CURRENT AFFAIRS 02 August, 2024
- GOVT PERMITTED 100% FDI FOR AIRCRAFT MRO VIA AUTOMATIC ROUTE –
- The government allows 100% Foreign Direct Investment via the automatic route for aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) to boost the sector.
- A uniform 5% IGST rate on imports of aircraft parts and tools is introduced, enhancing competitiveness and efficiency.
- Policies include extended export periods, reduced GST, exempted customs duty, and simplified clearance processing.
- WAYANAD RANKED AMONG TOP LANDSLIDE-PRONE DISTRICTS IN ISRO’S 2023 LANDSLIDE ATLAS –
- Wayanad, currently reeling from the deadly July 30 landslide disaster, was among several places in Kerala identified by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2023 as being highly susceptible to landslides based on key socio-economic parameters.
- In the Landslide Atlas of India, prepared by the National Remote Sensing Centre (a unit of ISRO) in February 2023, Wayanad ranked 13th among 147 districts across 17 States and two Union Territories.
- Meanwhile, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode ranked third, fifth, seventh, and tenth, respectively.
- THE BHARTIYA VAYUYAN VIDHEYAK BILL 2024 –
- The Ministry of Civil Aviation tabled the “The Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024” that replaces the Aircraft Act 1943, to put aside the colonial legacy of aviation – one of the most modern and hi-tech sectors.
- The Aircraft Act 1934is an act to make better provision for the control of the manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import and export of aircraft.
Need to Replace the Aircraft Act 1943:
- The Act has been amended several times to enhance safety, oversight, and to meet requirements for sustainable growth of the aviation sector and to give effect to the provisions of international conventions.
As a result of numerous amendments, a need is felt to address the ambiguities and confusion experienced by the stakeholders,
- To remove redundancies,
- To simplify processes and improve ease of doing business,
- To provide for design, manufacture, and maintenance of aircraft and related equipment.
- LEH FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS: HIGH TEMPERATURES AND THEIR IMPACT ON AIR TRAVEL –
- High temperature at high altitude is disrupting flight operations to and from Leh, located at nearly 10,700 feet above the mean sea level.
- Aircraft wings are designed with the top surface more curved than the bottom. As the aircraft moves, air flows faster over the top of the wings than beneath them.
- According to Bernoulli’s principle, this faster-moving air results in lower pressure above the wings compared to the pressure below.
- Bernoulli’s principle: Within a horizontal flow of fluid, points of higher fluid speed will have less pressure than points of slower fluid speed.
- This pressure difference generates a force known as lift, which helps the aircraft take off.
High temperatures and impact on aircraft’s flight
- Thinning of air and loss of required lift
- Higher temperatures cause air to expand and become less dense, resulting in fewer air molecules beneath an aircraft’s wings to generate sufficient lift.
- According to experts of atmospheric science, aircraft lose about 1% lift for every 3°C temperature increase.
- SUPREME COURT BEGINS WEEK-LONG SPECIAL LOK ADALAT DRIVE FOR AMICABLE DISPUTE RESOLUTION –
- The Supreme Court of India commenced a special Lok Adalat drive as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations.
- From 2 p.m., the first seven Benches of the court, including a five-member Bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, transformed into Lok Adalats to amicably settle long-pending disputes. The Lok Adalats started hearing these cases after the judges concluded their regular Bench duties for the day.
- This initiative, running until August 3, aims to expedite the resolution of various cases such as matrimonial disputes, property disputes, motor accident claims, land acquisition, compensation, and service and labour disputes.
- National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and the Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA.
- It aims to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organise Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
- Hence, the Lok Adalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.