23rd JUNE, 2022

NEWS TT DAY
NEWS DAY
SCIENTISTS HAVE RECORDED 4 SPECIES OF AZOOXANTHELLATE CORALS FOR THE FIRST TIME

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FROM INDIAN WATERS
For the first time, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) recorded four species of azooxanthellate corals from waters of Andaman and
Nicobar (A&N) Islands.
All four groups of corals are from same family Flabellidae.

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Four species, namely Truncatoflabellum crassum, T. incrustatum, T. aculeatum, and T. irregulare, were previously found from
Japan to Philippines and Australian waters.

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Only T. crassum was reported within range of Indo-West Pacific distribution including Gulf of Aden and Persian Gulf.
Azooxanthellate corals are a group of corals that do not contain zooxanthellae and derive nourishment not from the sun but from
capturing different forms of plankton.
About Coral reefs
These groups of corals are deep-sea representatives, with the Coral reefs are one of the most productive, sustainable and

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majority of species reporting from between 200 m to 1000 m. pristine ecosystems of world’s oceans, especially in shallow
Their occurrences are also reported from shallow coastal coastal waters.
waters. They are invertebrate animals belonging to Cnidaria and live in
symbiotic relationship with algae zooxanthellae.
About 570 species of hard corals found in India and almost Gulf of Mannar, Palk-bay, Gulf of Kutch, A&N Islands and

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90% of them are found in waters surrounding A&N Islands. Lakshadweep islands have major reef formations in India.
Corals share less than 1% of the earth’s surface but they They are protected under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act

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provide a home to nearly 25% of marine life. (WPA), 1972.

MAHARASHTRA CRISIS: ANTI-DEFECTION LAW

Political crisis in Maharashtra has raised discussions over legalities of elected MLAs switching parties.

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Anti-defection law provides for disqualification of MLAs who, after being elected on ticket of a political party, “voluntarily give
up their party membership”.

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It was included under 10th schedule via 52nd amendment act, 1985.
Any question regarding disqualification arising out of defection is to be decided by the presiding officer of the House.
Grounds of Disqualification

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If member votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by his political party without obtaining
prior permission of such party and such act has not been condoned by the party within 15 days.
Nominated member, if he joins any political party after expiry of 6 months.
An independent member, if he joins any political party.
Exception
Law allows a party to merge with or into another party provided that at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favour of merger.
If a person is elected as speaker of Lok Sabha or Chairman of Rajya Sabha, then he could resign from his party, and re-join the party
once he demits that post.

Related information
In State of Gujarat vs Justice RA Mehta (retired), (2013), two-judge bench of apex court held that it is up to a governor not to
accept the advice of CM and council of ministers (CoM) to dissolve the assembly.
Article 163 states that governor shall exercise their functions upon aid and advice of CoM but not in matters where
Constitution requires that they act at their discretion

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CENTRE NOTIFIES RULES ON TAX DEDUCTED AT SOURCE (TDS) PROVISION ON VIRTUAL
DIGITAL ASSETS
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has amended income tax rules to specify ways to comply with the new TDS provision on virtual
digital assets (VDAs) from 1 July. Under the rules: Significance of taxation of VDAs
TDS of 1% will be levied on payments towards VDAs or cryptocurrencies Help the Income-Tax department to trace VDAs
beyond ₹10,000 in a year. transactions as reporting TDS through form 27QE require
detailed information about the payments made on
The threshold limit for TDS would be ₹50,000 a year for specified persons, transfer of VDAs (like date of transfer, amount paid etc.)
which include individuals/HUFs who are required to get their accounts audited Increase the compliance burden on taxpayers.

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under the IT Act.
Taxation of VDAs
Income from the transfer of VDAs will be taxable at a flat rate of 30%, without the ability to offset it against any other losses.
No deductions will be allowed and only the cost of acquisition will be
allowed as deduction while computing income. CENTRE MANDATES 3-YEAR

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A gift of VDAs will be taxable at the hands of the recipient.
About VDAs:
HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
FOR SURROGATE MOTHERS

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Finance Bill 2022 defined VDAs under IT Act, 1961 as information, code,
number or token not being Indian or foreign currency, generated by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
cryptographic means or otherwise. brought new notification under Surrogacy
It is a digital representation of value that is exchanged with or without (Regulation) Rules 2022:
consideration. Intending couples need to purchase a
It includes cryptocurrencies, NFTs, Dematerialized Shares, Promotional

