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”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” is every day published in the morning between 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and contains selective current affairs articles. ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” covers various topics from UPSC Prelims Syllabus and is very helpful and time managing for UPSC Aspirants. The framing of this daily current affairs compilation article is easy to read and understandable also.
In the ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” article, we focus on UPSC Preliminary exam-oriented current affairs covering various sections from leading National Newspapers, PIB, and other various official sources.
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
CBAM: Why In the News?
- With carbon neutrality being the byword to a sustainable world, a host of countries — Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Japan, Germany, Canada, Costa Rica, the United States, Brazil, India, and China among others — have set for themselves net-zero targets for the middle and later part of the century.
- At the forefront of the commitment to net-zero is the European Union, which wants to be the first carbon-neutral region in the world by 2050.
What is the EU’s CBAM approach?
- EU brought out the ‘European Union Green Deal’ in July last year to focus on a new growth strategy that aims to transform the EU society into a fair and wealthy one with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy.
- To attain carbon neutrality, the EU has set forth immediate targets and has brought out the ‘Fit-for-55’ package, a communication of its 2030 climate targets.
- A provision in the policy plan is the introduction of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a carbon-pricing system proposed for imports into the EU. The CBAM suggests taxing the imported goods-based difference between carbon used in the production of domestic and imported goods.
- Proposed to be complementary to the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EUETS), during the transition phase of CBAM — beginning January 1, 2023 — importers will only have to report emissions embedded in the production of goods and are not obliged to pay a financial penalty.
- The CBAM, however, will come completely into force from January 1, 2026 and the measure will see a gradual reduction of free EUETS allowance coverage of 10 percentage points per year and a complete phase-out by 2035.
- In the initial phase, five CITE (Carbon Intensive and Trade Exposed) sectors such as iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilizers and electricity will be taxed under CBAM.
Centre Nominated 4 New Members For Rajyasabha
In News
Olympic sprinter P.T. Usha, music composer Ilaiyaraaja, philanthropist Veerendra Heggade and screenwriter V. Vijayendra Prasad have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha in the category of eminent persons nominated by the President.
P.T. Usha
- Born in Kozhikode in Kerala.
- She is one of India’s best-known track-and-field athletes.
- She also runs the Usha School of Athletics, training young athletes.
- She has been given the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri in the past.
Ilaiyaraaja
- He is from Tamil Nadu, a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan and many awards for his music.
- He has composed more than 7,000 songs for over 1,000 films (mainly in southern India), and has more than 20,000 concert performances to his credit.
- Sivaji Ganesan (1982-86), Vyjayantimala Bali (1993-99) and “Cho” S. Ramaswamy (1999-2005) are the other Tamil film personalities who had served as nominated members of the Rajya Sabha.
Veerendra Heggade
- He has been the Dharmadhikari (custodian) of the Dharmasthala temple in Karnataka from the age of 20.
- A philanthropist, he runs the Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara Educational Trust, which provides education through more than 25 institutions.
- He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
K.V. Vijayendra Prasad
- He is from Andhra Pradesh.
- He is the noted screenwriter behind the blockbuster movies Baahubali and RRR that have made waves in India and abroad.
FAQs About Rajya Sabha’s Nominated Members
Are there nominated members in Rajya Sabha?
Yes, there are twelve members nominated by the President of India from amongst persons having special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art and social service.
Do the nominated members vote in the election of the Vice-President and the President?
While the nominated members of Rajya Sabha have a right to vote in the election of the Vice-President of India, they are not entitled to vote in the election of the President of India.
Who was the first woman nominated member of the Rajya Sabha?
Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale (1952-56 and 1956-62).
Mangarh hillock
Mangarh hillock: In News
A team from National Monuments Authority submitted a report on declaring Mangarh hillock in Rajasthan as a monument of National Importance.
History Of Mangadh
- In 1903 Govind Guru(Born on 20 December 1858 at Bedsa village in Dungarpur district into a non-tribal Banjara family) founded an organization called Samp Sabha. The word Samp means interaction and giving up evil practices.
- Under the leadership of Govind Guru, this mission was taken ahead and Mangarh became its centre.
- The centre worked for making the tribals aware of their culture.
- The disciples of Govind Guru do not believe in idol worship. They do not believe in any god either. They are nature-worshippers. Govind Guru also tried to organize the tribals.
- He succeeded in his endeavour to such an extent that the then ruler of Doongarpur sought the assistance of British army. With the aid of the British army, around 1500 unarmed tribals were massacred on the Mangarh hillock and Govind Guru was taken prisoner.
- He was released in 1923 on the condition that he would not enter the Mangarh area. He passed away on 30 October 1931. His memorial stands at the place where he was cremated.