NHRC seeks action taken report on welfare of transpersons from govt. (GS Paper 2, Social Justice)
Why in news?
- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently issued an advisory to the Centre, State governments and Union Territory administrations to ensure the welfare of transgender persons.
- The welfare measures include provision of separate toilets, free sex reassignment surgery, pension rights and inheritance rights.
Key guidelines:
- A single transchild of a deceased government employee or pensioner may be treated as an unmarried daughter for the family pension and other benefits.
- It also recommended that transgender persons be allowed to inherit ancestral agricultural land.
- A multi-purpose identity card may be provided to the people of this community to help them access government schemes and other benefits.
- Insurance companies may be advised to consider and accept the Transgender Certificate issued by the appropriate authority for document verification purposes.
Background:
- The commission has observed that one of the primary concerns of transpersons in the country is that despite legal reforms, they continue to grapple with discrimination, leading to employment disparities, limited access to healthcare, and exclusion from social circles.
- The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, aims to safeguard and uphold their rights.
Government extends support under Scheme for Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Why in news?
- The Scheme for Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) support which was notified till 30th September 2023 is now being extended till 30th June 2024 at the same rates to the existing export items.
- This will help exporting community to negotiate export contracts in the present international environment on better terms.
- The Scheme is WTO compatible and is being implemented in an end-to-end IT environment.
RoDTEP Committee:
- In line with the Scheme framework, the RoDTEP Committee has again been constituted in the Department of Revenue to review and recommend the ceiling rates under the RoDTEP Scheme for different export sectors.
About RoDTEP Scheme:
- The RoDTEP Scheme was introduced by the Government as a duty remission scheme on exports and is being implemented from 1st January 2021.
- The Scheme provides a mechanism for reimbursement of taxes, duties and levies, which are currently not being refunded under any other mechanism, at the central, state and local level, but which are incurred by the export entities in the process of manufacture and distribution of exported products.
- Under the Scheme, a support of Rs. 27,018 crores has been extended for the 27 month period till 31.03.2023.
- The RoDTEP scheme operates under a budgetary framework and for FY 23-24, a budget of Rs 15,070 crores is available to support 10610 HS lines at the 8 digit level.
China is working to build underground homes inside Moon's lava tubes
(GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
Why in news?
- Chinese researchers are exploring the possibility of establishing a long-term, safe, and stable shelter on the moon within lunar lava tubes.
Lunar lava tubes:
- These hollow, pipe-shaped tunnels were formed billions of years ago when molten rock flowed beneath the hardened upper layer of lava.
- Over time, geological activities, impact events, and moonquakes have caused some of these tubes to collapse, forming accessible "skylights" that provide an entry point to the moon's underground world.
- These lava tubes offer protection from the harsh lunar surface conditions, including extreme temperatures, radiation, and micrometeorite impacts.
How the experiment will be carried on?
- Scientists have conducted fieldwork on several lava caves in China to enhance their understanding of lunar lava tubes.
- They found similarities between Earth's and the moon's lava tubes, which can be categorized into vertical entrance tubes and slope entrance tubes.
- The Chinese researchers have selected lunar lava tubes at Mare Tranquillitatis and Mare Fecunditatis as primary exploration targets. The main probe will use a robotic mobile system to navigate complex terrains and carry auxiliary detectors for relay communication and energy support.
- It will also carry scientific payloads to examine the external and entrance environment of the lava tube, terrain, and material composition.
- Auxiliary detectors will perform tasks such as bionic multi-legged crawling, bouncing, and employing rolling detectors. They will also carry payloads to detect temperature, radiation, lunar dust, soil composition, and water ice inside the lunar tube.
What’s next?
- For future crewed lunar bases, they proposed constructing a long-term underground research base within a lunar lava tube. This would involve building a support center for energy and communication at the tube's entrance, landscaping the terrain, and deploying cabins inside the tube.
- The China Manned Space Agency announced plans to achieve a manned lunar landing by 2030, marking the initiation of the lunar landing phase of the program
