GS Analyst
Daily Current Affairs

Recently, the 68^th National Film Awards has been given by the President.

• In 1954, the National Film Awards were presented for the first time.
• The award is given for ‘Outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema’.
• It is the country's top cinematic honour. 

About

• These are among the most prestigious honours bestowed upon persons who have contributed to the advancement of cinematic art.
• These prizes have been given out annually since 1954.
• Organised by: The Directorate of Film Festivals took over the responsibility of organizing these awards in 1973.
• The winners are chosen by a national selection committee appointed by the government.
• The awards are presented by India's President, and the winning films are shown to the public.
• The awards are presented not just to the finest films from India's Bollywood industry, but also to the best films from other countries.

List of Awards 2022

• Best Feature Film:  Soorarai Pottru
• Best Feature Film in Tamil- Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum
• Best Choreography: The award goes to Telugu film – Natyam
• Best Haryanvi Film- Dada Lakhmi
• Best Actor: Ajay Devgan for Tanaji

Categorization of Awards

The following are the five key categories for which this award is given:

• The famous Dada saheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award is also presented at the National Film Awards to people who have dedicated their whole career to the advancement of Indian cinema.

Other Awards related to Films

• Bharat Ratna
• Padma Awards
• Dadasaheb Phalke awards
• Sahitya Natak academy

As the demand for a separate Sarna religious code in Census 2021 gathers steam in the State, there is tension in tribal-dominated villages in Jharkhand.

• Tribal were always a vulnerable group which has exposed to violation of Rights and further worsening their condition.
• Christian missionaries first started converting poor tribal communities with the promise of an English education, jobs and hospitals.
• Tribals in India follow their own aboriginal religion but, 19 % of the total tribal population in India follow their own peculiar original religion.
• Among them are Sarna worshippers of Jharkhand.
• More than 89% of the tribals follow Hindu religion.
• Due to their tact with other Hindu communities, they have turned to
• As many as 53% tribals have embraced Christianity; they are converted Christian tribals. 
• They have been converted into Christianity by Christian missionaries. This conversion has caused a social problem. 

About Sarna Religious Code

• The Jharkhand government convened a special session and passed a resolution to send the Centre a letter to recognise Sarna religion and include it as a separate code in the ‘Census of 2021’.
• Need: Many of the tribals who follow this faith have later converted to Christianity. The state has more than 4% Christians most of whom are tribals.
• Some who still follow the Sarna faith believe the converted tribals are taking the benefits of reservation as a minority as well as the benefits given to Schedule Tribes.

What is Sarnaism?

• Sarna are sacred groves in the Indian religious traditions of the Chota Nagpur Plateau region in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, and Chhattisgarh.
• Followers of these rituals primarily belong to the Munda, Bhumij, Kharia, Baiga, Ho, Kurukh, and Santal.
• According to local belief, a Gram deoti or village deity resides in the sarna, where sacrifice is offered twice a year.
• Their belief system is called "Sarnaism", "Sarna Dharma", or "Religion of the Holy Woods".

Is it similar to Hinduism?

• Hinduism is far more developed religion than as Sarna Dharam or Adi Dharam is less defined which is followed by the Adivasi (moolnivasi/picchdi jati) belonging from eastern India.
• Hindus worship Idols and a particular figure.
• Adivasi worship spirits of rivers, forests, land, and the whole nature.
• Hindus view god as something humanly which has to be pleased, make happy, and others emotions like angry, sad.
• Adivasi do not view their gods like humans. God is no superior humanly above than us.
• According to Sarna’s, No body, just a holy spirit which calculates our life on its own.

Why religious conversion of tribals is a cause of concern?

• Some Hindu groups are using the same methods to do something more malicious by changing the very nature of what tribal people believe
• They try to convince them that the basic principles of Sarnaism and Hinduism are the same even though our practices are distinctively different from any other religion,
• The thought begins with the promise of elementary schools, pucca homes for villagers, and roads and electricity for the village.
• Threat to their culture and identity of tribal is unconstitutional and illegal.

What does constitution says about Religion conversion in India?

• Article 25of the Constitution of India ‘guarantees the freedom to profess, propagate, and practise religion, and allows all religious sections to manage their own affairs in matters of religion; subject to public order, morality, and health’.
• Until now, there had been no central enactment limiting or managing religious conversions; further, in 2015, the Union Law Ministry expressed that Parliament does not have the administrative skill/competence to pass anti-Conversion legislation.
• Part IV: Preservation of Culture and Identity of Tribals

Some ‘Sarna’ Tribal Organisations

• Akhil Bharatiya Sarna Dharam (ABSD)
• All India Sarna Dharam Mandowa (AISDM)
• Kherwal Saonta Semled (KSS)

As the mandate under India as a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty of 1963, there were no amendments to the text of the Bill that was earlier passed after a voice vote and again passed in Lok Sabha.

• It is set to become the first domestic legislation with regard to Antarctica in India.

• The Bill seeks to give effect to the Antarctic Treaty.
• The Bill aims to lay down a set of rules to regulate a range of activities on territories in Antarctica where India has set up research stations.
  
  

  Antarctic Treaty The Treaty was signed in 1959 by 12 countries. It was implemented in 1961, and India became a signatory to it in 1983.

What does the Antarctic Bill envisage?

