TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19.09.2024

1. ECONOMY

CPPS GETS GREEN LIGHT, PENSIONERS TO GET PAYMENTS VIA ANY BANK, BRANCH

• The Union Labour Ministry’s approval of the Centralised Pension Payment System (CPPS) for the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995, is a significant step towards modernizing the pension disbursement process in India.
• Centralized Disbursement: Current System: Pension disbursement is managed by regional offices of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), requiring pensioners to transfer their Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) when they move or change banks.
• New System: CPPS will centralize the pension disbursement process, allowing pensioners to receive their pensions from any bank, any branch, anywhere in the country without the need for PPO transfers.
• Ease of Access:
• Mobility: Pensioners who relocate, either temporarily or permanently, will no longer face delays or administrative hurdles in receiving their pensions.
• Bank Flexibility: Pensioners can change their bank or branch without affecting their pension disbursement.
• IT Modernisation: CITES 2.01: The CPPS will be part of the EPFO’s Centralised IT Enabled System (CITES 2.01), which aims to streamline and modernize the pension disbursement process using advanced IT solutions.
• Launch Date: The system is set to be launched on January 1, 2025.
• Aadhaar-Based Payment System: Future Integration: In the next phase, CPPS will transition to an Aadhaar-based payment system, further simplifying the process.
• Immediate Credit: Pensioners will receive their pensions immediately upon release without needing to visit the bank for verification.
• Cost Reduction: Efficiency: The centralized system is expected to reduce the administrative costs associated with pension disbursement

2. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LATEST ILO STUDY LINKS AI TO DIP IN LABOUR INCOME

• The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) ‘World Employment and Social Outlook: September 2024 Update’ highlights several critical issues related to rising inequality, stagnation in labour income, and the impact of technological innovations, particularly artificial intelligence (AI).
• Rising Inequality: Stagnant Labour Income: The share of labour income has stagnated worldwide, contributing to rising inequality.
• Youth Unemployment: A significant portion of youth remains out of employment, education, or training, exacerbating the inequality issue.
• Impact of Technological Innovations: AI and Automation: Technological innovations, especially AI and automation, have led to increased labour productivity and output but have also contributed to a decline in the labour income share.
• Labour Income Decline: The global labour income share fell by 0.6 percentage points from 2019 to 2022 and has remained flat since then. The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant driver of this decline, with nearly 40% of the reduction occurring during the pandemic years (2020-2022).
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Slow Progress: The report indicates slow progress on key SDGs as the 2030 deadline approaches, highlighting the need for accelerated efforts to meet these goals.

3. STATES

H.P RAISED THE MARRIAGEABLE AGE FOR WOMEN

• The Himachal Pradesh Assembly recently passed a Bill raising the minimum marriageable age for women from 18 to 21 years. This legislative move aims to advance gender equality and improve the welfare of women in the state.
• Why was the Bill Passed?
• Advancing Women’s Welfare: Government Commitment: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasized that the Bill demonstrates the Congress government’s commitment to the welfare of women.
• First in the Country: Himachal Pradesh is the first state in India to enact legislation increasing the marriage age of girls to 21.
• Educational and Health Benefits: Obstructing Early Marriage: Health, Social Justice, and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil highlighted that early marriage obstructs girls’ education and limits their potential for progress.
• Reducing Early Pregnancies: The amendments aim to reduce instances of early pregnancies and motherhood, which adversely affect women’s health.
• Key Provisions of the Bill: Redefining “Child”:
• Current Definition: Under Section 2(a) of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, a “child” is defined as a male who has not completed 21 years of age and a female who has not completed 18 years of age.
• New Definition: The Bill redefines a “child” as a male or female who has not completed 21 years of age, removing the gender distinction.
• Extended Period for Annulment:
• Current Provision: Section 3 of the 2006 Act allows individuals who were minors at the time of marriage to file for annulment within two years of attaining majority (before turning 20 for women and 23 for men).
• New Provision: The Bill extends this period to five years, allowing both women and men to file petitions before they turn 23, in line with the new minimum marriageable age of 21 years.
• Precedence Over Other Laws: New Clause: A new provision ensures that the Bill’s provisions take precedence over all other existing laws.

4. ENVIRONEMENT

ENVIRONMENTALISTS BRING OUT GREEN MANIFESTO TO SPOTLIGHT ECOLOGICAL ISSUES IN HARYANA

• Green Manifesto for Haryana In a pioneering initiative, environmentalists, ecologists, and civil society members in Haryana have released a ‘green manifesto’ to address critical ecological issues. The manifesto highlights pressing concerns such as air pollution, waste management, depleting groundwater levels, and the need to protect the Aravalis.
• Key Environmental Issues in Haryana: Air Pollution: Haryana has eight of the 50 most polluted places globally.
• Forest Cover: The state has the lowest forest cover in India at 3.6%, compared to the national average of 21%.
• Waste Management: Unsegregated waste creates toxic landfills, impacting natural ecosystems and water bodies.
• Heatwaves: Extreme temperatures reached 50°C in May and June. Main Demands in the Green Manifesto: Legal Designation of Critical Ecological Zones for the Aravallis and Shivaliks
• Inclusion of their demands in Political Manifestos of various political parties for the upcoming Assembly election.
• Need for proper Sustainable Waste Management to prevent the creation of toxic landfills.
• Need for Water Conservation practices to address the depleting groundwater levels.
• It calls for measures such as rainwater harvesting, efficient irrigation techniques, and the protection of water bodies.
• Increasing Forest Cover in Haryana to at least match the national average.
• This would involve afforestation and reforestation initiatives, as well as the protection of existing forests.

5. NATIONAL

CENTRE TO CLEAR FAME 3 SCHEME IN 1-2 MONTHS

• The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme is a flagship initiative by the Government of India aimed at promoting electric mobility in the country. The scheme has undergone two phases so far, and the third phase, FAME 3, is expected to be finalized soon.
• FAME 1: Launched in 2015, focused on demand creation, pilot projects, and charging infrastructure.
• FAME 2: Launched in 2019, aimed at boosting electric vehicle (EV) adoption through subsidies, incentives for manufacturing, and the development of charging infrastructure.
• Temporary Scheme: The Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024 was introduced as a temporary measure and is set to expire in September 2024.
• FAME 3: Finalization Timeline: Union Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy stated that FAME 3 is expected to be finalized within a month or two.
• Inter-Ministerial Group: An inter-ministerial group is working on the inputs received for the scheme, aiming to address issues identified in the first two phases.
• Objectives: Promote Electric Mobility: Continue to encourage the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles.
• Address Previous Issues: Resolve challenges faced in FAME 1 and FAME 2, such as subsidy disbursement delays and infrastructure gaps.
• Sustainable Development: Support the transition to cleaner and more sustainable transportation options.

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