TNPSC Current Affairs May 19, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs May 19, 2020 (19/05/2020)

Topic: General Administration, Political System in India

J&K defines rules for domicile certificates

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has issued a notification defining the rules for issuing domicile certificates in the Union territory.

These rules provide a simple time-bound and transparent procedure for issuance of domicile certificates.

The notification has been provided through an amendment of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralisation and Recruitment) Act, 2010.

Overview of the ‘J&K Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules 2020’:

Under the amended rules, eligible non-locals can also apply for the certificate. There is a timeline of 15 days for issuance of certificates.

Domicile certificates have now been made a basic eligibility condition for appointment to any post under the Union Territory of J&K following the amendments in the previous Act.

To make the process transparent and time-bound, any officer not able to issue the certificate would be penalised ₹50,000. The amount would be recovered from his salary.

All Permanent Resident Certificate holders and their children living outside J&K can apply for the certificates.

Kashmiri migrants living in or outside J&K can get domicile certificates by simply producing their Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC), ration card copy, voter card or any other valid document.

Bonafide migrants can apply with the Relief and Rehabilitation department by providing documents like electoral rolls of 1988, proof of registration as a migrant in any State in the country or any other valid document.

Background:

On March 31, 2020, the Government of India issued Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of State Laws) order, 2020. According to the order, the domicile of a person is defined as

“A person who has resided in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for a period of 15 years or has studied in the UT for a period of 15 years and appeared in Class 10 or 12 examination in an educational institution of J&K” is considered to be a domicile of J&K.

Implications of this move:

Due to the order, the West Pakistan Refugees and children of the women married outside J&K and Safai Karamcharis are now eligible to obtain domicile status.

Topic: General Administration

Shekatkar Committee recommendations

Government has accepted and implemented three important recommendations of Committee of Experts (CoE) under the Chairmanship of Lt General D B Shekatkar (Retd) relating to border Infrastructure.

Accepted recommendations:

Speeding up road construction, Outsourcing road construction work beyond optimal capacity of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

Mandatory to adopt Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) mode for execution of all works costing more than Rs 100 crore.

Delegating enhanced procurement powers from Rs 7.5 crore to Rs 100 crore to BRO, for domestic and foreign procurements.

The land acquisition and all statutory clearances like forest and environmental clearance are also made part of approval of Detailed Project Report (DPR).

With the adoption of EPC mode of execution, it is mandatory to award work only when 90 per cent of the statutory clearances have been obtained, implementing the recommendation of CoE regarding obtaining prior clearances before the commencement of the project.

Topic: Terms in News, Latest Diary of Events

Hanko

Even in the wake of COVID 19 pandemic, the centuries-old practice is causing employees to go to their workplace, as companies prefer to keep their registered seals at the office premises for security reasons.

Many are thus having to take packed trains to work, chiefly for stamping-related work.

Key facts:

It is a personal stamp generally made from wood or plastic. Small-sized and circular or square-shaped, the stamp is wet by an ink pad called ‘shuniku’, and the mark that it leaves on a document is called ‘inkan’.

It is used for authorising official documents ranging from contracts, marriage registrations and even delivery slips.

Topic: Species in News

Pinanga Andamanensis

It is an IUCN critically endangered species and one of the least known among the endemic palms of the Andaman Islands. The name is derived from ‘Penang’, the modern-day Malaysian state.

Its entire population of some 600 specimens naturally occurs only in a tiny, evergreen forest pocket in South Andaman’s Mount Harriet National Park.

Why in News?

The species is finding a second home at Thiruvananthapuram-based Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI).

Topic: Latest Diary of Events, Profile of States

Charan Paduka

It is a campaign launched in Madhya Pradesh for the migrant labourers passing through the state. Under this campaign, the migrant labourers going barefoot are being providing shoes and slippers to reduce their pain.

The most notable thing is that this campaign is being conducted by the police at most places.