:
- Financial Independence: Navratna companies can invest up to ₹1,000 crore without requiring central government approval.
- They are permitted to invest up to 15% of their net worth in a single project or 30% of their net worth within a fiscal year, with a cap of ₹1,000 crore.
- They can incur capital expenditure on purchasing new items or for replacements without any monetary limits.
- They have the authority to enter into technology joint ventures or strategic alliances.