Sea Guardians-2020
Why in news?
- The sixth bilateral naval exercise between China and Pakistan, code-named Sea Guardians-2020 was recently held in the northern Arabian Sea, with the purpose of enhancing security cooperation between the two countries.
Key facts
- This is the sixth joint naval exercise between china and Pakistan, but it is the first time that the exercise was named “sea guardians.”
- Sea guardians is expected to become a series of naval exercises with Pakistan, similar to the ‘warrior’ series of joint land exercises and the shaheen series of joint air exercises.
- The exercise is also the first between China and Pakistan that will feature anti-submarine and submarine rescue training, indicating a high-level of strategic mutual trust.
Coastal Regulation Zone
Why in news?
- The four illegal apartment complexes in Maradu, Kerala, was razed by controlled implosion on the orders of the Supreme Court for breaching Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. The court had called the illegal constructions a “colossal loss” to the environment.
Key facts
- In India, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Rules govern human and industrial activity close to the coastline, in order to protect the fragile ecosystems near the sea.
- They restrict certain kinds of activities — like large constructions, setting up of new industries — within a certain distance from the coastline.
- Under the rules, the regulation zone has been defined as the area up to 500 m from the high-tide line. The restrictions depend on criteria such as the population of the area, the ecological sensitivity, the distance from the shore, and whether the area had been designated as a natural park or wildlife zone.
- The Rules have a no-development zone of 20 m for all islands close to the mainland coast, and for all backwater islands in the mainland.
- For the so-called CRZ-III (Rural) areas, two separate categories have been stipulated.
- In the densely populated rural areas (CRZ-IIIA) with a population density of 2,161 per sq km as per the 2011 Census, the no-development zone is 50 m from the high-tide level, as against the 200 m stipulated earlier.
- CRZ-IIIB category (rural areas with population density below 2,161 per sq km) areas continue to have a no-development zone extending up to 200 m from the high-tide line.
- While the CRZ Rules are made by the Union environment ministry, implementation is to be ensured by state governments through their Coastal Zone Management Authorities. In the current case, the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) identified the CRZ violations.
Coal sector reforms
Why in news?
- The government announced promulgation of the ordinance for amendment in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957 and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 in order to ease auction of coal mines, allow FDI and enhance ease of doing business.
Key facts
- The Union Cabinet had recently approved the amendments which intend to open up new areas of growth in the coal and mining sector.
- The amendments in the laws would offer unexplored and partially explored coal blocks for mining through prospecting license-cum-mining lease (PL-cum-ML).
- It will also lead to democratisation of coal mining sector by opening it up to anyone willing to invest.
- The amendments will allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the coal mining sector by removing the restriction and eligibility criteria for participation.
- Allowing of successful bidder/allottee to utilise mined coal in any of the plant of its subsidiary or holding company Attracting large investment in coal mining sector as restrictions of end use has been dropped.
DRDO’s Naval variant of Light Combat Aircraft makes its first successful landing
Why in news?
- The naval version of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, LCA, made its first successful landing on the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. This aircraft is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization, DRDO.
Key facts
- The successful landing is a great event in the history of Indian fighter aircraft development programme.
- DRDO said, after completing extensive trials on the Shore Based Test Facility, LCA Navy did an arrested landing on INS Vikramaditya.
- With the successful landing of Light Combat Aircraft, LCA on aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, India has entered into the club of selected nations having the capability to design a fighter jet which can land on an aircraft carrier.
- LCA is the smallest and lightest Multi-Role Supersonic Fighter Aircraft of its class.
- The LCA programme intends to further expand and advance India’s indigenous aerospace capabilities.