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general health insurance cover in favour
currencies, E-books etc.
of a surrogate mother from an insurance
62ND GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY (GEF) COUN- company or agent recognized by Insurance
Regulatory and Development Authority of
CIL MEETING BEING HELD India (IRDAI).
The 62nd meeting will be the final council of GEF Trust Fund (GEF-7), closing It should cover all expenses for all

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four-year funding cycle, and commencing GEF-8 cycle. complications arising out of
GEF-7 safeguard the world’s forests, land, water, climate, and oceans, build pregnancy and postpartum delivery

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green cities, protect threatened wildlife, and tackle marine plastic pollution. complications.
Number of attempts of any surrogacy
Key highlights
procedure on the surrogate mother shall
Leaders’ Pledge for Nature to reverse species loss by 2030 by protecting land not be more than three times.
and ocean territory with globally important biodiversity.

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A surrogate mother may be allowed for
29 donor counties have pledged $5.33 billion for GEF-8 replenishment abortion during the process of surrogacy
period i.e. July 2022 to June 2026 to meet nature and climate targets. in accordance with the Medical Termination

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Address threats from climate change, land degradation, and chemicals and of Pregnancy Act, 1971.
waste, and easing pressures on ocean and international waters. Woman may opt for surrogacy if she has a
GEF was established during 1992 Rio Earth Summit and the only multilateral missing uterus or abnormal uterus or if the
fund working across all aspects of environmental health. uterus is surgically removed due to any medical

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It is a unique partnership of 18 agencies — including UN agencies, multilateral conditions such as gynaecological cancer.
development banks— working with 183 countries to address biodiversity Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021 regulates
challenges. the practice and process of surrogacy in India.
It is financial mechanism for five major international environmental Under it, commercial surrogacy is strictly
conventions: UNCBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC, Minamata Convention on Mercury, prohibited and only altruistic surrogacy
and Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. can be practiced.
GEF Trust Fund was established to help tackle planet’s most pressing It provides for the insurance coverage for
environmental problems. the surrogate mother.
Once the child is born, it will be deemed to
GEF Council be the biological child of the couple.
It is GEF’s main governing body, comprises 32 members appointed by A couple should procure certificates of
constituencies of GEF member countries (14 from developed countries, 16 eligibility and essentiality in order to have
from developing countries, and two from economies in transition). a child via surrogacy.
Its members rotate at different intervals determined by each constituency. About Surrogacy
India is presently a member of a constituency comprising of the following It is a reproductive practice where a third
countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka. party conceives and gives birth to a child.
It meets twice annually, develops, adopts and evaluates the operational Regulation in surrogacy is needed as
policies and programs for GEF-financed activities. surrogate mothers face multiple challenges,
including exploitation, unhygienic living
It reviews and approves the work program making decisions by consensus. conditions, and unfair treatment.
PARTIAL DENOTIFICATION OF SEZS, SINGLE WINDOW IN DESH DRAFT RELEASED FOR
CONSULTATION
A law to revamp Special Economic Zones (SEZs) has been on the cards since the 2022 Budget announcement that SEZ Act 2005
would be reformed to boost exports, and enhance competitiveness.
Other SEZ reforms:
SEZ is a specifically delineated duty-free enclave which shall be deemed to be a foreign Kalyani expert committee (2018)
territory for the purposes of trade operations, duties and tariffs. recommended significant changes
including formulation of separate rules
Limitations of SEZs and procedures for manufacturing and
Currently focused on exports and are not allowed to sell domestically. service SEZs.
At present, companies selling products in domestic markets cannot operate in SEZs. Reforms in customs administration of
SEZs and make it fully IT driven and
Unutilised land and lack of flexibility to utilise land for different sectors. function on the Customs National Portal.
Exports fell to $102.3 billion in FY21 from $112.3 billion in FY20.
Converting SEZs into comprehensive economic zones as per new draft:

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Industrial units in these hubs will be known as Development of Enterprise and Service Hubs (DESH) and may be permitted to
sell in domestic market.
Setting up an integrated single window clearance mechanism for the grant of time-bound approvals.
Empty spaces over 100m sq ft being denotified.
Disputes can be resolved through mediation and arbitration etc.

