. No.	Topic Name	Prelims/Mains
1.	About the Three Capitals in Andhra Pradesh	Prelims & Mains
2.	Details of the National Logistics Policy	Prelims & Mains
3.	About the Commonwealth Nations	Prelims Specific Topic
4.	Details of the INS Vikrant	Prelims Specific Topic

 

1 – About the Three Capitals in Andhra Pradesh:

 GS II

 Topic à Constitution related issues

 ·       Context:

 ·       The suggestion by the State administration to have three capitals is unlawful, according to BJP Rajya Sabha member G.V.L. Narasimha Rao, considering that Amaravati has already been selected and recognised as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.

 ·       About:

 ·       On July 31, 2020, the state government announced the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Act, 2020 and the AP Capital Region Development Authority (Repeal) Act, 2020.

 ·       This statute makes it feasible to have three state capitals.

 ·       Capital of the legislature: Amaravati.

·       Visakhapatnam is the executive capital.

·       Justice is administered in Kurnool.

 ·       Why three capitals are needed:

 ·       The administration ignores other areas of the state while claiming to be against the growth of a single, enormous metropolis. The three state capitals ensure that each region will experience equal prosperity.

·       Decentralization has been the overarching theme of every committee formed to provide recommendations regarding the site of the capital of Andhra Pradesh. These include, among others, the Justice B N Srikrishna Committee, the G N Rao Committee, and the K Sivaramakrishnan Committee.

 ·       Why will putting this idea into practise be challenging?

 ·       Fear of logistics and coordination: Because the legislative and executive branches are located in different places, it will be challenging to cooperate between them. In addition, both officials and common folks are worried since the government has not disclosed any information regarding its logistics strategy.

·       Distance travelled and expenses: Amaravati, which serves as the legislative capital, is located 400 kilometres away from Visakhapatnam, which serves as the executive capital. Amaravati and Kurnool are separated by 370 kilometres. Both the duration and cost of the trip will be considerable.

 ·       Which other Indian states have multiple capitals?

 ·       Nagpur and Mumbai serve as Maharashtra’s two capital cities (which holds the winter session of the state assembly).

·       The capitals of Himachal Pradesh are Shimla and Dharamshala (winter).

 ·       Source à The Hindu

 

2 – Details of the National Logistics Policy:

GS II

 Topic à Government Policies and Interventions

 ·       Context:

 ·       India Inc. has praised the government for announcing the New Logistics Policy, especially the logistics industry (NLP).

·       The long awaited regulatory framework, which answers the demands of all the significant actors in the vast but fragmented national logistics sector, was announced on September 17. The new framework strongly emphasises reducing overall logistical costs and optimising processes for seamless collaboration, as well as promoting job creation and worker skill development.

 ·       The National Logistics Policy was also announced in the budget for 2022–2023.

·       India ranked 44th in the 2018 World Bank Logistics Performance Index.

·       Gujarat is ranked first in the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2021 ranking.

 ·       Need:

 ·       In comparison to other industrialised nations, India has greater logistical costs (about 13–14% vs. 8%).

·       India’s logistics market is exceedingly fragmented and complicated.

·       This business, which already employs more than 22 million people, is expected to expand at a rate of 10.5% per year during the following five years.

·       Logistics, which are the backbone of India’s international trade, would help diversify not only India’s exports but also those of other items and countries.

 ·       Aim:

 ·       reducing costs in the logistics sector by 10% over a five-year period.

·       Boost youth skill levels to increase employment opportunities.

·       Encourage the efficient transportation of goods and intensify industrial competition nationwide.

·       Prioritizing should be given to process re-engineering, digitization, and multi-modal transportation.

 ·       The following four crucial National Logistics Policy actions:

 ·       Digital system integration (IDS) will involve a number of systems from seven different agencies, including the ministries of international commerce, road transportation, railroad, customs, and customs.

·       Improved cargo flow that is faster and more smooth will be the consequence of the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP). Additionally, it will enable the transmission of private information in real time.

·       Data from the NICDC’s Logistics Data Bank Project was used to construct ULIP (National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation).

·       Ease of Logistics (ELOG): By simplifying the laws, the logistics sector will become more straightforward.

·       System Improvement Group (SIG): tracking and clearing obstacles from all logistics-related tasks on a regular basis.

 ·       Other initiatives by the government:

 ·       Now, the department of commerce has a logistics division.

·       Program of the Hindustan Gati Shakti (building about 84,000 Km of new highways).

·       Utilizing the nation’s 7,5000 km of coastline and 14,500 km of navigable waterways is the goal of the Sagarmala Project.

·       Routes for transporting cargo on railways.

·       Previously, the National Logistics Efficiency and Advancement Predictability and Safety Act was supposed to replace the Multimodal Transportation of Goods Act, 1993 (MMTG) (NLEAPS)

 ·       Source à The Hindu

 

3 – About the Commonwealth Nations:

 Prelims Specific Topic

 ·       Context:

 ·       The passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled the United Kingdom for more than 70 years, marks the end of an era for the British monarchy as well as a turning point for the 14 Commonwealth nations, of which she was the Head of State. Since the Elizabethan era, these countries’ socioeconomic environments have considerably changed, and many have proposed becoming republics and severing their historical ties to the British monarchy. Therefore, it is conceivable that more nations will follow Barbados’ lead and do what Barbados did in 2021, when King Charles III, the present monarch who will succeed the Queen, became the 18th country to do away with the British monarch as head of state in favour of a national government functionary.

