1.Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)

Why in News?

• Recently, the Supreme Court extended by three months the tenure of chairperson of Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal, TDSAT which is scheduled to end on 20^thof this month.

About TDSAT:

• In order to bring in functional clarity and strengthen the regulatory framework and the disputes settlement mechanism in the telecommunication sector, the TRAI Act of 1997 was amended in the year 2000.
• It was set up to adjudicate disputes and dispose of appeals with a view to protect the interests of service providers and consumers of the telecom sector.

About Composition of TDSAT:

• It consists of a Chairperson and two Members appointed by the Central Government.
• The Chairperson should be or should have been a Judge of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice of a High Court.
• A Member should have held the post of Secretary to the Government of India or any equivalent post in the Central Government or the State Government for a period of not less than two years or a person who is well versed in the field of technology, telecommunication, industry, commerce or administration.

About Powers and Jurisdiction:

• It exercises jurisdiction over Telecom, Broadcasting, IT and Airport tariff matters under the TRAI Act, 1997 (as amended), the Information Technology Act, 2008 and the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
• It also exercises original as well as appellate jurisdiction in regard to Telecom, Broadcasting and Airport tariff matters. In regard to Cyber matters the Tribunal exercises only the appellate jurisdiction.

2.World Health Day

Why in News?

• Recently, the World Health Day is celebrated every year 7^th

About World Health Day:

• Its idea was conceived at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and it came into effect in 1950.
• It aims to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization (WHO).
• It has brought to light important health issues such as mental health, maternal and child care and climate change.
• Its theme for 2020 is Support Nurses and Midwives. 2020 has been designated as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
• This year, the day celebrates the work of nurses and midwives and reminds world leaders of the critical role they play in keeping the world healthy. On the Day, the ‘State of the World’s Nursing 2020’ report has been launched.

3.NCC cadets start serving people during COVID-19

Why in News?

• Civil and police administration have started requisitioning for services of senior division National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets in fight against Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

National Cadet Corps:

• The National Cadet Corps is the youth wing of Armed Forces with its Headquarters atNew Delhi.
• It is a Tri-Services Organisation, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Wing, engaged in grooming the youth of the country into disciplined and patriotic citizens.
• It is open to all regular students of schools and colleges on a voluntary basis. The students have no liability for active military service. A student enrolled into NCC is referred to as a “Cadet”.
• The NCC Day is observed on the four Sunday of November.
• Its motto is ‘Unity and Discipline’.
• At the National level, the Ministry of Defence deals with NCC while in all States, Education Ministry of respective states deals with NCC.

• NCC is headed by the Director General (DG), an Army Officer of the rank of Lieutnant General.
• The NCC in India was formed with the National Cadet Corps Act of 1948. National Cadet Corps can be considered as a successor of the University Officers Training Corps (UOTC) which was established by the British in 1942.
• A committee headed by Pandit H.N. Kunzru recommended a cadet organization to be established in schools and colleges at a national level.

4.Unemployment rate in India sees Significant Increase

Why in News?

• The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) has said that the unemployment rate shot up in March. The employment rate in the economy fell to an all-time low of 38.2 percent in March 2020.
• With the coronavirus outbreak severely affecting every country, its impact on an already hobbling Indian economy is set to be devastating if the latest data on unemployment rate is taken as an indicator.

Highlights:

• The Labour Participation Rate (LPR) in March 2019 was 42.7 percent. This is the first time the LPR has fallen below 42 percent.
• The monthly figures from the CMIE that were released recently also show a curious inversion.
• In urban India, unemployment among the uneducated is at a higher level than those with a graduate degree (13%), for the first time since early-2016. Most of the people are employed in service sector jobs in construction, repair, or unorganized transport, all of which have come to a standstill due to the current lockdown.
• Early estimates from CMIE’s weekly tracker indicate that at least 50 million Indians may have lost their jobs in the last two weeks.
• The real impact of wage cuts and job losses won’t be felt immediately on account of the temporary relief measures announced by the government and the RBI.
• The government has unveiled a Rs 1.75 lakh crore welfare package for poor while the RBI announced a series of measures to ease liquidity in the system (to the tune of Rs 3.74 lakh crore).

5.Space Mining

Why in News?

• S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that supports the exploration and the use of space resources by the U.S. citizens and businesses.
• The order, titled “Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and Use of Space Resources,” gives Americans the the right to engage in the commercial exploration, recovery, and use of resources in outer space.

Highlights:

• This Executive Order establishes U.S. policy toward the recovery and use of space resources, such as water and certain minerals, in order to encourage the commercial development of space.
• According to Trump’s executive order, the US will object to any attempt to use international law to hinder its efforts to remove chunks of the moon or, should the opportunity arise, additional mining of Mars and other celestial bodies.
• S. policy contradicts the 1979 Moon Treaty, which America has not signed. The treaty says that all non-scientific use of space resources be governed by an international regulatory framework.
• The executive order gives companies operating in space the right to any resources mined there. The U.S. Congress already passed a law in 2015 that allowed individuals as well as companies to use the moon and asteroid for its resources.
• Trump has taken a consistent interest in asserting American power in space, forming the Space Force within the US military last year to conduct space warfare where needed.
• Russia’s space agency Roscosmos also released a statement criticizing the move. They said, attempts to expropriate outer space and aggressive plans to de facto seize the territories of other planets will hardly encourage other nations to participate in fruitful cooperation.