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ALSO IN NEWS

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Pakistan may cede Gilgit Baltistan to China on lease to pay off mounting debt creating fear among locals.
History:
Gilgit was part of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Following the India-Pakistan ceasefire of 1949, “provisional
government” of “Azad Jammu & Kashmir” ceded administration

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of Gilgit-Baltistan to Pakistan.
In 2021, India criticised Pakistan for its attempt to accord
provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan.
Gilgit Baltistan UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’, are an integral part of

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India by virtue of the legal, complete and irrevocable accession of Jammu & Kashmir to Union of
India (1947).

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The area’s strategic importance for India has increased in light of the China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor agreement.
WGC released ‘Gold refining and recycling’ report.
Recycling is driven by current gold price movements, future price expectations and economic
backdrop.

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Key highlights
India ranks fourth largest recycler in world and recycled 75 tonnes in 2021.
India’s gold refining capacity increased by 1,500 tonnes (500%) in 2021.

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China topped the chart, followed by Italy and US.
World Gold Council (WGC) WGC was established to promote the use of and demand for gold through marketing, research,
and lobbying.
Headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

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Ukraine has caused significant losses to Russian military in airstrikes on Snake
Island.
Zmiinyi Island, also known as Snake or Serpent Island.
It is a small piece of rock less than 700 metres from end to end, that has been
described as being “X-shaped”.
Located 35 km from coast in Black Sea, to east of mouth of Danube and
roughly southwest of port city of Odessa.
Snake Island There are no snakes on Snake Island.
It belongs to Ukraine.

Open Network for Digital
Commerce (ONDC)
Technology giants (Microsoft, Oracle) are looking to partner with ONDC to offer technological
solutions.
It is a network of several small and large-scale e-commerce players.
It is launched by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
It promotes open networks for all aspects of exchange of goods and services over digital or
electronic networks.
In 2021, ONDC was incorporated as private sector non-profit company.

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 ONDC is modelled around Unified Payments Interface (UPI) project.
ONDC empowers merchants and consumers by breaking silos to form a single network to drive
innovation and scale.

38th edition of India–Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) is conducted between

Indian and Indonesian Navy in Andaman Sea.
Two navies have been carrying out CORPATs along International Maritime Boundary Line
(IMBL) every year since 2002.
CORPAT Exercise
Environmental groups in Karnataka have criticised the project to link the Bedti and Varada rivers in
Karnataka, calling it ‘unscientific’.
The plan aims to link the Bedti, a river flowing west into the Arabian Sea, with the Varada, a
tributary of the Tungabhadra river, which flows into the Krishna, which in turn flows into the
Bedti-Varada Link Bay of Bengal.

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It is a stationary, rechargeable and always kitchen-connected indoor solar cooking system, which
has a patented product design.
Developed by Indian Oil Corporation Limited and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural gas to
reduce gas consumption.

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Surya Nutan Indoor Solar It works on hybrid mode and is capable of running both on solar and auxiliary energy sources
simultaneously.
Cooking System

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Santhal community is in the spotlight as one of the community leaders Droupadi Murmu has been
nominated for election to the Presidential position in the country.
About Santhal community:
Third largest schedule tribe community in the country after Gond and Bhil.
Mostly found in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and Assam.

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Language: Speak Santhali (belongs to the Austro- Asiatic language family) and Script called
Santhal tribes Olchiki.
Festivals: Karam festival, Maghe, Baba Bonga, Sahrai, Ero, Asaria and Namah and Disum sendra.
Odisha CM met Pope Francis in the Vatican City and presented him a pattachitra painting.
About Pattachitra painting
Cloth based scroll painting unique to Odisha.

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Believed to have originated as early as the 12th century.
Made on a special canvas where cotton sarees are layered with a tamarind paste and then

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coated with clay powder.
Pattachitra painting Closely related to the cult of Shri Jagannath and the temple traditions in Puri.
Afghanistan(Capital: Kabul)
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan (Paktika province) killing 1000s and
causing widespread damage to public property.

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Afghanistan is located in the Hindu Kush zone-one of the most seismically hazardous regions on
earth- formed by the collision between Indian subcontinent and Eurasian tectonic plates.

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Political boundaries:
It is a landlocked country located in south-central
Asia.
Borders: Bounded to the east by India (PoK) and

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China, south by Pakistan , west by Iran, and north by
Places in News Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
Geographical features:
Mountains (Hindu Kush) and deserts (Registan
Desert) characterize Afghanistan's landscape.
Largest River: Helmand
Highest Mountain: Noshaq

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