Central Adoption Resource Authority
Why in news?
- The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has begun a nationwide capacity building programme for social workers who help assess the suitability of the adoptive family and prepare a child for a new home.
About:
- Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is the nodal body for adoption of Indian children.
- It regulates in-country and inter-country adoptions (in accordance with the provisions of The Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of India in 2003).
- Status: It is an autonomous body of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
- The mandatory registration of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) and linking to CARA has been provided in Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
International Shark Attack File
Why in news?
- Globally, unprovoked shark attacks have been declining in the last two years, according to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) compiled by the University of Florida. There were 64 unprovoked bites in 2019, roughly in line with 2018’s 62 bites, and about 22% lower than the most recent five-year (2014-18) average of 82 incidents a year.
Key highlights of the report:
- The United States had the highest number of unprovoked attacks in 2019, at 41, and Florida was the US region with the highest number, at 21.
- The Florida Museum of Natural History. located in the university, quoted Gavin Naylor, director of its shark research programme, as saying that the recent decline may reflect changes in the migration patterns of blacktip sharks, the species most implicated in the 21 bites that took place in Florida.
- The 64 unprovoked bites were out of 140 shark attacks in 2019. Among the rest, 41 were provoked attacks, 12 were boat attacks, one involved shark-inflicted postmortem bites and one case involved a diver in a public aquarium.
- Following the US’s 41 cases was Australia with 11; these two countries accounted for over 80% of all cases. In 2018, there were 32 unprovoked attacks in the US.
Related-party transactions
Why in news?
- A working group, put in place by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in November 2019, has proposed significant changes to strengthen the regulatory framework for related-party transactions that have been the subject of many corporate governance matters.
Recommendations made:
- Broaden the definition of RPTs (related-party transactions) to include transactions which are undertaken, whether directly or indirectly, with the intention of benefitting related parties.
- An audit committee approval must be made mandatory for transactions between a listed entity or its subsidiary with its related party.
- Any entity related to the promoter or promoter group should be considered a related party. Further, any entity holding — directly or indirectly along with their relatives — 20% or more stake in the company should also be considered a related party.
Anthropological Survey of India
Why in news?
- As part of the commemoration of Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) has dedicated an entire issue of its journal on what it calls “Gandhian insights into applied anthropology”.
About:
- Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) is the apex Indian government organisation involved in anthropological studies and field data research for human and cultural aspects.
- It was formed in 1945 in Kolkata.
- It comes under the Ministry of Culture.