• Regular Visits-The Bill envisages regulating visits and activities to Antarctica as well as potential disputes that may arise among those present on the continent.
• Prohibition without a permit- If the Bill were to become law, private tours and expeditions to Antarctica would be prohibited without a permit or the written authorisation by a member country. A member country is one of the 54 signatories of the Antarctic Treaty signed in 1959 — India joined the Treaty System in 1983.
• Antarctic fund-The draft also directs the creation of a fund called the Antarctic fund that will be used for protecting the Antarctic environment. 
  
  

Why was this Bill necessary?

• Preserving the pristine environment-There is growing concern over preserving the pristine Antarctic environment and ocean around Antarctica from exploitation of marine living resources and human presence in Antarctica.
• Growing presence of Indian scientists-The continuing and growing presence of Indian scientists in Antarctica warrants a domestic legislation on Antarctica consistent with its obligations as a member of the Antarctic Treaty. 
• Increasing Tourism-India organises regular Antarctic expeditions and many persons from India visit Antarctica every year as tourists. In the future, the private ship and aviation industry will also start operations and promote tourism and fishing in Antarctica, which needs to be regulated. 

What is the history of the Antarctic Treaty?

• Formation-The Antarctic Treaty came into force on June 23, 1961 after ratification by the 12 countries then active in Antarctic science.
• Key Objective-Its key objectives are to demilitarise Antarctica, to establish it as a zone free of nuclear tests and the disposal of radioactive waste, and to ensure that it is used for peaceful purposes only; to promote international scientific cooperation in Antarctica and to set aside disputes over territorial sovereignty.
• Purpose-These, together with the original Treaty, provide the rules which govern activities in the Antarctic. Collectively they are known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS).

A floating solar power plant commissioned at Meghadri Gedda reservoir in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam.

Key points

• Renewable energy plant: It can save coal up to 54000 tonnes per year.
• Capacity: It will produce about 2 million units of power each year.
• Developing entity: Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC)
• Significance:
  • No need for land acquisition
  • Low-cost energy production
  • Promotion of renewable energy resources

What are Solar Technologies?

• Solar technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy either through photovoltaic (PV) panels or through mirrors that concentrate solar radiation.
• This energy can be used to generate electricity or be stored in batteries or thermal storage.

Types of Solar plants in India

• Solar plants can be either;
• Ground-mounted or
• Set up on the surface of water-bodies or
• Though these floating farms are a bit more expensive than the traditional ones mounted on land surfaces.     

Common Uses of Solar energy

• Photoelectric cells
• Solar power generation
• Solar heating systems 
  
  
  

Some other to be commissioned power plants

The renewable energy plants that are likely to be are:

• 25MW floating solar plant at Simhadri thermal power plant near Visakhapatnam
• 92MW floating solar plant at Kayamkulam in Kerala
• 100 MW plant at Ramagundam

Three years after the Goa Change of Name and Surname (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which provide for further stricter restrictions and rules for making changes in names and surnames in the State.

• The Amendment Bill passed is the sequel to the 2019 amendment to the 1990 Act.
• While the original legislation had laid down the rules for carrying out changes in one’s name and surname through the registrar, with necessary documents as proof, after issuing advertisements in newspapers.
• The 2019 amendment made it a cognisable offence to carry out such changes in breach of the stipulated norms.
• The act was made stringent against the individuals who target to avail benefits under government schemes, or to buy or inherit land or even apply for Portuguese passports.

Condition to change name and surname in Goa

• Goa Change of Name and Surname Act, 1990, vested the powers to permit names changes in the judiciary by inserting the conditions that a person desiring to changing her or his name would have to have their birth registered in Goa and either a parent or a grandparent born in Goa.

What are the news amendments in the Bill?

• The Goa Change of Name and Surname (Amendment) Bill, 2022 amends Sections 2 and 3 of the Goa Change of Name and Surname Act, 1990.
• Change in definitions: In Section 2, clauses have been omitted, pertaining to the definitions of registrar and chief registrar.
• Transfer of power from Legislator to Judiciary: Under Section 3, the power to permit name changes, which were earlier vested in the registrar or the Chief Registrar of the state, have now been placed with Civil Judge Junior Division or a District Judge.

In the first deal between Russia and Ukraine ever since the former invaded the latter in February, the two nations signed a UN-mediated deal that will allow the export of 5 million tonnes of grain per month from three Ukrainian ports.

• Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, against its action of joining NATO alliance.
• This has led to global disorder and violation of Human rights at an extent.

Key highlights of the Deal

• Signed in Istanbul, the deal will allow ships carrying grain — and monitored and inspected by a Joint Coordination Committee.

• It comprised the representatives of Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and the UN who have pass through a safe corridor in the Black Sea, onwards through the Bosphorus in order to reach global markets.
• The deal, valid initially for 120 days but can be extended for a similar period unless either Russia or Ukraine announces their intention to terminate it.
• Currently, about 20 million tonnes of grain is stuck at Ukrainian ports due a sea blockade enforced by the Russian navy.
  
  

Significance

• Support for Ukraine to survive war impacts: The deal will provide a great support for the Ukrainian economy as the summer harvest season is in full swing there, it will help cool down food prices globally that have risen sharply due to shortage of food grains from the country called the world’s food basket.
• Support Global supply chain: According to estimates, the choking of food-grain supplies from Ukraine put in peril the food security of between 400 million to 800 million people globally, with a real risk of vast populations of several countries facing hunger — such as in Somalia, Yemen and Sudan.