DMK seeks review of SC verdict on 10% EWS quota

• The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu on December 5, 2022 sought a review of a Supreme Court judgment upholding the 10% quota granted to economically weaker sections (EWS) in government jobs and educational institutions, saying the leeway has made a large section of upper caste population eligible for “easy exclusive luxurious” reservations.
• The decision to file the petition urging the apex court to have a re-look at its majority judgment came after DMK President and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin convened an all-party meeting.

About 10% reservation

Supreme Court has upheld the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment which provides 10% reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among forward castes in government jobs and colleges across India.

About Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Quota

• The 10% EWS quota was introduced under the 103rd Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2019 by amending Articles 15 and 16.
• It inserted Article 15 (6) and Article 16 (6).
• It is for economic reservation in jobs and admissions in educational institutes for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
• It was enacted to promote the welfare of the poor not covered by the 50% reservation policy for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC).
• It enables both the Centre and the States to provide reservations to the EWS of society.

Drone delivers drugs to remote Meghalaya health centre

• The air delivery of 1.5 kg of medicines to a remote location marked the unveiling of India’s first drone station for transporting drugs at the Jengjal Subdivisional Hospital in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district
• A vertiplane X3 drone took 36 minutes to deliver 1.5 kg of medicines to a primary health centre
• The drone, a certiplane X3 designed by a start-up, took 36 minutes to deliver the payload at the Pedaldoba Primary Health Centre, almost 2 hours less than the time taken by a semblance of a road.
• This drone has a capacity of flying with a payload of up to 4 kg

PM seeks cooperation of all parties to make G-20 Presidency a success

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 5 presided over a meeting of leaders from all political parties on India’s presidency of the G-20 and sought their cooperation to make it a big success as the government made a power-point presentation of its year-long programmes in the run-up to the 2023 summit.

About G20

• Origin:
  • The G20 was formed in 1999 in the backdrop of the financial crisis of the late 1990s that hit East Asia and Southeast Asia in particular.
  • Its aim was to secure global financial stability by involving middle-income countries.
  • As stated by the official G20 Website: 
    • “On the advice of the G7 Finance Ministers, the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors began holding meetings to discuss the response to the global financial crisis that occurred,”
• Objectives:
  • Policy coordination between its members in order to achieve global economic stability, sustainable growth;
  • To promote financial regulations that reduce risks and prevent future financial crises; and
  • To create a new international financial architecture.

Members & guests: 

• Members: 

• • Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.
  • Spain is also invited as a permanent guest.
• Others:
  • Each year, the Presidency invites guest countries, which take full part in the G20 exercise. Several international and regional organizations also participate, granting the forum an even broader representation.
• Together, the G20 countries include:
  • 60 percent of the world’s population,
  • 80 percent of global GDP, and
  • 75 percent of global trade.
• Presidency of G20 & Troika:
  • The presidency of the G20 rotates every year among members.
  • The country holding the presidency, together with the previous and next presidency-holder, forms the ‘Troika’ to ensure continuity of the G20 agenda.

President Approves new Crest of Indian Navy

• The President of India has approved the introduction of a new design for the President’s Standard and Colour and the Indian Navy Crest, which were unveiled at Visakhapatnam on Navy Day on December 4.
• This follows the new Naval ensign that was adopted in September which the Navy said was “resonant with the ongoing national endeavour to move away from the colonial past.”
• “The new design of President’s Standard and Colour highlights India’s glorious maritime heritage and also symbolises a powerful, courageous, confident and proud Indian Navy,” it said in a statement.
• The President’s Standard and President’s Colour are awarded to static and mobile formations of the Navy respectively, to acknowledge their distinguished and meritorious service to the nation.
• The new design of President’s Standard and Colour comprises three main constituents — the national flag in the upper left canton adjacent to the staff, the State Emblem underscribed with ‘Satyamev Jayate’ in golden colour on the upper right canton on the fly side, and a Navy blue-gold octagon below the golden state emblem.
• The erstwhile design of the President’s Standard and Colour for Navy was instituted on September 6, 2017.
• The Navy Crest has been amended to replace the foul anchor with a Clear Anchor. The change would imply removal of the symbolic nautical rope in the Crest Designs, the Navy said.
• The Navy was the first among the three Services to be awarded the President’s Colour on May 27, 1951 by the then President Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

India ranking in Global Aviation Safety Rankings 2022 –  48th

Canara Bank won the & quot; Banker’s Bank of the Year Award 2022

Google CEO has received the Padma Bhushan from the Government of India

 Source: The Hindu