Level of ground water extraction lowest in 18 years, finds study

Level of ground water extraction lowest in 18 years, finds study

• Groundwater extraction in India saw an18-year decline, according to an assessment by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) made public on Wednesday. 
• The total annual groundwater recharge for the entire country is 437.6 billion cubic metres (bcm) and annual groundwater extraction for the entire country is 239.16 bcm, according to the 2022 assessment report. 
• Further, outof the total 7,089 assessment units in the country,1,006 units have been categorised as “over­exploited”in the report.
• By comparison, an assessment in 2020 found that the annual groundwater recharge was 436 bcm and extraction 245 bcm. In2017, recharge was 432bcm and extraction 249 bcm. The 2022 assessment suggests that groundwater extraction is the lowest since 2004, when it was 231 bcm.

Justice DY Chandra chud to Take Oath As 50th Chief Justice of India

• Senior-most Supreme Court judge and Chief Justice of India-designate Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud is all set to become the 50th head of the Indian judiciary when President Draupadi Murmu would administer the oath of office to him at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• He succeeds Uday Umesh Lalit, who had recommended him as his successor to the Centre on October 11. President Draupadi Murmu had appointed him as the next CJI on October 17.
•  Justice Chandrachud will serve as the CJI for two years till November 10, 2024. Supreme Court judges retire at the age of 65.
• His illustrious father YV Chandrachud was the longest-serving Chief Justice of India (CJI) and remained at the helm from February 22, 1978 to July 11, 1985.

Chhattisgarh plans special Assembly session on tribal quota

• Amid confusion over the reduction in the quota for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Chhattisgarh following a recent high court order capping reservations at 50%, the State government has proposed to convene a special session on tribal reservation.
• A proposal to convene aspecial session of the Legislative Assembly regarding the issue of tribal reservation has been sent to the Speaker of the Assembly, Dr. Charan Das Mahant ji. 
• It has been requested to convene a special session of the Vidhan Sabha on December 1 and 2.
• On September 19, the Chhattisgarh High Court struck down a 2012 legislation that reserved 58% seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in recruitment and entrance examinations, holding that reservation above the 50% ceiling was “unconstitutional”.
• Chhattisgarh government may bring fresh legislation that may hike the reservations in the State to 81%— 32% for STs, 12% for SCs, 27% for OBCs and 10% for the EWS.