Murmansk Port: India’s engagement with Russia’s Arctic region has been strengthening with India-bound goods constituting the maximum share of cargo handled this year by Murmansk Port.The seaport of Murmansk is one of the largest ice-free ports in Russia. It is located on the Kola Peninsula at the coast of Barents Sea.It is about 2,000 km northwest of Moscow.The port is navigated all year round. The dimensions of vessels calling at the port of Murmansk are not limited.The main port capabilities are located on the western coast of Kola Bay, among them the mooring berths of the commercial port (including passenger area), fishing port, ship-repair yard, shipyard, oil terminal, and FSUE Atomflot premises. On the eastern coast of Kola Bay there is a number of small fish and fleet maintenance terminals.
Section 377 of the IPC: Section 377 of the IPC states: “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.”The explanation to the provision states that “penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence.”
For decades, the LGBTQ community and others argued that this section was discriminatory, and provided legal protection to the harassment and intimidation of gay couples.
Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India Case (2018): In September, 2018, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court unanimously decriminalized consensual sex between two adults irrespective of their gender and partially struck down Section 377 of the IPC.The court referred to those areas of the section that criminalized consensual unnatural sex as “irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary”.The court also noted that Section 377 was used as a weapon to harass members of the LGBTQ community, resulting in their discrimination.However, in its ruling, the court also made it clear that other aspects dealing with unnatural sex with animals and children still remained in force, and that it was confining its order to consenting acts between two adults.
Cauvery river: Cauvery (or Kaveri) is the largest river in the state and originates at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri hills of the Western Ghats in Karnataka..It is often called the Dakshina Ganga (the Ganges of the South) and considered one of the sacred rivers of India.The origin of the River Kaveri, is a famous pilgrimage and tourist spot set amidst Brahmagiri Hills near Madikeri in Coorg.The tributaries of the Kaveri include: Harangi, Hemavathi (origin in western Ghats joins the river Kaveri near Krishnarajasagar), Lakshmana tirtha,Kabini (originates in Kerala and flows eastward and joins the Kaveri at Tirumakudalu, Narasipur),Shimsha, Arkavati, Suvarnavathi or Honnuholé, Bhavani, Lokapavani, Noyyal, Amaravati.
Vishwakarma Scheme: It aims to provide subsidised loans to traditional artisans and craftsmen including weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers, and barbers.Artisans and craftspeople will be provided a recognition through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card.
The craftsmen will be provided a subsidized loan of Rs 1 lakh in the first tranche, and another Rs 2 lakh in the second tranche, at a concessional interest rate of 5%.It also has a provision to provide skill upgradation, incentive for toolkit as well as digital transactions and marketing support. Skilling programme will take place at both basic and advanced types. Participants will get a stipend of ₹500 per day while undergoing training. Beneficiaries will also receive up to ₹15,000 to buy modern tools.
