1.Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM)

Why in News?

• Government of India has recently reconstituted the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) for a period of two years.

About EAC-PM:

• Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (PMEAC) is a non-constitutional, non-permanent and independent body constituted to give economic advice to the Government of India, specifically the Prime Minister. The council serves to highlight key economic issues facing the country to the government of India from a neutral viewpoint.
• The terms of reference of EAC-PM include analyzing any issue, economic or otherwise, referred to it by the Prime Minister and advising him thereon, addressing issues of macroeconomic importance and presenting views thereon to the Prime Minister.
• Current Composition: A chairman and a member Secretary. Apart from these two Full-Time Members, the EAC-PM will have two Part-Time Members.

2.Parambikulam River

Why in News?

• Recently an inter-state committee has been formed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu to review the Parambikulam-Aliyar agreement which was signed in the year 1970.

About Parambikulam River:

• Parambikulam River is one of four tributaries of the Chalakkudi River, and originates in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India.
• It is a west flowing river that flows into Arabian sea. The river also encompasses Parambikulam Tiger reserve on its banks.
• The Parambikulam Dam has been constructed across the river at Anaimalai, located in the Western Ghats of Kerala. This dam is operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu but the ownership rests with Kerala.

3.Right Livelihood Award

Why in News?

• Recently Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg was named on Wednesday as one of four winners of the 2019 Right Livelihood Award, known as Sweden’s alternative Nobel Prize.

About the Award:

• The annual Right Livelihood Award was created in the year 1980 by Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull.
• The Right Livelihood Award is an international award to “honour and support those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today.
• The award is awarded to the field of environmental protection, human rights, sustainable development, health, education, and peace.
• Although it is promoted as an “Alternative Nobel Prize”, it is not a Nobel prize and does not have any organizational ties to the awarding institutions of the Nobel Prize or the Nobel Foundation.

4.ICGS Varaha

Why in News?

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has commissioned Indian Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel ‘Varaha’ at Chennai Port Trust recently.

About ICGS Varaha:

• It will be under administrative and operational control of Commander Coast Guard region (west).It is the fourth in series of seven 98-m Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) of Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
• The ship will add to the strength of ICG in responding to threats of maritime terrorism, smuggling and challenges of maritime enforcement.

Features:

• It can carry one twin engine helicopter and 4 high speed boats.
• It has latest navigation and communication equipment.
• It also has some most advanced sensors and machinery as well as a 33-millimetre (mm) gun.
• Special features of ship includes- Integrated Bridge System Automated Power Management System Indigenously built Integrated Platform Management System Halo Traversing System.

5.Special Expenditure Observers

Why in News?

• ECI has recently appointed two Special Expenditure Observers for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Special Expenditure Observers:

• The Special Expenditure Observers are appointed in the exercise of the powers conferred on ECI under Article 324 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
• The SEO would be required to watch the conduct of Elections with special emphasis on controlling the abuse of money power, in consultation with the Chief Electoral Officer.
• The SEO will be supervising and monitoring the work being done by the electoral machinery and ensure that stringent and effective enforcement action is undertaken.
• Their actions would be based on intelligence inputs and complaints received through C-VIGIL, Voter Helpline 1950 against all persons/entities trying to induce voters by distributing cash, liquor & freebies etc. in order to vitiate the poll process.