TOPIC : GS3 Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
What is the news?
Parliament passed the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Amendment Bill, 2021.
Why has the definition of a major airport been amended?
- The AERA regulates tariffs and other charges for aeronautical services rendered at ‘major’ airports.
- Under the AERA Act, 2008, a major airport is one which “has, or is designated to have, annual passenger throughput in excess of threeandahalf million or any other airport as the Central Government may, by notification, specify”.
- It does not provide for determination of tariff for a group of airports.
- The Amendment Bill has amended the definition of a major airport to include “a group of airports” after the words “any other airport”.
- The government hopes the move will encourage development of smaller airports and make bidding for airports with less passenger traffic attractive.
- It plans to club profitable airports with nonprofitable ones and offer them as a package for development in publicprivate partnership mode to expand connectivity
Was there a need to amend the AERA Act?
- The Airports Authority of India (AAI) awarded six airports Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati for operations, management and development in PPP mode
- The AAI Board, in its meeting, approved leasing of another six airports Bhubaneswar, Varanasi, Amritsar, Raipur, Indore and Tiruchi PPP mode .
- The Ministry of Civil Aviation plans to club each of these airports with nearby smaller airports for joint development.
- The government planned to monetise airports in tier2 and tier3 cities
How did AERA come into existence? What tariffs does it determine?
- The AERA Act was enacted in 2008 and an independent economic regulator, i.e., the AERA, was established in 2009 for determining the tariff for aeronautical services rendered at major airports
- The remaining nonmajor airports owned by AAI, the Ministry of Civil Aviation approves the charges for aeronautical services.
- There are a total of 154 airports in the country.
- Among these, AAI owns 136 airports and provides air traffic services over the entire Indian airspace and adjoining oceanic areas
What are the apprehensions?
- The Bill proposes to make changes which appear to be lucrative for the aviation sector, there is a lack of clarity regarding what will be the criterion for deciding which airports get clubbed together.
- The government will also have to ensure that a monopoly situation is not created in the airport operating business while awarding a group of airports to the same entity
- Balancing the interests of the private sector and the government’s objective of privatising smaller airports will be difficult
- The government succeeds will also depend on how the airports are packaged and if there are enough growth prospects, economic activity or tourist attractions near the nonprofitable airports that will be clubbed.
Mains questions
Are private players going to invest in aviation if a profitable sector is clubbed with nonprofitable ones?
PRELIMS PUNCHERS
- Madur floor mats
This floor mats that are unique to West Bengal. An intrinsic part of the Bengali lifestyle, madur mats are made of natural fibres. Madurkathi was awarded the geographical indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indication Registry in April 2018. Madurkathi is a rhizomebased plant found abundantly in the alluvial tracts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur
Majority of the entire workforce engaged in this traditional craft comprised of women. During the 18th century, Masland mats flourished under royal patronage. In 1744, Nawab Alibardi Khan issued a charter to landowning jagirdars in this regard, and as a result, it was obligatory to supply Masland mats for use in the Collectorate. Mats were a unique household tradition in West Bengal. The tradition of weaving fine madur was slowly dying. Over the past few years, these workers have revived the tradition and found a mark
- Airports Economic Regulatory Authority
It is a regulatory agency under Government of India to regulate tariff and other expenditure & fees for major airports. It is a statutory body constituted under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act (AERA), 2008. It works according to provisions of AERA Act 2008. It regulates tariffs and fees charged to airports and passengers and monitors the quality of service
The statutory functions of the AERA as enshrined in the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008 are as to determine the tariff for the aeronautical services taking into consideration. The capital expenditure incurred and timely investment in improvement of airport facilities. The service provided, its quality and other relevant factors. The cost for improving efficiency and Economic and viable operation of major airports. Revenue received from services other than the aeronautical services. The concession offered by the Central Government in any agreement or memorandum of understanding or otherwise.
- Turmeric
The plant is a perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, that requires temperatures between 20 and 30 °C and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive. Plants are gathered each year for their rhizomes, some for propagation in the following season and some for consumption.
