Every year the Indian Navy Day is celebrated on December 4. This year the Indian Navy Day is celebrated on the following theme

Theme: Indian Navy – Combat Ready, Credible and Cohesive.

The theme sends message that India is keenly watching the moves of the Chinese in the Indian Ocean Region and the Indian Navy is combat ready to encounter the Chinese forces anytime. The message includes Pakistani forces as well.

Every year the Indian Navy Day is celebrated to commemorate Operation Trident. The operation was launched by the Indian Navy during the India-Pakistan war of 1971 to attack Karachi Harbour.

Greater Tipraland is a region in Tripura. Several tribals are demanding to make the region as a separate state.

What is the issue?

There are 19 notified Scheduled Tribes in Tripura. Among these, 5.92 lakh are Tripuris, 1.88 lakh are Reangs. These three tribal groups are the major tribals in the state. Some of the minor tribal groups have joined hands and formed TIPRA Motha (Tirpaha Indigenous Regional Alliance) and IPFT (Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura) political parties. These parties are now arguing that they want a separate state for their “survival and existence”.

Constitutional Validity in the issue

They claim that they are making the demand under Article 2 and Article 3 of the constitution. Article 2 of the constitution says that “The Parliament shall permit the establishment of new states and union territories and also permit the entry of new states and UTs into the Indian Union”. Article 3 says that “Parliament shall increase or diminish the area of a state”.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to inaugurate Delhi – Dehradun corridor along with several other projects. The corridor will reduce the distance between the two cities from 248 – km to 180 – km.

• 120 MW Vyasi hydroelectricity project
• 38 – km long all weather Chardham road project between Shrikot and Devprayag
• 33 – km stretch between Kaudilya and Brahmapuri
• State of perfumery and aroma laboratory in Dehradun: The centre will focus on developing high yielding advanced varieties of aromatic plants

• The PM Modi will lay foundation stone for Delhi – Dehradun corridor. The corridor is to be built at a cost of Rs 8,300 crores. The project is to be executed in Engineering, Procurement and Construction mode. In EPC mode, the government pays the private developer for constructing roads. And the toll revenue accrue to the government.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed 14 billion Euros of agreement with France for 80 Rafale warplanes. This is the biggest international order ever made for the Rafale jets.

• UAE and France recently inked a 17 billion Euros deal. Under the deal, UAE is to buy 80 Rafale jets and 12 Caracal military transport helicopters.
• The deal will support 7,000 jobs in France. Also, it will guarantee the supply chain of Dassault Aviation – made aircraft till 2031.
• For observation: The UAE rival Qatar had recently bought 36 Rafale jets from France.
• The Rafale jets are to replace the Mirage 2000 fleet of UAE. However, the US F-35 jets are to remain deployed. France and USA are the two major defence suppliers of UAE.

The National Blockchain Strategy was recently proposed by the Ministry of Electronics and IT. The strategy has adopted multi – institutional approach. It involves NIC (National Informatics Centre), C – DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) and NICSI (National Informatics Centre services Inc) for offering blockchain as service.

What is the National Blockchain Strategy?

• It aims to provide trusted digital platform for providing e – governance services using blockchain technology.
• It involves human resource development, collaboration, regulatory framework, technology stack, standards development.
• It seeks the union government to develop state – specific block chain applications.

Key Features

• The strategy will explore the possibility of use of technology for medical supplies and vaccines.
• It will improve transparency and efficiency in governance.
• NITI Aayog has recognised Blockchain technology as a promising technology. According to NITI Aayog, the technology has notable features such as accountability and decentralisation.

National Blockchain Strategy on Crypto currency

The National Blockchain Strategy has kept crypto currency out of the ambit of its framework. However, the Government of India had listed a bill called “The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021”. The bill provides a framework for the creation of official digital currency. Also, the RBI is to create digital money.

The Paika Rebellion was fought by the Paikas of Khudra in Odisha. It was led by Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhara. The rebellion was fought against the British in 1820s.

What is the issue around Paika Rebellion now?

The Union Government of India has recently refused to accept Paika rebellion as the first war of independence. In 2017, the Odisha Government demanded that the Odisha rebellion be declared as the first war of independence. Currently, the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 is called the first war of independence.

What is Paika Rebellion?

Paika rebellion took place in 1817, which is 40 years before the first sepoy mutiny. The Paikas were the peasant militias. They offered military services to Gajapti rulers in Odisha. In 1803, the British East India Company dethroned King of Khurda, Raja Mukunda Deva. In 1804, the king planned a rebellion against the Britishers and involved the Paikas in to it. However, the Britishers learnt about the plan and confiscated the entire territory. The Britishers suppressed the Paika farmers through their revenue systems. This triggered the rebellion under Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar in 1817. During the rebellion, the government buildings were set on fire and policemen were killed and British treasury was looted. Bakshi died in 1825 in prison.

What is the Centre’s stand?

The Central Government consulted the Indian Council of Historical Research. The ICHR is not operating under Ministry of Education. According to ICHR, the rebellion cannot be called as the first war of independence. However, considering its significance the GoI has decided to include it in the curriculum of Class VIII history textbook of NCERT

India and UAE launched the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in September 2021. The countries are to hold the third round of negotiations.

What is CEPA?

• CEPA is an economic deal signed between India and UAE in 2017.
• It is a free trade pact.
• It covers negotiation on trade and services, investment and other economic partnerships.
• It also includes competition, cooperation and Intellectual Property Rights.
• It also looks in to the regulatory aspects of trade between the countries.

Why is CEPA important?

As of March 2021, UAE is the third largest investor in India. The Indian companies have invested 85 billion USD in UAE. The major imports to India from UAE are petroleum products, stones, jewellery, gems. The major exports are minerals, precious metals, gems. With CEPA, the bilateral trade is to increase to 100 billion USD within 5 years.

The North Eastern States Roads Investment Programme was launched in 2011. It aims to build 433 km long roads in six north eastern states. They were Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim. The project should be completed by August 2022. Around 36 lakh people are benefitted from the programme.

What is the need for the programme?

• North East needs special attention as compared to the rest of India. For instance, Assam is the world largest tea producer. However, it lags in industrialisation.
• The seven sister states of the North East are surrounded by 5,300 km. Thus, it is essential to provide border protection, especial along Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh.
• People of North East feel alienated from the rest of the country because of lack of modern infrastructure, less exposure, poverty and unemployment.
• For the above reasons, it is essential to improve the connectivity in the region. Also, the connectivity in the region is needed to control the insurgency.

What is the current status?

Currently, the North – Eastern Council is focusing on building 10,500 km in the region. Under the NEC, a new scheme called North East Road Sector Development was launched. It mainly focuses on Arunachal Pradesh.