GREEN BREAK TECHNOLOGY (GBT)

•  Green Break Technology (GBT) is based on non-detonating chemical compound, enclosed in cartridge, which reacts quickly when activated to produce a high volume of harmless gas, primarily consisting of Nitrogen, Carbon dioxide & water vapour.

 APPLICATION OF GBT CARTRIDGE:

• Green Break Technology (GBT) cartridge does the same job as ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) -- splitting open rocks, bringing down buildings and carving tunnels through mountains but unlike other explosives, it cannot be diverted for making bombs as it cannot be detonated or exploded.
•  Ammonium nitrate, which is prone to pilferage during storage and transportation, is a common choice of terrorists and insurgents for assembling bombs and IEDs.

 MECHANISM OF ACTION:

• While TNT and ANFO burn and send out shockwaves that send shrapnel flying around hundreds of metres, GBT, when ignited, only reacts chemically to produce a large amount of harmless gas. The pressure from the gas helps in fracturing rocks, and fragments fall harmlessly close to the spot where the cartridge is ignited.

 BENEFITS:

• No clearing area required beyond 20 meters
• No measurable noise vibration and no shock wave damage
• Minimal dust caused, no leaking of any chemical materials
• No flying rock or debris

AMENDMENTS TO INDESCENT REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN (PROHIBITION) ACT (IRWA), 1986

• The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has approved amendments to the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act (IRWA), 1986, which also proposes to slap hefty fines on persons found guilty of such acts.

 ABOUT IRWA:

• The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 (IRWA) focuses on indecent representation of women and brings under its ambit references that are derogatory to the dignity of women.
• It was enacted with the specific objective of prohibiting the indecent representation of women through advertisement, publication, writing, and painting or in any other manner.

 AMENDMENTS:

• The amendments enhance the amount of fine to be slapped against persons found guilty of such acts from Rs 2,000 to a minimum of Rs 50,000 going up to Rs 1 lakh for the first conviction

• Imprisonment would not be less than two years which may extend to seven years

• It also lays down a fine between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for second conviction.

SC JUDGEMENT ON PRESIDENTIAL REFERENCE

• In a major relief to the Centre, a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court headed by outgoing Chief Justices SH Kapadia virtually gave it a free hand in the allocation of natural resources, clarifying that the judgment mandating auction was restricted to the 122 telecom licences the SC had cancelled in February this year.
• Through the reference, the government had sought a clarification as to whether auction was the only route available under the February 2, 2012 SC verdict for allocation of all natural resources.

 HIGHLIGHTS OF ADVISORY OPINION:

• The Supreme Court judgement has clarified that auction is not the only permissible method of allocating natural resources across all sectors. It will depend from sector to sector. 
• It is for the executive to make the policy regarding disposal of natural resources but this should always be done keeping in mind the public good.
• Further it explained, “Revenue maximization is not the only way in which the common good can be sub-served. Auction would be one of the preferable methods, though not the only method”.
• There is no Constitutional mandate for auction of all forms of natural resources 

https://twitter.com/AbhimanuIAS

FISSILE MATERIAL CUT OFF TREATY

•  The Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) is a proposed international treaty to prohibit the further production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other explosive devices.
• The treaty has not been negotiated and its terms remain to be defined.
• According to a proposal by the United States, fissile material includes high-enriched uranium and plutonium (except plutonium that is over 80% Pu-238).
• According to a proposal by Russia, fissile material would be limited to weapons-grade uranium (with more than 90% U-235) and plutonium (with more than 90% Pu-239). Neither proposal would prohibit the production of fissile material for non-weapons purposes, including use in civil or naval nuclear reactors

 PRESENT STATUS:

• Pakistan has repeatedly blocked the Geneva based Conference on Disarmament (CD) from implementing its agreed program of work, despite severe pressure from the major nuclear powers to end its defiance of 64 other countries in blocking international ban on the production of new nuclear bomb-making material, as well as discussions on full nuclear disarmament, the arms race in outer space, and security assurances for non-nuclear states.

 PAKISTAN ARGUMENT:

• Any deal must also require India to reduce its existing stockpile

 INDIA’S STAND:

• India, has taken the stand that if the existing stockpiles were to be made part of the negotiations at Geneva, the proposed deal would no longer remain the FMCT but become the nuclear weapons convention.

Geneva disarmament conference can only move forward by consensus. Until Pakistan is on board, the negotiations can't be concluded.