The greatest diversity of Curcuma species by number alone is in India, at around 40 to 45 species. Thailand has a comparable 30 to 40 species. Turmeric has been used in Asia for centuries and is a major part of Ayurveda, Siddha medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, Unani, and the animistic rituals of Austronesian peoples. It was first used as a dye, and then later for its supposed properties in folk medicine .From India, it spread to Southeast Asia along with Hinduism and Buddhism, as the yellow dye is used to color the robes of monks and priests. Turmeric powder has a warm, bitter, black pepper–like flavor and earthy, mustard-like aroma.
Sources : https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/the-colourful-molecules-of-turmeric/article36035501.ece
- The Malabar rebellion
It happened from August 20, 1921 to 1922 in the Malabar region of Kerala, India. The Malabar rebellion of 1921 also known by the names Moplah riots, Mappila riots started as a resistance against the British colonial rule in Malabar region of Kerala. The popular uprising was also against the prevailing feudal system controlled by elite Hindus. The British had appointed high caste Hindus in positions of authority to get their support, this led to the protest turning against the Hindus.
For many scholars, the rebellion is primarily a peasant revolt against the colonial government. During the uprising, the rebels also attacked various symbols and institutions of the colonial state, such as telegraph lines, train stations, courts and post offices. The main leaders of the rebellion were Ali Musliyar, Variankunnath Kunjahammad Haji, Sithi Koya Thangal, M. P. Narayana Menon, Chembrasery Thangal, K. Moideenkutti Haji, Kappad Krishnan Nair, Konnara Thangal, Pandiyatt Narayanan Nambeesan, and Mozhikunnath Brahmadathan Nambudiripad. There were a series of clashes between the Mappila peasantry and their landlords, supported by the colonial government, throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries
Prelims Questions
- Consider the following statement with regard to The Malabar rebellion
- It happened from August 20, 1921 to 1922 in the Malabar region of West Bengal
- The popular uprising was also against the prevailing feudal system controlled by elite Muslim
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only (b) 2 only
(c).Both (d). None of above
Answer : D
It happened from August 20, 1921 to 1922 in the Malabar region of Kerala, India. The Malabar rebellion of 1921 also known by the names Moplah riots, Mappila riots started as a resistance against the British colonial rule in Malabar region of Kerala. The popular uprising was also against the prevailing feudal system controlled by elite Hindus. The British had appointed high caste Hindus in positions of authority to get their support, this led to the protest turning against the Hindus.
For many scholars, the rebellion is primarily a peasant revolt against the colonial government. During the uprising, the rebels also attacked various symbols and institutions of the colonial state, such as telegraph lines, train stations, courts and post offices. The main leaders of the rebellion were Ali Musliyar, Variankunnath Kunjahammad Haji, Sithi Koya Thangal, M. P. Narayana Menon, Chembrasery Thangal, K. Moideenkutti Haji, Kappad Krishnan Nair, Konnara Thangal, Pandiyatt Narayanan Nambeesan, and Mozhikunnath Brahmadathan Nambudiripad. There were a series of clashes between the Mappila peasantry and their landlords, supported by the colonial government, throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries
- Madur floor mats is from which of the following state
- West Bengal
- Manipur
- Assam
- Sikkim
Answer : A
This floor mats that are unique to West Bengal. An intrinsic part of the Bengali lifestyle, madur mats are made of natural fibres. Madurkathi was awarded the geographical indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indication Registry in April 2018. Madurkathi is a rhizomebased plant found abundantly in the alluvial tracts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur
Majority of the entire workforce engaged in this traditional craft comprised of women. During the 18th century, Masland mats flourished under royal patronage. In 1744, Nawab Alibardi Khan issued a charter to landowning jagirdars in this regard, and as a result, it was obligatory to supply Masland mats for use in the Collectorate. Mats were a unique household tradition in West Bengal. The tradition of weaving fine madur was slowly dying. Over the past few years, these workers have revived the tradition and found a mark