ISRO begins preparations for setting up third rocket launchpad
Context
- Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has begun preparatory works for setting up a third rocket launchpad in the small coastal hamlet of Kulashekhrapattinam in the Thuthukudi district of Tamil Nadu.
Key highlights:
- At present, the ISRO has two launch pads at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
- The demand for additional launch pads has arisen as a result of the increase in the number of satellite launches from India, both for domestic and international customers. ISRO says that it had launched as many as 17 missions in 2018 alone.
- Recently, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office informed Rajya Sabha that the government had a proposal to set up a rocket launching pad near Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu.
Amphetamine-Type Stimulants
Context
- Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment informed Parliament about the substance abuse trends in the country. The data was determined by a National Survey conducted in 2018 to collect state-wise data on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use.
Age Group 10-17 years:
- The country has 30 lakh individuals in the age group 10-17 years who consume alcohol, with a prevalence of 1.3 %.
- In the same age group, 20 lakh individuals use cannabis, a prevalence of 0.9 %, while 40 lakh users (1.8 %) use opioids. Sedatives and inhalant users number 20 lakh (0.58 %) and 30 lakh (1.17 %) respectively.
- Additionally, there are over 4 lakh Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) users (0.18 %), followed by 2 lakh cocaine users (0.06 %) and 2 lakh users of hallucinogens (0.07 %).
Age Group 18-75 years:
- For individuals in the age-group 18-75 years, alcohol users number 15.1 crore (17.10 %).
- There are 2.9 crore cannabis users (3.30 %), 1.9 crore opioid users (2.1 %), 1.1 crore users of sedatives (1.21 %), 60 lakh users of inhalants (0.58 %), 20 lakh users each of ATS (0.18 %) and hallucinogens (0.13 %), and 10 lakh cocaine users (0.11 %).
International Financial Services Centres (IFSC) Authority Bill
Why in news?
- The Lok Sabha passed the International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019.
Key highlights:
- An International Financial Services Centres (IFSC) provides jurisdiction for carrying out international financial services domestically.
- Gujarat International Finance Tech-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat is the only functional IFSC in India as of now. There is no limit on the number of IFSCs that can be set up. Other states can also seek nod for similar centres.
- The Bill will apply to all IFSCs set up under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005.
- The Bill sets up the International Financial Services Centres Authority. It will consist of nine members, appointed by the central government. Members will have a term of three years, subject to reappointment.
- The bill seeks to establish a unified Authority to develop and regulate the financial services market in the IFSC’s in India. Currently, multiple agencies are entrusted with regulating the specific market including the RBI, SEBI, IRDA and PFRDA.
- Fourteen Central Acts would be amended including seven relating to the RBI, three each relating to the SEBI and the IRDA and one on the PFRDA.
- The proposed authority will be subjected to the scrutiny of the CAG and the CVC. The Central agencies like the CBI, the ED and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act-PMLA will have jurisdiction over the proposed authority.