Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 15 December 2021

::NATIONAL::

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has again raised his nearly 15-year-old demand for the status of special category state (SCS) for Bihar. Nitish has been seeking SCS for Bihar since at least 2007.

Special category states:

In a special category state, the Centre-state funding of centrally-sponsored schemes is split in the ratio of 90:10, much more favourable than the 60:40 or 80:20 splits in other (non-SCS) states.
The Constitution does not provide for any state to receive special treatment compared to others; however, for a range of reasons including historical disadvantage, difficult or hilly terrain, nature of population (low density or a large share of tribals), strategic location along the border, economic or infrastructural backwardness, etc., the Centre has over the decades extended special assistance to some states.
From 1969 onward, a body called the National Development Council (NDC) — which used to be a part of the now defunct Planning Commission of India — recommended SCS status for 11 states: eight from the Northeast, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
After the government accepted the recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission in 2015, however, the concept of SCS effectively disappeared.
The NITI Aayog has no power to allocate funds — and therefore, the discretion that the ruling party at the Centre had to dole out special favours to states through the Plan panel, no longer exists.

Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) has come up with a competitive funding mechanism for supporting innovative approaches to deliver financial services at a scale in the agribusiness sector in the state.

About:

It is a first of its kind fund that has been conceptualised by Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART), a World Bank-financed project of the Assam Government.
The fund will support testing of innovations and upscaling of tested innovations by financialservice providers like banks, MFIs, value chain financiers, insurance companies etc.
This in turn will help to increase access in terms of financial services for beneficiaries in theagri-business sector.

Significance:

The fund will help in supporting innovative approaches to deliver financial services at a scale in the agribusiness sector in the state.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said this week that the U.S., China and North Korea agreed in principle on declaring a formal end to the Korean War, replacing an armistice agreement that ended hostilities in 1953.

About:

Moon announced the agreement during a press conference on December 13 with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison following bilateral talks.
The president said his government will work hard in the coming months to transform the armistice that has hung over the peninsula for nearly 70 years into a permanent peace treaty supported by all sides that took part in the conflict.
Moon added that a declaration that finally ends the war will inject new energy into talks involving the U.S., South Korea and North Korea that have been stalled for more than two years.

Background:

Over the past few years, particularly during Donald Trump’s presidency, there has been unusual development in DPRK-US relations.
In June 2018, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un met with Trump in Singapore for a historical summit, becoming the first North Korean leader to meet a sitting US president.

Voters in the French island territory of New Caledonia chose to stay part of France in a referendumboycotted by pro-independence forces.

Political features:

The Capital isNoumea.
Under the Noumea Accord of 1998, New Caledonia has limited autonomy within the Frenchlegal system.
Area: Situated in Southwestern Pacific Ocean, it lies about 1,500 km east of Australia (includes theisland of New Caledonia; the Loyalty Islands; theBelep Islands; and the Tie des Pins).

Geographical features:

Mountain: Mt. Panie(Highest Point)
River: The Diahot River (longest river)
The Island’s lagoons, with their diverse reefs and associated ecosystems, were designated aUNESCO World Heritage site in 2008.

Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) has developed large-scale agri-voltaic farming.

About:

Agri-voltaic farming is a mixed system of solar energy production associating solar panels andcrop at the same time on the same land area.
It is an evolving practice in sustainable development that combines the production of food and energy.
PV-module are installed in Agri voltaic system (AVS) inclination angle equal to the latitude of theplace of installation.
Agri-PV overcomes the present either-or situation by achieving both power generation andagricultural yield.

It was launched successfully in December, 1961, (60 years ago) and first non-governmentalsatellite that was built by private citizens.
It was the first satellite to reach its own orbit after being ejected as a secondary payload ofanother primary mission.
It was deployed in low-Earth orbit, just above the atmosphere and its function post deploymentwas to transmit the letters “HI”in Morse code.