 ·       History:

 ·       The socioeconomic landscape of the nations that make up the 14 Kingdoms has changed dramatically after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

·       To sever their historical ties to the British monarchy, a number of these 14 countries advocated the establishment of a republic.

·       When it comes to power, “the people and their elected representatives possess absolute power” in a republic.

·       Therefore, it’s feasible that more nations will emulate Barbados during the current King Charles III’s reign as the Queen’s heir.

·       In 2021, Barbados became the 18th country to appoint a member of the national government as head of state in place of the British monarch.

 ·       What is the meaning of Commonwealth?

 ·       About:

 ·       The Commonwealth of Nations is made up of 56 countries that were once British colonies.

·       It was founded by the 1949 London Declaration.

·       Despite the fact that members of the Commonwealth are mainly found in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific, many of which have growing economies, Cyprus, Malta, and the U.K. are the three European members of the organisation.

·       New Zealand, Canada, and Australia are Commonwealth nations with advanced economies.

 ·       Republics and Realms:

 ·       Realms and Republics both belong to the Commonwealth.

·       The realms are ruled by the British monarch, while the republics are administered by democratically elected governments, with the exception of five countries: Brunei Darussalam, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malaysia, and Tonga, each of which is a self-governing monarchy.

·       There are many kingdoms among them, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.

 ·       What function does the Commonwealth perform in the contemporary era?

 ·       Despite the fact that it could seem like an outdated forum in the wake of the queen’s dying, the Commonwealth has survived over time even after the decolonization of the British Empire.

·       In the era of multilateral diplomacy, where states want a forum to express their ideas, advance their interests, and shape international standards, the Commonwealth provides just such a forum.

·       The king is only the Commonwealth’s ceremonial leader; the leaders of the free world govern it.

·       Queen Elizabeth was essential in promoting the organisation and maintaining the group’s significance during her reign. She travelled regularly to meet with the leaders of Commonwealth countries around the world.

 ·       What lies ahead for the Commonwealth?

 ·       Australia, New Zealand, and the Bahamas could all end up being republics in the future.

·       The administrations of the other five Caribbean nations—Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Kitts and Nevis—have said they intend to take similar steps.

·       Therefore, it is not unlikely that after the death of Queen Elizabeth, the Commonwealth states will no longer exist and that nations that once underwent colonialism—with all of the concomitant cruelty and resource extraction—will eventually develop into republics.

 ·       Source à The Hindu

 

4 – Details of the INS Vikrant:

Prelims Specific Topic

 ·       Context:

 ·       Senior shipyard officials claim that the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), which constructed the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, still needs to complete the installation of the MF-STAR (multi-functional digital active electronically scanned array) radar and the Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR-SAM) system. The Navy predicts that aviation trials will begin by November.

 ·       INS The first aircraft carrier built in India and the first of its class, Vikrant (IAC-I), was built for the Indian Navy at the Cochin Shipyard (CSL) in Kochi, Kerala. The ship’s motto, Jayema Sam Yudhi Sprdhah, is taken from the Rig Veda and means “I beat those who battle against me.”

·       When the superstructure is taken off, the ship measures 262 m long, 62 m wide at its widest point, and 30 m deep. Five of the total 14 decks are found in the superstructure.

·       It features a ski jump and a STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) configuration. The deck is designed to let carriers fly planes like the MiG-29K. It is planned that it will carry up to thirty aircraft, including up to 24 to 26 fixed-wing combat aircraft, namely the Mikoyan MiG-29K.

·       Due to its weight, the HAL Tejas naval variant was rejected by the navy on December 2, 2016. Besides delivering 10 Westland Sea King or Kamov Ka-31 aircraft Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) will be a capability of the Sea King, whilst airborne early warning (AEW) will be a capability of the Ka-31.

·       Vikrant is powered by four General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines installed on two shafts, totaling over 80 megawatts (110,000 horsepower). The gears for the carriers were designed by and supplied by Elecon Engineering.

·       Once it is operational, Vikrant will have a gender-sensitive living environment and infrastructure with room for eight female officers. The ship will then be able to accommodate 1,645 passengers in total, including 196 officers.

·       The INS Vikramaditya, which the Navy acquired from Russia for $2.3 billion and began using in November 2013, is the only carrier it currently has.

·       INS Viraat was recently relieved of active duty after serving the British and Indian Navies for more than 50 years in total. In keeping with that, the brand-new INS Vikrant will become the fourth aircraft carrier to defend the Indian coastline when it eventually joins the Navy in 2020. Each of these carriers has grown in size, capability, and sophistication, increasing the Navy’s ability to project power.

·       The first Vikrant had a fleet of 20,000 tonnes, including Westland Sea Kings, HAL Chetak, and Sea Harrier aircraft. While Viraat lifted 28,500 tonnes, Vikramaditya moved 45,400 tonnes. The new Vikrant will displace 40,000 tonnes.

 ·       Significance for India:

 ·       A command station, an aircraft carrier represents “control” over vast oceanic lengths and all other aspects of naval force. India is the only other country with the ability to manufacture indigenous aircraft carriers after the US, Russia, Britain, and France.

 ·       Source à The Hindu