China repeats claim on Bhutan’s east
Paper:
Mains: General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
Why in news:
China said that it has offered Bhutan a “package solution” to its boundary dispute, reviving a reference to its 1996 proposal for a territory swap to give Bhutan the disputed areas in its north in exchange for the disputed western areas, including Doklam. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) also repeated its claim on Bhutan’s eastern boundary at Sakteng, which experts warn, maybe a new pressure tactic by Beijing to push Thimphu into concluding a boundary deal
Key Details:
- The offer revives a reference to China’s 1996 proposal for a territory swap to give Bhutan the disputed areas in its north in exchange for the disputed western areas, including Doklam.
- The boundary between China and Bhutan is yet to be demarcated, and the middle, eastern and western sections of the border are disputed,” said Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson.
- Experts warn that this could be a new pressure tactic by China to push Bhutan into concluding a boundary deal.
Boundary dispute between China and Bhutan:
- The talks have been about three specific areas, including Jakarlung and Pasamlung in the north, and the Chumbi Valley, where Doklam is situated, in west Bhutan.
- According to written records, there has been no mention of eastern Bhutan, or Trashigang Dzongkhag (where Sakteng is based, that borders Arunachal Pradesh) in 24 previous rounds of boundary negotiations held between the two countries, between 1984 and 2016.
- The negotiations have not been held since the Doklam stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops in 2017.
Concerns:
- After the 11th round of talks in 1996, Bhutan’s 4th King (the present King’s father) had informed the Bhutanese National Assembly that China wanted to exchange the valleys to the north, with an area of 495 square kilometres, with the pasture land to the west, totalling 269 square kilometres.
- The deal would have benefited Bhutan by giving it the larger chunk of land, and resolving its tensions with China.
- However, it was a big worry for India, as the Doklam swap would give the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) access to the strategically sensitive “chicken neck” of the Siliguri corridor.
‘Close to limited trade deal with U.S.’
Paper:
Mains: General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
Why in News:
India was considering a deal in which it would open up its market to U.S. dairy imports through a quota system in return for the U.S. giving “concessions” to Indian generic drugs in the U.S.
Key Details:
- As an intermediate step between the imminent limited deal and the comprehensive deal, the minister proposed a preferential trade agreement that would cover 50 to 100 goods and services, at a virtual conference organised by the U.S.-India Business Council’s India Ideas Summit.
- India and the U.S. have apparently been closing to finalising a limited trade deal several times over the past year, including when both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump were in New York in 2019 for the United Nations General Assembly session.
- Again, in February 2020, the two sides scrambled unsuccessfully to finalize a mini deal that was to be announced during Mr. Trump’s India visit.
India’s step:
- India has wanted Washington to restore its access to the U.S. preferential trading system or Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), an end to the steel and aluminum tariffs, increased market access for some categories of Indian agricultural products among others.
U.S stand:
- S. concerns during the negotiations have included market access for American dairy and agricultural products, medical devices and a cut in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) import tariffs.
- The U.S. also has concerns with India’s digital trade policies.
- For instance, FDI in commerce, and data localization.
Consumer law kicks in, regulator on the anvil
Paper:
Mains: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Why in News:
Aggrieved customers in India will now be able to seek effective legal remedy, on the lines of class action suits seen in many countries, with the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, kicking in on July 20.
Key Details:
- The new Act empowers buyers to ask for replacements, refunds or damages from brands, e-trailers and service providers.
- Aggrieved customers in India will now be able to seek effective legal remedy, on the lines of class action suits seen in many countries.
Salient features of the Act:
Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA):
- The law proposes a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to regulate matters of consumer rights, trade practices and advertisements prejudicial to the interests of the public, and to promote, protect and enforce the rights of the consumers as a class.
- The proposed CCPA will be able to file Suo motu cases on behalf of a class of customers, thereby initiating class action suits that would hold brands and e-trailers accountable.
Simplified Dispute Resolution Process:
- Consumer Commissions are empowered to enforce their orders.
- State Commissions & District Commissions can now review their own orders.
- Ease of approaching Consumer Commissions through E-filing and video conferencing for hearing.
Mediation:
- Mediation is prescribed as an Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism.
- Reference to mediation by Consumer Commissions wherever scope for early settlement exists and parties agree for it.
- No appeal against settlement through mediation.
Product Liability:
- A manufacturer or product service provider or product seller to be responsible to compensate for injury or damage caused by defective product or deficiency in services.
- This provision would deter manufacturers and service providers from delivering defective products or deficient services.
IIT-M researchers use artificial materials and ultrasound to detect defects in large structures
Paper:
Mains: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Why in News:
Researchers in the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the University of Nairobi have used metamaterials to improve detection of defects in large structures by guided wave ultrasound.
Key Details:
- Engineering structures including buildings, pipelines and rails require periodic testing to prevent catastrophic failures occurring due to corrosion, impact, and strain.
- High-frequency sound waves that travel in the bulk are widely used for non-invasive and non-destructive testing of structural materials.
- Conventional bulk ultrasonic inspection is tedious and time-consuming as it involves point-by-point assessment of structures.
Guided Wave Testing:
- In guided wave testing (GWT), the sound waves are sent along the length of the structure rather than into the structure, allowing the waves to travel longer distances.
- GWT has poorer resolution than conventional ultrasound-based testing due to diffraction limitations.
- The research team used metamaterials to improve the resolution of guided ultrasound waves.
Meta Materials:
- Metamaterials are artificially crafted materials with unique internal microstructures that give them properties not found in nature.
- The constituent artificial units of the metamaterial can be tailored in shape, size, and interatomic interaction, to exhibit unusual properties.