UPSC QUIZ 21.08.2023

Explanation:

• The Tamil Nadu government has sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to make Karnataka immediately release 24,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) from its reservoirs.
• It also urged the Court to direct Karnataka to ensure the release of 36.76 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) stipulated for September 2023 as per the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT)’s final award of February 2007.
• This was modified by the SC in 2018.

Cauvery Water Being Shared

• A carefully crafted monthly schedule governs the distribution of water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the two riparian states of the Cauvery basin.
• In a "normal" water year, Karnataka is bound to release 177.25 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water from June to May to Tamil Nadu.
• This annual quota includes 123.14 TMC allocated during the monsoon months from June to September.
• The ongoing southwest monsoon season often triggers disputes when rainfall falls short of expectations.

Explanation:

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) and the Ministry of Health of Suriname, aiming to recognize the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) as a standard for medicines in Suriname.
• The signed MoU exemplifies the mutual commitment of India and Suriname to collaborate closely in the realm of medicine regulation.
• This collaboration is rooted in the recognition of the importance of adhering to respective laws and regulations while ensuring the quality of medicines in both countries.

Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC)

• IPC is an Autonomous Institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• IPC is created to set standards of drugs in India. Its basic function is to regularly update the standards of drugs commonly required for treatment of diseases prevailing in this region.
• It publishes official documents for improving Quality of Medicines by way of adding new and updating existing monographs in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP).
• It further promotes rational use of generic medicines by publishing National Formulary of India.
• IP prescribes standards for identity, purity and strength of drugs essentially required from the health care perspective of human beings and animals.

Explanation:

• Moody's affirmed India's sovereign rating at Baa3 with a stable outlook, saying higher growth will support a gradual rise in income levels that will contribute to economic strength.Baa3 is the lowest investment grade rating.
• All the three major global rating agencies - Fitch, S&P and Moody's have assigned the lowest investment grade rating to India with a stable outlook.
• The rating is viewed by investors as a barometer of a country's creditworthiness and affects the cost of borrowing.It said that although there has been a moderation in potential growth in the last 7-10 years, the Indian economy has the potential to grow rapidly by international standards.
• According to Moody's, it expects India's economic growth to outpace all other G-20 economies for at least the next two years due to strong domestic demand.
• Higher GDP growth will contribute to a gradual raising of income levels and overall economic resilience.In turn, this would support orderly fiscal consolidation and government debt stabilisation, albeit at a higher level.
• Apart from this, the financial sector continues to strengthen, which will provide a lot of economic relief.

Explanation:

• Indonesia is preparing to introduce its own Golden Visa program by the end of 2023, aiming to revise its immigration policy to attract foreign investment and international entrepreneurial talent.
• The Indonesian Minister for Tourism and Creative Economies, Sandiaga Uno, announced the forthcoming launch of the Golden Visa during a press conference.
• The program aims to incentivize foreign tourists to invest in the country and extend their stays. Initially expected by June 2023, the program now aims for a launch before the end of the third quarter.
• This move follows Indonesia’s introduction of a “second home visa” for five and ten years, targeting individuals with significant financial holdings.
• The country is joining other nations, like Costa Rica and Mexico, in using long-term stay visas to attract professionals and wealthy individuals.

Explanation:

• Central Water Commission (CWC) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, launched the mobile application "FloodWatch" for disseminating flood-related information in real-time.
• Real-time flood monitoring provides up-to-date flood situations across the country.
• App utilizes near real-time river flow data from various sources to enhance accuracy.
• Interactive Map feature enables users to check CWC Flood Forecast (24 hours) or Flood Advisory (7 days) by selecting stations directly from the map or using the search box.
• "FloodWatch" incorporates advanced technologies like satellite data analysis, mathematical modelling, and real-time monitoring to ensure accurate flood forecasts.