Disaster Management Amendment Bill:
- The Central Government introduced the Disaster Management Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha.
- The bill aims to strengthen coordination and improve efficiency among those involved in disaster management.
- The bill also provides for the granting of statutory recognition to certain organizations that carry out disaster preparedness measures including the National Disaster Management Committee and the High Level Committee.
- The bill empowers the National Disaster Management Authorities and State Disaster Management Authorities instead of central and state committees of disaster management plans.
- The Bill also provides for creation of national and state level disaster database to create Rural Disaster Management Authority in state capitals and metropolitan cities.
- The main objective of this bill is to introduce a process plan necessary to monitor the implementation of disaster management plans and ensure coordinated work of various departments.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
- The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister of India, is the apex body for disaster management in India.
- Establishment of National Disaster Management Authority and creation of enabling environment for institutional mechanisms at state and district level is mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
- The Government of India enacted the Disaster Management Act on 23 December 2005.
- The Prime Minister of India is its Chairman.
- NDMA is mandated as the apex body to formulate policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management to ensure timely and effective response to disasters.
- Approve plans prepared by Ministries or Departments of the Government of India through the National Plan.
- Lay down the guidelines to be followed by the State authorities in formulating the State Plan.
- Coordinating the implementation and implementation of policy and disaster management plans.
- Take other measures for disaster prevention or mitigation, or preparedness and capacity building to deal with threatened disaster situations or disasters deemed necessary.
- Recognizing the importance of disaster management as a national priority, the Government of India set up the High Potential Committee (HPC) in August 1999 to make recommendations on disaster preparedness and a national committee after the Gujarat earthquake (2001).
- The Tenth Five Year Plan document also had a comprehensive chapter on disaster management for the first time.
States can make sub-classifications in Scheduled Castes quota: SC
- The Supreme Court ruled that states have the power to grant internal quota in the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC, ST).
- Article 14 (Right to Equality) of the Constitution allows for subdivision of a socially diverse community.
- Under Article 16(4) of the Constitution, this sub-category provides adequate representation in services and employment.
- SC Only Parliament has the power under Article 341(2) of the Constitution to add or remove a community from the list.
- SC, ST under Articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution. The power to promulgate divisions rests only with the President.
New Action Plan to Strengthen India-Vietnam Cooperation:
- A new action plan to strengthen India-Vietnam strategic cooperation was finalized at the Prime Minister’s meeting in Delhi.
- Vietnam is our important partner in India’s ‘Look East Policy’ and ‘Indo-Pacific Policy’.
- China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific region is increasing globally. In this case, the main country in the region is Vietnam.
- Prime Minister Modi has confirmed India’s $30 crore funding to strengthen Vietnam’s maritime security.
- Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Vietnam.
July GST collection Rs 1.82 lakh crore:
- In the month of July this year, Rs.1.82 lakh crore GST was collected.
- According to the central government, this is the third highest amount collected since the introduction of GST.
- Currently, GST collection has grown by 10.3 percent.
- Central GST revenue is Rs 32,386 crore, state GST revenue is Rs 40,289 crore and consolidated GST revenue is Rs 96,447 crore, making the total GST revenue Rs 1.82 lakh crore in July 2024.
- Additional cess (cess) to offset tax losses to states is reported to be Rs 12,953 crore.
Vergalai Thedi Payanam Thittam:
- Chief Minister M. K. Stalin inaugurated the journey of 100 neighboring Tamils who have come in search of Tamil Nadu’s heritage and culture.
- 100 diaspora Tamils from 15 countries like South Africa, Uganda, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Fiji, Indonesia, Mauritius, Australia, Maldives, Canada, Myanmar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, France and Germany have come to Tamil Nadu under the “Looking for people” project.
- They are going to visit different parts of Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
- Chief Minister M.K.Stalin provided clothes, travel notes, books, identity cards etc. to the neighboring Tamils for their journey.
August 2: Birthday of Pingali Venkayya
- Pingali Venkayya was an Indian freedom fighter.
- He designed the flag on which the early Indian national flag was based.
Important Facts:
- Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair has been appointed as the Director General of Army Medical Services.
- Veteran Congress leader Kumari Ananthan has been announced with the ‘Thagaisal Tamizhar’ award by the Tamil Nadu government.
- India’s Swapnil Kusale won bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions final at the Paris Olympics shooting.
- The 33rd Olympic Games will be held in Paris 2024- from July 26 to August 11.