- CENTRE SAYS IT SANCTIONS CBI PROBES IN OTHER STATES
- Overview and History: – The CBI was established in 1963 by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs
- Later, it was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel and now it functions under this ministry
- It was originally set up to investigate bribery and governmental corruption
- Over time, its jurisdiction has expanded to include all major criminal probes and economic crimes
- Legal Framework: The legal powers of CBI are derived from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
- It requires consent from the respective state governments to operate outside Delhi.
- Functions – Investigating cases of corruption, bribery and misconduct of central government employees
- Investigating cases relating to infringement of fiscal and economic laws, that is, breach of laws concerning export and import control, customs and central exercise, income tax, foreign exchange regulations and so on. However, such cases are taken up either in consultation with or at the request of the department concerned
- Investigating serious crimes, having national and international ramifications, committed by organises gangs of professional criminals
2. INDIA IS NOW THIRD LARGEST PRODUCER OF SOLAR POWER
- India’s Solar Power Milestone in 2023 – Global Ranking Achievement: In 2023, India surpassed Japan, becoming the world’s third-highest producer of solar power
- Solar Power Generation: – India generated 113 billion units (BU) of solar power.
- Japan generated 110 BU of solar power in the same year. • Installed Power Capacity: India’s installed power capacity stood at 73 gigawatts (GW), ranking fifth globally.
- Japan has a higher capacity at 83 GW, ranking third globally.
- Production vs. Installed Capacity: Despite high installed capacity, the actual solar power produced in India was only 6.66% of its total power output.
- India’s total installed electricity capacity is 442 GW, with solar power constituting 18% of this.
- Comparative Demand Dynamics: – Power demand in Japan decreased by 2% in 2023, contributing to India overtaking Japan in solar power generation.
- Global Solar Production Leader: China leads with 584 BU in 2024, more than the next four countries combined.
- Renewables Growth: – Renewable sources comprised 30% of global electricity production in 2023.
- Solar and wind power expansions drove this increase from 19% in 2000.
- China’s Contribution: – In 2023, China was responsible for 51% of the additional global solar generation and 60% of new global wind generation.
- Low-Carbon Energy: – Nearly 40% of global electricity in 2023 was produced from low-carbon sources, including nuclear energy.
- Future Trends: Ember predicts a decrease in fossil fuel generation starting in 2024, indicating that 2023 may have marked the peak of global fossil fuel production.
- “The renewables future has arrived,” stated Dave Jones, Ember’s director, highlighting the rapid acceleration of solar power development.
- Policies Supporting India’s Renewable Energy Sector
- National Solar Mission Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO)
- Goods and Services Tax (GST) Benefits
- Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme
- International Solar Alliance (ISA)
- Green Energy Corridors
- Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
3. ORANGUTAN DIPLOMACY
- Malaysia plans to introduce “orangutan diplomacy”
- It is a strategy where critically endangered orangutans will be gifted to major palm oil-importing countries
- This move mirrors China’s well-known “panda diplomacy.”
- The initiative aims to showcase Malaysia’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and involves the participation of palm oil companies and NGOs to aid in wildlife preservation The primary goal is to strengthen trade relations with key importers such as the EU and India while promoting conservation efforts
- Why? – This announcement comes amidst ongoing criticism of the palm oil industry, which is accused of contributing to significant deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia, impacting the habitat of orangutans and other wildlife
- This new diplomatic approach seeks to address environmental concerns while maintaining Malaysia’s palm oil market share
4. INDIA’S SUGARCANE SUBSIDY BROKE WTO NORMS : USA, AUSTRALIA
- India’s Sugarcane Subsidy Issue with WTO
- Allegations: The US and Australia claim India’s sugarcane subsidies exceed WTO limits, distorting global trade, with subsidies over 90% of production value from 2018-2022
- Methodology Dispute: A WTO panel recommended a methodology for subsidy calculation that India has appealed against, disputing its accuracy
- Impact of India’s Appeal: India’s appeal has stalled the adoption of the WTO panel’s report due to the non-functional status of the WTO’s Appellate Body.
- FRP and SAPs: The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) and State Advised Prices (SAPs) are criticized as constituting market price support under WTO rules, significantly inflating the financial figures for sugarcane subsidies in India
- Global Trade Concerns: The high subsidy levels are a point of contention for the US and Australia, raising concerns about global sugar market fairness and trade imbalances
5. FOREST FIRE IN UTTARAKHAND
- The Supreme Court criticized the state government’s reliance on passive measures such as cloud-seeding or hoping for rainfall to mitigate the fires
- The court emphasized the necessity for proactive and preventive measures to address and prevent such environmental emergencies
- Statistical Data: The government’s counsel reported 398 incidents of forest fires since November 2023, underlining the ongoing challenge
ONE LINER
- Tamil Puthalvan scheme to provide male students with Rs.1000 will be launched in July
- Researchers recently discovered that an essential nutrient called choline is transported into the brain by a protein called FLVCR2.
