ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Posted 23 Sep 2024

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ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)

During 12th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers Meeting in Lao PDR, India called for expeditious review of the AITIGA. 

About AITIGA

  • Genesis: Signed in 2009 and entered into force in 2010.
  • Mandates: Each party shall accord National Treatment to goods of other parties in line with GATT, 1994.
  • Need for review:  Goods from China and other non- ASEAN nations routing to India taking advantage of duty concessions under AITIGA. 
    • ASEAN constitutes for about 11% share in India's global trade
  • ERIA: Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) is collaborating on conducting a joint study on AITIGA.
  • Tags :
  • GATT
  • East Asia Summit (EAS)
  • AITGIA
  • India-ASEAN Relations
  • National Treatment

Exercise Eastern Bridge VII

The 7th edition of the Exercise Eastern Bridge between Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) concluded.

  • It was held at Masirah (Oman).
  • Tags :
  • Indian Air Force (IAF)
  • Exercise Eastern Bridge VII
  • India-Oman Relations

Legacy Waste

According to Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs’ Data, only 16% of land is reclaimed under ‘legacy waste management project of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0’.

  • SBM 2.0 mandates all cities to clear legacy waste sites. 

Legacy Waste

  • Definition: Although there is no official definition of ‘legacy waste’, it typically refers to the aged municipal solid waste (MSW) in landfills or dumpsites.
  • Impact: Releases greenhouse gases, contamination of soil and groundwater, etc. 
  • Ways to deal: Sustainable SWM management plan, maximum utilisation of recovered fractions, building capacity of urban departments, reusing reclaimed land sustainably. 
  • Tags :
  • Swachh Bharat Mission
  • Legacy Waste
  • SBM 2.0
  • MSW

Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003

Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare jointly issued an advisory to all States and UTs for the rigorous implementation of the ToFEI manual in line with COTPA, 2003.

  • Tobacco-Free Educational Institution (ToFEI) was launched as part of the National Tobacco Control Program. 
  • 8.5% of school students in the age group of 13 to 15 consume tobacco in different forms across the country (Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 2019)

About COTPA, 2003

  • Prohibit advertisement, regulate trade, production, supply and distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
  • Prohibits the sale of tobacco products in an area within a radius of 100 yards of any educational institution. 
  • Tags :
  • COTPA, 2003
  • Tobacco-Free Educational Institution
  • National Tobacco Control Program

Infrasound

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) is holding a workshop for scientists on using ‘infrasound’ for monitoring nuclear tests with the industry.

  • Set up in 1996, CTBTO is an interim organization tasked with building up the verification regime of the CTBT (India is not a signatory).

About Infrasound

  • Refers to low-frequency sound waves with a spectrum between 0.002 and 20 Hz that are below the range of human hearing. 
  • Microbarometers are used to detect minute changes in atmospheric pressures caused by infrasounds.
  • Sources: Natural (Earthquakes, volcanic explosions, etc.) and non-natural (mining, chemical explosion, nuclear explosions, etc.)
  • Applications: Detection of distant nuclear explosions (CTBTO’s International Monitoring System (IMS)), checking structural health of infrastructure, wildlife tracking, etc.
  • Tags :
  • Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
  • CTBTO
  • Infrasound

Nanozymes

A CSIR-CLRI study has found that nanozymes can ensure collagen’s integrity and enhance resistance to enzymatic degradation

  • Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It is found in the bones, skin, muscles, and tendons.

About Nanozymes 

  • Nanozymes are nanomaterial-based artificial enzymes with intrinsic enzyme-like properties. 
  • Unlike biological enzymes, nanozymes are typically inorganic materials, i.e., metals, metal oxides, or carbon-based nanostructures.
  • Advantages: High stability, easy modification, designability, ease of preparation, and low cost. 
  • Applications: Biomedical (Biosensing, Drug delivery, diagnosis and therapy, etc.), Environmental Remediation (Water Purification, Air Purification, etc.), among others.
  • Tags :
  • Nanozymes
  • Collagen

FIDE Chess Olympiad

Recently, Indian contingent won Gold in both open and women’s category at the 45th International Chess Federation (FIDE) Olympiad.

About 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad

  • Organised in:  Budapest, Hungary.
    • 44th Chess Olympiad took place for the first time in India (Chennai).
  • Trophy for the winning team in the open section is the Hamilton-Russell Cup.
  • Trophy for the winning team in the women’s section is the Vera Menchik Cup.

About FIDE

  • It’s the governing body of the sport of chess, and it regulates all international chess competitions. 
  • Constituted as a non-governmental institution, it was recognized by International Olympic Committee as a Global Sporting Organization in 1999.
  • Tags :
  • FIDE
  • Chess Olympiad
  • Hamilton-Russell Cup
  • Vera Menchik Cup

Nagar Van Scheme

111 Nagar Vans have been sanctioned within the last 100 days.

About Nagar Van Scheme

  • Launched in: 2020.
  • Aim: To develop 1000 Nagar Vans by the year 2027 with financial support of National Fund of National Compensatory Afforestation Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA).
  • Launched by: Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to promote urban forestry/ greenary by involving local communities, NGOs, educational institutions, local bodies, etc.
    • Provision has been made on MeriLiFE Portal for uploading details of plantations done. 
  • Significance: Protecting urban forests, addresses environmental concerns like air pollution, urban heat islands, biodiversity loss etc.
  • Tags :
  • Nagar Van Scheme
  • CAMPA
  • MeriLiFE Portal
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