Daily Current Affairs: 31 Aug 2021

China Clamps New Rules to Regulate Foreign Ships In the South China Sea And Taiwan Strait

(Topic- GS Paper II–IR, Source-The Hindu)

Why in the news?

Recently, China has notified new maritime rules, warranting vessels to report their information when passing through the Chinese's “Territorial Waters”.

Key highlights

According to the new rules, Ships carrying radioactive materials, bulk oil, chemicals and a host of other supplies will now have to report the details of the cargos to China, on entering its waters.
It is further expected to escalate the tensions with other nations if Beijing continues to enforce them because it claims almost the entire South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

Controversy

China claims most of its waters, marked by the "nine-dash line" on its maps.
The requirements of the latest notice will also be seen as being inconsistent with UNCLOS, which states that ships of all countries “enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea”.

Significant for Security

Maritime Safety Administration “has the power to dispel or reject a vessel’s entry to Chinese waters if the vessel is found to pose threat to China’s national security.”

Related Information

About Nine dash line

The "nine-dash line" is deemed by most countries as being inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
It only gives states the right to establish a territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles.

About the South China Sea

The South China Sea is an arm of the western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia. It is south of China, east & south of Vietnam, west of the Philippines and north of the island of Borneo.

It is connected by Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea and by Luzon Strait with the Philippine Sea

About Taiwan Strait

It is also known as the Formosa Strait, is a 180 km wide strait separating Taiwan and mainland China.
The strait is currently part of the South China Sea and connects to the East China Sea to the north.
The narrowest part is 130 km wide.
The entire strait is on Asia’s continental shelf.
Historically both the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan espoused a One-China Policy that considered the strait part of the exclusive economic zone of a single “China”.

The Greater Malé Connectivity Project

(Topic- GS Paper II–IR, Source-The Hindu)

Why in the news?

Recently the Afcons group has signed a contract for the largest-ever infrastructure project in the Maldives.

About the Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP)

The project includes a 6.7 Km bridge and causeway network connecting Male, Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi islands.
The bridge will be “a national economic engine and lifeline” connecting Hulhumale, Hulhule and Male with the proposed Gulhifalhu Port and the Thilafushi Industrial Zone.

Funding

The project is funded by the Exim Bank of India under the Indian grant and Line of Credit (LOC).

Significance

The project is a symbol of the robust India-Maldives relationship, and how both countries are cooperating.
This project is significant because it facilitates inter-island connectivity in the country.

Recent Developments:

In June 2021, India welcomed the election of Maldives’ Foreign Minister as the President of the 76th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (GA) for 2021-22.
In August 2020, India had committed to the Maldives a five-pronged package including air, sea, intra-island and telecommunications to help it deal with the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Maldives is the first South Asian country with which India started a bilateral air bubble during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Maldives and India are members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC).

Vaccine Travel Lane

(Topic- GS Paper II–IR, Source-The Hindu)

Why in the news?

Recently Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) has been introduced by Singapore.
It is one of the various concept various concepts that allow the movement of passengers between nations.
Others include air bubbles, vaccine passports, travel corridors and even a traffic light system.

What are Vaccinated Travel Lanes?

VTLs are an extension of travel corridors albeit only for travellers who have been fully vaccinated.
As of date, Singapore has established VTLs with two jurisdictions — Germany and Brunei Darussalam — allowing fully vaccinated passengers from these two places to arrive in Singapore for any travel purpose without quarantine requirements, which are otherwise mandatory for those flying to Singapore.

How will these VTLs work?

Singapore will designate specific flights with the country on the other side of the lane only for passengers having a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) issued by the Singapore government.
Singapore citizens and permanent residents do not need to apply for the VTP to travel back home under the VTL.

What do travellers need to do?

To apply for a VTP, travellers must be fully vaccinated — an individual will be considered fully vaccinated 14 days after they have received the full regimen of a vaccine authorised by WHO for emergency use.
It also includes the Serum Institute of India’s Covishield.

Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Vigraha’

(Topic- GS Paper III– Defense, Source-The Hindu)

Why in the news?

The Defence Minister has commissioned the Indian Coast Guard (ICG)’s offshore patrol vessel (OPV) Vigraha.

About ICGS Vigraha

It is an indigenously built Indian Coast Guard (ICG)’s offshore patrol vessel (OPV).
ICGS Vigraha is the last vessel in the series of seven OPVs built by L&T under an MoD contract signed in 2015.

Built by

The ship has been designed and built by M/s Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding Ltd.

Features

The ship is equipped with Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), and Automated Power Management System (APMS) and High-Power External Firefighting (EFF) system.
The ship is designed to carry one twin Engine Helicopter and four high-speed boats for Boarding Operation, Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement and Maritime Patrol.
The ship is also capable of carrying limited pollution response equipment to contain oil spills at sea which is an environmentally friendly feature.

Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana (RGKNY)

(Topic- GS Paper III– Government Policies and intervention, Source-AIR)

Why in the news?

Recently Chhattisgarh Chief Minister has provided financial assistance of Rs 9,000 per acre under the ajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana (RGKNY).

About Rajiv Gandhi Nyay Yojana

It has been launched by the Chhattisgarh government to ensure "minimum income availability" to farmers of the state through direct bank transfers in 2020.
Under the RGKNY, the state government provides input assistance to farmers for crop production

Benefits under the scheme

Those farmers who have sown paddy, kodo-kutki (millet), arhar pulse in the ongoing kharif season and if their crops get destroyed due to lack of rainfall, they will be given an assistance of Rs 9,000 per acre based on survey (for assessment of damage).

Bharat series (BH-series)

(Topic- GS Paper II– Governance, Source-The Hindu)

Why in the news?

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has recently introduces a new registration mark for new vehicles “Bharat series (BH-series)” to facilitate seamless transfer of vehicles

About BH Number Series

It is a newly introduced number series for vehicle registration across India.
It is specifically meant for those vehicle owners who shift from one state to another regularly due to their transferable nature of jobs.
The new rules also called Central Motor Vehicles (Twentieth Amendment) Rules, 2021, shall come into force with effect from September 15, 2021.

Current Scenario

Currently, under section 47 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, a person is allowed to keep a vehicle for a maximum of one year in any State other than the one, it is registered in. Owners have to get such vehicles re-registered before the expiry of one year (12 months).
The BH signifies Bharat and will replace the state letters in the number plate denoting the state of vehicle registration, like UP or DL.

Who is eligible to apply for BH Series?

The individuals working in private sector companies/organisations, which have their offices in five or more states/Union Territories can also avail of this registration.
This vehicle registration facility under “Bharat series (BH-series)” will be available voluntarily to Defense personnel, employees of Central Government/ State Government/ Central/ State Public Sector Undertakings and private sector companies/organizations, which have their offices in four or more States/Union territories.

Benefits

Vehicles will not require any transfer of registration and will be valid across the country.
This will allow free movement of personal vehicles across States/Union Territories.

New initiative in J&K to restore lost glory of Pashmina shawls

(Topic- GS Paper I– Art and Culture, Source-The Hindu)

Why in the news?

Recently, the Centre for Excellence (CFE) has been set up by shawl trade to restore the lost hand-driven processes involved in the intricate shawl weaving industry in J&K.

About the initiative

The initiative is aimed at reviving the lost sheen of the hand-made shawls.
Unlike the past, the first bulk of Pashmina wool tufts will be given to women spinners without any charge.
This will not force them for any investment.

Related Information

About Changthangi or Pashmina goat

It is a special breed of goat indigenous to the high altitude regions of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.
They are raised for ultra-fine cashmere wool, known as Pashmina once woven.
These goats are generally domesticated and reared by nomadic communities called the Changpa in the Changthang region of Greater Ladakh.

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